'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎54v] (119/1904)

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matter bolweoH, us, <ind in that case we should not he called to account in the
event of our attacking one another. I leave the matter to your disposition."
In reply the Sheikh was informed that if either unity broke the maritime peace
he would be promptly repressed. "
About this time the Sheikhs of Ras-el-Khaima aud Debai also complained to the
Resident against Sheikh Salim's violation of the Agreement, guaranteed as it had been
by themselves.
On the 14th February following Sheikh Sagar again wrote to the .Resident,
politely urging that it was all very well for him to say that whoever broke the
maritime peace, would be repressed, but reminding him that Abu Musa was his—
Sheikh Sagar's property—a hereditary appanage of Shargah. He added
^ If Salim wants to live there and guarantees that he will not commit anything
which would interfere with my affairs, or disturb the maritime peace, so be it; but I
cannot dispense with this island, which is of the greatest use to me. I beg, theie-
fore, that you will plainly write to me on the subject, and likewise instruct vour
agent." '
On this letter was recorded an office note to the following effect; —
■' Sheikh Sagar seems to insist that if Salim continues to live on Bu Musa he
should give a guarantee through the Resident that he will not do anything to disturb
him, Sheikh Sagar, or the maritime peace."
On the 5th April Sheikh Sagar wrote the Hesident another letter pressing for a
reply to the above. Tie added that he had communicated his precise object in writing
to 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, who would explain it. This was that now that spring had
arrived he wished to send his horses as usual for grazing, and was not sure whether
hheikh Salim would leave them and their caretakers in peace. If the Resident would
not allow him to make his own arrangements for ensuring safety of life and property
on the island he wanted an assurance from 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. that his stud would not be
molested by Sheikh Salim.
Sheikh Salim, however, who was now getting into financial straits, solved
the difficulty himself. He made an appeal to 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. alleging that Sheikh
Sagar and the guarantors of the Agreement of 1883 had not stood by the terms of it;
that they had taken away the State horses which as Sheikh of Shargah he had with
him on the island when his nephew ousted him from the Sheikhdom, that he, Sheikh
Salim, had had to sell all he possessed to maintain himself and now had nothing left,,
and that he had now come to beg his nephew to provide him with the wherewithal
for a bare living. He declared that if he got this he would remain in peace and
quietude. Finally he begged our Agent to intercede for him, and to induce Sheikh
Sagar to act up to the Agreement.
By the advice of 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. Sheikh Sagar, who had found the
600 dollars somewhat too much for his purse, consented to pay his uncle a reduced
allowance of 400 dollars annually, half of which only was to be paid in cash and the
other half in grain and other articles. He also promised to assign to Sheikh Salim
the revenue of the Island of Sir Abu Nuair, which contained some salt deposits and
was expected to bring in about 200 dollars more. A document in the above sense
was drawn up at a meeting at Ajman and there ratified. When reporting the
conclusion of this Agreement 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 mentioned that Sheikh Salim was
at present going on a visit to Ras-el-Khaima and that his family would spend the hot
weather there and the winter on Abu Musa. Things went on smoothly after this for
a time, but the two Sheikhs eventually got at loggerheads again and in April 1889
our Agent reported that Salim had endeavoured to raise an attack on Shargah. On
getting wind of his uncle's intentions Sheikh Sagar, as usual, asked the advice of the
British Agent and the latter soon succeeded in bringing about a friendly meeting
between the two resulting in the framing of a third Agreement in supercession of the
preceding ones. This was to the following effect; Sheikh Sagar bound himself to pay
his now aged uncle the 400 dollar pension regularly and to permit him to return to
the mainland of Oman and to live where he pleased within certain limits. He also
offered to take Sheikh Salim into his service as Yizier or chief adviser and to consult
him in all matters affecting the interests of the State.. Sheikh Salim in turn under
took to serve his nephew in obedience and loyalty.
No mention was made of Sir Bu Nuair in this Agreement because it had hitherto
disappointed previous expectations and had not brought in anything.