File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎202r] (418/494)

Mekran.
Some four or five years ago the Customs authorities at the Resident’s sugges
tion arranged that a percentage of Customs receipts should be paid to certain
Khans at Charbar to encourage them to look on the Customs Department with
a more favourable eye. The Khans were three in number, Islam Khan (whose
share has since been taken by Hussain Khan), Mir Mahmud Khan and Mir
Din Mohamed Khan, who received the amount in equal shares. Suddenly,
however, about the 20ih August Mir Din Mohamed demanded all of this
allowance and threatened the Assistant Superintendent, Telegraphs, with all
sorts of things if he did not get what he wanted. These threats caused con
siderable alarm locally so the Senior Naval Officer proceeded to Charbar in
H. M. S. “Cyclamen” and having arrived there on the 28th August
send an invitation to Mir Din Mohamed to come on board and discuss matters
which he agreed to do.
At first it was thought that the only foundation for Mir Din Mohamed’s
claim was that he had become the strongest local Khan, but on further enquiry
being made it transpired that he is the only Khan who adds to the Customs
receipts from the ports which he controls, the others being too weak to extract
any of the receipts from the collectors whom they themselves have appointed.
After some discussion on board he expressed his willingness to accept 60 per
cent, of the Customs subsidy, and this proposal has been recommended to the
Customs Authorities by the Resident. It has also been suggested that the
payments to the other Khans should be suspended pending fulfilment of their
obligations.
Unconfirmed reports have been received during the month of the ship
ments of 25 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition from the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and
Oman to Mekran.
ARABIA.
Maskat.
Sayid Nadir bin Faisal, President of the Council of Ministers, left for
Khasab by the S S. “ Barpeta” on the Idth to settle a long standing dispute
between two sections of Shihuh tribes who refused to appear before the VYali.
He v as accompanied by his brother, the Wall of Khasab, and one Indian j
Officer and 24 men of the Maskat Levies. »
Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .
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, Shargah, reported in July that fighting was in pro
gress at Rams between the Sheikh of Ras-al-Khaikah and the Shihuh tribes
men under the Chiefs of Dibah and Bakhah. As this fighting appeared likely
to have a detrimental effect on the pearl diving industry as the divers would be
prevented from proceeding on their legitimate work it was considered advisable
for the Senior Naval Officer in H.M.S. “ Cyclamen ” to pay an early
visit to Rams, and he arrived there on the 18th July.
On arrival he "was informed by 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 that a truce had been
arranged about a week previously, but that a fresh complication had arisen
owing to the murder of the Headman of Rams by a man who was very inti
mate w ith the Sheikh of Ras-al-Khaimah with the result that the natural
inference was drawn that the latter had instigated the murder. The two
brothers of the murdered man and their followers then took refuge in three
forts outside Rams and proceeded to defy the Sheikh.
After much delay and negotiation the Senior Naval Officer, through 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, succeeded in persuading both parties to meet in conference
on board H. M. S. “Cyclamen” and eventually an agreement was concluded
between them wffiereby Sheikh Sultan of Ras-al-Khaimah on his part under-
took to do no harm to the brothers and to recognize one of them, Mohamed bilk
Salih, as Amir of Rams ; and the brothers of their part undertook to serve and