"٣٣ ملف ٦٦٥ عداوات بين الشيخ زايد والشيخ جاسم" [و‎‎٢‎٩‎٩] (٨٤٥/٦٣٢)

7
outrages on him* (Zaeed) or his tribesmen, and I hoped that the Government
• F»r from true. f 0ul< * ^dress onr wrongs and punish
..... him tor his violent deeds. And what
ever humiliation we have suffered at his hands, and whatever outrage he has
done to us, I have complained about the same to the officials of the Govern
ment who have been in these parts, and they have given us fair promises and
fed us on strong hopes up to date, but no result has followed.
On this account when Zaeed found no opposition from the Government,
nor any rebuke, he held the Government in contempt and thought that the
High Government had no sense of honor and was neglectful of her territories
which she would not render secure nor protect her subjects, he longed to seize
Katr and its districts and include them in Omanf; accordingly he prepared
t This is absurd. an arm y un der his son Khaleefah and
brother-in-law, Mohamed-bin-Saif, and des
patched them to seize the town of Katr, while we and the inhabitants were
in safety and protection of God and the High Government, and we never
thought that he would dare to this extent, nay even a great power would not
have dared to act thus against a town under the protection of the flag of the
High Government and we were all away from the town of El-Katr, and
my son Ali and some other inhabitants only were in the town. They attacked
them about the time of morning prayer, on the 18th RamadthanJ 1305 A.
t 30th May 1888. ^ an( * ^7 ^ere taken unawares. They
• ,. , . Se ^ up an uproar, and whoever came out
oi his house in response to the call, was slain in front of the door of his •
house, and God so decreed that Ali my son was among those who were
slam, there were fifty other leading men of the town slain, and an equal
number or perhaps more, wounded. The messenger brought this news to
us after some time. When they heard that our towns people were about to re-
caive reinforcements they plundered what they could, and returned. And I
and my tribesmen arrived after the whole thing was over, (as decreed by God),
and the enemy had departed. We wanted to pursue them, so that God might
grant us revenge, but we feared to undertake any thing previous to referring the
matter to Government, which might not approve our proceedings.§ So we
§ This is an artful colouring. trusted in God and made no hurry, pend-
iug reference of the matter to the High
Government. Indeed this daring act of Zaeed is derogatory to the Govern
ment, because I am her servant and under her protection, though before we
came to place ourselves under the Government protection he had power to act
m this daring manner. So if the Government be moved by the sense of its
honor, and guard its sublime position against insult, all well: if not let it shut
its eyes against our acts, and give us permission to act against Zaeed, and the
territories of Oman. And if I seize him then both I and he will be at the orders
of God and the Government. My sense of honor has been moved in view to se-
cure and keep intact the respect and honor of the High Government and do things
which are beneficial to its interests. Because securing the territory of Oman and
including it to her within the jurisdiction of Nejdasit was before, will add
the name and honor of the Government, and will prove beneficial her Treasury.
But the Government is neglectful of this, and I do not know whether this
neglect emanates from herself or that the high officials do not report these mat
ters to the Government, in a correct manner. May you for ever continue to be
the ornament, enjoying high position and honors, and ever-lasting relic of the
renowned families of Arab. I consider your and my condition as the same ;
anythmg adding to my honor, I believe, will give you pleasure in the same way
that increase of your honor gives me pleasure.
Any loss, is a loss to all of us. "With full hopes in you, I have been induce-
ed to communicate the matter to you and give all details. I know that, thanks
to God, your advice is accepted by the Government. I hope therefore you will re
present the matter to the Sultan, and by the favor of God I hope our object will
v Tv^ 1 * 0 1 ? lus ^ k 0 . one ^ wo things, i .e., that the Government will under
take the task of seizing Oman, and we shall give our aid in the matter in every