'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎332] (351/622)

332
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
tribes on the Batnah coast, as whose champion Abdullah made
his appearance, would, most probably, have joined forces
against the imbecile Toweynee. As it was, the Muscat Govern
ment got off easily by agreeing to pay the Wahabee Ameer, 12,000
crowns, besides all arrears. Thus it appears, from this retro
spect of the affairs of the Asiatic dominions of the Imauin, that
our ancient ally, or his deputies, had often cause to hail the
advent of one of the Company's ships of war, as the
machind which could alone ensure the integrity of his
dominions.
Seyyid Said died at sea, off the Seychelles, while on his
passage to Zanzibar, on board his frigate, the " Victoria," on
the 19th of October, 1856, at the age of sixty-five, after a
reign of fifty-two years, the first seventeen being in conjunction
with his brother, Salim. The body was conveyed to Zanzibar
for interment, and his death was lamented by all his subjects.
Seyyid Said left fifteen surviving sons, three of whom were
acting as his Walis, or governors, over the three chief towns
and districts of his principality. These were Toweynee, the
eldest, at Muscat; Majid, the fourth, at Zanzibar; and Toorkee,
the third, at Sohar. Majid agreed to pay Toweynee an annual
subsidy of 40,000 crowns ; but having subsequently refused to
carry out the stipulation, Toweynee, early in 1860, equipped
a powerful Expedition to coerce his brother. Under instructions
from Government, the Hon. Company's steam-frigate ' Punjaub'
sailed from Bombay for Muscat, and off Ras-ul-Had Com
mander Fonlerton encountered the Omanee squadron of seven
ships of war, having on board a large military force. Major
Russell (now Sir E. L. Russell, K.C.S.I.j, 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. ,
communicated with the leader, and informed him that the
Expedition would not be permitted to proceed, and, accordingly,
the fleet returned to Muscat, r
Eventually, both parties agreed to submit the question m
dispute to the arbitration of the Indian Government; and the
Governor-General, Lord Canning, appointed a Commission
under the presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. of Brigadier (now General Sir) vv illiam
M. Coghlan, Resident at Aden, to inquire into the merits ot
the case. On the grounds that the succession in the Imaum s
family rested on election, and that Majid was duly elected
their ruler by the people of Zanzibar, the Viceroy, on tie
recommendation of the Commission, confirmed him and tns
successors on the musnud, but directed him to pay to the in er
of Muscat an annual subsidy of 40,000 crowns^ together with
80,000 crowns, the arrears for two years. This compromise
was accepted by both parties early in 1862, and has remaine
ever since in force. . 1P
In this work we have no concern with Persian Oult p >
or the contentions of the rulers of Muscat, beyond this }ea ,