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Mask at had come to he much under French influence, and it was improbable
that ho would readily consent to our proposal regarding arms, customs, et
cetera, unless \vc took stronger line than hitherto adopted and that wo should
impress upon him our interests are paramount, and that ho must attend to our
advioo.
295. Tho above facts were reported by Colonel Mcado by telegram dated
5th January 1893, and on 8th January 1898, the following message was tele­
graphed to him by lbo Government of India :—
«Your action is approved, but phase remember that, in view of French activity, Her
Majesty's Government especially dosiro to maintain friendly relations with, as well as influence
over Sultan. You should, thereforo, do your utmost to secure his confidence and good will.
You might remind him of assistance wo have giveu in financial matters and at Dhofar."
(iv) Outrages against British Naval officers by Sultan’s omployes.
296. On 28th January 1898, Lieutenants Brandon and Sterling and Gun­
Extornal A., Juno 1893, Nob. 13-21 ner Jennings of the Cossack loft their ship
Lottor No. 5», dated 9th Fobs non it98, from At 10 a.m., and on their way to Matrah
Major Fagan to tho Besidcut.
w ere wantonly assaulted by one Kibrit, a
GhJlam of tho Sultan, and then forcibly dragged to the Riyam gate and
detained there by Sabir-bin-Sowail, an official of tho Sultan’s household.
Taufik-bin-Ali, another Sultan’s official, arrived on the scene. The throe British
officers were thereupon taken in custody to the palaco and there released. The
Political Agent arrived at Alaskat on the 31st and succeeded in getting Kibrit
publicly flogged oti 5th February, while the two of the Sultan’s officials were
marched off in irons to the jail. The latter two were released on 10th April
at the Agent’s request.
297. What is important to note boro that such a daring proceeding on the
part of Sultan’s servants would hardly have been possible in Alaskat, unless the
atmosphere in the Sultan’s palace was charged with a considerable anti-British
feeling. The Sultan too was found very reluctant to inflict a public punishment
for a most wanton insult to British officers, which was so open, and consider­
able pressure had to be brought to bear upon His Highuess, before be could be
induced to punish the culprits in the manuer described.

(v) Visit of French gunboats to Maskat and Sultan’s warm welcome to the French
Commander.
298. A French gunboat, tho Gabes, arrived at Maskat in Fobruary 1898,
and as it was afterwards found, it was on tho occasion of this visit that an
agreement dated 7tli March following was entered iuto by tho Sultan to give
the French a place for a coal depot in his dominions with right to fly the
French flag and fortify tho place (vide paragraphs 319-323 postj
299. On 7th October 1898, the French steamer Scorpion arrived at Maskat.
Political Agent*, teiegr.oj. d.tcd mb. wth 0,1 the 13tu October, a grand Darbar was
«th October Isas. held in the Sultans palace, when the
secret e., February 1899, No*, oo 180 (Nog, 93,98 French Consul accompanied by the officers
,nd 103*^ of the Scorpion presented to the Sultan
one breech-loading fiold piece complete on behalf of tho French Government.
An address was read by tho French Consul stating that the French Government
desired to cultivate closer relations with tho Sultan, to which His Highness
replied in an equally cordial manner. Flagstaffs of the French Consul and
His Highness’s forts were dressed and the tricolor flag flow all the day over
the Sultan’s saluting battery in honour of tho occasion. On the 17th October,
the Sultan visited the French man-of-war. A royal salute was fired and sbipB
were dressed all day in honour of the occasion. Abdul Aziz received a French
decoration and the Sultan gavo out that tho French Government was also
sending him an order and present of a small steamship.
300. Sayyid Said-bin-Mahomed, who had been appointed Vazir in January
1897, and had been always loyal to the British, had all along opposed the Sul­
tan’s proceedings in the affair* Ho pointed out that the British Government
had given the Sultan far more valuable presents, but that no darbars wero over

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