Page 419 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MU8CAT POLITICAL AOENCY POU 1B8G-B7. 7

About tbo name time a messenger arrived in Bahrain from Path Ali Khan, Persian
Governor of Lar, bearing presents for Shaikh Ecsa, but tho orticloa were returned unacoepted.
Tho pearl divers worked oa tho banks from Cth August to 9th October, when operation*
ceased. Tho season was not a successful one.
The Sublimo Porto living mode representations to the British Government, Interooding
for the release of Shaikh Muhammad-bin-Khalifah from Aden, in view to his retiring to
spend tho remainder of his days in the holy places of Arabia, the Government of India decided
to release tho Shaikh on the lGth February, on the occasion of the celebration of Her
Majesty's Jubilee, and this was accordingly done. It docs not appear that Muhamm&d-
bin-Klinlifah personally cared whether he resided at Aden or at Mecca, his only wish being
to return to Bahrain—a wish which could not well be acceded to.
4.—NEJD, EL-HASA, EL-KATB.
The Province of Nejd appears to have been singularly tranquil during the past year,
and no news of any interest has been received
Nejd.
thence.
An uneventful year in El-Hasa. Nazeoh Pasha,
the Mutessrrif, was relieved in March by Saleh
Pasha.
Interest in the events of this district chiefly centres about El-Bida'a and its vicinity,
and the differences between Shaikh Jasim-bin-
El-Kitr.
Muhammad Thani and his Bedouin followers on
the one side, and his quondam adviser, Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab, and certain seceding
coast Arabs on the other.
Dissensions have, during th« past few years, been rife amongst the Arabs residing under the
jurisdiction of Shaikh Jasim of El-Bida’a, and bodies of seceders first settled at El-Foweyrat
on the Ivatr Coast, where they arc to some extent under the protection of the Noeym tribe
who maintain intimate friendly relations with the Chief of Bahrain.
In the year 1885 a body of the Wakrah Arabs consisting of about 100 men of
the tribes Ai-bu-Ainaiu and Ai-Jehran, owing to disputes with their own Chief and with
Shaikh Jasim, left V>Takrah and settled at a place
• Gharcyah or Gtiarcyat.
named El-Ghareyah * in Katr. A coalition has
thus been formed to resist Shaikh Jasim, and during the past year Muhammad-bin-
Abdul Wahab, having quarrelled with Jasim, identified himself with the opposing faction.
A conference took place between Jasim and Muhatnmad-bin-Abdul Wahab in presence of
the commander of a Turkish gun-boat at El-bida'a, when the Turkish officer suggested that
Jasim should let the people of Gkareyah remain in peace nnder Muhammad-bin-Abdul
Wahab. Shaikh Jasim was much aanoyed at the proposal and incited his adherents to attack
El-Ghareyah, but they were beaten off with the loss of a few men of the Beni-Hajir.
Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab entered on a coarse of intrigue with the Turkish officials
of El-Hass, apparently with tho object of ousting Shaikh Jasim and obtaining for him«p»?f the
post of Kaim Makam of El-Katr under the Turkish Government. He is said to have advised
the institution of a Turkish, custom house at El-Bidh, a measure which seem* to have been
favourably considered by the Turkish officials whilst the inhabitants warmly protested against
it.
Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab, who had transferred his residence from EI-Bida'a to
Ghareyah, proceeded on a visit to El-Hasa, whence he returned in May,rw£ Ojair, accompanied
by a tody of about BO Turkish gendarmes, of whom 20 were said to be for the protection c£
Ghareyah and the rest for the relief of the garrison of El-Bidh. It vm» reported that the
Mnteserrif of El-Hasa had proclaimed Ghareyah to be Turkish territory. Subsequently tho
commander of the Turkish gun-boat Zolaff landed at Ghareyah, and notes of the
leading inhabitants, &c.
Shaikh Jasim greatly resented the position assumed by Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab,
with the aid and support of the Turks, of Governor of Ghareyah, and threatened to withdraw
from El-Bida'a with his adherent* and to commence hostilities against Muhammad-bin-AbduI
Wahab.
In July it was reported that Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab hna visited Shaikh Jasim at
El-Bida'a, and that terms of reconciliation were arranged between them with the oognisanoe of
the Turkish commander. The Turkish corvette ZoKaff fired a salute of 2l guns in
of the occasion, bat the terms agreed on were kept secret.