Page 23 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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had just made ponce. A truce for one year was also effected between the Yal
W alii bah aud the Ghafiri tribes of the Semayil valley.
2 . Turning to the Batinah wo find tho Yal Saad, tho strongest tribo in
Oman in point of numbers but not remarkablo for oourago or warlike qualities,
establishing a blockade of the routos from the Dlmhirah to tho sea in conse­
quence of successive raids made on them by the Alii Dkahirah. This brought
about a coalition of the Yaakib, tho Boni Kelban, and tho Beni Shikeil, the
principal tribes of the Dhahirah against the Yal Saad. An advance on each
aide was driven back, and in January 1893, the coalition of the Alii Dhahirah
broke up, their differences with the Yal Saad remaining unsettled. Repeated
raids wore however still made on the Yal Saad, nearly all resulting in loss to
that tribo in life and property, on one occasion two caravans aggregating
suvonty camels being cut off.
22. In February this tribe turned the tables on its opponents by pursuing
a party of eight men who hud carried off some of their goats and killing them
to a man.
23. About this time it was reported that Ibrahim-bin-Kais had espoused
the oauso of his old friends tho Yal Saad and offered to mediate between them
and tho Ahl Dhahirah, being ready it was said to join in an attack on the latter
should they refuse his mediation. Later information to the effect that these
negotiations fell through, and that no further raids have taken place.
21. Of other collisions between tho tribes the following may be noted :—
Early in tho year the Harth raided on the Habus at Mudeibee in the
Sharkiyeh, and attempted to destroy their water-courses. In August 1892
an engagement took place between tho Beni Boo Ali and Boni Boo Hasan in
Jaalan, in which nine men wore killed. A truoe for eight months was effected
by Sheikhs Jooraa-bin-Sayvid-al-Maskari and Hamud-bin-Sayyid-al-Juhafi,
which was broken by tho Beni Boo Hasan, killing a slave belonging to the
Boni Ali, who thereupon mode a raid on the former tribe. This was followed
by the plunder of a largo caravan of a hundred camels belonging to the Beni
Shikeil of Nezwa by tho Beui Hasan of Wadi Boshar, A short truce was
subsequently brought about.
25. Certain differences between the Jinboh and the Hinawi tribes of the
Sharkiyeh were settled iu September, and a peaoo for one year was concluded
through the mediation of Rashid-bin-Uzeiz, the Wall of Semayil.
2G. In October 1892 that troublesome character Sheikh Haraud-al-Jaliafi
appeared suddenly in tho Batinah with seventy, followers evidently with the
intention of marauding. British subjects at Sib were warned to be on the
alert, and, if necessary, to move into Maskat with their property. Whatever
plans Sheikh Hamud may have formed were cut short by his being taken ill
at Mauh ; he subsequently returned quietly to the Sharkiyeh.
27. Early in April 1893 a party of 80 of the Beni Hina under the leader­
Bxtorii«l A., July 1803. No*. 78-8S. ship of Badr, a son of the Tamimah,
Qutf A‘tuiiiuit:«tion Kcjjort, 1893-94. Hiial-bin-Zaliir, raided on the Yal Kha-
mis, who reside at Hail under the protection of the Beni Umar and Beni Kel­
ban ; they killed seven of the Yal Khamis and made off with a quantity of
camels and goats and some household property, losing four of their number in
the encounter. On their return they were pursued by 700 of the Beni Umar
and Beni Kelban; 20 of the Beni Hina were killed in the affray that ensued
on their refusal to give up the plundered property, and the rest, with the excep­
tion of their leader, who managed to make good his escape, were made prisoners.
A t the request of the Tamimah, Hilal-bin-Zahir, Sayyid Ibrahim-bin-Kais sent
his nephew, Sayyid. Saud-bin-Azzan, to open negotiations for the redemption
of the captives. Later on in the month the Beni Hina were attacked at
Ghafat by the Beni Shekoyl, who set fire to the place. Amongst other casual­
ties, Gliiian, the eldest son of the Tamimah of the Beni Hina, with two of his
companions, was killed, and Mohamed-bin-Ali, one of the principal Sheikhs of
the Beni Shekeyl, was carried wounded off the field. This quarrel owed its