'The Rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat, May 1913 - July 1916.' [‎3r] (5/14)

In July 1913 the situation became so threatening tbjat the
British Government sent a !3 rv Tall garriton to - atrah on the
coast north of Muoqat tut the rebels continuod to gain
ground and in Aup^ist Samail fell into their hands. In
September we doubled the garrison at Bait al ^alaj near
Uisqat. Saitid Faisal died in October and mis succeeded
by his son 3ayid Tairaur who, relying on an olc! personal
friendship with Shaikh Isa, opened negotiations with
him, as a result of which Shaikh Isa visited - usoat
in December. No permanent result was V.owever attained.
In April 1914 the rebels were intimidated by the bombardment
of Barkah and Qaryat by H.LI.S. Fox and H,!', .3.Dartmouth
but in August fresh hostile movements were set on foot
which made it necessary to send reinforcements to the
garrison at Musqat. In January 1915 the Imam's followers
attacked the British outposts and met with a crushing
defeat.
The Viceroy visited Muaqat in the following month
and took the opportunity of recommending the Sultan to come
to terms with his rebellious subjects, pointing out that
the British garrison would not be maintained indefinitely.
He offered the services of 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. as mediator.
The latter summed up the difficulties of the situation in
the following terms
1, The rebels held the key of the situation in the
r )ossession of Samail valley and fort which were essential
to the commercial prosperity of Muaqat #
2. The rising had assumed a religious character and
the Imam was preaching a Jihad, i'oreover so many of the
rebels had been killed by our troops in the unsuccessful
attack in January that feelings of resentment had been
aroused which it would be difficult to allay.