File 3939/1926 Pt 6 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties. Persian Gulf Section.' [‎631r] (697/818)

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[PART HI.
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Treaties and Engagements
relating to
Oman (Muscat).
I N the middle of the seventeenth century the Muscat 'Arabs, having
driven the Portuguese, who had occupied the Oman coast since 1507,
from Muscat, established their ascendancy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and, by
the end of the century, had gained possession of Mombasa and other ports
on the African coast. In the reign of Nadir Shah the Persians invaded
Oman and gained supremacy over the country for some time, but were
eventually expelled by Ahmad bin Said, the Arab Governor of Sohar, a’
town on the liatinah coast about 150 miles north-west of Muscat, who
contemptuously rejected Nadir Shah’s claims to tribute. For this service
Ahmad was elected Imam in 1741 and founded the present dynasty of
the A1 Bu Saidis. lie died in 1775 and was succeeded by his second son
Said who, however, proved an incapable ruler, and ten years later the
power was usurped by the fifth son, Sultan. It was in 1798, during
the rule of this Chief, that the first Treaty (No. I) with Muscat was
negotiated by* the Company’s Agent at Bushire, with a view to exclude
from Muscat the prejudicial influence of the French, with whom Saiyid
Sultan was brought in contact through his trade with Mauritius. [When
Sir John Malcolm visited Muscat on his first mission to Persia in 1800, he
formed another Engagement (No. II) with Saiyid Sultan, stipulating for
the strict observance of the previous treaty and for the residence of an
English gentleman in an official capacity at Muscat.
Saiyid Sultan bin Ahmad was killed in 1804 in a contest at sea with
his enemies, the Atubis and Kawasim. The rights of his two young sons
.were disputed by their uncles, especially by Saivid Eais of Sohar, who
aimed at usurping the government of Oman. To oppose their uncle a
pretensions the two youths put themselves in the hands of their cousin
Saiyid Badr bin Saif, who called in the Wahabis, and with their help
defeated Saiyid Kais and recovered Bandar Abbas and Hormuz, which
had been seized by, the Shaikh of Qishm. The weakness resulting from
this disputed succession gave the WahaW * footing in Muscat which they
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