'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summary' [‎27r] (53/206)

removed. Th^ Shrikh of Dubai and merchants in Bahrain and
Dubai have received similar reports from their contacts in
India regarding the removal of import restrictions on Gulf
pearls. Official confirmation of these reports has been
sought.
84. SLAVERY .
(i) Abduction of persons into slavery is taking place on a
small scale on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. but on a much larger scale from
Muscat and the Batinah Coast. The LI Bu Shamis and the Nai'm
still turn a blind eye to slave dealing in their territories,
and it is alleged that the Abu Dhabi Shaikhs in Buraimi afford
asylum to bedouin robbers and abductors. The incentive to this
trade is the presence in Buraimi of Saudi and Qatari slave traders
who pay high prices for abducted persons for re-sale in Saudi Arabia
Unless Saudi Arabia can be closed to this traffic there is little
hope of H.M.G. being able to stop it on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. especially
at this time of economic depression.
(ii) The Shaikh of Sharjah recently heard that two free women of
Sharjah had surrendered themselves into slavery and that they were
with the Beni Qitab a few miles from Sharjah. He brought them
to Sharjah and asked them whether they had really surrendered into
slavery of their own free will. They admitted having done so
because, they said, they were starving. He let them go with a
warning but it is reported that they have again surrendered
themselves into slavery.
(iii) Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid, Ruler of Ajman, recently
pursued two Harasis tribesmen who had kidnapped a woman from
Masfut and sold her in Buraimi. Reaching the Harasis encampment
in Buraimi he secured two Harasusis as hostages to be held until
the kidnapped woman was restored. The Harasis eventually brought
her back and handed her over to the Ruler of xijman, who released
the hostages. Shaikh Saqr bin Sultan, Chief of the Nai'm of
Buraimi, who is on bad terms with and is very frightened of the
Ruler of Ajman, happened to be out in his newly purchased Ford
pick-up with a guard of 18 men. When he reached Dhank he
learned that the Shaikh of Ajman was camping in the vicinity.
He immediately turned back and was driven with such precipitate
haste that he broke two springs of his truck and had to abandon
it and return to Buraimi by camel.
85. Mr. WILFRED THESIGER .
Reference para 74(i) of Intelligence Summary No. 5
Mr. Wilfred Thesiger left Abu Dhabi for 'Buraimi on the
1st April, by camel. He is not now proceeding to Muscat as
originally planned.
86 . QaTAR SURVEYS .
H.M.S.''Challenger" has undertaken a number of surveys off
the East Coast of the Qatar Peninsula and has notf, left for the
summer. Captain R.Southern, R.N., has written to the Political
Agent to place on record his appreciation of the co-operative
attitude shown by Qataris during the surveys. In other parts
of the Gulf in previous years the temporary marks which the
"Challenger" placed ashore were often removed but in Qatar none
of these marks was ever interfered with. At his request, the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. has written to His Excellency the Ruler of Qatar
and expressed Captain Southern's appreciation.
87. A ID FOR PALESTINE .
(i) Reference para 72(iii) of Intelligence Summary No. 5.
His Highness Shaikh Salman has been considering a
suggestion that 10$ of the proceedings of the forthcoming Spring
Race Meeting should be devoted to the Palestine Fund. He Hno
however