Page 88 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

GG
Part I.
Fuhuds camp, one, Suleyman-nl-Khuleif, Sheik of the Ajioud, was put to doatb, and flie two
othors, Sheiks Alcj and ShuOcet-el-Uavood oj the Bccir Saeed, have been placed in confinement
Their execution ha* been also reported, but tho This severity, coupled with perfidy was in
report need* confirmation. haVo been exercised with the sanction, if not by
tho order, of Namilc Pasha, and not improbably may have been so justified on tho spot by
Shoik Fuhud, yet may really be accounted for by feudal rancour or personal animosity. At
any rate 11 is Excellency has to mo disavowed tho act, which he declared to ho " disapproval^ ”
though lie added that, as these Sheiks had been foremost in resisting the substitution of
Turkish for Arab rule in the Montefig Territory, ho could not reject that they should have
been tho first to experience tho effects of the despotism they had themselves mainly contributed
to ect up. Such scntimonls would appear to cast doubt upon Ilis Excellency’s disavowal, but
inasmuch as the conduct of the parties in question in supporting a cause which was viitually
the cause of Sheik Fuhud, however obnoxious to Turkish olficials, could have constituted no
demerit in the eyes of that Chief, their oflonco towards himself must have rested on separate
grounds, and their punishment, 1 believe, have beon prompted by other motives than Turkish
instigation.
Sheik Fuhud is still in the neighbourhood of Shutrch engaged in distributing tho fa mis
of the districts and in scouring the obedience of the tribes prior to proceeding to Sukesh
Shiookb. Shoik Munsoor and his few remaining adherents are encamped in the desert west of
the Euphrates, about six hours smith of Sumanoh, but have as yet manifested no disposition
to create disorder or to oppose the rulo of Sheik Fuhud. 1 am, indeed, credibly informed that,
when assured of the terms of tho latter Chief’s appointment, and convinced then, perhaps of
the futility of his own pretensions, Sheik Munsoor wroto to Sheik Fuhud stating that their
common object having been attained by tho subvcision of tho policy initiated by Namik Pasha,
he had no further ground of quarrel with the Government or with its nominee, and, rather
than he the occasion of bloodshed amongst the tribe, he would withdraw from the contest.
The troops which composed the expedition of Hafiz Pasha have returned to their respective
garrisons, save only a detachment of three hundred men with one gun, which, Namik Pasha
informs me, at tho request of Sheik Fuhud has been temporarily stationed at Itas-cl Jezireh
on the Hyc, at no great distance from Koot-cl-Amareh. With respect to the intention
previously announced to mo by Iiis Excellency to construct a fort and barracks and to estab­
lish a garrison at Shutrch, I have learnt from Hafiz Pasha that, finding Ilis Excellency’s
design to be impracticable, he had abstained from disclosing it. According, however, to
native report, it would seem that the subject was broached to Sheik Fuhud, who so earnestly
deprecated the proposed measure, threatening to resign the Chiefship of the Mootefig if it were
persisted in, that it was necessarily abandoned.
Sheik Fuhud having deputed one of his relatives to escort tho boats ladon with telegraph
materials up the Uphrates, orders have been issued by Namik Pasha for their dispatch to thoir
respective destination.

No. 36, dated tho 29tb Juno 1864.
From—Colonel A. B. Kexibxll, c.b., Her Majesty’s Consul-General at Baghdad,
! To—Hie Excellency the Right IIon'ble Sib H. L. Bolwbb, o.c.b., Her Majesty’s Ambassador,
Constantinople.
Namik Pasha has informed mo with much satisfaction that the report which had rcacli-
Y... ed Baghdad of the execution of Suleyman-ul-
Khuleif, Sheik of the Ajioud, had proved to be
unfounded, though his informant, a Turkish Officer from Sheik Fuhud's camp, had confirmed
the statement that this Chief (who was very ill), with the two others mentioned m my
despatch, No. 35, dated 15th instant, and several elders of the Montefig, had been imprisoned
in chains in spite of the promises of security by which they bad been induced to place them­
selves in Sheik Fuhud’s power. His Excellency mentioned at the same time his intention to
point out to Sheik Fuhud the piopriety under tho circumstances of releasing his prisoners.
Meantime? the severity exercised by the Sheik of the Montefig appears to have estranged some
of the influential members of tho tribe, and to have encouraged Sheik Monsoor to resume ms
efforts to annoy the Government. According to the accounts communicated to mo by i anj*i'
Pasha, the rebel Chief had succeeded in assembling a sufficient number of adherents to e®’' .®
him to threaten Sum a well, and by his intrigues south of Busserah had inoited the Beni Si a 1 *
to revive their claims upon the produce of the lands from which they were formerly ejec y
Muneeb Pasha. To counteract these movements Shubli Pasha has been dispatclie
Suraaweh with the entire garrieon of Dcwaneh, consisting of 1,100 Infantry, and i la
Pasha, with a detachment of Riflemen, is about to proceed per steamer to Bussorah : pen i g
the issue of those expeditions the distribution of telegraph materials at different points ou
bauh-8 of the Euphrates is, of course, suspended.
Namik Pasha has now established a service of Arab messengers to run twice a week
between Bussorah aud Diwanioh.