'File 8/62 III PRINCIPAL SHAIKHS & TRIBES of OMAN.' [‎11r] (21/70)

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A still more nebulous condition prevails in the Buraimi
area* There it would seen that neither the Imam nor the Sultan nor" ^
any other chief has any paramount authority and the four chief tribes
claimed by the Sultan to be Omani and within his territories, the
Naim| Beni Ka*ab, Beni Qitab and A1 Bu Shamis (actually an offshoot
of the Naim) are virtually independent and likely to remain so until
it is seen who wins in the bid for oil expected to be develooed in that
neighbourhood* Nearly all the Shaikhs visited the Sultan in 1948
and.received hospitality and presents from him. The general oonjfensus
of^opinion, however, seems to have been that he was niggardly in his
gifts and not many will feel it worth the effort or the trouble to
cone again. The Sultan is certainly careful with his money, and reports
of his large increase in revenue from Customs with no corresponding
increase in largesse or amenities have also aroused unfavourable comment
in quarters other than purely tribal. But in this case the Sultan
prooably realises the dominating influence of the two principal Hinacwi
and Ghafiri Shaikhs, and has concentrated upon them* He certainly
treated them handsomely enough as the following notes upon their tribes
will show, though to what avail time cnly will show.
Religion itself plays little or no part in the tribal politics
and no mention has been made of it in the notes. For details of ths
religion of each tribe reference may be made to Lorimer's Gazetteer.
The bulk of the Hinawi tribe belongs to the Ibadhi sect of Islam,
whilst of their Ghafiri opponents considerable nunbers are orthodox
Sunnis, and a few follow the Whahabi faith, to which they were
converted at the time of the Whahabi invasions in the early 19 th
century. But the dominant soot is still Ibadhi, whose tenets were
adopted as the national Omani faith in the 8 th century of the
Christian era.
For the present even the Hinawi and Ghafiri rivalry seems to
have died down under the Omani triumvirate, and the chief rivalry,
though fortunately at present of a peaceful nature, is between the
Sultan and the Imam. Upon the letters death anything nay hap on,
vicGont or otherwise, and it is well • ;JLgh impossible to predict,
though si^w are in favour of a continuation of present arrangements.
The Sultan, on the other hand, is trying hard, and seems
confident of his ultimate success. This would certainly make for
greater unity in the Sultanate as a whole, and suit our own interests
oetter; and the Sultan should receive our support wherever possible:
a factor which in itself might be decisive.
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