‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1895-96’ [‎257v] (9/92)

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administration report on the persian gulp political
The first note of impending trouble at Dhofar on the southern coast of
Arabia was sounded in the beginning of the year, when it appeared that the
Moplah outlaw, Syed Eadhl bin Alawi, contemplated a revival of his former
pretentions to that place. The Sultan was advised to take measures to secure
the safety of this remote part of his territory, but neglected to do so.
In November the fort was attacked and captured by the AUKathir tribe
from the neighbouring upland country, and the son and nephew of the
Sultan's Wali, who was himself absent at Maskat, were killed. An expedition
despatched by the Sultan for the recovery of Dhofar and the re-establishment
of his authority failed owing partly to the Shanifereh tribe declining to co
operate as had been hoped, and the Sultan at once appealed to Government to
help him, and to check the movement which he alleged to be on behalf of the
Moplah Syed Fadhl. 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. was then authorised to proceed
to T )hofar in H. M. S. "Brisk'' in order to effect the best settlement
possible under the authority of the Sultan. This mission also failed, the rebel
Shaikh and his following being found implacably hostile to Maskat and the
Sultan's rule as exercised by his Wali Shaikh Suliman bin Suweilam having
incurred much odium. The Turkish flag had been hoisted by the rebels, but
the concern of the Moplah outlaw with the movement was not clearly estab
lished.
The Sultan proposed to be ready to send reinforcements to recover Dhofar
if supported by us and was informed that the advance of his troops would be
covered by the fire of the guns of H. M. S. "Brisk" from the anchorage.
The condition of this prolTered aid being that in the future arrangement of
Dhofar affairs our advice should be followed. Much apathy and delay was
however evinced in the preparations, and shortly after the close of the year
under report the Saltan finally decided against the expedition, giving as the
ground for rejecting the aid proffered by Government, that he could not bind
himself to follow our advice in the future arrangements at Dhofar without
beinsr informed what that advice would be.
Nezwah, the former capital, and therefore enjoying a certain prestige,
was recovered for the Sultan, who had long desired its restoration. The ac
quisition was probably a costly one to His Highness.
Sayyid Saood bin Azzan made an attempt on Sohar in the Batineh, but
the timely despatch of small reinforcements by a steamer which happened to
be present sufficed to frustrate the attack.
Trade has been satisfactory. The returns show a substantial increase,
excluding specie, on the figures for last year, the improvement being nearly
equally divided between exports and imports.
2.—OMAN PIRATE COAST.
Reports having been received of an importation of slaves at Abu Dthabi,
the matter formed the subject of investigation in a visit which the Resident
made to the coast in February in the K. I. M. 8. c< Lawrence" accompanied
by 11. M. S. " Lapwing. " It was diificult to obtain exact details, there
being a general reluctance to give evidence as to specific facts or figures.
Prom the enquiry, however, the conclusion was clear that there had been
importation by sea, and that a considerable number bad been brought to
Abu Dthabi, some being probably passed on to Katr and other places. The
chief could not deny the fact that there had been an importation, but, in
admitting the fact of the traffic, sought to defend himself by alleging the
general prevalence, without check, of the traffic, and its long continuance
with the knowledge of every person on the coast, and asserting that only a
part of the slaves brought to the coast reached Abu Dthabi, after a number
had been disposed of at the intermediate ports touched at. It being impossible
to fix the number of slaves for the importation of whom the chief was respon
sible with any exactitude, while it was evident that it could not be small, it
was taken at forty, and a fine of dollars 2,100 was imposed upon the chief, after a
deduction on account of nine slaves whom he produced and delivered. These,
together with another who effected his own escape, were taken on board and
carried to Bushire, where they were set free.