'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' [‎132] (149/164)

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was clcse to his was not attacked by the Bahaih shows that the latfer's object was not the
Dawasir's. The Amamerahs are a distinct tribe, and have no connection whatever with the
Dawasirs, and live in a separate village near the Dawasirs at Bidaa on the north west corner of
the Island of Bahrein, *
"Sheikh Abdullah-bin-Hassan, tbe Chief of Dawasir, was not killed in the attack on
Sheikh Selman, but another Dawasir. Sheikh Abdullah is still alive, aud is personally known
to me. The Dawasirs are subjects of the Chief of Bahrein. Rashid-bin-Meganh, the Chief
of Bahaih, and his second son and a Bahaih tribesmen only were killed by a slave of Sheikh
Selman in the attack on the latter and his party, and not thirteen persons as stated by the
Turkish Minister of the Interior. The Morra, Ajman, and two Beni Hajir, companions who
went with Sheikh Selman and lost their lives in the attack, were killed by the Bahaih, aud
therefore must not be included in the number of the persons killed by the party attacked.
" There was no connection whatever between the party of the late Sheikh Selman and
that of the Dawasir tribe The simultaneous crossing of the two parties to the mainland waa
a mere co-incidence, as that is the usual season for such parties to cross over for the purpose of
hawking the " hubara.^
" It will be observed that the Bahaih were the original aggressors against the Amamerahs
whose blood-feud was finally settled amicably, and subsequently the Bahaih without any
cause attacked the late Shaikh Selman and his party starting a fresh blood-feud. As explained
m the previous correspondence, according to tribal custom, it is only the section of the tribe,
a member of which sheds blood is responsible, and not the inhabitants of a whole district, as it
would seem the Turkish Minister desires to imply. In this case the Bahaih assassinated
persons belonging to Bahrein, and if a balance is struck, there are 21 lives to be accounted for
by the Bahaih, but the Bahaih being undoubtedly the aggressors, it seems contrary to justice
to allow any deductif n being made when settling the matter. The Chi^f of Bahrein tells me
that he cannot accept blood-money for the lives of the three members of his family ; and, if
peace is to be established between him and Bahaih, the only means to be adopted are those
mentioned in the third paragraph of my letter No. 109, dated the 17th May 1902. As
Sheikh Ahmed-bin-'l hani would be acting as a peacemaker between the two parties. I do not
see what complications can arise in the future/'
498. On 18th August 1903, Colonel Kemball reported that the negotia-
Secret E.,September 1904, Nob. 56 87. (So. 66.) "T attempted thrOUgll Sheikh Ahmed
had proved abortive, and suggested as the
only alternative that His Majesty's Government should clearly inform the
Turkish GoTernment that if satisfaction were not given within a definite
period, the Chief of Bahrein would be permitted to take his own steps to obtain
satisfaction. The satisfaction demanded by the Sheikh, as noted above includes
the payment of a sum of Rs. 35,140, as blood-money and compensation for
property plundered and the surrender of three of the three persons impli-
eated for execution or possible pardon.
499. In telegraphing the purport of Colonel Kemball's report (telegram
Hid, No. 57. (iate(i 13fcI]L September 1903), the Viceroy
expressed concurrence with Colonel Kem
ball, suggested that satisfaction should be demanded within two months.
The Secretary of State replied on 3rd JNovember ly03 :—
Sir N. O'Conor has caused the Forte to telegraph instructions to Bisrah asking for an
Hid No 59 immediate report on the present position with regard
to Behaih, and stating that full redress for the
murders is required. He suggests that before allowiog the Sheikh of Bahrein to take tho
matter into his own hands, a reasonable time should be allowed for an answer/'
500. Then followed the Secretary of State's despatch No. 11 (Sf cret), datf d
Ibid 69 . 19th February 1904, which forwarded the
correspondence between the Foreign Office
and 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. and Sir N, O'Conor. It appeared from it that Sir N'Conor
had insisted on reparation being made by payment of blood-money as sug
gested by Colonel Kemball. The Minister of the Interior stated in reply tha*
it would be impossible to exact such a large sum from the delinquent tribes,
especially nomadic as they were. Nevertheless the Ministsr communicated by
telegram the substanxje of Sir N. O'Conor's note and instructed him to take
action accordingly, and Sir N. O'Conor undertook to recommend His Majesty's
Government to let matters stand until a reasonable time had elapsed " during
which the Vali could endeavour to execute the fresh orders sent to him. " Sir