Political [‎39v] (78/154)

no correspondence between us; but friendship for you is deeply rooted in my
heart, and distance only increases and confirms it; when, love is rooted in
hearts, distance only increases it especially the love of human beings for
their fellow creatures. I am confident that your sojourn in those parts, where
you are, is beneficial to us.
Although I do not trouble you, I am certain that if any reports are
received about me there, you will make up for my absence, and do better for
me than if I were present, although I do not give you particulars. At present
a mishap has befallen me, which has compelled me to inform you about it,
and I solicit God’s aid, then yours; and I have good hopes in God and you;
and God willing through you and your generous aid I shall gain my object,
to wit; since the high Government (Turkish) took possession of the district
of Nejd, myself and my followers have been obedient to it, and have given our
allegiance to it and have served it without any recompense while other people
are not so, they do not serve unless they are paid. In particular, as to myself,
during all this time I have been Kaim Makam of the District of Katr, and have
set aside all my own affairs, and have attended to the service of the high
Government, I have never asked for any salary and have used my best
endeavours in the service of the Government and for the benefit of the creed,
* As regards Oman, you are well aware
* Attention is drawn to this passage. of its condition and the income which can
E ,c ' R - be obtained from it and that this territory
and its inhabitants are subject to the Government of Nejd.* Ever since Govern
ment (Turkish) took possession of Nejd, Oman has been left to itself, no one has
taken notice of it, and each township has remained in the hands of its inhabit
ants. It is not hidden from you that Zaeed-bin-Khaleefah is one of the inhabit
ants of Oman, and he was the first man to pay taxes to you, the Al-Suood.
When the Government reduced the power of the Al-suood, and paid no attention
to Oman, the above Zaeed rose and began to follow his inclination and created
dissensions amongst the people until he acquired paramount power, and be
came their master, and seized all the revenues. He oppressed the people and
tyrannized over them, while the people were powerless and could not resist
him, except by the aid of God and the high (Turkish) Government: and this
after the justice and good treatment they experienced from-the Al-Suood. But
the Government neglected them, and left them out, as if they were not subject
to the Government of Nejd.
Then some of the inhabitants of the town and villages came to me seeking
my aid and soliciting that I should use my endeavours for them with the
Government and arrange that they might be.rid of the jurisdiction of Zaeed-
bin-Khaleefah over them, and that the Government may include the territories
within the district and jurisdiction of Nejd, as of yore, so that the inhabitants
may find peace and rest and be safe against murders and plunder, and be rid
of this person, who fears not God, and knows not Ills wrath. I gave them
good promises and full hopes, and I represented this matter to every°Wali and
Mutaserrif who came to these parts,f and they used to give me fair promises,
t N.B.— i.e .—The Walls of Busrah & Governor of 3,11 ^. U ^ n l # USe( l ^0 give similar promises
Hasa. to the inhabitants who used to become
joyful and hope for relief from God and
the merciful Government. But months and years rolled away, and there was
no result, and the Government were quite neglectful, which was not proper,
as those people were their subjects and included within the jurisdiction of the
Government of Nejd. The revenues of Oman equal those of Nejd, perhaps they
+ are greater^, especially if it comes in the
hands of the high Government.^
AT hen Zaeed-bin-Khaleefah came to know about my counsel and endeayours
with the officers of the Government, he harboured in his mind animosity against
me and instigated the tiibes under his orders, who began to raid our neighbour
hood, plunder our property, murder our men, outrage our women, and make
slaves of our free people, but since we are dependants of the high Government,
I could not do anything, and prevented my tribesmen from committin <> any
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