'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎497] (640/1782)

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between the Hinawi and Gbafiri tribes in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Samail became so acute
that the Sultan was obliged to proceed in person to the spot; but
the settlement that he arranged was unacceptable to the Ghafiris, and
their submission to it was insincere and of short duration. Fighting-
between the two great factions was already in progress at Izki, Birkat-
al-Moz and Nizwa in 'Oman Proper, and later it broke out at Yanqul in
Dhahirah. Meanwhile the Sultan, who from day to day was falling
more and more under the influence of the Hinawis, had greatly weakened
his position at Masqat by the dismissal of a large part of his reliable
Wahhabi mercenaries and by the substitution for them of ordinary Hinawi
tribesmen, a measure in itself sufficient to incapacitate him for impartial
authoritative intervention between tribe and tribe. In February 1875
open war wss declared between the Ghafiris and Hmawis of TV adi
Samail; irreparable mischief was done by the Ghafiris in felling large
numbers of date trees belonging to the Hinawis ; and the feud was not
composed until June, when the Ya'aqib of Ibri intervened and persuaded
the parties reciprocally to withdraw their claims.
In May 1875 a dispute occurred at the capital between the Sultan
and the Bani Bu Hasan, who were now strongly represented in the
garrisons of the Masqat forts ; and, while 'Abdul Aziz conciliated the
offended tribe by granting, under his brother's authority, all their demands,
the Sultan hid himself on a merchant ship in the harbour. After this
incident Turki, who was physically indisposed and mentally depressed,
would have abdicated his authority altogether, had he not been dissuaded
by Colonel Miles and 'Abdul 'Aziz. At the beginning of July an
estrangement took place between Turki and his brother Abdul Aziz
in consequence of the indulgence shown by the former to Numaish, an
unworthy favourite, and to Hamud-bin-Sa'ld the Jahafi ; and a number of
the A) Wahlbah took advantage of the circumstance to occupy Masqat
and Matrah, and to demand various concessions, of which the most serious
was the permanent retention of themselves in the Sultan's military service.
Matters were brought to a crisis on the 10th ol August by a ruptuie
between Turki and 'Abdul 'Aziz. The latter had demanded the dismissal
of the Baluch garrisons from the Masqat forts on the ground that they
were fraudulently kept below strength by the responsible commandants ;
when this demand was refused, he resigned office , and Tuiki foi a
few days carried on the administration alone. A rising then occurred
of Bedouins who were anxious to take the place of the Baluchis, and Turki
was obliged to hand over the forts of Jalali and Mlrani to the malcontents.
Disgusted with the course of affairs and feeling himself unable to main
tain the contest. Turki now went on board his corvette the "Rahmani,
41
Insubordina
tion of Bitni
Bu Hasan
guards and
inso'ence of
A1 Walnbah
tribesmen,
1875.
Eetirement
of Turki to
Gwftdar,
August 1876.