166
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE
Appendix, No. 8.
* Appendix L.
t Colonel Rigby's
letter, No. 103 of
1859.
Î Appendix L, paragraphs
10, II, 12.
§ Muscat Report,
paragraph 49.
|| Letter No.
1860, Foreig
Department.
British Consul at Jeddah, to the Government of Bombay.* Should such a document be
iound. It will put an end to this sore question between the rival brothers, whose only
object 18, 1 tear, to despoil their orphan relatives. Any interference therefore on our oart
may be postponed until the will referred to is produced ; and in the event of the document
not being forthcoming, and Syud Thoweynee persisting in his demand, the Government
might then take such steps as may seem most expedient to prevent an open rupture
between the two brothers, which this dispute is not unlikely to occasion.
52. I take it for granted that some opinion will be expected from me on the case of
byud Larghash, who has already been here nearly a year a pensioner on the bounty of
the Government. His Excellency in Council is doubtless aware that he was expelled
from Zanzibar on account oí the leading part which he took in the rebellion against Svud
Ma,)eed in October 1859, and that before leaving he signed a formal engagement, swearin«-on
the Koran to abide by the same, that he would quit Zanzibar for ever, and neve^
attempt to return without the express permission of Syud Majeed.f There is every reason
c him by Colonel Rigby and conñímed by
oyud Majeed,! *^1 having conspired with the El-Harth tribe to overturn the Government
are substantially true. It is very probable, moreover, that, whereas he was in reality
merely a tool in the hands of the El-Harth, he himself entertained the ambitious desio-p of
dethroning his brother and of ruling in his stead. It is equally clear that, before'^and
throughout the disturbances, he wished to be guided by the counsels of the French party
The following extract from a letter written by him to "the address of the French Consul
at Zanzibar, and piÿed up in the fortihed house which he had vacated on the second
approach of Syud Majeed s troops, accompanied by a detachment of British sailors, leaves
no doubt on that point My brother Majeed’s wish is to give the country to the Eno-lish
and he has spoken thereof openly, not once, nor twice, but often. We, however, wifi not
give our county either W the English or to the French, or to the Americans, or to any
one else; but if we it, we shall do so only at the cost of our blood, and of war to tlá
death. As to yourself be fully confident : if you are buying or selling in the plantations
be not afraid, your transactions will be safe.” ^
palliation of Syud Barghâsli’s conduct
(apart fiom Syud Thoweynee s estimate of his character when he styled him a lackbrain) &
IS the complicated state of the political affairs which existed at Zanzibar at the period of
the insurrection. Syud Majeed’s right to the sovereignty was disputed by the powerful
tribe of tne Fl-Harth; and, on the othei hand, Syud Thoweynee was endeavourincr to
^cure what suppôt be could ^ establish his own claim to the territories of Zanzibar
The commoticn which ensued m consequence of this rivalry was a mere repetition If
similai distui canees which, from time immemorial, have accompanied every fresh succes-M
^ sovereignty of Oman, and generally speaking, even the ringleaders, as well as
the abettors of the losing party, have uniformly been treated with the greatest lenity bv
the successful candidate on his confirmation in the sovereignty. Such has always been
the normal mode of proceeding among the Arabs of Oman. Open rebellion in such cases
has been considered an honour rather than a crime ; so much so, indeed, that the popular
voice would h^dly be in favour of a new ruler who had attained the supremacy whhout a
struggle with his competitors. ^ »vuuouia
54. Should the independeut sovereignty be awarded to Syud Majeed, I think that
under proper guarantees, he might with safety exercise a corresponding leniency by permitting
Syud Barghash to return to his home and family at Zanzibar. His Hi4LL
and within his absolute power. Hence there is little chance of Syud Harghâsh being
able, even were he so disposed, to organize a party in opposition to his brother Majeed,
a#'"f ,1 tSsÃÈ r=,'rzí:,':a r.Ä
abject terms, soliciting permission to return, and promising solemnly to conduct himself
in utui e as a loyal subject. No answer has as yet been received from his Hio-hness and I
psippsiiïüü
at once ensure his return to Zanzibar; and, as I have already observed, I do not think k
probable that he will abuse the indulgence.
Sohar.
55. As intimately connected with the principal subject of this report I avail of the
rJglrdlg GotlrJorln Ço%iï'ktwb"'w
56. In
