Page 62 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

6 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

formed by some of the Chiefs, and partly, perhaps, to the length and productive­
ness of the pearl fishery season. The Chief of Ras-ul-Khaimah opened a
custom-house for the taxation of imports in June 1801*
The Chief of Um-ul-Kawaiu being unable to obtain satisfaction for the
olaims of his followers, threatened to march against Ras-ul-Khaimah; ita
Chief, however, besought the aid of his kinsman of Shargah, and thus warded
off an attack.
In the early part of the year the Chief of Tjin-ul-Kawain showed some
signs of indifference to his engagements with the British Government, but on
a reference being made to him through the Residency Agent, he acknowledged
and promised to fulfil his obligation^.
Early in April 1891 Rashid-bin-Homaid, the Chief of Amjan, died. Inter­
ference was threatened by both the TJm-ul-Kaiwain and Shargah Chiefs, the
former of whom wished to see his son-in-law and the deceased’s brother, Abdul
Aziz-bin-Homaid, in power in place of the son of Homaid, and the proposal was
favoured by the Shargah Chief. It was however frustrated by Homaid’s form­
ing an alliance with the Chief of Debai and his succession was not further
endangered.
The British Government notified that as the Ceylon pearl fisheries were
a failure, Arabs should not proceed there. All the Chiefs were warned, and but
few of their dependents proceeded to Ceylon.
Pearl diving commenced about the middle of May, or a little earlier than
in the previous year, when the fishing was interrupted by "Ramzan ” falling after
it had begun. The result of the fishing was more than usually remunerative!
and each boat is said to have earned more than §1,000 per voyage.
Through the good offices of the Residency Agent the Chief of Shargah
remained on friendly terms with Behai.
The headmen of the Al-Murrab, tired of the oppressive action of the Chief
of Debai, went to Shargah with some 400 men and induced the Chief to receive
them and to send a vessel to their divers, telling them .to close the season, at
Shargah. The Debai Chief endeavoured through the Al Bu Falasha to per­
suade them to return, but they declined to do so. Before leaving Debai they
begged the good offices of the Al-Bu-Falasa in obtaining for them better treat­
ment by the Chief, but without any good result. The Agent is now endeavour­
ing to mediate a settlement of the claims of the Al-Murrah against Debai, and
vice versa•
In April 1891 the Chief of Abu Dhabi marched to Bereymi and was joined
there by Hashir-bin-Maktoom from Debai with 300 camelmen and 30 horsemen.
He then stormed and re-took the village of ’Ain from Saood-bin-Harar. Early
in June the Shaikh proceeded on a visit to the Sultan of Muscat. The oppor­
tunity was taken to arrange a difficulty that had arisen owing to the omission of
the Sultan’s Wali of Sohar to give the customary presents, to certain visitors
from the Beni Katab and Naim tribes. In former years under such circum­
stances these tribes would have invaded and plundered the country until their
claims had*been satisfied. Owing, however, to the good offices of the Chief of
Abu Dhabi, the Bedouins abstained from their usual course of action. Peace
vras established between the Chief of Abu Dhabi and the ’Al-Bu-K&ruban aeo-
tion of the Naim at Bereymi, and he married the daughter of-the bolder of that
fort. All the Beni Ghafri tribes, including some hitherto considered as Jowa-
gimi, such as the Beni Katab and the Beni Kaab, are 6aid to fight now under
the Abu Dlifibi flag. Two French merchants, Messrs. Cbapuy. and Tramier,
ja~£e trips across, the.Gulf from Punter Abbas to the ’Oman Coast, apparently;