'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎456] (498/733)

456 WAHABEES.
conclusion, to the year 1853,
BY LIEUTENANT II. F. DISBROWE.
The Wahabce proceedings are so fully detailed in the Sketches
of Muskat, the Beniyas, and the Uttoobees, that it does not appear
neeessary to do more than run over as briefly as possible the chief acts
o( the Ameer, and the parlies His Highness deputed to Brymee, Kateef,
and the ports on the shores of Arabia.
Early in the year 1845 Syud bin Mootluk arrived from Nujd in
10 „ r the vicinity of Brymee. The force that accom-
a. d. IStO. . , . .
pamed him was by no means considerable,
and he seems accordingly to have been somewhat mistrustful as
to the reception he would meet with from the people of the tribes
through whose territories he had to pass on his journey ; for we find
him sending messengers and spies in advance of his troops, to feel the
way before him, and to report on the stale of feeling generally mani
fested towards him. These precautions, however, proved scarcely
necessary, for the holders of the Brymee forts hastened to tender their
submission when they heard of his approach ; the maritime chiefs
proceeded to wait upon him ; the Naeem, Zowalim, and Shuanil
Tribes joined him, and delivered over such forts as he required ;—in
short, one and all appeared to vie with each other as to who should
welcome him most, and afford him the greatest support.
Speedily availing himself of so favourable a moment, now that he
stood high in the favour of all, Syud bin Mootluk sent forth demands
upon the Muskat and Sohar Governments for the payment of tribute.
Syud Soweynee and Syud Humood bin Azan, the chief authori
ties of these places, cordially uniting, held a joint consultation
regarding the course it would be best to pursue, and, finally,
it was agreed between them that the Sohar Chief should satisfy the
demands of the Wahabees at once, lest his territories, which lay in
such close proximity to Brymee, should be doomed to invasion; but
that Syud Soweynee should declare his determination to make a
reference to his father, Syud Saeed, at Zanzibar, ere disbursing a ,
farthing.
The above are the terms that were proffered, and the Wahabee
Lieutenant professed himself willing to agree to them. By what motive
he was subsequently prompted is not known, but scarcely had he ac
cepted the above conditions than he sent word to Syud Humpod