"تقرير إداري عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط عن الفترة ١٨٨٤-١٨٨٥." [و‎‎١‎٣] (١٣٠/٢١)

1 Q
EESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOE 1884-85.
APPENDIX A TO P A UT II.
VISIT OF POLITICAL AGENT, MUSCAT, TO EAS FARTAK.
On the 16th August 1883, the S. S. Airy, laden with wheat and bound for Port Said
from Bombay, ran aground at Ras Nishton near Cape Fartak and became a total wreck-
The crew, however, got safely ashore in the boats and were hospitably received and entertained
by the Mahras, who forwarded them shortly after in a bugla hired for the purpose to Muscat.
The Government of India, on receiving a report of the circumstances, sanctioned the pre
sentation of rewards, to the value of Rs. 500, to the Sultan of Kesheen and the Chiefs of Nish
ton and Sihoot for the kind treatment and hospitality shown by them to the shipwrecked
seamen, and the Political Agent was instructed to convey these presents personally and dis
tribute them.
The Political Resident, Persian Gulf, having arranged with Captain Anson for a passage in
Her Majesty's ship Dragon, the Political Agent left Muscat on the 10th December 1884,
and proceeded first to Kesheen, where he arrived on the 15 th December.
On landing, the Political Agent accompanied by Captain Anson, had an interview with
Sultan Abdulla, and after thanking him on behalf of the Government of India for his friendly
action in affording protection to the crew of the S. S. and arranging for their trans
mission to Muscat, the Political Agent presented him with the gifts that had been prepared
for his acceptance.
Sultan Abdulla said that directly lie heard et the wreck he had sent orders by his nephew,
Abdulla -hin-Muhammad, to Dhaboot for the crew to be properly cared for and to be conveyed
to Muscat as soon as a bugla could be procured, and he was glad that Ins action had merited
the approbation and notice of Government.
The Sultan stated at the interview that the whole Mahra tribe were^his subjects, and
that his rule extended along the coast from Mesenaat to Kas Tharbat Ah. He promis
that shipwrecked crews of any nationality should always find protection and hospitality from
his people within his temtoiies.
From Kesheen the Dragon proceeded to Sihoot, where a visit was paid to Sultan Saad-.
bin-salim who was in charge of the town during the absence of the Governor Sultan
Muhammad -bin-Omar. The latter is the son of tbe last Sultan of Kesheen, Omar-bin-Towan
Who was visited by Captain S. B. Haines and was the rightful successor, but he was
young at the time of his father's death to assume power, and it passed on to his cousin
Abdullah, the present Sultan.
Siboot is a long straggling town, larger than Kesheen. and more busy and thriving. It
has 250 houses and about 2,000 inhabitants, a very large proportion of whom are negroes,
ihe exports are frankincense, salt-fish, barley, sardine oil, and shark fins ; and the imports in
do h &C are considerable, as S.hoot is the main depSt for the supply of the populous Wady
Maseelah. There are four banian traders from Cutch here, who keep shops and appear to be
^ Chano-in^ course at Sihoot, the Dragon steamed back to Ras Fartak, near the extreme
• t Wt. there is a fishino- village named Khesheyt, a place frequented by Zanzi-
point of wh « cargoes Intended for the Hadhramant market. The Governor or
tor slavers a h ' and ° f ^r ad a town 5 miles inland, is Ali, a nephew of old Sheikh
'Eesa inentioned by Haines. After visiting Khesheyt, the Political Agent proceeded to Nishton.
Ancient Greek writers named this promontory Syagros, having apparently confounded
it wS aL sanS another large headland further to the east. The Mahras name it
the most striking and, after Ras Sajar, the largest promontory on the southern
It is the most g rem arkable natural feature. On tbe western side the rise
coast of A ^ bla ' a b ^ ind the mar itimc plain of Kesheen coming to a sudden
.8 somewhat gradual, the ran e behi ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
termination at 2,000 feet in height and
rising sheer ^m the sea ^nd presenting^p it is in fact a se rie 8 of narrow
6 miles in extent. co & rres ponding with the strata and indented with numerous caves