"تقرير إداري عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط عن الفترة ١٩٠٢-١٩٠٣" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٨] (٧٢/٢٣)

RESIDENCY AjSFD MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1902-1903
the cluef Sheik j was brouglit back to Maskat. The murderer was subse
quently executed, ou 6th May, but apparently on further inquiry the Sheikh
was found not to be implicated personally and was released. A punitive fine
was however levied in cash.
4!. Later in the }eai an unfortunate incident was reported from Nezwa ^szwa.
Saiyid Seif bin Ilamed the Wali of this important town, who is by birth an
Al-Bu-Saeedi {i.e., of the same stock as the ruling house) and having risen to
his present position under tragic circumstances, now leads an insecure existence
within the confines of the JSTezwa fort, had reason to suspect a plot against his
life among a party of Jennebeh tribesmen visiting the town and ordered his
Negro guard to effect their arrest. The guard proceeded to do so, but the
Jennebeh shewing fight the Askaris used their rifles and killed four of them.
A good deal of consternation was caused by this regrettable occurrence when the
report, which lost nothing in the telling, reached Maskat, and it was feared that
it might result in a general rising of the Jennebeh and an attack in force upon
the Nezwa fort. Indeed, if matters had so turned out, there would have been
small cause for wonder, but the Sultan lost no time in dispatching a deputation
to the vicinity to pacify the Jennebeh, and fortunately with a successful result,
no further bloodshed ensuing. This took place in October. Later on as soon
as matters had subsided sufficiently to enable him to travel with any degree of
safety, the Wali journeyed into Maskat to present his report personally to the
Sultan, and has since returned to Nezwa.
5. The affairs of this appanage of the Oman Sultanate have been a good deal Gwadur.
in evidence during the past year owing chiefly to the results of a change of
Walis. There were, no doubt, at the time of his transfer, a number of petty
complaints against the late incumbent, and, as he had been there many years,
the Sultan thought it expedient to give him a transfer. His successor has how
ever shewn himself unfitted for such a responsible post and it is confidently hoped
that now the Sultan realises that Gwadur affairs are not working as smoothly as
they ought, he will definitely decide to try a new man or reinstate his former
representative, Saif bin Saeed, whose return seems to be generally desired by the
public at Gwadur.
It must not be overlooked that His Highness is in a difficult position in
such matters owing to the extreme paucity among his Arab subjects of officials
upon whom sufficient reliance can be placed when they are deputed to positions
of authority away from head-quarters. Tor this reason he naturally hesitates to
make changes in appointments until thoroughly convinced that no other remedy
is left open to him.
6. The Political Agent was absent from Maskat during the year under Political
report on four occasions, as follows : — Agent's Tours
{a) On the 6th April 1902, he proceeded to Bushire on H.M.S.
Redbreast to confer with the Resident on various matters, and
from thence, under instructions from the latter returned to
Fujeyrah, on the Oman coast, north of the Batineh, to endeavour Fujeyrah.
to bring Sheikh Hamid bin Abdullah, Chief of the Sharkiyyeen,
to reason in regard to the actively hostile attitude which he has
latterly assumed towards the Joasmi. The stubborn old veteran,
however, refused to be convinced. His case is still engaging the
attention of the Resident in the Persian Gulf, in connection
with the Pirate coast questions, but it nevertheless claims passing
mention in a chronicle of Maskat affairs, in that bheikh Hamid,
at an earlier stage of the case, applied to the Sultan for assistance
against his alleged oppressors, the Joasmi. ^ On the advice ot
the Resident, however, His Highness has wisely abstained irom
espousing his cause or otherwise participating in the quarrel.
7. JEn route to Pujeyrah H. M. S. Redbreast touched at the islets of
Parur, Nabi-ul-Farur, Sirri, Abu Musa, IS abi-ul- Tanb and Tanb and it was
noticed that the Persian flag was still flying over the main Arab village on e
•sian Flag on
island of Sirri, as it was in 1C87-1888, vide Persian Gulf Admimstratxon Report sirri Island,
for that year. The fact was duly reported to the Resident in the 1 ersian (jiut.