Page 28 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

22
(b.) The Trucial Chiefs.0
The Hritiah Oovornmont maintain no Political Officer
in "Trucial” torritory, but a Nativo /V go lit in tlio
employ of tlio Bunhivo Ronidoucy in Rtntioncd at
Shnrgali, and moves from place to place a« is required.
Tlio so-called “ Trucial Chiefs," who rule
over the Jownsmi, Al bu Ali and Beni Yas tribes,
arc six in number, and they respectively reside
at Bns-el-Khciniah, Amulgavine, Ajmnn, Sliar-
gah, Dabni, and Abu Dtliabi. All these places
are situated on tlio Pirate Coast, which is part of
tlio Arabian littoral of the Persian Gulf, and
extends from a point between Tibba and Shuam
to El Odeid. The Sheikh of Shargah also claims
authority over the coast-line on the Gulf of Oman
from Khor Ivalba as far as ltus Dibba, on tlio
ground that it is part of the territories of the
Joasini tribe*.
These Chiefs are called tlio “Trucial Chiefs” AitcliiWw
on account of the Treaties of Maritime Truce Tien lie*, Yul. X
concluded with them between 1835 and LS53, by
which their internecine strife upon the sea was
stopped.
They are nil now independent, and since the
isolation of the Wahabces in the highlands, they
have been exempted from the tribute or black­
mail for the payment of which they were
formerly directly or indirectly liable to the
Wahabcc Chief of A’ejd.
In the beginning of last century an expedition
was sent to the Persian Gulf to, punish the
Jowasmi for certain aggressions on British ships,
and to co-operate with the Imam of Muscat who
was then at war with them. The expedition
resulted in the conclusion of a Treaty in
February 1800, binding them to respect the
Hag and property of the British, and to assist
vessels touching on their coast. This Treaty
appears to have been concluded without refer­
ence to the Wahabecs.
The spread of the Wahabecs in Oman soon
threatened tlm ltulerof Muscat with destruction,
and the British Government determined to sup-
jiort him, and to destroy the piratical fleets as
the only means of preserving the peace of the
Gulf. A strong force was dispatched in 1S00,
which took Bas-el-Kheiinah and other places
and destroyed the boats of the pirates.
Notwithstanding these measures, piracy in­
creased to an intolerable extent, and an expedi-
• A report on this subject by Colonel KemUill will Ixr
found in " Por>ia and Arabia,’’ Part 12, p. 313 (March 1903).