'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎230] (272/733)

230 MUSKAT.
Muskat. Syud Ghes now hastened to join the force of Shaikh Sul
tan and on his arrival, the combined armies laid siege to Shinas.
The resistance offered by Shaikh Kahtan bin Syf was stout and obsti
nate —he well sustained his reputation for courage and valour; and
had' Syud Soweynee ably supported him, he might have been
spared the pain of surrender. His munitions, however, ran out,
ineffectual attempts were made to introduce fresh supplies, and on
the 10th May 1850 Shinas was compelled to
a. d . 1850. surrender. Khore Fukaun shared the same fate,
after a siege of two days ; Ghulla had already fallen ; and thus, in aa
incredibly short space of time, did the whole of the Batinah Coast, from
Merya to Cape Musseldom, fall into the hands of the Joasmee Chief
and Syud Ghes bin Azan. . ,
The season of the pearl fishery was now at hand, and all parties be
came anxious for a temporary cessation of hostilities. The tr00 P s of
Shaikh Sultan therefore returned to Ras-ool-Khyma, and through the
mediation of the A1 Saeed was a four months^ truce effected between
Svud Soweynee and his kinsman Syud Ghes bin Azan.
Let us now revert to the prisoner, Syud Humood bin Azan, and in-
quire A booklet formed of a single gathering of nested bifolia. how he fared in his dungeon. The treatment he experienced at
the hands of Syud Soweynee was of a very severe character : he was
loaded with chains, and confined in a place of heat unbearable no
liberty, no comforts, no freedom from restraint, was accorded him,
health gave way, and nature quickly sank unde " UC ^™ e fi
When the news of his brother's death reached feyed Ghes, tieiy
temper became inflamed with exceeding rage : he burned f °" even g e J
and eagerly sought for a victim whereon to vent his fury He sought
no? in vain: the brave and courageous Shaikh Kahtan bin Syf was
cauffht intrieuing, cast into prison, and doomed to perish.
Such wefe tht scenes of bloodshed and m-rder that cfouded the
annals of Muskat history,— such the bitter fruit of y
policy: nor was there any prospect of better days to co™- ^
The Resident had exhausted every argument, an h h d evfm
power to effect a mediation between the furious "T
proceeded to Muskat in person, and striven to reeone ,
rivals were not to be reconciled. What then should be done Were
the contending parties to be permitted to plunge anew into all hoi
of a fiete" and bloody warfare ? Was the B^ish Go ^rnment to r ma
a passive observer of injuries inflicted upon their old a ^ ^
the Imaum, at a time too when he was far away ? lo a certain
they were. The British Government ever refrained from a
ference with the inland affairs of the Arab Tribes, and muc Y
grieved at the present effusion of blood, they viewec \ m ^