‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Agency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1883-84.’ [‎42r] (23/166)

EESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOE 1S83-84.
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Khalfan-bin-Ahmed, having refused to surrender the fort, Seyf laid siege to it and would pro
bably have compelled it to yield, had not Hamed, who had been despatched by his father, Sa eed>
on an expedition to extend and consolidate his African possession, arrived in time to raise the
siege. Seyf then retired to Lamoo, where he died. Bedr appears to have inherited his father's
stem and ambitious character. No sooner had he reached manhood than he imitated his
schemes. In 1803, while Sultan was absent on pilgrimage, Bedr entered Muscat in disguise,
and endeavoured by stratagem to get possession of Fort Jelali: the plot, however, was discovered
by a Baman, who reported it to the Wali, and Bedr fled to Zobara, where he put himself under
the protection of the Wahabees and embraced their tenets. He proceeded subsequently to
El-Derayeh to obtain aid from the Amir against Sultan, and, on his return from Nejd with a
promise of support, heard of Sultan's death and received the invitation from Salim and his ad
visers to join them at Muscat. Bedr, feeling confident that if he could once make good his foot
ing in Muscat he would be able, eventually, to supplant his cousins, and secure the supremacy
without incurring the risk and unpopularity of an open contest for power under Wahabee auspices,
eagerly accepted the proposal and set out for 'Oman. He arrived at a critical juncture. Kais
was strengthening his position, and the hopes of Sultan's sons were growing fainter and fainter^
when Bedr's energy came to their aid and reversed the situation. Bedr at once called in his friends
the Wahabees, and the Wahabee leader, willing to facilitate the accession to power of Bedr in the
hope that he would thus become bound to them more closely, despatched a force against Sohar.
This diversion had its intended effect. Kais was compelled to make terms with Bedr and
hasten home. The conditions were that Kais should withdraw his claims to sovereignty and
retain as his share Khaliooreh and part of the Batineh as additions to his appenage of Sohar.
The peace proved a hollow affair, and was but of short duration. A month later Kais found a
pretext to renew hostilities and marched on Muscat, which he captured and plundered. He was
unable, however, to retain his position there, and, fearing the approach of Ghaffiree reinforce
ments to Bedr, was glad to retire with the addition of Mattrah to his former acquisitions, and
an allowance of one thousand dollars a month. By this time the rivalship of the other uncles
and cousins had melted away before the vigorous measures of Bedr, and Kais alone remained
to contend with him for supremacy in the field. Before a year had elapsed Bedr had clearly
made himself master of the situation in 'Oman and had begun to show his hand as regards
his designs against his young cousins, Salim and Sa'eed, whom he had in fact already excluded
from Muscat by sending Salim as Wali to Mesna'ab and Sa'eed to Barka. Bedr's designs in
all probability were not penetrated by Salim, who seems to have accepted his position con
tentedly enough, but the more subtle and ambitious Sa'eed winced at the way in which he had
been set aside and harboured revenge.
On the death of Sultan advantage had been taken of the general confusion occasioned by
the disputed succession by Moolla Hoossein-el Maeeni, Shaikh of Kishm, to assault and
capture Bunder Abbass, and, his hands being free for the time, Bedr now sailed for that port
with the object of recovering it. Captain Seton, the British Resident in the Gulf, who had
been engaged in blockading the Kowasim pirates, accompanied him with two armed vessels,
and succeeded in re-establishing Bedr in possession of the place, in return for which service
certain concessions were granted by Bedr to the English.
This happened in the autumn of 1805, and Bedr had no sooner returned to 'Oman than
he found himself again involved in hostilities with Kais. In making his third and final
attempt on Muscat Kais procured the support of Moolla Hoosein of Kishni and of the
Kowasim, and was allowed to occupy and plunder the outskirts of the town unopposed.
Bedr pursued his old tactics of inducing the Wahabees to threaten Sohar, while the young
Sa'eed raided and recovered Bidbid and Fauja. The result of the campaign was disastrous to
Kais' hopes; he found he had miscalculated his strength and had no alternative but 10 purchase
peace by surrendering Mattrah and his allowance, and retreating to Sohar.
Since the death of Sultan, who alone had offered anything like a successful resistance to
them, 'Oman had fallen into a state of subjection to the Wahabees, whose preponderating
influence in the country was now complete. The payments of tribute had been forced upon
Sultan, but Bedr had for his own aggrandisement submitted to further humiliations, and the
'Omanis were galled at witnessing his submission to the dictation of the Wahabee Agent at
Muscat. A force of 400 mounted Wahabees had been stationed at Barka in the time of
Sultan to overawe the neighbouring country, and was still maintained there, whilst, in addition,
the observance of the Wahabee tenet and strict attendance at prayers were now everywhere
enforced.
The growing strength, pretensions, and aggressive behaviour of the Wahabees had created