تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [ظ‎‎١‎٤] (٦٠٢/٣٣)

26 ADMINISTRATION "REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
reply having been returned by Sa^eed, a brisk trade sprung up, for the better regulation of which
a new convention was signed by Sa'eed on the 30th March 1882. This convention appears fa
have remained in force until the negociation of tke French Commercial Treaty of 1844.
During this year, 1817, and the next, Sa'eed was entirely occupied with internal disorders ,
and in contending with his naval enemies, the Kowasim, who attacked and made themselves
masters of Khor Fakan. Later on, however, the fall of Dereyeh caused great alarm at Eas-el-
Khaimah, and the Kowasim, dreading the approach of the Egyptians, became anxious to make
an alliance with Sa'eed against them. Sa^eed was too well advised, however, to entertain such a
proposition. The reign of piracy in the Gulf was now doomed. For twenty years the Kowasim,
notwithstanding the efforts of British cruisers, had maintained the sway of rapine over maritime
commerce, but the patience of the Indian Government was at length exhausted. At the close of
1819 the British expeditionary force under Sir W. G. Keir arrived at Muscat, when Sa^eed
offered to supplement it by a land force of 4,000 men and three ships of war. This was
accepted by the General, and Sa'eed accompanied the expedition to Ras-el-Khaimah, where
the Commander was successful in completely breaking the power iof the pirate chiefs and in
arranging by treaty for the future good order and tranquillity of the whole Gulf.
A few months later a joint expedition was undertaken by the British and by Sa^eed
against the Beni Boo Ali tribe in Jaalan, the immediate cause of which, so far as the British
were concerned, was the murder of the interpreter of the Mercury brig, which had been de
spatched to El Askhara to enquire into certain piratical acts committed by the tribe. On the
termination of his operations General Keir had left a force in the Gulf as a temporary mea
sure to ensure the observance of his treaties and to preserve order. Parts of this force, consist
ing of six companies of Native Infantry and six guns, was now embarked by the Political
Agent, Captain Thompson, who had resolved on immediate hostilities, and taken from Kishno to
Muscat. Sa'eed had for some years been at variance with the Beni Boo Ali tribe on account of
their having coalesced with the Wahabees and adopted their tenets in 1811, and he had since
been seeking for an opportunity to crush them. The expedition was undoubtedly due in part
to Sa'eed's instigation and encouragement, and he had been allowed to join it with about 1,000
men. Captain Thompson sailed from Muscat to Soor, and the combined force marched from
that port to the Beni Boo Ali country on the 1st November 182-0. The tribes were summoned
to surrender, practically unconditionally, by Sa'eed, but refused to give up their arms, and a eon-
test ensued, in which the British force was completely defeated with a loss of 6 officers, 270
men, and all the guns. The survivors retreated by way of Sharkiyeh and 'Oman through the
Wady Akk to Muscat, where they arrived on the 17th November. Sa'eed displayed great gal
lantry and coolness throughout the affair, and was wounded while endeavouring to save a
British soldier. In acknowledgment of his services a sword of honour was presented to him
by the Governor General. To retrieve this disaster, a large force was despatched under General
Sir Lionel Smith from Bombay in January 1821. The General attacked Beni Boo Ali in
March, and after severe fighting destroyed the forts and almost annihilated the tribe, which to
this day has never recovered its former strength and prestige. Sa'eed was not permitted to
take part in this campaign, though he personally accompanied the troops. It was during his
absence from Muscat on this occasion that he had to mourn the death of his elder brother Salim,
who died of paralysis in February 1821. A large number of prisoners of the Beni Boo Ali
were carried to Bombay by General Smith, where they were detained for about two years, and
were then released and sent back to 'Oman. By order of the Court of Directors intercession
was made with Sa'eed on behalf of the survivors of the tribe, for forgiveness and permission to
return to their country. This intercession on the part of the British Government roused Sa'eed's
jealousy and suspicion, and, though he yielded after some hesitation, it was only with a bad
grace.
In 1822 Captain F. Moresby, R.N., Her Majesty's ship Minai, was ordered to Muscat to
conclude a treaty with Sa'eed for the suppression of the slave trade. Sa'eed granted all the
concessions asked for, which would, if strictly enforced, have caused him a loss of £5 000 or
£6,000 a year.
Relieved from all troubles, foreign and domestic, and feeling that he had securely consoli
dated his power, Sa'eed now undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca. He appointed his nephew,
Mohammed-bin-Salim,, Regent during his absence and sailed in the Liverpool fseventy-four,
which had been specially repaired for the voyage in Bombay, in March 1824. This journey
was performed with great pomp and magnificence, and was most costly to Sa'eed. The Pasha
of Egypt, Mohammed Ali, sent officers to meet him, and nothing was omitted by them and the
Turkish Governor to give Sa'eed a, fitting reception on his arrival at Jeddah. On his journey