"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٧‎٢‎٦] (١٧٨٢/٨٦٩)

726
and sealed by the Trucial Shaikhs in the presence of Haji 'Abdur
Rahman, the Residency Agent at Sharjal) ; and of Haji ^Abdul Qasim,
Residency Munshi, who had been s]>ecially deputed from Bushehr to
explain to the Shaikhs the views and wishes of the Resident; it provided
that in future every runaway of the class in question should be at once
surrendered ; that, if on the contrary he were harboured, the harbouring
chief should be liable to a fine of ^ 50, or in case of the absconder being
allowed to proceed to the pearl banks to a fine of $100, besides incurring
liability for the just debts of the runaway ; that the facts, if disputed,
should be settled by a Majlis or council of arbitration ; and, finally, that
no fine should be enforced without the approval of the British Resident.
Ihe Government of India were at first apprehensive lest the new
system, by unduly increasing the power of the Shaikhs over their
subjects, should lead to oppression j but Colonel Ross was able to assure
them that, under the patriarchal form of government which prevailed,
cases of genuine oppression were rare, and that the system was not
likely to be abused. Experience has now fully demonstrated both the
justness of this view and the beneficial tendency of the Agreement. *
Relations of TruciarOman with the Wahhabis, etc., 1853-92.
Wahh&bi mi
intrigues. 1 he power of the V\ ahhabi agent in Trucial 'Oman, though his
presence was not at once removed, had fallen to a low point; and,
baying no longer any material force at his command, he was reduced
maintaining his position by petty intrigues and by playing off one
Shaikh against another.
1854. In 1854 Ahmad the Sadairi, who at this titne was still the representa
tive of the Wahhabi Government in Baraimi, was reported to be making
a laudable use of his influence to restrain the Trucial Shaikhs froln
wanton aggressions on one another 3 and he had even, on the Shaikh of
Abu Dhabi declining to hold himself responsible for the conduct of the
Manasir, organised a successful expedition against that predatory tribe.
1865. In 1855 on the contrary, in a difficulty which occurred between
a colony of Shihuh at Hamriyah and the Shaikh of Sharjah, the
suzerain of that place, reason was found for suspecting that the VVahhahi
agent had encouraged the rebellion with a view to the eventual creation
^ pied a terre for himself up on the Trucial seaboard. In this project
* The teXt of tbe Anneiure No. 7 to this Chapter.