IOR/R/15/2/616

The file contains correspondence, mainly between British officials in the Persian Gulf, discussing the actions of Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr, the Ruler of Sharjah and his relations with neighbouring Arab Chiefs of the Trucial Coast, 1933 to 1939. There is also a small amount of correspondence about his failing health in 1949-1950 (folios 80-86).

The main correspondents are Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle as Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch as Political Agent at Bahrain, and the British Residency Native Agent at Sharjah.

There are Arabic transcripts and English translations of several items of correspondence. These include letters from the Residency Agent at Sharjah to the Political Agent at Bahrain; letters exchanged between Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh ‘Abdur Rahman bin Muhammad the Chief of Hira and the Residency Agent at Sharjah, 1939 (folios 73-79); letters from Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr the Ruler of Sharjah to both the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, 1933 (folio 6) and to Lord Willingdon the Viceroy of India, 1934 (folios 25-26).

Several incidents and events are discussed including:

• the Ruler of Sharjah’s plans to build a fort on Sir Bu Nair Island [Şīr Bū Nu‘ayr] and the objection of Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid the Ruler of Ujman [Ajmān], 1933 and 1937-1938 (folios 53-58, 67-69);
• the fatal shooting of a Sharjah inhabitant and theft of his camels by visiting Bedouin belonging to the Awamir Tribe, their pursuit, and the negotiated settlement and compensation paid to Sharjah, 1938 (folios 59-66, 68);
• the building of a new defensive tower at Sharjah by its Ruler and the objection of Shaikh ‘Abdur Rahman bin Muhammad the Chief of Hira (later reincorporated into Sharjah), 1939 (folios 70-79).