Page 19 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

3
with tho greatest roluolnnco, we beg Icavo to nssurp Your Honors, that we find ourselves under
the necessity o£ applying to Carin Caun for sottling tho tranquillity of this Gulf; it is oertainly
in hie powor to do it. The Turks are afraid to attempt the reduction of tho Chaub without the
Caun'e permission, and this permission has not yet been granted."
4. The events narrated above wore followed by a piratical attack of
Sheikh Salman on some British vessels.
Curion's Pcrsis, it, psgo 319.
This brought down upon a flotilla of four
of tho East India Company’s vessels. Except a successful attack upon the
island of Kharak in May 1708, the expedition effected little and returned less
ono vessel, which had blown up.
5. Next wo hear of tho Kaab§ making in 1775 a commoq cause with the
PcrtiAu Quir Miuion Diary, Bominy, Voi. 284 of Persians under Kerim Khan iii tho Persian
1776-7(1. war against Turkey. The Kaab and
Persian fleets blockaded tho Shat-el-Arab with their fleet, while a Persian force
attacked Basrah by land. It was reported that in order to clear the way for,
the East India Company’s servants down the river on leaving the Basrah fac­
tory, an English cruiser attacked Kaab gallivats and captured one of them.
(5. In a letter,0 dated tho 1st January 1792, tho Resident at Basrah
communicated the following intelligence
• Pages JO-71 of Turkish Arabia Piecii (IG4G-
lv,C. to tho Bombay Government relative to a
rupture between tho Turks and Kaabs:—
*' In our address of tho ldth October 1791 we had the honor to communicate information
that a rupture would probably tike placo between thin Government and the Chaub Sheikh,
in consequence of the destruction of the principal part of the fleet belonging to the latter.
Such a rupture took placo on tho Chaub Sheikh giving directiono for the construction, on
the hanks of the Basrah River, of strong batteries with a view of intercepting tho vessels
which had, after destroying his gallivats, imported at Basrah on their return from thence
to 6ea. On tho departure of the vessels in question from Basrah, they were accompanied by the
Turkish fleet commanded by the Captain Basha, and on their arrival off the leforementioned
batteries an engagement took place between them and the people belonging t«> the Chaub
Sheikh stationed therein, which t»rminated without any sorioue advantage on either side, the
people belonging to the Cbaub Sheikh retiring from the batteries to Dor-th by the vessels
belonging to the coffee fleet procuring to sea, anu by the Turkish fleet returning to Basrah.
The couduct of the Cliaub Sheikh in erecting batteries on the Basrah side of the river, and
in demanding from the Pacha restitution, either in money, or vessels, for the loss which he
has lately sustained, has extremely irritated the lattor, and may possibly induce him to act
offensively against the former. \Vo have much satisfaction in informing you that during
the late dispute between this Government and the Chaub Sheikh, the Chaub Sheikh gavo
very acceptable proofs of his friendship towards tho English nation in permitting the gallivat
hired by the Resident for thn conveyance of Major MacDonald from Basrah to Maskat to
pass his batteries in tbo most honourable manner as on other occasions."
7. The Muhaiseu tribe was once subordinate to the Kaab Arabs. Their
Robertson’s memorandum in Gulf Administration Sheikh Mardu was the first of the tribe
Roport for 1878-79 and Curzpn’s Persia, Vol 11. that rose into importance and .fo.unded
Mobammerah.f Tho ri>o of Mohammerah hampered the trade of Basrah, and
the Turks would not tolerate .a rival within what was regarded by them as their
own territory. Mohammerah was therefore attacked and plundered by the Vali
of Baghdad in 1837. Baghdad and Basrah practically were then eufeqbled by
plague, which fact joined with the hereditary ill will of the Kaabs for the Turks,
paved the way for the Persian occupation of Mohammerah. The Persians oreated
Haji Jabir Khan Governor of Mohammerah. The chief of the Kaabs, .Sheikh
Thamer of EeUahieh, was reduced to subjection at the same time and soon CQm-
pelled to fly for his life to Turkish territory. He was .succeeded by a class of
feoble Sheikhs to be set up aod deposed and reinstated Governors according to
the whims of the Persian Governor General of Arabistan.
8. The delta of the Euphrates and Karun wqs gradually engrafted by Persia
in the province of .Kliuzistan, whiob later on became known as Arabistan! The
administration of this province has been conducted .by a Governor General,
usually a prince of the Royal family, whose temporary headquarters while hq
Arabistan was formerly at 'Shuster as mentioned in the Gulf Administration
Report for 1883.84 and has now been shifted to Dizful. The Governor General
practically left all administration in tho hands of the local Governors nominated
from the families of tho old chief. Tho principal of these were tho Sheikhs or
M ullahs of (*) Mohammerah, (3) Pellahieh, (3) Ramis (Ram Harrauz), (4)
face fur a uioro dciailod history of Molumuiu. ah air A. Kawii.uou's juuaio.'aoiujr priutoJ ai Appeal ix to this Precis.