Page 119 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Relations with Qatar, 1881-1891 445

As Tclcginm, tinted Ibo 12lh March 1888.
/ ' From—Ucfiidout, Dusliirc,
To—Foreign, Calcutta.
Bahrain Chief reports Wall of Basra ordered rebuilding of Zobnrali on
mainland opposito Bahrain and Nnsir-bin-Mubarak will selllo there. Ho
protests against this both on ground of ancient rights at Zobnrali and mennco
nnd danger to Bahrain. In view to opposing further extension Turkish
jurisdiction, safety of Bahrain, nnd security of seas, I consider important
that any sottlomont nt Zoharah should bo forbidden and prevented by us.
Instructions requested. Letter follows.

Telegram, dated the 2 Mi March 1888.
From—Resident, Busliirc,
To—Foreign, Calcutta.
My tologram of 121 h March. Wnli, Basra, informed Bobcrtcon military
posts boing formed at Tanoorah and Bida’a. For maintonnneo soourity of coast
four hundred regular troops will be employed altogolhor. Zobnrali not
montionod, but bolioved will form ono post. Sultan hns conferred titlonnd
decoration on Jusim-bin-1 linni. lloport eon/irmed that Chiof of Jcbol ^hammer
established his authority practically over all Nojd. Professes hirusolf vassal of
Turkey.

No. 101, dntud Dueliiro, the 17tli March ]8;>8.
From—Coix)NKf. 15. C. Ro.-ss, C. S. I., Pulilic.il Resident in tho Perniun Gulf ami 11.
M/u Consul-Goucral for Fun*,
To—Tho Soorotary to tlio Govornmont of India, Foroiga Department, Calcutta.
With roforeneo to my lolograni of 12th March, I have tho honor to
submit a translation of a letter dated 7th instant from Shaikh Esau-biii-Ali,
chiof of Bahrain, on the subject of the alloyed intention of tho Turkish
authorities to place inhabitants in Zobnrali, on I ho north-west const of
El-lCatr, opposito tho islands of Bahrain. Tho chief apprehends that Nnsir-bin-
Mubarik, tho refugee from Bahrain, will be instigated to settlo at Zobarnh
with his followers of tho Beni llujir tribe, and supported in doing so by the
Turks, oithcr directly or iudircctly.
2. Thcro can be no doubt that if this mcasuro wero carried out it would
constitute a monaco and standiug danger to Bahrain, and tho objection raised
by tho chiof of Bnhraiu is, assuming hit information corrcclt roasonablo.
3. It will bo observed, too, that tho cdiiof of Bahrain asserts a distinct
claim to horoditary rights over Zoharah. It is tho caso Mint tho ancestors of tho
Bahrain Shaikhs originally colonized Zoharah and built .its fort, and thonco
con quered the islands of Bahrain. Thonccforwurd until very recent times there
continued to bo a closo political connection between Bahrain aud Zoharah, tho
Shaikhs of tho latter placo boing regarded, and regarding themselves as, to
some oxteut, dependents of tho Bahraiu Government. This connection was
• Fid* correspondence ending with Foreign first SOVCrod by dcsirO of tllO GoVOmmCnt
D*ptritueui loiier No. 1342.1*., d*ud ion. May i87c. of India, which ruled in 1874 • that tho
oliief of Bahrain should desist from all interference ou tho mainland. Shaikh
Esau, whilst maintaining a claim ovor Zoharah, couipliod with tho ndvico of
t My teller No. 250, dated 2GUi Novoiubcr QoVCrnulOUt, and When, in 1878f, llis
1878. allies tho No'aim wore attacked at Zo-
barah by Shaikh Jasim and Nasir-biu-Mubarak, ho consented to hold aloof, and
tho No'aim woro oxpollcd from tho place. Sinco thou it lms roraainod
uninbabitod.
4. Tho Turks havo not hitherto assorted or exorcised any authority or juris-
diotiou ovor Zoharah and tho other villngosou that part of tho Katr promontory,
and tho nolioy of tho Government of India has boon advorso to allowing thorn to
oxtoud tuoir authority in that District. Further, if Nasir-bin-Mubnruk and his
Bodouins woro pormittod to aottlo thoro, the pluoo would, in all probability,
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