Page 173 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1880-81. 5
3.—Bahrain.
During the year under review the islands of Bahrain have been
tranquil-and prosperous. Apprehensions were felt on account of the
threatening attitude of the refugee Nasir-bin-Mubfirik, who is the
present leader of the Al-Abdullah brauch of the Al-Khalccfah family
of the Bahraiu ’(Jttoobees.
Communications have at different times during late years passed in
view to some arrangement being effected by which this restless spirit
should cease from troubling, and the Shaikhs of Bahrain be at rest; but
Nasir aims at obtaining possession of landed property on the Bahrain
Islands and a footing there, conditions which the Chief Shaikh ’Ecsa is
unable to entertaiu first from the fact that Nasir was concerned in the
murder of his father, the late Chief of Bahrain, and also from other
obvious considerations.
In June 1SS0 rumours began to reach Bahrain that Nasir meditated
an attack on the islands, and it was considered prudent to communicate
with the Senior Naval Officer ir» view to a vessel of war showiug at
Bahrain. Towards the end of the year Nasir-bin-Mubfirik actually
collected a few hundred Bedouins and took position at Ru’ais and Abu-
Dhuloof ou the Katr Coast, opposite Bahrain. The Arabs, however,
failed to obtain boats, and abandoning the design of a raid, dispersed,
Nasir returning to El-Bida’a. Her Majesty’s Ship Beacon visited the spot
shortly afterwards, and Her Majesty’s Ship Woodlark showed at Bahrain.
The attempt was intimated to the Political Agent, Turkish Arabia, who
drew the attention of the authorities to the subject. Letters were
addressed to the various Katr Shaikhs, repeating the warnings against
countenancing or aiding hostile attempts by sea against Bahrain. To
these letters friendly and suitable replies were received.
It is believed that the prime mover and instigator of tbc threaten­
ing movements under Nasir-bin-Mubarik is the Chief of El-Bida’a,
Jasim-bin-Mohammed-bin-Thani, who, besides an old standing hostility
to the Bahrain Shaikhs, is interested in the success of Nasir, who is his
son-in-law, and on whom he bos spent a large sum. He would be glad
to be relieved of the expense and danger of maintaining Nfisir, and, in
event of the latter establishing himself iu power at Bahrain, might
hope for many advantages. A special caution has been conveyed to
J^sira, who is himself iu a way a protege of the Turkish Government,
a Turkish guard of about thirty soldiers being quartered at El-Bida’a.
It appears also that Nfisir-bin-Mubfirik is in receipt of an allowance of
CO dollars monthly from the Turkish Government, and it is believed
the local authorities at all events encourage his ambitious designs.
In January NJsir wrote to the Resident stating that he was con­
stantly urged by persons iu Bahrain to cross over, an 1 that though he
had long refrained from this step from deference to British authority,
still his forbearance had produced no benefit to him, and to improyo his
circumstances, he now intended to proceed to Bahrain, and hoped for
the support of the British Government. Of course he would inform the
Resident of bis arrival in Bahrain. J&sim-bin-Mohammed wrote at the
same time a mediatory letter on behalf of hi* son-in-law.% In reference