Page 61 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Zubarah, 1874-1878 387

Last night nows camo from Zobnrall that Clio Beni Hnjir were about to at­
tack it, and at 8hoikh Esau’s request I am going over to-day to show the vessel;
tlio particulars of the trip I will send yoti on my return.
Ir

B,
No. 85, (luted llalircin, 7th September 1874.
From—Officer Commanding Iler Majesty's Gun-13oat Hugh Rose, li.M.,
To—Her Majesty's Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
After, forwarding my last Beporfbenring date of the 2nd instant, I pro­
ceeded immediately towards Zoburnh arriving off that port at 7-30 r.M.( of
samo (lay and anchored for tho night.' At daylight next morning I again
weighed and took tho ship as close to the shore in front of the fort as possible.
Anchored again at G-30 a.m. and sent a boat to communicate with the people
iu tho fort, but found it impossible as the Beni Hnjir were drawn up about 300
or 400 strong botwcon tho largo fort and a small ouc close to the beach, and
wero at tho timo skirmishing with tho occupants of the larger fort. On the
return of tho boat we went to " General Quarters" for practico and fired two
rounds of sholl from each gun.'1 This apparently had the expected effect, viz., of
intimidntiug the Boni Hnjir, as they retreated somo miles further inland. X
again sent a boat on shore, and on the Nneem people observing it from tho fort
two of thoir principal men came on board and made the following statement:—
" Ou Tuesday, 1st September, the Beni Hnjir, about 400 strong, appear
before tho small fort, having previously scut on a written summons from Nassir
hiu Jebr bin Salim, tho Vakeel of Bazia at Biddeh (who with 30 Turkish sub­
jects accompanied them), aud tho son of Abdullah bin Ahmed to abandon
Nneem as tboy required it, wo toro up the letter and made no reply to it.
Tho Beni Hajir sent mouutcd men to make a raid oil our nocks, but we
drove them ofT. Thoy mado no further attempt to attack us that night; but
crossed to tho northward of tho town, burning a small village as they wcut.
Yostordny, 2nd Septombor, they attacked tho largo fort with all their forces
iu three divisions and from tlirco different points; thoy were, however, driven off
with what loss wo do not know. Our loss was ono killed and threo wounded.
In tho ovening about 7 they succeeded in gaining posscssiou of the small
fort which commands tho lauding place and somo boats that nro hauled upon the
bouch, but on hearing tho report of your ovening gun (which was tho first inti­
mation wo had of tho ship being in the vicinity) they abandoned it taking wilh
them liowovor everything cf value it had'contained, ono prisoner, aud destroy­
ing the water tank and doors. This morning, 3rd September, they attacked us
again, and wo woro fighting until tho shin fired the g'.m? when they retreated to
another fort about nino miles inland."
Thoy furthor declared that lmd tho gun-boat not arrived when sho did they
oxpeoted to huvo boon drivon out of tho fort aud cut to pieces that night.
After this iutcrviow I put thorn on shoro again aud promised to detain tho
vossol until tho arrival (hourly oxpeoted) of their own people from tho pearl
banks, when thoy said thoy would bo able to luko caro of thomselvos. At
2 p.m., tho Butccl of Ahmed-i-Naorai having on board about 40 mon, camo in from
tho fishiug grounds vid Bahrein having heard tho news thcro; sho luudcd her
men and sent them .up to tho Tort. »:
At sunset 38 boats arrived (with Shoikh Ahmed of Babreiu) principally
belonging to Nacotn and its vicinity. In tho ovoniug Shoikh Ahmed camo on
hoard, and in conversation I found, out’jfrom him .that thoy had been joinod by
somo beats of other ports as thoy came along. I strongly rccoinmoudcd him
not to allow auy ono to land or lalco any part whatever iu the fray oxcopt thoso
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