Page 575 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 79

Naim Shaikhs of Beraimi, refusing to surrender Maktoom and Mana-bin-
Rashid except under certain guarantees, expressed their great regret to the
Residency for what had occurred, and asking the Residency Agent to help in
mediating an amicable settlement with the Bin Loota family. This the
Residency Agent did, and the parties arrived at a written settlement on the
23rd of May.
There it was thought best to leave the quarrel; but, though outward peace
has been made, it is possible that the -feud between the families will last for
many years to come.
After the reconciliation had been effected, the sons of Rashid were by
agreement allowed to return to Dcbai, but the Shaikh, instead of 'allowing
them to enter quietly and treating them with dignified reserve, tactlessly
“ dressed ” his flagstaff, informing the Bin Lootas that he was doing it out
of gladness at the healing of the quarrel. They, however, not unnaturally,
took umbrage at his action as an unnecessary sign of favour towards his
guilty kinsmen. Shaikh Butti was made to assure' Nasir-bin-Loota, in the
Resident’s presence, that his action was solely prompted by the sentiments ex­
plained, to admit that it was thoughtless, and to regret that it should have
liurt their feelings.
Just before the end of the year, there occurred at Dcbai another unfortu­
nate incident which is not likely to be 'forgotten in the present generation.
Our blockade of the Mckran Coast, since the beginning of the year, had
had the effect of diverting the traffic in arras to other channels. For weeks
past, reports had been coming from Maskat that arms were going overland
to the Tiucial Coast, and being shipped from there to the Persian ports
The Shaikhs had been repeatedly warned and had as often denied absolutely
that any traffic was going on through their tenitorics. At any rate, no
consignments were detected at sea. In view of these reports, however, the
Resident asked permission to arrange, after the impending visit of His Excel­
lency the Naval Commandcr-in-Chief to Bushire, to proceed to install Mr. New
it Debai, as a means of strengthening our position there. On his way up the
Gulf, His Excellency posted the Flagship H. M. S. " Hyacinth"*, Captain
James Dick, at Debai, to patrol that port and the vicinity with his ship’s
boats. The Lieutenant, in command of the boat posted in the Khor Debai,
received information from a negro-slave that some arms were concealed in a
certain house. He accordingly went and interviewed the Shaikh and asked ;
h'im to search the bouse. After some procrastination, the Shaikh complied,
but did the business in a perfunctory way which would have given the owners
of the arms every chance of getting them away, had they been there. The
Lieutenant reported the Shaikh’s unsatisfactory conduct to Captain Dick-
Meanwhile fresh reports from informers were received by the Flag Captain
pointing to the presence of arms in certain houses; and Captain Dick there­
fore decided to take a party ashore in the morning and get the Shaikh to
have the houses searched in his presence. One of the houses belonged to
Thami-bin-Khalaf, and the other to one Ahmed Dilmook, a near neighbour and
connection by marriage of the Shaikh.
Captain Dick instructed his interpreter to send a message to the Shaikh
over night to say that he would be on shore in the morning at daylight It is
doubtful if this message ever reached the Shaikh, but in any case it is not
possible that 70 men could have landed from the ship’s boats in sight and
within a few yards of the Shaikh’s house, without his knowing of it Cap-
tain Dick sent him a message on landing to inform him of his arrival and
asking him to hurry up, and after waiting some minutes without result de-
cided to push on without him. The whole party first proceeded to Thani-bin-
Jvnalaf s house which was superficially searched without result: then a sus-
Pn o°fU? l0^g was not<4 UP and three old obsolete rifles unearthed.
Cap vain Dick ait this stage withdrew his seamen and took them off to search

On approaching Bin Dilmook’s house. Captain Dick’s nartv was
’ whereupon a general fusillade seems to have commenced. i'he Shaikh