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conveyed to the French Consulate; and from that dato Major Cox appears
to have incurred no further responsibility in connection with the man claimed
as a French subject. The other man was manumitted on his release from the
conlincmont in which ho had been kept at the French Co isul's request.
477B. Having regard to the circumstances in which the negroes took refuge
in the British Consulato and to the communications which passed between
M. Laronco and Major Cox at the time, Mr. Brodriok hoped that Lord Laus-
downo would concur in the opinion that Major Cox’s action in giving shelter
to the men, pending the settlement of the question of their manumission, was
justified (India Office to the Foreign Office, dated 29th March 1901).
478. On tho 11th April 1904 an altercation took placo in a bania's shop at
From CapUln Grey to tho Oorornincnt of India, Sur between tllO proprictor’8 yOUUgOr bro-
No. 185, <i«tcd 2Gih Apni 1904. thcr and a young Arab, named llamed bin
Ali Rabia of the Jennebeh tribe, whose father was one of the French flagholders.
According to tho bania’s account it appears that after high words on both sides
tho Arab attacked him with a stick which ho wrenched away from him.
Earned then drew his dagger and struck his opponent in the nock, inflicting a
wound about 3 inches in depth. According to tho Arab, the bania first wounded
him with a sword. On the same evening tho bania’s elder brother and the
father of Earned both left for Maskat to prefer complaints ; the former came on
his arrival to the British Consulate office, and the latter took refuge at. the
French Vice-Consulate, where he remained for four days, then returned to
Sur. The bania returned to Sur on the 17ih, and, as the consequence of
representations made the British Consul to the Sultan, with him went a messen-
per from Hi9 Highness to his Wali and Qazi at Sur directing them to send
Earned bin Ali’s father to him at Maskat,
Tliey both replied to the effect that the father, acting under the advice of
the Jennebeh Sheikhs, refused to send bis son to Maskat, and had placed the
matter in the hands of the French Vice-Consul, and the Sultan shewed Captain
Grey a letter from one of the Sheikhs of the Jennebeh tribe to himself which
Btatedthat they had disposed of the case accordingly, and suggesting that tho
“ Christians should fight it out among themselves.” Meanwhile M. Lnronce
had written to the Jennebeh saying that he was coming shortly to Sur and
would enquire into the case. He left Maskat on 27th April soon after he
informed tho Sultan that the Arab in quosiion was not a French protege and
that he had therefore declined to take up his case.
479. The Jennebeh tribe is divided into four sub-divisions, Al-Favvaaris,
Captain Grey to OoTomment of indu, No. 226, Al-Arama, Al-Ghialeeu and Al-Makh-
dated 18th 51 ay l'Jl?4. anna. Each subdivision contains French
flag-holders, the greater number belonging to the Makhanna.
480. When tho Sultan received information from the French Consul at
Sur that Earned bin Ali was not under his protection, His Highness sent
orders through his Governor to the Sheikhs of the Jennebeh, ordering them to
send Earned to him at Maskat. In the meantime the Sheikhs had sent a pro­
posal to the Sultan to pay HO dollars as compensation to the baniah in lieu of
sending tho youth to Maskat, and his Highness had referred the matter to
Captain Grey. Seeing that tho baniah had practically recovered from his
wound, and that tho sum was a substantial one, Captain Grey replied that ho
would be satisfied and Sayyid Faisal therefore sent a messengor to the Jen­
nebeh accepting their offer.
481. Before his arrival the Shoikhs of the four sub-divisions had met to
discuss the Sultan’s demand for Earned bin Ali. The first three wore in favour
of giving him up, but the Makhanna (to which Earned belonged), trusting to
their superior number of French protegds held out and eventually gained their
point. A refusal was accordingly sent to the Wali. Ho promptly declared
war and three hour** fighting took place on the evening of the 11th May. At
this time the Sultan’s Envoy arrived with the news that His Highness would
accept the 100 dollars, and hostilities ceased forthwith. No one was killed,
seven were wounded, one seriously. It was improbable that fighting would
be resumed. Captain Grey pointed out that French interference and intrigue