"تقرير عن إدارة المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط لسنة ١٨٨٢-١٨٨٣." [و‎‎٤‎٢‎٣] (١٦٦/٣٢)

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1882-83.
Ameer, prepared to re-occupy Bereymee, and ^Azzan-bin-Keis and his
brother Ibraheem hastened to meet the danger. The Wahabees, how
ever, retired to Nejd on account of difficulties in their rear.
Seyyid Toorkee, who was now free to act in ^Oman, thinking the
time favourable, appeared on the scene, and landed on the so-called
" pirate coast" in the spring of 1870. On this occasion Seyyid Toorkee
was unsuccessful and obliged to return to Bunder ■'Abbas, but in Sep
tember, the same year, he again landed in ■'Oman, and defeated ^Azan-
bin-Keis at Dhank in El-Bhahirah with heavy loss. Seyyid Toorkee then
proceeded himself to the south-east of 'Oman, gathering considerable
forces as he went. Of these he placed a portion under command of
Seyf-bin Suleiman, Chief of the Beni-Riyam.
In January 1871 Seyf-bin-Suleiman attacked Matrah, and ^Azzan-
bin-Keis, having fallen in the encounter, Matrah and Muscat fell into the
hands of Seyyid Toorkee's adherents. Seyf-bin-Suleiman, the victorious
leader, was also killed on this occasion.
The accession of Seyyid Toorkee was generally popular in 'Oman,
, the tribes having somewhat resented the vigor-
Se„id Toorkee-bin-Sa eed, ^ centralizing policy adopted by Se y y i d 'Azzan
and El-Khaleylee. The latter person died a few days after the capture
of M uscat in confinement. ^
The leader of the ^Azzan faction was thereafter Ibraheem-bin-Keis,
who, for some time, maintained himself in Sohar.
During the next few years desultory efforts were made by the late
Saltan Seyyid Salim, and by Seyyid 'Abdul 'Azeez, a younger brother of
Seyyid Toorkee, to oust the latter. These proceedings led to both
princes being arrested on the sea by British authority, and detained in
Sind, where Seyyid Salim died in 1876. Seyyid 'Abdul Azeez was
subsequently invited by Seyyid Toorkee to return to Muscat to assist
him in the administration, but jealousies soon arose, and the plan was
unsuccessful. Seyyid Toorkee, feeling his position embanassing, letired
temporarily to Gwadur, on the Mekran coast, leaving Seyyid Abdul
'Azeez to deal with the affairs of the State. Ihe latter, having scanty
funds at his disposal, and being besides naturally less open-handed than
Toorkee, soon became unpopular and encountered opposition. Seyyid
Toorkee returned suddenly to Muscat in his brother s absence, and
resumed the reins of government. 'Abdul 'Azeez retired to theintenoi,
where he awaits an opportunity of possessing himself of the chief power.
During Sevyid Toorkee's reign, which has been the reveif-e or vl gp i "
ous, several attempts have been made to capture Muscat, in which
Ibraheem-bin-Keis, Salih-bin-Ali, El-Harthee, and Seyyid Abdul Azeez
have at times taken part; but these expeditions have not been conducted
with much skill or earnestness. .
Who will eventually establish his power in succession to the present
Sultan cannot with any confidence be predicted. Seyyid loorkee s sons
are young and inexperienced, and in Seyyid 'Abdul 'Azeez and beyvi
Ibraheem they will have formidable rivals. There are not wanting also
symptoms of plotting on the part of leaders of the Hinawee ac ion o
'Oman, with a view to a complete change of dynasty.
E. C. ROSS.
January, 1883.
i