'Administration Reports 1920-1924' [‎36v] (77/412)

51
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
dates and to 50^ in the case of pomegranates. It is on the export of their
famous dates and pomegranates that the Omanis exist.
The Sultan had several years before raised the zakat to 10 per cent as a
punishment on the Omanis. Unfortunately this action had been taken in the mid
dle of the date season, prices were upset and British merchants suffered consider
able loss. The Sultan was therefore obliged at our instance to rescind his
orders. Our aquiescence in this matter on this occasion was an unexpected
and a severe blow to the Omanis. This acquiescence was rendered possible
by the fact that ample warning was given three months before the
commencement of the date season, and merchants were able to calculate the
price they would pay for the produce on the basis.of the new tax.
Meanwhile in Oman itself the Gods had fought against the Imam by
removing Sheikh Hamyar bin Nasir al Nabhani, the paramount chief of the
Ghafiri confederation, and one of the triumvirate composed of the Imam, Sheikh
Isa and himself who had ruled Oman since the rebellion. Hamyar had been
the sword arm while Isa had been the brains of the Omani rule. His successor
was a boy of fourteen.
The Omanis refused to believe for some time that the penal zakat would
be brought into force. Realising after what had happened that it would
be useless to approach the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , they tried the British merchants;
to be met to their intense surprise by the information that as far as the mer
chants knew the penal zahat would certainly be enforced.
Discontent in Oman grew. There seemed no sloution except the return
of the confiscated gardens. The zakat notices had explicitly given the con
fiscation. of the gardens as the reason for the imposition of the tax. The
Imam was approached. Dominated by his brother Nasir bin Rash : d al
Kharusi, his Wali in "Rustaq, he refused to yield. He and his brother in whose
hands all power really was, began to lose ground, and a definite reaction
against the puritannical fanaticism of the Imam and the exactions of his brothers
set in.
At the end of May a significant incident occurred. One Ahmed bin
Ibrahim, the ruler of Hazm in the Sultan's territories close to Rustaq, over a
question of escaped slaves provoked attack from Nasir bin Eashid of ilustaq.
The latter besieged Hazm, and the Imam called on the tribes to punish Ahmed.
The Imam was met by refusal or excuse in every case, while Nasir bin Rashid's
men fled ignominiously at the approach of a very small relief force organised
by the local government. Such a result, for in Arab warfare all depends on
prestige, would have been unthinkable six months before.
June saw the ferment rising in Oman ; abortive meeting followed abortive
meeting in the interior, suggestions compromises, intrigues, all to get rid of
the strangling penal zakat, of which the actual pinch ^was beginning to be felt,
succeeded each other. Finally on the 29fcii June Sheikh Isa, swallowing his
pride addressed the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. by letter asking what our position was in
the matter. He received at once a clear reply that we were behind the Sultan,
and that having been refused once we were not prepared to exercise our good
offices on their behalf again until they had rectified the manifest injustice of
the confiscated property.
This letter dispelled any remaining doubts the Omanis may have had#
Realising that the attitude of the Imam and of his brothers, who had seized
the gardens, alon« stood between them and a settlement, tired of strife and
openly discontented with their present rule, they murdered the Imam Salim bin
Rashid al Kharusi at Khadra on the 23rd July.
Wild confusion now prevailed. The Oman tribes seemed to have lost
their cohesion. The Sultan's government — fortunately the British adviser
was in India and therefore we were in no way involved — made a determined
effort to regain their hold over the interior, while Sheikh Isa endeavoured to
rally the tribes and to secure the election of an Imam, which action alone
couid save him from extinction.
He managed, the history of how would be worth writing, to secure, by
what we should call a packed house, the election of his father-in-law