Page 476 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

8 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TOR PERSIAN OOI.7 POLITICAL

19. I also requested tho senior naval officer to keep one vessel of war stntioned at Bahrain.
20. On receiving the full reporta of the investigations conducted by tho First Assistant
aud tho Native Agents on the Katr Const and Bahrain, it appeared to mo obvious that tho
outrages and disorders which had occurred wore the result of the attitude of Josim bin
Muhammad bin Thani, who, for his own purposes, had desired and brought to pass the unset­
tled state of affairs on land and on sea, and it appeared to me highly neocssary, firstly, that
somo decided action should bo taken to restore confidence, and, secondly, that such notion should
touch Shaikh Jasira's personal interests, otherwise it would bo ineffectual.
21. On the 17th of August 1 proceeded to Bahrain in the Lawrence in order to consult the
Chief and concert measures. Having received information that certain specie and pearls, to
the value of some 1120,000, was then in Bahrain, I asked the Chief if he would bo willing to
lay an embargo on the consignment at my requisition. The Chief immediately assented, and
the property was formally sequestrated, and the First Assistant proceeded in Lawrence to El-
Bidaa, and informed Shaikh Jasim of this measure, and my reasons for taking it.
22. As soon as Shaikh Jasim realised that on pleasant consequences to himself were likely
to ensue from the disorders he had encouraged, he bestirred himself, and in a short time the
piracies were stopped and order restored.
28. Eventually Shaikh Jasim appointed an Agent (his son-in-law) with powers to con­
clude terms with au Agent appointed by me for the settlement of British and Bahrain com­
plaints against him. A 6um of ft6,3901 having been paid by Jasim’s Agent in compensation
to the British Indian and Bahrain sufferers from piracies and other outrages committed by
Shaikh Jasim's dependants, his property under sequestration was released, and he was iuformed
that the previously existing friendly relations would he resumed. These proceedings were
approved by the Government of India.
24. On the 19th February, Hia Excellency Nafiz Pasha, Wali of Busrah, appeared off
Bahrain in the Tuikish corvette Johajf and anchored for one night. No communication was
held with the shore and the vessel proceeded to the Katr Coast the following day and did not
again visit Bahrain.

4.—BL-KATR.
25. Circumstances combine to render our relations and dealings with the chief Arab antbo.
rity residing on the Katr Coast peculiarly unsatisfactory and delicate. In the first place the
Chief referred to, Shaikh Jasim bin Muhammad bin Thani, who is regarded by the British
Government as an independent Arab Shaikh, to a certain extent bound to respect the regulations
for maintenance of peace by sea, is by character and disposition a most troublesome person to
deal with. Secondly, he usually avows himself a subject and officer of the Turkish Govern­
ment, which has appointed him “ Kaim-Makam," or Deputy Governor, of El-Katr. Like the
notorions Shaikh Muhammad bin Khalifah of Bahrain, Shaikh Jasim has coquetted in turn
with the various powers in his neighbourhood, according to the whim of the moment, or pressure
of circumstances.
26. Iu the summer of 1887 Shaikh Jasim appeared to be much dissatisfied with his Turk is.
patrons and their proceedings, and intimated that he h«d withdrawn from El-Bidaa, and takei
up his residence at a place called Dha'lyen, near Semeysamah, and exercised no further author
ity in El-Bidaa.
27. It soon appeared, however, that there was no sincerity in this statement, as ShaikJ
Jasim, through his sons and relatives, continued to ex erase a baneful inflnenoe over the affain
of El-Bidaa, which eventually culminated in disturbances and outrages.
28. Shaikh J asim, alarmed at a proposal to establish a custom-house at El-Bidaa, wa»
anxious to diminish the importance of the port and, with that end in view, planned to get ri
of all the foreign traders, British Indian and Persian..