Page 46 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

30
in Dhofar was not a strong ono and his small garrison there would not be
able to repel an nttnok of Sahl Pasha in oaso ho should arrive with an armed
force (Colonel Wilson's No. 125, dated 29th May 1895).
123. The Government of India thoroupon directed Colonol Wilson to adviso
the Sultan to put the defences of Dhofar in proper order, to reinforce the
garrhon, and to arm the men suitably. The Government of Bombay was
also requested to iustruot the Politioal Resident at Aden to keep a careful
watch for any movomout of Sayyid Fadkl or his party from that direction.
(ii) Outbreak of tho robellion, 1895-96.

124. While Sheikh Sadhl and his son woro intriguing at Constantinople
and Cairo to return to Dhofar, tho tribes in
Secrol E., July 1806, No*. 293*309.
that district were seething with discontent
against tho rule of Maskat under Wali Suiloiman-bin-Suweilim, tho greatest
of the military leaders the Sultan could boast of and in whoso loyalty and
ability His Highness placed implicit reliance. Loud complaints woro made
by the people against wlmt they alleged to bo opprossivo and extortionate
demands of the Vali. As their complaints were unheeded, tho Katliori tribo led
by Sheikh Salim-bin-Hamad Al-Mahruni with his brother backed up by
Sheikh Al-bin Kathori suddenly roso in rebellion, attacked tho fort on
the 3rd of Novembor 1895, killed tho Sultan’s Nnib Yali, a son and a nephew
of the Vali (who was at the time at Maskat) and ton or twelve of tho
garrison, and captured the fort.
126. Tho immediate cause of the attack was said to have been tho im­
prisonment of a man of the Kathori tribe, accused of having evaded payment
of some dues. But the fact that nearly tho whole of the population of Dhofar
sided with the Kathori tribe showed that discontent with tho Sultan’s rule
must have been general.
126, Tho nows of the rising reached Maskat only on tho 25th of Novem­
ber. The Sultan promptly fitted out and despatched an expedition to Morbat,
consisting of 100 Wahabis and 160 of the Beni Kalban tribe, whioh was ex­
pected to be reinforced at Merbat, where the tribes were loyal to tho Sultan.
The expedition was led by Sayyid Seif-bin Hamad-bin-Salim, a distant relation
of His Highness. #
127. The Sultan’s forces after haltingrat Merbat tried to land at Dhofar
but failed in their attempt. It wa9 found that Sheikh Awadh-bin-Azzan, the
Chief of the Shanaflrah tribe, had also made oommon causo with tho insurgents
though without joining actively tho hostilities.
123. A flag was flying on the fort, which was presumed to bo Turkish.
It was suspected also that tho emissaries of Shoikh Fadhl, tho exiled Moplab,
were at Dhofar. The matters having become thus complicated, the British
Government could not view without concern the affairs in Dhofar. The coast
was said to possess a good harbour, which could bo converted tojgood purpose,
and it was of importance that it should not pass into tho hands of a foreign
power.
129. It was therefore desirable to ascertain whether Sheikh Fadhl or his
people were at Dhofar and whether the Turkish flas* was flying, and for this pur­
pose Major Saddler suggested that one of Her Majesty’s ships should proceed
to that place (Major Saddler’s No. 28, dated 23rd January 1896).
(iii) Visit of Major Saddler in the Brisk to Dhofar and his abortive attempts
at reconciliation. The Sultan declines British aid, 1896.
130. The Government of India accordingly ordered that Major Saddler
should visit Dhofar in the jBrisk under
8ecret E., July 1896, No*. 293*869.
the authority of the Sultan to effect tho
best settlement possible, warning the Katberis that they would not be allowed
to establish tho Moplah outlaw as ruler ; that the Sultan should bo advised to be
conciliatory to the Katherie and that the late Vali should not he re-appointed
(telegram to Resident, dated 26th February 1896).