'Administration Reports of the Persian Gulf, 1945 [-1946]' [‎85r] (182/414)

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restore the authority of his dynasty in Oman. With the
knowledge that the Imam could not be expected to live much
longer, he has been anxious for some time to establish
closer relations with the Shaikhs of the Beni Bu Ali, the
Beni Riyam and the Hirth group, the three most powerful
tribes in the interior.
The first indication that an approach to the tri
bal leaders might meet with satisfactory response, came
in a friendly letter from Shaikh Isa bin Saleh of the Shar-
qiyah (Eirth), the Imam's most influential supporter, in
which he stated that he intended to take no part in any
questions concerning future of the Imamate. Shortly after
wards, the Sultan was much gratified to receive letters
from Shaikh Ali bin Abdullah of the Beni Bu Ali and Shaikh
Sulaiman bin Eamiyar of the Beni Riyam asking to see him
at Sur as early as possible. On his way to Muscat in May,
the Sultan met these two Shaikhs at Sur and arranged for
them to come to Muscat as his guests. The ensuing talks
at Muscat gave him great satisfaction and convinced him that
the Ghafiri confederation,of which Shaikh Ali and Shaikh
Sulaiman are the leaders,would support him in his aims.
Of the attitude of the rival Hinav/i faction, the Sultan was
less certain; but when Shaikh Isa bin Saleh, the leader of
the Einawis, visited him at Muscat later in the year there
was every indication that more friendly relations than had
hitherto existed, had been established between them. Though
Eis Eighness was aware that political action would be the
main stay of any success he might achieve in the unifica
tion of his state under his rule, the need for sufficient
force to discourage opposition led him to approach the Po
litical Agent for an indication of the support he might
expect from Eis Majesty's Government. In making the ap
proach, Eis Eighness stated that whatever advice were given
him in regard to his aims by the British Government he would
accept. Ee took the opportunity of discussing this question
with the Eon'ble the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. during the latter's
visit to Muscat in December and the matter is now under
consideration.
The events already described inevitably caused
tension between the two great political factions in the
interior, the Ghafiri and Einawi, each being intensely
suspicious of any move by the other which might upset the
balance of power between them. In August, this tension
showed signs of developing into open hostilities in the
neighbourhood of the Tftadi Beni Khalid - an area under the
domination of the Beni Bu Ali of the Ghafiri faction. At
the request of Shaikh Ali, and with the agreement of the
Sultan, and Shaikh Sulaiman, a new Qadhi was appointed to
this Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. in September from the Beni Riyam. On taking over
charge, this Qadhi hoisted the Imam's flag and, at the mi
tigation of Shaikh Isa bin Saleh, conducted his affairs
under the Imam's name. Enraged by what he considered to
be a Einawi intrigue to usurp his authority. Shaikh Ali
bin Abdullah of the Beni Bu Ali despatched a party to tear
down the flag and to deal suitably the erring Qadhi. The
dispute then took a more serious turn, for Shaikh Isa, con
sidering that the Imam's authority had been infringed, oc
cupied the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. by force and Shaikh Ali's men were forced
to beat an ignominious retreat. The matter was eventually
settled by the Sultan who, with his customary skill, turned