Page 373 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER XIV.

• PERSIAN RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB CHIEFS ON THE
PIRATE COAST. DISTINCTIVE TRUCIAL FLAG, 1800-1005.

(i) CAPTURE OF LINGAH FROM ITS JOASMI SHEIKH. PERSIAN COMPLAINTS
ABOUT THE SHEIKH OF RAS-UL-KIIIMA HARBOURING THE EXILED SIIEIKII
OF LING AII AND COMPANIONS, AND HIS ALLEGED INTENTION TO ATTACK
LING AII, 1809-1WO.
195. An account of the Joasmi Sheikhs of Lingah and their fall is given
in Section XII of the Persian Coast and Islands Precis, 1854—1905.
196. On 14th October 1899 the British Minister at Teheran was informed f
hy the Sadr Azam that Sheikli Algmcd
8ocret E., Novembor 1S99, Nos. 5*7.
and Saiyid Yusuf, who were alleged to
have been responsible for the recent rising at Lingah, had escaped to the
Arabian Coast, that the Shah feared that they might return with a new
following, and hoped that the Indian Government would take such steps as
could prevent their collecting men with a view to making a descent on Liugah.
197. The Government of India in this telegram, dated 21st October 1899,
instructed the Resident to warn the Trucial Chiefs not to assist any schemes for
an attack on Lingah, and to communicate to the Legation any information he
might receive respecting such designs.
198. Again, in January 1900, the Persian Government oornplained that
Secret E., March 1900, Nos. 176-1S5. Sheikh Mahomed had taken refuge at
Secret E., May 1900, Nos. 53-69. Ras-ul-Khima and been harboured hy its
Chief, and that the latter intended to make an hostile demonstration against
Lingah in aid of Sheikh Mahomed. The Persian Government intended to take
measure to chastise the Arab Chief, but before doing so asked the British
Government to intervene.
199. The Resident, who was asked to report, stated that the Trucial Chiefs
had been warned in October 1899 against assisting in any schemes for renewed
attacks of Lingah, that the warning was repeated whon Colonel Meade visited
the Arab Coast in December. Sheikh Hamid of Ras-ul-Khima stated that
Sheikh Mahomed’s attack on Lingah was made against their wishes, and that
they had lost in consequence properties which belouged to the tribe generally.
Sheikh Hamid promised to conform to the Resident’s advice and said that he
would submit later on detailed claims for the property of Joasmi Arabs
taken by the Persians in Lingah. The Resident then sent the Melpomene with
a fresh warning to Sheikh Hamid to give up ail idea he might have of making
a descent on Lingah. The Commander of the man-of-war was also instructed
to prevent any such attempt. On the other hand, the Darya Begi, the Resident
thought, had not the means to attack Ras-ul-Khima effectively: any attempt
to do so might result in the loss of the Persepolis (Resident’s telegram, dated
2Sth January 1900, to the British Minister at Teheran).
200. The Commander of the Melpomene conveyed the necessary warning
to Sheikh Hamid and was informed that there was no foundation in the
rumour about the intended descent on Lingah. Sheikh Mahomed was found
at the time at Ras.ul-Khima.
(il) INTRIGUE OF THE DARYA BEGI, GOVERNOR OF BUSHIRE, WITH THE CniEF
OF ABUTHABI. ADOPTION BY 'THE LATTER OF A GREEN FLAG. MEASURES
FOR ADOPTION OF THE TRUCIAL FLAG BY THE ARAB CHIEFS AND THEIR
SUBJECTS.
201. Following the reoont events at Lingah, we find the Sheikh of Abu
Thabi in communication with the Darya
Secret E., October 1900, Noi. 2S6*299.
Begi, Governor of Bushire, and sonding
• As lo Pereian intrigues ou the Arab Coast in 1SS7-88, see Chapter XIII (it).
t It micht he noted that bv these complaints of the Porsian Government to tho British Minister, the
Britikh protectorate over tuo Trucial Chiofa was tacitly rcooguizod by the Persian Government.