Page 47 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953
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                                          valid contracts, and punishing mercantile crime
                                          for the rest, lonvo all to private enterprise, and
                                          lcavo trade free ns the tide to flow in and out. I
                                          think that thus only can wo practically test the
                                          commercial capabilities of the Gulf.”

                                                    (d.) El Katr, or Gultur.
                              Sir (3. Ford,   The El Katr peninsula lies south of Ujair,
                              No. 133,
                              April 23. 1H98.  in the district of El ltatif. Ujair is the most
                                          southerly point to which, with the important
                                          exception of Kowcit, II is Majesty’s Government
                                          have recognized continuous Turkish influence.
                               AiUhison’s   On the other hand, it is noith of El Odeid, to
                              Treaties, Vol. 10.
                                          which, in 1878, the Sheikh of Abu Dthabi was
                                          allowed to assert his rights of possession, and
                                          which now forms the western limit of the
                                          territories of the Trucial Chiefs.
                                            The greater part of the country between El
                                          Katif and El Odeid is sparsely inhabited by
                                          Bedouin tribes who find pasturage there for their
                                          flocks. On the coast aro fishing villages, such
                                          as Ujair, Zubara, Khor llassan, El Bidaa and
                                          Wakra, Che most considerable being El Bidaa.
                                            The question of sovereignty over El Katr has
                              India Office,
                              September 17,   never been definitely decided, and to some extent
                               1*79.
                                          this region has been regarded as debateable land,
                                          between Oman on the one side, and the Wahabee
                                          Power on the other. At one time the Chief of
                                          Abu Dthabi is said to have exercised authority
                                          on the actual peninsula. Later the Uttobees,
                               India Odico   having settled there and at Bahrein, became
                              Menu •randnni,   paramount. These in turn had to pay religious
                              dune 30. Ib88.
                                          tithe to the "Wahabee Ameer, who established a
                                          Governor of his own at El Bidaa; and threatened
                                          to occupy the Bahrein Islands in 1851. This
                                          was prevented by the appearance on the scene of
                                          British vessels of war, and an arrangement was
                                          come to by which the town of El Bidaa was
                                          restored to the Bahrein Chief.
                                            There was considerable correspondence in 1872
                                          about a Turkish expedition to Nejd. As a result
                                          the Turks remained established in the El Hasa
                                          district, and at El Katif on the coast, while a
                                          military post was created at El Bidaa, and baa
                                          been maintained there ever since.
                                            A question was raised at this time as to certain
                                          rights claimed by the Sheikh of Bahrein over the
                                          mainland coast, and in regard to the status of
                                          El Odeid.
                                            The British Resident, Colonel Pelly, was of
                                             [1098]                       M
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