Page 86 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

76 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TIIE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Ajman tribes, and saying that he hoped to visit tho Chiefs* territories in the
coming spring.
Theso missives were received with very different feelings by the Hinawi
Sheikhs of Debai and Abu Thabi on tho one hand and tho Ghafiri Chiefs of
Shargah, Ajman, TJmm-abKawain and Ras-al-Khaima on the other ; by the
former with extreme apprehension and by tho latter with pleasurable
expectation born of the knowledge that their own importance would be muoh
enhanced and that of Sheikh Zaecd diminished by the rovival of ‘W’ahabeoism.
On receiving the intimation Sheikh Zaeed had at once communicated
the purport to his fellow H inawi and ally, the Sultan of Maskat, who was
himself no less apprehensive, from tho knowledge that any revival of Waba-
bee propaganda in Oman would probably mean that all tho Ghafiri element
among his subjects would rise against him. A personal and verbal warning
against intriguing with Bin 8aood was given to the Sheikhs by the Resident
on hearing the news from them on his way to Baraimi and this was repeated
officially on his return on behalf of the Government of India, who held that
although the report might not take Bhape the matter was sufficiently serious
to justify immediate action. In the absence of any established relations with
Bin Ssood and pending reference to His Majesty’s Government it was
considered simplest to round Sheikh Mubarek on the subject informally.
This the Political Agent, Captain Knox, was instructed to do, mentioning at
the same time that he did not suppose that Government would view with
approval any interference on the part of Bin Saood with the affairs of Sheikhs
in treaty relation with us. Sheikh Mubarek was responsive and replied that
he too had heard the report, and though he attributed it to a mere attempt
to extort blackmail, he had already writ ten to Bin Saood pointing out the
folly of Eucb a course. He however appears to have written again spontane­
ously, and according to the reply which he told the Politicaf Agent that he
had received and which there is no reason to doubt, Bin Saood replied to him
in a very friendly tone saying that lie bad no sinister or unfriendly intentions
and regretting if any careless observations he may have made should have
been found harmful. SiDce then he has been fully occupied with events in
Isejd and nothing more has been heard of his project.
I; is worth' : record with reference to the Zora tract mentioned in
last year’s report, that one of Sheikh
Zaeed*s wives is a daughter of Sheikh
Saltan bin Nasir Suweidi, whom Sheikh Zaeed wanted to install with his
tribe, the Soudan, at Zora. Sheikh Zaecd’s mother too was a relative of Sheikh
Nasir.
Monsieur Goguyer followed on the heels of the Resident to Baraimi in
December. tie first landed from the
M. Gotpivcr.
mail at Debai and endeavoured to proceed
mland from there, but was not permitted by Sheikh Maktoom. He there­
fore proceeded by native boat to Umm-al-Kawain and persuaded Sheikh
Rasbid to let him start from there. As the latter had just assisted the
Resident in his arrangements, he presumably found it difficult to dispose of
Goguyer’s glib arguments.
It does not appear that this venerable intriguer had any special object
other tb an seizing the opening to see the interior and ascertain what Major
Cox had been doing.
In May 1905 the Resident drew attention to the inconvenience which
might arise from the fact that the Truoial
Tnxcuiri»g. Chiefs do not fly the orthodox Trooial
flag prescribed by Article 3 of the General Treaty of 1820; and recommended
that several pattern flags should be given gratis to each Chief and that they
should be called upon to fly the correct Treaty Flag.
Owing to the absence of Foreign Powers and Ships in the Gulf in th®
Hast not much stress was laid upon strict adherence to Treaty m this respect,
Eut the advent of the Belgian Customs Administration and Ships of foreign
Powers has made it very necessary that vessels claiming our protection should
be indentifi&ble as such.