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Chapter Eight

               which were suspecled lo be carrying slaves. An agreement which all
               the rulers signed in 1847 made it illegal for any vessel belonging to
               the territory of a signatory to export slaves from any place whatever;
               detention on suspicion and confiscation of the vessel in case of guilt
               were also agreed upon. In 1856 the Rulers also promised to seize and
               deliver up lo the British authorities in the Gulf any slaves which  were
               brought into their territories.37 The previous undertakings  concern-
               ing this issue were reiterated and reinforced in an agreement signed
               by the Rulers of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in 1873.

               The littoral shaikhdoms under British eyes
               These agreements concerning slavery and other agreements which
               were concluded after the Perpetual Treaty of Peace in 1853 all
               demonstrate that the British authorities found it increasingly
               advantageous to be able lo compel the Rulers of the littoral States to
               comply with their wishes. The British also became more interested in
               the internal affairs of the coastal shaikhdoms, and did not hesitate lo
               intervene if they felt it was necessary. The Native Agent in Sharjah,30
               who acted on instructions from the Political Resident in Bushire, was
               expected to report all important incidents and developments on the
               coast, whether they affected the treaties and agreements, or British
               interests. A new Ruler was always closely scrutinised lo determine
               whether he was likely lo adhere to the treaties; only at the turn of the
               century, however, was a system introduced whereby a new Ruler
               received formal recognition by the British Government in India by
               being sent a copy of the treaties which previous Rulers in that
               shaikhdom had signed. If a Ruler incurred the displeasure of the
               British Government by harbouring pirates or slavers in his ports or
               by building up his defences when he had agreed not to, he ran a
               serious risk of fines, or of bombardment by a British cruiser,
               although this was usually resorted to only after warnings and
               negotiations had brought about no change in attitude. Usually the
               inhabitants of the port backed their shaikh in his defiance of the
               British Government, but there were also occasions when Rulers lost
               popular support because the pearling communities just wanted lo
               get on with their work. Thus an atmosphere was slowly created in
               which both the Rulers and the tribal population of the Trucial Coast
               were  conscious of the degree of British support or displeasure with
              regard to any political event.
                In later decades this distant British presence stifled the possible
               incorporation of smaller principalities into one or two powerful
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