Page 199 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

CHAPTER FIRST.

Early History of Hasa and Katif.

1. Tho history of Hasa and Katif lias a peculiarity of its own, which
Fsouilor foQturoa of— distinguishes it from that of Nejd or
Hejaj, Its ports—Grane, Hasa, Katif,
Ojair, with those of the Bahrein, island attracted from the most ancient times
the commerce of tho world. 'Jhe earliest settlors in the districts so far known
to us were the Arabs of tho Kahtanic tribe. In the early ages also tribes hailing
from Chaldea found a welcome homo on these coasts It is well known that after
the destruolion of Babylon hv the Persians, a large body of Chaldeans sailed
away from their homo and founded a colony at Gerrha, which is supposed by
some scholars to bo surviving in tho village Gerryah, near Katif, and by others
Jerahi near Kowcit. The Persians also settled on this coast, as merchants,
especially in the towns. The Indian traders were found in Katif in very
early ages ; as they are found in largo numbers now-a-days. There has thus
grown up a population on the roast with commercial instincts largely developed,
in marked contrast with the Nejdt*an% as muoli superior to the latter in
intelligence, as they are inferior to them in military qualities and physical
powers.
2. Arabian geographers refer frequently-
Roforoncoa by Arab writers,
to the coast of Katif. Yacut for instance
mentions the following places :
El-Rhatt.—Supposed by Rawlinson* to he the Atta of Ptolmey, the coast
•ridehia rotes, pogo 225 of Vol. XII opposite to Bahrein. But it is possible it
or the Journal of tho Royal Asiatic refers to Koweit. There was a large trade
booiety. between El-Khatt and India during the
early ages of Islam, in so-much that the spears used throughout Arabia, being
formed of Indian bamboos landed at that place, were known as Ramah-el•
Rhattyeh.
El-RaHf—The principal port of the Katif coast.
Al-Arret.—Tho ancient Arad—another name of the island of Moharrak,
one of sister islands of Bahrein.
Hajar.—Another name of the island of Bahrein and tho coast opposite
to it.
Darin.—Tho present Darin, a town north of Hasa.
3. Ihn Hawkal gives the names of the cities of Bahrein as, Hajar, El-
Katif, El-Uqueir (Ojair), Bislich and El-Kharj, while he desoribrs Aioal as
the name of the island, belonging to Abu-Said and 8uliraaTibin El-Hassan, the
famous Carmatbian leaders, who levied an enormous tribute from the ships
which traded there.
4. Tho first known Arab colonists of Hasa and Katif from the land side
are supposed by Palgrave to have been
first known Arab Colonists.
the Beni-Khalid and Beni Hajir, both
Kahtanio tribes, between whom and Islaemitic tribes there were always feuds.
To these elements were addod the family of Eezarah, banished from Nejd, and
the clans of Kell), Beli, Tenuk and of Kodaa, who had little sympathy with
the tribes of Nejd.
idnhomedanism was never wolcomed by the Arab tribes, and what they
received under force was a thin veneer of Islamism.
In the beginning of the 10th century of our era the tribes of Hasa joined
tho famous El-Karmut, tho founder of the Carmathian sect, and took a leading
part in those devastating wars which sealed the downfall of Mohamedanism
throughout the two-thirds of Arabia, lhe result was, os described by Palgrave,

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