Page 347 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XX. 315
171. Tho people concerned in ilio attach wero said to belong to tho A1 Hu
Muhammad tribe under Sheikh Scybood, who inhabit the marshes on the light
bank of tho Tigris a little above Gurnah, tho junction of tho Tigris and
Euphrates. Colonel Elites remarked in his report that—
"during the number of years tho Tigris has been navigated by English steamers, no
sign of real hostility on the p»rt of tho Arabs, so far as I can ham, has ever been shewn
against us, and tho cause of their present attitude remains an open question.”
Ho added that the other mail steamer lilossc Lynch, which passed down
the river fhortly after the Khalifah was not molested.
172. Tho Yali of Baghdad, on receiving tho information, took measures to
protect tho river and pursue the offenders, and a guard of 30 soldiers was
placed on board tho Khalifah when she returned from Baghdad to Basrah the
next day.
173. The sanction of Her Majesty’s Government was obtained to des­
patch a gun-boat to Basrah owing to reports
Political A., September 1880, Nos. 23G-45.
of tho unsettled state of the country in
that neighbourhood, and orders wero given accordingly.
174. On tho occurrence being made known to Hor Majesty’s Government,
they instructed the Ambassador at Constantinople to—
" represent matter at once to Porte, that instructions may bo sent for enquiry and punish­
ment of offenders.”
175. Mr. Gosclion replied that soldiers bad proceeded to tho scene of the
attack to arrest tho guilty and restore tranquility as speedily as possible, and
that a boat belonging to a Turkish Company, with soldiers and cannon, wero
cruising the river to maintain order. Fur­
Sscrot, September 1880, Nos. 255*271.
ther that orders had been sent to the Yali
of Baghdad on tho subject.
176. But Basrah still remained in a disturbed state, and local hostilities were
on the increase. Trade was said to have been
Political A., October 18S0, Noi. 2G-35.
paralysed by the disordered state of affairs.
The Consul-General at Baghdad took every opportunity of pressing on tho
Ottoman authorities the necessity for prompt measures for the protection of
British lives and property; but their responses to his demands were on tho
whole very unsatisfactory. They certainly made repeated promisos, hut neg­
lected to properly carry them out. Indeed their remissness went so far as to
signify that, instead of pursuing the culprits with a view of capturing them
they (the Turks) were intentionally allowing the chief conspirators to escape.
177. On tho 21st August 1880 the Consul at Basrah reported that—
“ at the instance of Mutasscrif of Amara, Sheikh Wadi, Syad’s elder brother, and Sheikh
Yessur, his cousin, sent a force of Arabs somo days ago to capture Sayad at Abu Shadar, where
he has been residing since tho attack on tho Khulijuh. Abu Shadar is an island in the great
marsh of Southern Mesopotamia. It is said to he covered with ancient ruins, and can only
be approached or left by a single creek, which traverses the impenetrable forest reeds by
which it is surrounded, and has ono mouth at Sharefah on the Tigris and another at Knse
Ibu Khayyun on the Euphrates, nearly opposite Mediua. Sayad succeeded iu repulsing the
forco sent to enpturo him with niuc killed and twenty wounded, and was still, by latest
accounts, at Abu Shadar. The two mouths of tho creek arono.v guarded by tne Turkish
steamer Bussoiah on the Tigris and the Razafa on the Euphrates. The Mutateerif of Basara
is in the latter, and has at his disposal 400 regular infautry and tho Beni Sud Arabs. If the
latter act in good faith, it scorns probable that Sayad must soon bo captured.
17S. This was confirmed by a report, dated 1st September 1880, from the
Consul-General at Baghdad to Constan­
Political A., Octobir 1880, No. 42.
tinople, but tho number killed was given
as seven instead of nino. Ho also said that Sayad’s loss had not boon so great-,
and that lie had re-occupied his stronghold after the departure of his brother
and cousin. A further attack was made afterwards by the troops under Saleh
Bey, the Mutasserif of Amarah. Sayad did not encounter the assault, but fled,
and his stronghold was destroyed. With regard to this, Colonel Miles said—
*c there nre indications that the Turkish authorities are beginning to despair of being able
to capture and punish this Sheikh, and they will very soon, if allowed to do so, withdraw the
troops and rolax their efforts entirely. I trust respcdully 1 shall havo the favor of Your Excel­
lency’s support in pressing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.”