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the Shaikh of Qatar declining to act on the Political Agent’s advice to make
suitable provision fpr his relatives, and the Political Agent refusing to listen
to the Shaikh’s requests that ho should evict them from Bahrain.
(iv) In Juno 1938 the Shaikh of Qatar agreed to exempt lloyal Air Force
fuel stocked at Dohah from the payment of Customs dues.
(v) Activities of Petroleum Development {Qatar) Limited.-{a) A geolo­
gical Survey of the Qatar Peninsula, begun in 1937, was completed in the
early summer.
(ft) A camp and landing jetty wero erected at Jcbcl Dukhan and Zckrit
respectively on the West Coast of the Peninsula. The two have been con-
nected by a road, nine miles long. The camp has accommodation for 15
European and 120 Asiatic employees. The camp has electric light and
power, an ice plant and a Marconi wireless set.
(c) 3 water wells were bored, but the results were disappointing, and
drinking water has to be imported from Bahrain.
(d) Drilling for oil started in October 7th, the plant being capable of
drilling to a depth of 7,500 feet. On December 31st the well had reached a
depth of 2,000 feet.
28. Trucial Coast.—(t) Trncial Shaikhs.—The following were the
Shaikhs of the various States of the Trucial Coast throughout the year :—
(1) Dubai . . Shaikh Sa’id bin Maktum, O.B.E.
(2) Sharjah . Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr.
(3) Abu Dhabi . . Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan.
(4) Uram ol Qaiwain . Shaikh Ahmad bin Raahid.
(5) Ajman . Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid.
(0) Ras al Khaimah . Shaikh Sultan bin Salim.
(7) Kalba . . Shaikh Sa’id bin Hamad (Minor).
6haikh Khalid bin Ahmad (Regent).
(it) British Interests.—Mr. R. V. Robinson was in charge of the Rest
House of the Imperial Airways Limited until 15th May 1938 when he was
relieved bjr Mr. W. H. Whelan. Mr. Whelan remained in charge until De­
cember when he was relieved by Mr. S. Broad.
(Hi) Tours.—(a) The Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Trenchard
Fowle, K.C.I.E., C.B.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, visited
Dubai and Abu Dhabi on the 27th February and 1st March respectively.
(6) H. Weightman, Esquire, I.C.S., Political Agent, Balirain, toured
the Trucial Coast in February, March, May, June and October, visiting
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Umm al Qaiwain and Ajman.
(c) Captain J. B. Howes, Officiating Political Agent, Bahrain visited
Sharjah in August. Later, as Assistant Political Agent, Bahrain, he visited
Baraimi via Abu Dhabi in November and December.
(d) The Residency Agent, Sharjah, paid frequent visits to all the Shaikh-
doms of the Trucial Coast during the year under report.
(iv) Aviation.—(a) The East and West bound service of the Imperial
Airways Limited were regular and night stops were made at .Sharjah and
Dubai throughout the year except for the period from 7th to 20th October.
During this short period, the flying boat service was diverted to Ras al
Khaimah on account of the disturbances at Dubai.
(ft) On the Cth June an extended Agreement for five years for the Com­
mercial Landing Base for aircraft was entered into between the Shaikh of
Dubai and His Majesty’s Government.
(c) Flying boats and aeroplanes of tlio Royal Air Force have frequently
visited the various landing grounds and seaplane anchorages on the Trucial
Coast.
(v) Royal Navy.—Sloops of the Persian Gulf Division paid frequent
visits to the Truoial Coast,