'File 35/134 I A. 40. Sur: Amirs of Jaalan' [‎122r] (280/596)

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During the Wahabi invasion of 18.12-3, Salim bin AH, Temeemak
Sheikh of the Bani Bu Ali, became their bnpporter, helping them against
the Bani Bu Hassan.
In consequence of the part which Salim bin Ali had taken against the
Bani Bu Hassan, there was a feud between the two tribes which resulted in
a light wherein Salim bin Ali and some of his people were killed ; some of
the Bani Bu Hassan also fell, and as neither side would give in, the war
between them continued, and has been carried on more or less constantly
ever since.
16. Mahomed bin Ali, who succeeded Salim bin Ali as Temeemah,
seceded from the tenets of the Ibadiyah and adopted those of the Wahabi,
.throwing off the authority,of the Imam.
17. In 1820 Saiyid Said, having heard that Mahomed bin Ali had
induced many of the inhabitants of Jaalan to adopt his creed, and that his
followers among the A1 Ashkarah had plundered many English ships wrecked
there, applied to the English to aid him in an expedition against Mahomed
bin Ali and his confederates. The Bani Bu Ali murdered the messenger
carrying a letter to the chiefs from the British party investigating reports
of piracy near Ras el Hadd. Captain Thompson, in charge of operations,
decided^ to avenge the act, and with a small force consisting of six
•companies, sailed to Muscat, where plans were made for the Sultan to
reinforce him at Sur. The combined force marched on Balad Bani Bu All,
the capital of the tribe, but proved entirely inadequate, and after attempting
to take the town, were sharply repulsed. Six out of eight officers and
270 men were killed. In January 1821 Major-General Sir Lionel Smith
sailed with two brigades to restore British influence in the gulf. From Sur,
they also marched to Balad Bani Bu Ali, which surrendered after most
of the defending force had been killed or captured. The Sheikh, Mahomed
bin Ali, was deported to Bombay. (Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from
India, Vol. VI.)*
18. As late as 1815 the Bani Bu Ali were strict if not fanatical in the
observance of the Wahabi principles. They have since relaxed something
of their rigour and have resumed the smoking of tobacco, but they continue
.to be exact in their observance of the forms and times of prayer. ' (Lorimer
Vol. II., p. OG.) '
19. In 1854 Sultan Saiyid Said stated that the Bani Bu Ali had long
withdrawn from allegiance to him.
20. In the early part of the reign of Saiyid Thoweynee [1856-66] the
Bani Bu Ali and the Bani Bu Hassan were almost constantly engaged in
petty skirmishes against each other, in which Sheikh Abdulla bin "Salim,
the grandson of Mahomed bin Ali, at the head of the Bani Bu Ali, generally
won ihe day. About the same time a series of raids was committed by the
Wahibah against the Bani Bu Ali, these raids culminating in a serious
-engagement at Theeleyeh, in which Sheikh Abdulla greatly distinguished
himself by totally defeating and routing the enemy."I"
_ 21. Towards Saiyid Thoweynee his attitude was that of neutrality, but
-Saiyid Salim during his reign [1866-8], having had reason to suspect
treachery on the part of the Hinawi garrison at Muscat, sent a large present
to Sheikh Abdulla and requested his help to defend him in his position.
Sheikh Abdulla gladly removed to Muscat with 300 men and garrisoned it,
fbut, owing to the vacillatory policy of Saiyid Salim, was dismissed after a
stay of four months and returned to JaaJan. Soon after this, Saiyid Azzan-
bin-Khais, on coming to power in 1868, summoned him and^ the other
Sheikhs of the Bani Bu Ali to Muscat to render their submission, and on
their having refused to visit him, he marched against the Bani Bu Ali, seized
three of the Sheikhs of the tribe and threw them into prison at Muscat.
* A good description of these operations arid the subsequent proceedings is contained in
the Annual Administration .Reports, 1883-4, page 26.
f Abdulla bin Salim was not actually Temeemah of the Bani Bu Ali till 1867, in which
jear the Temeemah Mahomed bin Majid Avas murdered; but he certainly took a very
jprominent part in affairs before that date.