Page 297 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat
P. 297

p

               hesidknoy AND  MA.SKAT POLITICAL AGENCY TOE THE TEAT. 1896-90.  3


               TCo confirmation of the allegations of tlis chief of Abu Dtliabi regarding
               ^Hnination by ports other than his own in the trade, by sea, in slaves
            t'10 9* thcoming. It is to bo feared, however, that the other towns are not
            was
                )t from the responsibility of a share in it and the existence of a trade ovor-
            fnndfrom tbo Batinch Coast of Maskat, was generally admitted ; the oppor­
            tunity was therefore taken to address a serious warning to the various chiefs
            . tl ' c0‘ur60 of the tour. The trade in slaves overland is beyond our reach,
            iut if means could be found to put an effectual stop to the importation, from
            Africa to Sur, whence slaves are carried to the Batineh, and thence distributed
            by sea and land to places further up the Gulf, a heavy blow would he struck
            at the root of this atrociouB evil.
               In August a party of the Manasir tribe started from Katr upon an
            expedition which was rumoured to he a pillaging-raid. Timely notice of the
            movement enabled the Shaikhs to make preparations for resisting them, and
            tbe enterprise assumed a more peaceful character. Dcbai, Shargah an4 Um-el-
            Kawein were visited and gifts received from the Shaikhs. At Hamraniych,
            however, the Manasir managed to get the people off their guard and to carry
            off a number of their animals and a few slaves.
               A Turkish subject proceeding down the Ajman creek to embark in a vessel,
            outside was shot dead from the bank by a watchman who, on challenging the
            party, had failed to get a reply. The act, though perhaps culpably rash, was
            not of the nature of an intentional murder: the watchman was at once appre­
            hended hv the chief and the Residency made a representation of the facts through
            the Assistant Political Agent at Busrnh with the object of preventing reprisals
            on Ajman subjects visiting Busrali. A Shura court decided that the chief was
            free from all liability which rested on tbe watchman alouc, but di-.l not fix tbe
            amount of compensation to be paid, it being understood, however, that redress
            of this nature should he given. As the result of communications with the
            Turkish Vice-Consul at Bushirc the relations of the deceased waived all claim
            against Ajman and the matter ended.
               At the close of the year the chief of Behai, together with tbe son of the
            Abu Dthabi chief, visited the Sultan of Maskat. The object of this visit,
            though there were certain rumours about it, was not divulged.
                A serious fire occurred in Debai in August, some sixty bouses in the
            suburbs being destroyed, and one life lost
                                       3.—BAHRAIN.
                In tlie report for last year the troubles which threatened- Bahrain at
            its close were noticed. These increased aud became serious, the A1 bin
            Ali tribe being supported in their, contumacy and resistance to their chief by
            Shaikh Jasim bin Mahomed Thani with whose countenance they obstinately
            insisted on maintaining the obnoxious settlement at Zobara, in defiance of tbe
            clearest warning that this would in nocase be permitted. Shaikh Jasim and the
            Al bin Ali tribe under Shaikh Sultnu bin Salamah were encouraged in tbe
            aggressiveattitudetbev had assumed towards Bahrain by the provincial Turkish
            officials, the gravity of the situation being there by much increased.
                Earning and remonstrance being unavailing, it became necessary to
            aaopt measures of coercion, and H. M. S. " Sphinx 99 accordingly under
              e instructions of Government seized some of the boats of the rebellious tribe,
             ut tins step which in ordinary course should have sufficed to bring the Al
            pi* ! t?ir-caso.1?^» failed in its object, owing to the vigorous outside support
            and tv i        w^°» a^ter their cause had been taken up by Shaikh Jasim
            sent    o i U!*s’ were probably not quite free agents. A number of boats
            ^       “fallram to Zobara to bring over tbe family of one of the leading
            werp o rS       ^in wh° ^a(l made his peace with the chief of Bahraini
            Jasim CCOrcilnSly seized and detained at Zobara under the auspices of Shaikh
            estAt T.U?lsl1 troops with a minor official had some time before boon
            plexinn 1,0   , axa a?d the Ottomau flag had been hoisted, and a serious com-
                    o thus been given to what in its origin had been a difference between
   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302