‘File XXVIII/2 INTERNAL POLITICS & RELATIONS WITH OMAN MAJOR SADLER'S DIARY DURING REBELLION OF 1895.’ [‎6v] (12/104)

Boforo the departure of the mail steamer, the Vazier came to me
with a message from the Sultan asking if I would send the vessel
to Soor to bring up reinforcements for His Highness. I regret
ted that for several reasons I was unable to complv with this
request. Apart from other considerations, the fact that the
persons and property of our subjects were in the hands of the
rebels would alone have been sufficient to make the policy
of strict nutrality, which I adopted from the first, one of
absolute necessity. The rebels employed their time during the
day in wrecking the Sultan ! s palaces, and auctioning all his fxir-
niture and effects which they had not destroyed. Several pieces
of furniture and other articles were bought in by Baians to
return to His Highness. An order was issued forbidding British
subjects from having any-dealings with the rebels in this con
nection on their own account.
(annex D) A letter was received from Shaikh Abdullah suggesting
a communication of interests between himself and me, and intimating
his readiness to abide b^* v/hat I though advisable in the in
terests of all. (annex E) To this I replied that what I require
of him in the present state of affairs in Muscat, was the ef
fectual protection of our subjects and their property from his
followers.
8. Early in the morning of the 15th the white Mutawwah
flag was seen flying from the palace flag-staff, which seemed
to indicate that the rebels were acting in the interests of the
Rostuk branch of the reigning family.
I paid the Sultan a visit in fort Julali, and was glad to find
His Highness in fairly good spirits; he was expecting the arrival
of reinforcements on the morrow and seemed confident of outing
the rebels from the town.
(annex P.& G.) Here reference to the question of the occupation
by the rebels of the extreme eastern portion of the town, with
a view to cutting off the Sultan^ communication with the land