'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎9r] (22/180)

4?
all Arabs hailing from the western coast of the 'Oman promontory. It was the
decline of the Persian influence in the Gulf after the death of Nadir Shah that in
the end brought the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. upon the general scene. From their first appearance
abroad their energy was directed to exploiting the nearer parts of the Persian coast
and to promoting or opposing the policy of their neighbour, the Imam of 'Oman,
as their interests at the moment might happen to dictate.
On the decease of Nadir Shah in 1747, Mulla 'Ali Shah, who under the late
sovereign had been Governor of Bandar 'Abbas and its dependencies and Darya
Baigi or Admiral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , finding himself pressed with demands for
tribute from more than one quarter and threatened by Nasir Khan, the hereditary
ruler of Lar, secured the aid ot the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , with whose Shaikh—apparently
Rashid-bin-Matar—he seems to have allied himself by giving him a daughter in
marriage. In 1758 Mulla 'Ali Shah with vessels from Hormuz, came to the
assistance ot the Qasimi Shaikh against the Imam of Masqat 5 but no actual
collision occurred between the opposing forces. In 1759, as related in the chapter
on the General History ot the Gult, the crews of some Arab vessels, subjects of
the Qasimi Shaikh, who were supposed to be cruising against Mir Mahanna, the
piratical chieltain of Rig at the northern end of the Gulf, created a disturbance
at Bandar 'Abbas and inflicted serious injuries on the servants of the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
there, for which no reparation was afforded by the Persian Deputy-Governor of
the place. In June 1760 the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , who appear in the meantime to have
obtained a footing at Qishm and Laft on the island of Qishm and also at Lingeh
and Shanas on the coast of the mainland to the westwards, assisted Mulla 'Ali
Shah to seize the town of Bandar 'Abbas; but, being unable to dislodge a garrison
which held the fort for the Khan of Lar, they again withdrew; on this occasion
their strength was estimated at 1,000 men, and they were commanded by Shaikh
Rashid in person. The Khan of Lar replied with demonstrations against Lingeh
and Ras-al-Khaimah, but he found both places too strong and too well prepared to
be seriously attacked; he succeeded, however, in devastating the island of Qishm.
In 1761 Mulla 'Ali Shah brought over the Arabs of Ras-al-Khaimah to help him
in an attack on Hormuz, where his family were kept prisoners in the fort by the
inhabitants of the place and by the Bani Ma'in Arabs; two assaults were made,
but both failed. In the course of these disturbances vessel from Masqat, carrying
2,400 bags of rice and a " Leaguer of Arrack " for the British Factory An East India Company trading post. at Bandar
'Abbas, was seized by the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , and the rice was appropriated by Mulla 'Ali
Shah, who seems, however, to have made restitution. Early in 1763 a tripartite
peace was arranged between the Bani Ma'in on the one side and the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima.
and Mulla 'Ali Shah on the other; among the conditions were the definite
assignment to the Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah of a ship named the ^ Rahmani,"
of which he had taken possession, and an equal division of the revenues of Qishm
Island among the parties.
Karlm Khan, Zand, in establishing his power over the south of Persia
appointed Shaikh 'Abdullah of the local tribe or family of the Bani Ma'in to
be ruler over Bandar 'Abbas, Hormuz and Qishm; and this Shaikh succeeded
about 1765, in expelling the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. and other intruders from his dominions, and
was able during his lifetime to keep them at a distance.
. , th e ^ r expulsion from Persia the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. had generally been at war
with the Imam Ahmad of 'Oman, who apparently claimed, yet was unable to
entorce, a species of suzerainty over them. Afterwards, when the policy of Karim
Khan appeared to threaten the independence of the Arabian littoral generallv
they formed a temporary alliance with the Imam; and in 1773 two Persian aallivats
belonging to Bandar 'Abbas were destroyed by the 'Omani fleet, assisted^by that
J vl 6 H° rmGz Shaikh, the Masqat vessels retiring thereafter to Ras -al-Khaimah.
In 17/5, however, the Qasimi Shaikh and the Imam were again at war between
themselves; and the Shaikh, relying on his personal resources alone did not
scruple to seize Bushehr vessels on the plea that the cargoes belonged to subjects
of the Imam. In 1870 their relations were still hostile.
In or about 1777 Shaikh Rashid resigned the headship of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. in
tavour of his son Saqar, and the latter sought escape from the extreme isolation
of his position by marrying a daughter of Shaikh 'Abdullah of Oishm and so
adjusting his differences with the Ma'lni family.
Establish
ment of the
Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. on
the Persian
coast and
islands.
1750-65.
Expulsion of
the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima.
from Persia
about 1765.
Relations
with the
Iman of
'Oman,
1750-80.
Accession of
Shaikh Saqar-
bin-Rashid
at Ras-al-
Khaimah,
about 1777.