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‘File XXVIII/3 Internal Politics and Relations with Oman Correspondence re rebellion of 1895 and subsequent warning to shaikhs against any further attack on Muscat.’ [‎21r] (54/142)

The record is made up of 1 volume (62 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1895-9 Apr 1900. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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and is exercised in a measure over the tract of country round Nakl, Tao, the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Muawal and Semmayil. The latter is important, as from this valley
lead the passes into the S’uarkiyyeh and Oman Proper.
Even here the Sultan has lost ground, his policy of non-interference
having alienated some of the Ghafiri tribes and brought them more within the
influence of Sheikh Salih; last autumn they were dissatisfied at their disputes
being referred for settlement to that Sheikh, and it may be owing to this
unfortunate policy of the Sultan’s that we find Sheikhs of the Rahbiyeen and
Nidabiyeen, the two Ghafiri tribes holding the principal, passes, in co-oper
ation with Sheikh Salih in his attack on the Sultan.
4. It is not necessary for me to repeat history and recapitulate the
causes which led to the power and control exercised over the tribes of Oman
by Seyyid Saeed and his son Seyyid Thoweyni passing from the hands of their
successors, till we come to the position sketched in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this
report.
Suffice it to say that the situation now is not so had as it was in the
worst days of Seyyid Turki. The Sultan has not taken advantage of the
unusually peaceful state in which he found the country on his accession to
consolidate his power, his rule has been weak, and he has tried to avert the
hostility of some of the tribes and enlist the good-will of others by a system
of cash payments, which would break a far longer purse than his without
producing any permanent result.
The Arab is only to be controlled by two agents —force and money—the
Sultan unable to employ the former had recourse to the latter, and the more
lie gave the more was asked. The uselessness of this system of what passes
for Government in Arabia was fully shown in the time of the late Sultan
Seyyid Tnrki, whose liberal donations to the tribes exhausted his resources,
but failed to secure their fidelity.
5. The Sultan’s position, however, weak as it has been shown to be, is not
altogether hopeless. Large reinforcements mustered to his assistance in his
hour of need, and though they may have answered the Sultan’s summons more
with a view to thwart their Hinawi rivals than to actively support their
ruler, yet the passive resistance they offered was quite enough to show Sheikh
Salih that the object of the rebellion could not be attained, it forced the rebels
to come to terms and unquestionably saved the Sultanate. This, as you have
remarked, is a force which, if judiciously used, might be turned to great
advantage.
There are also dissensions amongst the Rinawis, of which the Sultan is
well aware, and of which I am advised he will not be slow to take advantage.
I may mention two instances :—
(a) The jealousy between Sheikh Salih and Sheikh Saeed bin Ali. One
of the causes of disagreement between the Sultan and Sheikh Salih was the
favour shown by His Highness to Sheikh Saeed, Sheikh Salih rightly or wrongly
thinking the Sultan was trying to subvert his influence with the Harth
through this Sheikh.
(b) The ill-feeling which the Hijriyeen bear towards the Harth on
account of the larger presents received by the latter from the Sultan of Zanzibar,
which the former attribute to the influence of the U arth and more especially
of Hilal bin Aamir with Seyyid Hamad bin Thoweyni; the fact being that
the Hijriyeen Sheikhs arrived at Zanzibar after the Sultan had received a
caution in the matter of these presents.
Moreover the Hijriyeen show a tendency to revert to the Ghafiri faction
to which they originally belonged.
There is also the fact that Sheikh Salih must to a certain extent be dis
credited by the very treacherous and underhand manner in which his late
attempt on the Sultanate was made; and also in a manner by the fact that
the rebellion failed to gain its declared object, though in this last respect
it must be observed that Sheikh Salih has made many unsuccessful attempts
on Muscat without losing much of his prestige thereby.
3

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Content

The volume contains letters regarding the threat of attacks on Muscat and Mutrah (also called Matrah). The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire, requested that the Sultan of Muscat issue a notification to the Omani shaikhs not to attack these towns, or to otherwise hinder the trade undertaken by British subjects. Drafts of the notification are passed between the Sultan, the 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. , Muscat, and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. . The letters also discuss the Sultan’s health, his probable visit to Bombay, his inability to protect Muscat and Mutrah during his absence, and his payment of debts.

The volume also contains correspondence related to the declaration of a British protectorate over Oman, the rebellion of Shaikh Salih bin Ali al-Harthi and his followers and their attack on British subjects in the areas under the Sultan’s control.

The majority of the correspondence is between 1895-1896, apart from (f 61) which is dated 1900.

Extent and format
1 volume (62 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 62; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 56-62; these numbers are also written in pencil, are circled, and have been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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‘File XXVIII/3 Internal Politics and Relations with Oman Correspondence re rebellion of 1895 and subsequent warning to shaikhs against any further attack on Muscat.’ [‎21r] (54/142), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/38, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045758719.0x000037> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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