"ملف XVII/١القواعد البحرية في الخليج. مراسلات بخصوص ما ورد أعلاه - تقرير كتبه الوكيل السياسي في مسقط بشأن حدود السلطة القضائية للسلطان في شمال عُمان" [و‎‎٢‎٠] (٩٦/٣٩)

the Shaikh of that port. Shaikh Ali Mohamed however in
formed me that whereas circumstanoes obliged these members
of the tribe with the cognizance of the rest, to bow to
the Jowasmee nevertheless in an important matter affecting
the common interest they would join the majority and that
the Shihooh were in fact a united tribe.
(.6.) In the foregoing paragraphs I have furnished the most reliable
information that I am in a position to.obtain otherwise than from
the Sultan or his officials, I think therefore that it may be re
garded as a fairly correct statement of the situation but necessar
ily from a Muscat point of view. Briefly stated it appears from
the foregoing that the Sultan's jurisdiction extends effectively
only as far as Mureir; that from Mureir to Dibba (including how
ever only half of the port) there is reason to suppose that the
Shaikh of Shargeh may make good prescriptive claim to exercise
jurisdiction : that over the country from Dibba on to Ras Musendum
and thence round to Khasab and Bokha, the Sultan if asked would
probably claim rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction; and that
from Bokha to Shuarn the coast is mainly occupied by sections of the
Shihooh who for practical purposes at present recognize the autho
rity of the Shaikh of Ras el Khyma.
In conclusion, if I may presume to do so I would respectfully ex
press the opinion that as regards the Malcolm and Blphinstone in
lets on either side of Maklab and. the promontory of Ras Musendum
the exercise of the Sultan of Muscat's authority thereover is of
such a conveniently uncertain character that it would seem possible
for Her Majesty's Government to treat the question of its existence
according to the political exigencies of the moment. If we require
a base there it might be possible to explain to the Sultan that
his claim to assert his authority there or power to make it effects
is of such an unsubstantial nature that H.M.'s Government are un
able to recognize it,but regard the Shihooh (including the Kumazi-
rehj as independent tribes. I think this is in any case a measu
re with regard which Seyyid Beisal would not feel strongly seeing
that he derives no practical or pecuniary benefit from that part of
Oman and that he might be prevailed upon to cooperate with us in