'ARBITRATION CONCERNING BURAIMI AND THE COMMON FRONTIER BETWEEN ABU DHABI AND SA'ŪDI ARABIA' [With maps] [‎109v] (223/541)

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[p. 220 ].
[p- 221],
[p. 222 ],
[p. 223],
4 th The chief of Lingar is nominal head of most of the Villages up to Magoo
is the near relation of Sultan bin Suggur, and after him and his family the chief
of the Joasmees; at all times Shaick Saed bin Gareeb takes an active and prompt
part in all the quarrels on the coast, he is appealed to by all, and his influence
is very great; last year he it was who effected the arrangement with Shaick
Sultan and his son when the latter seized Sharga, and which ended in adding
another Shaick on the coast to increase our troubles. On the late occasion of
the expected attacks by Khalifa, about one hundred armed men were sent in two
boats from Lingar to Sharga, while three times that amount were kept ready
to be transported should Sultan bin Suggur or his son require them, and these
boats and men met any of the Abothubbee Vessels on the sea, not being bound
by any Treaty or Members of the Truce, they would certainly have taken so
good an opportunity to attack them and this would have brought on an open
war on the sea, for I hardly think the Truce would be binding on the Beni Yass
in such a case or even in their preventing succours going to their enemies, from
parties and members of the Truce.
5 th As we have now no relations with the Persian Government, and if the
above is not checked we shall most likely be involved in difficulties, I respectfully
suggest that the chief of Lingar should either be placed under our control or else
forbid under penalties to meddle with coast affairs, as he may himself, or by
him, Sultan bin Sugger and others may cause as much annoyance. In the mean
time I have pending instructions from you notified to Sultan bin Sugger and
the chief of Lingar that until I hear from you I shall seize any boat I find on the
coast armed and manned beyond what is usual in Trade, as enemies and send
them to Kargh for your decision, I feel convinced that nothing but prompt
measures can check the evil likely to come out of this active part taken by the
Lingar chief in the affairs of the Arabian Coast. Another strong ground is, we
have entered into treaties with the chiefs of this coast to put down the slave
trade in certain limits, and having Sumallee slaves is prohibited by this treaty,
by means of Lingar so far as Rass-ul-Khyma Sharga and their Dependencies
this is avoided; this yeat I am informed by the Agent that a Bugallou belonging
to Sharga, Moota bin Furich Nacoda and Owner went to Babarrah and brought
from thence slaves among which were ten female Sumallees, this boat when on
her return to Lingah, three of these girls were sent to Magoo, two or three to
Rass-ul-Khyma, the rest to Sharga; Sultan bin Suggur the Chief is well aware
of these facts. Again the brother of Abdallah bin Rashid of Amulgaveen brought
two in his Bugallou and many more are purchased from Lingah [1] and places on
the Batnah coast. A few years back there was no direct slave trade on this coast,
they bought from Muscat and other places, such as they required™ now it is in
a most flourishing state; and all the inland tribes supplied ; [8] this year six or
eight vessels went and more than three or four hundred slaves have been brought
to this coast direct, besides, nearly as many more from Lingah. 1 2 * [4] 5 A man of
Rass-ul-Khyma named Abdullah bin Hussain in his Bugallou brought three
Sumallees, this is also known to Sultan bin Sugger, the truth is, Lingah serves
now as a port to cover the slave trade as it did in former times to secure the
plundered property—to show the fallacy of the chiefs aiding in putting down
the slave trade Ibrahim bin Sultan the Chief of Rass-ul-Khyma’s son and Said
bin Rashid brother to the chief of Amulgaveen are this year the two principal
traders.
6 th In conclusion few now living know these people so well as myself I have
known personally, and with much intimacy the Elder chiefs for a quarter of a
Century and more™ while the younger ones I have known from their childhood.
I know their feelings and that of their people, and it is from this I feel myself
called on to point out an evil easily checked while in the bud, but which will be
a work of difficulty if allowed to go on.
7 th I have in virtue of the 3 rd Article of the Treaty with the Arab chiefs
demanded the Sumallee slaves, also those who brought them to the place; the
parties being absent are to be at my disposal on my return from Muscat. The
not enforcing \sic\ Sir W. G. Keirs Treaty, the intent of which was, the Arabs
(1) Kargah struck through, Lingah interlined.
(2) such as they required interlined.
(3 ' and all the inland tribes supplied interlined.
^ Lingah followed by principally, which is struck through.
(5) and more interlined.