'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎43r] (90/180)

75
other chiefs, two days were devoted by Major Ccx to tedious discussions on shore*
in these the Shaikh of Sharjah appeared for himself and for 'Ajman and the
Shaikh of Dibai for himself and for Abu Dhabi. The result was a written
settlement of all differences by which, it was hoped, general peace might be secured
for some time to come. On the conclusion of the negotiations Shaikh Rashid
was landed at Umm-al-Qaiwain, where he was received by his subjects with many
rejoicings. He seemed grateful for his rescue, and he afterwards presented a
thank-offering to the Resident in the shape of a well-bred camel and a young
horse, both of which were accepted on behalf of the Government ^
ANNEXURE No. 1.—INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE SHARJAH
PRINCIPALITY
[pp. 755-763]
In the following short summary we propose to deal with the affairs of the
ruling family of Sharjah and with events of merely domestic significance. The
external history of the Shaikhdom is included in that of Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , which is
contained in the foregoing chapter.
Shaikh Saqar-bin-Rashid, 1777-1803.
In 1777 Shaikh Rashid-bin-Matar of Ras-al-Khaimah, the chief of the
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. , resigned the headship of the tribe, after holding it for about 30 years,
in favour of his son Saqar. Shaikh Saqar married, as one of his wives a daughter
of Shaikh Abdullah, Ma'lni, of Qishm.
Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar, 1803-66.
J n or about 1803 Shaikh Saqar was succeeded by his son Sultan, who was Place of
destined to rule the 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. for a period extending over two generations and to residence and
witness, it might almost be said, the whole process of change from barbarism to c h a r a cter of
civilisation in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The internal events of his Shaikhship are less •
known as well as less important than the external already related; and it is even saqar 1 1
uncertain whether, after the restoration to him of Ras-al-Khaimah in 1820, he
chiefly at that place or at Sharjah. Till the end of his life he was
indifterently described as " Shaikh of Sharjah " and " Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah
and the direct administration of both towns appears to have been ordinarily carried
on hy a near relation acting under his orders, and not by himself personally.
According to a general consensus of opinion the leading characteristic of Shaikh
buJtan was his duplicity, which even by other Arabs was regarded as phenomenal,
in his later life his peculiarity in this respect had become so notorious that he was
tnoroughly distrusted by all, and his " machinations seldom produced, compara
tively speaking, any evil consequences."
W ear ^ er y ears 0 f his rule Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar generally employed Governors
nis brothers, and of a later period his sons, as his representatives in direct charge Ras-al-
ot the towns of Ras-al-Khaimah and Sharjah. Ras-al-Khaimah was governed K hai ™ h and
m 1823 by Muhammad-bin-Saqar, a brother of Shaikh Sultan; and he may have i§03-04
remained in office there until his death, which occurred at some time prior to 1845.
? t ^ e a ff a i rs of Sharjah town were guided by Salih-bin-Saqar, another
or Shaikh Sultan's brothers, who, though his mother had been a slave, was one
or the most intelligent and enlightened Arabs of his day upon the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ;
nis deposition in 1838 in favour of Saqar, the son of Shaikh Sultan by a Qasimi
wire, was consequently much regretted by the British political authorities.
In 1840, at the instigation of Shaikh Maktum of Dibai, a restless and intriguing Rebellion of
cnier, Saqar-bin-Sultan made an effort, which was for a short time successful, to Saqar-bin-
cast off the authority of his father and to rule the town of Sharjah as an independent Sult . an
principality; he obtained support chiefly by promising to reduce the tax on pearl ff^her, 1840.
divers, which was then levied by Shaikh Sultan at the rate of $7 per head annually.
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