'Précis of Maskat affairs, 1892-1905; In two parts: Part I 1892-1898; Part II 1899-1905 By J A Saldanha, BA, LL B' [‎112] (130/176)

112
CHAPTER XXI.
Two Sipeditions for Examination of the coal-fields near Sur. Erench
Intrigues, 190i.
523. In January 1901 Captain Cox brought to the notice of the Govern-
Q it. * ■iium v i-i Q ioo ment of India the existence of coal-fields
Secret E., April 1901, Nos. 118-122. . c t -r» p i i r-,
at Kafseh or Eufsheh near bur.
The idea of a coal trade from this coast suggested to Captain Cox advan
tageous possibilities in three directions:—
(i) It would be an obviously convenient source of supply for our coal
depots in these waters.
(ii) It would considerably improve the independent financial position of
the Sultan.
(iii) It would be the means of shedding, in some degree, the light of
civilisation and publicity upon the port of Sur, a spot which has
hitherto borne a time-honoured and unenviable notorietv as the
• i 0
principal emporium for the supply of Negro slaves to meet the
demand for thecn in Eastern Arabia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Apart from the above considerations, moreover, the existence of coal in
maritime range behind Sur and the vicinity had an indirect bearing on the
French flag question, and in that connection to accentuate in no small degree
the undesirabilily of our allowing the French or any other maritime power to
raise a coramuniry or proteges, and thus gain a footing and influence on that
part of the coats of Oman.
524. On the matter being referred to them, the Government of India,
seorfit e„ august 1901, t)„,. iti -sos. consented to afford His Highness the ne-
cessary assistance in determining the
value of the seams, and decided to depute a mining expert to examine and
report upon them.
526. The two expeditions subsequently undertaken having already been
Secret B.. September 1901, Nos. 82-88. reported upon in detail, it seems unneces
sary to record more here than a short out
line of what occurred from the Gulf Ilesidency Administration Eeport for
1901-02. 1
(F irst E xpedition.)
527. On the first occasion, the Geologist deputed was Dr. A. Von Krafft,
Gulf administration report for 1901-02. 1 h. O., of tllb Geological bui'VeV of India
who arrived in Maskat on 10th April.
After waiting three days in the hope that the arrival of one of His Majesty's
ships for duty in Maskat would have enabled him and Captain Cox to get down
to Sur expeditiously, they were eventually obliged to leave by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. on l^th
April.
528. In the first locality which they visited,—Kalhat, about 60 miles
south-east of Maskat,—they were received in the most friendly way by the
local tribesmen, but from the moment they entered the Musharifeh country near
Sur the party met with the utmost hostility and obstruction. It appeared that
the disaffected community at that port had circulated among the Sheikhs of
the Sharkiyeh, fantastic and sinister misrepresentations of their motives ia
exploring the country, and the Sultan's old enemies, Aysa-bin-Saleh (son and
successor of the rebel leader who led the operations against Maskat in 1895)
and Hilal and Mohsin, the sons of Amr, partly perhaps beiieviag these stories,
and partly no doubt perceiving that a good opportunity was afforded them for
giving play to tneir enmity to the Sultan and making things unpleasant for
him, came^ down with a following from the Sharkiyeh, and preached a petty
Jehad againsi them among the ignorant Musharifeh Bedouins through whose
country their route to the coal seams lay.