Page 102 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

80 Part I.
ready to intervene if necessary, lent additional weight to the Vali’s arguments
in favour of peace ; for, in Aral) warfaro, it is customary to foroo on&a battle
only when in overwhelming numbers, and in this case the inferior side usually
anticipates the fray by a timely retreat. Any how, both parties agreed to roturn
homo, the Amir making the first move. Mubarak was accompanied on his home­
ward journey by the Mutessarif of Muntclik just to sec him safe off tho
promises, and through this official, an interview was arranged hotween Mubarak
and Mohsin Pasha which ended in the former offering has submission to the
Porto. This took placo at tho Nakib’s residence near Zobair on tho 17th
November 1900, and during tho courso
No. 62 of Pros, cited.
of it, Mohsin was able to persuade the
Sheikh to return to Basrah with him the samo night. Next day they were
for several hours at the Telegraph Office, communicating with Constantinople,
and early on tho 19th Mubarak started again for Koweit.
168. One of the conditions on which tho Amir of Nejd was induced by the
Vali of Basrah to withdraw was that
No. 76 of Secret E., February 1001, Nos. 92-107.
Sadun Pasha should he hunted down and
satisfaction should bo obtained from both Sadun and Mubarak for tho raids
made into his territory. It was reported that late iu November Major-Goncral
Mahomed Pasha, Daghostanli, was sent to conduct operations against Sadun,
and actually captured him. But Sadun soon after escaped or perhaps was
allowed to escape.
169. On 8th September 1902 Mr. Wratislaw (Consul, Basrah) reported to
M.r.i. inm Sir N. O’Conor that a number of leading
S«rot E., March 1903, Noi. 34-35. Montefik Arabs had applied to him to
procure British nationality or protection on the ground that the Russian Consul
at Baghdad has been issuing passports to Native Shiahs of that district. Mr.
Wratislaw replied that it was impossible for him to comply witli their request.
They then applied to the acting Russian Consul for protection. An answer
was promised on return of the Consul who had been absent on loave. On bis
return it was reported that their applica­
Bocrot E., NoTombor 1903, No, 16.
tion was preferred to the Russian Am­
bassador at Constantinople. We have not heard further as to what was tho
result of this application.
170. We next hear of the Montefik Arabs in connection with disturbances,
in which Sadun Pasha plays an important part and Sheikh Mubarak was
believed to have secretly omhroiled himself. The origin of these disturbances
No. 30 of Secret E., August 1904, Nos. 28G-373. was explained by Mr. Wratislaw in his
Secret E., March 1904, Nos. 202-207. despatch, dated November 21, 1903, to
Sir O’Conor :—
,c Sadun Pasha and his followers, whose wanderings are generally oonfiucd to the marshes
west of the Euphrates, wished to cross into the Jezireh, that is, the country between tho
Euphrates and the Tigris, in order to pasture their flocks. Their passage was opposed by tho
tribes there resident, who feared his extortion, and complained to the Vali of his action. His
Excellency wrote to remonstrate with Sadun, but the latter paid no attention and effected a
crossing. He then began to oppress and blackmail tbo smaller tribes, renewing, among other
things, claims for blood money, based on old feuds of ovor forty years' standing. The Joziren
tribes lost patience and appealed to the Turkish authorities, and a certain Colonel Agassi, a
Kurd, was despatched from Samawa to smooth matters over. He seems to have been a hot­
headed tactless man, and appeared on the scene at Shatra with some fifty soldiers and gen­
darmes, and several officers. A heated conversation with Sadun Pasha developed into a brawl
and most of Colonel Agassi’s party, including himsolf, were massacred, after which . n *\n
Pasha took flight. He is said to be still in tho Jezireh with Mahomed Daghestani a is
heels, but the latter is unable to circumvent him without cavalry, of which the lurks are
very short.
The Vali tells me that Sadun Pasha is an extortionate, grasping individual, who wants to
make a fortune by violent means. Tho MonU-fik are divided into two factious, those for ana
against him. Mis parti>ans oonsist of all tho bad elements of the tribes, and lus opponents
are the well-ordered, peace loviug denizens of the Jezireh, who would gladly bo rid or him
bis demands were less exacting. The affair causes great unrest in that part of tho provin ,
and the Vali seemed perplexed as to the issue.”