‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1881-82.’ [‎258r] (17/160)

RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR 1881-82.
PAET II.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
FOR THE YEAR 1881-82.
Political. —During the official year 1881-82, there have been many
rumours and alarms of hostile tribal coalitions tor the purpose of invad
ing Muscat and overthrowing Seyyed Toorkee, who at the latter part ot
the year became seriously alive to the danger, and repaired and fortified
his defences in order to be prepared to meet an attack. Fortunately,
owing to dissensions among the leaders of the tribes, the coalition fell to
pieces. There have been more than the usual amount of intertribal
quarrels, which have kept the country in a disturbed state.
2. In April there was a struggle in Jaalan between the two power
ful tribes, Beni-boo-Ali and Beni-boo-Hassan, in which the former were
defeated, owing to their being greatly outnumbered and taken by sur
prise. They lost 20 men, and the Beni-boo-Hassan 17. When the news
of the encounter reached Muscat, His Highness Seyyid Toorkee despatch
ed Seyy id-bin-Hamad-bin-Hamad on a mission to Jaalan to mediate
between them j he succeeded in effecting a two months truce. Ihis truce,
although considered unfavourable to the Beni-boo-Ali, was only accepted
by them out of deference to His Highness the Sultan.
3. In May the Belooch garrison of El-Eineen, finding that they
could not hold the fort against the attacks of the Beni Ghatir, who had
besieged it, offered to give it up to the Beni All of Yinkal, belonging to
the Hinawi faction, and the offer was gladly accepted. The Beni Ghafir
upon this formed an alliance with various Ghafiree tribes, in order to
oppose the Beni All and prevent the retention of the fort by the
Hinawis. Several desultory engagements ensued, resulting in consider
able loss of life on both sides. The struggle for possession of the fort at
last terminated about the end of June, by the garrison making a vigorous
and successful sortie against the besiegers, who, being beaten and dis
persed, finally abandoned the siege and returned to their homes. Fifty-
two men were killed in this action.
4. About this time (June) the Ibryieen and Beni Ryam disputed for
the possession of the Fort El-Awabi ; the dispute arose from the fact
that Shaikh Salim-bin-Budr when a refugee, with the Beni Ryam, pro
mised to hand over this fort to them, should he ever have an opportu
nity of doing so ; this pledge he subsequently repudiated. The matter
was finally settled by the fort being handed over to His Highness Seyyid
Toorkee, who assumed nominal possession of it, though it is still garrison
ed by the Ibryieen. There was a dispute in the Balineh between the
Howasineh and the Beni Katab, which resulted in the former beiu<
ousted.
5. In June the garrison of the fort of El-Awabi, consisting of
about 60 men, made a sortie into the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Rostak, where they attacked
the Beni Ghafir and killed five of them at a place called Sohtany. A
conflict was also reported to have occurred between the Beni Omar and
the El-Howasineh at Islat, in Batineh.