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and to enquire what slops, if any, had heon taken in the matter. Doubt was,
however, expressed by Lord Ourzon at the time whether any satisfactory result
would bo produced. The result of tho visit of His Majesty’s ship Sphinx to
Katif, as reported by the Resident in February l'JOO, was most unsatisfactory,
and the attitude of the local Turkish authorities towards tho Commander and
tho Assistant Political Agent, who accompanied, was described as “ decidedly
discourteous." Tho report was communicated to the India Office on the
13th March 1902.
490. In a further report (letter No. 74, dated the 2nd April 1902) Lieute­
nant-Colonel Kemball discussed the
&cer*t £., May 1903, No«. 117-113 (No. 121).
question of the possibility of obtaining
redress, in the event of no satisfactory settlement being made by the Turks. Tho
only suggestion ho had was “ that tho Chief of Bahroin should ho advised to stop
transhipment at Bahrein of cargo destined for Katif and Ojair and prohibit
trade with those ports until justice is dono'to him.” This, would, in his opinion,
effect the Turkish customs and inconvcnicnco the mercautilo community of the
places, who would probably induce the Mutassarif to take early action. The
information was also recoivcd by the Resident that the Vali of Basrah had
received “a strongly worded " telegram from Constantinople directing him to
cause the arrest and punishment of the murderers, and it was confirmed in Sir
N. O’Conor’s despatch No. 08, dated the 20th February 1902, to the Foreign
Office, a copy of which was received with tho Secretary of State’s Socret des­
patch No. 10, dated tho 28th March 1902. The Resident was asked by
telegram on tho 20lh April to furnish the information required in tho despatch,
viz., whether the Sheikh of Bahrein would accept pecuniary compensation and
to what amount.
491. Tho reply of Colonel Kemball was as follows (No. 4-S. A., dated 6th
June 1902), which might bo road as throw­
Secret E„ May 1903, No«. 117-14**. (No. 128).
ing light on the interesting vendetta
customs of the Arabs
“ The question of pecuniary compensation has been placed before tho Chief of Bahrein, who
says that, bo far as tho murders of Shaikh Selman and the latter's son and nephew are con­
cerned, he cannot accept pecuniary compensation. It is against Arab tradition for a Chief
to accept blood-money for the murder of members of his family, and as regards these three
murders a settlement of this nature is not possible. On behalf of tho relatives of the other
twenty-one Bahrein subjects, who were murdered at the same time, he is willing to accept
pecuniary compensation, lie 6ays that, where pecuniary compensation in such cases is offered
and accepted, the customary amount paid is 800 Austriau dollars for each life. Tho blood-
money, therefore, for the 21 murdered persons amounts to 18,SOU dollars, equivalent at tho
present rale of exchange to Its. 23,520. On account of tho camels and othor plundered pro­
perty, ho claims 11s 11,020, and his total claim, therefore, amounts to Re. 35,140. On
acoount of the three murdered members of his family above referred to apparently the Chief
requires “ blond for blood/' and he states that lie oaunot accept less than the surrender to him
of three of the persons implicatod in the murder for execution or possible pardon, if it is
besought of him in a proper manner by the Chiefs of the Morra tribes.
It- thus appears that tho Chief is willing to accept pecuniary compensation in partial
settlement of the case, but that, for a full and final settlement, he requires that the murderers
should be punched, so that the blood-feud between the Bahaih tribe to which the murderers
belonged and the Khalifa family may be at an end. It would, of course, be highly satisfactory
if the Turkish Government could bo induced to effect a settlement of this nature, that is to
say, pay the amount of Ms. 35,110 for the 21 murders and the plundered property, and ako
surrender to the Chief of Bahrein three of tho murderers, or otherwise satisfy him on account
of the murders of the three members of his family. Judging, however, from tho attitude of
the Turku so far and from the unsatisfactory nature of their authority in the Iiasa district,
I doubt very much if so satisfactory a settlement, can bo expected at their huuds.
" The Chief of Bahrein has informed the Assistant P. litical Agent that he has received ft
communication from Sheikh Ah.s cd-bin-Thani of Katr, to the effect r.liat tho Bahaih tiibc
have expressed their desire to come to an arrang-mcnt of a nature which will settle the case,
and liftvc asked Sheikh Ahmed to approach the Chiof of Bahrein in tho matlor. Tho Chief
of Bahrein has hitheito refrninod from giving Sheikh Ahmed a direct reply, thinking that
negotiations with the tribe through him may not bo adv.>aldo while the discussions in tbo
case aro proceeding at Constantinople hotwc.'ii IIis Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador and tho
Turkish Government If die were to negotiate with the tiibe through Sheikh Ahmed, ho
cannot yet moke a definite statement as regards the nature of the settlement which he would