'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎756] (899/1782)

75C
Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar, 1803-66.
Governors
Rag-al-
Khaimah and
Sharjah,
1803-04.
reactance and , In or about 1803 Shaikh Saqar was succeeded by his son Sultan,
character of ^ ^ was destiued 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 extendinop over two
Shaikh generations and to witness, it might almost be said, the whole process
Sultan-bin- of change from barbarism to civilisation in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The
aqar. internal events of his Shaikhship are less known as well as less important
than the external already related; and it is even uncertain whether
after the restoration to him of Ras-al-Khaimah in 1820, he resided chiefly
at that place or at Sharjah. Till the end of his life he was indifferently
described as u Shaikh of Sharjah " and Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah >
auu. the direct administration of both towns appears to have been
ordinarily carried on by a near relation acting under his orders, and not
by himself personally. According to a general consensus of opinion
le leading characteristic of Shaikh Sultan was his duplicity, which
even by other Arabs was regarded as phenomenal. In his later life
is peculiarity in this respect had become so notorious that he was
thoroughly distrusted by all, and his " machinations seldom produced,
* omparatively speaking, any evil consequences.^
During the earlier years of his rule Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar generally
emp 03 ed his brothers, and of a later period his sons, as his representatives
p . char £ e of the towns of Ras-al-Khaimah and Sharjah.
Kas-ai-Khaimah was governed in 1823 by Muhammad-bin-Saqar, a
r ^.i ? r . 0 , f^kh Sultan ; and he may have remained in office there
A S 1 '• whi, h 0CCUJT ed at some time prior to 1845. Before
0 / oi irS -i ^^^ r j a h town were guided by Salih-bin-Saqar,
ano ei o Shaikh Sultan's brothers, who, though his mother had
fen a s a\ e, w as one of the most intelligent and enlightened Arabs of
ls ay ujx)n the Trueial coast; his deposition in 1838 in favour of
aqar, e son of Shaikh Sultan bv a Qasimi wife, was consequently
much regretted by the British political authorities. '
• f • ^ 11 . a t the instigation of Shaikh Maktum of Dibai, a restless and
n ri^uing c nef, 8aqar-bin-Sultan made an effort, which was for a short
U i 8 ime 6 Y e ^f ^ cas ^ the authority of his father and to rule the
father, 1840. , ^ 0 harjah as an indejx^ndent priucipalitv; he obtained support
f ^ 7, - to re ^ llce the tax on pearl divers, which was then
1 y laikh Sultan at the rate of §7 per head annually. An appeal
o arms was at first threatened; but eventually Shaikh Sultan agreed,
oK-fo" mi £ C 1 ]^ C ^ an P ej t 0 accept an annual tribute from his son and to
1 * rom direct interference in the affairs of the port. In December
r»rino' 0 1 we%er ^ ^ lai kh Salih, the ex-governor of Sharjah, aud some other
ShaiL-f 11 f e - I1 | S j 0 town, disgusted at the influence which the
1 f 1 acquired over their new Shaikh banded themselves
Rnrnri^ 1 au en ^ t0 the usurpation; this they effectually did by
iimtlv "fT iai asleep and handing him over a prisoner to his
} ^ tn ed father. Shaikh Sultan then arranged to remove Saqar to
Rebellion of
Saqar-bin-
Saltan
•gainst bis