Page 118 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

8 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Mubarik, who had met and were reported to be collecting forces in the north of
El-Katr. The alarm became so acute that the British Indian subjects at
Bahrain embarked their property in boats in the harbour.
Warning letters were addressed to both the Shaikhs, and the Turkish
authorities at Bussorah promised to order their local officials to prevent any ex­
pedition against Bahrain from the mainland.
The idea of such an expedition, if really entertained, was abandoned, and
Nasir-bin-Mubarik went to El-Hasa. From there be was reported to have
gone to Kowait with the object of obtaining funds from the Shaikhs of that
place, for the settlement of the Beni Hajir in some fixed place. The 8haikha
were said to have proposed, as conditions, that four principal men of the tribe
should reside in Kowait itself, and the rest near it, with the Ajman tribe, and
that the Beni Hajir should be responsible for any disturbance by sea or land.
The negotiations seem to have fallen through, and no terms were arranged.
Towards the close of the year the Porte having raised a question of the
right of the British officials to take up the cases of Bahrain subjects, who had
suffered by the piracies of the Beni Hajir, was informed that Bahrain was
under British protection.
The Resident visited Bahrain in July last in R.I.M.S. Lawrence,
4.—NEJD.
There is nothing special to report regarding the doing9 of Abdul Rahim-
bin-Feysal during the past year.
In August he was living with Shaikh Jasim-bin-Thani, and was afterwards
given a house in Al*Bid3a, which he had selected as hi3 future residence, on
receiving an allowance from the Porte. His family joined him there from
Bahrain.
In November he went to El-Hasa at the invitation of the Wali of Bussorab,
and is said to have been assigned an allowance of 33 liras a month, on condi­
tion of his living at El-Hasa.
5.—EL-KATIF.
In March 1S92 it was reported that the Kaim Makam of El-Katif bad
received instructions to appoint officials at El-Katif,. Ojair, and El-Katr, to levy
port-dues. This report proved to be correct as regards El-Katif at least, for in
December the Chief of Bahrain represented that port-dues were being levied
there on Bahrain boats. Enquiry, however, showed that this tax was levied
on all boats entering El-Katif harbour and not on those of Bahrain alone.
The Beni Hajir pirates carried on their depredations at El-Katif itself
and close to it.
In May last two boats were reported to have been seized by them at
Ramus to the north of El-Katif. They were pursued, and put to flight, by
Aluhammad-bin-Abdul Wabab who recovered one of the boats.
In the following month another band of twenty-five Beni Hajir seized a
bitggalow at El-Katif and put to sea in search of plunder. The Turkisli-soldiers,
who were sent in pursuit, failed to overtake the buggalow, which a little later
came up with a boat belonging to a El-Katif merchant, with a cargo valued at
111,300. The Beni Hajir, after plundering her of everything, including ^
gear, restored her to the nacoda with three bags of dates, a little water, and a
small sail.
The Turkish soldiers after cruising in search of the pirates without success
returned to El-Katif.