Page 298 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

4 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE TERSIAN GULP
POLITICAL

the Bahrain chief and a tribe on that island, which admitted of no
interference. A small Turkish war-vessel also appeared on the sce°U^^0
remained some time off Zobara; her presence, notwithstanding the declared -antl
of the commander to protect Bahrain, undoubtedly tending to encoura ° 1
hostile attitude. The situation daily became more strained and the combP k
against Bahrain more threatening, till in August the Mutaserrif of a
addressed a bombastic letter to the Resident reassorting Turkish pretension*08!}
intimating tho.t failing a restoration of the boats seized by H. M. S. “ Sphin ^
an attack would be made by the tribes of the Katr peninsula on Bahrain f *
which British subjects should accordingly be removed within seventeen days*
Before this H.M.8. “ Pigeon” had also proceeded to Bahrain and on bein<>
despatched to Zobara received an order from the petty local official to depart
under threat of attack and intimation that the large fleet of Arab craft lying there
was prepared for an attack on Bahrain. Matters had now reached a crisis and
the date named by the El Hasa official for hostilities against Bahrain had
arrived. Instant action for tho safety of Bahrain was thereupon decided on by
the Senior Naval Officer as necessary, and after due warning both ships opened
fire on the hostile fleet, of which about 40 were disabled. Shaikh Jasim the
following morning offered full submission, and in compliance with Captain
Pelly’s demands some 120 more of the boats at Zobara were surrendered and
removed to Bahrain.
After this severe but most necessary lesson, the A1 bin Ali tribe with the
exception of Shaikh Sultan and a few adherents returned to Bahrain and to
their allegiance, under assurances of indulgent treatment and the conditions of
life they bad previously enjoyed.
The final proceedings in connection with this mutter were only completed
at the close of the year. Shaikh Jasim was informed in February 1S96 of the
decision of Government, to the effect that as the main instigator of these
disturbances he was fined thirty thousand rupees, failing payment of which
the captured boats would be destroyed. lie however repudiated responsibi­
lity in the matter, sheltering himself behind alleged orders for all his acts from
the Turkish authorities and professed to have resigned the g?<as£-official autho­
rity lie held from them in Katr, and his own real personal influence. In
these circumstances an opening to redeem their own boats, by paying a pro­
portionate share of the indemnity, was offered to the tribes and was availed of
to the extent cf one-third of the amount; the remaining boats were destroyed
a few days after the close of the year.
Thus ended an episode which had imperilled tho welfare and progress of
Bahrain with which we have for long past had close and friendly relations, and
where a trade of some importance, involving considerable British Indian inter­
ests, has been established. There can be no doubt that our effective support
of the integrity and independence of Bahrain and resistance to foreign pre­
tension and outside interference, has had a very salutary effect on that coast.
The death of Shaikh Sultan bin Salamah in November at the hands of
certain men of the Ammamerah tribe who fell in with him at sea off Bas-Tan-
nurah near Katif and fired on his boat, was a most regretable incident.
The Shaikh had been the leader of the Al bin Ali in their defiance of the
authority of the Bahrain chief, who was naturally reluctant to punish the
Ammamerah and who became therefore liable for some of the ill-feeling excite
by this act.

4.—NEJD:
Disorder and insecurity on the trade routes were caused by the

was thus interrupted, and in October Mahomed Ibn Rashid *PPeJ} SLsecID»
Governor of £1 flasa to guarantee the safety of the roads to Nejd ana aB
failing which he claimed discretion himself to chastise the tribes nam >
disturbers of the peace of his territories.