'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' [‎130] (147/164)

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frrid to enquire what steps, if any, had been taken in the matter. Doubt was,
however, expressed by Lord Curzon at the time whether any satisfactory result
would be produced. The result of the visit of His Majesty's ship Sphinx to
Katif, as reported by the Resident in February 1900, was most unsatisfactory,
and the attitude of the local Turkish authorities towards the Commander and
the Assistant 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. , who accompanied, was described as " decidedly
discourteous." The report was communicated to the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. on the
13th March 1902.
490. In a further report (letter Ko. 74 dated the ^nd April-1902) lieute-
„ ™ x. ii^o /-vr nant-Colonel Kemball discussed the
Secret E., May 1903, Noa. 117-143 (No. 121.)^ . p xt ' u 'T a c 1.x • •
■ v question of the possibility of obtaining
redress, ir^ the event of no satisfactory settlement being made by the Turks. The
only suggestion he had was that the Chief of Bahrein should be advised to stop
transhipraeat at Bahrein of cargo destined for Katif and Ojair and prohibit
trade ^ith those ports until justice is done to him. ,, This would, in his opinion,
effect the Turkish customs and inconvenience the mercantile community of the
places, who would probably induce the Mutassarif to take early action. The
information was also received by the Resident that the Vali of Basrah had
teceiyed " 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. 68, dated the 20th February 1902, to the Foreign
Office, a copy of which was received with the Secretary of State's Secret des^
patch j ST o. 10, dated the 28th March 1902. The Resident was asked by
telegram on the 20th April to furbish the information required in the despatch,
vis., whether the Sheikh of Bahrein would accept pecuniary compensation and
to what amount.
491. The reply of Colonel Kemball was as follows (No. 4-S. A., dated 6th
c ^ ™ , 0 no ^ n* iocn June 1902), which might be read as throw-
Secret e ., May 1903, Noa. ii7-i4^. (No. 128). . tu*. i.i • i. x- * ^
ing light on the interesting vendetta
customs of the Arabs
" The question of pecuniary compensation has been placed before the Chief of Bahrein, who
says that, so far as the murders of Shpikh 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 bloci-mouey 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 the relatives of the other
twenty-one Bahrein subjects, who were murdered at the same time, he is willing to accept
pecuniary compensation. He says that, where pecuniary compensation in such cases is offered
and accepted, the customary amount paid is 800 Austrian dollars for each life. The blood-
money, therefore, for the 21 murdered persons amounts to 18,^00 dollars, equivalent at the
present rate of exchange to Rs. 23,520. On account of the camels and other plundered pro*
p^rtj', he claims Rs 11,620, and his total claim, therefore, amounts to Rs. 35,140. On
account of the three murdered members of his family above referred to apparently the Chief
requirt-s " blood for blood/' and he states that he cannot accept less than the surrender to him
of three of the persons implicated 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 the 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 punished, 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 (jovernmenfc could be induced to effect a spttlement of this nature, that is to
say, pay the amount of Rs. 35,140 for the 21 murders and the plundered property, and also
surrender to the Chief of Bahrein three of the murdererSj or otherwise satisfy him on account
of the murders of the three members of his family. Judging, however, from the attitude of
the Turks so far and from the unsatisfactory nature of their authority in the Hasa district,
I doubt very much if so satisfactory a settlement can be expected at their hands.
" The Chief of Bahrein has informed the Assistant PJitieal Agent that he has received a
communication from Sheikh Aha ed-bin-Thani of Katr, to the effect that the Bahaih tiibe
have expressed their desire to come to an arrangement of a nature which will settle the case,
and have asked Sheikh Ahmed to approach the Chief of Bahrein in the matter. The Chief
of Bahrein has hitherto refraioed from giving Sheikh Ahmed a direct reply, thinking that
negotiations with the tribe through him may not be advisable while the discussions in the
case are proceeding at Constantinople between His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador and the
Turkibh Government If he were to negotiate with the tribe through Sheikh Ahmed, he
cannot yet make a definite statement as regards the nature of the settlement which he would