File 3939/1926 Pt 6 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties. Persian Gulf Section.' [‎632r] (699/818)

2
OMAN (MUSCAT).
'3?
retained until the occupation of Hasa by the Turks. In 1800 they made
their first appearance in Oman. They reduced all the sea-coast of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from Basrah to Dabai, released the Chiefs of Zahira and
Sohar from allegiance to Muscat, and forced) Saiyid Sultan to beg for a
three years’ truce, which they broke soon after. They would probably
have conquered all Oman if they had not been stopped by the assassina
tion of their Chief.
Saiyid Said, the second son of Saiyid Sultan, succeeded Badr bin Saif
in 180T. This Chief, to whom the religious title of Imam was not con
ceded by the Arabs, ruled for fifty years, during which time he cultivated
a close intercourse with the British Government. In 1808, smarting
under the insults of the Wahabis whose agents were forcibly converting
his subjects in his very capital, he roused the Arab tribes in Oman to a
combination against them. If Muscat had fallen under the AVahabis,
Saiyid Said would have been drawn into the general system ot piracy,
which they encouraged, and would have been converted from a friend into
a dangerous enemy. The British Government, therefore, resolved to
support him. An'armament was accordingly sent towards the close ot
1809 which destroyed the piratical boats at llas-ul-Khaima, mga , an
Laft’, and bombarded and tool Shinns. No arrangements, however, were
-made to secure permanently the advantage then obtained .1 iracy wa
soon renewed, and it became necessary to send another ^d.tmn agarnefi
the pirates in 1819, in which also Saiyid baid co-operated. .With
rexceptions 3 till the year 1822, when a Treaty (No. Ill) was concluded
for the suppression of slavery, there is nothing requiring special notice
in the intercourse between the British Government and Saiyid Sa d wto
, was chiefly occupied in wars with Ins rivals, the Kawasim, and in fruitless
attempts to possess himself of the island of Bahrein.
The treaty of 1822 aimed at the suppression of the foreign slave trade
with Chr"tiL nations only, and not of the trade with Mu—-
countries and within the Muscat dominions excep in ases
ping; and the permission given nnder the^e^y^^ to
seize slave ships east of the line den Indian Naw In 1839,
Majesty’s ships only and not «sse s o with Saiyid Said
however, a Treaty of Commerce (No II) was conc! w hi c h
by Her Majesty’s plenipotentiary ^ ^at, J-y the^th ^ ^ ^
he confirmed the treaty of 182- IP searct ant i seizure to
with Christian countries, and conceded p ^ ^ Boyal Navy
vessels of the East India Company as J r ' Resident in the Persian
I„ December ol the same year be ag-d ^thrte Be ^ ^ ^
Gulf to add three additional boundary laid down m
authorising the right of ^rcl andexteml g easteru boull dary of the
the treaty of 1822 from Din Head to Passani, tn coa9ts of
Muscat possession on the Makran coast, so as to