Page 365 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER XIII.

BRITISH RELATIONS WITH THE TRUCIAL CHIEFS.
148. In this chapter wo shall deal with such events on the Arab Const
as have bearing upon the British relations with theTrucial Chiefs, from 1873 to
1905, vis., new engagements entered into by them, enforcements of treaties,
defining their inter-uational status, etc.

(i) SLAVE TRADE.
149. In 1873 the Chiefs of Shargah and AbuThabi wrote to the Resident,
assuring him that proper measures would be taken to carry out the terms of
the Slave Trade Treaty. (Aitchison's Treaties, Volume X, page 139.) Details
of the slave trade with the Pirate Coast are treated in the Slave Trade
Prdeis.
(ii) ARMS TRADE.
150. As to arms trade see Arms Trade Precis.

(iil) MARITIME IRREGULARITIES, 1873-SI.
151. Shaikh Hashar-bin-Maktura of Debai was a person of, even for an
Arab, singularly quick and impetuous
Gulf Administration Report for 1878-79.
temper, which led him occasionally to
commit irregularities himself and to excuse them in his people. With con­
siderable obstinacy, and in spite of friendly remonstrances made in the first
instance by the Resident and Agqnt as well as in opposition to the advice of
his own relations, he neglected in 1878 demands for redress in three cases, in
which his responsibility was fully established by evidence.
(1) The first of these was a claim for. indemnity due by Shaikh Hashar
for illegal and unjust detention at Debai of a Persian vessel.
(2) The second complaint established was an attack by Debai boats on a
Persian boat at Delma Island, and abduction of a sailor there­
from, with other violence.
(3) Thirdly, Shaikh Hashar had used undue and unjust harshness
towards Indian traders residing at Debai, on false allegations.
It was eventually necessary to enforce compliance with our demands by
presence of one of Her Majesty’s vessels of war at Debai. Lieutenant-Colonel
Miles, at the Resident’s request, accompanied Captain Wodehouse, the Senior
Haval Officer, in Her Majesty’s Ship Teaser, and a satisfactory settlement was
obtained. A suitable fine was imposed, and the boat which had been !
employed in the Delma aggression was burnt off the port.
Shaikh Hashar thereon came to his senses and wrote a suitable and ample
letter of apology, which was accepted, and the usual friendly relations resumed.
The proceedings were approved by the Government of India.
162. In the month of June 1882, it was discovered that a number of boats
belonging to Ajman had been con-
Gulf Adminiatratiou Report for 1882*83.
cerne d in a piraoy committed in a vessel
(the Fath-el-Kareem, under Turkish colours) in the Red Sea, and a quantity
of property plundered from the vessel was landed at Ajman. Steps were taken
to detain the Ajman boats until the charge was clearly established, when Her
Majesty’s Ship Arab was sent to the Pirate Coast, and nine of the boats con­
cerned in the piraoy were publicly burnt, and the value of a quantity of the
cargo of the plundered:vessel was recovered.
153. During the pearl-fishing season (June 1884) an Ejman boat was
Adminiatration Report for 1884*85. attaoked and fired on by one Seif-el-
External A, September 1884, Noa. 12*16. Adham, who resided on the island of Sirri
and who had previously behaved in a turbulent manner. The offence, whioh