'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎191v] (393/1904)

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Now Haji Hassan Samaiyeh has no deed of authority from me giv ing Lim any
general power in regard to action which he might take respecting the lease, c. , ow
then has Haji Hassan the right thus to mention himseif only, without consui mg or
referring to his partners, of whom I am one ? I am in consequence obliged to ma e a
complaint on the subject to your honour, and it is tor your honour to issue Oiders.
Appendix 28.
Statement of Gu
Gulum Hassan states on solemn affirmation :—
I have been living on Abu Musa as caretaker ol gardens and ilocks for the last
twelve or fifteen years.
The following are the circumstances under which shots were fired by Sheikh Sagar 8
guards in connection with the arrival of Abdalla-bin-Hassan Samayieh in a,^ " ooom
(pattern of native craft) from Lingah. The vessel arrived about noon and dropped
anchor off the spot where the oxide is shipped from about 300 yards to the westward of
the heaps on the" seashore. A jolly-boat full of people put off from her after she had
anchored, and came towards the shore.
At this time there were only ten or fifteen men present out of Sheikh Sagar's
guard, the rest were over at the village. Some of those present were now on the
seashore in front of the oxide heaps and some above them on the rocks at the side.
Those on shore shouted to the people in the boat not to approach, but as she came
on one or two shots were fired from the rocks near the big oxide heap. They Were not
fired at the boat or dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. but in the air.
The German was in the boat, and at the time one Haji Ali, whom I understand to
be the German's clerk, was standing up in the bows of the boat ready to jump off as the
boat neared the shore, but I myself called out to him, " Don't attempt to land, as there
is no permission for it." I heard no answer. Then the guards on the shore called out,
" If you want to ask or see anything send a man ashore, he can see and go back "
Two negroes, whose names I do not know, then jumped into the water and swam
ashore. They only remained a few minutes. They were led up to the huts where
Sheikh Abdulla-bin-Ahmed bin-Sultan was—he was in charge of the guard from
Shargah—and they asked him what was the position of affairs and why had the shots
been fired. He replied, "We are ordered not to let anyone land ; if you don't like it go
and get permission from Sheikh Sagar." They then returned to the boat and the boat
to the boom.
As the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. did not show any signs of departing the guard feared she might be
ihtending to stay till dark and try and effect a landing, so about 4 p.m. they began
shouting to the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , warning her to be off. At this time there were waves and some
surf. Soon afterwards, I being in the huts at the time, I heard three or four shots fired
by our men, but 1 did not see what at.
The dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. then, I believe, moved from her place and went farther round to the
right, but I did not see any more of her myself.
Dated Abu Musa, February 17, 1908.
Statement of Mattur-bin-Shamhan.
Mattur-bin-Shamhan states on solemn affirmation :•—
I was one of the guard which Sheikh Sagai* sent over to Abu Musa and was
present on the occasion when shots were fired in connection with the presence there :
of a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. from Lingah. The dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. arrived about noon and anchored opposite the
oxide heaps on the shore. The guards who had gone over from Shargah were about
eighty in all. Of these about thirty were present at the oxide heaps Xvhen the boom
arrived. After she had anchored a rowing-boat put from her containing about ten .
persons. As they got near we recognised Abdalla-bin -Samayieh and a native clerk
of the Germans, who was known by sight to some of us. did not notice the German
himself.