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the Indian Government and the Porte, the maintenance of the existing slate of things in the
Gulf and on its borders being considered a matter of great importance to the general tran~
quillily of those quarters) nnd that the presence of large Turkish armaments is generally
oalculatod to disquiet the bordering ecuutries, and must necessarily cau6o the British Govern­
ment to take countwaoting stops to reassure the public mind.
191. This despatch was duly communicated to Server Pasha in Juno 1872
and he repeated the assurance, nlroady so often given, of the absence of all in­
tention on the part of the Porte of doing more than re-establish their legitimate
authority in those districts where their right was undisputed, adding that Hot
Majesty’s Government might bo satisfied that since tho recall of Midhut Pasha
there would bo loss than ever a disposition to extond the field of operations.
Abu-Thabi Chief.
192. Colonel Ross telegraphed as follows in July: —
“Frequent rumours reach Bahrein of intended movo of a Turkish detachment from
Nejd to Oman ooa*t. It is said their design is to gain footing at Bcyrance through con-
nivance of Chief of Abuthabi. I oannot rely on information as yet received, but have ins­
tructed Assistant Resident to uso May Frerc to ascertain facts. Knowing letters to have passed
between Chief of Abuthabi and Turkish authorities, I think it possible he may have made
overtures. Possibly Colonol Herbert could ascertain if any extension of Turkish influence
eastward contemplated.”
193. In September 1872 the Abuthabi Chief declared his adherence <0
Turks. Ho had previously been inclined
Folltlcal Av NoTcmbcr 1872, No«. 4-6.
towards the Turks, but on hearing of their
proceedings in Katif, Katar, and Hasa he kept aloof and determined to make
peace first with the Chief of Dobai and then proceed to Maskat to renew
friendly relations with Syud Turki. When at Maskat he reported to Colonol
Boss (then Political Agent) that he had received a letter from somo Turkish
authority, couched in vague terms, which ho had understood to be an invitation
to recognize the Turkish Government as the paramount authority.
194. On the 20th September 1872* Turki himself informed Colonel Pelly
of the submission of the Abuthabi Chiof
* Political A., January 1873, No*. 165-2G8.
and the renewal of friendship, and that by-
gones would be bygones.
Turkish Policy.
195. It thus appears that numerous assurances were given by the Turks
that they intended no attack on Bahrein, Maskat, or the independent tribes of
Southern Arabia, and that, by the order of the Secretary of State, the Persian
Gulf trncial Chiefs were interdicted from maritime operations, while Colonel
Pelly was instructed to use all the influence he possessed with tho other Chiefs
to maintain the maritime truce.
. 196. Satisfactory as these assurances were, it was soon found that the
Turkish Government were bent upon to gain a footing in Bahrein by indirect
means, by encouraging tho enemies of the Chief of Bahrein in their intrigues
against the island, and to extend their dominion in the Katar Peninsula.
They employed Nasir-bin-Mobarik, the leading member of the rival branch of
the Bahrein Sheikh’s family, for this purpose. The Turks also gained over to
their side, Jasim, son of Mahomed-bin-Thani, Chief of Bidaa, and employed
him as a useful weapon in their anti-British policy in regard to Bahrein and
the Katar and pirate coasts. They tried to incite the tribes on the Katif and
Katar coasts facing Bahrein to maintain a hostile attitude against Bahrein
and even to make piratical attacks against the island, while they took few
effective measures to suppress piracies of these tribes in the Katif waters.
Close of the Turkish Expedition.
196-A. After unsuccessful efforts to induce Abdullah to return to the Turkish
camp, Rauf Pasha, who had succeeded as Governor-General of Turkish Arabia,
opened communications with Saud in spring of 1872, but failed to persuade him
to place himself in the power of the Turks. He, howevor, sent his brother
Abdul Rahman accompanied .by Pabad-Ibn-Suaitan to Hasa to negotiate.
Abdul Rahman was induced to accompany Haji Ahmed Khan, who had been
scut by tho Pasha to treat, to Baghdad, where ho was retained under surveil­
lance until August 1874. Pahad-ibn-Suaitan, who bad remained in Hasa, was
accused by Mahomed JPasha, who had succeeded Nafiz Pasha as Mutassarif,
of intriguing, and sout in irons to Baghdad.

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