New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-13
AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN THE MO
HAMMEDIN UORLD

Il "
HAMNED4N WORLD
The detlIronement of the Imaum or ruler of
Muscat, and the succession of the Chief of the
Wahabees to the throne, are occurrences OF
more than ordinary Importance for the whole
of the MOhammedan world. Muscat is the
most powerful of all the Arab States, consist
ing of a tract of country in the eastern part
of OMAN in Arabia a narrow tract along the
coast of the Persian provinces of Laristan and
Mogistan, the islands of Ormus and Kishm Mt
the entrance of the Persian Gulf, and an ex
tensve territory on the east coast OF
Africa from the equator southwark to
Cane Delgado, in which are included
the provinces and the islands of Zanzibar,
Melinda, and others. The whole territory OF
the State extends to about 10000 square miles,
and contains 100000 inhabitants, of whom
about 100000 reside in Muscat proper in Ara
bia. The standing army amounts to 10000 or
10000 men, the navy to 81 vessels, with 73O
guns the merchant vessels TO at least 2,OOO
vessels of 81, 900 tuns The value of imports is
reckoned at about S5,OOO,OOO, and the revenue
of the State is over S4,0O0,0OO The City oil
Muscat is the key to the Persian Gulf, the best
harbor of refugcin the Indian Ocean, and most
important center of trade, where the productions
of Europe, of Africa, and the East are exchanged.
The population of the city is now estimated at
10000, and is increasing with great rapidity.
The progress and prosperity OF Muscat are great
ly due to the wise government OF SAID seq,
who regned from 1903 TO 1856, After his death
his dominions were divided between two of his
sons-onc, who resides mt Zanzibar, administer
ing the African territories, and the other, who
established himself at Muscat, retaining the
sovereignty of the Asiatic provinces About
n year ago, the Imaum of Muscat was
murdered by his nephew, who succeeded him,
and has now, in turn been dethroned, to give
way to the Chief of the Wahabees.
The last-named circumstance gives the clue
to the proper understanding of the event. The
Reinforcement of the Imaum is not the conse-
quence of a personal or local feud, but q link
in the most important movement in the recent
history of the Mohammedan world. The Wa
habees are MOhammedan sect of recent origin
their founder, Wahab, having been born about
the close of the seventeenth century. Those
who have read tile works of Palgrave and Col
Pelly are familiar with their marvellous history.
They are the Puritans of Mohammcdanlsm.
Their object was to restore a pure primitive.
and vigorous MOhammedanism in the place OF
the lethargy which had spread throughout
Arabia. From 1902 they prevented the
Turkish and Persian caravans from reaching
Mecca, for both Turks and Persians were rc-
garded 10y them as idolatrous. At this there
was great CONSERVATION in the Mohammedan
world. The Sultan of Constantipople, "a the
! chief protector Of old MOhammedanism, deemed
|
| it his duty to crush the daring heretics. Me-
hemet Ali of Egypt was charged with the en-
tcrprise in 1904. but nothing was done until
1911, and not until 1918 was the object of the
expedition obtained. The Chief of the Waha-
bees, Abdallal-bn Sa'ud, was sent TO Constan-
tinople and behcaded. But the power Of the
sect was only paralyzed, not annihilated. After
| the death of Mehemet Ali, in 1919, it rose
! again under Jeysul, the grandson, and Abdal-
lab H., the great grandson of Abdallah ]. Abb
dallah III. Is said TO unite in n high degree the
fana,cism and ferocity of the Wahabees with
great skill in military tactics; and now,
according TO the accounts Of Palgravo in 1868,
and of Col. Pey in 1866, the Wahabec sway
has become more powerful and extensive than
ever, and threatens to swallow up the whole Of
the Peninsula. According to PaHave, their En-
an army of 1900 men, and about $4,000 in
habitants, and extended to the Persian Gulf,
one of their provinces lying on the north
western shore of the Gulf. Now it would
seem they have advanced southwark, and con-
quered the most important of all the Arab En-
pires. If they maintain themselves at Muscat,
they will hencefOrth occupy a more prominent
place in history, and not fail to become better
known in this part of the world than they have
been heretofore.
The effect of the conquest of Muscat by the
Wababees upon commerce and civilization can
for the present only be injurious The Wala-
bees are religious fanatics Of the worst class,
and have thus far been unfavorable to COM
mcrce, arts, agriculture, and progress in gen
eral. Whether the possession of n great COM
mercal city will in this case, as il has done in
many others, break the force of fanatcism, and
inaugurate a new era in the history of the
only Mohammedan sect that shows real vitality,
remains to be seen.
AS soon as the election was over we pre-
dicted that the reign of blood and terror at
ft,a Cont hn oh Ir.1 10. I,,.f