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Boundary Disputes: Chaos in Order 147

proceeding from Abu Dhabi direct to Buraimi. From Buraimi a
parly was to go on to Jabal Fa’iyah; but when it came to it
the problems of dealing with the Bani Qitab proved, once again,
insoluble. In September 1938, Weightman, officiating as Resident,
had reported that the Bani Qitab were so strong in the area
north of Buraimi that the company would need their help to get
there, though lie thought that this could be bought if the right
price were offered.
In the meantime, Petroleum Concessions had become very inter-
csted in the rise to prominence of Khalid bin Ahmad, who, from
being deposed as ruler of Sharjah, had become regent of Kalba
in 1937. His qualities as a leader had even impressed the towns
of Fujairah and Dibba, which now swore allegiance to him, and
it was generally believed that he intended to reunite all the Qasimi
territories and place them under his control. He had already started
to receive taxes from Wadi al-Qawr and Wadi Hilu, areas usually
considered part of the shaykhdom of Ras al-Khaimah.25 Sultan
was clearly aware of his predecessor’s strength, for Weightman
reported having heard, in July 1938, that the ruler of Sharjah
had offered Khalid 1500 rupees to arrange a peace with the Bani
Qitab on his behalf. Khalid was expected to meet Muhammad
bin ‘Ali bin Huwayydin of the Bani Qitab at Kalba, and then
would try on behalf of Sultan to arrange for the company to
visit Fa’iyah. If this proved unsuccessful, Weightman suggested,
Khalid should be authorised to make the arrangement with the
Bani Qitab independently, acting directly on behalf of Petroleum
Concessions.26 Once this was accomplished, Sultan could be told
that the party would go to Fa’iyah with or without his permission,
‘and that he had better save his face (and such future prospects
he may have) by signing his name’.27
Weightman’s suggestions were accepted as plausible, although the
question of how to approach Sultan was left open for further conside­
ration. At an India Office meeting on 23 September at which
Fowlc and representatives of Petroleum Concessions were present,
it was decided to ask Shaykh Khalid to negotiate directly on behalf
of the company if in attempting to negotiate on behalf of the
ruler of Sharjah he were to meet with failure.28 Shaykh Khalid,
however, was unable to exert much influence on Muhammad bin
‘Ali, and the Bani Qitab country remained inaccessible to the
geologists who explored Oman that year. Preparations for another
expedition, to set out in 1939, made it essential to conclude a
separate agreement with Muhammad bin ‘Ali. Although he did
not wish to antagonise the ruler of Sharjah, Longrigg weighed
the disadvantages of doing so and concluded, ‘it is doubtful whether
his ill will will be
any more effective than his goodwill’.'-9 The