'File 38/1 II P. C. L. Exploration' [‎18r] (35/148)

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5. I asked the Sultan whether he would open the
WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. JIZZI to cars since it was the obvious route to BARAIMI
from the BATINAH and was an infinitely better route for the
Company to work than those from the TRUCIAL COAST A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. over the
HAZZA BAUSH or RAMLAT ANAIJ sands. He was, at first,
opposed to doing so more out of pique at the course we had
adopted than for any other reason I think but after much
persuasion he has seen the wisdom of opening the WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. and
providing the Company with a short, accessible and easy
route to the interior. He has promised to do everything
he can without delay and asks that the Company should assist
him; I think he wants material rather than financial support
as for example cement to build watch towers and gunpowder
to blast the 15 yard (?) gap which blocks the WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. to motor
transport. ( It is, I understand, only a short distance
which requires levelling),
I have informed him that I was sure the Company
would assist him and that I would refer the matter to London
as soon as possible.
6. I have discussed the prospects of the Company 1 s
entering the HUGF area ( it is not a Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. as shown on the
Muscat Masira 1/1 million sheet North F 40 ). He suggested
we should enter from JAALAN with BU ALI escort ( he is sweet
with the BU ALI ) and move by camel to near MAHUT on the
coast picking up rabia* ( guides ) from there from the JANABA.
I remonstrated against this devious method of approach and
said we would like to land at MAHUT or somewhere near, build
up a base camp there for water since there is none in the
HUGF area, and operate with motor transport. I said we
would take as escort any one he wished. He informed me
there were no important Sheikhs from whom we could obtain
guards hence his suggestion to employ the BU ALI.
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The Sultan is going to consider this question
and has promised to let me know as soon as possible what he
considers the best way would be to work that area.
7. I have explained broadly to the ^ultan the areas
in which we are interested and he has offered to give me lett
ers to the DURU* Shaikhs who are, theorectically, and in
practice, subordinate to their TAMIMAH SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN
TINA. The Sultan suggests I contact them in due course
and move with them anywhere I like in their country or in
any country bordering on the sands in the S.N. corner of
OMAN as long as I keep away from habitation of other tribes.
This was a most welcome invitation and although he has
probably little authority to offer it, I do at least know
that this scheme which I had been contemplating for next
winter will not meet with his opposition. I consider it
can be done and have already had indirect overtures from
DURU 1 . We should then obtain access to an area we are
anxious to see and the Sultan assures me that none of the
Big Three would object or could oppose the DURU 1 .
8. In conclusion, the Sultan 1 s reactions are interst
ing. He is oil hungry but ravenously so in so far as DKOFAR
is concerned. He even remarked that he hoped that DHOFAR
would be able to drain all the oil from the East i.e. from
OMAN 1 He grasps at every little thing that leads him
to hope for results in DHOFAR and said to me " Why dont you
give up the Concession if you think there is no oil? H I
told him we were doing our best and he should rely on our
geologists and not pay too much attention to Sir Cyril Fox's
report because the latter was not an oil geologist although
probably very competent in his own line. He is happy to
hear
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