Page 105 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

FOB THE YEAH IQtf. 95

CHAPTER IX.
adJIINSTRATION REPORT FOR THE TRUOIAL COA8T FOR THE
A YEAR 19i2.

Tho past yea* f133 been politically uneventful as far as the mutual relations
f tho Truoial Chiefs and the affairs of the hinterland are concerned; no
°erious dissensions occurred among the Chiefs of the maritime tribes, whilst
their relations with the Bedouin were generally satisfactory.
The ruling Chiefs of Abu Dhabi and Debai, Shaikhs Tahnun bin Zaid and
putti bin Soheil, were gathered to their fathers during the year, but though, in
both cases* it at first seemed possible that the succession would be disputed, in
the event the question was amicably adjusted and the Government of India
were asked in duo course to accord their recognition to the new incumbents.
The details of succession are given below in the sections relating to these
principalities.
The Arms Traffic, however, continued to be a stone of stumbling for many
0{ the Chiefs, who, partly from apathy and partly from a not entirely unreason­
able apprehension of incurring the hostility of the tribes in the hinterland,
have been slow to take rigorous measures to prevent their coast and even their
towns from being used as jumping off places by the arms smugglers.
Shaikh Salim bin Sultan lias continued in the Shaikhdom, but it has not
been considered advisable to accord speci­
Baval*Kh&im&h.
fic recognition to bis independent status,
at all events : until wc have disposed of the Abu Musa case into which his
achievement of a status, as Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah, independent of the
Shaikh of Shargah, might conceivably introduce a complication.
Shaikh Rashid's behaviour has been satisfactory, but his action in
expelling from the Town his half brother,
U in cj-tl- Covrcln.
Nasir, and the latter’s mother, on suspicion
of being connected with an alleged attempt against his own life, is likely
to prove a source of trouble to the Residency, if a reconciliation cannot be
effected.
At the time of the Resident’s return to the Gulf from India,
Aiman. Iq February, a controversy which threa­
tened to become acute was raging
between the Chiefs of Ajman and Debai in regard to various outstanding
claims and in particular with reference to the Bin Luta family (vide page 78,
Chapter IX, Administration Report, 1910).
Shaikh Huinaid’s Principality frequently figures in the reports of Arm*
Traffic informers and the repeated remonstrances which have beon addressed to
him in common with other Trucial Chiefs on the subject have not had as much
practical effect as could be desired, though like his fellows, Shaikh Humaid
strenuously protests his readiness to act in accordance, with the wishes of
Government and denies the truth of reports communicated to him regarding
exit of caravan consignments through his coastal limits.
Relations with Shaikh Sargar have been satisfactory except
in connection with the Arms Traffic in.
. Sh&rg&h. which his apathy and unwillingness to
^ke any action which might bring him into collision with his people or his
J^ghbours, have made him difficult to deal with. This question was brought
a. oead in September when Isa bin Abdul Latif, son of the Residency Agent,
^lu8 specifically asked for and been refused assistance by the 8haikh, with the
of a few volunteers from among his own friends, effected the capture of a
j^gnment of some 876 rifles and 60 boxes of cartridges, despatched by caravan
Maakat en route to the Ghandhah creek, some 40 miles beyond Debai,
had been dumped and delayed at a place short of its destination called