"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٥‎٤‎٤] (١٧٨٢/٦٨٧)

■
Violent
death of
Salih-bin-
'Ali, 1S96.
Abortire ex
pedition of
the Sultan
againgt the
Bani Ruwa*
hah, 1896.
Disturbances
at Nakhl,
1896-1897.
Rustaq
affairs,
1895-S8.
544
In May 1896 Shaikh Salih-bin-'Ali, taking advantage of the discon
tent caused by the imposition of a part of the rebellion indemnity-tax
on the Ghafiris—a circumstance which will be explained further on-
induced part of the Bani Jabir of Wadi Samail to join with the Bani
Ruwahah in attacking Saijah, which was held by loyal Bani Jabir and
by Bani Hadhram, and himself assumed command of the operations
This, however, was the last appearance on the scene of the veteran
intriguer, whom a random shot now laid low, in the month of September,
at an age of over 75; during thirty years of his life he had played
a conspicuous part in the politics of 'Oman, generally in opposition to
the Sultan of the day, and he had often been suspected of personal
aspirations to the supreme power. It is a remarkable fact that Salih's
son Abdullah had predeceased him, surviving by an even shorter i^eriod big
recent perfidy at Masqat; and the life of Hamud the Jahafi, also, wa?
now not far from its close.
The Sultan took advantage of the consternation created by Shaikh
Sahh's death to organise an expedition against the Bani Ruwahah, from
whom, by removing the tax on the Ghafiris, he at the same time
detached theii allies of the Bani Jabir; but his movements were too
slow ; his huge host of several thousand mercenaries, when they arrived
within striking distance of the enemy, refused to fight; and in the end
the Sultan was obliged to return to Masqat, having achieved nothing but
the expenditure of some §60,000, which he could ill afford.
In June 1896 a disturbance at Nakhl had been quelled by the Sultan
in person at the head of a few hundred men, but exactly a year later
trouble was lenewed there; on this second occasion, however, the Wali
of Barkah was able to cope with it unaided.
^ ecem ^ ei 1895 Sa ud-bin-'Azzan of Rustaq had advanced against
o ar with an army of Yal Sa'ad, Hawasinah, Maqabil and Na'im, but
einforcement of 120 men, whom the Sultan forwarded by sea, enabled
ie ^ U ' se ^ rn ' au ^ ^airs on the Rustaq side remained quiet until
e eath of Ibrahim-bin-Qais in May 1898. On the occurrence of this
. , , ' Azzan, w r ho was supported by the Shaikhs of Rustaq,
seize e principal fort by treachery and obliged Sa J id, the son of the late
1 rahim to take refuge in Hazam, where he shortly afterwards besieged him.
bin's a ^ + 0S ? 0ner }ieai ^ 0f these proceedings than he sent Sulaiman-
rirrr f: ass : stanceof ^ ^ of
Ruwahnli 1 ^ a ^ mtl11 to advance against Rustaq, the Bani
S h tv- rr Sha ^ h trib -began to ...ove to its assistance,
^ Tal ' hitherto impassive spectators, showed si ? ns of unrest,