'Memoirs and Recollections of An Officer of the Indian Political Service' [‎29r] (57/156)

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Trucial Sheikhdoms were poor and primitive, for their oil riches still remained to be
discovered, and their town capitals were no more than mud buildings and rudimentary
port installations. I seem to remember that, not being entitled to any statutory gun
salute, some of the minor Sheikhs were greeted by no more than a single courtesy
gun when they came on board to call. The Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. sloops of the R.N., then
numbered four - small all-purpose vessels, but ill-adapted to the heat of the Gulf;
they were not even air conditioned and accommodation was very restricted.
In the tiny ward-room we played interminable games of Monopoly - with the winner
scooping the pool, and having to pay for a round of drinks at 2d a glass for a pink
gin! This small naval presence in the Gulf was rendered essential to prevent the gun
running and traffic in slaves from the Arabian ports to the coasts of Persia and
Baluchistan. We stopped and boarded two suspicious-looking dhows, but the search
yielded nothing. On the last stage of our return trip between Bahrain and Bushire,
we ran into such a fierce northerly gale that the 'Bideford' only just made headway
against the seas. It gave me invidious pleasure in that, whereas most of the officers
and men were sea-sick, I survived.