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Maintenance of Power: Political and Social habric 61

of the Muscat Council, who was there on a visit to the Shihuh.
The President of the Council sent his private secretary and two
Shihhi leaders with Brandon to Rams, on board the Cyclamen.
After lengthy negotiations with all parties, a settlement was reached
whereby both sides agreed to a six-months truce, and Sultan bin
Salim promised to allow the Shihuh free use of the port of Rams.19
In order to ensure (he effectiveness of the treaty this time, Brandon
deported Muhammad and Salim to Sharjah, where Khalid bin
Ahmad promised to keep them in custody and out of mischief.
But four months later, in December, the brothers escaped from
Sharjah after obtaining the support of the Shihhi Salih bin Muham­
mad of Dibba, and went to Rams with a number of men from
the Shihuh. Sultan bin Salim could not accept the situation, and
before long fighting broke out yet again.
Brandon then assembled all the disputants on board the Cyclamen,
and a lasting settlement was finally attained; this was written down
by each side and signed on 27 February 1922 in the presence
of Brandon.20 Muhammad bin Salih swore allegiance to Sultan
bin Salim, promised to sever his connections with the Shihuh,
and agreed to pay Sultan 1000 rupees a year; Sultan, on the
other hand, recognised Muhammad as wali of Rams. It was also
agreed that all prisoners taken during the fighting would be returned
to their homes, and that, if either side did not abide by the
terms, the Residency Agent would be called on to mediate.21
Another example of the manner in which a ruler acted when
his authority and position were undermined is provided by the
way in which Humayd bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz of Ajman responded
to the threat posed by ‘Abd al-Rahman of the Al-bu-Shamis.
We have already seen how, after having made public his claim
to the shaykhdom of Ajman, ‘Abd al-Rahman settled in the town
of Hirah in Sharjah, following which the rulers of Ajman and
Sharjah joined forces to launch an attack on him. When the Senior
Naval Officer tried to restore the peace, Humayd categorically
refused to see him.22 He obviously considered any acceptance of
British mediation as a weakness on his part and he had to prove
that he could hold his own against any usurper. His obduracy
in ignoring the British officer was to cost him a great deal, however.
He had already been in trouble with the British authorities for
refusing to communicate with Trevor, the Political Resident, late
in December 1920, when Trevor had sailed to Ajman to inquire
into a report that Humayd had torn up a manumission certificate.
When he arrived off Ajman, Trevor hoisted the Resident’s flag,
indicating his desire to meet the ruler, but Humayd ignored it.
In May 1921, after the second insult, Trevor felt provoked to
pay another visit to Ajman, and this time Humayd saw him.