Page 130 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

114
ITajoo Yoossoof from the oommoncoment resided in tlio fort on the north­
ern bank of llaffar, and as ho very early evinced a disposition (relying on tho
strength of his situation) to disregard the authority of tho Sheikh of Fellahiah,
Heir to tho Cliicfah'p of tho Chaab etAtloncd at tllO llOXt licil’ to the Chiofsllip of tllO
Koot-d-sbcikb. tribe, was usually stationed in tho fort on
tho southorn bank of tho canal to hold him in check, and to administer tho
Chaab affairs upon this, thoir western frontior. During the life-timo of Slioikli
Ghais, his brother Mobashir thus acted as his deputy on the Flnffar, and when
Mobashir subsequently ruled at Follahiah, the third brother Thamir succeeded to
theoommand of Mohammcrah. Thamir in tho same way on his elevation to tho
Chiefslup of the tribe, placed his nephow Paris at Mohammcrah, and since Faris
has been transferred to Fellahiah, his brothers Hashim and ]\[ahoincd have suc-
oessivcly beon stationed on tho llaffar. Tho fort on the southern bank or tho river,
although a part of the original Mohamrnorah, has thus received the name “ par
excellence " of Koot-el-Sheikh, or “ the Sheikh cattle,M while that on tho northern
bank has alone to the present day retained
Thia place of bond fide dependonoy of Fclluliiab,
its old designation. Tho KooWl-Sheikh
being directly subordinate to Fellahiali has followed in all its changes or modi­
fications the political dependency of tho tribe of Chaab, but tho Chiefs residiug
in the fort of Mohammcrah have sometimes acted without reference to the su­
premo Sheikh, and as it is this northern fort that has been the great object of
contention between Turkey and Persia, it is necessary to trace its fortunes with
some care.
Hajeo Jaabir succeeded bis brother llajeo Yoossoof in the government of
Chiof of Mohammcrah ondoarcun to bo independent the f«*rt Ot Mohammcrah nl)Out25 years OgO*
ot uuab. As the son of a slave of tho Chaab Shoikli
and at tho head of a small, Chaab colony, ho could not of oourse pretend openly
to assert his independence of the authority of Fellahiah. On several occasions,
indeed, he furnished his share of the Clnab levy to enable the Sheikh of the
tribe to meet tho demands of Persia, and ho also sent men to Sheikh Thamir’s
assistance when Fellahiah was threatened by a hostilo force, hut still these proofs
of allegiance appear to have been but partially and reluctantly given. Lie sot-
tied directly witli the Government of Bussoraii for tho land rent of the town of
Mohammcrah, and he made oc :asioual presents to the Persian Governors of Dez-
fool and Howeizah, unknown to the Chief of Fellahiah showing as I think that
his jealously of the Chaab Sheikh was only equalled by his fears of Persia and
Turkey His real object no doubt was independence, and ho was quite content
to be permitted its enjoyment without any effective declaration of his views.
Mohammcrah, however, swelling from a potty fort into a considerable town
had between the years 1830 and 1837, risen into so much consequence, as an em­
porium of trade, that it attracted general attention, and Sheikh Jaabir’s anoma­
lous position began of course to be submitted to enquiry. Ali Pasha of Haghdud
desirous of protecting Bussorah from any further injury to its revenue, consider­
ing Sheikh Jabir iu no other light than as a servant of the Chaab, and believing
that the laud on which Mohamrnorah was built was unequivocally Turkish pro­
perty, marched accordingly agaiust tho
Mohamrnorah ruined by Ali Pailia.
place in A. D. 1837, took it by assault and
plundered all the merchandise that had been stored in its warehouses. Having
levelled the walls of Mohammerah, carried off the guns and left the place de­
fenceless, ho followed up his success as I have before mentioned by a demons­
tration against Fellahiah, which compelled Sheikh Thamir toffy to Koweit, aud
placed the dependency of the Chaab tribe altogether in his hands. Jaabir in tho
, Hajeo Jaabir, tho Chief throwa biioaclf on the pro­ meantime had lied to Bushire, and had
tection of I’oraia. endeavoured to interest the Government
of Shiraz in his behalf, urging with some plausibility (though as it appears
now for tho first time) that as Mohammerah was watored by thoKuroon, it must
bo regarded as Persian property, but his solicitations were inopportune and
accordingly were fruitless, and lie was thus obliged to return to bis dis­
mantled town and rely on his own resources for further protection. About
the same time the Turkish troops being withdrawn to Baghdad, Sheikh