Page 94 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

72 Part I.

prevailed, I should experience the utmost confidence in tho complete efficiency of tho80 sections
and for another year at least, onding Se|itombcr 1800, the condition of tranquillity ,, secured
by the incumbency of Sheik Fuhud, to tohotc tenure of office at Chief of the Montefio tribes the
Tur kith Executive it pledged for that period.

No. 18, diitod tho lGth May 18G0.
From—Colonbl A. B.«Kbudall, c.m., llor Majenty's Consul-General nt Bagdad,
To-llis KxcBLLBNCTTnK RionT llow'DLB LonD LTONS, O.C.D., llor Britannic Miijoalr’a Ambas­
sador, Constantinople. *
Sheik Mootluk, Chief of the Khazzail, whose expulsion from tho districts of tho Shamieh
Political A., July 18C6, Noa.3G-37. wost of Sumaweh, nnd subsequent movements
hnvo been duly reported by mo, lms at length
accepted the amnesty offered to him by Namik Pusha, nnd has come to Bagdad to do homage
to His Excellency preparatory to entering upon tho occupation of lands on the oastern banks
of the Tigris, which have been assigoed for the location of himself and his immediato ad-
horonts.
The districts in question, though nominally farmed by Sheik Mootluk, had been for many
years subject to his independent control. It was therefore for a time doubtful if a system of
apportionment amongst minor Sheiks, now rondcrcd directly accountable to Government,
could be successfully maintained : but the rights and interests of tho new lessees being effec­
tively supported by a military force, thoy were alike encouraged and enabled to defeat Mootluk's
repented efforts to rcoover his predominance. On tho other hand, the rapacity of tho Bedouin
tribes, with whom ho was obliged to seek asylum, and from whom (their allowances being
regularly paid by Government) ho failed to obtaiu open and continuous assistance, has sickened
Sheik Mootluk of a life of vagrancy in tho desert.
The example of Sheik Mootluk is likely soonor or later, I believe, and for the same reasons,
to be followed by Shg'k Munsoor, the recusant Chiof of the Munle/ig, who is at present
encamped among tho Dhefyr, As anticipated, the appointment of Sheik Fuhud, tho present
incumbent, whose tenure of the Shcikship extends to September next, nt onco deprived Sheik
Munsoor of the hope of successful opposition and placed him in a condition of onerous depend­
ence on the Bedouin Sheiks ; but this Chief being inoro seriously compromised by the act of
open rebellion, of whioh he was guilty, is also more diffident of Turkish promises of pardon
and good treatment; and as Namik Pasha will tderato no guarantee boyond bis own words
be may yet for a while defer his coming to Bagdad.
Sheik Nassir, tho brother of Sheik Munsoor, who by bis timely submission escaped tho
proscription that fell upon the latter, has proceeded ou a pilgrimage to Mecca. He will,
however, return iu time to compote for the farm of the Montefig Districts in September next,
when, as usual, I presume, the Government will take advantage of the rivalry of candidates to
raise the value of the lease. As the security of tho Mesopotamian Telegraph must depend for
the time upon the policy then -pursued, it is to he hoped that the syetera referred to will uot be
carried too fur, or give place to tho samo futile attempts to assume the direct aduiiuistratiou
of the country which so seriously impeded the construction of the line in 1863-04.

(viii) Robbery of a caravan by Arab tribes, 1866.
144. In 3866 a caravan carrying British goods was plundered near Anneh
! on the Euphrates by the Fuddaan and Subaa branches of tho Anezoh tribe.
The details of this incident are given below :—

No. 41, dated the 17th October 18GG.
From—Colonel 8ir AW<5ld Kbmball, c.b., and'k.c.s.t., Her Majesty's Consul-General at Bagdad,
To—Hia Excellency the Rioht Hon’dle Lobd Lyons, q.c.b., Her Britannio Majesty's Ambassa­
dor at Constantinople.
Referring to my despatch No. 30, dated 25th July last, I have the honour to report the
plunder of a caravan coming by the direct desert route from Aleppo. After omssing tho
Euphrates at Anneh, a section of this caravan, consisting of 75 camels with tbeir loads, being
ponds of Engl-eh manufacture to the value of £0,UOU, left tho usual track and struck across
Mesopotamia; but, presently encountering foraging parties of tho Fuddaan and Subaa branc es
of the Bedouin Anezth under Sheikhs I bn Muhad and Fgugee, was captured and carried oft. s
Agnil leader, though warned against quitting the main body of- the caravan, relied for immu­
nity in doing so up in his connection by marriage with an Anezch family, or, as is by son?®
euppos- d, h« delibomt-ly conducted his charge into an ambush preconcerted with his V* aou
friends. Forty of the 75 camels have been returned to thoir owners, and the remain er w
probably be restored; but of the recovery of their loads, belonging exclusively to *
subjects, among whom are the lato and tbe present precvoli des marchands, no prospect wna c