Page 157 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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Dubai. It extends along the coast from a point about midway between
Dubai and Sharjah to the vicinity of Ajman. .........„
In this area is the village
of Hirah which Shaikh Sultan occupied in 1949 after its Shaikh"had 1____
become
involved in a slave incident. It was previously independent though nomhially
included in the Shaikhdom. Between Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain the
... f lf . . , ,
village of Hamnyah belongs nominally to Sharjah although its Shaikh holds a
letter from a previous Ruler of Sharjah acknowledging its independence.C) The
Shaikhdom extends into the interior in a south-easterly direction for a distance
of about 45 miles up to the foot of the Hajar range on the assumption that it
includes the whole of the Bani Qitab country. The control which Sharjah exercises
over this tribe has varied from time to time but the Ruler has in l recent years
been paying its leading Shaikh an allowance of Rs. 15,000/- a year, and Shaikh
Saqr’s acquisition of Dhaid in 1952 from Khalid bin Ahmad, ex-Rcgent of Kalba
to whom it had been surrendered in 1928, has greatly strengthened his hold over
the tribe. The western end of the Wadi al Qaur is claimed by Ras al Khaimah,
Sharjah and the Bani Ka’ab but probably belongs to the first of these, as the central’
portion of the Wadi is undoubtedly owned by the Ras al Khaimah branch of the
Qasimi family. Kalba is separated from the rest of the Shaikhdom of Sharjah
by this Ras al Khaimah salient. The boundaries claimed for the previous
Shaikhdom of Kalba were defined when Khalid bin Ahmad was recognised as
Regent in 1937 (Appendix B). When Kalba was reincorporated with Sharjah
in 1952 Shaikh Saqr, as stated above, undertook not to claim more territory from
Kalba than that defined in 1937. He has taken this to mean that the whole of the
area defined has been accepted as belonging to Kalba, which is not the case. It
was only a claim which was recorded in writing and there is nothing to signify
that the whole claim has been accepted by Her Majesty’s Government. Kalba
territory extends along the coast of the Gulf of Oman from Dibah proper to
Khor Kalba, both inclusive, with the exception of one or two villages which belong
to Fujairah.(*°) The interior is shared between Kalba and Fujairah on tribal lines,
the Naqibiyin owing allegiance to the former and the Sharqiyin to the latter. The
boundaries inside the hills with Muscat and Ras al Khaimah are uncertain but the
1937 definition makes it possible to exercise some check on claims which
Shaikh Saqr has made in this direction.

25. There is little to relate about the history of the Shaikhdom that has not
already been mentioned. Shaikh Sultan was weak and vain. He did little for his
people and failed to control the Bani Qitab who indulged in much highway robbery
while he was Ruler. With the establishment of the Trucial Oman Levies and the
enlistment in them of members of the tribe the situation in this respect has greatly
improved. Shaikh Saqr since his accession has shown considerable promise. He
has encouraged the development of the State school, for which a building is to be
provided by Her Majesty’s Government. He has taken steps, as yet ineffective,
to develop Sharjah as a port and has permitted the Mission of the Presbyterian
Church of America to open a hospital in his capital. He is on reasonably good
terms with his neighbours except the Ruler of Fujairah, the independent existence
of which State he has refused to recognise. There has been trouble in the past
between the Qawasim of Dibah and their Shihuh neighbours, the last serious
outbreak of fighting being in 1941 and further trouble in this area is possible.

26. Saqr’s attitude towards the Saudis since their occupation of Hamasah
has been one of detachment and he has concentrated most of his attention on his
gardens. He has no doubt been anxious to avoid offending Ibn Saud. Many
of the Bani Qitab including their leading Shaikh Muhammad bin All went to
Riyadh and made their submission to Ibn Saud. Saqr when urged to take action
on their return did nothing positive beyond stopping Muhammad s allowanc
but he subsequently reported that the latter had apologised and made nis pe
with him. He later stated that he had not restored Muhammad sallowanc.
Saqr now holds the fort at Dhaid and is in a position to dominate the tribe, bnou
the Saudis in due course make a definite claim to the allegiance of the bam V
it is uncertain to what extent he would resist it.

(•) P.R. to I.O. 977-S of November 12, 1946 (E 15992/605/91 of 1948).
(,0) C/. p. 453. Lorimer, Vol. II.

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