Page 27 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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following, the former on February 11th, accompanied by Sheikh Mohsin-bin-
Amir Al-Haritbi; tho latter on February 12th. The three Chiefs wore received
with hospitality by the Sultan, who, after according them an audience, dismissed
them on the evening of February 12th with tho usual presents, and they
iutimated their intention of leaving Mnskat on tho same night or early on tho
following morning. Subsequent events clearly demonstrate that such was
never their intention, for after dark a number of their followers, who had not
been allowed to enter Mnskat, made their way into tho town in parties of twos
and tlireos, not without exciting tho suspicions, however, of tho Hydorami and
Wahabi soldiers of tho Sultan. Tho latter hastened to inform their master,
who thus had ample warning of tho treacherous designs of his visitors. The
warning was entirely disregarded, tho Sultan refusing to believe that, so long
as the Chiefs and their followers were in the town as his guests, they could be
guilty of so grave a breach of the rules of Arab hospitality as to take advan­
tage of their position to attack their host. Ho was speedily undeceived, for, at
daybreak, on the morning of the 13th, his palace was suddenly attacked and
tho rebels, having overpowered the fow guards on duty, proceeded in the direc­
tion of his sloeping apartments with the intention of taking his life. The
alarm had, however, been given, and the Sultan supported by some of his fol­
lowers offered a determined resistance ; but, after keeping his assailants at bay
for 6ome time, he was eventually compelled to take refuge with his family and
adherents in Fort Jellali, his brother Sayyid Mahomcd-bin-Turku, who had
also taken flight from his residence, finding a similar refuge in Fort Mernni.
41. Early intelligence of this serious state of affairs was brought to the
Political Agent, who at ouce took such steps as were possible for the protection
of British life and property, and addressed a letter to Sheikh Abdullah, the rebel
leader, intimating that ho would he held responsible for any injury that British
subjects might suffer at the bauds of his followers.
45. The followers of the Sultan meanwhile, supported by a vigorous cannon­
ade and rifle fire from Fort Jellali, made a determined attempt to recover pos­
session of the palace, which proved, however, unsuccessful, and a lull in the
fighting followed, neither party being insullicient force to take tho aggressive.
The rebels who, simultaneously with the attack on the palace, had seized the
town gates, were now masters of the greater part of the town; but they con­
tented themselves with taking up as strong a defensive position as their sur­
roundings admitted of, and quietly awaited tho arrival of re-inforcements.
Their proceedings were orderly from the outset; the inhabitants of the town,
British and Arab, were not, as a rule interfered with or molested, and it w'as
publicly proclaimed by their leaders that the sole object of the rebellion was to
dethrone Sayyid Faisal who, by his weak rule, had shown himself unfitted to
govern Oman, and to replace him by a Sultan whose power would make itself
felt throughout the country, it was further announced that the force of rebels
in the town was hut the advance guard of a much larger force which under
the command of Sheikh Saleh was advancing on Maskat, and was hourly ex­
pected to arrive.
46. Early on the morning of February 14th, the mail steamer from the
Persian Gulf was sighted, and on her arrival about an hour later she was sent
without delay to Charbar with a telegram from the Political Agent reporting
the outbreak of the rebellion to the Political Resident at Bushire, and request­
ing that a man-of-war might be despatched as soon as possible to protect
British interests at Maskat. On February 18th H.M.S. Sphinx arrived,
and as there had been severe fighting that morning in the quarter of the town,
chiefly occupied by Baniahs, the Political Ageut considered the moment
opportune to require a temporary cessation of hostilities in order to enable
British subjects to leave the town. In compliance with the request of the
Political Agent a truce of a few hours for the purpose indicated was agreed to
by both belligerents, and advantage was taken of it to arrange for the removal
of British subjects to a place of safety. At 2 p.m. on the same day R.I.M.S.
Lawrence arrived, having on board the Politioal Resident who assumed
thenceforth the geaeral direction of affairs, and a third British ship, H. M. 8.
Bramblej from Bombay reached Maskac some days later.