Page 279 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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appeared to have about 2,000 armed men under him, and was pitched about half a mile from
the square fort of Morcyr, in which tho Naecm inhabitants of Zobarah to the number nt'
perhaps 500 were besieged. There seems to have l eon no fighting as tho Na«-em were much
uut*numhcrcd. The Bahrein refugee, Nasir bin Muharick, was somewhere in the vicinity with
another hand of Bedouins, but his o imp was not visible. The town of Zobarah, which appears
to havo been a largo place at some time, was entirely in ruins. The fort called Moreyr is
about a indo from tho town and inland. No boats were left at Zobarah, and it was report*
ed a few had been burnt. *
30U. Here it may Be noted that Before leaving BusBiro Colonel Ross
tolegrapliod to the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia and to Mr. Robertson at
Basrah with tho object of acquainting Abdullah Pasha with what had oocurcd
and so affording him an opportunity of taking prompt and effectual
action. On returning to Bahrein on tho 19th November, Colonel Ross
found the following telegram from the Turkish Governor awaiting his
arrival, with a request that it might be forwarded to tho Kaimakan at
Katif:-
‘ Jasim bin Mahomed bin Thani, Chief of Bidaa, wilh N.i9ir bin Mubarick, who had been
expelled from Baherin, having with some troops attacked Zobarah, a dependency of Guttur, it
appears they will attack Bahrein also. Though in the event of th**ir attack on Bahrein,
those who are in the latter place will prevent them, still the movement involves difficulties.
Thus has the matter been intimated by Her Britaunic Majesty's Consul General in Bushire,
who himself will also proceed to Bahrein. If this circumstance be correct, it will never be toler­
ated (lit rendered passable), though security and peace be extremely desirable and necessary I
in those parts. You ought instantly to semi steampship Iikcnde>ia with some troops to
Zobarah to warn and caution the Chief of Bidaa agaiusl such movements, and preserving
those parts from being prevailed over by the insurgents. You will endeavour your utmost in
pacifying and keeping the same secure, and report your uctiou with the result thereof to me. '
307. Colonel Ross delivered the message to the Commander of the Turkish
gun-boat Jskanderia which he found anchored at Ras Tanoorah, and promised
to report the action taken by the Turkish local authorities as soon as known.
Colonel Ross concluded his letter by recommending the establishment of a
Turkish post at Zobarah or in its vicinity as tho best means of preserving
permanent tranquillity. The Chief of Bahrein had iutimuted his acquiesc­
ence in this view.
308. The piracies committed by the Beni Hnjir and others, which were
reported in various letters and telegrams from Colonel Ross, do not, for the most
part require a detailed notice. A complete list of them will be found in tho
tabular statement appended to this note. It appears that Zalnan, a hill
twenty miles south of ICatif, and Zobarah have an evil notoriety as the prin­
ciple places of resort for the piratical tribes.
:
309. There are, however, two sets of piracies included in this list which
cannot be passed over without remark. '
Ko?cXrai87ttNo.m.)ScptC“bCr* (Po,itiCBl A' The first set is dealt with in the letters,
Letter No. 2os, dated 2ist September. (Political &c., cited in the margin, and are to be
b, July 1879,No. C6.) noted, because the Chief of Bahrein and
Letter No. 2-14, dated 3rd November. (Political
A, January 1879, No. 186). his subjects were implicated. Inquiries
made by Captain Jauncy of the Vulture
gave the following result:—
u ( (1.) On the 4th Soptcmbcr, a boat belonging to Katur was boarded at sea near
Zobarah by Mohamed bin Rashi bin Jubba, sou of the Chief of that place. Three persons
were killed and fivo wounded, and property plundered to the value of upwards of 700 dollars.
_ , The Chief of Zobarah watched the outrage from
!rdZ«£f”VS ’ira“ tho ‘°p Of his fort and rebuked his eon for not
186.) having killed the whole party and burnt the boat
instead of bringing on shore witnesses to the deed.
The Chief of Bahrein entertained tho Sheikh of Zobarah and his son after the affair.
« < (2.) On the 2nd of September, two boats with 50 armed m<*n sailed from Bahrein
for a cruize round tho island. Leaving their territorial waters they proceeded to Zabran o i
tho mainland, quarrelled with some Bedouins and seized a boat. The Chief’s excuse was that
tho boats had gono ovor to Zabran without his orders. Captain Jauncy informed him that bo
was responsible for the acts of his followers, aud tho Chief has promised to produco tho threo
leaders in tho affair if called upon.
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