Page 544 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

8 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GTJLF POLITICAL

23. Shaikh Rashid in August visited Seyyid Fcysal bin Turki at Muscat
and received a present of a mare, arms, clothing, and Rupees 1,000 cash.
24. Towards the end of 1888, Shaikh Rashid concluded an alliance with
Abu-Dhabbi, after which he received a letter from Shaikh Jasim, in which the
latter threatened to invade the Debayo territory, and so forth.
25. The town of Abu-Dhabbi itself is smaller and less flourishing than the
neighbouring ports of Dcbaye and Shargah, but the
Abu-Dbtbbi.
Chief Shaikh Za’ced-bin-Khalcefah, the head of the
numerous Beniyas tribe, is the most important personago in Western 'Oman.
Tho jurisdiction of this Chief extends along the southern shore of the Persian
Gulf, as far as 'Odeyd, his western limits thus marching with those of El-Katr
and El-Hasa, and numerous Bedouin clans ranging the plains between that
frontier and El-Bereymi are dependents, or allies, of th$ Chief of Abu-Dhabbi.
’Some twelve years back quarrels commenced between the Shaikh of Ei-Katr,
(Jasim-bin-Mohammed) and the Abu-Dhabbi Chief, and for the feud which
sprang up, and subsequent bloodshed and plundering, I think Shaikh, Jasim
was chiefly to blame. During this period of years the contending parties and
their dependent clans and allies have engaged in frequent raids and counter-
raids, after the fashion of Arabs.
26. In March 1888 the Manaseer tribe, dependents of Shaikh Za'eed,
suCered severely from a foray made by Jasim, and the Abu-Dhabbi Chief
prepared to make reprisals on El-Katr.
27. In May Shaikh Za'eed sent a body of 250 Bedouins mounted on
camels, under the leadership of Shaikh Mohammed-bin-Saif, and accompanied
by the Chief's son, Khalcefah-bin-Za'eed, to raid on Ei-Katr. This force sur­
prised the followers of Shaikh Jasim in the vicinity of El-Bidaa, and slew up­
wards of thirty men, amongst whom was Ali-bin-Jasim, the favourite and most
promising son of the Katr Shaikh. This occurrence has greatly embittered the
feud, and frustrated any hopes of reconciliation between the rival Chiefs.
28. In the month of August Tahnoon, son of Shaikh Za’eed, proceeded to
Muscat on a visit to Seyyid Eeysal, and accompanied His Highness during his
expedition against Rostak.
29. Border warfare has continued in the stretch of low country between
Katr and Abu-Dhabbi without any signal success to either side. The reports
of the intended advance of a Wahhabi force from Jebel Shamraar and Nejd
towards 'pman naturally caused apprehensions, but the Beniyas Chief kept a
bold front' and was prepared to offer resistance. The alarm has passed away
for the present, hut the warfare between Katr and Abu-Dhabbi may possibly
assume a more serious aspect in the near future.
30. The Chief .of Abu-Dhabbi had cause to he displeased with the Na'eem
Chief (Mohammed-bin-Ali of El-Bereymi), who failed to comply with a summons
to arms and intimated his intention to submit to the expected invading force,
and it was thought that Shaikh Za'eed would attack the Na'eem Shaikh.
31. In January, Shaikh Jasim personally led a force towards 'Oman and
surprised and massacred a number of defenceless
Vi&4 Katr.
persons, including women and children. This has
exasperated the Bcniyas and their allies, who bum to be avenged on tbeir
Katr enemies.
8.—ED-BAHRAIN.
82. The most noteworthy event of the year in Bahrain was the death of
Shaikh Ahmed-bin-Ali, younger and only brother of the Chief of Bahrain,
from small-pox in the month of October. Shaikh Ahmed, in accordance with
an old custom in Bahrain, enjoyed one-half of the revenues of the islands, and
exercised a considerable amount of -power and authority. He was a man of