Page 38 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

20 Records of Bahrain

They appear to ho mainly dependent for thoir provisions and supplies
upon Basrah. Tlioy do not seem in any way to intorforo with tlio govornauco
of tho town oulsido tlio fort, which is loft in tho Arabs* hands; nor do they
apparently mix with tho Arabs to any great oxtonfc. Tho yoko, theroforo, on
tho Arabs'* neck appears light, and, with a fair amount of cohesion amongst
thomsolvcs, could, for a poriod at any rate, bo easily thrown off, so long as a
proper opportunity was tnkon. The effect caused by tho prcsonco of ono of Her
Majesty’s ships was to tho Turks that of embarrassment—to tho Arabs, a cortain
amount of encouragement.
13. Ahmed in a privato interview with Lieutenant Robinson stated it
was thoir wish to turn out tho Turks, and would bo pleased to ontor into tho
same treaties with tho British Government as havo tho Trucial Chiofs.
Ho was, of course, distinctly told that ho must not think of tho British
Government interfering initially, but that his views would bo forwarded by
mo for any future consideration the Government might sco fit to take, in tho
ovont of his boing successful in his endeavour to substantiate himself over tho
Turk. It roally seems ns if Jnssitn bad given up any further activo measures,
and that his brother had taken up tho roius.
Id. In concluding this portion of my roport, I think I may stnto that
tho manner of my procedure in order to obtain all availablo information did
not givo tho Turkish officials any opportunity of assorting such nominal
authority as tho Porto possesses in this locality.
16. Bahrein.—Tboro is nothing of importance to noto boyond what tho
British Agent has reported to you by letter, which, I understand, boars on tho
subjoct of Skoikli Bsa, who, it scorns, is by cortain ucts alionating his pcoplo
from him.
1G. I learnt that the Turkish gun-boat “ Mujhdah Resau,** on boing
rolioved at El-Bidaby tho ** Scd<l-ol-Bahr,” was proceeding to El-Katif on route
for Basrah, haying to anchor outsido this harbour, owing to a strong shcmal; slio
foundored at her anchors ; tho Sheikh sent boats to bring off tho ship’B company,
and housod thorn for about 10 days. It is curious to note that tho Turkish Com­
mander at El-Bida raado no mention of this catastrophe. It is rumoured
that they gave out that tho Turks had by no means given up thoir idea of
ovcntually occupying this island.
Vl* In addition to tho troops at El-Bida, thcro aro about 1G0 at El-
Katif and 4j Tabuvs at El-IInssa, bosidcs thoso still at Basrah ; this is a con­
siderable forco and thoir objective should bo carofully watched,
18. Tho Sboikh informed mo that Zobara was practioally uninliabitod,
and that the Turkish flag was not flying there.

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