Page 287 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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334. Before replying to this dospatek the Government of India, in tkelr
despatch to Secretary of State, No; 66
Piracies from November 1878 to Mny 1879.
of 22nd May 1879, gave a complete account
of the piracies which had ooourred subsequent to the' issue of their previous
dospatch of 17th January 1879. The most important events that had occurred
in the inlorvai were as follows
336. At the latter ond of December 1878 Mansoor-bin-Minakhir, a
Sheikh of the Ajrr.an tribe, joined with
Politic*! A , Scptotnbor 1879, Nos. 145—1G2.
Zaid bin-Maliomed of the Beni Hajir, and
having forcibly seized a boat belonging to a subject of Bahrein, put out to sea.
They attacked two boats in the neighbourhood of Katif and carried ofF from one
of them property valued at Rs. 20,000. Ton boats conveying Turkish soldiers
from Ojair to Katif were in sight, but, on being appealed to declino to inter­
fere. Colonel Ross brought to notice the impunity enjoyed by Zaid-bin
Mahomed and other pirates residing at Zahran in the vicinity of Katif through
the apathy and indifference of the Turkish authorities, and expres^od an opinion
that the seizure, of Znid-biu-Mahomod or his explusion from Zahran was a
measure of primary necessity. The Government of India thereupon, after
ascertaining from the Resident, Bushirc, that Zahran was within recognized
Turkish jurisdiction, and that Zaid-bin--
Political A., September 1879, No. 160.
Mahomed was a Turkish subject, desired
the Political Agent in,Turkish Arabia to urge the Tuvk;sH authorities cither to
operate promptly against Zaid-bin-Mahom­
Political A., September 1879, No. 1G3.
ed or to accept the alternative of British
action.
336. Instead of carrying, out theso directions Colonel Nixon asked the
Vali of Basrah- whether’a British ship-of
Political A., September 1879, No. 1S8.
war should be sent to check disorder, and-
referred’ the same questions to the British Ambassador at Constantinople. The
Vali replied that a Turkish corvette had been ordered to cruise in the disturbed
parts, and that the Mutassarif of Katif had received stringent instructions to
suppress further piraoies.
337. Ultimately the Turkish Minister of Marine directed the Broussa or the
Jskanderia, or both, if necessary, to proceed to the Nejd ooast, and' declared
XS^ZSSSttSiSS.
nance of order.
338.. On the 22nd January Colonel Boss reported- that Turkish force had
inarched by land against El-Hussein, a
P6litical A., September 1879, No*. 1G0—1G8.
village five miles from Zahran, and had
destroyed* it; but the ringleader and.other persons concerned in recent piracies
were not captured. The measures taken therefore were altogether inadequate
and piratical boats continued to molest
Political A., Scptombor 1879,.No..182.
trading vessels; moreover, both the Turk­
ish vessels of war broke down.
339; On tile 14‘th February 1879,. the Resident in the Persian Gulf tele­
graphed that Zaid-bin Mahomed’s success*
Political A., September 1879, No. 171.
had led to further piracies of Katif.. A
fresh gang'of the Beni Hajir had started under another leader and captured
two Bahrein vessels laden with dates ; afterwards they joined Zaid’s band near
El-Hussein and doparted with their booty into the interior. Subsequently they
put to sea again in search of further, prizes and:closed communication between
Bahrein and Katif.. Tho Chiof of Bahroin expressed alarm- for his islandfe, andJ
asked either that ho might bo permitted, to: tako the necessary measures for the’
recovery of his boats, or that H-. M..8. Spartan should act; In Colonel Ross**
judgment the piraoies woro likely to attain-formidable dimensions, and to
prejudice British prestige and interests;, he therefore suggested that'the’
Turkish Government should arrange with the Ejiraan tribe to coerce the-Beni
Hajir, who might bo cut off from tbo sea, and* that all the landing places should1
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