Page 368 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

33G
ITajcc Yonssoof from tlie commencement resided in tbc fort on tlic north­
ern batik of 11 altar, nml as lie very early evinced a disposition (relying on the
strength of his situation) to disregard the authority of the Sheikh of Fcllahiah,
Heir to the CliicMi'p of tlie Clumb ttiilioncil ut tllO UCXt licil’ to the Cllicfsllip of the
K*x»t*ei'Si,cikb. tribe, was usually stationed in the fort on
the southorn bank of the canal to hold him in check, and to administer the
Chnab a Hairs upon this, their western frontier. During the life-time of Sheikh
Ghnis, his brother Mobashir thus acted as his deputy on the Uallar, and when
Mobnshir subsequently ruled at Fcllahiah, the third brother Thamirsucceeded to
the. command of Mohamuierah. Thamir in the same way on his elevation to the
Chiefship of ilie tribe, placed his nephew Farisat Mohamuierah, and since Faria
has been transferred to Fcllahiah, Ins brothers llashim and Mahomed have suc­
cessively been stationed on the Uallar. The fort on the southern hank of the river,
although a part of the original Mohammerah, lias thus received the name “ par
excellence ” or Koot-el-Sheikli,or “ the Shcik'li cattle,** whilo that on tlie northern
bank has alone to the present day retained
This place of bond fide dependency of Fcllnliinli.
its old designation. The Koot el-8heikh
being directly subordinate to Fcllahiah has followed in all its changes or modi­
fications the political dependency of tlie tribe of Cliaah, but tlie Chiefs residing
in the fort of Mohammerah have sometimes acted without reference to the su­
preme Sheikh, and as it is this northern fort that has been the great object of
contention between Turkey and Persia, it is necessary to trace its fortunes with
some care.
llajeo Jaabir succeeded his brother llajeo Yoossoof in the government of
Chief of Mohawnii-rah endeavours to be iinh pi-ndcnt the i *' T t. Ot M oliaill merall about 25 yOai S ago.
As the son of a slave of the Cliaah Sheikh
of 1 litib.
and at the head of a small, Cliaah colony, lie could not of course pretend openly
to assert his independence of the aut hority of Fcllahiah On several occasions,
indeed, he furnished his shaie of the Clriab levy to enable the Sheikh of tlie
tribe to meet the demands or Persia, and lie also sent men to Sheikh Tlmrair’s
assistance when Fcllahiah was threatened by a hostile force, but still these proofs
of allegiance appear to have been but partially and reluctantly given. Lie set­
tled directly with the Government or Bussorah for the land rent of tlie town of
Mohamuierah, and lie made occasional presents to the Persian Governors of Dez-
fool and Ilowoizah, unknown to the Chief of Fcllahiah showing as I think that
his jealously of tin* Ciiaah Sheikh was only equalled by his fears of Persia and
Turkey. Llis real object no doubt was independence, and he was quite content
to be permitted its enjoyment without any effective declaration of bis views.
Mohammerah, however, swelling from a petty fort into a considerable town
had between the years 1830 and 1837, risen into s^ much consequence, as an em­
porium of trade, that it attracted general attention, and Sheikh Jnabir's anoma­
lous position began of course to he submitted to enquiry. Ali Pasha of Baghdad
desirous of protecting Bussornh from any further injury to its revenue, consider­
ing Sheikh .Tahir in no oilier light than as a servant of the Chaab, and believing
that the land on which Mohamirerah was built was unequivocally Turkish pio-
perty, marched accordingly against the
Moliamramli mined by Ali P.nlia.
place in A. 1). 1837, took it by assault and
plundered all the merchandise that had been stored in its warehouses. Having’
levelled the walls of Moliamincrah, carried off the guns and left tlie place de­
fenceless, he followed up his success os I have before mentioned by a demons­
tration against Fcllahiah, which compelled Sheikh Thamir tolly to Koweit, and
placed the dependency of the Cliaah tribe.altogether in his hands. Jaabir in tlio
ir.jco tiio chief tlirotvii.inucif cntlie pro- meantime had fled to Busliire, and hod
Uctiouof I’cnia. endeavoured to interest- the Government
of Shiraz in his behalf, urging with some plausibility (though as it appears
now for the first timo) that as Mohammerah was watored by theKnroon, it must
! bo regarded as Persian property, but his solicitations were inopportune and
accordingly,; were fruitless, and be was thus obliged to return to his dis­
mantled town, and rely on his own resources for further protection. About
the same timo the Turkish troops being withdrawn to Baghdad, Sheikh

\Ll