Page 285 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND TIIE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1907 1908. 101
50 percent, of the monies due to them, and this too only when the pearls have
been actually sold and paid for. 'J ho price of pearls at the present day is said
to have fallen approximately to the rates which existed 10 years ago.
In September 1907 a short-lived estrangement arose between Sheikh
Abdallali-bin-Jasim and bis cousins, the sons of the late Governor of Doha
Ahmad, but this was quickly overcome by Sheikh Jasim who went personally
to Doha for the purpose of settling it.
In December 1907 some friction also occurred at Wakra between the
Al bu’Ainain tribe and Sheikh Abdur Kahman-bin-Jasim, the Governor of the
town, in consequence of the latt<*r’s inconsiderate attempt to enforce the pay­
ment of the boat tax at an inconvenient timo against a notable of the tribe by
imprisoning him. The latter’s son attempted to shoot tho Shaikh, but was frus­
trated by his mother, after whioh lie was arrested and imprisoned in place of his
I father. The trouble was satisfactorily allayed by Shaikh Jasim, who interceded
for tho offender and procured his forgiveness and release in return for the
payment of the tax.
Sheikh Abdallah-bin-Jasira Al Thani arrived in Bahrein on the 3rd April
1907 en route for Bombay to investigate personally on his father’s behalf the
state of the pearl market. He put up in the town of Manama a number of
days, and also stayod with Sheikh E*a and s«-me of the minor Sheikhs of the
Al Khalifa family as their guest for short periods. Having exchanged
visits with the Political Agent, he was furnished with letters ol' introduction
to the Government and Customs authorities in Bombay and permission was
obtained for his party to continue wearing and carrying their arms while in
India.
The Sheikh left for Bombay on the 13th April and returned on the 29th
July to Manama, whence he proceeded immediately to his home at Doha, having
failed to sell any of his owu or his father’s pearls.
In June 1907 Shaikh Jasim-bin-Thani inaugurated tho maintenance of a
custom house in Doha under the management of ono of his slaves, with an
Arab aeting as Treasurer. The'stated reason for the innovation was the deficit
in the Bin Thanis* income caused by the depreciation of pearls. The people
of Katar have hitherto been much opposed to a step of this nature and the attempt
of the Turkish Government to establish a custom house at Doha in 1890 was
successfully resisted. Their quiet acquiescence now is doubtless attributable
to their sympathy for the Shaikh’s pecuniary misfortunes.
In January 1908, Sheikh Jasim-bin-Thani, who possesses the common Arab
proclivity for interfering in other people’s affairs and who had been unsuccess­
fully appealing to the Turkish authorities of Hasa to settle a blood-feud
between two large factions of the towns people of ’Ayon, named the Al Awda
and Al Mubanna, in a certain manner, convened a meeting of tho Bani Hajir
and Manasir headmen at Lusail to discuss tho feasibility of assisting the
Al Awda by force of arms. Tho project of course was not a serious one,
but it was intended by the movement, to impress the Turks with the necessity
for some sort of action. A deputation of Al Awda had also called on the
Political Agent in Bahroin the preceding May, but had received no encourage­
ment as regards British intervention.

ITasA, KaTIF AND THE ADJACENT Tl’IBAL TERRITORIES.
The affairs of the llasa and Katif Oases and the relations between the
settled populations and the sunounding Bulouin have been unsettled through­
out the year. Caravans on tho road between Ojair and Hofuf were, attacked in
October and November 1907, and in March 1908 by Ajman and Manasir
tribesmen, and an affray occurred in September in the outer harbour of Katif
between Saihat boatmen and Bani Uajir Bedouin, when the lathr weie accused
of an attempt at piracy.
The townspeople of Mubarraz supporting Sa’dun Pasha, were at log­
gerheads with tho Turkish officials in January 1908, although Sad’un had
been up to Basrah in the previous April, to make his peace will) the AA ali.
In the last fracas, the Turks were able to gain a qualified victory, destroying