‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎91v] (22/114)

Events preceding the arbitration by the Government of India-
an unpopular or tyrannical ruler; but it was not so. Syed Bur^ash had been provided with a
jarrre sum of money by the ruler of Muscat, pnrposely to stir up a revolution; he had also
been generously provided by His Highness with a sum of ten thousand dollars, only the day
before' he fled into the interior. With this money he was enabled to attract to him a great
number of mercenary Arabs, who come here from the north, ea^er for any opportunity to
rob and plunder; and it is at this season that they usually arrive here by thousands. Whilst
the Sultan was at Beitel Ras he sent me a private note saying that he was certain the French
Consul had instigated Syed Burgash to rebel. That day Her Majesty's steamer Lpix arrived here,
and Lieutenant Berkeley informed me that the French corvette Cordeliere had sailed from
Mozambique, it was supposed for Zanzibar direct, and it was, therefore, probable that on the
arrival of the Cordeliere the French would openly protect Syed Burgash, as during the
former visit of that vessel. The town was being rapidly deserted: no food of any description
was procurable in the markets for several days; there are nearly five thousand peaceable
British subjects residing here, who looked only to me for protection of their lives and property ;
one respectable Indian merchant had been murdered, and I foresaw entire ruin and anarchy,
unless the rebellion were speedily suppressed, for the savage passions of these semi-barbarous
races were being aroused. These considerations induced me to afford the aid requested, and I
trust that my proceedings, during what has been a period of great anxiety and responsibility,
may meet the approval of His Lordship in Council.'^
On being informed of Captain Rigby's proceedings, the Government of
India praised him highly for the sound judgment exercised by him throughout
the whole transaction. •
18. Commander Cruttenden's mission to Muscat. Consent of Syed
Thowetnee to abide by arbitration of Government.— On receipt of the
orders of the Government of India {vide para. 14) the Bombay Government
had despatched Commander Cruttenden, of the Indian Navy, in Her Majesty's
steamer Feroze to Muscat in order to communicate the substance of the
orders to Syed Thoweynee. That officer arrived at his destination on the
12th September, and found that Syed Thoweynee had just returned from an
expedition against his brother, Syed Toorkee, which had terminated without
bloodshed, owing, it was said, to the remonstrances of the Resident at Bushire
and the mediation of the Aboothabee Chief.
On the day after his arrival at Muscat, Commander Cruttenden waited on
the Sultan and informed him of the subject of his mission. The latter was
greatly chagrined at the refusal of the Government of India to recognize him
as his brother's suzerain, and seemed to think his case had been prejudged.
He denied that he had acted in any way contrary to good faith, and said that
all he wanted was a fair settlement of his claims against Zanzibar and his
brother, whom he accused of exciting his brother, Syed Toorkee of Sohar, to
rebel against by sending up to him about four months previously in a French
vessel a quantity of treasure, powder, shot, and arms, all of which were landed.
He complained that he had no one to represent his side of the question to
Government, who heard such lengthened-details from the British Consul at
Zanzibar of his (Syed Thoweynee's) acts that they could not help believing
them. He denied the justice of the division of his father's property, declaring
that he had left no will; that, had he done so, his two sons, Burgash and Faisul,
who were with him when he died, would have been cognizant of it, and that
if Syed Majid held Zanzibar, it ought to be on payment of an annual sum to
the elder brother. Commander Cruttenden's report continued—
" His Highness further accused his brother at Zanzibar of having c devoured' the shares
of the late Irnam^s property left to the younger branches of the family, and of having failed
to fulfil his promise of an annual payment of 40,000 German Crowns as guaranteed in the
agreement made between them by Syed Mahomed bin Salem, and which agreement, in
original, was now at Muscat.
" I pressed to be allowed to see this document, but was told that it was in Syed Mahomed
bin Salem s house, and that he was absent on the pilgrimage, but daily expected in the
ship ^agof. The Sayof did arrive two days afterwards, but the Syed had remained behind.
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