نسخة مذيلة من "بلاد فارس والشأن الفارسي" بقلم جورج كرزون، مع أوراق مدرجة [و‎‎٧‎٦‎٨] (١٨١٤/١٥٥٢)

ARAB DESCENT
MUSCAT.
MARAUDERS DRIVEN OFF.
The India Office makes the following
announcement :—
The tribal rising against the Sultan of Muscat
which began in the summer of 1913, and which
his Highness has not yet succeeded in finally
quelling, has recently gathered some force and
culminated in an attack on the outposts of
Muscat on the 10th and 11th instant.
Detachments of the 95th Infantry and the
102nd Grenadiers had previously been sent to
support the Sultan’s forces and the attack was
driven back, the rebel casualties amounting to
500 men. There have been no further attacks,
and the rebels are reported to be greatly dis
heartened.
Our casualties :—Captain Coates, 102nd,
wounded, five rank and file killed, and 18
wounded of the same regiment. No report
from 95th.
(from our correspondent.)
DELHI, Jan. 18.
It is 1 hoped that the heavy defeat of the rebels
at Muscat will end the vexatious situation
which has existed since Sheikh Abdullah raised
an insurrection in 1913, necessitating the con
tinued presence of Indian troops. The rebels,
led by Issi-Bin-Salih, the chief supporter of
the Pretender, attacked the pickets protecting
Muscat at 2 o’clock in the morning, and were
driven off with an estimated loss of 500. Our
casualties were :—Captain Coates, 102nd Grena
diers, wounded; six sepoys killed and 14
wounded.
A TROUBLESOME ENEMY.
The Sultans of Oman have been in a difficult
position for a good many years. The/ hold
their capital of Muscat, the adjacent town of
Matra, one or two other coast towns, and
certain points in the interior, but as they
possess few troops they find themselves unable
to control the roving Beduin who wander at
will over most of the State. When the Beduin
wanted money they were wont to ride down
to Matra, the centre of the date trade, and
threaten to sack the town. The late Sultan,
who died in 1913, was generally compelled to
bribe them to go away.
The rising which began in 1913 was a more
serious affair. A Pretender, Sheikh Abdullah,
seized the inland town of Semail, which stands
in a spacious fertile valley where are grown
most of the dates for which Muscat is famous.
Great Britain has special interests at Muscat,
based upon various documents, the chief of
which is one drafted in 1891-2. The late Sultan
asked us to protect him against the Pretender.
We said we would protect his capital and coasts,
but could not send , an expedition into the
interior against the elusive Beduin. We sent
Indian troops to Muscat, and they have been
there ever smce. It is quite probable that the
tribesmen were excited by the news of the
Great War, and determined to push their own
operations more vigorously. They have not
seriously attacked Muscat before. Now that
they have given our troops a chance of punish
ing them, which was exactly what we wanted,
it is probable that the rising will subside.