'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎45v] (95/180)

Political
position and
personal
character of
the Shaikh
of Sharjah,
1907.
relation named Saif-bin-Saif, of whose ambition he stood in dread; but, on the
latter proceeding to despoil him of his personal property, 'Abdur Rahman attacked
the house of Saif by night, taking him prisoner and killing his son, and himself
resumed the headship of Hamriyah. Shaikh Rashid of Umm-al-Qaiwain then
intervened and settled the matter by removing Saif-bin-Saif to his own capital
Under Saqar-bin-Khalid the importance of Sharjah among the Shaikhdoms of
Trucial 'Oman declined, and the prestige of the Qasimi name sunk to an
unprecedentedly low level. In private life the Shaikh was weak, miserly, and
uxorious: in public business he was apathetic and seemed incapable of exertion
He alienated his subjects and former Bedouin adherents by indifference to their
grievances and requests; and he forfeited the respect of the other Trucial Shaikhs
by his general insignificance, both as a man and as a ruler. In his personal relations
with British olFicers Shaikh Saqar always showed himself friendly and well-disposed-
but, from indolence, he was sometimes remiss in enforcing the just claims of
British subjects; and on the occurrence of internal difficulties in his state, he
manifested too great a disposition to rely on the help of the British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ,
instead of grappling with them himself. In 1904 the general dissatisfaction of his
subjects with his rule found expression in a plot to depose Shaikh Saqar in favour
of his uncle, the ex-Shaikh Salim; but timely information enabled Shaikh Saqar
to frustrate the intrigue and Muhammad-bin-Khadim, one of the chief conspirators
was obliged, on escaping from custody, to seek refuge at Umm-al-Qaiwain. The
direct administration of the town of Sharjah was held, until his death about 1906
by Shaikh Saqar's son Rashid,—a young man who in character resembled his
father; and Ras-al-Khaimah was in 1907 still governed by Khalid, the only son
then surviving of the Shaikh.
Foundation
of Abu Dhabi
town. 1761.
Rulers down
to and includ
ing Shaikh
Muhammad,
deposed in
1818'.
Accession of
Shaikh Tah-
nfin. 1818.
ANNEXURE No. 2.—INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE ABU DHABI
PRINCIPALITY.
[pp. 763-772]
As in the case of Sharjah it appears advisable to devote a short separate
notice to the internal affairs of the Abu Dhabi principality, of which the external
history has been given in the preceding chapter.
Early history, 1761-1818.
The foundation of the town of Abu Dhabi is ascribed to the year 1761. The
surrounding country was then already occupied by the Bani Yas,—a land-faring
Bedouin tribe who, until the accidental discovery of water at the site of Abu
Dhabi town, where a small village of 20 houses now sprang up, had not apparently
a single permanent settlement upon the coast.
For information regarding the chiefs of the tribe at the time of the establish
ment ol the Abu Dhabi principality the reader is referred to the genealogical table
of the Bani Yas Shaikhs. Probably the last Shaikh to reside chiefly in the interior
was Dhiyab-bin-Isa, who in 1793 was murdered by his second cousin, Hazza'-bin-
Zaid. The death of Dhiyab was amply avenged by his son Shakhbut, for the young
Shaikh succeeded in putting to death no fewer than ten persons who had been
present at his father's assassination; and in 1795 Hazza', the actual murderer,
found himself obliged, from fear of a similar fate, to fly the country along with all
his supporters. Shaikh Shakhbut remained at the head of the tribe until 1816;
he was then deposed by his son Muhammad, who ruled for two years.
Shaikh Tahnun-bin-Shakhbut, 1818-33.
In 1818 Muhammad was expelled from Abu Dhabi by his brother Tahnun,—
an enterprise favoured by Shakhbut, the father of both, by a majority of the Bam
Yas tribe, and by the ruler of Masqat who afforded material assistance.*
Such is the account given by Lieutenant Hennell about 1831, see Bombay Selections, XXIK
page 464: but Lieutenant McLeod, writing in 1823, states that Tahnun was set up by the ruler
oi Masqat about 1821 in place of his father, his brother Muhammad at the same time taking
night Signature of the General Treaty of peace on behalf of Abu Dhabi was in any case performed
(on the 11th of January 1820) by Shaikh Shakhbut, who in 1833 was still alive; but it is certain
that in January 1823 Tahnun already held the sole power.