23 until the pearling fleet returned, so that he could send to the works his pearl divers. These men he would, in the ordinary course of events, have to feed throughout the winter; if, however, they were employed on the Rest House, he could draw Rs.1\- p.d. for each of them, which, when he had paid for their food, would leave him with the handsome profit of about Annas 12 per man per day. 10. On the 20th I saw the Shaikh and told him that Issa had spent a lot of money on his behalf and asked him what he knew about it .He said he did, as Issa advised him and that he had signed receipts for advances, although he had no idea how the money had been spent . I explained to him the meaning of the Agreement, and he asked me to get the Political Resident to come to Sharjah, so that he could talk with him. He said he wanted to talk to the Political Resident alone and not with Issa present. The same evening about 8 o’clock while I was in my house dressing to go on board Bideford for dinner, Issa paid up all the labour outside his house, and one of his servants informed the men that Issa ordered them not to work in future for the Shaikh or myself. If anyone asked them why, they were to answer that they would not work for less than Rs.1/p.d. The whole of this scene was witnessed by my bearer who speaks Persian, who, not realising the significance of it, did not tell me till the following day when he heard from me that no men had turned up for work. 11. No men at all turned up on 21st, although many of the men stopped Natha Singh in the Bazaar and elsewhere and told him they would willingly work for Annas 12 p.d., but were afraid of Issa. Together with Natha Singh I went to the Shaikh and asked him if he had authorised the payment. He said that he had given no authority and that he would see me and Issa at the latter’s house in an hour’s time. I, therefore, went to Issa and asked him why he had made this payment. He stated that the men had came to him and asked to be paid off, since they would not work for Annas 12, and as there was other work at higher rates available, they wanted to be free at once so as to get this better work. (It is a significant fact that, during this day, the majority of the men, who had been working, were sitting idle in the bazaar.) I then asked him why he did not inform me when …. (incomplete text).” 6 6 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/1965, P.Z.975/1932. THE BUILDING OF SHARJAH AIR STATION
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