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'File 8/62 IV PRINCIPAL SHAIKHS & TRIBES OF OMAN.' [‎42r] (83/282)

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The record is made up of 1 file (137 folios). It was created in 6 Dec 1950-25 Dec 1951. 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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Brief narrative oi events to show
' liow the office of Imam of Oman ceased
to he vested in the person of the
Ruler of Muscat & Oman and the relat
ions existing between them at the
present 1 kime (1950
Until 1793 the Rulers of Muscat and Oman
were elected, and their capital v/as maintained at
Rostaq in the interior until 1783. Thereafter it
was transferred to the coaot at Muscat, as a result
of which much of the control over the tribes of
the interior was lost. Following the usurpation of
power by Saiyid Sultan in 1793, and abandonment of
the formality •. of election of the
rulers thereafter, the tribes of the interior began
to regard the Rulers as usurpers, and a series of
rebellions took place between 1829 and 1867, cul
minating in seizure of power by a junior branch
of the ruling family, supported by some of the
tribes. He was however overthrown in 1871, by the
legitimate branch. Thereafter numerous attempts
to dislodge the Sultans were made by the Omani
tribes, whose feelings v/ere further incensed by
the stoppage of the arms and the slave traffic, both
of which are permitted by Islam, at the instigation
of the Christian Pov/ers. These culminated in a
carefully organised rebellion in 1913 .
In fulfilment of a guarantee given to the
Sultan in 1895, which was also communicated to the
Shaikhs of Oman, British military assistance was
provided and a crushing defeat was inflicted upon
the tribal forces which in January 1915 attacked the
British outposts at Bait al Falaj, stationed there
for the protection of Muscat. By 1918, however, the
rebel tribes had obtained complete control of the
interior, known as Oman proper, and had established
a government in it under their own Imam. They
would undoubtedly have taken Muscat and all the
coastal towns had it not been for the Military and
Naval assistance which the British Government were
ready to afford, and also financial and other assistance
supplied to restore and improve the Administration.
only
In the en<^/fctfter several a'V'omp_to, by the
British Political authorities to effect a reconcil
iation, and after a further demonstration of force
and economic pressure and the murder of the Imam by
his tribes, was 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. of the time able
to promote further negotiations which, on the 25 th
September 1920 ^terminated in the signing of an agreement
known since as the Treaty of Sib,
Under the terms of this agreement the Sultan
undertook not to interfere in the internal affairs of
the tribes j not to impose more than 5% taxation on
their produce brought into the coastal towns; to allow
member a of' the tribes to come oud r;o freely end to
return fugitive criminals.
In return the tribes agreed to remain in peace
and friendship with the Sultan, not to interfere with
his government or to attack the coastal towns; not to
impose any restrictions on trade; to permit travellers
to pass freely; to turn out fugitive criminals and bo
dispose of all claims in accordance with the Shara law.

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Content

This file relates to the principal shaikhs and tribes of Oman, and also to the Imam of Oman's administration. It largely consists of copies of (and various amendments to) two reports. The first of these is an account by 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. and Consul at Muscat entitled 'Notes on the Tribes of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman' (full versions found at folios 11-37 and folios 90-116, the latter of which includes an enclosed map). This account provides written summaries of the main tribes, plus tables with further details, including principal settlements, estimated population, and estimated number of rifles.

The second report is entitled 'A Note on the Imam's Administration in the interior of Oman' (ff 3-9 and ff 38-44). It includes details on the extent of the Imam's administration, a list of the tribes that currently support the Imam, and a list of walis appointed by the Imam.

The correspondence, most of which is between 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. 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , mainly concerns details from, and revisions to, 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. 's aforementioned account on the tribes of Muscat and Oman.

Extent and format
1 file (137 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 139; 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. A previous foliation sequence between ff 95-138, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 8/62 IV PRINCIPAL SHAIKHS & TRIBES OF OMAN.' [‎42r] (83/282), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/245, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069907939.0x000054> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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