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occasion the Sartip proceeded in a native vessel to a place on the promontory
called Ras-el-Bibal, or Cape Musandim and desired to land, but was warned off
by the Arab inhabitants. Subsequently, accompanied by the Sheikh of Kishm
and some armed men, he visited Umtn-ul-Kowain causing much excitement
amongst the Arabs of that coast. Haji Ahmed gave out that his object in
visiting Oman again was of a personal nature, but his real purpose was no
secret. He was utterly unsuccessful and returned in disappointment to Bandar
Abbas. The Persian Minister under whose orders the Sartip was acting on
being questioned by Her Majesty’s Chargd d'Affaires, promptly and positively
disavowed all knowledge of the Sartip’s proceedings, and volunteered to reprimand
him for his action. The Arabs of the Pirate Coast, being considerably fluttered
by Haji Ahmed’s appearance and conduct, were informed by the Commander of
Her Majesty’s Ship Osprey, which vessel was despatched for the purpose to the
coast, that the Persian Government had disavowed and disapproved Haji Ahmed’s
proceedings. The presence of the Osprey and the disclaimer of the Persian
Government had a re-assuring effect on the minds of the Arabs of the Pirate
Coast. It may be mentioned that Sartip Haji was subsequently presented with
a sword of honour by order of the Persian Minister.
200. The Persian agents were active also elsewhere in the Gulf—in Bahrein
(see Bahrein Precis, 1854-1904, Chapter XXVIII), at Lingah (see Section XII
above), and in the SVrrMsland see Section XXVII below.
201. Malek-ut-Tujar, whose enterprises were extended to these places, was
soon discarded by Aminres-Sultan and deprived of the customs and Government
of Persian ports. He then offered the Resident to make important disclosures
about the intrigues of Amin-es-Sultan, but his offers did not receive much
encourgement from the Residency.

XXVII.—The Persian Pretensions to Sovereignty over the Island of Sirri, Tamb
aud Abu Musa, 1887-1888.
202. It seems that about 150 years ago, a portion of the Joasmi Arab tribe
crossed over from Arabia, and took possession of Lingah, the head of the
family being called Shaikh of Lingah.
Secret E, July 1889, Nos. 368-369, (No. 369).
Originally, like the Shaikhs of Bushire,
the Sheikhs of Lingah were practically independent, but by degrees they gradually
came under the power of the Persian Government, and finally acknowledged
themselves Persian subjects, paying to the Governor-General of Fars such
tribute as he could get out of them.
203. The position of the Shaiks appears to have been very similar to that
Colonel Meade'a demi-official, dated 13th De­ of the Arab Sheikhs on the other side of
cember 1888. the Gulf who used to yield a nominal sub­
mission to the rulers of Nejd, which the Turks claim as the origin of their own
authority since they have overcome the
Sea alio Section above.
power of the Nejd Chiefs. For many years,
therefore, the Arab Shaikhs were de facto rulers of Lingah, being Governors or
Deputy Governors of the place, and paying revenue either to the Governor-General
of Fars direct, or more often to the official who has been Governor of Bushire
and the other gulf ports. In the latter case the Sheikh would be styled the
Deputy Governor.
204. In 1878, the then Shaikh, Ali bin Khalifah, was murdered by a servant
of his own tribe, though belonging to an inferior section of it. This man, whose
name was Yusaf-bin-Mahomed, then became Shaikh, and ruled the place till he
also was murdered in 1885 by one Sheikh Katib, a cousin of the Sheikh Ali,
murdered in 1878.
205. Shaikh Katib seized the Government of Lingah, and held.it till Sep­
tember 1887, when he was captured by Haji Ahmed Khan Sartip and taken:
to Tehran. The same month, that.is in September 1887, and immediately after
the deposition of Sheikh Katib, Haji Ahmed Khan Sartip sent the Governor of
Kishm Island to take possession of Sirri, and it was then that the latter with 39
men erected the Persian flag on the island.