"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٤‎٣] (٦١٦/٩١)

68
ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
C HAPTER V1I.-ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION EEPORT OP THE
MASKAT POLI1IOAL AGENCY POR THE YEAR lt05-1906.
During the year under review mora inter-tribal disputes and unsettling
' , < p .... events have taken place in Oman than
Internal Politics. usual) tbe Sultan has ^
occasions been put to anxiety and expense in consequence. Early in June,
the Makabil ( ) a lawless and
Makabil rebellion. — .. , „ ' TT .
predatory tribe of the Hmavian branch
dwelling in the hills west of Suhar ( ) on the Batinah ( «ukj ) coas ^
giving as their reason discontent with the rule of the Governor-General Sheikh
Sulaiman bin Suwailim, began to make themselves unpleasant and about the
15th of the month plundered the suburbs of Suhar and killed one of the
inhabitants, Tbey followed this up with another excursion of a similar nature
on the 27th idem, but on this occasion were met by the garrison, commanded
by Sulaiman's son in his father's absence, and were repulsed, not however
before they had captured eight camels which were not subsequently recovered
Muzaffir bin Sulaiman, the Governor-General's son, was wounded in this
encounter.
About the middle of July the Makabil again attacked the fort of Suhar
the garrison of which had been reinforced, and killed the 'Akid or chief
constable and two men. They were repulsed after a sharp fight.
It now became necessary to teach this tribe a lesson, and Sulaiman bin
Suwailim was despatched from Maskat with orders to capture the fort and
village of Hilti ( ) 4 0 miles from Suhar which had hitherto been in
their possession. The Maka.bil were at this time joined by a neighbouring
tribe, the A1 bu Shamis ( J] ) and His Highness the Sultan in
retaliation arrested at Burka one of the principal Sheikhs of the A1 bu Shamis
and imprisoned him in Maskat where he shortly afterwards died. Meanwhile
Hilti was captured by Sulaiman with the help of the Bani Said ( Ji,)
and Bani 'Ali ( ^ ) who had been subsidised for the purpose, and the
rebellious tribes after one or two fruitless attempts to retake it retired to the
hills where they have since remained quiet. Sulaiman returned ta JVlaskat
where on his arrival he was received with a salute of eleven guns as a mark of
the Sultan's satisfaction at the successful result of his operations.
The movements of Sheikh 'Isa bin Salih A1 Harthi (to whom a reference
Sheikh 'Isa bin Salih Al Harthi. is J earl y in tllese reports) were a
cause ot some anxiety during the late
summer and autumn. Early m August it was rumoured that he intended to
Visit Samayil, ostensibly with the object of reconciling the Siyabiyin ( ^ tL)
. *
tribe and the Bani Euwahah ( ) between whom difficulties had
arisen; but it was generally thought that his object was more likely to be
connected with intrigue at Rustak ( ^ ) against the Wali Said bin
Ibrahim. On September 13th a letter to the Sultan arrived from Sheikh 'Isa
in which the latter asked His Highness' permission to visit Samayil at the end
of the current month, and by the same messenger the Sheikh returned to His
Highness, m accordance with a request made to him previously bv Saiyid
Timur, a valuable sword which had been plundered from Maskat during the
investment of the town by the Hinavi rebels in 1895. The Sultan saw no
reason to refuse this request of Sheikh 'Isa, and sent the Governor of Mattrah,
Saiyid Mahammad bin Mamad, to Samayil to meet him. The Sheikh arrived