'A précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of Arabistan. By Lt A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎2] (16/134)

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was useless for him to remain in Basrah. The Turks at this time seemed
anxious to subdue the Ka'ab, but lacked ships and money. The Company
moreover objected to assisting the Turks unless the latter paid for the expenses
of the Company's fleet. This the Turks would not do, but it was not possible
to withdraw the English fleet, as if it were to quit Basrah, all the inhabitants
of the town would fly to Baghdad and the place would be ruined.
An abortive attack was made during the summer of 1766 upon the Ka'ab
Fort of Mansur (on Khor Buzlyeh in old maps) and Lieutenant Nesbitt and
a European gunner were killed.
" Captains Nesbitt and Brewer sent armed boats to reconnoitre the rivers whereby
they discovered a considerable number of small boats were lying 1 in a small
creek near a new erected fort named Mansur 1 which it was determined by
them not onlv to destroy but also to attempt the fort, the former of which
was effected, but failed in the latter for want of water and people to drag the
guns, being seven miles from the place of their landing when they began tljeir
retreat which was about midnight, the greatest loss was in the death of
Lieutenant Nesbitt with an European gunner, four others only being wdunded
(Saldanha, p. 201)."
At this time the Turks granted the Company's fleet a monthly subsidy of
1,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month, in consideration of the assistance they gave in sub
duing the Ka'ab.
During July 1766, Mahmud Kia A deputy or lieutenant of the governor in Ottoman Iraq, with additional responsibilities as a high-ranking provincial judge. , a Turkish General, arrived from
Baghdad with 1,500 men and proceeded to Qubban in company with part of
the Company's fleet.
" The Chub people immediately on their appearance deserted the fort with the
greatest precipitation, the consequence of which has been a whole tribe of
Chaub's principal Musquetiers having fled to Mahmud Kia A deputy or lieutenant of the governor in Ottoman Iraq, with additional responsibilities as a high-ranking provincial judge. with their
families as well as to our ships. By those people we have learnt that the
greatest disaffection reigns among his troops who would all desert him, but
that he keeps their Chiefs continually within his sight and on the least sus
picion commits the most horrid barbarities; in short they say there is nothing
wanting but for the Turks to march into his countrv when it is thought the
whole of his people would immediately desert him; therefore this measure has
lately been very strongly represented by the Agent of the Company to the
Turks."
Karlm Khan was asked at this time not to give protection to the Ka'ab :
he made no answer and appears in practice to have sheltered refugees
(Saldanha, p. 205).
Under date 23rd October 1766, the Basrah agent and Council wrote to
the Council at Bombay that they had decided in regard to some small
schooners—
" As they were so convenient for the Ka'ab's rivers to detain them with the rest of
the fleet until we can know the final determination of the Turks in regard to
Karim Khan, for although they have moved their Camp from Jalahai (Jarrahi)
to the Haffar (Mohammerah) on account of the farman lately sent to them by
the Khan, yet there is reason to think they must renew the war against the
Ka'ab and therefore have requested that we would continue the fleet on the
present station and maintain blockade by sea as much as possible.''
On the 23rd August, Shaikh Ghanim, son of Shaikh Salman, made an
appointment to meet Captain Andrew Nesbitt in the neighbourhood of P^bor
Buzlyeh. The meeting took place, but Ghanim behaved with impertinence
and plainly contemplated treachery, which Captain Nesbitt prevented by
attacking him first-
Ghanim was dangerously wounded and several Shaikhs and others killed
and wounded. The Company only lost one European and one sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. killed,
5 Europeans and 3 Indians wounded. This affair happened about 5 in the
evening.
" Towards ten o'clock, the flow having made, he (Nesbitt) endeavoured to board the
' Fort William ' and ' Sally ' but that being come within about Musqett
shot the enemy set them both on fire but thev (Captain Nesbitt and party)
continued there till the flames burnt down to the water's edge."
1 A district of this name (Mansureh) exists some 8 miles north-east ofJBuzIyeh on the Jarrahi River (vide 1
mile = l inch map), but the same name occurs on the 1st edition of the Survey of India's (Colonel St. John's) map
of Persia, 16 miles = 1 inch, opposite Qabr-an-Nakhuda on the mainland near rocks now known as Umm-ud-
Dibah.