Page 105 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Relations with Qatar, 1881-1891 431

/u /a&.
No. 172, dated Buehiro, 23rd December 1S8G.
From—Colon HI. 13. C. Ross, C.S.I., Political Resident in tlio Pursiau Gull and Ilcr
Majoely'n CouuuUGcnoral for Fare,
To—Tbo Secretary to tbo Government of India, Foreign Department.
I lmvo tho honor to forward translation of a loiter No. 08 of 7th Ducombor
1880, from tho Residency Agent at Bahrain, reporting that certain sailors
belonging to Bahrain boats had been plundered in tbo port of El Katif which
is under Turkish occupation.
2. Thoro is not, in my opinion, tho slightest hope of any result from a
reforonco to tho Turkish Government authorities on tho subject. I do not
recollect any roforcnco to that quurtcr having ovor elicited anything satisfac­
tory. Howovor, this outrago occurred actually in tho waters of El Katif whoro
tho dc facto jurisdiction of Turkey has repeatedly been rccoguizcd, and perhaps
it might bo well to go through tho form of protesting against tho lawlessness
prevailing about El Katif, which entails such insecurity in those waters. I
shall howovor await instructions before taking any action.
Su /0/yu ' -----------------
No. 08, dated Dubraiu, 7th Dcccmbor 1880.
From—Tho Rc.sidoncy Agent, Bahrain,
To—Colonel E. C. ltoss, C.S.I., Political Resident in tho Persian Gulf and Hor
Majesty's Coucul-Gcuorul fur Fare.
After compliments—I enclose two papers, one containing' the deposition
of (certain porsons who have been) wounded and plundered in the port of
ICatif, viz., Esau bin Rashid and Salmau bin Kadthim, who both havo wounds,
and Nasir bin Ali bin Nasir, all of whom are sailors under Nakhoda Nasir bin
Ali bin IClinlaf of tho boat of Muhammad bin Salim bin Darwish, and natives
of Bahrain; and tho other, the deposition of Ali bin Ilassan, Nakhoda of tho
sho’co (boat) of Ali bin Sultan, who (i.c., ^fakhoda), wanted to assist them,
(».<?., tho aforosaid sailors), when they shouted out to him. lie is also a
nativo of Bahrain.
I hear Katif and its Government aro in a neglected state. No Govern­
ment official attends to such matters (i.e., piracy). Every one is endeavouring
to obtain (something) for himself. I understand that owing to this (condition
of things) tho natives of Katif also join tho pirates and Bedouins and guido
thorn against overyone, thcro being no one vigilant.
It is said that when tlioso pirates, who (appeared) some time ago, went
forth on tho sea in tho vicinity of Katif, tho Turkish Government stcamor was
anchored thcro at tho timo, and thoy (the ship's pcoplo) did not troublo thom-
8elvo8 (about) tho matter or gotting information, and they paid no attention nor
cared to pursue thorn.
^ -----------------
Slalcmout of thruo of the crew of tbo boat of Muhammad din Salim uin Darwish, Nakhoda
Nasir din Ali din Kiialap, via., Esau din Rashid, Salman din Kazem, Nasir din
Ali din Nasiu, inhabitants of Sanabis, a villago of Bahrain, being subjects of Bahrain;
dated 0th Dcccmbor 1880.
They 6tnto that they loft Bahrain on tho 20th Safar 1304=22ud November
1880, bound for Katif which they reached on tho 24th idem, aud thoy reached
their boat in tho port of Katif closo to tho fort; that thoy purchased dato sticks
which thoy stowod in their boat; that on tho night of the 30th November, thoy
woro aslcop in their boat, whilo their Nakhoda, Nasir bin Ali bin Khalaf, with
°no sailor-by namo Mahdi bin Abdul lloza, had gono in tho ovouing to tho
Villago of El Khawailad whoro ho was invited by a friond to dinnor, aud tho
lW0 fllopt on shoro. ’ Towards morning souio llftcon armed mon with inuskots,
spears and pistols camo at low tide, from shoro, along sido their boat, and six
j them got into tho boat and immediately Bred, wounding Salman in his loft
u&nu. Thoy apoared him in liia loft thigh and iufliotod a blow with a stick on
704 y.D,