"الملف 35/10 هجوم الشيخ صالح على مسقط سنة ١٨٩٥" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٣] (٢٤٠/٢٢٦)

same time be easily secured against any aggression from it. The volume of
their trade is very considerable, and may be taken as the measure of the in
fluence for good, which the authority controlling it could bring to bear on the
peoples inland. And a most favourable circumstance of the situation is,
that the external relations of Oman being for all practical purposes confined
to British India, and in much minor degree, Zanzibar, no complications from
a collision with Foreign interests would be likely to arise.
6. Should wider considerationsof Imperial policy be opposed to the
entertainment of the views above discussed, some such safeguards against the
risks to which our important interests in property and commerce are exposed,
as are sketched in the concluding portion of Major Sadler's letter, would
seem to demand the attention of Government.
No. 86, dated Muscat, the 10th April 1895 (Confidential).
From— Major J. Hayes Sadler , Political Agent, Muscat,
To — C olonel F. A. W ilson , Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
In your letter marginally noted you reported to Government on the pro-
Paras. 8-11 of letter No. C., dated the 21st March, bable result, SO far as it COuld be foreseen
from the Political Kesident to the Foreign Secretary. 0 f the recent rebellion as affecting the
authority of the Sultan and the prestige of his powerful adversary, Sheikh
Salih.
I now venture to make a few observations on the political situation in
Oman and the considerations which would guide us, should it be in contempla
tion to effect a change in our policy towards the country and its ruler. And
I would preface these remarks by respectfully expressing my entire concur
rence in the views you have expressed in the paragraphs above noted.
2. Eor present purposes Oman may be divided into three portions :
(a) The Sharkiyyeh and Jaalan.
(£>) The Dhahirah and the Batinah.
(<?) The Ilajoor and Oman Proper.
{a) In the Sharkiyyeh, which is mainly peopled by Hinawi tribes.
Sheikh Salih is the dominant spirit, held in check in a manner by the Ghafiria
of that district and Jaalan. In Jaalan the power is pretty evenly balanced
between the rival Hinawi and Ghafiri tribes, the Chief of which, the Beni Boo
Hassan (H) and the Beni Boo Ali (Gh) are constantly at war with each other.'
The Sultan has no voice in the affairs of the Sharkiyyeh or Jaalan.
{b) The principal tribe in the Dhahirah is the Naim (Gh), which is under
the influence of, and held in check by, the Chief of Aboo Dhabi, who is on
good terms with the Sultan of Oman. So far as Oman politics are concerned,
this and the other Dhahirah tribes may be said to be independent.
Fiom Muscat to Masnaah in the Batinah the Sultan exercises authoritvj
thenceforward to Sohar, the inland tribes are under the influence of Seyyid
Ibrahim bin Kais, backed by his old allies, the Yal Saad, the coast towns bein^
in the possession of the Sultan.
(c) lhat portion of the Hajoor which comprises Semmayil, Nakl, Tao and
the adi Muawal, and which is peopled by Ghafiris, is more or less under
the control of the Sultan, who has an able official, Sheikh Rashid bin
Uzaiz, to look after his interests in that quarter.
Political influence in Oman Proper is divided between the Ghafiris of
Bailah, the Chief of whom is the Taminiah of the Ghafiri clans, and the
Hinawis of Nezwah, over neither of these does the Sultan exercise anv
authority. 3
3. It will thus be seen that the Sultan's direct authority is limited to
that portion of the Batinah between Muscat and Masnaah and its coast towns,
2