Page 16 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

4 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
In July a mutual agreement was signed by all the trucial Chiefs of
the Pirate Coast regarding the surrender of fraudulent absconders, or
payment of their liabilities. The text
Appendix IL
of this agreement will be found in the
Appendix.
The coast was very unhealthy during the year, and there was great
mortality from small-pox and fever of a malarious type. At Shargah
alone it was reported that 2,500 persons had died.
With reference to the proceedings summarized in paragraphs
10 and 11 of the Annual Report for 1877-78, it has now to be noted that
the Al-K obey sat branch of the Beni-Yds, formerly residing at 'Odcyd,
have of their own accord returned with Shaikh Hatye-bin-Khadim to
Abu-Zhabbce and resumed allegiance to Shaikh Za'ccd-bin-Khaleefah,
who has restored to them the property they held previous to their seces­
sion.
3.—Bahrain.
The measures adopted by, and at the instance of, the Government
of India for the suppression of piracy in the waters between Bahrain
and El-Katecf and round the coast of El-Katr have been so far effec­
tive that only one case of the kind has occurred during the year. The
particulars arc as follows:—
In July a fishing vessel lying at anchor off Luffau on the east coast
of El-Katr was boarded by a band of the Beni-Hajir uuder the now
notorious robber, Za'eed-bin-Mohammcd, and his brother, Su'ood-bin-
Mohammed. The Bcni-IIajir had got possession of two vessels belong­
ing to the El-Mohandah tribe of Khor Shajeej, who were suspected of
connivance in the matter. The property plundered was estimated at
Kraus 2,020. Inquiry was instituted into the conduct of the people of
Khor Shajeej, and as it appeared they acted under compulsion, it was
not considered necessary to punish them. Letters of warning were
however addressed to the Shaikh of Khor Shajeej and the other Katr
Chiefs, to the effect that it was their duty to guard against their boats
being used for piratical purposes, and that they would be liable to be
called to account for such occurrences.
The Ilajirce leader, Za'ecd-bin-Mohammed, is still at large, not­
withstanding the reiterated demands of the Political Officers in Turkish
Arabia for bis arrest. It is of course indispensable, in view to the
pcrwaucut security of the 6cas, that he should be captured and punished.
In paragraph 18 of the report for the previous year, an account was
given of tbo proceedings of one 'Ali-bin-Jabir, a Bahrain robber, and
bis arrest by the Turkish authorities of El-Hus&. Through, the media­
tion of the Political Officers in Turkish Arabia, the request of the Chief
of Bahrain for the extradition of this culprit and his companions was
complied with, under orders of the Wali of Busrah, and 'Ali-bin-Jabir
was executed at Bahrain by Shaikh 'Eesa-bin-Ali.
A Nakhoda, named 'Abdullah, who had been convicted of lending
his vessel to the licni-llajir pirates, was arrested by the Chief of
Bahraiu, aud was killed in a struggle with his guards.

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