Page 215 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

49
CHAPTER VII.
Administration Report for tiie Truciat, Coast for the year 1933,
1. Personnel—Khan Bahadur Isa bin Abdul Latif, O.B.E., held the post of
Residency Agent, Sharjah, throughout the year.
2. Tnicial Shaikhs.—'The following were the Shaikhs of the various States
of the Trucinl Coast throughout the year :—
1. DEBAI .. Ruler : Shaikh Said bin Maktura bin Haakar.
2. SHARJAH .. .. Ruler: Shaikh Muhammad Sultan biu Saqar.
3. ABU DHABI .. .. Ruler: Shaikh Shakbut bin Raschid.
4. UMM-UL-QAWAIN .. Ruler: Shaikh Ahmad bin Raschid.
5. AJMAN .. Ruler : Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid.
6. RAS AL KIIAIMAH .. Ruler: Shaikh Sultan bin Salim.
Royal Navy.—On September 22nd, 9 Destroyers of the Mediterranean Fleet,
on a visit to the Persian Gulf, arrived at Debai. The Senior Naval Officer,
Persian Gulf, in H. M. S. “ Shoreham ” with Colonel Loch, the Honourable the
Acting Political Resident in the Persian Gulf on board accompanied them.
In order to add to the effect of the visit of the Flotilla it bad been arranged
for the Royal Air Force to give a Flying display at the same time. On Septem­
ber 23rd, Air Vice-Marshal C. S. Burnett, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., Air Officer Com­
manding, ’Iraq Command, with a squadron of 8 Wapitis arrived at Debai.
The Shaikh of Debai was absent, but his brother, acting for him, and tho
Shaikhs of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm-al-Qawain, had assembled at
Debai to greet the Flotilla. Colonel Loch held a Durbar on board If. M. S.
“ Shoreham which was attended by all the above mentioned Shaikhs. Tho
Shaikh ol* Has al Khaimah absented himself.
Afterwards the party proceeded on board II. M. S. “ Diamond ” which gave
a high speed demonstration together with a display of machine gun and gunnery
target tiring. During the speed run the Wapitis carried out formation flying.
Ilis Excellency the Commandcr-in-Chief, East Indies Squadron, Vice-
Admiral M. E. Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., C.B., in Ii. M. S. “ Hawkins ” in Novem­
ber visited Ajman, Debai, Sharjah, where he met the respective Shaikhs and- the
usual calls were exchanged.
In April 1933, H. M. S. “ Ormonde ” carried out a survey of Sir Beni Yas
Island and also took soundings off Debai, Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Musa Island.
Aviation.—The Imperial Airways Rest House at Sharjah on which const ruc­
tion had been started towards the end of 1932 was finally completed in April I
1933.
Sharjah is now a night stop for both East and West bound machines.
Imperial Airways weekly service operated throughout the year without
incident.
The Flying Boats of 203 (Flying Boat) Squadron based on Basra made a
number of flights along the coast during the year.
Air Officer Commanding—Air Vice-Marshal C. S. Burnett, C.B., C.B.E.,
D.S.O., with a squadron of 8 Wapitis made a special flight to Debai in September
1933 in connection with the visit of the First Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediter­
ranean Fleet mentioned above.
Shipi)hi(j.—The British India Steam Navigation Company, Limited, con­
tinued their usual calls at Debai and extended them to Sharjah.
Messrs. Frank C. Strick & Co., Ltd., steamers continued to call at Debai as
formerly.
The German Ilansa Line steamers continued to call at Debai during the
year.
Pearl Fisheries.—The number of pearls found was up to average, but the
market was bad and the pearling season therefore cannot be considered a success­
ful one.
The Debai boats made the best catches.