File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎133v] (264/450)

subjects of complaint the bombardment of Barkah by the “ Fox ” in 1914, and the fact
that direct trade between the coast towns and Aden, Karachi, and Bombay was stopped,
all vessels being obliged to call at Maskat and pay duty there. ^
In Auo-ust the rebel chiefs communicated with the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in a letter
signed by the Imam, Isa ibn Salih, Hamyar, and the cadi. They requested him#
arrano-e for a meeting with the Imam’s representative, Shaykh Isa ibn Salih, near Sib.
They added with no little effrontery that the meeting must take place as soon as
possible since the Imam had collected a large body of troops for the purpose of attacking
the Sultan and could not postpone operations for more than a few days. He had
gathered together the heads of the rebellious tribes at Sarur, near Samail, to hear the
upshot of the Conference,
The projected meeting was approved, and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. went to Sib on the
10th September in H.M.S. “ Dalhousie,” but news was brought to him by Humwaid al
Fulaiti that owing to trouble in the interior Isa ibn Salih would not be able to come
to Sib till the 15th September. The excuse seemed to be genuine, the trouble in
question was the murder of the Shaykh of the important Hinawi tribe of the Bam
Ali, Khalaf ibn Siuan, and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. consented to return on September 1915.
On that date he met Shaykh Isa, his brother, and the cadi of the Imam ; the
grievances and demands of the rebels were discussed, and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. came to
the conclusion that, with one or two exceptions, they did not seem to be incapable of
adjustment. The main difficulty arose over the Sultan’s demand for the surrender of
the Samail forts. Shaykh Isa was at lirst inclined to agree, but he was overcome by
the bigotry of the cadi, who declared that the forts could never be surrendered in the
Imam’s lifetime, and supported his attitude by references to the Shara. Shaykh Isa
gave way, and the demand was unconditionally refused.
Since the Conference the rebels have been reported at action in preparation and
propaganda. In October 1915 the Imam and Shaykh Isa were said to be in Sharqiyah
awaiting the arrival of Shaykh Hemyar to attack Sur. All the local tribes had joined
them except the Bani Bu Hasan (Hinawa) and the Jannabah (Ghafiri). The people of
Sur were much alarmed, and had sent messages to Saiyid Nadir, the Sultan’s brother,
asking for help.
In November news reached Maskat that Ali ibn Salih, brother of Shaykh Isa, had
fallen out with the latter and was seeking the Sultan’s friendship. Shaykh Isa’s
brothers, Ali and Hamad, are mere marauders, much inferior to him in political calibre.
The Hahbiyin, a Ghafiri tribe, usually followers of the Sultans of Maskat, were said to
be about to attack the British garrison at Bait al Falaj.
In June 1916 a further defection from the Sultan took place. Shaykh Nasir ibn
Hwmaia, principal fehaykh of Bahlah, was obliged to make peace with the Imam.and to
turn out Muzaffir, the Sultans Wall in the coast town of Khaburah, who was with him
in the fort at Bahlah. Shaykh Nasir is a man of forcible character, who attained his
position about 1885 by^ the murder of his two brothers. He was a protegd of the
Sultan, who had paid him a large sum of money and given him, in addition, arms,
ammunition, and rice. He was obliged to take refuge at Araqi, on the extreme western
limit of Oman, in fear of his life.
According to the last reports (July 1916), the Imam is near Nakhl, in the fertile
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma awal, and is said to intend to make himself master of the whole complex of
valleys which passes under that name. The neighbouring Shaykh of Mazahit, near
Hustaq had joined him—a defection from the Sultan of 500 to 1,000 men. Towards
the end of July, rlamact ibn Ibrahim, a cousin and friend of the Sultan, in more or less
independent possession of the forts of Rustaq and Hazam, surrendered to the Imam,
borne discussion concerning him had arisen between the Imam and Shaykh Isa, the
ormer wis mg to remove him from Hustaq, while the latter was in favour of his being
allowed to remain.
The incidence of Ramazan has, of course, helped to delay any active revival of the
rebellion, but the trend of current reports seems to indicate that Maskat affairs may
come into prominence again during the coming winter