'File 35/85 I A 8. Muscat: French Flag Question' [‎219v] (445/512)

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The two servants were sent to the quarantine station, and the three Arabs were told to
report themselves every day to the Health Officer for inspection, the rule being that the 3rd class
passengers are kept on the quarantine station and 2nd class passengers report themselves every
day ' During the night o£ the 9th April, the three Arabs obtained a hired native boat, and having
picked up their two servants at the quarantine station, sailed for Siir. ihey were £o lowe a y
by a steam-boat fram the "Perseus" ia accordance with the Sultan's request conveyed through
Major Cox, and brought back to Muscat; the native boat went on to Siir. n i
7. On arrival at Muscat, at about 10 p.m ., the five men were delivered over to the British Lonsul
who kept them in the Consulate for the night, and handed them over to the Sultan next morning who
sent them back to quarantine. . . , , • i, , j a
When the time for qui ran tine was finished, the Sultan imprisoned them m the foit, and expressed
his intention of keeping them in prison for three months for a gross breach of the Quarantine
Kegulations. , , ^ .
8. The French Consul who claimed three out of the five Arabs as French proteges, protested to
Major Cox against his having detained them, and demanded their immediate release from the Sulta^.
Major Cox declined to admit the right of the French Consul to discuss the question, and the Sultan
refused to release them. • i j n
The Sultan, in a letter to the French Consul, pointed out that these men were punished tor
a breach of the law of their country, and that the whole question of the French flag m Oman
was under discussion between the French and British Governments in Europe, and that he was
prepared to accept their joint decision with regard to the matt er, with due regard to his own indepen
dence, but deprecated heated correspondence in Muscat himself.
9. Major Cox considers that this claim on the part of the French Consul is an undoubted
attempt to interfere with the Sultan's prerogative, and has telegranhed strongly to the Indian
Government, asking that instructions may be sent, and that assurances may be given to the Sultan that
his authority will be upheld in the matter.
10. It is generally the custom of the French Consul to visit Siir at tbis time of the year, and stay
there a month. Previously to these things happening the French Consul had expressed his intention
of going down to Siir in a Native boat, but he has now abandoned bis intention, and probably means
waiting for a man-of-war,
M. Dorville is the French Consul, and has only been in Muscat a month.
11. These incidents have caused Major Cox to postpone his intended visit to Darfur, at the request
of the Sultan, who is apprehensive of things happening.
12. The Health Officer at Muscat is the British Consular Surgeon, who receives pay from the Sultan
for doing his work, and who is entirely answerable to him for the Quarantine Regulations being
carried out.
(Signed) T. W. KEMP,
Commander and Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
♦
APPENDIX No. 32.
Major Cox to Government of India.
Muscat, April m, 19( 3.
I HAVE the honour to report that the question of the French flag in Oman has just been
acutely raised. The circumstances are as follows : —
2. It is necessary, in the first place, to go briefly into tribal politics in order that the Govern
ment of India may be acquainted with the exact position.
The tribes ot Oman are divided into two great racial divisions—Ghafiri and Hinawi. Tribes
of both divisions are settled indiscriminately in the vicinity of one another throughout the
country, but their interests and organization a^e distinct, and some sections of the one division
are almost invariably at war with sections of the other.
Siir is inhabited by Gbafiris, primarily of the tribe of Feni Abu Ali, subject to whom are
another Ghafiri tribe, the Jenebeh. Most of the French flag-holders are "recruited from tbe»^
Jenebeh sub-tribe, but some also from the main tribe of Beni Abu Ali.
Sheik Abdul a-bin-Salim of the Beni Abu Ali, is the Head Sheikh of all the Bed Abu AH,
calls himself the Ghafiri " Amir"; and apart from the more remote sovereignty of the Ruler of
Oman, which Sheikh Abdulia loyally acknowledges, the latter holds absolute practical way over
all the GhaSri tribes of that part of Oman which is known as the district of Jalam " (sse map.
Inclosure No. 9).
Sheikh Abdulla, who is a very old man, and his Bedouin followers (as opposed to the sea
going population of Siir), ever since the time when they were defeated by a British force in
March 1821, have always been good friends to the British.
Sheikh Abdulla is well known to me, has repeatedly invited me to come and stay with him
at his home, about 70 miles inland of Siir, and two years ago, when Dr. von Kraft and I were
held up by the Hinawi while endeavouring to get to the coal-bearing country offered to
muster the entire following and forcibly introduce ub into the coal-bearing tract from the south
side.