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‘File XXIX/4 THE IMAM’S RISING 1913-1920. RISING of IMAM of NIZWA JAN. 1915 & ATTACK ON BAIT-al-FALAJ JAN. 1915’ [‎89r] (188/836)

The record is made up of 1 volume (405 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1914-31 Oct 1916. 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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(18) By 'C»}i6 QXfr <3'MWiwcy jio 3 *&ny
doubt or the proximity of the rebelo of their detail-
-nation to attaolc* 50 or their standarda had bean ©ear at
Boabar and their nirabers ware quoted at ^000 man*
the evening the Oi;.; xoor Oikbww . ‘. ••% raportad 400
of them within 4 miles or his observation post.
(29) Much excitement now prevailed in the townsoi
dasqat anu '.tatra. Be aidants inhabiting the hamlets outside
the city swarmed with all their belongings inside the walls.
British merchants closed the
valuables in the Oorsulate,
the streets mainly round the
ir shops 'and deposited their
nen#women and children camped in
British Consulate, iris Highness
distributed Ksobd^cK^atea® rifles and ammunition lr: all
directions and invited me to go round the defences .and
aacist him in posting his troops m'-l machine guns. Some
hasty protective works war©,under my direction $ erected at
certain positions on the wells and adjacent towers so as to
fit in with the general defensive scheme from Jidap to Bait
al FalaJ. His Highness packed up his valuables in readiness
to move .-ath his family into the del all Fort if necessary.
Th'O members of tha American Mission f both Furopean and native,
moved with all their belongings into the Tritish rfoiuml ate
ana tr a patients in the Mission Hospital were carried into
tha town,.
T1 : e tOC Arabs imported by His Highxtess for the del enoe of
Hasqat adeed greatly to the alarm and anxie-ty of the in-
-habitant®.
(^°) will be convenient hare to note the strength,
composition and position of the British garrison at Masqat.
11 ” 9 strength of the icroe is roughly 980 men,composed of
the 102nd King T^dv/ard’s Own, Orenadisrs md 08th Usmssll 9 ©
Inf. Tha headquarters of the former are at Bait-al-
BedaJ and those or the latter at Buwi,both these places
•"dug about If mil as inland from the coast town of Matrah.
H a ragl^ientB furnioh^ a protecting screen for the

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Content

The volume contains correspondence in the form of reports, memoranda, and a considerable number of translated letters of notable local Omani shaikhs and members of al-Bu Sa‘id ruling family. The correspondence is mainly concerned with the rising of the Imam of Oman, Salim bin Rashid al-Kharusi against the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, Taimur bin Fayṣal bin Turki al-Bu Sa‘idi, and the former’s attack on Muscat in 1915. The Imam’s coalition included Omani tribal leaders, Himyar bin Nasir al-Nabhani, and ‘Isa bin Saleh al-Harthi, who were rising against the existence of the British forces in Muscat and the Sultan’s reliance on the British in his rule. The Imam’s forces met at Sama'il and led their way from there to attack the British forces’ garrison at Bait al-Falaj. Upon the attack, British officials, 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire, in particular reported on the number of casualties from both sides. The attack has raised concerns of more attacks to take place in the future.

Among other issues raised in the volume are:

  • current situation in various regions including Sama'il, Nizwa, Sib and others
  • previous rising led by the Imam, Azzan bin Qais
  • the communication made with the Government of India about the possibility of sending more troops to Muscat in order to assist the existing ones, and the expenses involved in such a step
  • the position of the French in Muscat
  • 'Isa bin Saleh’s efforts for peace
  • the suggestion that 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, could act as a mediator between the two sides
  • the possible peace negotiations
  • the Imam’s conditions for making peace, including: the full recognition of the Sharia Law as practiced by the Imam in the interior, the settlement of the financial claims due to the inhabitants in the interior, and the absolute prohibition of the import of wines, spirits and tobaccos
  • news of the First World War
  • the influence the Imam has on his followers and his anti-British propaganda, seeing the British as enemies of Islam
  • the spread of pro-German feelings among the tribes of the Sharqiyya region
  • news that the Emperor of Germany has converted to Islam

The majority of the correspondence in the volume is dated 1915.

Extent and format
1 volume (405 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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 407; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 8-398; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The file has one foliation anomaly, f 241A.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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‘File XXIX/4 THE IMAM’S RISING 1913-1920. RISING of IMAM of NIZWA JAN. 1915 & ATTACK ON BAIT-al-FALAJ JAN. 1915’ [‎89r] (188/836), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/45, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100071566786.0x0000bd> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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