'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part II. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎2632] (1149/1262)

2632
t)arbSr on
H.M.S.
" Argonant
Address on
behalf of the
Sultan.
During and after the dinner the forts of Jalali and Mirani and the
foreshore of the harbour were brilliantly illuminated with myriads
of small lamps outlining the salient architectural features ; and, beginning
at 9 p.m ., a display of fireworks was given from the high terraces of the
two forts. This last exhibition was arranged by the British and Indian
communities of Masqat and Matrah in honour of Lord Curzon's visit.
The fleet also contributed to the magnificence of the spectacle, for,
a whilst a network of coloured lanterns along the sea front and showers "
"of rockets from the forts were reflected in tremulous lines of colour 0^''
"the placid waters of the bay, the ships of the squadron suddenly stood "
" ablaze against the deep blue sky, hulls and masts and funnels outlined in"
" fiery relief by the electrician's magic wand,—a vision of stately "
" beauty and power which startled even the stolid impassiveness of the v
" Arabs into admiring awe.^
On the next day, the 19th of November, a great Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). was held
at 11-30 a.m . on board the " Argonautwhose quarter-deck, ablaze
with rich hangings and gold-embroidered carpets and draped with the
flags of all nations, had been transformed into a splendid pavilion ; a raised
dais on the poop was reserved for the chief participants in the ceremony;
and, at the opposite end, the elevated muzzles of two heavy guns frowned
over the space which was about to be occupied by the body of the assem
blage. Brilliant sunshine and a smooth sea lent beauty to the scene.
For an hour before the commencement of the proceedings, boats contain
ing native Darbaris continued to reach the "Argonaut"; and, as
the appointed time drew near, the booming of guns announced
arrival on board first of tlie Naval Commander-in-Chief, then of
Sultan of 'Oman, and finally, when all were in their places, of
Excellency the Viceroy, who was received by a guard-of-honour
100 British marines with a band. On the Viceroy's right, upon tuc
high dais, sat His Highness the Saltan of 'Oman, on his left the Naval
Commander-in Chief and the British Minister in Persia with their staffs;
behind were seated the Viceroy's Private and Military Secretaries and
His Excellency's Personal Staff. To the right front of the Viceroy
on a lower level were placed 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. at Masqat, the Sultan's
half-brother Saiyid Muhammad, the heir-apparent Say id Taimur, the
Sultan's attendants, and the native spectators, all except the Political
Agent in Arab costume; opposite these on the left were the representa
tives of the^ Foreign Department of the Government of India and the
officers of His Majesty's ships, in full dress uniform.
The Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). having been declared open, the chief Arab notables were
presented to the Viceroy by 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. , and an Arabic address
was read aloud on the Sultan's behalf by Shaikh Rashid-bin-'Ozai»,
Wali of Samail, His Highness's most erudite official; it was to thp
following effect:—
Your Excellency,—-X trust it will not be amiss if I take advantage of this auspici-
ous occasion to convey to Your Excellency some public expression of the pleasure
and honour which it affords to me and mine, in the first place to be able to welcome
our two Excellencies and His Excellency the Admiral and your imposing and
_ ^guiahed escort to our modest capital of 'Oman, and in the second place to be thus
X«W. a f n + 0P Fw U o ,ty of J^^ng our sentiments of sincere friendship and
to His Mm'p t Tr ^ rea 4 ^ 0vrernmen t ol India, which Your Excellency directs, and
in these far Off ouL^ mS Per0rO PPyname,whoSeVioeroraud .T 011 are
the
the
His
of
the