Page 167 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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CHAPTER VIII.—ADMINISTRATION REPORT—TRUCIAL COAST OF
OMAN, 1006-1907.

The chief event of the year has been the progress of the feud between the
Shaikhs of Abu Thabi and Ummel-Kaiwain, which eventually involved Debai
Shargah and Ajman as well.
The history of the earlier stages of this quarrel, of which the genesis lay in the
question of the status and control of the Beni Kattab bedouins, was recorded in
last year’s report. Unfortunately the hope there expressed that a peaceful settle­
ment between the disputants was in a fair way of conclusion, was not destined to be
fulfilled.
In the month of April 1906 a written agreement was indeed come to between
the two Shaikhs, which appeared to have disposed of the Beni Kattab difficulty
and to have inaugurated a period of rest in the Trucial hinterland, and during the
hot weather months following peace was duly preserved ; but in October reports
received from the Residency Agent at Shargah indicated that Abu Thabi intended to
repudiate the settlement as soon as the month of Ramzan (November 1906) was
over and to resume hostilities against the Beni Kattab. In this intention the
Shaikhs of Shargah and Debai were expected to co-operate, and in furtherance of
it Shaikh Zaeed began to collect and arm his Manasir and Beni Hajir bedouin adher­ .
ents. His first objective was known to be the fine oasis and aqueduct of Falai,
created at much labour and expense during the last few generations by the Shaikhs
of Umm-el-Kaiwain, about 20 miles from the coast, and used by the latter’s adher­ !
ents as a rendezvous or refuge in troublous times.
While the Chief of Abu Thabi was thus collecting his bedouins,Uram-el-Kai wain
was busy strengthening the fortifications and water towers at Falai, and about this
time requested the good offices of the Resident in procuring two breech-loading guns,
to be mounted in the Falai Fort. This request was of course refused and a forcible
remonstrance was addressed to both Chiefs, urging them to accept arbitration
instead of wasting money and lives in fighting over a matter which might easily be
arranged by discussion.
As the result of this remonstrance another peace was patched up between the
parties, but from the sequel it was evident that the Shaikh of Abu Thabi only con­
cluded it with the treacherous idea of allaying Umm-el-Kaiwain’s suspicions and of
thus getting him and his adherents at a disadvantage.
The letters of the Resident to the parties expressing his satisfaction at the news
of their reconciliation could hardly have arrived when a report reached Bushire to
the effect that Shaikh Rashid having ridden with a few shikari followers to Shaikh
Zaeed’s tents to pay him a friendly visit and to cement the documental peace at
which they had recently arrived, had, after spending a. few days as Shaikh Zaeed’s
honoured guest, been thrown into chains, and the surrender of Falai demanded from
him as the price of his life.
Fortunately at the time this news reached Bushire the Resident was contem­
plating a visit to Shargah accompanied by H. M. S. Proserpine with a view to
putting pressure on the Shaikh of Shargah to settle some outstanding pearl diving
claims, in accordance with the terms of the reciprocal Agreement among the Shaikhs
regarding treatment of absconding pearl divers and their debts.
H. M. S. Proserpine proceeded ahead with a letter for Shaikh Zaecd demanding
Hie prisoner’s release, the Resident following the next day, 17th February, in
•K. I. M. S. Lawrence.
0n arrival at Shargah it was found that, like vultures after carrion, the Shaikhs
of Shargah, Ajman, and Debai had joined Shaikh Zaeed and were all in camp about