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Tbamir also returned from Koweit, and having displaced Sheikh Abdul
siicivii Tiiiuuii of Fciuitiah dccikin hu dcpcodcn* Itazaq, who had been left in the Gov
cy on Turkoj. ernment of Fcllahiah by the Turks,
he signed for his own personal ends a convention with the Pasha of Baghdad,
securing himself in occupation of the Sheikh-Ship, and pledging the allegi
ance of his tribe to Bussorah. But Sheikh Jaabir, who could not so easily
forgive the. destruction of his flourishing town by the Turks, refused to bo
bound by this convention. lie now asserted and maintained his independence
of Thamir and threatened if interfered with to call in the protection of the
Persians. I believe that the direct political connexion between Mohammerah
and Persia dates no furthor back that Hajee Juabir’s visit to Bushirc in lb37,
and how much of cordiality or even of practical dependency there was in the
connexion which was thus formed, may be comprehended from tho fact that
when four years afterwards the Mootimcd-cd-Dowlah for tho first time visited
Mohammerah at the head of a Persian army with a view of marching on Pell*
ahiah from the southward (its only vulnerable point of attack) Hajee Jaabir
r«r«u cstabiithci her authority ovor both Mi>bain- was afraid to trust himself in the hands j
moral) and Chaab. of his acknowledged Chief, but again fled
to Koweit leaving his nephew Hajee Mohomcd to act as his deputy with tho
60-ealled friendly Persian army. Mohammerah in the meantime had been re
built and had recovered much of its former consequence, so that the Moetimed-
ud-Dowlah seeing at once the advisability of retaining his hold upon this place,
determined to leave an officer to reside on the part of the Persian Government
with Sheikh Jaabir, whose abscnco ho affected to consider a matter no moment
and subsequent events have tended most singularly to promote the accomplish
ment of the ends he had in view in making this arrangement.
Hajee Jaabir, having returned to Mohammerah after the withdrawal of the
Mootimed-el-Dowlah, sent his nephew Hajee Mahomed to Fellahiah to concert
measures, as it is said, with Sheikh Paris 'who had been placed in the Chaab Gov
ernment by the Persians to the exclusion of his uncle Thamir, for their mutual
Blood feud between the Chicfi of Fdlahiah and support and protection in tho event of a
Mohammerah. second Persian invasion. This young
man shortly after his arrival was shot by tho Chaab Sheikh, as a rebel to his
Chief, and a traitor to bis tribe. Tho flames of the strife broke out again of
course, more fiercely than ever between the two Chaab families. Hashim, the
brother of Paris, and Governor of Koot-el-Sheikh, made an attempt to cross
the Haffar and drive Jaabir out of Mohammerah, and tho latter Chief was thus
obliged for his own protection, to put in execution his Jong threatened requisi
tion for the presence of a Persian garrison. A detachment of troops from Dez-
Temporary occupation of Moharnracrah by Persian fool accordingly occupied the towm of
troops at blicikh Jaabir requisition. Mohammerah in the spring of 18*13, and
remained there until a few months hack, when Jaabir relieved from his fear of
attack from Koot-el-Sheikh contrived, by showing the difficulty of their sub-
sistance to dispense with their further services. But tho Persian officer with a
Officer continues to rciide tbero on the part of the small escort continues to reside in Moh
Pereian Government. ammerah as the representative of his Gov
ernment, and Sheikh Jaabir, whose fairs arc now thoroughly aroused as well by
the experience tho Persians have had of the accessibility of Mohammerah as
by the invitation of his enemy Sheikh Thamir to Ecrozeroom acts towards him ;
not certainly with any real good will hut still in a manner calculated to avoid
the possible forfeiture of his claim to the protection of Persia on occasion of
necessity, and at the same time to deprecate the displeasure or hostility of that
Government.
The present fort of Mohammerah which has been rebuilt since Ali Pasha’s
visit in 1837 is a “ quadrangular ” enclo
Prcicnt appearance of Mohammerah.
sure of about 350 yards by 300. Tho
mud wall which surrounds it, is of the most ordinary discretion, and it is
entirely distituto of artillery. It possesses only one caravanserai for the accom
modation of tho merchants, the other buildings contained in the enclosure are
the rude huts, composed of mud and reeds, which form the ordinary habita
tion of the Arabs.
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