Page 104 - PERSIAN 1 1873_1879 Admin Report1_Neat

2 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
The year may be said to have passed tranquilly, and with the exception
of the re-occupation of Lahsa by the Turks and events preceding it that
took place in the vicinity of Bahrein, but little of importance has occur­
red in the Gulf itself. Duty required the Resident's presence on the
Oman Coast during a great portion of the hot weather, and in the
autumn an official tour was made to Bahrein, Bassi(lore, Lingah, and
the ports of the Arab Coast by the Resident, accompanied by the 2nd
Assistant Resident.
The Civil Surgeon’s Annual Report is submitted separately.

Official Changes,
Major. Grant, the 1st Assistant Resident, left for England on the
8th May.
Mr. Edwards has been ? cting as 1st Assistant Resident.
Lieutenant E. A. Fraser as 2nd Assistant Resident since the 2nd
September 1874.
Royal Navy Vessels,
The following Royal Navy Vessels served on the Gulf station and
elsewhere for various periods. Circumstances necessitated the detention
of the Magpie and Nimble for a long time on duty :—
Her Majesty’s corvette Briton.
„ „ gun-boat Philomel.
„ „ „ Rifleman.
„ „ „ Magpie.
„ „ „ Nimble.
Disturbances on Land.
The mania for fighting that seems to possess the Arab mind in
general appears to have lost none of its intensity among the warlike
Chieftains of the tract of country on the western shores of the Gulf, and
formerly known as the pirate coast, during the year under review. The
limits of this Report however do not permit, nor indeed would the
interest of the matter warrant, an account in detail of all the petty
skirmishes and engagements, the night attacks, and plundering raids,
that form the events of their guerilla-like system of warfare. It may
be well to remark here that the disseusions which occur owe their origin
in most instances to pecuniary difficulties, whether arising out of claims
for the price of blood of murdered kinsmen or dependents, for the resti­
tution of bankrupt refugees, for indemnification on account of miscel­
laneous losses, or other causes; and that when money is forthcoming no
appeal to arras is made, always provided the cause of quarrel is such as
to be capable of adjustment by pecuniary payment.
During the year the Chiefs of Skargah, Ejraan, and Ras-el-Khymah
maintained alliance against a coalition consisting of the Rulers of
Debaye, Aboothabee, and Umm-cl-Kciwein, but though numerous expe­
ditions were undertaken by the leaders of the contending forces the
bloodshed was trifling (as it is in aty Arab battles compared with the
numbers engaged) and the results unsatisfactory, for no side was ever