Page 118 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat
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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.
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