"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٤‎٣‎٨] (١٧٨٢/٥٨١)

438
The genera] outcome of all these evolutions, which seem to have
occupied a few weeks only, was the virtual displacement of the young
sons of Sultan from power and the substitution of Badar in their place.
Policy of the Government of India, 1805.
The British Government in India, who in the reign of Saiyid Sultan
had become accustomed to regard the state of 'Oman as a convenient
and ever-ready instrument for the repression of piracy, were much
exercised by the uncertainty of the succession at his decease, and by the
possibility of the country falling under a government less serviceable
than that of Saiyid Sultan to the objects of British policy in the Gulf,
fion^ef^t'he They accordingly re-established the British Residency at Masqat,
British Po- which had been withdrawn a few months previously, and despatched
dency 1805' Seton to take charge of it; his instructions were to support
the interest of the sons of Sultan, if this could be done by influence
without involving the British Government in hostilities with the opposite
party, but otherwise to establish friendly relations with the de facto
ruler, and in either ease to obtain recognition of the engagements of
1 798 and 1800 by the eventual successor of Saiyid Sultan. Captain
Seton on his arrival, probably in April, found Saiyid Badar in power
and well-disposed to the British Government; and from him he obtained,
in May 1805, full and satisfactory confirmation of the treaties made with
his predecessor. In the time of Saiyid Sultan, however, the Political
llesident had not been allowed to fly the British flag at Masqat, while
the house assigned him by the native government was described as a
miserable hovel; and it does not appear that any change w r as as yet made
in either of these respects. The Government of India, in re -instituting
the Masqat R esidency, declared their intention of maintaining it perma
nently ; and it was described at this time by the Government of Bombay,
though apparently placed under their orders, as existing for general
purposes, and not solely or principally for the service of Bombay."
Recovery by Badar of the dependencies of 'Oman in ersia, 1805.
agamst^ 0 " Ca P tain Seton, whose orders related chiefly to the suppression of
Bandar P irac y> a scourge now rapidly becoming intolerable, took p rt in a naval
cooperation that sailed from Masqat in May 1805 for the recovery of
Of tie Bandar 'AbhJs from the Bani Ma'in Shaikhs of Qishm, by whom it
dent, May- been appiopriated during the confusion following the death of
July 1805.