Page 349 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER XI.

QUESTION OF JURISDICTION OVER THE COAST FROM DIBRA
TO KIIOR KALHA, AND THE TERRITORY ABOUT
RAS MUSSENDOM, 1870-1902.*

(D ATTEMPTS OF THE CHIEF OF FAJEIRA TO THROW OFF THE YOKE OF THE
JOASMI CHIEFS, 1876—1882.
114. On the death of Sultan bin Saggar, the Joasmi Chief, in 1866,
tribute paid by Abdullah bin Khamis, Chief of Sharkiyyin village of Fujaira,
wa3 discontinued. Some time after, Chief of Shargah (Sheikh Salim-biu-
Sultan) put a garrison into town of Dibba of the Nakbiyyin Sharkiyyin. The
Sharkiyyin formed confederacy under the Sheikh of Fujaira, and eutered into
an offensive and defensive alliance with Shihiyyin under Saleh bin Muhammad,
Chief of Bey ah. The Joasmi garrison of Dibba plundered Shihiyyin, on which
Shihiyyin and Sharkiyyin besieged the fort and stopped passes. The Sheikh
of Shargah sent his brother to Dibba, who arranged things amicably. The Gov­
ernor of Dibba, however, soon seized 12 men of Ghereyfah, Sharkiyyin village
near Dibba. The Shihiyyin and Sharkiyyin on this again stopped passes and
besieged the fort. Sheikh Salim of Shargah then sent 60 men, with provisions
and munitions of war, to Dibba by sea, and prisoners were shipped to Shargah.
Sharkiyyin and Shihiyyin attacked the fort: some men were killed H. M. S.
Arab arrived at Dibba and stopped fightiug there, but 800 Joasmis
reached Ghereyfa from Shinas direction and took fort at Ghereyfa, killing
36 and taking 30 prisoners. The Sheikh argued that pending reinforcements,
etc., by sea to part of his own territory was not contrary to maritime truce.
Maskat instigation was suspected. The Resident remarked—“Experience
has shown that, as soon as armed bodies of Arabs are on the open sea, they
forget the original object with which they started, and not only commit depre­
dations on any unprotected boats that they may meet, but involve other tribes
in the quarrel.” The Resident recommended that the Shargah expedition
should be forbidden. (Letters from the Officiating Resident, Colonel Prideaux,
dated 4th November 1876, 29th January 1877 and 18th May 1877.)
116. No orders appear to have been passed by the Government of India
on these reports, whioh cannot be traced
Political A, May 1881, Nos. 281-311.
in the records. Copies of them were
submitted to Government in 1880.
116. In April 1879, the Chief of Fajaira on the East Coast of Oman
complained to the Sultan of Maskat that
Politic*! A, September 1879, Nos. 710-731.
the Joasmi Sheikh Salim-bin-Sulran had
visited Fajaira with an army, ill-treated his people and seized and sent some
of them to the Island of Abu-Musa. The Sheikh of Fajaira therefore sought
to be placed under the protection of the Sultan of Maskat.
117. The matter was referred by Seyyed Turki to Lieutenant-Colonel
Miles, Political Agent, Maskat, the Sultan claiming sovereignty over Fajaira.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ross (the Resident) expressed the opinion that the place
had been under the authority of the Joasmi Chiefs since the time of Sultan-
bin-Saggar, and that there was no reason for our interference. The Govern­
ment of India was inclined to aocept this opinion, but wished that it should
be explained to the Sultan of Maskat and it should be ascertained whether he
had any reasonable grounds for demurring to it (No. 2020, dated 1st August
1879).
• Farther eorreipoadeace ie lammtxiied ia the Prdoie on International Rivalry and BritioA Policy
»»tl* Portion Qulfy \