Page 548 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

0 ADMINISTRATION UEPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
il. There has been n change of rulors at Hamiiyoh during tho year under
report. The late Sheikh Saif bin Abdul Rahman died on September 8rd and
was succoedod at first by his son Abdul Rahman, but the latter feeling that his
position was not very strong and believing that there was a plot browing for his
assassination, abdicated in favour of an older kinsman, Saif bin Saif. The lattor,
returning evil for good, had no sooner come to power than ho commenced to
intrigue against Abdul Bah mm and endeavoured to deprive him of
oortain items of his laodod property, until Abdul Rahman exasperated by buoU
treatment waited for a suitable opportunity an 1 attacked Saif bin 8aif
by night in his house, taking him prisoner and killing his son in the
proooss. At this stage Sheikh ha'hid, their neighbour of Umm-el-Kowein,
appeared on the scene and settled the matter by taking Saif bin Saif away to
Umm-el-Kowein, where he has since resided. Probably these incidents might
all have been avoided if ths overlord, Sheikh Suggur of Shargah, had his
dependency properly in hand. His loose rule, however, has brought its own
reward, and it was liardly a matter for surprise when a report reached the
Residency of tho cxistcuce of a plot to.depose him and to reinstate his uncle.
Sheikh Salim bin Sultan, from whom in 18*3 Sheikh Suggur had himself
usurped the Chicfship. Sheikh Suggur was fortunate, however, in getting nows
>f tho plot in time to frustrate it One Mohamed bin Khadira of the AJ-i-Ali
ribe, a kinsman of the Sheikh’s and an Arab of some local influence, was
>elieved to have been at the bottom of the scheme. He was arrested with
ois son and detained for some time, but eventually escaped and fled to
Umm-el-Kowein, where he has now taken ui» his residence. Sheikh Suggur
after a time and at the request of the Sheikh of Umm el-Kowein somewhat
magnanimously allowed Mohamed bin Khadim to send to shargah for his family
and moveable property.
Umm-el-Kowin.—The aged Sheikh of this principality, Ahmed bin Abdulla,
died a natural death oa the 13th June lh04, and was succeeded by his eldest ton
Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed, aged about 35. The succession was a quiet one, Sheikh
Rashid having for a long time past, owing to his father’s decrepitude, acted as
regent
This Chief appears to be a man of some force of character and ability and is
likely loacqu're influence on the Trucial Coast.
In the course of the year Sheikh Rashid paid a visit to Ajman and married a
daughter of the Sheikh of that place, who is already his maternal uncle.
Zorak.—During b».« visit to the Trucial Coast in March the Resident took the
opportunity of personally visiting the little tract of ground known as Zorah or
Zoara, the colonization of which, has been a long vexed question among the
Chiefs of the Trucial Coast. It is not marked on the Chart, but proved to be
nothing but a atrip of sandy plain on the sea shore between flamriyeh and
Ajman; in fact it comprises the whole distance between those two places. 'J he
reason why there bas for a long time been such a strong desire by one faction or
another ta colonise it becomes apparent on an inspection of the locality. The
Zorah bract is in the form of half an oval, the- chord of which represents the
Coast line. An inlet of- the sea on either side makes it only approachable by
two fords even at low water, one on the Ajman side and one near Bamriyeh.
At highwater It is a complete island. It follows therefore that, given the erec­
tion of a couple of block-houses to commnnd the fords, the site of Zorah would
form a very strong defensive position from an Arab point of view, and if the
tribe which occupied it were a powerful one, they would have A jman and
Hamriyeh at their mercy. It appeared to be clearly the case that its coloniza­
tion could only he safely encouraged in the event of a complete unanimity of
opiahm and explicit agreement on the part of all the 8heikhs as to the precise
conditions on which it might be occupied. Such unanimity is an extremely
u likely oontigency.
Captain F. B. Prideaux, Indian Army, took over the duties of the Bahrein
Political Agency on 18th October 1904, relieving Mr. J. C. Gaskin, who pro­
ceeded on tour with Mr. J. G. Lorimer, I.C.8.
The Bahrein peart fisheries proved more prolific than nsnal this season in
praria of good quality,bat pearling operations were much hindered by incessan
gales from the North-West.