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I near further that aomo of thorn, tho fugitives, will go to Busrah and Baghdad for mak
ing a oomplaiot.
Tho Turkish vessel Arcadia, which was at Katif, is reported to have gone to Busrah.
Translation of ncios-report from Residency Agent, Bahrein, to Lieutenant-Colonkl E. C.
Ross; Political Resident in the Persian Qulf, No. 23, dated 26th Rabi-al-Jioal J299=
15th February 1SS2,
After compliments.—With reference to my letter No. 17 of 10th Rabi-al-Awal 1299=30th
January 1882, regarding fugitives from Katif, I bear from their elders that the balance of
revenue on account of date plantation now demanded from them by the Turks, is nearly
Rs. 1,70,000 ; this money is required from all tho inhabitants of the villages of Katif and
is duo on account of dato plantations belonging to Turkish Government situated in the villages
within the limit8 of Katif. The circumstances arc as follow :—The Kaim Makam of Katif
omers tho headman of the village to look after and water tho Government trees, and the latter
orders another to'do this work gratis, and gratis work brings on ruin to the trees year after
year; from ten trees there has remained ono, and the trees are registered in tho books
according to their former produce, viz., ten years ago. When the time for estimating the
produce arrives, the estimator comes and estimates ; if the produce be 1,000 killas dates, he
estimates at 2,500 ; at the time of giving them (the fugitives) the Government produce, if
the killa be worth a rupee in bazaar, they charge them 3 krans year after year, and the
balance has been accumulating from the time they took Katif till now.
As regards private date trees, as the owners bribo tho estimators, matters are made easy
for them, and no balanco remains to be paid by them on account of tax.
I hear the Muteseariff of El-Hasa, Said Pasha, has written them a letter in reply to
their compliant against the Ksim Makam ; it reached them a couple of days ago, and I hear
it is a rigid one. A part of it says that the Kaira Makam acted according to his (Mutes-
Bariff’s; order in recovering the balance due to Government, and their departure to Bahrein
would not profit them ; it would cause tho ruin of Government property ; if they bad been
suffering from injustice, their con.pluints would have been listened to by the Government and
so forth.
At present some of the aforesaid fugitives are in hesitation ; some wish to go to Busrah
and Baghdad to complain ; some fear the Mutnpsiriff might cause enmity; whilst some say
it would better to go to El-llasa and address the Mutassariff verbally. Nothing has been
settled jet.
Kazth Pasha (18«5.SG). 210. In November 1885 Said Pasha was
Uulf Administration llcport for 1885-86, relieved of his post of Turkish Governor,
by Nazih Beg.
211. Nazih Pasha, the Mutassarif, was relieved in March 1886 by Saleh
r „8^le.h.PaBha* (1888.87). JPasha. Dissensions had, during the past
‘•all AdminiitraiiuD Kcpon for H>86-87.
few years, boon rife amongst the Arabs
residing under the jurisdiction of Sheikh Jasim of Bidaa, and bodies of seceders
first settled at Foweyrat on the Katar Coast, where they were to some extent
under the protection of the Naim tribe, who maintained intimate friendly rela
tions with the Chief of Bahrein.
212. In the year 1885 a body of the Waira Arabs consisting of atioiit 100
men of the tribe Al-bu-Ainain and Al-Jehran, owing to disputes wi ,
own chief and with Sheikh Jasim, left Wakra and settled at a Pl8C T •
Ghareyah in Katar. A coalition had thus been formed to resist Slid i »
and during tho past year Mahomed-bin-Abdul Wahab, having quarre
Jasim, identified himself with the opposing faction. A conference too p
between Jasim and Mahomed-bin-Abdul Wahab in presence of the com
of a Turkish gun-boat at Bidaa, when the Turkish officer suggested t .111
should let the people of Ghareyah remain in peace under Mahomed- 1 •
Wahab. Sheikh Jasim was much annoyed at the proposal and in
adherents to attack Ghareyah, but they were beaten off with the loss
men of the Beni Hajir.
Mahomed-bin-Abdul Wahab entered on a course of intrigue with the
Turkish officials of Hasa, apparently with the object of ousting Sheikh Jasim and
obtaining for himself the post of Kaim Makam of Katar under tho iurkiah
Government. lie was said to have advised tho institution of a Turkish oustom
House at Bidaa, a measure whicn seemed to have been favourably considered by
t e urkisli officials, whilst the inhabitants warmly protested against it.