Page 482 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

72 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TUE PERSIAN GULF
The trouble between the A1 Bu Ainain tribe and Shaikh Abdur Rahman-
bin-Jasim, mentioned in last year’s
Katr.
report, came to a head in Septemlier on
account of an increased tax on the tribal pearling boats. It will be remem­
bered that last year the tribe sent emissaries to Basrah for Turkish assistance.
On receipt of news of the fresh trouble the Political Agent visited Shaikh
Jasim at Lusail and the latter said he would do what he could to settle
matters, but at the same time it was clear that he had no love for the tribe
and did not care whether they left Katr or not. The result was that no
terms were arrived at and shortly after the tribe destroyed their huts and loft
for Kasr as Sabaih (north of Katif).
A gwasi-piraev took place at Fuwairat in September. A Persian boat
had been driven out of its course and took refuge there. The Nakhoda swam
off to shore to see if he could sell his cargo of goats and firewood. In the
meantime a few tribesmen went off and sailed the boat on to a reef when it
broke up. They then proceeded to land the cargo and only paid for a por­
tion. It has not yet been decided what steps should be taken with the delin­
quents.
Small bands of the Ajman have frequently made plundering expeditions
in Katr, and this year, when most of the Katr people were out pearling, they
again made a raid ar.d carried off some camels and goats. After Ramzan
Shaikh Jasim began to make preparations, and in December he sent his son
Shaikh Abdullah with some 3?000 men to attack them. The food for the men
was mostly impressed and all non-fighters had to subscribe rice and flour.
Camels and other riding animals were also requisitioned and so the expedi­
tion cost nothing to the Chief of Katr.
This body came up with a few Ajman, Manaair, and Beni Hajir and
robbed what they had, but casualties were practically nil. On their home­
ward journey they attacked a caravan of rice and dates consigned to the
Ajman and captured some camels and goats.
Although no serious fighting has taken place, the whole year has been
witness of numerous petty struggles
Hasa, Katif, and *.£e cdjtojnt tribal terri­
tories. and robberies interspersed with more
serious attacks on caravans on the Ojair
Iiasa route.
In March the Mutassarif of Rasa, Mahir Pasha, took troops and two
guns to attack R&gaiya, a large Bedouin encampment, but apparently without
effecting any suooess.
About the same time he inveigled the headmen of Ayun into Hofuf, and
threatened to destroy the village which is fortified with a wall and a moat.
This was on account of their assisting outlawed Bedouin.
A caravan of 70 camels was waylaid by the Manasir between Hofuf and
Ojair and shortly after a caravan of 40 camels on the way to Hasa was looted
by the A1 Murra, with the result that the caravan escorts have been strength­
ened to 250 horsemen.
A large caravan was moving from Ojair to Hasa in May escorted by a
large number of troops. They were attacked and dispersed by com­
bined bands of Beni Hajir, Manasir and A1 Murra Bedouin, who are said to
have ambushed them. The value of the loot was some 6,000 Liras.
No further robberies of caravans took place until late in August when
some Ajman successfully attacked some 40 loaded camels on their way to
Ojair. The Mutassarif took strong action and recovered the loot and took
a fine of 1,000 reals from Muhammad-bin-Hithlain, their headman.
A petty caravan robbery occurred in October on the same route.
In April it was reported that the Amir Abdul Aziz-bin-Saud was grant­
ed a monthly allowance of 150 Liras, and allowances of 80 Liras were also
paid monthly to his father and grandfather.