"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٧‎٣‎٧] (١٧٨٢/٨٨٠)

737
events indicated the entrance into Persian Gulf affairs of new forces
which were shortly to bring 1 about a general challenge of the British
position in the whole region of the Gulf.
4.n absurd but apparently serious attempt was made by Persian
officials in 1887-88 to establish a footing in Trucial 'Oman, the principal
agent employed being Sartip Haji Ahmad Khan, a former Deputy-
Governor of Bushehr. In August 1887 this individual left for the coast
of Trucial Oman on the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Com
pany s steamer u Calder \ a proceeding so extraordinary on his part,
with reference to the season of the year and to other circumstances, that
the British Resident at Bushehr, Colonel E. C. Ross, caused him to be
followed by the Residency steamer "Lawrence" to Abu Dhabi, where
he landed in full uniform. After spending some days with the Shaikh
at Abu Dhabi the Sartip paid a visit to Dibai; and then, returning to
Abu Dhabi, he took his departure for Lingeh in a native sailing vessel.
The Trucial Shaikhs, who had pledged themselves to reticence towards
the British authorities, at first preserved an impenetrable silence regard
ing the designs of Ahmad Khan ; but at length, the Shaikh of Dibai
having been persuaded to unbosom himself to the Sultan of 'Oman, it
transpired that the Sartip had proposed the establishment of close relations
between the Shaikhs and the Persian Government with a view to the
exclusion of British influence from Trucial 'Oman. In January 1888
Aiimad Khan, apparently believing the way to be now sufficiently prepared,
leturned from Bushehr to the Trucial Coast in a native vessel. He brought
with him a number of Persian flags, presumably for distribution, and,
being a man of method, would have commenced operations in the neigh
bourhood of Ras Musandam ; but the inhabitants of that tract refused to
let him land. Later, accompanied by the Shaikh of Qishm and a number
of armed men, he had an interview with the Shaikh of Umm-al-Qaiwain ;
but soon after this, the impracticability of his scheme having quickly
become apparent, he again withdrew to Persia. The Persian Govern
ment, on a complaint being made at Tehran by the British Legation,
repudiated the Sartip's action and even volunteered to reprimand him;
and, though, they subsequently presented him with a sword of honour,
their official disavowal, being communicated through the Commander of
H.M .S. "Osprey'*' to the Trucial Shaikhs, assuaged the not inconsider
able excitement to which the proceedings of Ahmad Khan had given
llse along the coast.
In December 1887, between the first and the second visit of the
Sartip to the Trucial Coast, a precaution had been taken by Colonel
Koss which no dubt contributed materially to the final discomfiture of
66
Preliminary
exclusive
assurances,
1887.