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579. In August 1903, while tho Sultan was at Sur endeavouring to settle
SocrctE., ncctmbcr loon, No«. 4-\7. the di(Terences between tbo two
AdminUtratiou Report for 1003-04. inhabiting that town, bo loavnt of the
migration from Sharkiyeh with a strong following of the Aysa bin Saleh and
his two brothers, sons of the late Saleh bin Saleh, the leader of the insurrection
of 1896, with a view to occupy tho forts of Ilazm and Itostak. The former
was in the same independent possession of Said bin Ibrahim-bin-Knis, and the
latter in that of Haraud-bin-Azan, representatives of two rival brandies of the
same family as we havo seen above. 13otli were outwardly on good terms with
the Sultan, but practically independent of him, but at the samo time at feud
with one another.
6S0. Aysa bin Saleh in invading tho Batinch coast gavo out that ho wished
to call the tribes together to seloet an Imam, and destroy tho authority of
Sheikh Paisal. He hold out tho bait of Iuiamship to Said bin Ibrahim and
ultimately won him to his side.
581. Although His Highness Sayyid Faisal habitually subsidises tho local
tribesmen for holding the passes leading from the Sharkiyeh country into the
hinterland of Maskat, nevertheless by the time a small force under Wali
Suleiman-hin-Suweilin and Sayyid Taimoor had been .lauded at Secb with
orders to push on and hold the road leading from tho Semail valley and Rostalc,
news was received that the intruders had been treacherously allowed by the
guards to debouch unmolested through the main pass of Akk into tbo Wadi
Betnail, and boforo Wali Suleiman’s party could reach Finjoli, where they
hoped to intercept them, Aysa and his followers had passed onwards in front
of them towards Ilostak. Un receiving this news His Highest at once left
Maskat in tho Nttr-ul• Bahr for the port of Mcsnaa, the noavost point on the
coast to Ilostak, and, having arrived there forthwith put the loyalty of liis
brother-in-law to the test by sending a special messenger to him inviting him
to a conference on the Nur-ul-Buhr. As was expocted, Said-bin-Ibrahim
excused himself on the plea of indisposition, and proceeded to joiu Aysa-bin*
Saleh, who was by this time encamped outside the Fort of Itostak.
682. The Sultan's next move wa9 to depute Wali Suleimau with 150 men to
strengthen and hold the Fort of Awabi, from which point, in the event of
hostilities breaking out, Aysa’a line of retreat could bo menaced. 8ayyid
Taimur was simultaneously posted in tho Fort of Mesuaa with an inercaspd
garrison, and, encamped outside, were a number of professedly friendly
Sheikhs who, witli numerous followings, had gathered round the Sultan, and
were contentedly awaiting developments and being maintained at His High­
ness’s expense. During this time, His Majesty’s ship Sphinx made
frequent trips to various points on the Batineli coast, to enable the Political
Agent, who was sometimes on board to remain in close touoh with the Sultan,
and, at the same time, to safeguard with her presence on tho coast, the lives
and property of British Indian subjects residing there. Though mast of the
latter send their valuables into Maskat for safety, noue of them were sufficiently
alarmed to follow themselves, and, fortunately, matters never became serious
enough to call for the issue of any general orders for their exodus. In fact,
both Aysa-bin-Saloh and Said-bin Ibrahim addressed courteous letters to the
Political Agent expressing friendly sentiments and their intention to use their
best endeavours to see that no harm fell to British subjects or proporty. Thore
was no change in the position of affairs for some time, during which the two
confederates were engaged in negotiations with the object of obtaining peace­
able possession of Rostak fort from the party of Beni Kuwalieh tribesmen who
garrisoned it. Ostensibly these men garrisoned the fort on behalf of Hamud-
bin-Azzan, hut whereas the latter had at once evacuated his quarters there and
thrown in his lot with Aysa and Said, the Beni Ruwaheh had other ideas,
and for a long timo refused altogether to admit the intruders. In the ond,
however, probably on the receipt of a sufficiently remunerative bribe they
agreed to hand over possession of the fort to Seyyid-bin-Ibrahirn. On gaining
their object so far, both Aysa and Said wrote letters to the Sultan in patron­
ising terms, informing him of their success as if it wore a matter of wine 1 ©