"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٥‎٨‎١] (١٧٨٢/٧٢٤)

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with the British Political Agent at Masqat, had endeavoured to sound
him as to the probable attitude of the British Government in case of a
fresh rising against the Sultan. In April 1900 there were short-lived
rumours of an attack on Masqat, to be attempted by the tribes of
Sharqiyah as a protest against the indemnity export tax still levied
upon Hinawi produce ; and the Sultan considered it advisable to
strengthen Quryat and Sib, while Sa' id-bin-Ibrahim of Hazam moved
to his assistance with 300 men, A little later Isa-bin-Salih, Ilaiithi,
with his brother Hamad actually visited Wadi Samail, but his intrigues
there met with no success and the Sultan refused him pei mission to visit
Masqat; 'Isa, it should be explained, was a dignified, ascetic and
bigoted character, on whom in this respect the mantle of his father Shaikh
SiTlih-bin-'Ali had fallen, while his] younger brothers 'Ali and Ahmad
(or Hamad) were mere commonplace marauders. In 1001 the family of
Shaikh Salih, as mentioned in an earlier paragraph, had a share in
obstructing the first expedition which went, under the auspices of t e
Sultan, to examine the coal deposits in the hinterland of Sui , and in the
same year the Sultan received from Isa-bin-Salih a threatening letter
relating to the manumission of slaves, in which the hand of Hi a
'Amr was thought to be traceable. • .i loaq
After this the Sharqiyah malcontents did not again come m o
prominence until August 1903, when, during tlie visit of Saiyid Faisal to
Sur, news was received that Isa-bin-Salih and his two brothers with a
considerable following were on their way to Western Ua^ar to^
Hazam and Ruetaq. Hazam was at this time still in the possession o
Sa'id-bin-Ibrahim, whose sister the Sultan had married in 1898, and
Rustaq was held by the fratricide Hamud -bin-'Azzan. With both of these
Paisal was outwardly on good terms ; but they weie practica y J
dent of him, and they were at feud with one another. e u '
receiving intelligence of 'Isa's movements, letuined to as i
despatched Saiyid Taimur and Sulaiman -bin-Suwailim by water to Sib o
bar the passage of the rebels towards Rnstaq; but the Aqq pass had
been at once thrown open to them by its treacherous custodians, and, befoie
the Sultan's troops eould arrive at Fanjah, the rebels had crossed their
front and were beyond reach of pursuit. The Sultan himse en p™
ceeded to Masna'ah and put the lloyalty of Sa'id to the tes ? ^ V1
him to a conference; but the latter Ideclined the invitation and insteaxl
made his way to Kustaq, where he joined 'Isa-bin-Sahh and Hamud-bm-
^The intention of 'Isa, who aimed at power and ''; at
not compete for the Sultanate in his own person, was appaien y