Page 256 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

Ill PERSIAN GTJLP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

CHAPTER IX.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE TRlfCIAL COAST FOR THE
YEAR 1913.

There is little of interest to record during tho past year on the Truci&l
Coast. Tho relations between tho Chiefs of tho seaports among thonisclvcs
and between them and their Bedouin neighbours remained satisfactory.
The Arms Traffic, of which mention was made in last year’s report, has
been reduced to such comparatively in.
Arms traffic.
significant proportions by tho precaution­
ary measures taken at Maskat itself, that4 there has not been any necessity i0
endeavour to induce the Trucial Shaikhs to take preventive measures against
arms smugglers.
The positiou remains exactly as it was
Raa-al-Kbaimab.
described last year.
It has not been possible to effect a reconciliation between Shaikh
Rashid and his half-brother Nasir. Shaikh
Umro-al-Kniw»3n.
Rashid’s conduct has been anything but
satisfactory and he has refused pointblank to obey the instructions he has
received from this Residency through the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian
Gulf, whom he treated with scant respect. It seems that it will be necessary
to coerce this Chief, who persists in refusing to grant justice to his half-brother.
Ajman and Sharjah have no history for record this year.
Shaikh Harndan bin Zaid, a fine looking and typical Arab Chief, who
has only lately come into his Sheikh­
Abo Dtbabi.
dom, appears to have governed his prin­
cipality wisely and well and is able to absent himself from his town for
considerable periods. This may fairly be considered a criterion of whether an
Arab Chief is firmly established or not. Shaikh Hamdan was invited by the
Sultan of Maskat to come to his assistance with advice, if not men, against the
rebels. He came to Maskafc and stayed there till the end of the year. His pre­
sence may have afforded some moral support to His Highness Saiyid Taimur,
but it is doubtful whether it seriously affected the situation there. His enter­
tainment certainly cost His Highness a round sum of money.
While at Maskat, Shaikh Hamdan probably voiced the general apprehension
which the success of the Amir at A1 Hasa caused among the Trucial Chiefs.
Any rise in the fortunes of the ruler of Riadh generally affects them immediately
witn anxiety on their own account, though every now and then, some temporarily
dissatisfied Trucial Chief or Beadouin outlaw conceives the brilliant idea of
bringing in the Amir ia the hope of fishing in troubled waters. An instance of
this kind occurred during the year when the Chief of Ajman wrote an unnecessary
letter to the Amir and the Political Resident directed the Residency Agent,
8harjah, to repeat to the Trucial Chiefs the general warning already given
to them to abstain from correspondence of this kind.
There seems to be no present grounds for any anxiety on the part of the
Maritime Chiefs as the Amir is f ul ly occupied elsewhere.
The death of Shaikh Butti bin Suhail was noted in the Administration
--------
Report for 1912. There was the usual
Dibai.
auarrelling among the deceased Shaikhs
relatives over the succession, but a choice was happily effected without bloodshed
or serious disturbance. 8haikh Said bin Makturn was elected by the
family. The Resident visited Dibai at the close of the previous year and
recommended the recognition of tho new Shaikh-elect.
What might have proved an “ unfortunate incident99 occurred in August*
when a boat from H. M. S. “ Sphinx ** which was conveying tho R^

I