'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎39v] (83/180)

68
In 1902, the idea of a formal British protectorate over Trucial 'Oman having
been mooted, a close examination was made of the existing system, which was
in the end declared to be perfectly satisfactory. It was reported by Colonel
Kemball, in this connection, that new chiefs on their succession now generally
sought to be recognised by the British Government, and that his advice, though
not authoritatively given, was generally obeyed and even welcomed in internal
affairs.
In the same year the general attitude of the Shaikhs towards the British power
was shown by their observance of the 26th of June as a public holiday in honour
of the Coronation of King Edward; and the visit of Lord Curzon, Viceroy and
Governor-General of India, to the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , where, as elsewhere described,
he held a Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). at sea off Sharjah on the 21st of November 1903, was a further
proof of the confidence and harmony that had come to prevail. At the same
time it should be understood that the Shaikhs of Trucial 'Oman were still unpro-
gressive, ignorant, and prone to childish suspicions. The failure of the Hinawi
Shaikhs of Abu Dhabi and Dibai to enforce on their subjects the use of the Trucial
flag has already been mentioned; and other symptoms of a like nature appeared,
in 1906, in the unwillingness of the Shaikhs to supply the Resident with genealogical
tables of their families, in the reluctance of the Shaikh of Dibai to agree to the
establishment of a British Indian post office at his capital, and in objections made
by the Shaikh of Sharjah against the hoisting of a British Hag over the British
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Sharjah.
Commercial a remarkable development of commerce, within the narrow limits imposed
relations. by poverty of natural resources and sparseness of population, characterised the
period between 1892 and 1907 in Trucial 'Oman; it was accelerated after 1902
by the decline of the Persian port of Lingeh. Before 1902 not more than four or
five steamers had called at Dibai annually; but in the year mentioned no less than
21 steam vessels, mostly belonging to the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation
Company, entered the port; and early in 1904 the British India Steam Navigation
Company included Dibai in their regular time-table.
In 1902 the question of urging the Trucial Shaikhs to limit the rate of customs
duty leviable by themselves to 5 per cent, ad valorem was discussed; but, as the
rates actually in force were found to be everywhere lower than 5 per cent., it was
decided to postpone action. A little later, however, a lessee of the export duty
on mother-of-pearl shells at Dibai was found to be collecting the tax at a rate
higher than 5 per cent., and a reference was made to the Shaikh, who at once
promised to reduce it.
Relations of Trucial 'Oman with Persia, 1892-1907.
Difficulties
arising from
the Perso-
Arab crisis
at Lineeh.
1899-1900.
In 1899 a question arose between the Government of Persia and the Shaikhs
ol Irucial 'Oman through the expulsion by the Persians of the hereditary Arab
Shaikh ot Lingeh, and later the meddlesome activity of the recently instituted
Imperial Persian Customs occasioned trouble; in both cases the task of controlling
the Arabs and of representing Arab interests devolved on the British power.
In October 1899 the Persian Government, alarmed by a report that the expelled
Shaikh of Lingeh and his supporters had found an asylum in Trucial 'Oman,
appealed to the British Government to prevent their collecting a force for the
recovery of Lingeh; and suitable warnings were accordingly addressed to the
Trucial Shaikhs by the British authorities. Again in January 1900 the Persian
Government complained that Muhammad-bin-Khalifah, the ex-Shaikh of Lingeh,
was harboured by the Shaikh of Ras-al Khaimah; they asked that the British
Government should prevent a descent by him upon Lingeh, which was appre
hended; and they added a mighty threat that they would take action themselves
against the Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah,—a proceeding which, as was reported by
the Resident, might easily result in the loss of their only vessel, the " Persepolis ".
A second warning was consequently sent to the Ras-al-Khaimah chief by H.M.S.
" Melpomene "; but it was ascertained at her visit to the port that, though Shaikh
Muhammad was living there, no design of attacking Lingeh really existed. (The
claims ol Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. and others on account of property destroyed or appropriated
by the Persians in the Lingeh affair are dealt with in the history of the Persian
Coast and Islands.)