Page 109 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Relations with Qatar, 1881-1891 435
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witli tho necessary admonition and took their roply. The inhabitants of
Rowais aro about tho samo number as those of Abu Dhaluf. They nro in
nlliauco with tho latter ; their interests are common, and their business is like­
wise pearl-fishing, and thoy own about 1G boats. Tho people of Rowais aro
Soyyids. Thoy liavo u rich community at Bahrain who provide them with
advances for their voyages. "VVo now got into the boat and wont to tho ship
whioh wo reached at 2 a.m. in tho night, when a strong southerly wind was
blowing. Tho next morning, 7th instant, we weighed for Eoweyrat. It was a
stormy day with clouds and rain; tho ship was takiug in water on both sides,
aud tho boat in tow was nearly siuking. At 11 a.m. wo arrived at Eoweyrat;
tho ship aneborod in 4J fathoms of water, but the Captain observing tho heavy
sea and violout wind shifted and anchored iu G fathoms. Wo lay tho whole of
that day and night waiting for the storm and rain to abate, but it bccamo worse
and landing was impossible. The following day, 8th instant, the weather was
still worse and tho Captain did not permit my landing, so I thought it advis­
able to sail with the concurrence of tho Captain, and wo accordingly weighed
anohor at 0 a.m. and proceeded to Khor Shakik. When wo got opposite Khor
Shakik, tho storm returned accompanied with rain. The anchorage was about
7 or 8 miles from shore. Tho boat was not adapted to go ashore in, without
dongor ; and tho Captain too did not see it ndvisablo for us to land. Wo told
him that on our roturu we might perhaps find it possible to laud, and we then
started for Bida’a which wo reached that same day. We anchored outside Bida’u
opposite tho island, at 2-30 a.m. in the night, aud tho next morning, 0th instant,
beforo wo lunded, tho Captain sent oil two boats which placed three buoys at
tho ontranco of Bida’a up to 7 fathoms of water. We thou sailed and reaebiug
Bida’a at 7-30 a. m. anchored iu 4 fathoms. We landed at Bida'a) but Jasiin was
not presont. IIo had gono on a hunting excursion into the interior. We wrote
a lotter desiring him to come to Bida’a, and immediately despatched it to him by
a special messenger. As wo feared that on our return we might again meet
with tho samo unfavourable weather as on our arrival, when it would be
impossible to land, and troublesome to tho ship, we wrote three more letters,
ouo to Ali bin llashid, Shaikh of Wakrah ; tho second to Ali bin Abdul Aziz,
Shaikh of Khor Shakik; and tho third to ltubi’a bin Abdur Ruzzak, a Chief
of Fowoyrat, inviting all of them to Bida’a. ' Ali bin Rashid catuo to Bida’a by •
land on tho 10th instaut and wo delivered him your letter and gavo him tho
necessary warning about guarding his limits against pirates. IIo professed
himself obediont to your orders and wrote out a reply to your letter which you
will SCO. Shaikh Jusim arrived from tho interior on Tuesday the 11th instaut,
at sunset, and took up his rcsidcnco in the fort without tho town. On tho 12th wo
rodoovor to Shaikh Jasim and visited him in tho fort, whevo we handed him your
letter, and ns ordered by you spoke to him of tho necessity of strictly guard­
ing his territories against pirates. I also spoko to him regarding tho ease of tho
jolly-boat of Rashid bin JJassau Az-Zoyani aud tho necessity of protecting tho
Banians residing there. He made excuses aud said that if we cumo to him tho
next day, ho would oxplaiu to us verbally certain matters aud wo might
write to you. Wo then returned to tho town and put up witli Abdul Latif
bin Mann who is thoro on his part. On tho 13th wo again went to him
and mot him in tho fort and had a long intorviow with him. Ho wroto out
a roply to your lotter which you will see. Tho matters which ho spoke
to mo about I havo writtcu dowu iu a soparato paper which also you
will sco. On tho samo day tho Captain also landed and visited him aud
then roturued to the vossol. Jasim asked me for tho doctor of the vessel
to treat him, and at my roquest the doctor landod aud gave him some
inodioino. On Friday tho 14th Jasim sent for mo at tho fort and inado a
statement regarding a sho’cc, tho property of Abdur Rahman bin Najim El
Manai who is one of his meu, and also regarding tho daughter of one Esau
bin Mubarak El Bngori, a resident of El Bida'a. Ilis statements are given iu
tho npnended papers. Iu tho meantime wo were twice visited by Seyyid Muham-
wuul, tho Kadhi, and Suloyman Beg, Turkish officers; so wo went to them onoo.
According to them thcro arc about 2G Turkish soldiers with Suleyman Beg
8 their Ohief aud Seyyid Muhammad ns Kadhi.
^ thoso Chiefs to whom I wrote lotters, Ali bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of
l0r Shakik, sent a messonger to say that he would come by sea in his boat,
704 r. u.