'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Turkish Expansion on the Arab Littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa and Katif [al-Qaṭīf] Affairs' [‎39] (56/164)

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course be applicable to bim ? Certainly it would be so. The above sufficiently answers the
first and second excuses put forward in your letter.
" The arguments adduced by me in this matter would be recognized in every place, and
are in accordance with all custom and rule, and in every Court in the world.
" But as regards the third subject mooted in your letter, to the effect that the murdered
messenger was the bearer of a letter from the Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma for Jassim-bin-Sani, and that
you sent the letter intact with the seal unbroken to its destination, you say also than in opening
a second letter you found that certain persons hat! written it to another person in Gwuttur,
mentioning certain matters connected with Bahrein, which you observed with regret. This
letter, although written by certain persons to an individual in Gwuttur, did not contain matters
of the nature represented by you. But if it had contained any such, may God help us, it would
have created mischief to the State.
" This question had no concern with the messenger, nor yet with the person to whom the
messenger was sent, but had reference only to the persons who indited the letter. Not
withstanding this were the subject-matter contained in the letter as seen by you and quoted by
you to this effect, viz.--
" That the enemy would be suppressed, and that friends would rejoice/^ it contained
nothing injurious, but only what was beneficial to all mankind,
" If any fault can be found, it is in the fact of your having opened a letter of this descrip
tion from one party to another, at a time when you were a person in authority. Your presump
tion in acting in this manner would be objected to by every Government and stigmatized by
every creed.
" As regards your statement that the messenger who bore these letters was not known and
carried no passport, the idea of such a question as that of messengers proceeding from Lahsa to
Gwuttur being known or unknown, competent or otherwise, for the first time emanates from
Bahrein. It is well known that persons employed on the coast and passing to and fro do not
carry passports, and that the custom of carrying passports has never been in vogue in these
parts.
What you have now put forward in argument is sometimes considered fitting to
adduce as an excuse, under such circumstances, in great cities which you have not seen, but
may have heard of,
" The excuse, however, had no effect, because it is not the practice to carry passports in
these parts. It would appear you have written from hearsay without consiJering at all whether
the excuse would be of any service to you or have any weight whatever.
" Notwithstanding this it was known from the address of the official letter which the
messenger was carrying, and from the seal on the document whence the messenger had come,
and whither he was proceeding, and on what business he was deputed. These circumstances
naturally showed what the man^s business was. Your statements are consequently foolish, and
call for no remark.
" What causes me more surprise than all else in your statement, that you were not aware
of the arrival of the Imperial troops at Lahsa and Katif, while arrival of these troops took
place more than six months ago and the people of Bahrein, consequent on the protection and
security caused by the presence of the troops, frequented the coasts without interference and
carried on trade. The steamers and other vessels also passed to and fro in the vicinity of
Bahrein. I am unable to understand how these patent circumstances have escaped your ob
servation, while I have heard so much of your good sence and intelligence.
" In conclusion, the man despatched for the delivery of important letters from one Turkish
Government authority to another is well known to us of having left; also how he was made
to deviate from his course, the way in which he was taken to the island of Bahrein, and by whose
bands he was killed. Same portions of the actual facts remained incomplete, but these were
ascertained during the mission of Arif Bey, and the evidence is now complete.
" On this account it is necessary that the murderers should be called on to pay the blood-
money of the murdered in accordance with the custom of law, viz., 10,000 legal dirhems of pure
silver, which amount should be made over to the Kayem Mukam in Gwuttur, Jassim-bin-Sani
for payment to the heirs o£ the murdered.
" In any case it is required that the murderer should be seized and confined. If it were
possible for me (to get this done), it would have been done, in order that in future such oc
currences as these may not be repeated.
" My object is to be informed who the murderers are, and in what manner they have been
confined.
If these things which I have said are not carried into^effect, and as you have written that
the murder was committed by the people of the south, I, by the power of His Imperial Majesty,
am able really and actually to give effect to what I have said.
" I now await a decisive reply from you."