Page 42 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

20 Part I.
Shoikb Thamir, discouraged, spurned I might almost say, by the Turkish Government
lent himself for a short period to ICnab intrigue in the hopo of bettering bis condition, but ho
has latterly withdrawn from iho connexion, and appears inclined to await with paticnco the
settlement by treaty of tho question of Chaab dependency.
Musellim Ibu Berkut, anotlicr member of tho family, and rcfugco in Turkey has now taken
his placo with tho movement party, and I fear that some unpleasant consequences may ensuo;
for the tribe aro unceasing in their efforts to induco him to repair in person to Fellahiah and
having failed in their endeavours to persuade tho Governor of Dizful to remove Sheikh
Fnriss from tho chichhip, they now threaten to eject tho latter individual forcibly from tho
country, and to instal Musellim in his place. The source of all theso disorders is to be sought-
in the natural turbulenco of tho Chaab tribo and in their disinclination to submit into any
organizod control. Their complaint against Sheikh Karris is his rigid exaction of revonuo
demanded by the Persian Government and if Musellim woro on his coining to power to
follow in his predecessor’s stops, they would expel him likewiso, and elect 6omo easier
ruler.
I do not sec, indeed, even supposing the Turkish Government to bo cordially inolined to*
co-operato in the consolidation of Chaab country that the Mutessolira of Bussorah could
provent a revolution at Fullahiah, for if ibe rcfugco chiefs were dobarred from communication
with tho tribe, there arc still numerous members of the same family within the Persian
territory who would bo too glad to tako tl:cir places.
It is important at the same timo to observe, that if Sheikh Fariss, acknowledged and
supposed by the Persian Government be violently driven out from Fellahiah, and a refugee
from tho Turkish territory succeed him, the Governor of Bussorah can hardly avoid laying
himself opou to the suspicion of having hastened tho rebellion. 1 have pressed this subject,
accordingly with Nejib Pasha’s approval, upon tho notice of Ibrahim Iffcndi, who has lately
proceeded to Bussorah as tho lessee of the current year, and in compliance with my suggestion
he has promised to do every thing in bis power on reaching his Government to break off the
connexion at present existing between Musellim, who is still in the Turkish territory, aud the
discontended party at Fellahiah.
I have only to add that tho expectation of the return of Ilaji Jaabar to the Tarkisb
„. „ „ , , territory, which Your Excollonoy will find men-
.. x.10-.? B ° ‘ion"1 in enclosure No. 2* to my despatch No. 41
.o my dt.pilch t>o. 31. llas bccn yorificd) and tbat ^ 'Gorcrnor of
Dizful being thus disappointed in the bopo of securing the person of that chief has replaced
in Mohammerah a Persian garrisou strengthened by a further detachment of 200 men and
ha9 nominated Ilamed Ibu Saadan, a nephew of Ilaji Jaabar’s who was previously in confine­
ment at Bizful to the Government on an anuual liability of 116,000 krans.
72. One of the measures the Turks took at this time to support their
pretensions to Mohammerah, was to maintain a guardship at the mouth of tho
Hafar, which interfered with the traffic with Mohammerah and tho Karun
River. To this measure the Persian Government strongly objected. After duo
representations to the Porte orders were given to the removal of the guardship
from its position, but theso orders were not fully carried and the guardship
hovered about the mouth of the Hafar. When protests were made against this
course, the Pasha of Baghdad contended that the Turkish guardship at tho
mouth of the Hafar did not interfere in
8ccrct C., dated 26tb September 1846, No. 72.
any way with the trade of Mohammerah.
73. Before tho treaty of Erzeroum was fully concluded, advices were
received at Basrah that the Governor of Dizful had in view of the determina­
tion of the Commission to allow Persia to return Mohammerah, received
instructions from his Government to tako measures to construct a fort at that
place and baths, mosques, houses, etc., around it. A demand was also made for
the withdrawal of the guardship from tho mouth of tho Hafar (Major Rawlin-
son's despatch, 9th April 184G).
74*. In March 1847, report was received at Baghdad that a boat laden
with merchandize partly for Mohammerah and partly for Basrah was forcibly
prevented by the Turkish guardship from entering the Hafar creek and
was compelled in the first instance to proceed to Basrah and pay the full duty
on the entire cargo.
On the representation of the Persian Consul, Nejib Pasha called for a
report from Basrah and promised to tako due notice of the alleged misconduct,
if the report he found true (Major Raw-
Secret C., dated 29tb Ms; 1847, N’o«. 47*48.
linson’s despatch to Sir S. Canning, dated
31st March 1847).