Page 162 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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XII.—Joasmi Sheikh of Lingah. Fall of the—
68. Lingah is a port on the Persian coast, which had been from the
Seethe Pi ccia on the Persian Gulf i8oi-iSs3- ^g of tllC 19th CCntUTy in the hands of the
Scc“on, Joasmi chiefs. In 1820 its chief was Kln-
External A., July .888, No,. 2.4-302 (No. 288)- thib bin Sawad bill Khathib* who is said
*°rGa‘,b' to have been a nephew (?) of Sultan-bin
Saggar of Ras-ul-Khyma and Shargah. In 1853 we find his son, Khalifa bin
Khathib, as Shaikh ajt Lingah. He was succeeded by his son, Said bin Khalifa.
When Said died, his son Khalifa was very young, and Khalid bin Sultan of Shar­
gah appears to have managed the affairs of the place, until he became of age.
Sheikh Khalifa having died in October 1874 was succeeded by his 1
young
son, Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa.
69. The youthful Shaikh of Lingah did not find himself on a bed of roses, as
the Persian Government was disposed now to interfere more directly than of
yore in the affairs of the district and wanted to have more revenue.
70. In November 1878 Ali bin Khalifa was murdered by one Yusuf Khan,who
had been appointed by Khalifa guardian
Political A., February 1879, No,. 358-369-
of his son, but was dismissed by the
latter. Yusuf Khan’s proceedings were not disapproved by the Persian author­
ities and he was left in charge of the Government as Deputy Governor.
71. In April 1885 Shaikh Yusuf was murdered by his relative Shaikh Kha-
Gulf Administration Report for 1885-86. tib ibn Rashid. The widow and sons of
External A., December 1S85, No,. 60-63. Sheikh Yusuf fled to Bassidore, and thence
to Kishm. Lingah continued in a very unsettled state until September, when
Shaikh Khatib applied to the Joasmi chiefs of Oman for armed assistance. The
Residency agent at Shargah, however, warned the chiefs of Shargah and Ras-ul-
Khyma against interference in matters relating to the Persian coast, and
nothing resulted from Sheikh Khatib’s action.
72. Shortly after the Governor of Bandar Abbas, 'Shazada Mahomed Hus­
sain Mirza, arrived at Lingah and confirmed Shaikh Khatib as Governor, fixing
the yearly revenue at 190,000 krans.
73. The population of Lingah were in favour of the Arab Governor Shaikh
Khatib, but his tenure of office was very
Gulf Aministration Report for 1887 * 88.
External d A., November 1887, No,. 36*38. precarious : the Persian authorities in pur­
tExcrnal A., November 1887, Nos. 72-7^ suance of a recently adopted policy had
External A, March 1888, No,. 23*24.
resolved on the abolition of the system of
Arab Governors at Lingah and the abasement of the ruling Arab family. Haji
Ahmed Khan was entrusted with the task of capturing Shaikh Khatib, and on
16th September succeeded in surpising the Shaikh and effecting his object with
very slight loss of life. Shaikh Khatib was carried to Bushire and the property
of the family w?as virtually confiscated. A Persian official was then placed in
charge of the administration at Lingah.
74. Barracks were erected at Lingah and a body of 200 Persian regular
infantry placed there much to the disgust of the inhabitants, some of whom
prepared to leave the place and settle in other parts of the Gulf. A considerable
number of families actually migrated to the adjacent coast and islands.
75. It was at this time that the island of Sirri was annexed by the Persian
Government (see Section XXVII).
76. Since this time, Lingah has been under the government of a Persian
Governor appointed under orders from Tehran or Shiraz.
77. In 1897 Sheikh Mahomed bin Khalifah, a descendant of the former
Arab Sheikhs, attacked Lingah, and easily
Golf Administration Report for 1898-99.
got possession of it. No damage to speak
of occurred to the subjects in consequence of this revolution, and it seemed
likely at one time that the Sheikh would establish himself finally in place of his
ancestors, and that the Persian Government would accept the situation and
acquiesce in the restored Arab rule. Such was not, however, the case, as the
Persians appear throughout to have been resolved to reassert their authority.
Accordingly in February 1899 the Persefolis went to Lingah conveying the
Daria Begi and a small force. The Shaikh was led to believe that his object was