'File XVII/1 Naval Bases in the Gulf. Correspondence Concerning Above - Report by P.A. Muscat re. Sultan's Boundaries & Limit of Jurisdiction in Northern Oman' [‎43r] (86/96)

and inconvenient,.
(c. ) That, from and including the northern half of Dibba 3
round the Musandam promontory to Tibba on the Per
sian Gulf shore the country is under the control
oi* the Shihooh tribe, who, according to the ordinary
acceptation of the term,are independent,seeing that
they pay no tribute to anyone and manage their own
tribal affairs,but who nevertheless look towards
the Sultan of Muscat as a. friendly patriarch whose
subjects they are pleased to call themselves and
for whom they would probably fight if called upon,
(d.)That owing; f irstly^to the fact that in the course
of the protracted dispute regarding the sale df a
valuable pearl,which has figured in the last 3 An
nual. Administration Reports of this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , the
Sultan's rights over and through a Kumzar tribes
man were not disputed by the Pirate Coast Chiefs;
and, secondly,owing to the fact that for some years
past a Muscat representative,mainly ornamental
though he is,has resided at Khasab,the Sultan
would doubtless,if asked the direct question,claim
jurisdiction over the Maklab Isthmus,and the Ras
Musandam promontory.
On the whole however I repeat the opinion that His Highness'
so called jurisdiction is of such an ineffective and flimsy
nature that it would be possible for His Majesty's Govern
ment, if prepared to maintain their position either way a-
gainst outside argument, to recognize or ignore its exis
tence as may best suit our interests in these waters; for at
the present moment no other power can have at their disposal
the detailed information necessary to enable them to ques
tion any statement of the position which we may formulate.
They must either accept our exposition or prove an alter
native one,which they can hardly have the local knowledge
to attempt.
As