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587 Further, Colonel Ross, in a letter to Her Majesty’s Minister, dated
20th December 1879, showed pretty clearly
Political A., January 1880, Nos. 331-2J7.
that the representations made by the
Persian Government to the Minister were by no means correct, but that in fact
the complaint arose from a desire of the Persian officials to enhance the revenue
derived from the island. Colonel Ross was of opinion that the growing trade
and cultivation would be inevitably checked, and that the island would in a few
years relapse into its former poor and unproductive condition.
588. Her Majesty's Minister then sent us a communication from the Persian
Minister for Foreign Affairs to the effect that certain of the Arab inhabitants of
the island having misbehaved, the Persian Government wished to punish them.
They therefore begged that the British subjects residing there might be caused
to remove to some other place for a few days, lest in the attack on the Arabs
any accidental damage should be done to them.
589. When the Sheikh of Um-el-Kcwcm heard of the Persian Government’s
desire to enhance the revenue of the island, he wrote to the British Agent at
Shargah asking for permission to send across troops for the protection of the
vested interests that belonged to the Al-ali tribe of Um-el-Kowein jointly with
their brethren in Fars. The request was refused by the Resident. We might
read the correspondence on the subject:
Translation of a letter from Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdullah, Chief op Umin-el-
Kawain, to British Agent, Arab Coast, dated i8th Mohurrum 1297—ist
January 1880.
After compliments.—I have received a letter from a Shaikh Muhammed bin Hassan
that the people of Fars have represented to the Persians that there arc springs of water
in the Island of Kais, and that its revenues arc large and orders have been received by them
to cross over to Kais and make mischief there.
You know that we have a share in the properties of the Al-ali, who reside in Fars>
especially as regards the Island of Kais, for in the time of Colonel Hcnnell when a claim
was made on Hassan bin Abdullah, then Chief of Charak. He (Hassan) came with the
Commodore's ship to Umin-el-Kawain to my father and settled the matter.
If you find there is no objection to our crossing to Kais, let me know that I may send
troops there for its protection from our enemies. But if there be objections to the Persians
as well a6 ourselves from crossing to Kais, this is all we desire.
I hope you will send me an answer soon before anything occur.

No. 58, dated 17th Suffar 1279—30th January 1880.
From—Ltbut.-Col. E. C. Ross, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and Her Majesty's
Consul-General for Fars, &c.,
To—The British Agent, Arab Coast, Shargah.
After compliments.—I have received your letter No. 10, dated X2th January,
enclosing a letter from Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdullah, Chief of Umin-el-Kawain, on the
subject of the Island of Kais.
You should inform Shaikh Ahmed that the Island of Kais is recognized by the British
Government as portion of the dominions of the Shah of Persia and the portion of the
Al-ali residing in Fars arc Persian subjects. Under these circumstances no interference
by the Shaikh of Umin-el-Kawain will be allowed.
(Ixxxiii) Outrage on the Telegraph Station at Reshire, 1897.

590. In January 1897, the Indo-European Telegraph Station at Reshire,
5 miles from Bushire, was the scene of a
Administration Report for 1896-97.
Secret E., April 1897, Nos. 80-101. serious mob outrage. After some pre­
monitory menaces, which, as usual, were
utterly disregarded by the local authority, a mob consisting of several hundreds,
of whom many were armed with guns, assembled close to the buildings, and,
sending an ultimatum threatening death to all who resisted, rushed to the des­
truction of the bench marks of the recently completed longitude operations, close