عمان والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لهيرمان إيليتس- غير مفهرس

Ahmad bin Na'aman، Sultan's special emissary to New York in 1841. (Peabody Museum of Salem)

Expedition to New York

As Sayyid Sa'id welcomed American vessels to his ports، he also pondered the utility of sending Omani trading vessels to the United States. Such direct trade، he hoped، might en- able him to obtain American products more cheaply than through exclusive reliance on American shipping.

During initial treaty negotiations، according to Edmund Roberts، Sayyid Sa'id suggested that the American representative sail on one of his ships to the United States. Roberts' official status precluded his doing so. Subsequently، during Roberts' treaty ratification mission، in those anxious few days when the safety of Peacock was still in doubt، Sayyid Sa'id of- fered one of his ships to the American envoy. Roberts، he indicated، could continue his treaty ratification mission aboard an Omani vessel should Peacock be lost، and by a sec- ond Omani vessel to be sent to the United States. With Peacock's appearance in Muscat، the idea was deferred.

Again، shortly before Consul Waters re- turned to the United States on leave in 1839، the Sultan proposed sending one of his ships to the United States and invited Waters to sail in her. Since the ship was not yet ready، and because of his doubts about the English sailing master who was to navigate her، Waters de- clined the offer and left for Salem aboard his brother's ship.

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Such a voyage finally took place in 1839، in

part because of the urgings of a visiting Amer- ican shipmaster representing the New York firm of Scoville and Britton. Sayyid Sa'id's ship، Sultana، the same vessel that had been sent to aid the stricken Peacock، sailed from Muscat on December 23. After touching at Zanzibar and St. Helena، she arrived in New York harbor on April 30، 1840. Aboard as supercargo and as Sayyid Sa'id's special emis- sary was his secretary Ahmad bin Na'aman، charged with delivering letters and gifts for the President of the United States and selling a cargo of Omani dates، Persian wool carpets، and Mokha coffee loaded at Muscat، as well as various articles from Zanzibar. All of the items were consigned to Scoville and Britton. Since the firm had gone bankrupt shortly be- fore the ship's arrival، Ahmad had to request another New York firm، Barclay and Livingston، local agents of Lloyd's of Lon- don، to handle sales and purchases. Various New York merchants bought the cargoes and the Omanis collected a return cargo consisting of textiles، some cases of multicolored beads، a quantity of muskets and gun power، china plates، several mirrors and vases، boxes of gold thread، sperm whale candles، and other items.

Sayyid Sa'id's gifts for the President posed a dilemma. A presidential election was immi- nent and Van Buren's opponents in the Con- gress and the newspapers castigated any sug- gestion that the gifts might appropriately be received by the Chief Executive. Doing so، they contended، would be unconstitutional and unprecedented. After protracted debate، and because of Administration warnings that de- clining them would give offense to a friendly ruler، Congress agreed that they might be ac- cepted in behalf of the government of the United States. Some، such as two Arabian stud horses، were sold at auction-one to a member of former President Jackson's Cabinet، General John Eaton of Tennessee. Proceeds were deposited in the United States' Treasury. Others، such as a Persian carpet، a gold-mounted sword and minor gifts، were ac- cepted on condition that they belonged to the United States (see photo، page 00).

Ahmad and his officers were cordially welcomed in New York. A few days after Sul- tanah's arrival، New York city officials vis-