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Tliamir also returned from Koweit, and having displaced Sheikh Abdul
Sheikh Thntntr of Follahinh declares his depondou* lta'/HCJ, wllO had bcCIl loft in tllO Go-
cy ou Turkey. vornment of Fellahiah by the Turks,
ho signod for his own personal ends a convention with the Pasha of
Baghdad, securing himself in occupation of the Sheikh-Ship, and pledging the
nllegiancoof his tribe to Bussorah. But Sheikh Jaabir, who could not so easily
forgive the destruction of his flourishing town by the Turks, refused to ho
bound by this convention. Ho now asserted and maintained his independence
of Tliamir and threatened if interfered with to call in the protection of tho
Persians. I believe that the direct political connexion betweon Mohammerah and
Persia dates no further back that Hajeo Jnahir’s visit to Bushiro in 1837, and
how much of cordiality or even of practical dependency there was in tho connex­
ion which was thus formed, may bo comprehended from the fact that when four
years afterwards the Mootimcd-ed-Dowlah for tho first tiino visited Mohamme­
rah at the head of a Persian army with a viow of marching on Fellahiah from
tho southward (its only vulnerable point of attack) Hajec Jaabir was afraid to
Persia establishes her authority over l» »th Muhain- trust himself in tho hands of his acknow­
me rah anil Ch tab. ledged Chief, but again Hod to Koweit
leaving his nephew Hajec Mahomed to act as his deputy with tho so-called
friendly Persian army. Mohammerah in tho meantime had been rebuilt and
had recovered much of its former consequence, so that tho Moetimed-cd-Dowlali
seeing at once the advisability of retaining his hold upon this place, determined
to leave an otlicer to reside on the part of tho Persian Government with Sheikh
Jaabir, whose absence bo affected to consider a matter of no moment, and
subsequent events have tended most singularly to promote the accomplishment
of the ends he had in view in making this arrangement.
Hajeo Jaabir, having returned to Mohammerah after the withdrawal of the
Moetiraed-el-Uowlah, sent his nephew Hajee Mahomed to Fellahiah to concert
measures, as it is said, with Sheikh Paris who had been placed in the Chaab Gov­
ernment by the Persiaus to the exclusion of his uncle Tliamir, for thoir mutual
Blood feud between the Chiefs of Fellahiah and SUppOl't Slid protection in til0 eVCtlt of a
Mobiuimeral:. socond Prrsian invasion. This young
man shortly after his arrival was shot by tho Chaab Sheikh, as a rebel to his
Chief, and a traitor to his tribe. The flames of tho strife broke out again of
course, more fiercely than ever between the two Chaab families. Hasliim, tho
brother of Paris, and Governor of Koot-el-Sheikh, made an attempt to cross
the HafTar and drive Jaabir out of Mohammerah, and the latter Chief was thus
obliged for his own protection, to put in execution his long threatened requisi­
tion for the presence of a Persian garrison. A detachment of troops from Dezfool
Temporary occupation of Vohumint-ruh by Pcrsiau accordingly OCCUpiod tllO town of MollUtn-
troopa atsiicikb jo«bii requ eiiioii. morah in the spring of 18l3, and remained
there until a fow months hack, when Jaabir relieved from his fear of attack from
Koot-el-Sheikh contrived, by showing the difficulty of their subsistanco to
dispense with their further services. But the Persian officer with a small escort
Officer continues tn nsido there on tho part of continues to reside in Mohammerah as
the Porsiau Government. tho representative of his Government, and
Sheikh Jaabir, whose fears arc now thoroughly aroused as well by the experience
the Porsians have had of the accessibility of Mohammerah as by tho invitation
of his enemy Sheikh Tliamir to Eerzeroom acts towards him not certainly with
any real good will but still in a manner calculated to avoid the possible for­
feiture of bis claim to the protection of Persia on occasion of necessity, and at
the samo time to doprecato the displeasure or hostility of that Government.
Tho present fort of Mohammerah which lias boon rebuilt since Ali Pasha’s
visit in 1837 is a “ quadrangular ** enclo­
Present appeanuteo of Mohammerah.
sure of about 350 yards by 300. Tho
mud wall which surrounds it, is of the most ordinary description, and it is
entirely destitute of artillery. It possesses only ono caravanserai fur tho accom­
modation of tho merchants, tho other buildings contained in the enclosure c..;
aro
the rudo huts, composed of mud and reeds, which form tho ordinary habitations
of tho Arabs.