'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎29r] (62/180)

47
The whole of Captain Hennell s proceedings were confirmed, and his zeal
and energy were highly applauded, by the Governor-General of India; but the
project of extending British protection to Baraimi, indicated in the Resident's
letter to Sa'ad-bin-Mutlaq, was negatived, along with certain other of his proposals
for more active measures against the Egyptians and their supporters in Eastern
Arabia. The Government of India considered that the larger question of Egyptian
encroachments was one for the British Cabinet; and it is probable, moreover,
that the anxieties of the first war in Afghanistan had by this time begun to cramp
their policy in other directions; but the Resident was authorised to pursue, and,
even to extend, the policy of distributing ammunition, etc., for use against the
Egyptians.
The local results of Captain Henneli's visit were not entirely satisfactory; for,
though the Egyptian agent now took his departure for 'Oqair, the Shaikh of Abu
Dhabi, in violation oi L the spirit of his freshly-formed obligations and in the interest
—as was supposed—of Sa'ad-bin-Mutlaq, proceeded in person against the Na'lm
of Baraimi; but the Na'im, though disappointed in this emergency of the help of
the Shaikh of Sharjah, stood firm and even repulsed the attacks of Khalifah-bin-
Shakhbut with such vigour as to make him desirous of peace for the sake of his
Bedouin supporters. At this juncture the Resident intervened and required the
Shaikh to make such reparation as should be satisfactory to the Na'im within
three months, on pain of being considered an enemy to the British Government and
of rendering himself liable for the payment of a lump sum of $1,000 as com
pensation to the Na'im; and eventually Shaikh Khallfah was able to produce a
letter from the Na'im Shaikhs certifying that their claims had been satisfied and
amity restored.
In January 1840 Captain Hennell revisited the coast of Trucial 'Oman and
held a meeting at 'Ajman with the Shaikhs of Baraimi, whose position he was
anxious to strengthen; the principal figure among the Shaikhs was Hamud-bin-
Sarur of the Shawamis division of the Na'im, the holders of the Baraimi forts.
The Resident was able to effect a defensive alliance against all enemies between
the Na'im and the Dhawahir inhabiting the Oasis, whose mutual hostility had
hitherto been a source of weakness; but his efforts to reconcile the Na'im with
their neighbours the Bani Qitab were not equally successful. A judicious
distribution of rice, money and ammunition, which next took place, was designed
to illustrate the advantages of the British connection and was so regulated as to
make it clear that the favours of Government would be reserved for its sincere
supporters.
On the conclusion of these proceedings Captain A. Hamerton, an officer of
the Kharag Field Force who was soon after selected to be 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. at
Masqat, travelled from Sharjah to Baraimi under the protection of Hamud-bin-
Sarur, regaining the coast at Sohar in Batinah. He found the defences of Baraimi
to consist of a main fort on the south side of the place, built of sun-dried bricks
and about 60 paces square, and of a smaller one, about 300 paces to the north
wards: Both of these were constructions of Mutlaq the Wahhabi. The Shaikhs
of Sharjah and Dibai did their utmost, by means of intrigues, to prevent Captain
Hamerton's journey.
On his return to Hasa, Sa'ad-bin-Mutlaq seems to have incurred the distrust
of his employers and to have been sent by them under surveillance to Riyadh;
but not long afterwards the Egyptian occupation came to an end, and in May 1840
the Egyptian troops were in full retreat from Najd.
The Egyptians at their withdrawal had installed Khalid as ruler of Najd, and
reports soon became current that the new Amir cherished designs upon the 'Oman.
Sa'ad-bin-Mutlaq probably still maintained a correspondence with the Trucial
Shaikhs; and in 1841 a letter addressed to him by the Shaikh of Sharjah fell into
the hands of the Na'im of Baraimi, who found that it related to a project for their
own destruction. In November 1841, the Amir Khalid being then at Hofuf in
Hasa and his movements indicating an intention to proceed against 'Oman, the
remonstrances of the British Government were conveyed to him through Lieutenant
Jopp, who landed at 'Oqair and, after visiting the Amir at his headquarters,
returned to the coast at Qatif. The Amir in his reply denied that he entertained
any designs on 'Oman; but his continuance in power after this event was so brief
as to leave it uncertain whether his assurances had been sincere.
'Abdullah, the successor of Khalid, during his brief tenure of power, opened
a correspondence with the Trucial Shaikhs, in which he announced his intention
of sending Sa'ad-bin-Mutlaq as his agent to Baraimi; but his letters, except that
Policy of
the Indian
Government.
Further
action of the
British
authorities,
1839^0.
British sup
port extended
to the
Shaikhs of
Baraimi
January
1840.
Captain
Hamerton's
journey to
Baraimi.
January and
February
1840.
Withdrawal
of the
Egyptians
from Najd,
May 1840.
Suspected
designs of the
Khalid and
"Abdullah
1871.
on 'Oman.
|i|