Page 260 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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CHAPTER FIFTH.
Survey of tlio Katif Coast, 1873-74.

248. In January 1873 the Political Residont. Persian Gulf, askod for in­
structions with regard to thoproposed survey
Politic*! A., March 1873, No». 377 397.
of the Katif Rcof channels by tho .Officer
Commanding H. M’s Schooner Constance. Colonel Herbert, Political Resi­
dent, Baghdad, was therefore asked to ascertain from the Pasha whether there
were any objections to tho proposed survey. Tho reply was that our Ambassa­
dor at Constantinople telegraphed to the effect that the Porto authorized the
survey. The Pasha wished, however, that a Turkish corvette should accompany
H. M’s Schooner. Colonel Ross did not think this necessary, but tho Govern­
ment directed (lot ter 24th March 1873) that the survey might proceed with
or without a Turkish Corvette, and that if a Corvette wished to accompany
the survey boat, no objection should be taken.
249. Wliilo the survoy boat was proceeding to make the survey Colonel
ltoss instructed its Commander to comuni-
Political A., May 1873, Nos. 195.205.
cate to the Turkish local authorities at
Katif the naturo of his operations before landing to survey, and if any
objection should be raised, to inform them that the operations were being un­
dertaken with the cognizance of the Porte. The Government of India approv­
ed of these instructions (Letter No. 986-P., dated 16th May 1873).
250. A complaint was then made by the Porte that the Survey Officers had
landed on the Ncjd coast. When enqui­
Political A., August 1873, Nos. 10M12.
ries were made, Colonel Ross reported
that neither the surveying vessel nor any of her boats had come within 5 miles
of the Ncjd coast, that the survoy had till then been confined to channels of
approach to Bahrein, and that no attempt bad yet been made to survey the
coast of Katif or Nejd (Telegram of 31st July 1873).
251. Colonel Ross, however, represented that the survey party would
probably require to land on the Katif
* Political A', October 1873, Nos. 153-G4.
coast in order to mcasuro base lines and
erect temporary triangular posts, and in order to avoid any further misappre­
hension on the part of the local authorities at Nejd, lie recommended that tho
Commander of the survey vessel should be furnished by tho Governor General
of Turkish Arabia with explicit written permission to land. This request, the
Political Agent, Turkish Arabia, was desired to move the Ottoman Government
to grant (Letter No. 2265-P., dated 23rd September 1873).
252. The Turkish Governor General, Irak, was pleased to comply with
this request and directed the Mutas
Political A., January 1874, No*. 11-16.
sarif and Commander of the Force ^ at
Nejd (Hasa) to show proper rospect and give necessary aid to the British
survey officers, as they had been authorised to land on tho sea shore simply for
the purpose of making a chart of the coast (Rudif Pasha’s letter, dated 23rd
November 1873.)
253. Thereafter the Schooner Constance appears to have mado the survey
of the Katif coast unobstructed. In March
Political A., April 1874, Nos. 196-190.
1874 its commander reported that ho was
there surveying the coast to the north and westward of the Turkish district.
In consequence of bad weather he had twice to put in for shelter under Ros
Tanurah on the Katif coast, but apparently no protest was raised against his
movements by tho Turks.