'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎107r] (220/396)

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FOU THE TEAR 1917. 41
CHAPTER VIII.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE MUSCAT AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE
YEAR 1917.
Major L. B. H. Haworth, I.A., held charge of the office of the Political
Pei , soimel Agent and His Britannic Majesty's Con
sul throughout the year.
During his absence on one month's privilege leave and recess, from the
12th October till the 30th November, Captain J. M. Brickman, 3rd Brahmans,
was in charge of current affairs.
The post of Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon continued vacant.
The Medical Officer of the 108th Infantry officiated as Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon
in addition to his other duties until the 28th May when, on the departure of
his regiment for Basrah, he was relieved by the Medical Officer, 3rd Brahmans.
Sub-Assistant Surgeon J. P. Mascarenhas remained in charge of the
Hospital and continued to do excellent work. It was intended that he should
he relieved in the month of December, but Muscat has such a bad name that
it is difficult to find any one willing to take up the appointment.
Monsieur A. Jeannier was Consul for France throughout the year.
Abdulaziz-al-Ruwahi continued as Dragoman. Monsieur Jeannier has now
been Consul for over 7 years.
At the close of the year 1916 the Sultan had been unable to make headway
against the rebellion which originated in
Condition o t e country. re ig n} 1913 j anc [ which had
deprived him of the towns of Niswa and Izki in the interior of Oman, the
Wadis Semail and Mnavval, in which valleys he and his family own con
siderable property, and of the town of Nakhl which lies near Burka and is
about 25 miles from the coast.
In the remainder of Oman proper the rebel Shaikhs had thrown off all
allegiance to the shadowy authority formerly possessed by the Saiyids or Sultans
of Oman and Muscat.
The Fort of Rostaq, and the country dependent on it, was still held by
Saiyid Ahmad bin Ibrahim bin Qais, a semi-independent chief of the Sultans
own family of Abu Said.
The rebels, apparently determined to leave nothing to any member o^
this family, decided, in the early months of the year, to complete their con
quests by taking this fort.
The leadership of the rebellion had resolved itself into a triumvirate con
sisting of the Imam, Salim bin Rashid el Kbarusi, representing the religious
element and the titular head of the movement, Shaikh Isa bin Salih el Harithi,
leader of the Hinawi section and Shaikh Hamyar bin Nasir el Nabhani, leader
of the Ghafiri section of the Omani tribes.
The attack on Rostak had not the support of the Hinawi 'leader, a fact
which has had a considerable effect upon Omani politics.
Of the three leaders Shaikh Isa has by far the greatest influence outside
of his tribe though Shaikh Hamyar has the greater tribal following.
The Chief of Rostaq had full notice of the impending attack and laid in
ammunition and suppltes. He also wrote to his cousin, the Sultan, for assist
ance and His Highness sent additional stores and ammunition but the fort was
invested before they could reach their destination.
His Highness, having obtained the assistance of the Shaikh of Baraimi,
raised a force of some 2,000 or 3,000 men and attempted to relieve Rostaq
but he was deserted by his followers, the deserters being led by the Shaikh of
Baraimi. As long as the question was one of drawing rations and money the
Sultan had a numerous and eager army but, on the approach of fighting, he
was left with only a handful of his own immediate adherents.