Page 163 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

*9
to recover arrears of revenue, and when he had paid up the amount demanded, he
believed himself s’afe and dismissed the greater portion of his followers. An
attack was then suddenly made and Lingah retaken by the Persians.
78. When the bombardment of Lingah was going on, H. M. S.
Sphinx was at Bassidore, and on hearing
Secret E-, June 1899. No*. 357-G&
the noise of the firing, it proceeded on
the 2nd March 1899 to Lingah and landed an armed party under Lieutenant
Robinson for the purpose of guarding the British Agency and protecting the
British subjects. As, however, the Darya Begi informed him that he held him­
self responsible for the protection of British subjects and their property, and the
town on the west of the fort was quiet, and no Banias having come to claim
protection, the guard was withdrawn and they returned on board. Only Lieuten­
ant Robinson and a signalman remained on shore. On the morning of the 3rd
the Arabs evacuated the fort and the Sheikh fled the country.
79. On 14th October 1899 the British Minister at Tehran was informed
Secret F.., November 1899, Nos.5-7. by the Sadr Azam that Sheikh Algmed*
•Probably two of the follower* of Mahomed. and Saiyid Yusuf,* who Were alleged tO
have been responsible for the recent rising at Lingah, had escaped to the Arabian
coast, that the Shah feared that they might return with a new following and
hoped that the Indian Government would take such steps as could prevent
their collecting men with a view to making a descent on Lingah.
80. The Government of India in this telegram, dated 2ist October 1899
instructed the Resident to warn the trucial chiefs not to assist any schemes for
an attack on Lingah, and to communicate to the Legation any information he
might receive respecting such designs.
81. Again in January 1900 the Persian Government complained that Shaikh
Secret e., March iqoo. No*. 176.S5. Mahomed had taken refuge at Ras-ul-
Secret e., May i9oo, No. i3-£9- Khyma and harboured by its chief, and
the latter intended to make an hostile demonstration against Lingah in aid of
Shaikh Mahomed. The Persian Government intended to take measures to
chastise the Arab chief, but before doing so asked the British Government
to intervene.
82. The Resident, who was asked to report, stated that the trucial chiefs
had been warned in October 1899 against assisting in any schemes for renewed
attacks of Lingah, that the warning was repeated when Colonel Meade visited
the Arab coast in December. Sheikh Humeid of Ras-ul-Khyma stated that
Shaikh Mahomed’s attack on Lingah was made against their wishes, and that
they had lost in consequence properties which belonged to the tribe generally.
Sheikh Humeid promised to conform to the Resident’s advice and said that he
would submit later on detailed claims for the property of Joasmi Arabs
taken by the Persians in Lingah. The Resident now sent the Melpoinene with
a fresh warning to Sheikh Humeid to give up all idea he might have of making
a descent on Lingah. The commander of the man-of-war was also instructed
to prevent any such attempt. On the other hand the Darya Begi, the Resident
thought, had not the means to attack Ras-ul-Khyma effectively: any attempt
to do so might result in the loss of the Persepolis (Resident’s telegram, dated
28th January 1900, to the British Minister at Tehran).
83. The Commander of the Melpomene conveyed the necessary warning to
Sheikh Humeid and was informed that there was no foundation in the rumour
about the intended descent on Lingah. Shaikh Mahomed was found at the time
at Ras-ul-Khyma.
83A. Shaikh Mahomed bin Khalifah bin Said, ex Chief of Lingah, came to
Lingah in 1903 and made an attempt to
Administration Report (or 190304.
settle in the country, but having failed to
get a sufficient guarantee for his safety, he left for Katar towards the end of
November 1903.
[/fc regards the Persian intrigues on the Arab coast in iqoo-oi after the
events at Lingah, vide the Trucial, Chiefs Precis."]