تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [و‎‎٢‎٩‎٣] (٦٠٢/٥٩٠)

EESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905. 19 %
remaining 95 were giving manumission papers in the usual manner. Of this
number 85 were Africans, for whose! disposal the usual arrangements were made,
and 60 were either Persians or Baluchis who had been exported from Jask
and certain Mekran ports to Sohar and other places on the Batineh Coast. In
connection with this latter traffic strong measures have been and are being
taken by His Highness the Sultan to deal effectively with such of his subjects
as have been concerned in it. The chief offender on this side appears to have
been one Jemadar Abdullah, the Commander of His Highness's garrison at
Sohar, who was in league with certain Persians at and near Jask. This
Jemadar has recently undergone a period of imprisonment in Maskat on this
account, and has now, it is said, fled to Baluchistan ; while representations
regarding the share taken by their subjects in the traffic have been addressed
to the Persian Government. It is to be hoped that these representations will
be renewed until they meet with some result as it is dfficult to deal successfully
with a matter of this kind unless both parties co-operate heartily.
8. The great social event of the year in Maskat was the marriage of Sayyid Marriage of
Taimoor, the Sultan's eldest son, to a daughter of Sayyid Ali-bin-Salim-bin- Taimoor.
Thowayni, His Highness's cousin. This took place in December and was
accompanied with general feasting and rejoicing among all classes and com
munities. His Highness the Sultan entertained each community in Maskat
and Mattrah separately as well as a number of visitors from outlying stations,
and invited the European representatives and their families to dinner in
honour of the occasion. Th§ Political Agent paid a special complimentary
visit to the bridegroom during which he presented the congratulations of
Government and a Silver Coffee and Tea Service as a token of their regard.
9. The event of the year which gave most trouble and anxiety both to Marine.
His Highness the Sultan and to the Political Agent was the massacre of a
boat's crew of the S. S. Baron Inverdale on Maseerah Island in August
last. This unfortunate vessel, the property of Messrs. Hogarth of Glasgow, was
on her way from Karachi to Aden and grounded on Kabbya Island, one of
Kuria-Muria group, on the 2nd August. Three days later, the master, officers,
and crew (with the exception of eight men who preferred to remain on board)
with one boy passenger, embarked in two of the ship's boats, intending, it is
believed, to cross over to Dhofar, and travel thence by land to Maskat or some
other place of security. The total number of persons who left the ship appears
to have been 23, of whom 17 embarked in the larger boat, and six in the
smaller. These boats were not successful in reaching Dhofar, but were carried
out to sea. The smaller of the two has never been beard of since, and was
probably lost in the heavy monsoon sea which must have prevailed to compel
the boats to alter their course. The larger boat journeyed on northwards, either
under compulsion by the sea or with the hope of eventually reaching Maskat,
and about the 15th August arrived off the Island of Maseerah. It is not
known exactly what took place there, but in all probability the natives saw
the boat coming and wished to plunder its contents, the occupants naturally
objected, and a dispute ensued which culminated in the massacre of the boat's
crew, and the confiscation by the Arabs of whatever money and supplies they
found with them. It is certain that no person remained alive of the unfortu
nate refugees.
The first news of this tragic occurrence to reach Maskat was contained in
a letter to His Highness the Sultan from Sheikh Isa-bin-Saleh (referred to in
the commencement of this report), who stated that a rumour had reached him
to the effect that 17 f< Englishmen" had been massacred on Maseerah Island.
This following upon a report which had reached to the Political Agent two or
three days before (23rd August) regarding the wreck of the Baron Inverdale
raised suspicions that the two events might be connected, and the Government
of India were communicated with the result of which was that H. M. S.
Lapwing was despatched from Karachi to the scene of the supposed crime,
and H. M. S. Merlin was placed at the disposal of the Political Agent for
a, visit to Maseerah Island in company with His Highness the Sultan.
Neither expedition was productive of result, the matter was successfully
concealed and both parties returned to Maskat, H. M. S. Lapwing on
the 8th and H. M. S. Merlin on the 18th September without having gained