"تقرير إداري للمقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط عن الفترة ١٨٨٨-١٨٨٩." [و‎‎٥‎٩] (٦٠/٢٦)

residency and muscat political agency FOE 1S88-89.
25
putation proceeded to Ras-el-Kheimah in the 23rd August and
returned to Muskat on 29th idem, bringing as prisoners four Sheikhs of the
Knmzarand three of the Bern Huieeyah, who, on arrival, were confined in Tort
Jellali.
Meanwhile news had been received that Seyyid Ibrahim-bin-Keis was on
the point of starting to seize Awabee. Seyyid Feysal wrote to the Ibriyeen to
defend Awabee, and to the Wali of Nakhl to give any assistance in his power.
The Ibriyeen, however, had been gained over by Ibrahim-bin-Keis, and re
mained aloof from the struggle. Awahee feU on 2nd September after a stout
resistance, in which the son of the Akeed Ali-hin-Seif El-Ibree was killed.
On hearing of this, Seyyid Peysal determined on an expedition against
Rostak, the stronghold of Seyyid Ibrahim, and wrote to the tribes to assemble
at Burkah. War materiel was despatched in the Bar as salami under Seyyid
Hamad-bin-Nasir and an escort of Arabs to reinforce the garrison at Burkah.
Seyyid Ibrahim had written by this time to explain his seizure of Awabee.
He stated that the inhabitants had asked him to expel the Governor for his
oppression towards them, and, as he considered Awabee to be one of his own
forts, he had acceded. It seems that Awahee had originally been held in his
interests by the Ibriyeen, who had afterwards delivered it oyer to the late
Sultan.
On 18th September, accordingly, His Highness started for Burkah in
his steamer the Sultanee, accompanied by his brother Seyyid Muhammad,
Sheikh Tahnoon-bin-Za'eed-bin-Khalifah of Abu-Dhabbi and all the principal
al -bu-Sa'eedees of Muscat, except Seyyids Hilal and Muhammad-bin-Azzan,
The expedition, however, proved a failure. Almost from the first there was
defection in Seyyid Eeysal's army, the Chiefs with him preferring to try and
arrange a peace between him and Seyyid Ibrahim to fighting. Want of money
to pay the troops further operated to this end. It appears that, on landing at
Burkah, His .Highness proceeded to Washeyl near Rostak, where the people
of the surrounding country tendered their submission to him. A fight took
place between the two forces which resulted in Seyyid Feysal establishing him
self in the Mizarse bastion, after which he proceeded to shell the fort of Rostak.
The Yal Saad tribe had in the meantime risen, and were attacking Scyyid Peysal's
line of communications with the sea. This led to a request that Her Majesty's
Ship Turquoise might be sent to the Batinah Coast to make a counter-demon
stration, which, however, was not acceded to.
The Sultan's army now became completely disaffected, refusing to fight any
longer, and Seyyid Eeysal was compelled to make peace. His Highness returned
to Muskat on 17th October, after a fruitless absence of a month, and Awabee
remained in the hands of Seyyid Ibrahim, to whom also hopes appear to have
been held out for the renewal of the subsidy enjoyed by him during Seyyid
Turki's life-time. In December, the Yal Saad, who rose against Seyyid Feysal
during the Rostak expedition, sent messengers to Muskat to ask pardon for
their action. His Highness accepted the apology and pardoned the tribe.
A letter was received by His Highness the Sultan from Sheikh Saleh-bin-
Ali and Joomah-bin-Saeed, in which it was proposed that Seyyid Abdul Aziz
should be sent to the East Coast of Africa, there to assist the local tribes in
repelling the advances of the Germans in that quarter. Such a course, if
successful, they said, would result in honour and fame to the Sultan, and even,
if not successful, the absence of Abdul Aziz from 'Oman would be ensured.
The writer suggested that, if necessary, the British Government should be
consulted on the point. Seyyid Feysal replied in very short and decisive terms
that he did not care to entertain the proposal for a moment, and that Seyyid
E