Page 361 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

G3

Years. Partios to tho feud* or wstri. Eronti.

1896-97 Tho people of Rama In June 1896 hostilities were reported between
the people of the two towns.
versus
Tho poople of Sham, both
tributary of Raa-ul-
Khirnn.

(iii) AGREEMENT FOR THE SURRENDER OF ABSCONDING DEBTORS AMONG TIIE
TRUCIAL CHIEFS.
133-A. For a series of years one prevailing cause of strife and dispute
Political A, November 1879, No*. 445-1-16. between the Truoial Chiefs in the Per­
sian Gulf had been th<? asylum givon by
one Chieftain to runaway debtors from another Chieftainship. The runaways
•almost in every instance being divers, sailors or speculators, who having received
advances of money from the traders of one port set out to the pearl fisheries,
aud instead of returning to give an account of their earnings, seek refuge in
another port in order to defraud their creditors If the Chieftain affording
refuge to the runaway debtors was on friendly terms with tho Chieftain of the
port from whence the debtors had absconded, an arrangement was generally
come to between the Chiefs themselves.
134. But as was most often the case, if the interested Chieftains were not
on friendly terms, the runaways were secure till such time as a subject of the
protecting Chief absconded to the refugees’ country, when references were
made to the Re>id«*nt in the Persian Gulf and the Government Agent ou the
Arab coast, or an Assistant Resident was deputed to enquire into their several
complaints, and much time elapsed and trouble given before a satisfactory
arrangement is arrived at.
135. In some instances the runaway debtors used to engage thoir services
to other tradespeople aud receiving a second advance would proceed to the pearl
banks to work for their new employer leaving their first creditors' claims un­
settled, who on receiving information of the fact would waylay him and cudea-
vour to get possession of his person, when a ri>k of the broach of the peace at
sea would follow, as boats of either creditor would be present and would join
in any affray that might take place.
136. With a view to prevent any disturbance of this nature, Colonel Lewis
Pelly, then Resident in the Persian Gulf, did, in 1868, issue a circular to all
the Trucial Chieftains pointing out the injustice of their affording asylum to
absconding debtors, and warning all Chiefs that borrowers thus levanting would
have to be given up by the protecting Chief, and that every endeavour would
be made to secure payment, but that if these measures failed, the harbouring
Chief would be held responsible for their debts.
137. Notwithstanding this threat, instances of levanting continued to occur
from year to year, and the troubles of settlement to increase owing to the com­
plicated nature of the claims and counter-claims set forth by their several cre­
ditors rendering an arrangement difficult and laborious.
138. Finally, the protecting Chiefs turned their attention towards utilizing
the advent of runaway debtors into a source of emolument by only allowing
those runaways to take employment who would grant a fee for the permission,
thus rendering their burden heavier and the means of effocting an arrangement
more difficult. Complaints becamo more rife, and threatened to disturb the
peace of the sea, unloss measures could be adopted to put an effectual stop to
the practice.
139. With this view tho Resident in the Persian Gulf proposed to the
Trucial Chiefs the execution of a mutual agreement whereby their subjects
would be deterred from absconding and obtaining asylum is another Chieftain’s
territory, and that this agreement should bo rendered binding by stipulations
and tines.