'File 35/134 I A. 40. Sur: Amirs of Jaalan' [‎42r] (96/596)

Enclo. 1 to Serial No. S4. £ /f./frffj, 4^ k °
Conhdential lettee peom^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 His Beitannic 5
Majesty's Consul, Muscat, to the Seceetary to the Hon'ble the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulp, Bushire, No. 0.-71
dated THE 28TH APRIL 1928.
I have the honour to forward herewith, for the information of the Hon'ble
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and for such action as he may
deem necessary, the following report on the present situation at Sur.
2. In order to make the position there clear, I have deemed it necessary
to include m the report short historical suinmaries of the two tribes involved
which I have compiled from the files and records in the Consulate These
have been included in the lorm of appendices.
Appendix I.—Historical Summary of the Bani Bu Ali.
Appendix II.—Historical Summary of the Jenebeh:
Appendix III.—Short Summary of recent events.
3. Sur, the second largest town in Oman, owes its importance lar^elv to
its being the nearest dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. harbour to India in Arabia. It has been for a con
siderable period the chief distributing centre for the slave trade. Dhows nlv
regularly from Sur to Bombay and Karachi, Socotra, Aden, Zanzibar and the
Atncan coast; also up the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and to the Mekran coast' There
is quite a considerable trade with India and a small colony of Indian traders
have been resident there for many years.
4. The town is situated on both sides of the entrance of a creek The
quarter on the east is called Aiqa and is occupied by the Bani Bu Ali tribe
That on the west is called Miqraimatain and is occupied by the Jenebeh Behind
the town about two miles from the sea is a ridge ai^d on the plain behind the
ridge is Balad As Sur, a stone built village where the Wali resides. Part of it
is known as Suq Sur. A large part of the water supply of Sur is obtained from
Balad As Sur, and it was m order to keep the town in check by commanding
the water supply that this site was determined on for the Wali's residence.
5 In 1901, in order to facilitate the collection of dues at Suv, the Sultan
er ^ i. a i lne bIock " hailses between Sur and Balad As Sur. In connection
with the above block-houses 100 extra sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. were engaged, but this g-arrison
does not appear to have been kept up.
6. Both the Bani Bu Ali and Jenebeh tribes who inhabit Sur have been
somewhat unruly subjects of the Sultan of Muscat, but in recent years there
has been one fundamental difference between them. Whilst the Bani Bu AM
appear to be united under their Amirs, the Jenebeh are divided amongst
themselves by a blood feud which started about 1913 and has been kept un
more or less ever since, " i
7. In formor years the Jenebeh were united under a Temeemeh Shaikh
chosen from the Majaala section who lived at Nezwa and Masirah. Jn the
time of Colonel Miles the Temeemeh was Nasir bin Khamees who was regard
ed with veneration and had despotic power. He resided near Nezwa and took