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252. On the 2Gth August Mr. Wratislaw reported that Abdul Aziz had been
sentenced by the criminal court of Basrah
Enclosure, Pro. No. 1G7 of Do.
to ten -years’ imprisonment in a fort.
Mr. Wratislaw believed that the evidence against ihim was clear and con­
vincing.
253. This sentence was afterwards confirmed by the Court of Cassation at
Constantinople, and orders issued for carrying out the sentence.

XXX.—Further movements of Ibn Rashid (2) Ibn Saud in the field
again and captures Riadh.
January—November 1903.
254. In the beginning of January 1902, the Amir of Nejd was within 3
miles of Zobeir. He left the place soon
No. 359 of Sccrot E., July 1002, No*. 307-6C9.
after, when a Turkish battalion moved
there. It seems that the Amir was anxious to get permission from the Turkish
Government to attack Koweit. But evidently the Turks would not let him
have the solo credit and profit of taking Koweit and of occupying it with
his forces, when the Porte might find it impossible to get rid of him. On the
other hand the Turks would not, for fear of complications with the British,
venture themselves to take the lead in an attack of Koweit with the Amir of
Nejd co-operating with them by a land blockado. The Turks were probably at
this time trying some indirect means to reduce Koweit to subjection rather than
a direct attack. We shall note below what these measures wero. Meanwhile
the Amir was reported to be moving to his own capital. Ho was paid by the
Porte 4,000J. Mr. Wratislaw supposed that this payment was made in order to
induce him to return to Nejd. Possibly it was to meet his charges in another
direction.
255. For at this time important developments were taking place in Nejd
Mubarak was much concerned in the
No. 314 of Secret E, July 1902, Nos. 301-509.
events, though ho acted secretly. lie had
been warned under instructions from the Government of India (telegram, dated
), that he should not allow his partizans to raid the Amir’s
territory. But he could not restrain (even if Uz wished) the Ibn Saud’s party from
making attempts to ro£ain their power in Nejd. Abdul Aziz, son of Abdul Raba-
man bin Fcysal made bold attempts to regain the power in Nejd lost by his
family. His Bedouin partizans made raids into Nejd and gained over to his side
several tribes in Hasa. In order to counteract the influence of Abdul Aziz
in Hasa the Arair deputed one Saad-ul-Hazemi with letters from himself and
the Vali of Basrah to Sheikh Pasim-bin-Thani with a view to his assistance for
gaining over tho tribes, It was even
No. 387 of correspondence cited.
rumoured (see Mr. Gaskin’s report, dated
23rd February 1902) that the Porto had entrusted the entire control of all tho
Arab tribes in Nejd, Koweit, Hasa and Katar districts to the Arair. He was
given a free hand in organizing within these districts expeditions against
refractory tribes, the Turkish officials in Hasa and Katar were to give him
every assistance and were to have no authority beyond tho walls of the towns
in which they resided. The Turks also took measures to strengthen their
garrisons in Katar and Hasa.
256. Meanwhile Abdul Aziz made a bold march to Riadli and captured it
by surprise. The following translation of an account in Arabic written oy the
Assistant Political Agent, Bahrein, will
No. 342 of correspondence cited.
bo read with interest:—
“In the month of Ramzan, while at the village of Waisa near Hasa, Abdul Aziz bin Abdul
Rahman devised a plan of going to Riadh, but be did not acquaint bis followers wj P
iect. He told them that on 5th of Shawal be would lead a marauding expedition a2a”‘ ...
Bedouins of Nejd, and all the Arabs prepared themselves accordingly. He, however,
bl) followers on tho 20th ftamzan, or ten days before the fixed date, for the soul » s P
the people off the scent, and no one could surmise what would be his ultimate dcstma i «