‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎86r] (11/114)

Events preceding the arbitration by the Government of India-
Colonel Russell overtook Syed Thoweynee's squadron at Ilas-el-IIud,
and found His Highness with a force consisting of a frigate, a large
corvette, a brig and a troop ship; half a dozen buglas having gone
on to Zanzibar with troops On reading the letter addressed to hirn
by the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Syed Thoweynee at once agreed to submit
the differences with his brother to the arbitration of the British Government,
and gave orders for the return of the expedition to Muscat, despatching a
messenger ostensibly to recall the buglas which had sailed for Zanzibar. It
was fortunate for Syed Thoweynee that he had so readily listened to the remon
strances addressed to him; for Syed Toorkee, ruler of Sohar, had resolved to
take advantage of his absence to attack Muscat—a project which was defeated
by his brother's unexpected return.
Syed Thoweynee delivered to Colonel Russell his reply to Lord Elphin-
stone's letter. In it he intimated that he had followed His Lordship s advice,
and hoped the Government would see that his claims were fully complied with.
The claims, as mentioned by himself, were as follows:
" Article first —that there shall be one consolidated State without any division, Zanzibar
being subordinate to Muscat; and that the interests ot the one shall be identified with those
of the other, as during the time of our father and forefathers.
" Article second —has reference to a settlement effected by brother Mahomed bin Salem
between us^ with the common consent of all parties, that he (Majid) should pay me annually a
sum of forty thousand French dollars. In the event of Oman being involved in any hostilities,
Zanzibar shall afford assistance, as it has always been the practice for Zanzibar to assist Oman.
" Article third— the property of the orphans shall be given up by him (Majid) and
deposited with a trustworthy person, in whose custody all parties may feel satisfied that it will
be safe.
" Article fourth —that brother Majid shall indemnify me for all the losses entailed upon me
on account of the expense of despatching an army in consequence of his opposition and
disobedience/'
3. Preparations for resistance at Zanzibar, and state of affairs
there .—In the meantime great preparations were being made by S\ed Majid
at Zanzibar to resist the threatened aggression. He equipped five ships-of-
war carrying a very respectable armament, and collected a force of about
20,000 men, composed of Arabs, Beloochees, Mekranees, and others, and ^as
prepared to resist his brother to the utmost. The people of Zanzibar were
unanimously in his favor, and it appeared probable that, had a collision actually
taken place, the chances were in favor of a successful resistance. On learning
that Syed Thoweynee had, through British intervention, been induced to return
to Muscat, and that the Government of India had offered to arbitrate between
himself and his brother, Syed Majid manifested the deepest gratitude to
Government for having saved his country from anarchy and bloodshed.
Regarding the means of resistance possessed by Syed Majid, Captain
Rigby, Her Majesty's Consul and British Agent at Zanzibar, wrote—
" His Highness Syed Majid had equipped five ships-of-war of the armament as per
OI , & margin. In addition to these he has the fnsate Jictona,
FiedmonteZ ... 36 " „ 32 guns, which has her masts struck, and acts as a guard ship
Artemisi ... 22 „ f or 'ihe Port of Zanzibar ; he is also expecting a new corvette
^Africa ^ 00n<1 " 4 " of 22 guns from Bombay.
"His Hi-hness "has about 1,400 irregular soldiers, composed of Beloochees, Mekranees,
and Arabs from Hadramant, and a few Turkish gunners; most of the soldiers are distributed,
fn ordinary times, at the towns and ports on the main land. Since the expectation of hostilities
they have all been called to Zanzibar, with the exception of the garrisons of Keelwa and
Mombass. ^ ^ above His Highne8S has distributed about 20 000 American muskets
and carbines to the African tribes and Sowahilis, the Comoro men and the Negro slaves. Most