Page 254 - UAE Truncal States

Social Aspects of Traditional Economy

ns Qishim and Laft on Qishim Island, and Lingah and Shinas, lasted
for only a few decades during the 181 h century and their position was
weakened by the efforts of their traditional enemy the Sultan of
Oman. The absence of any single dominant power in the Gulf was
detrimental to trade, and Qasimi ventures also suffered accordingly.
A combination of political, religious and economic factors71 induced
some people under the Qasimi authority to follow their ships’
commanders into numerous adventures in which they pursued
Omani, British, Persian and even French and American72 merchant
and naval vessels. They boarded them, sometimes killed or im­
prisoned the crews, and towed the ships and their cargo, armament
and prisoners home to Ra’s al Khaimah or to some other port.
Genuine religious fanaticism, intimidation by the new Wahhabi
overlords, or unquestioning loyalty to the ruling shaikh and his
policy towards the Omani enemy and their British supporters, could
not have been lasting motivations for the many men who participated
repeatedly in such raids over a period of more than half a century
between 1778 and 1835. A more probable reason is that there were
more seaworthy boats lying idle in the ports of the Qasimi-dominated
area than elsewhere in the Gulf, and many sailors were no longer
needed after the trade had declined or changed route.
The majority of the men who manned the large Qasimi fleet73 had
become dependent on the sea for their livelihood; if trade was no
longer possible, the share which they could expect to take home from
a plundered foreign vessel became an acceptable substitute. Being
tribal people of Eastern Arabia, the idea of ghcizu was never far from
their minds. On land this meant raiding enemy tribes with the aim of
carrying off as much of their property as possible, but usually there
were only camels and goats to be had. Ghazu by sea, capturing the
cargo vessels of the tribe one was at war with, was as legitimate as
driving off their camels. It was therefore not surprising at all that,
once it had become obvious that the success rate was very high even
when tackling British ships, and that the reward was high, too, in the
form of booty as well as ransom for European and Indian prisoners,
the shaikhs of other equally depressed communities followed suit74
in leading or at least tolerating attacks on passing ships being
carried out from their ports.
Piracy was as intolerable for the British government, endeavouring
to establish peace on these vital sea routes, as it was for the Rulers
whose subjects followed the command of individual pirates. When

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