Page 545 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

9
EESIDENOY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY POE 1888*80.

some ability and strength of character, and his I099 is calculated to weaken the
hands of the Chief. Shaikh Ahmed was very fond of sport, and went on
hunting excursions to the mainland every year. He was reputed sensual and
somewhat harsh, and was more feared than liked. He has left a numerous
83. In Juno, Shaikh Jasim*bin*Mohammcd Thaniof El-Katr made over*
tures to the Shaikhs of Bahrain for a reconciliation with them, and Shaikh Esau
consulted mo on the subject. I recommended him to meet Shaikh Jasim s
overtures in a friendly spirit, and not to place difficulties in the way of a
friendly understanding, provided it did not affect his own rights, interests, and
obligations. Shaikh Jasim subsequently sent his son Abdullah to Bahrain, and
terms of amity were vaguely arranged.
34. It is probable that Shaikh Jasim sought tho friendship of the Bahrain
Shaikhs because of his war with the Boniyas. He also probably wished to be
once more in a position to place money in deposit in Bahrain for mercantile
and other transactions.
35. Kohamed-bin-Khaleefah, uncle of Shaikh Ecau, and for many years a
political detenu at Aden, having been allowed to proceed to Mecca, intimated
that he would no longer accept the allowance provided for him by the Chief of
Bahrain, as he received an allowance from the Turkish Government, sufficient
for his wants.
36. In Julyjit was reported that the Turkish authorities of El-Hasa con­
templated rebuilding the town of Zobarah on the mainland opposite Bahrain,
snd establishing a military post there. It was stated by the Chief of Bahrain
that Shaikh Jasim had permission from the LIutacarrif to commence building
and was about to do so.
37. Shaikh Esau protested against the occupation of Zobarah by Jasim,
on the ground of his ancient rights there, and of the menace to Bahrain which
such a proceeding would involve. Government decided that both Shaikh
Jasim and Nasir-bin-Mubarik might, if necessary, be warned that they could
not be permitted to form a settlement at Zobarah. The project, however, was
abandoned, and no further action became necessary.
3S. In September, the Chief of Bahrain wrote to complain of the increase
of disorder and insecurity on the sea, and dwelt on the inability of the Turkish
Government to suppress piracy. Tho Chief alluded chiefly to the robberies of
vessels in Turkish waters about El-Kateef.
39. In the spring of 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Bent arrived in the
Gulf from England, having come out for the purpose of examining the ancient
tumuli at Bahrain under the auspices of the British Museum. They received
every assistance in carrying out their work from the Chief of Bahrain, and
succeeded in excavating two of the largest tombs, but no inscriptions were
found to fix the period of this ancient necropolis.

4.—EL-KATR.
40. The political condition of El-Hatr continues to he unsatisfactory, but
irregularities by sea were fewer than during the preceding year on that
coast.
41. Owing to a severe defeat experienced by the followers of. Shaikh
Jasim at the hands of the forces of the Abu-Dhabbi Chief in the month of
May 1888, in which affair Shaikh Jasim’s favourite son, Ali, was. slain, the
energies of that notorious Shaikh have been mainly devoted to measures for
avenging himself on the Beniyas and their dependants
42. Jasim had himself headed a somewhat successful raid on the enemy in
March, in which it is said he seized about 500 camels, which were distributed
amongst his followers.
o