Page 99 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III. 77
(x) Recent Turkish relations with the Shammar tribes of Mesopotamia, 1889.
149. Tho Bliammar Jcrbali tribes camo into promincnco again in 1889.
It appears from a report of Colonel Henry
External A., July 189’J, No*. 15*20.
Trotter, Military Attache, British Embassy
at Constantinople (datod 3rd April J 889) that tho Shammar tribes of Mesopota­
mia emigrated about 200 years ago from Jcbcl Shammar in North Arabia, and
that their Chief Sheikh Ear ban is a blood relation of I bn Rashid of Hayil. Mr.
Robertson however in his report No. 247,
External A., October 1880, No*. 108*170.
dated 29th July 188'J, thought otherwise,
though, at tho snmo time, ho speaks of tho consanguinity between two Shammar
tribes of Arabia and Mesopotamia.
150. In tho report quoted above, Colonel Trotter brought to tho notice of
tho British Embassy the raids committed
External A., July 1E80, Nos. 15*20.
by the Shammar Arabs of Mesopotamia
and tho measures taken by the Turkish Government to punish them by des­
patching a battalion of troops against Sheikh Earhan. But the Chief appears
to have made a timely submission and made every reparation by restoring
the plundered property and ottering presents to tho Commander of tho
battalion.
(xi) Arab risings on tho Tigris between Amara and Kurna.
Revolt of Sheikh Sayhud and his Arabs, 1892.
151. In April 1892, there was a rising of a large number of Arabs against tho
Turkish Government under the leadership
5iain’*^tcie^rum^to^iiuVhirc, dated 12th of one Sheikh Sayhud. Tolcgraphic com-
April 1802. munication between Baghdad and Basrah
Ibid, No. 6.
was interrupted. Several native boats were
plundered between Kalali Saleh and Kurna. The Turkish steamer Mosul was
fired at Humay and compelled to return. Ezra’s tomb was barricaded. The
Blosse (Messrs. Lynch Brothers* steamer) when coming down the river was
warned by the Mutassanf of Amara not to proceed further without a guard,
which he was unable to furnish. But tho steamer steamed down tho river to
Kurna without molestation. The Vali «of Basrah left with troops for quelling
tho insurrection.
152. The Khalifa (Lynch’s steamer) steamed up the river with a guard fur-
51 a jor Jooniog'* telegram*, dated uth April, nished by the Vali of Basrah and arrived
ibid, No. 7. at Amara without being molested.
153. On the night of the 3rd May 1892, a gang of Arab robbers broke into a
Major JcQQiug't roportsdated Gth and 7lb May shop in Basrah, killed two men, woundod
18'J2. one, and carried away a safe with valuable
Ibid, No*. 13,Hand 17. and cash. Sheikh Sayhud had built a
strong and almost unpregnable fort amidst impassable marches 4J miles from
Kalab Saleli. In tho midist of the confusion, on the 20th of April the prisoners
in the Turkish jail at Basrah overpowered the guards and 16 Arabs with a
notorious assassin escaped from prison.
154. The origin of the insurrection appears to have been that a canal, which
had hitherto been leased to Sheikh Sayhud, was in 1892, let to his nephew and
that Sayhud’s children were imprisoned by the Mutasarrif of Amara. Sheikh
Yessar (a cousin of Sheikh Sayhud) declared himself for the Government and
led his Arabs against the insurgents. Sheikh Sayhud was the brother-in-law of
the Chief, tho Beni Sad Arab, and appears to have received much secret assis­
tance from them.
155. Tho Turkish authorities took prompt measures to protect the Consulate
and tho British ships by furnishing the necessary guards. As a further protec­
tion H. M. S. Brisk, which had gone to Basrah was detained until the in­
surrection was quelled.
15G. For the purpose of quelling the insurrection, the principal means em­
ployed by tho Turks was to set tho Arabs against Arabs, wbilo the Turkish troops
marched near the scene of revolt without having the necessity of firing a shot, a
precaution which they took in order togivo no chance for blood feuds.
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