'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎219] (261/733)

MUSKAT.
219
Saeed), who, as already stated, had openly defied the Wahabee's
authority, were now joined by two other tribes scarcely less powerful
than themselves, the A1 Saeed and A1 Boo Rashid. These three banded
together, and resolved to arrest the rising power of the invader: they
busied themselves repairing their forts, taking in stores, and arming the
population around. Not a messenger of Syud bin Mootluk's was
permitted to pass through Batinah unmolested,—some were detained,
others beaten. Presently, too, we see the Shaikh of the Naeem Tribe
making overtures to the Sohar Chief, and inviting him to join in
common cause with himself against the intruders, Syud Humood
bin Azan gave a ready ear to the invitation. The Muttowas (a
branch of the Beni Saeed j likewise coalesced, and into the hands of the
latter did the Sohar Chief transfer his forts, conditioning their imme
diate surrender to him whensover the Wahabees no longerstood in their
way. Here, then, we have two separate confederacies—-both composed
of powerful and numerous followers—embarked in the same under
taking. The effect of these leagues must, no doubt, have been highly
beneficial, and tended greatly to prevent the inordinate aggrandisement
of the Wahabee power in the province of Oman; indeed, when we
take into consideration the opposition Syud bin Mootluk met with
from the above tribes, the general ill feeling borne towards him by the
maritime chiefs and others, and the necessity he found himself under of
coming to moderate terms with His Highness the Imaum, it can hardly
be doubted that his name had of late somewhat fallen in the eyes of the
people, and that he had signally failed in the execution of his proud
pretensions.
The affairs of Muskat with the Wahabees having been thus arranged,
let us turn and inquire what was doing in other quarters.
The occuirence most worthy of mention, at this period, was the con-
a. d. 1845. elusion of a Treaty* with His Highness the Tmaum
by Captain Hamerton, Her Majesty's Consul at
Zanzibar, in behalf of Her Britannic Majesty, for the suppression of the
exportation of slaves from His Highness' African possessions.
The first advances that appear to have been made, towards obtaining
the above agreement, were on the occasion of a visit of one of Her
Majesty s vessels to Zanzibar, for the express purpose of urging upon
His Highness the earnest desire that was felt by Her Britannic Majesty,
and the British nation at large, that the traffic in slaves should entirely
cease in his dominions. His Highness at the outset showed great
reluctance to enter upon the discussion of the subject, and, at an
interview with the commander of the vessel, pointed out that such a
* A copy of this treaty will be found at the end of this Selection.