‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Agency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1883-84.’ [‎50r] (39/166)

RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOE 1883-84.
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his restless and enterprising spirit urged him to step over a cousin's body to seize with avidity
the reins of power at a time when his country was harassed by foreign invaders and torn by
intestine commotion. At such a time an abler and more experienced prince might well have
shrunk from accepting the burden, but Sa'eed apparently felt himself equal to the position and
proved himself to be so. His courage, capacity, and sustained energy enabled him to combat
and eventually triumph over all difficulties until he had leisure to devote to the well-being of
his own dominions, which he extended and raised to a pitch of prosperity they had never before
witnessed. In character Sa'eed was a genuine Arab and possessed the contradictory and irre-
concileable qualities common to that race. He was very courageous, and on many occasions
displayed exalted personal bravery ; he was amiable and gentle, though fiery and vindictive ;
generous, yet niggardly; just and lenient, yet too often cruel and perfidious. He appears to
have been above the average in general ability of his family, which is unquestionably one of
superior intelligence in 'Oman, and he was admittedly unrivalled in the tact and discrimination
he exhibited in dealing with the Arab tribes. One does not look for high statesmanship in a
prince accustomed to such tortuous methods of rule as Sa'eed preferred, and his frequent failures
and ill-considered campaigns are sufficient to disrobe him of any pretension to military genius.
But he can claim the distinction that he was the first Arab prince to effect the pacification of
the East Coast of Africa; that he was at one period the first naval power in the East, not ex-
cepting the British, and that by his encouragement and protection of commerce he made his
capitaf the emporium of trade between India, Persia, and Arabia, and immensely increased the
wealth of his country. Whilst still young, Sa'eed had followed the example of his father, Sultan,
and engaged extensively in trade, "freighting his ships at every port in the Indian Ocean.
Attracted by the equity of Sa'eed's government and the superior security of Muscat from
piratical neighbours, the merchants of Bahrein, Basra, and Persia soon flocked to the port, which
thus became an important entrepot and rose in a few years from an insignificant town to a city
of 60,000 inhabitants.
The rapid development of East African commerce was equally due to his fostering care and
protection, and the wisdom and foresight he displayed in this matter were rewarded by the
increase of his revenue, which was mainly derived from customs dues, from 200,000 dollars
when he first assumed power to five or six times that amount in his later days. On nothing
did Sa'eed lavish more money and attention than in acquiring and arming ships of war, and as
regards number, and so he possessed certainly a respectable fleet. The largest vessel he ever
possessed was the Liverpool, a two-decker of U guns, which put to sea in 1836, and was presented
bv Sa'eed to King William IV about ten years later. In 1847, when his navy was somewhat
reduced it is said to have consisted of 9 frigates and corvettes, of which the latest was
the Shah Allam of 5^ guns, and half a dozen sloops and brigs. Sa eed, however, had little
real u^e for his ships, and did not know how to employ them; they were never kept in
proper order, but were allowed to lie rotting in the harbour, where-the appearance of power
served nevertheless to gratify his vanity and love of ostentation in such matters. n ,
when Mohammed Ali was threatening'Oman and hostilities were anticipated, the Indian
Government had some thoughts of utilising Sa'eed's fleet in their naval operations, until it was
represented to them that, as the vessels were neither in seaworthy condition nor properly foun ,
it would require a greater expenditure than was advisable to render them fit for service.
Sa'eed's relations with the British Government were from almost the commencement of
his career of the most friendly description, and, though this was of course in part the dictate
of poUcy, for on several occasions his rule only escaped collapse by our timely intervention
yet he was unquestionably well disposed to us at heart; and the son who has followed closest
fn his father's steps in this respect, Toorkee, has been heard to say that Sa eed repeatedly
counselled his children to stand at all times loyally by the British Government, and never o
refuse any request that might be made by them. According to Oriental usage the m ima e
relations existing between the British and Muscat Governments were marked by a constant
interchange of presents. In return for the Liverpool Sa'eed was presen ed with a beautiM
yacht called the Prince Regent ; and the magnificent presents despatched by him to Hei
Majesty on the occasion of her coronation were similarly acknowledged.
Sa'eed had altogether three wives, two Persians, of whom the less said the better, and
one Arab lady, viz., Azza-bin-Seyf Al -bu-Saudee, whose only child died young. All his
other children, numbering twenty-four sons and about half as many daughters, were y
concubines.