Page 320 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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310 Records of Bahrain

BAHREIN.

The island of Bahrein is situated in a deep
bay on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf. It
faces the Turkish district of Katif on the west, and
the peninsula of El Katr, in which we have more than
once formally declined to recognise Turkish autJiori ty,
on the east and south-east,

The following extract from a letter from
the Government of India dated 5th January 1903 gives
a succinct statement of the political geography of
the section of the Arabian Coast with which Bahrein
is immediately concerned. The places named are mark-
ed on Curzon's map.
HFrom Koweit to Katif town Ottoman rule
has long been recognised, and, in fact, though

this has never been explicitly admitted, it would
be difficult to dispute Turkish claims to exer­
cise jurisdiction as far as, and inclusive of,
Ojair (Ukair in Curzon's map), South of this
place, and on the El Katr pe?iinsula, his Majesty'8

Government have declined to recognise Turkish
sovereignty, though the Turks actually have a
garrison at El Bidaa.........
”From and inclusive of Odeid eastward,
the coast belongs to the Trucial Chiefs as far as
Ras-el-lOieima. "
Bahrein is of importance as the centre of the
pearl fisheries of the Gulf. Xt is also the residence

of a number of British Indian traders, whose export
trade in dates from Katif caused some difficulty with
the Turkish Government in 19C4 owing to the extortions
of the local Turkish authorities. The local naviga-
t i 071