"14/172 I المجلد ب. ٦٨. السواحل العربية ومسائل متنوعة" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٥] (٤٢٠/٣٣٨)

In 191 o bii 1 eicy Oox, then Political Resident, reported the discovery
of correspondence of 1869 from which it appeared that, one of the Shatt-al-
Arab buoys having gone adrift and been thrown up on Halul Island,
reference was made apparently as a matter of course to the Trucial Sheikh
of Abu Dhabi as overlord of the island* and in 1914 His Majesty's * Pol. Ee S . to G. of
Government authorised! the erection of a beacon on Halul for political as
distinct from navigational reasons, and, to quote the Resident, with a view to t Tel. to Viceroy
" enabling us to keep a footing there as a political precaution." (Cp. para. 10 Mar - 41914 ' P ' 8 ' 34 -
of Memorandum on Lighting and Buoying on p. JjJJ.)
As in the case of Farsi, Arabi and Harqus, the India Office in 1914
recommended that His Majesty's Government should eventually claim the
right to deal with Halul,but no steps were in fact taken for the regularisation j i.o. to r.o.
of its status. This accoidingly lemams indeterminate, the available evidence '^ 0 ^' ^
appearing to point to the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi as the owner, or failing him P ' 3946 '
one of the other Arab rulers of the Trucial Coast, including the Sheikh of
El Kali. Iheie it> no histoiy of a Persian claim. The bitumen spring
makes the question one of some potential importance.
D almah.
An island 5 miles long and 2| miles wide, off the coast of the Trucial
Sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi, close to several pearl banks, and of importance in
the pearling season. The Government of India and the India Office agreed
in 190b that the island was undoubtedly under the Trucial Sheikh of Abu § i.o. to f.o., Dec. 2
Dhabi.§ 1908, p. 2111!
S ir B eni Y as.
An island rather over 100 miles W. by S. of Abu Dhabi Town, 18 miles
E.S.E. of Dalmah Island, and 4 or 5 miles north of the coast of Dhafrah ;
described by Lorimer as forming with the islands of Zirko, Arzanah',
Daiyinah, Qarnain, Solali, and Das,|] part of the domains of the Truciai VJ' 36 , 1 '
■Sheikh of Abu Dhabi. All the islands in question are in the vicinity of 1945. ' ' 93 '
pearl banks.
There is no history of a rival claim. The island is of importance as
■affording " an ideal aerodrome, good anchorage ... a good cold weather
. . . certainly the best harbour at present existing in the Gulf,"*]" and Sir MRe'/to o ofT
Lionel Haworth has suggested that it should be purchased from the Sheikh April 2 e 4'i9 0 27,' 0
of Abu Dhabi for about £3,000, or alternatively leased, in connection with paras - 18_20 '
an air route along the north Arab coast. 0 * ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية
S hura- A wah. p ' 1 " 5 '
Avery small island in the neighbourhood of two pearl banks, lying in the
bay between Abu Dhabi and Qatar, about 34 miles N. by W. of Dalmah.
Its political position is described by Lorimer as apparently " indeterminate,
resembling that of Halul Island."H t +Lor. n, xsu.
S ir A bu N air.
An island, not permanently inhabited, 2-^miles long by 2 miles broad,
about 50 miles N. by W. of the Trucial Arab town of Abu Dhabi, and
65 miles west of Dibai; containing salt deposits, alleged to contain deposits
•of sulphur, and in the neighbourhood of pearl banks,It It Lor. ii 1292
On the occasion of the Persian attempt on Tamb and Abu Musa in 1904,
the Sheikh of Shargah represented to the Political Resident that " the British
Government are aware of the fact that the islands of Tamb, Abu Musa, and
Sir (meaning Sir Abu Nair) " belonged to him.§§ The salt in the island §§ Pol Res. to g. of
was stated in the Persian Gulf Gazetteerjj|| to have been "removed by I '' Ar ' ri115 ^ 904 -
Persians, chiefly from Lingah and Kung, on payment of dues to the Sheikh of or ' 1292 "
Shargah " until " some two years ago" (say 1904). The India Office in 1908
accepted Mr. Lorimer's view, as expressed in the Gazetteer, that the island irt 1 .0. to f.o.,
belonged to the Sheikh of Shargah,•j^]" and in 1913, on the suggestion of Sir P ec - 21908 '
Percy Cox, the statement in the " Persian Gulf Pilot" that the island " is ^ 1/08 '
claimed by the A1 Jowasim Chief" was replaced by the words " belongs to JfT" ^
the principality of Shargah." ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية * Feb. 231913,
P. 1319/13.
Q ran or K ran.
An island off the coast of Hasa, some 36 miles N.E. of Ivas-al-Bidya,||| ttt Lor. ii, 3563.
•about li miles long, by -i- mile wide, waterless, level, covered with brushwood.