"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٦‎٢‎٧] (١٧٨٢/٧٧٠)

of the poli
tical status
of Ruus-al-
Jibal, 1900-
05.
627
In 1900, as explained in tbe chapter on the General History of the Kecent im
Persian Gulf, the evident intention of other European powers to establish estimations
for themselves a naval position in the Gnlfs of Persia and 'Oman made
it unecessary to consider, from the British point of view, the naval situation
in those waters; and the promontory of Euus-al-J ibal figured largely in
the ensuing deliberations of the British and Indian Governments. The
practical results of the discussion find their appropriate place elsewhere j
but in this place the facts finally elicited in regard to the ownership
of the district may be placed on record.
In 1902 a voyage along the coast of Ruus-al-Jibal was made by
Major P. Z. Cox, then Political Agent at Masqat, chiefly for the pur
pose of ascertaining local opinion on the subject of jurisdiction. Major
Cox reported that the Shaikh of Lamah admitted, in the abstract, his
subordination to Saiyid Faisal-bin-Turki of Masqat and regarded the
Sultan's wishes as a law to him. The Dhahuriyin of Malcolm Inlet seemed
to recognise that the ruler of Masqat possessed at least a patriarchal
authority over them j and they added that, if any dispute should aiise
amongst themselves, they would appeal to the ^ Sultan to settle it. The
people of Kumzar unhesitatingly and unequivocally acknowledged the
sovereignty of the Sultan, not only over themselves but over the whole
Shihhi tribe, with the exception of a few who were said to be subject to
Ras-al-Khaimah * The Shihuh of the villages between Elphmstone Inlet
and the Ras-al-Khaimah border expressed friendly and loyal sentiments
towards Saiyid Faisal, and their Shaikh was in the habit of paying com
plimentary visits to the Sultan at Masqat. ^ On the other hand, xac s weie
observed by Major Cox which seemed to point to the enjoyment j } ie
inhabitants generally of practical independence; and Majoi Cox 0
opinion that, on the evidence obtained by him, it was open to t e n is
Government to regard Ruus-al-Jibal either as a district ot e man
Sultanate or as an autonomouB tract.
The 20th of November 1903 was spent by Lord Curzon, Viceroy oi
India, while on tour in the Persian Gulf, with the Naval Commander-in-
Chief Vice-Admiral Atkinson-Willes, in an examination ot the inlets
and coast of Ruus-al-Jibal; but no opportunity occurred in the comse ut
this short visit for a satisfactory investigation of the political position ot
any of the villages.
In March 1905 the present writer, partly with a view to supple
menting Major Cox's enquiries by ascertaining w a (-pinion a.
ownership of Ruus -al-Jibal prevailed in a neighbouring i , P
visit to Sharjah, where a meeting, attended by the ^h^
himself, by an intelligent Shihhi, and by various 0 er wt „ . ^
was held it the housed the Residency Agent for ^^ es \ nVe ^
gating this and other points of geographical an po i i j acee U p 0n
the assembly it was stated, with absolute unanimi y, , p t 0 f
the sea between Sha'am and Dibah, in other words
Ruus-al-Jibal, belonged to Masqat; and no difference of status in
interior was suggested.
♦Probably tbe Sbihub of Sba'am, GhalUab
the Riiua-al-Jibal district, ind whose position as tp
never been doubtful. 49 A