Page 18 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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him iu his true colours, describes his policy towards the tribes and I he B V h
Government, foreshadows all tho important questions with which wo should vT
confronted and suggests tho means to be adopted for preventing the evils h
foresaw. e
Without quoting tho letter at length, tho following analysis of its contents
will not therefore bo out of place hero :—
Character of Sayyid Faisal.—Though possessed of a dignified manner and
pleasing address, he lacked tho statesmanship of his father. Arrogant and
conceited, suspicious of others by nature, he seldom listened to the advice of
others and displayed generally a spirit of opposition to those around him.
Ho was slothful by nature and procrastination and indecision of charaotcr
ruined most of his schemes for checking unruly tribes or establishing his
authority : aotive ho could be, but bis activity was rarely roused at tho right
moment. Sober in his habits, and parsimonious in his domestic life, yot his
abortive or ill-conceived measures to punish tribes or to purchase their loyalty
involved him iu heavy debts.
Policy towards the tribes.—It was one of Zaissez Faire. In inter-tribal
wars instead of immediately intervening, ho allowed matters to slide, until
throughout the land there arose a state of chronic rcd-liot blood feuds—a state
of things unparallelled in the worst days of Turki. His hold on the attachment
of the tribes was almost nil. Even tho Gaffiri tribes, tho friends of the
dynasty, were little attached to him out of respect or fear.
Of the two steam yachts ho had Dar*es-Salam was sold at Bombay, and
the Sultani was allowed to go to pieces by neglect. The Sultan had thus no
steam vessels to visit the coast towns in omergoucios or on periodical tours for
the purpose of keeping himself in touch with the tribes. Even suoh an im­
portant part as Sur be visited for tho first time only some 13 years after he had
began to rule. The result was that he allowed French influence to be estab­
lished among the tribes, who had been most loyal to his father. But for this
neglect of the Sultan to he in touch with the Suri tribes, tho French flag ques­
tion would never have taken the acute phase it has now.
JUaskat town.—The Sultan did little to repair the ruins caused by the
recent storm in Maskat or to improve its sanitation or to make the communi­
cations with the interior necessary for tho improvement of its trade, to protect
it from tho raids of marauders and robbers, to improve the harbour, wharf, etc.
Policy towards the British Government.—He was impatient of the obliga­
tions attached to the position of a Sovereign under treaty engagements.. The
very existence of the dynasty to which he belonged as a ruling power at
Maskat and his very recognition as a ruler, ho owed to the British. His dis­
position however was such that he could ill-brook their influence.
Any representations made to him on behalf of British subjects* interests
generally appeared to arouse a spirit of opposition amounting to antagonism.
He wished to be independent of tho British influence or aid.
The French flag question.—Dr. Jaykar found many Suri dhows putting
into the Matrah harbour with slaves on board, and suggested to the Sultan to
demand explanation of the Sheikhs as to under what authority they allowed
their tribesmen to trausfer their nationality to the French. His Highness
obtained a list of the flag holders from the Sheikhs. But he made no communi­
cation to the Agency and no further action was taken at the moment to check
the practice.

The Remedies.
The remedies suggested by Colonel Mocklor were these
(i) The Sultan should sell Gwadur to the British Government for about
8$ lakhs. While this would give a good harbour to Baluchistan
consolidated under British jurisdiction, it would replenish the
treasury of the Sultan of Maskat and supply the wherewithal to
carry out important schemes for consolidating his power.