Page 178 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat

8 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TUB IMSRSIAN GULF. POLITICAL
The new Governor, Raouf Effcndi, did not, however, assume chargo of the
dutios of his post till January.
In January, the Turkish gun-boat Miljdeh-Resdn arrived at Katif with
90 military reliefs ; 30 of those were landed at Katif for Ojnir, and the re.
mainder were conveyed to K&tr.
In September 1893 a Kowait boat, which was benchod at Katif, was at­
tacked by fifteen robbers. In the struggle which onsued the crew wore wounded
and put to flight, and one of the robbers was killed. The robbers then seized
the arms and effects of the crew, together with Rs. 50 belonging to the
nakhoda, and decamped. They were pursued by the Customs people of Katif,
who, however, failed to overtake them.

6.—EL-KATR.
In last year’s report, the action fought near TVajbah between the Arabs
under Shaikh Jasim and the Turkish troops under the TVali of Busrah, was
noticed.
According to the information obtained, the "Wali marched on the night of
the 25th March with the object of surprising Wajbah, where Shaikh Jasim was
residing. In this he failed, and the Arabs collecting, attacked and defeated in
detail the Turkish troops, who had scattered in pursuit of small bodies of the
enemy. The Turks were finally obliged to retreat; and after considerable loss,
reached the shelter of the fort at El-Bidaa under the guns of the Jlerrikh,
which afterwards fired on the town. The total Arab loss, including women
and children, who, being driven out into the desert, perished from exposure, has
been stated at 420, which is probably an outside estimate. On the Turkish
side the less has been set down at 40 to 100 ; and as both parties may be sup­
posed, though from different motives, to be inclined to reduce the number, the
higher figure is perhaps not very wide of the mark, excluding some of the
wounded sent to Busrah.
por the collision the IVali would seem to have been responsible, he having
attempted to carry matters with a high-hand, and to have found himself un­
equal to the crisis he had provoked.
After these hostilities the Arabs, abandoning El-Bidaa, dispersed into vari­
ous villages, and Shaikh Jasim returned to the fort at Wajbah. The Turkish
sun-boat Jferrikh remained off El-Bidaa, and a punitive expedition on the
part of the Ottoman Government was expected.
Affairs befog in this position, the Resident was instructed to proceed to
the spot in view to arranging, if possible, a settlement, and arrived off
El-Bidaa in the end of April. Visits were exchanged with the "Wali, who, how­
ever, in the absence of instructions from his Government, declined to discuss
affairs or to recognize any intervention. Meantime, the R. I. M. S.
Lawrence, arriving with news of the dismissal of the Wali, Colonel Talbot felt
no longer under the necessity of consulting him, and proceeded to Wakrah, where
he had an interview with Shaikh Jasim. The attitude of the Shaikh was very
temperate ; and while maintaining that he had been forced into hostilities, he
undertook to accept any settlement that might be arranged for him, and urged
that this might be brought about as early as possible, in order to prevent the
loss of the whole pearling season.
Eortunately, temperate and pacific counsels prevailed with the Ottoman
Government; the Nakeeb of Busrah, a friend of Shaikh Jasim, was deputed
to Katr and being the bearer of very moderate demands, was able to arrange
matters satisfactorily. A sense of security was thus restored, the Arabs return­
ed to El-Bidaa, and pearl-fishing was resumed.