Page 81 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

G5
hold and no such pompous demonstration mado as on this occasion. On the 21st
October, Mons. Ottavi, accompanied by tho Commander of the Scorpion, had
an interview of the Sultan lasting t'vo and a half hours, and on tho sumo even­
ing Ilis Uighuoss informed Savyid Said of his dismissal.
301. On tho 24th October, the Sultan presented the Commander of the
Scorpion with one gold mounted sword of honour, six gold cofleocup stands, two
large silver trays, besides the usual presont of haltca and fruit. On the 24th
Scorpion left Maskat in a south-easterly direction under sail.
(vi) Dismissal ofVazir Said-bin-Mahomed and appointment of Mahomed-bin-Azan
in liis place.
302. Sayyid Said-bin-Mahomed was tho most onlightencd and able of the
Sultan’s subjects. Ho wus wise enough to see the folly of the Sultan in
rushing into the arms of the French, simply out of spite to bis real friends and
protectors, tho British. Sayyid Said was thus tho only stumbling-block in the
way of M. Ottavi and his minion Abdul Aziz. It was therefore necessary to
bring about bis downfall and in this they succeeded when tho French ship the
Scorpion visited Maskat.
303. On tho downfall of Sayyid Said, Sayyid Mabotned-bin-Azan was
appointed Vazir. A fow words about
Soa Major Fagan (s> Political Rciidcnt, No. 108,
dated 2(>lh March 1893. the autecedeuta of this man. Sayyid
*<ecret K., July 18'JU, No*. 4-93 (No. 8). Mahomed-bin-Azan was appointed Vazir
See aUo paragraph 50, ante.
in 1SS9 and continued in that capacity
till November 1806, when the Sultan received a number of letters written by
him to the lato Sheikh Saleh-bin-Ali, the leader of tho rebellion of 1896, and
others of liis Highness* enemies giving them certain information and advice
of a treasonable character. Sayyid Mahomed acknowledged his guilt and was
cast into prison, from which ho was released on payment of a fine of 20,000
dollars. Under theso circumstances, it is scarcely to bo wondered that Sayyid
Mahomed was secretly an enemy of tho Sultan and would bo glad to seo him
embroil himself with the English. The man was in his dotage and illiterate,
and could wield little influence with cither tho Sultan or any of tho Arab
Sheikhs. Yet in the absence of anybody else, be would be a ready tool in the
bands of tho Froncli for gaining their purpose, with the assistance of Abdul
Aziz.
(vii) Insurrection of the Jenebeh at Sur and Sultan’s anxiety for the so-called French
subjects.

304. In 1898 there arose a serious difficulty between the Sultan and the
Secret E., February 1S99, Nos. 93-189. Jenebeh tribe, which threatened to lead
Major Pagan to Colonel Meade— to serious disturbances. Tho Governor of
No. 359 dated 30ih Septemoer 1S98.
No. 379. dated 13th October 1898. Sur at the time was Suleiman bin Suvey-
No. 390, dated 23od October 1898. lim, while he was also Governor of
Sohar. On 21st March 189S, be visited Sur and announced that lie would
abolish what is called the Kaffir system, under which the person and pro­
perty of anybody passing through another tribal territory and securing
an escort of that tribe, was considered under the protection of it. The Jenebeh
tribe felt very indignant. On tho same day Suleiman left Sur, leaving bis son
12 or 13 years'old in charge of the Governorship. 8oon after tnis boy—
presumably under instructions of tho Sultan—began to build a new fort
commanding tho water-supply of the town as well as the caravan route to the
interior.
305. This and other high-handed acts so incensed the Jenebeh tribesmen
that their four fakhaids or sections combined and memorialized the Sultan
demanding removal of Suleiman’s son and the stopping of the fort; but no notice
was taken of this memorial, and the Sultan turned a deaf year to a deputation
that waited for him on 4th May. Thereupon Abdullah bin Salim, Temimeh
of Beni Bu Ali, represented the matter to the Sultan and obtained orders from
him to stop the work on tho new fort. But the Jenebeh insisted also on tho
removal of Suleiman’s son.
[C973FD]