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134- A survey of the shore lines, Katif and Bahrein, had already been ordered
by the Government of India.
Survey of the Katif ami Bahrein Coasts, i^73'74-
135. In January 1873 the Political Resident, Persian Gulf, asked for
instructions with regard to the proposed
Political A , March i8/J, Noi. 377-387.
survey of the Katif Reef channels by the
Officer Commanding II. M.'s Schooner Constance. Colonel Herbart, Political
Resident, Baghdad, was therefore asked to ascertain from the Pasha whether
there were any objections to the proposed survey. The reply was that our
Ambassador at Constantinople telegraphed to the effect that the Porte authorized
the survey. The Pasha wished, however, that a Turkish corvette should accom­
pany H. M.’s schooner. Colonel Ross did not think this necessary, but the
Government directed (till 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.
136. While the survey-boat was proceeding to make the survey, Colonel
Ross instructed its commander to communi­
Political A., May 1873, Noi. 195-205.
cate to the Turkish local authorities at
Katif the nature of his operations before landing to survey, and if any objection
should be raised, to inform them that the operations were being undertaken with
the cognizance of the Porte. The Government of India approved of these
instructions (letter No. gSS-P., dated 16th May 1873).
137. A complaint was then made by the Porte that the survey officers had
landed on the Nejd coast. When enqui­
Political A., August 1873, Nos. ioi-iia.
ries were made, Colonel Ross reported
that neither the surveying vessel nor any of her boats had come within 5 miles
of the Nejd coast, that the survey had till then been confined to channels of
approach to Bahrein, and that no attempt had yet been made to survey the
coast of Katif or Nejd (telegram of 31st July 1873).
138. Colonel Ross, however, represented that the survey party would
probably require to land on the Katif
Political A., October 1873. Noi >58-54.
coast in order to measure 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, he recommended that the
commander of the survey vessel should be furnished by the 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-?., dated 23rd September 1873).
139. The Turkish Governor General, Irak, was pleased to comply with
this request and directed Faiz Pasha
Political A., January 1874, Nos. 11-15.
Mutasarrif and Commander of the Force
at Nejd (Hasa) to show proper respect and give necessary aid to the British
survey officers, as they had been authorised to land on the seashore simply for
the purpose of making a chart of the coast (Rudif Pasha’s letter, dated 23rd
November 1S73).
140. Thereafter the Schooner Constance appears to have made the survey
of the Katif coast unobstructed. In March
Political A., April 1874, Noi. 195-195.
1S74 its commander reported that he 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 Ras
Tanurah on the Katif coast, but apparently no protest was raised against his
movements by the Turks.
Survey of the approaches 0/ the Shat-el-Arab and the Bamishir, iSSS-iSgo.
141. In November 18S8 Her Majesty’s Minister at Tehran proposed to the
Government of India that a survey should
Secret E., January 1889, Nos. 91-110.
be made of the Bamishir river lrom its
mouth to Muhammerah, to ascertain how far it could be used as an alternative
to the Shat-el-Arab. As no vessel was immediately available Colonel Ross
visited the mouth of the Bamishir in December 18S8 an.d made a rough survey
of the river.