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'Report on Sur. By Major G. P. Murphy, I.A., Indian Political Department, Political Agent, Muscat' [92r] (17/20)
The record is made up of 1 file (10 folios). It was created in Jan 1929. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
17
such dues and the British authorities were obliged to take cognisance of the
matter. British war vessels visited the spot in 1877, 1879 and 1880. All
tolls on trading vessels entering the Khor were then finally abolished.
(Lorimer, Vol. J, p. 515; also Narrative of Muscat Affairs.)
10^. The latest nows from Sur is that the caravan mentioned above left
Sur for Budiyah on the 29th September accompanied as far as Qalab Bay eh
by an escort of Fuwaris and Wali’s askaris. Beyond Qalab Rayeh it was
seized by a party of Bani Bu Ali, assisted by Ghialin and Makhana, and
taken to Aiqa. The Wali sent a letter to the Amirs protesting against this,
but they have refused to restore the caravan.
YI.—Review of the Situation at Sur.
103. Hitherto the policy pursued with regard to the slave trade, arms
traffic and ill-treatment of British subjects at Sur may be summarised in the
words of Major (now Sir) P. Z. Cox in Ids Report No. 373, dated 29th August
1902 : —
“ It must be conceded that the present Sultan has been in a great
measure powerless to do much to stop the ingress of newly captured negroes,
and at any rate during the time that the question of the French flag has
been in process of negotiation between His Highness and the French
Government it would have been ill-advised on our part to put upon him
any special pressure in this connection; but I venture to submit that the
recent purchase of a steamer for him and the fact that the question of the
French flag seems to be shaping to a settlement, affords a convenient and
fitting opportunity for the address to His Highness of a strong exhortation
on the subject of Sur and its connection with the trade in arms and slaves
and as to his own position in regard thereto.”
104. The purchase of a small patrol steamer in 1926 has proved no more
effective as regards Sur than it did in 1902, whilst the total armed force of
the Muscat Infantry which could be made available for despatch to Sur is
about 70 men. Such a force would be inadequate to meet a determined
attack on the part of the tribesmen and could not look for reinforcement
from Muscat.
105. Both the Sultan and the Council of Ministers realise that they are
not strong enough to deal with the situation without the support" and
assistance of the British Government, and that unless they obtain such
assistance the little control which the Muscat authorities exercise over Sur
will cease. They have definitely asked for such assistance. The prestige
of the Muscat Government rests at present on the support which they are
able to obtain from the British Government. Without such support the
State is impotent. If assistance were withheld the result would be far-
reaching, as every part of the country would be affected.
106. A number of Arabs in Oman are of opinion that the British
Government are not anxious to see a strong rule established at Muscat and
that they would countenance the formation of another independent authority
in Jaalan. This, I have heard, is the opinion of the Amirs of Jaalan.
Considered politically and in its bearings on the welfare of the Muscat
State and the general peace of Oman, it seems most undesirable that any
such claim should be countenanced. The Amirs could not maintain their
independence, and the almost inevitable result of such a claim being allowed
would tend to foster the intrigues for extraneous support which the Amirs
are now active in fomenting.
107. Whether Mahomed bin Naser has the approval of Ibn Sand for
hoisting his flag at Aiqa seems doubtful, but the extension of Ibn Sand’s
influence to this part of the coast would seem to be undesirable.^
* In 1865 His Excellency the Governor of Bombay pointed out the evil effect of the
revival of Wahabi power on the Indian Ocean with regard to piracy and slave trading and
that these aggressions threatened seriously to injure Muscat, a power which for several
generations past has been the only representative of civilisation and order in Eastern Arabi
He proposed that aid be afforded to the Sultan to re-establish his authority in fSur or anv
other place on the seaboard of which his rebellious subjects or the Wahabis may have donr^v JI
him. (Minute dated 9th October 1865.) y nave deprived
3393
C
About this item
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Report on Sur by Major Gerald Patrick Murphy, 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. of Muscat, dated 9 October 1928.
It is divided into the following sections:
- I. – 'Geographical Description of Sur' – including an introduction to the tribes who inhabit it;
- II. – 'Historical Summary of the Bani Bu Ali' – including their origin, religion, engagements, expeditions, and feuds;
- III. – 'Historical Summary of the Jenebeh' – including their origin, feuds, criminal activities, and fines;
- IV. – 'The Slave Trade at Sur' – including British efforts in the suppression of the slave trade, treaties, a description of a captured slave vessel, and use the of the French flag as protection for slaving operations;
- V. – 'Summary of recent Events in Sur' – including the building of new forts, establishment of a new customs post, the question of the Sultan's authority, criminal activities, and customs dues;
- VI. – 'Review of the Situation at Sur' – including the policy pursued so far, request for assistance by the Sultan, the value of Sur in terms of prestige, and the form of assistance to be taken;
- appendix 1. – 'Early History of Sur';
- appendix 2. – 'Wrecks and Piracy'.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (10 folios)
- Arrangement
The file consists of a single report and contains a table of contents at the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 84, and terminates at f 93, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- IOR/L/PS/18/B416
- Title
- 'Report on Sur. By Major G. P. Murphy, I.A., Indian Political Department, Political Agent, Muscat'
- Pages
- 84r:89v, 90v:93v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence