Page 547 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

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RESIDENCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1W4-1W5.
to transfer tho soldiers with their arms to the fast mail steamer under a guard
and to send them on forthwith to their destination. This was accordingly done.
These incidents are recorded as examples of the difficulties which must
inovitably arise until tho public and the Customs officials have become
thoroughly acquainted with the precise interpretation to be placed on the raulti-
tudinoSs sections of the Rfcglemcnt. Mcanwhilo there can he no doubt of the
advisability of enforcing the letter of it with reserve until the many little
modifications which it will inevitably need have become manifest and have
been remedied.
Personnel.—Monsieur Dambrain, who was Director-General at Bushire at
the beginning of tho year, proceeded on furlough in May and was replaoed by
Monsieur E. ‘WafTelacrt lrom Mohammerali. 'The latter remained until the
middle of February, when ho left for Kermanshah on transfer. He was
succeeded on the 29th March by M. Heynssens from the Caspian Division.
Settlement of Claims.—The outstanding claims referred to in last year’s
report have, I regret to say, made no progress towards settlement, in spite of
unremitting efforts on the part of this It esidenoy and the representations of
His Majesty’s Legation.
Postal Service.—The fast mail sendee from Bombay to the Persian Gulf
has been still further accelerated during the year under report by the introduc­
tion of three fine turbine steamers by the British India Steam Navigation
Company, the first of which, the L'rnga, on her maiden voyage arrived at
Bushire in five days from Bombay after calling at Karachi and Maskat.
Major Grey was Political Agent at Maskat throughout the year. His II —Onxaa.
report on the year’s administration forms Part II of this compilaiion. The
proceedings in the Maskat case, now before the Hague Tribunal, are now well
advanced,"and it is hoped will sbon be brought to a conclusion.
The pearling season was not at all a successful one, the take being only rn.—Tb©
aboat half of wbat it was last year, while the relative prices ruled about one- Trocial Coast,
thu d less.
The maritime truce has been well maintained throughout the year.
Abu Thabi.—Sheikh Zaeed bin Kalifah has spent several months of the
present year at his new settlement of Yaliali in the Bereymee Oasis, in which
he seems to take more than ordinary interest. He was absont from Abu Thabi
both when the port wns visited by Mr. J. G, Lorimer, I.C.S., on Gazetteer
duty and again when the Resident visited the coast towards the close of the
year. Sheikh Zaeed has recently received a fine mare with trappings as a
present from the Sherif of Mecca.
Debai t—1Tbe administration of this Chief is the most enlightened and
promising of any of the Trucial Chiefs, and is justifying the enterprise of the
British India Steam Navigation Company iu making Debai a regular fortnightly
port of call. Apart from the prosperity which this departure seems likely to
bring to Debai itself, tbe frequency of steamer communication with the Coast
of the Trucial Chiefs cannot fail to have a civilising influence on their
subjects generally.
Shargah.—The rule of this Chief, Sheikh Suggur bin Khalid* has not been
altogether satisfactory. The same lethargic temperament, which makes him
unpopular with his fellow Chiefs of the Trucial Coast, gives him little or no
influence over his own subjects and dependents, and when the latter are
inclined to show him contumely, he evinces a tendency to sit with folded hands
fcnd let the Residency keep order for him, while at the same time he will not
bestir himself to effect settlement of the claims of British traders. The Resi­
dent had occasion to speak to him very plainly with regard to his line of con­
duct at a recent visit, and it is to be hoped’ that the Sheikh’s discharge of hit
obligations will now show some improvement. His relations with the Headman
of Fujeira have not improved in any way during tho past 12 months, but nothin?
has occurred to bring them into relief, and there has been peace in the hinterland.
Another dependent of Shargah, tbe Sheikh of Hamriyeh, is now a eood
deal estranged from Sheikh Suggur, mainly from the same causes which hare
alienated the Headman of Fujeira, namely, the disinclination of Sheikh Samir
to take steps to give his dependent adequate protection when n
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