File 3939/1926 Pt 6 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties. Persian Gulf Section.' [‎296r] (27/818)

2 ' ‘ 1 PERSIAN GULP, ' *
The last of the Persian ports within the limits of the Gulf is Bandar
'Abbas. This was held in farm by the rulers of Muscat from 1798 till
1853, when the Shah of Persia resumed possession of Bandar Abbas and
its ‘dependencies; but he restored them to Saiyid Said in 1856, though on
much less advantageous terms than formerly. The rent was raised from
6,000 to 16,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year, and the islands of Hormuz (Ormaz) and
Kishm, the hereditary possessions of the rulers of Muscat, were ceded to
Persia.*
On the death of Saiyid Thawaini and succession of his son Saiyid
Salim in 1866, the Persian Government appeared at first inclined to
renew the lease of Bandar Abbas to Saiyid Salim, but at an increased
rent and on the condition that his uncle Saiyid Turki should be appointed
Governor. Subsequently, however, on the ground that Saiyid Salim, as
grandson of Saiyid Said, could not continue to hold under a lease granted,
as it was alleged, only to Saiyid Said and his sons,t the Persian Govern
ment renewed the lease at an enhanced rate of 20,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in favour
of the former Arab Governor Shaikh Said, a relation of the Muscat
family, not as a representative of Muscat, but as a direct dependent of
Persia. Throughout the winter of 1867 Saiyid Salim was too much oc
cupied in securing himself in the government of Muscat to be able to give
his attention to the former dependencies of his family on the northern
chore of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Meantime Shaikh Said refused to pay the
balance of tribute due by him to Persia, and preparations were made for
coercing him. In April 1868, however, Saiyid Salim threatened to
blockade Bandar Abbas unless the lease was renewed to him; and, as
tthe Persian Government had no naval force, it solicited British inter-
ivention. The Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was accordingly instructed
fco negotiate for a renewal of the lease, and this was finally effected+ for
a period of eight years at a rent of 30,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . One of the condi-
jtions of the lease was that, if a conqueror obtained possession of Muscat,
the Persian Government was not to be bound by any conditions of the
covenant. Accordingly, on the expulsion of Saiyid Salim in October
1868 by Azan bin Kais (see Oman, part III of this volume), the lease
became null and void, and the Persian Government appointed Haji
Ahmad, formerly minister of Saiyid Salim, to the charge of Bandar
Abbas and its dependencies. In February 1870 Haji Ahmad was ex
pelled from Bandar Abbas by Shaikh Said, acting on the part of Azan
bin Kais, but subsequently regained his position. Since then the Per-
eian Government has declined to renew the lease of Bandar Abbas to the
ruler of Muscat.
* See Appendix No. II.
t The word in the original is “ Avlad,” which may also be translated ‘ des
cendants.’
t See Appendix No. III. 1