"ملف ٢٠/٨: شؤون دولة مسقط: احتجاج العمانيين" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٩] (٦٣٤/٤٥٧)

where they iisporsed.
Alined bin Ibrahim was anxious to push home
the attack to Rostaq, but the attitude of his men appeared
doubtful* He is however in undisputed possession of ohebeika
and Hosheil and his men are buoy repairing the water courses.
On tills successful relief of Hazm the wall of
Matrah dismissed the tribes and returned to Muscat witn his
men.
The effects of this affair may be summed up as follow^
(1) The Imam openly proclaimed Ills intention to take Hazm and
to punish Ahmed bin Ibrahim. He was compelled to withdraw
with every appearance of ignominy, as on the approach of a
very small force of the Sultan’s everybody deserted him.
(3) The Imam openly proclaimed his intention of punishing the
Beni Ghaflr. Instead he was compelled to ask peace from them
and to accept the most humiliating terms, the Beni Ghafir
in no way guaranteeing to help him, but only not to attawk him
(3) The Imam openly proclaimed a holy war, only to be met by
direct refusal and excuse.
(4) For the first time for many years the Sultan*sgovernment
has achiev d an open success against the Imam.
The reasons for this somewhat remarkable resufc
are fairly clear. The Omanis have no long r any offensive
power ( as an instance of this cartridges are now ten to the
dollar in Oman )• They ar^ thoroughly weary of a state of
affairs in which they suffer without gaining any advantage
whatever. They are aware through a fairly extensive propaganda
that their sufferings are entirely due to the unreasonable
attitude of the Imam and his brother over the affair of the
gardens. They are becoming more convinc d every day that we
are determined to back the Sultan. They are terrified of the
possibilities of the penal zakat.
Only one other point arises from this affair
and that is the absolute necessity of supplying the Sultan
with soi; reliable troops as soon as possible. With 300 good
men nis autnority will be unquestioned throughout Oman.