ملف ٢٢٩٧/ ١٩١٩ "تقارير شهرية للمقيمية البريطانية في الخليج الفارسي. ١٩١٢-١٩٢٠." [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٨] (١٠٤٤/٥٠١)

after conferring with His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, who was then
in Maskat, proceeded to Barka on board H. M S. “ Fox ” on the even
ing of 10th. Fighting between the Sultan’s garrison, under Saiyid Nadir, and
the rebels, under Shaikh Hamyar, was in progress. On the morning of the 11th
at His Highness’ request the enemy’s position, an outlaying fort which they had
captured on the previous day, was shelled by the <c Fox’s ” 6-inch guns.
The fort was demolished and the Political Agent returned to Maskat on the evening
of the 11th on board the “ Fox
392. His Highness again wrote to the Political Agent from Barka. He asked
for the despatch of a man-of-war to that place. The armed launch “ Miner ”
was despatched on the 13th and found that the enemy had recaptured various
positions in and near the town. Fighting between His Highness’ troops and the
rebels was in progress and at His Highness’ request the “ Miner ” opened fire on
the enemy and dispersed them.
393. With reference to paragraph 229 (a), arrivals from Qaryat, on the 12th,
reported that the Bani Battash had entered the town and were burning houses
in Qaryat. It was also reported that the Wall, with a number of Baluchi men.
women and children, had taken refuge in the fort and were besieged therein. Owing
to these reports His Highness proceeded to Qaryat on the 13th, the Political Agent
following him on board H. M. S. “ Dartmouth ”. At His Highness’ request the
enemy’s position was bombarded and the enemy dispersed. The enemy’s casualties
were probably few as most of them fled on the approach of the man-of-war. One
Khoja British subject, Jafir bin Hamaid, was unfortunately killed. He was
one of the two British subjects left in Qaryat and had refused to take refuge
with the Wall in the fort. He Was killed by the falling in of the wall of his house.
His family and the other British subjects w r ho joined the refugees in the fort
escaped unhurt. The Political Agent returned to Maskat after the bombard
ment.
394. His Highness returned from Qaryat to Maskat on the 16th and visited the
Political Agent at the Agency. He left again for Barka the same night, taking
with him more money, ammunition, stores, and a gun.
395. On the 17th Saiyid Mahomed bin Faisal, His Highness ’ brother, receiv
ed two letters addressed to His Highness, from the Wali of Qaryat and Abdulla bin
Mahomed, a Baluch. They reported the enemy’s presence in the village of ’Alfa,
where it was said they had been joined by Bani Hazm, Bani Waheb, and^JaredinaL
The Wall entreated His Highness to arrange for the despatch of a man-of-war to
Qaryat. On the 17th H. M. S. “Alert” was despatched in the direction of
Qaryat and Sur. At the same time H. M. S. “ Odin” left for the Batinah coast.
396. On the 17th four men, suspected of being sympathisers of Shaikh Isa bin
Saleh al Harithi, were imprisoned in fort Jelali. They had arrived from Zanzibar
two days previously. They were however subsequently released. One of them
declared he was a French 'protege.
397. On the 16th, twelve more Baluchi soldiers arrived from Basra for His
Highness the Sultan
398. Mhth reference to paragraph 393 supra H. M. S. “ Miner ” returned to
Maskat and reported that during the bombardment she w^as fired on by the rebels..
On the 20th M. M. S. Alert returned and reported all quiet along the coast
between Sur and Maskat. On her way she called at Qaiyat, where it was reported
many o His Highness subjects were lying wounded. These reports were exag
gerated and the Alert brought only one man who was wounded in the leg
by a splinter. He was admitted into the Agency hospital. Later H M S fi Odin ”
also returned and repored all quiet along the Batinah coast.
399. His Highness informed the Political Agent that, in the bombardment
at Barka two important Shaikhs of Musalmat, Shaikh Saif bin Salim and Sulaiman
bin Hamdan, had been killed. Shaikh Saiyid bin Khalfan of Wadi Maawal was also
reported to have been killed in addition to 19 other important men. It was also
reported that Shaikh Hamyar had removed all the wounded to Nakhl, where a
hospital had been established.