Page 297 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

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hesidknoy AND MA.SKAT POLITICAL AGENCY TOE THE TEAT. 1896-90. 3

TCo confirmation of the allegations of tlis chief of Abu Dtliabi regarding
^Hnination by ports other than his own in the trade, by sea, in slaves
t'10 9* thcoming. It is to bo feared, however, that the other towns are not
was
)t from the responsibility of a share in it and the existence of a trade ovor-
fnndfrom tbo Batinch Coast of Maskat, was generally admitted ; the oppor­
tunity was therefore taken to address a serious warning to the various chiefs
. tl ' c0‘ur60 of the tour. The trade in slaves overland is beyond our reach,
iut if means could be found to put an effectual stop to the importation, from
Africa to Sur, whence slaves are carried to the Batineh, and thence distributed
by sea and land to places further up the Gulf, a heavy blow would he struck
at the root of this atrociouB evil.
In August a party of the Manasir tribe started from Katr upon an
expedition which was rumoured to he a pillaging-raid. Timely notice of the
movement enabled the Shaikhs to make preparations for resisting them, and
tbe enterprise assumed a more peaceful character. Dcbai, Shargah an4 Um-el-
Kawein were visited and gifts received from the Shaikhs. At Hamraniych,
however, the Manasir managed to get the people off their guard and to carry
off a number of their animals and a few slaves.
A Turkish subject proceeding down the Ajman creek to embark in a vessel,
outside was shot dead from the bank by a watchman who, on challenging the
party, had failed to get a reply. The act, though perhaps culpably rash, was
not of the nature of an intentional murder: the watchman was at once appre­
hended hv the chief and the Residency made a representation of the facts through
the Assistant Political Agent at Busrnh with the object of preventing reprisals
on Ajman subjects visiting Busrali. A Shura court decided that the chief was
free from all liability which rested on tbe watchman alouc, but di-.l not fix tbe
amount of compensation to be paid, it being understood, however, that redress
of this nature should he given. As the result of communications with the
Turkish Vice-Consul at Bushirc the relations of the deceased waived all claim
against Ajman and the matter ended.
At the close of the year the chief of Behai, together with tbe son of the
Abu Dthabi chief, visited the Sultan of Maskat. The object of this visit,
though there were certain rumours about it, was not divulged.
A serious fire occurred in Debai in August, some sixty bouses in the
suburbs being destroyed, and one life lost
3.—BAHRAIN.
In tlie report for last year the troubles which threatened- Bahrain at
its close were noticed. These increased aud became serious, the A1 bin
Ali tribe being supported in their, contumacy and resistance to their chief by
Shaikh Jasim bin Mahomed Thani with whose countenance they obstinately
insisted on maintaining the obnoxious settlement at Zobara, in defiance of tbe
clearest warning that this would in nocase be permitted. Shaikh Jasim and the
Al bin Ali tribe under Shaikh Sultnu bin Salamah were encouraged in tbe
aggressiveattitudetbev had assumed towards Bahrain by the provincial Turkish
officials, the gravity of the situation being there by much increased.
Earning and remonstrance being unavailing, it became necessary to
aaopt measures of coercion, and H. M. S. " Sphinx 99 accordingly under
e instructions of Government seized some of the boats of the rebellious tribe,
ut tins step which in ordinary course should have sufficed to bring the Al
pi* ! t?ir-caso.1?^» failed in its object, owing to the vigorous outside support
and tv i w^°» a^ter their cause had been taken up by Shaikh Jasim
sent o i U!*s’ were probably not quite free agents. A number of boats
^ “fallram to Zobara to bring over tbe family of one of the leading
werp o rS ^in wh° ^a(l made his peace with the chief of Bahraini
Jasim CCOrcilnSly seized and detained at Zobara under the auspices of Shaikh
estAt T.U?lsl1 troops with a minor official had some time before boon
plexinn 1,0 , axa a?d the Ottomau flag had been hoisted, and a serious com-
o thus been given to what in its origin had been a difference between