'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎52r] (108/180)

93
The combinations among the chiefs of Trucial 'Oman to which this crisis gave
rise are described in the general history of that region.
The reason, or at least the pretext, of the headman of Fujairah for his revolt
was, as subsequently explained by himself, that Shaikh Saqar-bin-Sultan had in
the first instance failed to obtain redress for the robbery of certain natives of Lingeh,
residing at Fujairah, by 'Awamir and Bani Qitab Bedouins; and that, when Hamad
in these circumstances had sought the good offices of the Shaikh of Dibai, the
Shaikh of Sharjah, taking offence at his action, had employed the Mazari' and
Jalajilah Bedouins to harass Fujairah and had obliged the Jalajilah to divert their
trade from Fujairah to the port of Ghallah.
In April 1902, Shaikh Saqar-bin-Khalid having asembled a body of 250 Intervention
Bedouins for an attack on Fujairah, and a disposition having appeared on the of the Briti sh
part of the Shaikhs of Dibai and 'Ajman to assist Hamad-bin-'Abdullah, the ^thSies
attention of the British Resident, Colonel Kemball, was directed to the dispute '1902
with a view to its settlement. A visit was paid to Fujairah by Major Cox, then
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Masqat, before whom Hamad contended that the agreement
executed by him in 1881 did not apply to his own village of Fujairah and seemed
loth to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Shaikh of Sharjah in any shape or form;
the Shaikh of Dibai was warned to desist from interference; and the Sultan of
'Oman, Saiyid Faisal-bin-Turki, was restrained from affording support which the
headman of Fujairah had gone in person to Masqat in order to procure.
Such was the position of affairs when Colonel Kemball directed the 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.
Agent at Sharjah to take steps to assemble a board of conciliation. The Shaikh of
Sharjah, though he declared his inability to restrain Bedouins from attacking
Fujairah, was at this time willing to accept a general decision by the Resident
between himsdf and Hamad-bin-'Abdullah, and he granted a safe-conduct to enable
his adversary to appear at Sharjah. The headman of Fujairah, on the other hand,
would agree to no such compromise; he declined to attend the meeting at Sharjah
and was obviously resolved not to submit to any settlement; and it was suspected
that he was encouraged in his purpose of resistance by the Shihuh of Bai'ah and
even by the Wall of Sohar in the 'Oman Sultanate. In October 1902 Saiyid Turki
of Masqat, at the instance of the British political authorities, sent orders to the
Shihuh of Bai'ah to refrain from countenancing Hamad-bin-'Abdullah; but in the
meantime Shaikh Saqar-bin-Khalid had repented of his own conciliatory attitude,
and in November he caused two inhabitants of Fujairah to be murdered by the
way as they were returning from 'Ajman to their homes.
In December Mr. Gaskin, Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain, was sent to the
spot in the R.I.M.S. " Lawrence " to effect an accommodation, if possible; Shaikh
Saqar joined him on board at Sharjah on the 27th of December, and on the 28th
the vessel reached the coast opposite Fujairah. Two days were spent in
negotiations: but the demeanour on shore of Hamad-bin-'Abdullah's armed
followers was almost threatening, and the attempt at mediation had to be
abandoned.
In these circumstances the Government of India decided that there was no need
to interfere between the disputants, provided that it was clearly understood by both
that the peace at sea must not be disturbed; and they were consequently left to
pursue their own measures one against the other.
In April 1903 the Shaikh of Sharjah sent an expedition against Fujairah which Further
reached Bithnah; and it was reported that Hamad-bin-'Abdullah, though again events, 1903.
assisted by the Shaikh of Bai'ah, had been obliged to sue for peace, to admit his
vassalage, and to enter into a provisional agreement; but the settlement was nominal
only and made no real change in the situation. In his address to the Trucial Shaikhs
at the 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). held at sea off Sharjah in November 1903, Lord Curzon referred to
the Fujairah case and counselled an amicable agreement; but his exhortation fell
on unheeding ears.
Early in 1903, in connection with measures for securing the naval position of Recognition
Great Britain in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , it was decided by His Majesty's Government, of
in accordance with recommendations by the Government of India, that the Shamailiyah
Shamailiyah district from Dibah to Khor Kalba should be regarded as belonging to ^ the Britlsh
the Shaikhdom of Sharjah. not as an independent principality nor as connected
with the Sultanate of 'Oman. ' to the 8
Sharjah
Shaikhdom.
1903.
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