تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [و‎‎٦‎٦] (٦٠٢/١٣٦)

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1887-88.
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chiefs written assurances of their intention of maintaining the existing status, which it was
the object of Persian intrigue to disturb. Accordingly all the six chiefs, mentioned at the com
mencement of this section, addressed to me letters containing assurances to the British Govern
ment that they would neither correspond with, nor form engagements with, any other Foreign
Governments, and would not, without assent of the British Government, consent to admit to
reside in their territories, agents of any Government but the British.
11. In January last .Sirtip Haji Ahmed Khan, having supplied himself with a number of
Persian Government flags left Bushire on a special mission. On this occasion the Sirtip pro
ceeded in a native vessel to a place on the promontory called Kas-el-Bibal, or Cape Musendim
and desired to land, but was warned off by the Arab inhabitants. Subsequently, accompanied
by the Shaikh of Kishm and some armed men, he visited Umm-ul-Kawain, causing much excite
ment amongst the Arabs of that coast. Haji Ahmed gave out that his object in visiting 'Oman
again was of a personal nature, but his real purpose was no secret. He was utterly unsuccess
ful and returned in disappointment to Bunder Abbas. The Persian Minister, under whose orders
the Sirtip was acting, on being questioned by Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires, promptly and
positively disavowed all knowledge of the Sirtip's proceedings, and volunteered to reprimand
him for his action. The Arabs of the Pirate Coast, being considerably fluttered by Haji
Ahmed's appearance and conduct, were informed by the Commander of Her Majesty's Ship
Osprey, which vessel was despatched for the purpose to the coast, that the Persian Government
had disavowed and disapproved Haji Ahmed's proceedings. The presence of the Osprey and the
disclaimer of the Persian Government bad a re-assuring effect on the minds of the Arabs of the
Pirate Coast. It may be mentioned that Sirtip Haji Ahmed was subsequently presented with a
sword of honour by order of the Persian Minister.
12. In the month of September, the Residency Agent at Lingah reported that Haji Ahmed
Khan Sirtip had sent a small party under Shaikh Hasan, the Chief of Kishm, to the island of
Sirri with orders to erect a flagstaff and hoist the Persian flag thereon, and Her Majesty's Ship
Banger reported that the Persian flag was flying on the island in question.
13. The Islands of Tamb, Sirri and Bu-Musa, situated midway between the Persian and
'Oman Coast, have been for generations hereditary possessions of the Jowasim Arabs, those of
the tribe who settled on the Persian Coast, having always iDeen admitted to share in the rights
attaching to these tribal possessions. The island of Sirri has been hitherto superintended by the
principal Jowasimi Shaikh of Lingah, who has been usually Deputy Governor of that port and
district under the Persian Government.
l^. It was always understood that the Jowasimi Shaiks of Lingah administered the island
of Sirri in virtue of their position as Shaiks of the Jowasimi tribe, not in consequence of their
office of Deputy Governor of a Persian district. The hoisting of the Persian flag at Sirri,
therefore, constituted a complete alteration of the status as regards that island, and the Arab
Chief of Shargah lodged a protest and remonstrance against what he considered annexation by
Persia of an Arab possession. The whole question was referred to Her Majesty's legation
at Tehran and has continued to be the subject of diplomatic correspondence.
3.—EL-BAHRAIN.
15. The Islands of Bahrain did not wholly escape from the disquieting influence at work
in the Persian Gulf during the year under review.
16. Owing to the attitude assumed by the Chief of El-Bidaa, Shaikh Jasim bin Mahom-
med bin Thani, and the virtual encouragement given by him to his turbulent dependents of
El-Katr, cases of piracy commenced to occur off that Coast in the month of July, chiefly on
vessels belonging to Bahrain. Simultaneously the Beni Hajir robbers, who have been so long
the pest of the seas and coast adjacent to Bahrain, recommenced their depredations on
Bahrain vessels in the waters about El-Kateef, within the jurisdiction of the Turkish authori
ties. For years bands of Beni Hajir robbers, harbouring chiefly in the districts under Turkish
territory, have preyed on the native craft plying between Bahrain and El-Kateef, occasionally
extending their operations further to the eastward, always hitherto with entire impunity.
" Armati mare exercent, semperque recentes juvant praedas, et vivere rapto" " armed
they harass the sea, ever delighting in fresh robberies, and living on the spoil."
17. During the past summer the policy at first adopted by Shaikh Jasim encouraged
bands of these marauders to sally out to sea from the Katr Coast, as well as from the
recognised Turkish territory, and the matter became serious. About half a dozen piracies
were reported off the Katr Coast and as many more in the Turkish waters. The latter cases
were reported to the Turkish authorities through the* British representative in Turkish Arabia,