مجموعة ٣٠/١١٤ "تقارير إجراءات السُفُن البريطانية." [و‎‎٥‎٧‎٨] (١٢٠٣/١١٥٥)

I told the man that if the Persian Tax collector made
another demand, he was to he told again that owners of lard
on that (the British) side of the "boundary va?e not subject
to Persian taxes, and that if necessary tne tax collector
should apply to Teheran.
Musa f s estate is just inside the boundary, the latter
being well defined at that point.
* *
THURSDAY. 6th DECEiv'IBER.
10. We arrived Dibah at 0830 and the Sheikh being
away at Kalba, his representative came on board. He had
nothing whatever to report, so after the usual ceremony
he was shown round the ship.
His call was returned immediately afterv/ards.
11. As the Shaikh 1 s representative was about to
depart, a large negro (who : foimed one of the Sheikhas
boat T s crew) came inboard and spoke to the Sheikh^
representative. After a whispered consultation the lat
ter came forward and told me the man was a slave who had
escaped from Debai and wanted to be repatriated at Muscat.
I investigated the matter and as the case appeared
genuine I told the slave he could come on board. ~ (I
intended to transfer him to FOWEY).
But the man said there were two others who had also
escaped with him,that he did not want to come without them,
and that they were waiting on the beach.
He was told to bring them off as soon as possible
as the ship was about to sail, and landed with the
Sheikh T s representative.
Meanwhile the return call was paid ashore and as, two
hours later, there was no sign of anyone coming off, i
left without them.
On meeting FOWEY the next day I told the Captain aboit
these slaves and requested him to consider their embarka
tion if he went to Dibah.
* *
MONDAY. 10th DECELBEi,.
19. We arrived at Atu DhaDi at 0930. The inter
preter lanaed and accompanied the Sheihhoff to call on me.
The.Sheikh was extremely friendly. Vie discussed the
recent visit to Ahu Dhabi of LUPIN with the Political
Agent, Bahrein. I was under the impression that the
Sheikh had been led to believe that the recent visit was
in connection with (amonst other matters) the discovery
of water. However the Sheikh infomed me that the
geologist had been seeking oil, and he also asked me if
I knew whether any had been found in Yas and laimah
Islands after they left Abu Dhabi. I replied truthfully
that I didn’t know.
The Sheikh was saluted on leaving, and I returned his
call at 1700 by arrangement.