‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1896-97 (Foreign Dept serial no. 92). Calcutta: Supt. Govt. Printing, 1897 & Appendices to the Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1896-97’ [‎221v] (10/31)

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ADMINISTBATION REPOBT ON THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL
3.—BAHREIN.
Beyond some not very serious signs of disafTection, which were the natural
result of the failure of Sheikh Esa, Chief of Bahrein, to call the Amamireh to
account for the act of certain of that tribe in killing Sultan bin Salamah
referred to in last year's report, the course of events in Bahrein has been on the
whole smooth and peaceful. Ali, son of Sultan bin Salamah, supported by a
Bedouin following, tried to incite some of the A1 bin Ali to aid him in reprisals
against the Amamireh at the pearl banks. The Chief warned the A] bin Ali
against lending themselves to these schemes of vengeance, and the attempt
generally failed. A part of the A1 bin Ali, however, sympathizing with feelings
of their late Sheikh's son, and dissatisfied at the immunity permitted to those
who had caused his death, went over to Katr where they joined Ali at Ghariyeh.
They subsequently attacked and plundered a Bahreia boat, carrying off pearls
and money amounting to over a thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . Sheikh Esa wisely refrained
from interference with the departure of some A1 bin Ali families who after-
wards desired to join the men who had seceded.
In November the prospect of scarcity caused the Chief to prohibit the ex
port of food-grains. About the same time the restoration of friendly relations
with the Katr peninsula was notified, and a proclamation was made in the
bazars that traffic with that district might be resumed.
4.—EL-HAS A.
A post runner with the Turkish mail from Katif for El-Hasa, was way
laid and robbed in April 1896 by a party of the notoriously predatory A1
Murrah tribe. A pursuit by mounted troops from Hasa, resulted in a somewhat
curious complication. Before the mounted party could overtake the A1
Murrah, the latter had, in their turn, been attacked and plundered by a party
of the Dowasir, and the troops encountering these last, whom they took to be
the original robbers, fell upon them. The troops, however, lost two men killed
and two wounded in the attack, and the Dowasir retreated with three horses
which they captured.
5.—KATIP AND KATR.
The appearance of small Turkish war vessels in these waters was rather
more frequent and continued than has been usual. One of these arrived in
Alay, and was followed by a second.
In October the Turkish garrison of El-Bidaa was relieved by 400 troops
conveyed there m the Turkish gunboat Zuhaf.
e n Tll f ."? em 1 P ursued their habitual course of robbery. In July a band
0 is ii e ma e a descent upon the flocks of the Naeem tribe in Katr,
caraymg off no less than 3,000 sheep as was reported, besides a number of
TbTi "RnatiiH e ,, Same 10 ers having committed further depredations, Mohamecl
1 Rasbid, the powerful ruler of Nejd, sent to Sheikh Jasim in November to
i emand restitution of the property plundered from his subjects. This demand
was promptly complied with, and a threat from Sbeikb Jasim of a general
desired eSeet failiDg their restoration of the plunder, had the
K ..f 11 ® eoe ™ ber Haji Esa Effendi was replaced in the Kaim Makamship of
i ' w lcl1 Ile lla(1 held for six months, by Mobamed Rakib Beg.
6.—KOWAIT.
Shdkhs Mohamed A1 Sabah and Jarrah, the former being the
g ei h of Ivowait, were assassinated about May by their brother