'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' [‎89] (106/164)

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334. Before replying to this despatch, the Government of India, in their
despatch to Secretary of State, No. 55
Piracie. from November 1878 to M.y 1879. 22nd May gave com p lete aoooun t
of the piracies which had occurred subsequent to the issue of their previous
despatch of 17th January 1879. The most important events that had occurred
in the interval were as follows «
385. At the latter end of December 1878 Mansoor-hin-Minakhir, a
Sheikh of tbe An man tribe, ioined with
SoUfert A, September 1879^ Nos. M5-162. Zaid bin-Mahomed of the Eeni 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. Ten boats conveying Turkish soldiers
from Ojair to Katif were in sight, but, on beinsr appealed to decline 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 expressed an opinion
that the seizure of Zaid-bin-Mahomed or his explusion from Zahran was a
measure of primary necessity. The Goveinment of India thereupon, after
ascertaining from the Resident, Bushire, that Zahran was within recognized
Turkish iurisdiction, and that Zaid-bin-
Pohticai a ., September 1879, No. 156. Mahomed was a Turkish subject, desired'
the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. to urge the Turkish authorities either to
„ _ ope v ate promptlv agdinst Zaid-bin-Mabom-
Pohticai a ., September 18/9, o. 3. ed or to accept the alternative of British
action.
336. Instead of carrying wit these directions Colonel Nixon asked the
„ . „ Vail of Basrah whether a British ship of
Political A, September 1879, No. 158, , iii , , \ i j- i i
war should be sent to check disorder, and
referred the same quest'ons to the British Ambassador at Constantinople. The
Vali replied that a Turkish corvette had been ordered to cruise in the disturbed
parts, and that tbe Mutassarif of Katif had received stringent instructions to
suppress further piracies.
337. Ultimately the Turkish Minister of Marine directed the or the
Iskanderia, or Isoth, if necessary, to proceed to the Nejd coast, and declared
. . „ , that tbe Basrah authorities would be held
o itica a ., ep m er s , o . responsible for the restoration and mainte
nance of order.
338. On the 22nd January Colonel Ross reported that Turkish force had
„ v.. , * 0 . w iqto xr marched by land against El-Hussein, a
Political A., September 1879, Nos. 160—166. . n n -i r rr i iit
village nve miles irom 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
, . a , _ x , , and piratical boats continued to molest
Political A., September 1879, I^o. lUa. , t i i ji A i m i
trading vessels; moreover, both the Turk
ish vessels of war broke down.
339. On the 14th February 1879, the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. tele-
Political A. Septembor 1879, No 171. P/Vj ^ S I ,eCeSS
had led to further piracies of Katif. A
fresh gang of the Beni Hajir had stairted under another leader and captured
two Bahrein vessels laden with dates ; afterwards they joined Zaid's band near
El-Hussein and departed with their booty into the interior. Subsequently they
put to sea as^ain in search of further prizes and closed communication between
Bahrein and Katif, The Chief of Bahrein expressed alarm for his islands, and
asked either that he might he permitted to take the necessary measures for the
recovery of his boats, or that H. M. S. Spartan should act. In Colonel Ross'
judgment the piracies were likely to attain formidable dimensions, and to
prejudice British prestige and interests; he therefore suggested that the
Turkish Government should arrange with the Ejiman tribe to coerce the Beni
Hajir, who might be cut off from the sea, and that all the landing places should
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