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RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1881-82. 13

PARTIL

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY
FOR THE YEAR 1881-82.
Political.—During tbo official year 1881-82, there Lave been many
rumours and alarms of hostilo tribal coalitions for the purpose of invad­
ing Muscat and overthrowing Seyycd Toorkee, who at the latter part of
the year became seriously alive to the danger, and. repaired and fortified
his defences in order to be prepared to meet an attack. Fortunately,
owing to dissensions among the leaders of the tribes, the coalition fell to
pieces. There have been more than the usual amount of intertribal
quarrels, which have kept the country in a disturbed state.
2. Iu April there was a struggle in Jaalan between the two power­
ful tribes, Beni-boo-Ali and Beni-boo-Hassan, in which the former were
defeated, owiug to their being greatly outnumbered and taken by sur­
prise. They lost 20 men, and the Beni-boo-Hassan 17. When the news
of the encounter reached Muscat, His Highness Seyyid Toorkee despatch­
ed Seyyid-bin-Hamad-bin-Hamad on a mission t«> Jaalan to mediate
between them ;he succeeded in effecting a two months* truce. This truce,
although considered unfavourable to the Beni-boo-Ali, was only accepted
by them out of defercuce to His Highness the Sultan.
3. In May the Belooch garrison of El-Eineen, finding that they,
could not hold the fort against the attacks of the Beni Ghdfir, who had
besieged it, offered to give it up to the Beni Ali of Yinkal, belonging to
the Ilinawi faction, and the offer was gladly accepted. The Beni Ghafir
upon this formed an alliance with various Ghafiree tribes, in order to
oppose the Beni Ali and prevent the retention of the fort by the
Hinawis. Several desultory engagements ensued, resulting in consider­
able loss of life on both sides. The struggle for possession of the fort at
last terminated about the end of June, by the garrison making a vigorous
and successful sortie against the besiegers, who, being beaten and dis­
persed, finally abandoned the siege and returned to their homes. Fifty-
two men were killed in this action.
4. About this time (June) the Ibryieen and Beni Ryam disputed for
the posses.ion of the Fort El-Awabi ; the dispute arose from the fact
that Shaikh Salim-bin-Budr when a refugee, with the Beni Ryam, pro­
mised to hand over this fort to them, should he ever have an opportu­
nity of doing so ; this pledge he subsequently repudiated. The matter
was finally settled by the fort being handed over to His Highness Seyyid
Toorkee, who assumed nominal possession of it, though it is still garrison­
ed by the Ibryieen. There was a dispute in the Balineh between the
Howasineh and the Beni Katab, which resulted in the former being
ousted.
5. In June the garrison of the fort of El-Aw£bi, consisting of
about 60 men, made a sortie into the Wadi Rost**u, where they attacked
the Beni Ghafir and killed five of them at a place called Sohtany. A
conflict was also reported to have occurred between the Beni Omar and
theEl-HowAsineh at Islat, in Batineh,