Page 94 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian reaction to Bahrain, 1869 85
Transcription of previous document

Copy 457
Memorandum
Measures taken by Col. Pelly for punishing the Chiefs of Bahrein,
Aboothabee and Guttar.
It appears from a despatch from Col Pelly to the Govt, of
Bombay dated Sep. 25, 1868, that, having received certain
Instructions, conveyed to him by H.M.S. "Vigilant", he in August
proceeded with that vessel and 2 gunboats to the Guttar coast.
Information having been received to the effect that Mahomed bin
Khallfah, the Shaikh of Bahrein and originator of the recent
piratical raids at sea, was concealed there, The Guttar Chiefs came
on board and confessed their breaches of the maritime truce, at the
same time professing their readiness to sign any agreement
guaranteeing security of the public peace and to assist Col. Pelly
in catching Mohomed bln Khallfah.
From Guttar Col. Pelly sailed to Bahrein, where he had an
interview with All bln Khallfah, Co-chief and brother of the above.
This chief stated that the offences were all due to his brother, and
signed a declaration to the effect that he would exclude Mahomed bin
Khallfah from any share of the Govt, of Bahrein: that he would
deliver up that Chief's vessels of war to the Capt. of the
"Vigilant", and would pay a fine of 100,000 $ in stated Instalments.
Having burnt the Mohorray fort and Mahomed bin Khalifah's war craft,
Col. Pelly returned to Guttar, and addressed letters, as Instructed,
to the principal Shaikhs who then came on board. Their chief,
Mohammed bln Sance, then signed an agreement, undertaking not to
assist Mahomed bin Khallfah, but, if possible, to hand him over to
Col. Pelly. He also promised to recognise All bin Khallfah as Chief
of Bahrein, and to live in friendly relations with him also to repay
to certain British Indian subjects at Wukra the sum of 1800 Krans,
of which he had plundered them.
Having obtained what was required of the Chief of Guttur and
Bahrein, Col. Pelly proceeded to Aboothabee where, as instructed, he
delivered a letter to the Chief. The latter, whose position between
Muscat and Wagheer renders him very powerful, twice sent evasive
answers; and on the following morning Col. Pelly though unwilling,
for commercial reasons, to use force, threatened to open fire on the
forts unless his demands were complied with. Zayld bln Kalifeh, the
Chief, then came on board and signed the required engagement, which
ordered him to pay the sum of $ 25,000 to the Resident, to keep the
peace towards the people of Guttar, and to give up his war craft.
He also sent on board part of the Guttar plunder which he had
received from the Bahrein Chief, and which was restored to the
owners. The guns of the Aboothabee Chief were surrendered, but were
afterwards returned to him by Col. Pelly, who then returned to
Kurnehee in the "Vigilant", stopping occasionally to warn some petty
chiefs against a repetition of certain breaches of the peace of
which they had been guilty.
The proceedings were entirely approved by the Govr. Genl. of
India in a despatch dated October 22, 1868.

J