'Annual Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the Year 1874-75.' [‎49v] (6/46)

2 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
The year may be said to have passed tranquilly, and with the exeeption
of the re-occupation of Lahsa by the Turks and events preceding 1 it that
took place in the vicinit}^ of Bahrein, but little of importance has occur
red in the Gulf itself. Duty required the Resident's presence on the
Oman Coast during 1 a great portion of the hot weather, and in the
autumn an official tour was made to Bahrein, Bassidore, Lingah, and
the ports of the Arab Coast by the Resident, accompanied by the 2nd
Assistant Resident.
The Civil Surgeon's Annual Report is submitted separately.
Official Changes.
Major Grant, the 1st Assistant Resident, left for England on the
8th May.
Mr. Edwards has been acting as 1st Assistant Resident.
Lieutenant E. A. Eraser as 2nd Assistant Resident since the 2nd
September 1874.
Royal Nary Vessels.
The following Royal Navy Vessels served on the Gulf station and
elsewhere for various periods. Circumstances necessitated the detention
of the Magpie and Nimble for a long time on duty :—
Her Majesty's corvette Briton.
„ „ gun-boat Philomel.
>» >9 „ Rifleman.
» » „ Magpie,
n „ Nimble.
Disturbances on Tand.
The mania for fighting that seems to possess the Arab mind in
general appears to have lost none of its intensity among the warlike
Chieftains of the tract of country on the western shores of the Gulf, and
formerly known as the pirate coast, during the year under review. The
limits of this Report however do not permit, nor indeed would the
interest of the matter warrant, an account in detail of all the petty
skirmishes and engagements, the night attacks, and plundering raids,
that form the events of their guerilla-like system of warfare. It may
be well to lemark here that the dissensions which occur owe their origin
in most instances to pecuniary difficulties, whether arising out of claims
for the price of blood of murdered kinsmen or dependents, for the resti
tution of bankrupt refugees, for indemnification on account of miscel
laneous losses, or other causes; and that when money is forthcoming no
appeal to arms is made, always provided the cause of quarrel is such as
to be capable of adjustment by pecuniary payment.
During the year the Chiefs of Shargah, Ejman, and Ras -el-Khymah
maintained alliance against a coalition consisting of the Rulers of
Deb aye, Aboothabee, and Umm-el-K.eiwein, but though numerous expe
ditions were undertaken by the leaders of the contending forces the
bloodshed was trifling (as it is in all Arab battles compared with the
numbers engaged) and the results unsatisfactory, for no side was ever