Page 52 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER IX.
Tribal wars and risings subsequent to the Maskat Rebellion.
158. In tho month of April 1895 a party of tho Harth tribe arrived from
Eitrinftl A., July 1805. No#.67.06. Zanzibar in a British steamer. His
Mitiknt Administration Report for 1895*00.
Highness tho Sultan demanded that these
persons, who belonged to Saleh bin Ali’s tribe and benco enemies of His
Highness, should bo handed over to him, but there being no proof of tho
persons in question having committed any offence against His Highness, tho
request was not complied with. In order, however, to prevent complications
tho persons in question wore taken on to Bundar Abbasa and landed there.
159. During this month rumours woro current that Saleh bin Ali intended
making a demonstration towards Sernail with tho object of alienating the Gha-
firi tribe from the rule of tho Sultan!
160. Many of the Sheikhs from tho Somail and Sur came to Maskat during
tho month of April to visit tho Sultan and in order to obtain from him
recognition, in tho shape of money, of tho services rendored to His Highness by
them in the rebellion. Amongst others, tho Sheikhs of tho Jenebeh of Sur,
the Beni Bu Ali, Beni Hina, Hishem Beni Bu, Hasan Beni Umar, Naeem,
Beni Rasib Hijriocn, Beni Oomer visited Maskat during the past year, with
the object of obtaining money from His Highness tho Sultan. This system of
subsidising the Sheikhs outside Maskat, which was instituted by Sayyed Turki
has been a source of great weakness to the Sultan, as naturally the Sheikh’s
demands continued increasing and so payment to them of subsidies without
effecting any great good tends to keep the Sultan impoverished.
161. During tho month of May and June 1895 several small disturbances
External A., December 1895. Noi. 66*77. occurred in the interior, but none of
Maskat Administration Report, 1895-96. these disturbances exceeded the normal
inter-tribal disputes of past years. The only importance to be attached to
these inter-tribal disputes is that Saleh bin Ali on several occasions tried to
turn these disputes to account but not successfully. One of the more important
of these inter-tribal disputes was the one that occurred in June between
the Nazar assisted by the Beni Rian and the Yemen with the Beni ltuwaheh at
Zikki. This dispute at one time threatened to lead to a general rising and
much bloodshed and as Saleh was endeavouring to turn this to account, His
Highness deputed his elder brother Sayyed Mahomed bin Turki to proceed to
Semail and effect a settlement. Sayyed Mahomed left in Juno under
as escort of Hinawis and returned in July after restoring tranquillity. In
tho month of July tho Beni Bu Hasan attacked the Beni Bu Ali at Jalaan,
but no very serious consequences ensued.
162. Owing to the murder of a Ruwahi by a Hadraraee in September the
peace of the Semail valley was again disturbed and fighting ensued between
the Ghafiri and the Hinawis.
163. Nothing further occurred in Oman to break the peace until November
when Sheikh Badr bin Hilal bin Zahir of tho Beni Hina was assassinated at
Nezwah by the Beni Shikeyil.
164. This occurrence induced His Highness the Sultan to send Suleiman
bin Suweilim, Wali of Dhofar, by the Sur road to Nezwah to attempt a
reconciliation, between the opposing factions, and to induce the Beni Hina in
Ghafat to evacuate Nezwah, and to obtain possession of this, the ancient capital
of Oman, for the Sultan. With a view to bringing pressure to bear
upon the Beni Hina, Suleiman bin Suweilim obtained possession of Ghafat.
This act was naturally viewed with apprehension by Saleh bin AJi and Saood
bin Azzan who moved in the direction of Nezwah, but before their intrigues
could be of any effect, Suleiman bin Suweilim had already obtained possession
of Nezwah by the simple expedient of buying out the garrison. Having
successfully accomplished his mission, Suleiman bin Saweilim returned to