‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1895-96’ [‎258r] (10/92)

HESIDENCT AND MA.SKAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE TEAT, 1895-96. 3
Ko confirmation of the allegations of the chief of Abu Dthahi regarding
the participation by ports other than his own in the trade, by sea, in slaves
was forthcoming. It is to be feared, however, that the other towns are not
exempt from the responsibility of a share in it and the existence of a trade over
land from the Batineh Coast of Maskat, was generally admitted ; the oppor
tunity was therefore taken to address a serious warning to the various chiefs
in the course of the tour. The trade in slaves overland is beyond our reach,
but if means could be found to put an effectual stop to the importation from
Africa to Sur, whence slaves are carried to the Batineh, and thence distributed
by sea and land to places further up the Gulf, a heavy blow would be struck
at the root of this atrocious evil.
In August a party of the Manasir tribe started from Katr upon an
expedition which was rumoured to be a pillaging-raid. Timely notice of the
movement enabled the Shaikhs to make preparations for resisting them, and
the enterprise assumed a more peaceful character. Debai, Shargah and Um-el-
Kawein were visited and gifts received from the Shaikhs. At Hamraniyeh,
however, the Manasir managed to get the people oil their guard and to carry
off a number of their animals and a few slaves.
A Turkish subject proceeding down the Ajmancreek to embark in a vessel
outside was shot dead from the bank by a watchman who, on Ciiaiien^iiig the
partv, had failed to get a reply. The act, though perhaps culpably rash, was
not of the nature of an intentional murder : the watchman was at once appre
hended by the chief and the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. made a representation of the tacts through
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. at Busrah with the object of preventing reprisals
on Annan subjects visiting Busrah. A Shura court decided that the chief was
free from all liability which rested on the watch man alone, but did not fix the
amount of compensation to be paid, it being understood, however, that redress
of this nature should be given. As the result of communications with the
Turkish Yice-Consul at Bushire the relations of the deceased waived all claim
against Ajman and the matter ended.
At the close of the year the chief of Debai, together with the son of the
Abu Dthabi chief, visited the Sultan of Maskat. The object of this visit,
though there were certain rumours about it, was not divulged.
A serious fire occurred in Debai in August, some sixty houses in tue
suburbs being destroyed, and one life lost.
3.—BAHRAIN.
In the report for last year the troubles which threatened Bahrain at
its close were noticed. These increased and became serious, the Al bm
Ali tribe being supported in their contumacy and resistance to their chief by
Shaikh Jasim bin Mahomed Thani with whose countenance they obstinately
insisted on maintaining the obnoxious settlement at Zobara, m defiance of the
clearest warning that this would in no case be permitted. Shaikh Jasim and the
Al bin AU tribe under Shaikh Sultan bin Salamah were encouraged in the
ao-cressive attitude they had assumed towards Bahrain by the provincial furkish
officials, the gravity of the situation being there by much increased.
■Warnin" and remonstrance being unavailing, it became necessary fo
adopt measures of coercion, and H. M. S. " Sphinx " accordingly under
the instructions of Government seized some of the boats ol the rebel loustn e.
But this step which in ordinary course should have sufficed to bring he A
to Ali to reason, failed in its object, owing to the vigorous outside support
eiven to this tribe, who, after their cause had been taken up by Shaikh Jasam
fnd the local Turks, were probably not quite free agents. A number of boats
sent from Bahrain to Zobara to bring over the family of one of the leading
members of the Al bin Ali who had made his peace with the chief of Bahrain
were accordingly seized and detained at Zobara under the auspices of fehaiKh
A few Turkish troops with a minor official had some time leiore boon
established at Zobara and the Ottoman flag had been hoisted, ana a senoiis com
plexion had thus been given to what in its origin had been a diflerence between