"الخليج العربي - الولاية القضائية التركية على طول الساحل العربي (الجزء الرابع)" [‎١‎١] (١٦/١١)

11
just, are firm, and any evasion or refusal of those demands would
lead to consequences which I, as your friend, would deplore.
“ It has been my constant end and endeavour to draw closer the
friendly relations between us, both from the respect I had for
your father, and also from the personal friendship established
between us when I visited your camp at Zobarah, a friendship
which I had hoped to improve. But you will recollect that
several months ago I informed yon that ill treatment and ex
pulsion of British Indian subjects from your country would be
acts inconsistent with friendly relations. By all friendly Govern
ments and Chiefs all over the world British traders are allowed to
come and go and ply their trades in their territories, and receive
due protection. I sent an agent to explain all this personally to
you, and I was greatly surprised to learn that you had not heeded
my warning and treated my agent with want of courtesy. If the
banians interfere with your own mercantile dealings, you cannot
expect the British Government to consider that an excuse for
expelling them, or refusing them admission, for the Government
regards you as the Chief and Governor of El Bidaa, not as a
trader. Any reasonable expenses for protection of the banians
will not be resisted, but must be with my approval, and not liable
to be exceeded without.”
This letter was sent by the hands of a certain
Agha Mahomed Rahim,—a person well known to
the Sheikh,—with instructions to explain the de
tails of the pecuniary demands, which were reduced
to Rs. 8,049, none but claims for direct and actual
losses of the Hindus being included.
The upshot of the discussions between Muhammad
Rahim and Sheikh Jasim was, that the Sheikh had
no objection to apologize, was willing to receive
back the banians, though on unfavourable terms,
but refused to pay compensation unless the banians
returned and proved their case (Enel. 27).
In course of conversation, Jasim remarked : “ If
“ pressure and force is used against me, I shall be
obliged to embark with 10,000 men and go to
“ Bahrein and kill all the banians, kill you, and
“ any one I want in Bahreinand the Agent
having observed, “ You have dreamt that you have
“ become Arabi Pasha the second,” he replied,
“ I am two Arabis ! ” and went away.
Consequent on the failure of Muhammad Rahim s
mission, the Resident, with Her Majesty’s ships
“ Woodlark ” and “Arab,” proceeded to El Bidaa,
where he arrived on the 1st November. On the
appearance of Her Majesty’s ships, the Turkish
flag was hoisted on Jasim’s house and the Turkish
Residency.
On anchoring, Colonel Ross sent a letter to the
Sheikh, couched in very conciliatory language, but
insisting on payment forthwith of the condensation
demanded, and on a guarantee of friendly and
kind treatment of the banians in future.
The subsequent proceedings may best be given
in the words of Colonel Ross’s letter of 7th De
cember 1882 (Enel. 28) :—
“ Sheikli Jasim sent off Sheikh. Ali-bin-Rashid, Chief of
El Wakrah, with his reply, and a verbal message to the effect
that Jasim was desirous of seeing me on shore. Sheikh Ali-bin-
Rashid informed me that he was of opinion that my visiting
Sheikh Jasim in a friendly way would make it easy for him to
concede to our demands, but that otherwise Sheikh Jasim was so
eccentric in his character that he might possibly mount his camel
and go away. It appeared to me that the best chance of an
amicable settlement lay in my landing and seeing Jasim, and I
therefore decided to do so. It is usual for the Sheikhs of town-