'File 35/134 I A. 40. Sur: Amirs of Jaalan' [‎47v] (107/596)

34). During this period, the authority of the Sultan at Sur was being'
further ui dermined as a result of French intrigue. A plan of the harbour
at Sur, published by the French Government in 1901 showed that then' atten
tion had been directed to that place at some earlier date and in 1893 M. Chapui,
a somewhat disreputable French subject arrived at Snr in a steamer flying the
French flag and tried, but without success to obtain a site for a coal shed there.
The scheme for advancing French interests by a wide distribution of the French
flag was now bo'dly pursued. From 1892 onwards, abundant evidence was
forthcoming of the abuse of the French flag by the im orters of slaves at Sur
and in 1896 two Suri vessels under the French flag were captured by a,
British vessel in the act of carrying slaves
35. In 1900 Captian P. Z. Cox re-examined the question of the importa
tion of slaves. He found that about 1,000 slaves had been imported that year
into Sur, of which about half had been ca ried in vessels under the French flag.
In 1901 about 1,000 slaves were again imported whilst in 1902 it was reported
that the supply of slaves was abundant.
36. In 1902, 114 Arabs w T ere captured by the Poituguese in Mozninbique
whilst actuary engaged in slave trading About a thitd of them died in
confinement while the remainder 54 were sentenced to transportation for 25
years. With a few exceptions, these men belonged to the Jenebeh and Bani
Bu Ali tribes of Sur. The number of the captives who might have claimed
French protection was never ascertained but it was admitted by one of them
before the Por' u uese authoriiies that two of the vessels captured flew the"French
flag
37. In the Administration report for 1902-03, Captain Grey wrote ;
" This port 'rom wiiich there is a considerable direct import and export trade,
and which should be an important factor in the Suban's revenue continues to
bring him little or nothing, and must inevitably remain a bad bargain to His
Highness unless and until the much discussed question of the French flag in
Oman is brought to a definite adjustment. So long as a large sprinkling of
the chief inhabitants of this turbulent corner of Oman can evade the Sultan's
jurisdiction and set his local governor at defiance in matters of administration,
fiscal or otherwise, on the plea that they and their families and their property
are under French protection, so long will they continue to leaven the whole
population with a spirit of disregard lor constituted authority, and make it
impossible for the ruler of Muscat to bring the administration of Sur to that
state of reasonable efficiency which its importance as a trade emporium de
mands, and which wonld otherwise be possible.
88. About 1913 a blood feud started between the Arama and Makhana
sections of the Jenebeb which has continued ever since. In 1918 His
Highness the Sultan visited Sur and fined the Jenebeh Rs. 14,000 and imprison
ed 26 Sheikhs. This action kept the peace for about two years.
39. In 1919 the Muscat customs were reorganized and the people of Sur,
seeing that in future the dues would be more strictly enforced refused to
allow a customs house to be built. In 1920 Captain Mac Collum, the then
Wmir went to Sur in H, M. S. 44 Britomart " and the Jenebeh agreed to
accept the new arrangements Things went smootlily for a short while and
then smuggling began again and had continued ever since. The customs
hcuse was not built, difficulties being invariably placed in the way, and the
Wali became as powerless and inept as ever,
40. Spasmodic murdering went on, and in 1923, the Council of Ministers
sent Sheikh Rashid, Minister for Religious Affairs, to endeavour to put an end
to the feuds. He returned having been openly flouted and having accom
plished nothing. In July Zuber, Minister of Justice, accompanied by Captain
Alban and 150 levies and three machine guns, proceeded to Sur and occupied
the fort. Zuber reported that he had settled all feuds and caused blood money
to be paid over immediately in his presence and recovered 6,400 dollars custom
dues from the merchants and fined the tribe 4,000 dollars. A site was selected
for a custom touse and the party returned to Muscat in triumph. Unfortunately
there was one case in which blood money was not accepted. The Makhanab
agree to pardon the murderer, an Arama. lie was imprisoned in Muscat but