'A Précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of 'Arabistan By Lieutenant A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎61v] (127/143)

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a space of two years from the date of this agreement to grant them land not
exceeding one hundred jaribs in area, at the same moderate rate. If the said
Company ask for more land after two years from the date of this agreement,
they shall pay rental at the fair current rate of the time for similar land in
those localities. a. +1
3 The Shaikh further undertakes to grant free of charge to the bom-
pany a strip of land for the laying of such pipe-lines as may be necessary,
above or below ground, situated in his lands or in those lands for the time
being under his jurisdiction, or leased or purchased by him from others, with
access thereto: and also to grant free, in connection with the said pipe-line,
such uncultivated land as may be needed by them for telegraph or telephone
stations, or pumping stations, or quarters for line inspectors and stan, having
an area of three jaribs for each pumping station, and one and a halt jaribs
for each of the other stations. # .
It is to be understood that at the expiration of the concession, or oi any
extension or renewal thereof, the Company shall relinquish every pumping or
other station that may be erected on these lands, and shall not be entitled to
demand any refund of expenses in this connection.
It is agreed that in places where the pipe-line is exposed, guards shall be
appointed. Further, that the Shaikh will exert himself to the utmost to pre
vent the wilful setting fire to oil in the pipe. In the event of such a contin
gency occurring he will endeavour to the utmost of his power to trace and
punish the offenders and, if they possess anything, to recover compensation,
but the Shaikh does not accept personally any pecuniary liability tor loss
which may accrue to the Company from this cause, and will not pay compen
sation.
4. The Shaikh further undertakes to hire te the Company an area or
areas, aggregating ten jaribs at Ahwaz and Nasiri, having frontage on the
eastern bank (edge) of the River Karun, for the storage of material and
building of storehouses, and such other buildings as are needed for the Com
pany’s business, at a rate of one pound sterling per jarib per annum, i.e., that
the yearly amount of the rent thereof will be ten pounds sterling.
The Company have power to select a site or sites on the eastern edge of
the Karun, located opposite the island in the river, upstream from the garden
adjacent to the landing place used by steamers plying on the Upper Karun.
Should the Company find the ground selected as above, after further examin
ation, not suitable for their requirements, they shall have the right to select
other sites of the same area and description : and whatever buildings there
shall be on these areas shall be left by the Company on the expiry of the lease
or of any extension or renewal thereof and they are not entitled to demand any
refund of expenses in this connection. ^ .
5. In order that the Company may be satisfied that it has received from
the Shaikh good and sufficient title to these lands, and that no one in future
can put forward any claim in regard to the lands, the Shaikh undertakes for
the complete validity thereof to cause this document to be signed and sealed
by the elders of his tribes.
6. The Shaikh further undertakes to appoint watchmen for the efficient
guarding of the property of the Company in each district situate ^within his
territories which the pipes may be laid or in which the Company’s property
may be exposed to possible loss : the salary of such watchmen to be paid by the
Company themselves. He will furnish the representative of the Company
with the names of his own representatives : so that on the representative of
the Company on the spot preferring a request, the Shaikh will instruct his
representatives to detail trustworthy men for the work.
Any changes in the personnel of the representatives of the Shaikh will be
intimated to the representative of the Company in due course.
7. So long as the Shaikh guarantees the guards employed by the Com
pany, he undertakes to recover any property stolen by the said guards them
selves, or by reason of their connivance and in the event of non-recovery, to
compensate the Companv for the loss sustained. ^ In the case of theft under
other circumstances, or of any wilful damage being done to the pipe-line or
tanks thereof, or any other property belonging to the Company the Shaikh