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98. The Sultan of Zanzibar, Major Saddler learnt, had beon very profuse .
in his presents to the four Arab Sheikhs. Among other gifts Shaikh Abdullah
received two field pieces and 200 barrels of powder and Sheikh Amar-bin Salim
ono field piece and 100 barrels of powder, a form of gift, at which the Sultan of
Maskot was much exercised, and expressed astonishmont that the Sultan of !
Zanzibar should have been allowed to mako presents of munitions of war to i
Mnskat foudatories, who woro by no moans friendly disposed towards thoir
Sultan,
■
99. Tho Govcrnmcntof India therefore in their despatch No. 150 (Secret—
External), dated 14th August 1894, sug
Secret E., September 1691, No. 17.
gested that it was desirable to take steps
to restrain tho Sultan of Zanzibar from presenting field pieces and ammunition
to visitors from Maskat, as otherwise the peace of Oman might be disturbed.
100. When under the orders of tho Earl of Kimberley, Sir A. Hardinge
represented to tho Sultan of Zanzibar, tits
Sccrot E., Jenearj 1895, Noa. 267*270.
inexpediency of his proceedings, the latter
repudiated tho idea of his having ever had in viow to instigate disturbances in
Masknt and assured that tho practice of making presents of munitions of war
would bo discontinued. Sir Llyod Mathew, however, informed Sir A. Hardinge
that at hoart tho Sultan still cherished the idea, even though he fully recog
nised that it could not be realized, of re-uniting Zanzibar and Maskat. Sir A.
Hardinge reporting these facts obsorved (No. 254, dated 24th October 1894)—
“ llimsslf a native of Maskat he has never quite lost touch of the friends and dependents
of his father, Sayyed Thowani, in that Sultanate and he imagines that as Huler of Oman he
would perhaps be more free than he can be at Zanzibar from the direct control of the British
Government.**
101. Sheikh Hnmid Jahnfi returned to Sur about the middle of May
1891, and three Harcthi Sheikhs Abdullah-bin-Saleh, Mohsin-bin-Omr and
Omr-bin-Salim rcturnod to that place on 2Gth May on the Sultan’s ship Avoca.
Leaving thtdr luggage at Sur they sailed to Maskat to pay their respects to the
Sultan. No sooner had they proceeded to the interior that they began to work
out tho plan of their conspiracy that led to the rebellion in February—March
1895, tho events of which have boen described above.
102. Sir A. Hardinge, in his letter No. 49, dated 13th March 1895,
reported to the Earl of Kimberley the
Secret E., Jose 1895, Noe. 145-10.
depleted condition of Sultan’s Treasury
owing to careless and extravagant management of his private fortune. The
Consul-General added —
"He has spent lavishly in gifts to ifoskat Sheikhs, in the foolish hope of someday
playing a part in Oman politics, and hia chief native adviser, a Maskat Arab, named Hilal-bin-
Omr, baa, I believe, encouraged him in this course.”
103. EilaUbvi^Omr deserves more than a passing notice. He played
an important part in Zanzibar and Oman and contributed, it was justly
believed, in no small degreo to tho rebellion of 1S95 in Maskat. He was tho
brother of Moluin-bin-Orar and son-in-law of Saleh-bin-Ali, two of tho prin
cipal insurgents. Sir A. Hardinge believed that he encouraged a good deal tho
Sultan of Zanzibar in his secret designs for the re-union of Maskat and Zanzibar
and flattered his impatience of the British control. As chiof advisor of the
Sultan, he was the intermediary between His Highness and the Oman visitors.
He nearly pursuaded the Sultan to buy land in Oman, whore coal was said
to have boon found, in order that His Highucss might have increasing interests
in those lands.
104. We thus find the following circumstances, the cumulative force of
which could point only in ono direction :—
(a) Two of the principal leaders in the Maskat rebellion were near re
latives and had boen in oloso touch with tho chief native adviser
of tho Sultan of Zanzibar.
(6) These leaders with other disaffected Oman Sheikhs had received a
warm welcome and presents at Zanzibar partly in the shape of
a large quantity of munitions of war.
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