'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part II. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎2631] (1148/1262)

The next item in the programme was the return by the Viceroy of
the visit which the Sultan had paid him on board the a Hardinge. - " From
the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Lord Curzon returned by boat to the jetty, where he was
received by the Sultan in person, a guard of honour of 30 British marines
with a band being also in attendance; the way from the ^ pier
to the Sultanas palace lay along a street carpeted, sheltered by awnings,
and completely lined by a guard of His Highnesses ^Askaris. At length
the Viceroy and his staff on foot, individually conducted by the Sultan
and his suite, reached the Barzah or audience chamber of the palace, a long
room upon the sea-front with an elevated dais at one end upon which
the two principal personages took their seats; the staff and suite lined
the Walls, and in the body and at the further end of the hall Were accom
modated some 70 or 80 Shaikhs and representative men, from various parts
of the interior, who had been summoned to Masqat for the occasion.
The room was adorned with inscriptions in English capitals upon coloured
grounds expressive of friendship for the British Crown* As soon as
formal greetings had been exchanged, the principal native ^ members of
the assemblage Were brought forward and presented to the Viceroy by 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. , and thereafter an Arabic address of welcome was read
on behalf of the Sultan and was cordially ^ acknowledged by the Viceroy.
Refreshments were next served, Saiyid Taimur, the heir-apparent, person
ally Waiting upon the Viceroy. The harmony of the proceedings was
at one moment slightly disturbed by the conduct of Saiyid Muham
mad the Sultan's half-brother, who stood up and requested a private inter
view with the Viceroy for the purpose of making a representation; it
was understood that he wished to press his claims to succeed Saiyid Faisal,
should the latter abdicate, in preference to Saiyid Taimur, but he was
easilv pacified. At an interview with the Political Eesident 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. the next morning, Saiyid Muhammad pressed his claims
to the succession ; but, when the weakness of his case Was explained_to him,
he agreed to drop the matter. It should be noted that, at the^ Sultan s
desire Saiyid Muhammad received precedence over Saiyid Taimur on all
ceremonial occasions during the Viceroy's visit upon tbe ^round of hiB
seniority in years. At the conclusion of the interview the Sultan con
ducted Lord Curzon back to the pier, and the Viceroy returned on board
the " Hardinge "at about 5 p.m . Motley crowds of Masqatis and
'Omanis from the interior thronged the beach and streets throughout the
day and evinced both curiosity and friendliness. _
Meanwhile H. M. S. " Sphinx" had arrived from Bushehr bringing
Sir A. Hardinge, His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Tehran, wjo desired
to confer with the Viceroy before his arrival on the Persian Coast. Tberc
were now lying in the haAour six vessels of the Royal Navy, besides
the "HarLfe" and the « Lawrence, "-by far the most powerful
sqtiadron that had ever flown the flag of a single power m the waters
of Masqat.
in the evening Their Excellencies gave a large dinner party on
board the "Hardinge," to which Sir Arthur Hardinge, Rear-Admira
Atkinson-Willes, the senior naval officers of the squadron, the local
officers and the Consular representatives of France and America
were invited,—in all about 70 persons; and about 60 additional guests
attended a reception which was held after the dinner.
Lord Ciir-
zon's visit to
the Sultan.
Arrival of
the British
Minister in
Persia.
Dinner and
illumina-
tions*