Page 299 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

PRECIS

OF
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING TRUCIAL CHIEFS.

1854-1905.

CHAPTER I.

DYNASTIC CHYMES AMONG THE TIUJCIAL CHIEFS.
The genealogical tables printed as appendix to this precis show the various
dynastic changes that have taken place among the Chiefs of the Pirate Coast.
T7c shall narrate briefly the circumstances under which tho changes took place.
(i) JOASHI CHIEFS OF S1IVRGAII AND R.IS-UL-KIII.1IA.
2. After the death of Saggar bin Sultan (killed in a foray into the neigh­
bourhood of Umm-ul-Kowein in 1840), his son Mahomed appears to have
been sub Chief • in charge of tho Govern­
Mahomed bin Saggar and Ibrahim bin SuUan,
sob-Chiefs of Shargah aud R.ia-ul Kbuua. ment of Shargah, while Ibrahim bin
SuUan, one of the sons of Sultan bin
Saggar, held charge of Bas-ul-Khiiua in a similar capacity. The head of the
Joasmi tribe Sultan bin Saggar was now in his dotage and could hardly control
his unruly progeny. The chiefdom was torn by rival factions led by his sons
or grandsons. The most turbulent of them was Sultan bin Klialid.
3. Attempts were made iu 1S59 by Sheikh Khalidbiu Sultan to deprive his
nephew Sheikh Mahomed bin Saggar of tho Government of Shargah, but
Sheikh Klialid, notwithstanding the combination of valour and treachery he
displayed, was foiled in his endeavours,
Khalidl<iS59.S,'<ikb bIn ***** by and driven, as it were, to take rofuge
with the Chief of Amulgavinc. The
feelings of animosity engendered by the above struggle do not appear to
have been really extinguished, for "we find Sheikh Khalid again, not only
aspiring to displace his nephew, but bent also on proceeding to extremities
to ell'ect his object. Without going into the details, it may be briefly stated
that a train of circumstances led to the inhabitants of Shargah being divided
into two factions, at the head of one of which appeared Sheikh Mahomed, the
rightful Governor, at. the head of the other Sheikh Khalid, the would-be usurper.
Open hostilities broke out between the factions, and after a timo theso subsid­
ing, the town of Shargah became divisionally, yet peacefully, governed by the
contending parties, each party ruling over the members that pertained to his
own faction. Mattors continued thus until Sheikh Khalid, either weary of
such a condition, resolved to rid himself of his opponent, or, as others affirmed,
himself fearful that an attempt was being meditated against his life, determined
to forestall Sheikh Mahomed in his purpose, and to destroy him with his own
hand. Be this as it may, Sheikh Khalid invited vSheikh Mahomed to join him
in a morning ride. The latter accepted the invite, and when they had
reached some distance from the city gates, Sheikh Khalid suddenly turned upon
his companion, and shot him dead. This done, he cast his body into a well, and
rode back to town.
4. Captain Felix Jones was performing a tour of the Gulf Ports in May
1861. Sheikh Khalid, shortly after the murder, expressed his desiro to wait
• aVofr—They aic generally styled chiefs in ihc correspondence, though the uomiual head of the suto wa»
Solun bin Saggar.