عمان والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لهيرمان إيليتس- غير مفهرس

Sultan Sayyid Sa'id ..

(Peabody Museum of Salem)

specify that Oman bear any expenses incurred in supporting and returning them home. Such treatment، he asserted، was mandated by Arab usage and rights of hospitality. It was agreed that the date of the agreement should be Sep- tember 21، 1833، and that the document would be signed in English and Arabic versions.

During the next few days، Sa'id bin Khalfan prepared an Arabic translation in consultation with Sayyid Sa'id and Roberts. Actual signing took place on October 3، 1833، with the En- glish and Arabic texts in parallel columns. One copy of the signed treaty was left with Sayyid Sa'id; Roberts took the other for ratifi- cation by the U.S. government. On October 4، the day after the signing، Sayyid Sa'id، ac- companied by a large retinue، paid a formal visit to Peacock. The yardarms of both war- ships were manned and the vessels fired a 21 - gun salute in honor of His Highness. Their sa- lutes were returned by the Muscat forts. It was، by all accounts، a festive occasion.

Sayyid Sa'id's generous desire to send pre- sents for Jackson was respectfully declined on the grounds that acceptance would violate the U.S. Constitution، but Roberts carried with him a cordial letter of appreciation from the ruler to the President.

A Return Voyage

After Senate advice and consent had been ob- tained، the treaty was duly ratified by the Pres-

ident of the United States on June 30، 1834. Shortly thereafter، Roberts again was named special diplomatic agent، this time to ex- change treaty ratifications with Oman. He de- parted on March 25، 1835، once more aboard Peacock. En route to Muscat، in the early hours of September 25، Peacock ran aground on a coral reef near Masira Island. Unable to float free، and fearing the tribesmen gathering on shore، the commander sent the ship's cut- ter، with Roberts and seven crewmen، to seek help. Four days later، after a dangerous trip in their small boat along the south Arabian coast، they arrived in Muscat. Sayyid Sa'id im- mediately dispatched one of his ships، Sul- tanah، and sent orders overland to his gover- nors to provide any necessary assistance. Near Ras Al-Hadd، Sultana encountered Peacock، whose captain had finally managed to get his ship off the reef، but only after jettisoning her heavy guns.

With Peacock safe in Muscat، formal ratifi- cations were exchanged on September 30، 1835. Asked by Sayyid Sa'id when the treaty should go into effect، Roberts proposed June 30، 1834، the date on which U.S. ratification had taken place. Sayyid Sa'id graciously ac- cepted، although this ex post facto arrange- ment meant that number of American ship- masters، who in the intervening period، had paid more than the five percent import duty stipulated by the treaty، could claim reim- bursement. After a further round of calls،

Comune Roberé's

(Library of Congress)

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