Page 58 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

384 Records of Bahrain

17. llio aim and object of tlicso lawless Arabs lias been the plunder of
Si MC»n* r 0,Bnmo, ^mo ^l0 members of the rival branch of the Bahrein
Sheikha family, tho Al Abdullah, ha^c, naturally, a3 tlio hitter enemies of
Shoikh Esau, lostorcdnnd givon dirccti^i to-thc rapacity of this body of marau-
dorn, in liopcn of Bahrein being thrown into confusion to tho dama<'o and
perhaps overturn of tho present Bailors. °
• *2.
18. It may bo that thcro aro detfper springs at work instigating thoso
,
. ,
movements against Bahrein. The open attempts of the Turkish authorities to
obtain a footing m Bahrein having been foiled by tho support accorded to the
ruling Chief of tho inlands, it is not td^bo supposed those authorities look with
a friendly oyo on the Chief, nor that they would bo sorry to sco him ousted by
tho rival branch of tho family, tho leaders of which would probably bo subser­
vient to tho Turkish interests, and m'ight, perhaps, go so far as to profoss
allegiance to Turkey. It has bcon nuspcctod that Bazee, tho present Arab
Govornor of Lnhsa, has sent instructions lo endeavour to accomplish by intriguo
tho objects which tho Turkish Government failed to obtain by moro direct
mcans.with reference to Bahrein. I had previously to tho occurroneo of tho
late disturbances mado inquiries ou this subject, but without receiving nuy
intelligence confirmatory of 'tho suspicions of such intrigues.
19. Eroin two independent sources it is reported that an emissary of tho
Turkish Governor Bazoo has
• 1. CnpUln Cumpbcll'a report No. 89. tinted 7tli Septcmlwr 1874.
2. Appomlicei F. «nd 0. Tnuiilalioni of lellcr* from Jiuiim bln Mahomed Countenanced tllC lH'OCOcd*
bin Thauce. . p . ^ • tt ■
ings of the Beni JUtijir.*
Jnssiin bin Mahomed bin Thaneo distinctly asserts in letters addressed to
Captain Campbell, and to the News-writer at Bahrein, that the Agent of Bnzco
at El Biddah had influenced and abetted* tho Boni llajir in their lawless aggres­
sions. Captain Campbell was informed also at Zobarali that this porson by name
Nnsir bin Jubr bin Salim had accompanied tho tribo towards Zobarali. Consi­
dering tho lawless nature of tho object of tho Beni llajir, and their having
engagod iu open piracy on tho sea, it might be deemed advisable to inquire
from tiio Turkish Government as to the part taken by this Agent in the
aggressivo and piratical proceedings reported.
20. By tho Treaty of 1801 with tho Chiefs of Bahrein the British Gov­
ernment undertake to givo their support to the Chief iu tho maintenance of
tho security of his possessions against(. maritime) aggressions directed against
them by tho Chiefs aud tribes of tlie Persian Gulf. It becomes a duly,
thoroforo, firstly, to prevent as far as possiblo any Chiefs or tribes finding the
opportunity of embarking in such aggrossivo enterprises; and secondly, if
6uch a naval expedition should ho found’ at sea by a British vessel of war, it
would bo tho duty of such vessel to employ force agaiust it.
21. Amongst preventive measures wo have hitherto counted on.tho assist­
ance of tho various local Arab Chieftains of tho Guttur Coast iu preventing
boats bciug obtained or seized by marauding or piratically incliucd Arabs, such
Chieftains being given to understand that they will bo held respor tiblo in tlicso
matters for their immediate coast lino. ’
22. Tho Cliiofs iu question, including thoso of El Biddah, have always
hitherto acknowledged their responsibilities, aud it has boon customary to deal
with them all direct for such purposes, and to this no demur has been made in
any quarter.
28. ; Tho port of .El Biddah is somewhat poculiurly situated as regards :U
political status. Tho old Chief, Mahoi'ucd bin Thnuco, himself uses tho Arab
llag, whilst his son, Jassim, has put hi/nsolf under Turkish protection, and a
guard of Turkish soldiors is kopt nt’Biddhh. It has not boon doclarcd, howovci,
ns far as I can ascertain, that tho Turkish authorities liavo assumed tho govern­
ment’of tho placo. It is very probablo they aro not prepared to assume respon­
sibility for tho maritimo proceedings of the Cliiofs or people of Biddah. At tho
same timo Jassim bin Mahomed ut all ovenls, if not his father, is prepared, i
12