‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎24] (36/160)

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" The difficulties of this march will unquestionably be very great; but should they be
surmounted, all the necessaries of life will be found at El-Hasa, and there the troops may
establish themselves.
" Thence, however, to Biadh the route is much more formidable.
r The whole distance occupies seven or eight days' marching from morning till night, and
of these four days and nights of constant wearisome exertion, with but small space of time
available for rest and refreshment, must be devoted to crossing the Dahna or Red Desert, a tract
so difficult in consequence of the extremely light nature of the sand, in which no firm foothold
can be obtained even by camels, and in which no trace of passers is left; the entire absence of
water, and the intense heafc and glare is to be dreaded, and, so far as possible, avoided even by
wandering Arabs.
" But across this all who go from El-Hasa to Eiadh must pass, and water, fuel, and every
necessary must be carried, while it is absolutely necessary to take ono particular line known
only to persons constantly occupied in passing to and fro, an d any departure from which is
destruction.
" This march will probably prove a worse enemy to encounter than the hordes of Arabs
who may be expected to hang about the line (except only in the Dahna), and continually harass
the troops without exposing themselves to the danger of an attack in force.
" There will also probably be great difficulty in procuring trustworthy guides, and if they
be led by those bent on their destruction, their fate can be scarcely doubtful.
*' The suffprings of the members of this expedition can scarcely, under any circumstan
ces, be otherwise than very great, and it is a painful question how many may ever return.
" And while these troops are being thus sent to almost inevitable destruction, it seems
that the Ottoman authorities, reckoning on success with somewhat overweening confidence, are
forming plans for their future operations, and, as I communicated to Your Excellency yester
day by telegram, are said to propose, after the capture of Nejd, to direct the expedition against
Bahrein, Muscat, and the Arab coast in its whole length. "
92. The attention of the Secretary of State was drawn to the above letter
of Colonel Herbert, and he was asked by the Government of India to make a
representation to the Porte of the folly and danger of the expedition. This
request of the Government of India was communicated to the Foreign Office in
England, and it was added-—
" If any further steps can be taken to convince the Turkish Government of what the
Viceroy describes is f the folly and danger of the expedition/ the Duke of Argyll trusts that
they may be taken with as little delay as possible. "
The Foreign Office replied that it was not then considered necessary to do
so. Subsequently, however, Sir H. Elliot was desired to carry out the wishes
of the Indian Government in this respect.
93. On the 10th May Colonel Herbert wrote :—
" Since writing on the 26th ultimo, I have paid a hurried visit to Bussorah for the
purpose of seeing the preparations for the expedition, and found preparing to start with the
troops the Steam Corvett Broussa, 33 guns ; the hitherto unarmed steam ship Niuone, in
which four guns have been placed ; and old wooden guard ship the Khojah Bey, 18 guns,
which was originally built at Bussorah and has long been deemed unseaworthy ; and three
brigantines, also budt at Bussdrah, and carrying 4, (3, and 12 guas, respectively, and in little
or no better condition than the Khojah Bey."
94. Colonel Pelly telegraphed on the 31st May—
" My information is that expedition is already landed at Has Canoora, a sandy point, 10
miles from Kateef, and that Arabs will give first impediment at watered date groves'half
way. " •
Observations of the Grand Vizier on the policy of the British Govern
ment. Eemarks of the Government of India thereon.
95. The substance of a despatch No. 12, dated 11th April, from Colonel Her-
Sect, a ugust 1871, No,. «-7i (So ,4 E ). ^ to the ^'^dor at Constantinople
(vide paragraphs 86-89), alluding to the
merely nominal character of Abdullah's dependence on the Porte and deprecating
Turkish interference in Nejd affairs, was communicated to Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the

‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎24] (36/160)

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‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎24] (36/160)

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