'Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1877-78.' [‎302r] (149/165)

AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE YEAR 1877-78. 127
Part III.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , MUSCAT,
POR THE YEAR 1877-78.
Political .—The official year 1877-78 commenced with disquieting
rumours of a projected rising of the Sharkiyeh tribes against His
Highness Seyyid Toorkee's authority, but as both Seyyid Abdul Azeez
and Ibrahim were disinclined to take the responsibility of joining the
movement unless with good prospects of success, the scheme fell
through; the disaffection, however, continued as it was, unremittingly
fostered by the Metowwas, and it had soon gathered sufficient strength
and consistency for Saleh to be able to throw off the mask of friendship
and allegiance to His Highness and announce his hostility by requesting
His Highness to discontinue the allowance made him. Being impressed
with the necessity of conciliating Sheikh Saleh and of separating him,
if possible, from the rest of the faction, His Highness sent him privately
a considerable present of money by a confidential servant with the view
of regaining his adherence and inducing him to use his endeavouis to
dissolve the coalition. The present was accepted by Sheikh Saleh, who
dissimulated with His Highness for the time and soon announced that
he had succeeded in frustrating the movement. He also made this the
basis of a claim for his allowance to be increased by one-half, which
was acceded to.
The result of Seyyid Toorkee's diplomatic arrangements was that
the month of May passed quietly, the only occurrence being a collision
in the Semail valley between the Ghaflirees and Hinawis, which was
prevented from spreading further by a truce for six months being
mediated by the Vizier Seyyid Said who had been despatched thither
by His Highness for the purpose.
On the 9th June His Highness Seyyid Toorkee and the Acting
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mr. Robertson, received letters from Sheikh Saleh bin
Ali giving notice of his intention to march on Muscat, and on the 14th
Saleh and his followers, whose number was estimated at 1,500, arrived
and occupied Muttrah without opposition. Up to the receipt of Saleh’s
communication on the 9th no rumours had reached Muscat of the pro
jected rising, and the announcement had therefore found Ilis Highness
quite unprepared. The only part of the garrison on which reliance could
be placed at this time w r as a party of 150 \\ ahabees and a few Belooch
soldiers. H. M.’s S. Teazer had on the 8th instant proceeded on a
cruize, but fortunately returned to Muscat on the 15th, the day after the
occupation of Muttrah.
It soon appeared that Seyyid Abdool Azeez was not at the head of
the rebellion as had been reported. He had met Saleh bin Ali at
Mansah, but having been unaole to agree to Ids terms, had returned to
Semed. Saleh then made overtures to Seyyid Ibrahim bin Kais wdio
arrived at Muttrah on the 17th. All practicable precautionshaving
been taken for the lives and property of British subjects, the Acting
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. determined to accord to His Highness Seyyid Toorkee
the armed assistance he had formally applied for, and after due warning
had been sent to the leader of the rebels, Seyyid Ibrahim, a few shots