IOR/L/PS/5/263, ff 343-387

Despatch from the Foreign Department, Government of India, to theSecretary of State for India, No. 267 of 1869, dated 19 August 1869, containingenclosures dated 21 May-28 July 1869.

The enclosures consist of copies ofcorrespondence relating to events in Muscat and Oman, particularly relating tothe rule of Syud Azan bin Ghes [Sayyid ‘Azzān binQays Āl Bū Sa‘īd] as Sultan of Muscat, including:

• Discussion over whether the movement of troops by sea from Muscat to other Omani ports should be considered a breach of the Maritime Truce [General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf]
• Instances of British subjects being impacted by new laws introduced by Syud Azan, including a British-owned stockpile of tobacco being seized and burnt at Birka [Barka] and British subjects being imprisoned at Salem [Saham] for shaving
• Considerations of the perceived likelihood of a successful invasion of Muscat by the deposed former Sultan Syud Salim [Sayyid Sālim bin Thuwaynī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], his brother Syud Nassir [Sayyid Nāṣir bin Thuwaynī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], or their uncle Syud Toorkee [Sayyid Turkī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd]
• The capture of Brymee [Al Buraymi] by Syud Azan from Wahabee [Wahhābī] forces.

The primary correspondents are: Syud Azan; Syud Salim; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agent, Muscat; and the Government of Bombay.