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'Report on Sur. By Major G. P. Murphy, I.A., Indian Political Department, Political Agent, Muscat' [‎88r] (9/20)

The record is made up of 1 file (10 folios). It was created in Jan 1929. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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S3
9
their craft a few months before. The Sultan of Muscat was assured of their
criminality and had himself proceeded to Sur five or six months previously
with the intention of punishing them, but was obliged to return to Muscat
owing to a conspiracy to dethrone him. Colonel Felly had also in the
preceding month sent the Berenice to Sur with a letter addressed to the heads
of the Jenebeh demanding payment of $27,000 as compensation for the
property plundered by them from British subjects and warning them that
measures would be taken to enforce the demand. Their reply was that on
a former occasion when Lieut. Pengelly threatened a tribe on the coast
nothing was done, and they were quite sure the Resident would not'
come now.
44. On the 11th February 18Gb H.M.S. Highflyer appeared off Sur to-
insist on atonement by the Jenebeh for their part in the affairs of August,
by payment of $27,700 compensation within 24 hours. On the tribe
attempting to procrastinate, a tire was opened which demolished their fort,
the whole of their boats were either confiscated or burnt, and a large
quantity of their ship timber was burnt. No personal injury was suffered
by non-combatants, who had ample opportunity to move, but a small part
of the town was burnt accidentally in consequence of a change in the
direction of the wind.
45. In the month of June 1875 a godown belonging to the principal
Indian trader of Sur, a Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. named Jethnand Motamull, was broken into
during his absence on business at Muscat by a party of Jenebeh, who
offered violence to the watchman in charge and carried off plunder to the
value of about $ 1 , 000 . 1 he spoil was openly sold in the town and tho
robbers made no attempt at concealment of themselves, but no steps were~
taken by the Sheikhs of the tribe to cause restitution, and it does not even,
appear that they offered to remonstrate with or suppress their tribesmen.
There was no, Wali or other authority on. behalf of the Sultan at Sur at the
time who could have taken action in the matter. The Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. therefore
reported the matter to Colonel Miles and the case was referred to His
Highness, who promised redress.
46. Soon after this, H.M.S. Rifleman happened to arrive at Sur, and the
Sheikhs of the Jenebeh, apprehensive that her arrival was connected with
the outrage committed by their tribesmen, and fearing the results, seized
the offender, and would have doubtless caused restitution, but Jf.M.S. Rifle
man, which only dropped anchor for a few hours incidentally in passing,
having in the meantime weighed anchor, the Sheikhs perceived how matters
stood and released their tribesmen without further question.
47. During His Highness Saiyid 1 urki s absence in Gwadur, the case-
was presented to Saiyid Abdul Aziz, but without beneficial result. About
this time the Sheikhs of the tribe went to the Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. and offered an
arrangement promising to make good the loss in eight months. This,
arrangement they afterwards repudiated. Saiyid Turki was reminded of the
mattei after his return, but he w T as not able to put sufficient pressure
on the tribe to cause them to make good the loss or to bring them to account
for their misconduct, and they succeeded in procrastinating and delaying to
reply until the season opened and they could get away in their bughlahs.
• t 8 * P is j ^ 1111688 finall y informed Colonel Miles that he left the matter
in the hands of Government, and as the latter considered the continued
failure of the Jenebeh tribe to cause restitution to a British subject plundered
by them injurious to British interests, he supported His Highness’s request
that the enforcement of reparations might be undertaken bv Government
lo have held His Highness personally responsible for the loss sustained at
the Jenebeh s hands would have tended still further to weaken His
Highness s authority, and would have encouraged the predatory Arabs ta
continue their depredations on British subjects at His Highness’s expense *
whilst the exaction of reparation from this tribe would, on the other hand'
be a cautionary warning to all. Colonel W. F. Prideaux, the Political
a ^ ^ggepfed that in addition to the original amount a fine of
.._,000 should be levied on the Jenebeh, partly as compensation for the delay
and partly as a penalty for the offence committed against a British subject.
3393 ^

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Content

Report on Sur by Major Gerald Patrick Murphy, 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. of Muscat, dated 9 October 1928.

It is divided into the following sections:

  • I. – 'Geographical Description of Sur' – including an introduction to the tribes who inhabit it;
  • II. – 'Historical Summary of the Bani Bu Ali' – including their origin, religion, engagements, expeditions, and feuds;
  • III. – 'Historical Summary of the Jenebeh' – including their origin, feuds, criminal activities, and fines;
  • IV. – 'The Slave Trade at Sur' – including British efforts in the suppression of the slave trade, treaties, a description of a captured slave vessel, and use the of the French flag as protection for slaving operations;
  • V. – 'Summary of recent Events in Sur' – including the building of new forts, establishment of a new customs post, the question of the Sultan's authority, criminal activities, and customs dues;
  • VI. – 'Review of the Situation at Sur' – including the policy pursued so far, request for assistance by the Sultan, the value of Sur in terms of prestige, and the form of assistance to be taken;
  • appendix 1. – 'Early History of Sur';
  • appendix 2. – 'Wrecks and Piracy'.
Extent and format
1 file (10 folios)
Arrangement

The file consists of a single report and contains a table of contents at the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 84, and terminates at f 93, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Report on Sur. By Major G. P. Murphy, I.A., Indian Political Department, Political Agent, Muscat' [‎88r] (9/20), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B416, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029571276.0x00000a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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