"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٤‎٣‎٩] (١٧٨٢/٥٨٢)

439
Saiyid Sultan, and for the relief of Minab, which was besieged by
them. Captain Seton considered the recovery by the Saiyid of
the Persian dependencies of 'Oman to be an indispensable preliminary
to any successful crusade against piracy in the Gulf ; and he thought it
likely that, if he were not himself present, Badar might be drawn into
proceedings offensive to the Persian and Wahhabi Governments.
The ""Utub under Wahhabi influence who had lately visited Masqat
joined the expedition at the outset, but deserted it at an early stage of
the proceedings. The operations at Bandar 'Abbas in June, and those
which followed at Qishm in J uly, are fully related elsewhere*; here it
is enough to mention that the steps taken for the recovery of the leased
Persian territories were altogether successful, though they subsequently
evoked a strong protest from the Shah's ministers, but that the blockade
of the Qasimi fleet resulted, in so far as 'Oman was concerned, merely
in a truce of 70 days between the Saiyid and the Qawasim.
Saiyid Badar, in recognition of the countenance and aid lent him by
Captain Seton, and perhaps in the hope of uniting British and Omaui
interests upon the Persian coast, was willing at this time to authoiise
the establishment of a British factory at Bandar 'Abbas on such terms as
might be desired ; but the offer was declined, as the concurrence of the
Persian Government was felt to be necessary.
In the following year the Saiyid succeeded in kidnapping Mulla
Husain, the head of the Bani Ma'in, whom he carried off to Masqat and
detained until Qishm and Hormuz should be delivered up as a ransom for
his release ; but Shaikh Sultan, the Qasimi Shaikh of Ras -al-Khaimah,
by throwing a force into the town of Qishm, rendered compliance with
these terms impossible to the Bani Ma'in. During the absence of the
fleet from Masqat in 1805 Shaikh Sultan had made two piratical descents
on Oman territory, at Sur and Gwadar.
Internal affairs of Oman.
On his return home Badar made ready to assume the offensive against Final defeat
Qais ; but before his preparations were completed Qais appeared at o ^Qais y
Matrah, invested Masqat by land, and attacked the various entrances to
that town in succession, but without result. The Ghafiiis (especia y
the tribes subject to that dangerous intriguer, the Shaikh of 'Amain),
some of the Hinawie (including apparently the Hiith un er e
leadership of Isa-bin-Salih, father of an afterwards celebrated rebel
against the rulers of'Oman), and the titular Imam (Sa'id-bin-Ahmad)
allied on this occasion to the side of Badar, who als o received assis tance
* Vide page 181 ante and page e88 fost.