‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Agency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1883-84.’ [‎49r] (37/166)

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. FOE 1883-84.
35
The next few years of Sa^eed's life were tolerably uneventful, and were spent in the relax
ing climate of Zanzibar, where his sensual habits must have tended to unfit him for the active
government of his Arab dominions. During his long residence in East Africa Sa^eed^s main
employment was to look after his estates and trading ventures, and to continue to add to his
already large and unwieldy navy. Reverting now to affairs in "'Oman, we see that Seyf, who
had become Wali of Sohar on the retirement of his father Hamud, and who had gradually
made himself independent, was at length opposed by a coalition of the Yal Saad and other
Batineh tribes, and, together with his uncle Kais, overthrown and put into confinement. From
this Seyf not long after escaped and recovered Sohar, but Hamud, angry with him for having
dismissed the pious Khalalee, and jealous of his friendship and alliance with Thoweynee, caused
him to be assassinated, and then resumed charge of Sohar. This was in 1849. Thoweynee did
not fail to represent these preceedings of Hamud to Government, and eventually he was
informed that, as Hamud had violated the engagement that had been made through the media
tion of the Resident, they would not again intervene in the matter. About the same time
Thoweynee received orders from Sauced to endeavour to obtain possession of Hamud's person 5
and with this object in view he proceeded up the coast in the Feiz Allum frigate and lured
Hamud under a show of friendship to Shinas, where he treacherously seized and carried him
to Muscat. Here be was confined for a few days in Jelali fort, and then put to death by poison
on the 23rd April 1850. Thoweynee did not gain the immediate advantage he expected by
this, for Sohar was at once occupied by Kais, who, on being blockaded, called in the aid of the
Kowasim and compelled Thoweynee to raise the siege. Kais, moreover, succeeded in capturing
Shinas, Khor, Fakan, and Ghalla, and not content with this he arrested Kahtan-bin-Seyf, who
had been concerned in the seizure of Hamud, and cruelly murdered him by decapitation with
a blunt sword. When the news of these events reached India, the action of Thoweynee was
viewed with strong disapprobation by Government, his conduct towards Hamud being
characterised as a gross violation of the treaty. Sa^eed, after much urging, at length realised
the necessity of his presence in 'Oman, where he arrived on the 16th May 1851. ■
On receiving Thoweynee's report he did not hesitate to approve all his proceedings, as
indeed he could not well help doing, for Thoweynee had clearly acted under instruction, though
there is some doubt whether Sa'eed had actually given orders for Hamud to be put to death.
Sa'eed at once began to prosecute war against Kais-bin-Azzar. He moved first against
Khabooreh, which soon submitted, and then with little difficulty recaptured Shinas. Ultimately^
deserted by the Kowasim, Kais made terms and retired to Rostak with a pension of $200
monthly, Sohar being surrendered to Sa'eed, who thus for the second time became its unques
tioned possessor. Eager to be at rest again in his African home, Sa'eed, having tranquillised
his country, sailed away from Muscat in the month of November 1852.
By this campaign and his generally judicious arrangements with the leading Shaikhs and
Chiefs of 'Oman, Sa'eed greatly increased his reputation, and his authority became more firmly
established than it had been for many years previously.
But the reign of peace was short, for scarcely had Sa'eed left 'Oman when the Wahabee
Chief, Abdulla-bin-Feysal, with an unusually large force entered the country and re-occupied
the old position at Bereymee. The terms he at first demanded were so extravagant that
Thoweynee was unable to agree to them, and, proceeding to Sohar, assumed a hostile attitude.
By the intervention of the British Resident, however, Abdulla-bin-Feysal lowered his tone, and
an arrangement was eventually come to by which the annual tribute to Nejd was increased to
twelve thousand dollars. Abdulla-bin-Feysal soon after returned to Nejd, leaving as general
at Bereymee Ahmed-el Sadeyree to represent the Ameer's interests.
Elated by his success against Kais, Sa'eed, on quitting his native country in 1852, had
indulged the fond hope that he might be suffered to spend the remainder of his days in peace
in the beautiful island he had chosen for his residence. His health and strength, it is said, had
given way greatly in the last few years, and it was natural enough that at his age and with
his enfeebled constitution he should seek repose. The recent incursion of the Wahabees, how
ever, the vexatious treatment of the Wali Seyf-bin-Nebhan, and the continued aggression by
the Persians at Bunder Abbass, forced him to turn his face towards Muscat. On the 15th
April 1854, Sa'eed, who was very apprehensive at this time of French designs on his territory in
East Africa, and who had been for three days and nights in consultation with the leading Arabs
at Zanzibar on the subject, paid a visit to the British Consulate, and, placing the hand of his son
Khalid in that of Colonel Hamerton, expressed the desire that Khalid should be guided by the
Consul's advice in all his doubts and difficulties during his own absence, adding that, unless
5 a