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G4 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

CHAPTER IX.

Administration Report for the Trucial Coast for the year 1920.
16a bin Abdul Latif who succeeded liis father Khan Bahadur Abdul
Latif as Residency Agent on the Trucial
Qoncral.
Coast in August 1919, held the post
throughout the year. Ho has done good work has settled the claims of British
subjects promptly and satisfactorily and has been active in securing the
freedom of slaves, and of Baluchis and Africans recently enslaved. He was
granted the title of Khan Sahib on January 1st 1921.
Shaikh Sultan bin Salem who succeeded his father in August 1919,
proved himself an efficient ruler. As he informed the Political Resident of
his readinejs to accept and abide by all treaties and engagements entered into
by liis predecessors a recommendalion has been made to the Government
of India for his recognition as independant Sheikh of Ras-el-Khaimeh.
A dispute over a relatively trivial matter arose between the Chief of
Um-el-Qaiwain and Sultan bin Salem of
Um-cl-Khiiuieh.
Ras-el-Khaimeh resulting in raids and
counter-raids between their tribes. As the former’s tribe was the aggressor
he was advised to mnke peace with the Shaikh of Ras-el-Khaimeh as war
would injuriously affect the < interests of British subjects who had claims
against his tribesmen. The Chief of Shargah also intervened and a reconci­
liation was effected. Soon after, however, it became apparent from tho tone
of the Chief of Um-ul-Qaiwain’s letter that he had only accepted the inter­
vention of the Crief of Shargah in a half hearted way. He was therefore
warned against breaking the peace but the warning was disregarded. Hostili­
ties again broke out resulting in considerable bloodshed and the lifting of a
large number of cattle. The Residency Agent intervened and was able to
effect a satisfactory reconciliation.
In June 1920 Abdur Rahman with a few men of Hireh, which is under
Shargah, seized and occupied by surprise
Ajman.
the fort of the Shaikh of Ajman. A tight
ensued which resulted in several casualties among the Shaikh of A j man’s men.
The Shaikh finding himself unable to eject by force Abdur Rahman and his men
appealed for assistance to the Residency Agent. The Residency Agent succeeded
in arranging that Abdur Rahman and his men should leave the fort on the
understanding that they would be given a safe conduct. This was agreed to
by the Sheikh of Ajman as well as by the Sheikh of Shargah who had gone to
the former’s assistance; Abdur Rahman and his men left the fort and were
ordered to leave the coast. As, however, he is considerably indebted to
British subjects and cannot make a living elsewhere to pay off his debts, he
has since been allowed to return to the coast.
The Chief of Shargah showred himself obstructive in the settlement of
several claims of British subjects against
Shargah.
his subjects. In the case of one of these
claims for the sum of Rs. 14,000 it was agreed that annual instalment of Rs.
4,000 should be paid and the Chief of Shargah was called upon to have
payment of the instalment made at once to tho Political Resident w'ho was
then visiting JShargah. 'J His he agreed to do but failed to fulfil his undertak­
ing, generally prevaricated and was suspected of conniving at tho disappear­
ance of the debtor. The Sheikh’s conduct which amounted to the flouting if
not defiance of the Representative of His Majesty’s Government has been
brought to the notice of the Government of India with the recommendation
that the Sheikh should be fined three times the instalment that ho had failed
to produce, viz., Rs. 12,000 and that if necessary payment to be enforced by one
of His Majesty’s Ships.
A. P. TREVOR, licui-ColJnel,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf1