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Chapter Two

                   recent history the catalyst for a general re-arrangement of spheres of
                   influence between the Trucial Shaikhs. For instance, in the Wadi
                   Hatta dispute of 1905, of the two villages in the Wadi Malta, Masfut
                   and Hajarain, the latter had become a virtual dependency of Dubai
                   while the former was under the protection of the Na'im of Buraimi.100
                   With the consent of the people of Masfut, the Bani Qilab built a fort
                   at the head of the wadi and slopped passing caravans. The Na'im of
                   Buraimi and the Ruler of Dubai understandably objected to this
                   interference, while the young Ruler of Umm al Qaiwain, Shaikh
                   Rashid bin Ahmad, saw his opportunity to gain a voice in the beduin
                   matters of the Trucial Coast’s hinterland. Al a meeting of the Rulers
                   in September 1905 in Dubai the actions of the Bani Qilab were
                   condemned by the participants, but Shaikh Rashid bin Ahmad’s
                   challenge of the venerable Shaikh Zayid bin Khalifah’s leadership in
                   beduin affairs continued and flared up again at the next outbreak of
                   hostilities in the region. This also involved the Bani Qitab, and it was
                   their previously-mentioned dispute with the Balush of Mazam which
                   led to the written agreement, between the Rulers, of April 1906 in
                   which the Bani Qitab were among the tribes assigned to the Ruler of
                   Umm al Qaiwain. But the contest between the Rulers of Umm al
                   Qaiwain and Abu Dhabi smouldered on. The British Government of
                   India, contrary to its general policy, let itself be drawn into this
                   dispute, which had its roots in the hinterland; in February of 1907 the
                   Political Resident in Bushire, Major Cox, arrived off Sharjah in HMS
                   Lawrence and mediated between the two parties, who were by then
                   once again at daggers drawn near Umm al Qaiwain’s oasis of Falaj
                   al 'Ali.
                     In more recent years the northern section of the Bani Qitab
                   established its headquarters near Daid, and for a lime Shaikh
                   Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Huwaidin obtained an allowance of 2,500
                   Rupees from the Ruler of Sharjah. The Ruler of Dubai also
                   endeavoured to establish friendly relations with the northern section
                   of the Bani Qitab, which shows that even during the 1940s a strength
                  of 200 to 250 armed and mounted beduin was still an important
                  factor in the reckoning of each of the established local powers. The
                  Bani Qitab section in Dhahirah was usually on friendly terms with
                  the Sultan, but did not obtain an allowance from him during the
                  1940s and seemed to have been more closely connected with the
                  Imam of Inner Oman, who maintained a wali at 'Ibri.
                    The wife of the President Shaikh Zayid and First Lady of the UAE
                  is from the Bani Qitab.

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