Political [‎53r] (105/154)

No. 131, dated Busliire, the 19th June 1889.
From Colonel E. C. Ross, c.s.i., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and
Her Majesty's Consul-General for Ears,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I have tlie honour to enclose translation of a report received from the
No 52 , dated 1 st June 1889 . 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. Agent at Shargah, containing
an account of the.proceedings of the com
bined forces of Ahu-Thahi and Dehay, during the recent expedition towards
El-Katr.
No. 52, dated IshJune 1889.
From—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. Agent at Shargah,
To—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
.1 have the honour to report that on the 15th May Shaikh Zaid-bin-
Khalifa arrived at Ahu-Thahi. On the 17th May, Makthum-hin- Hasher
arrived at Debay. I went to Dehay for the purpose of delivering the presents
to the Chief of that place and to Makthum-bin-Hasher. Makthum-hin-
Hasher gave me the following account of Shaikh Zaid’s expedition.
When the expedition arrived at Sabakhah on the frontiers of Katr, they
experienced great scarcity of water, which had to be obtained by digging new
wells. At Sabakhah Shaikh Zaid held a council of war with the^Cluefs of
the-tribes that were with him, at which it was decided that the present was
not an opportune moment for a March on Katr, as Jasim was entrenched at
El-Bidaa, and as there was no fodder for the animals in the suburbs of Katr. It
was deemed sufficient for the present to punish the tribes (who had assisted
Jasim) by plundering them. So the expedition started and went to a place
called Karah, in the neighbourhood of Hasa, and plundered everything they
found there, irrespective of the fact whether it belonged to foe or friend. The
expedition then marched to Ojeyr, where the Bedouins of Karah had taken
shelter in the fort (at Ojeyr). But Shaikh Zaid prevented his men from
investing the fort, as his object was not murder but plunder. The booty taken
from the Bedouins at Karah was 2,000 camels, besides much household goods
and many arms. After the attack was over, those of the Bedouins who had
treaty relations with Shaikh Zaid and whose property was plundered in the
affair at Karah, came to Shaikh Zaid, and asked him to restore to them their
camels, which he willingly did. So after returning the camels of the friendly
tribes, the net booty carried away was 600 camels and 8 horses.
The number of killed in the engagement at Karah was 18 men of the
Monasir and Beni Ilajir tribes who are under Jasim. A son of Bin-Shafi,
Chief of Beni Ilajir, was also killed, but this happened by mistake, as that Chief
is the friend of Shaikh Zaid. The friendly Bedouins of Karah have rehewed
their compact with Shaikh Zaid.
From Karah, Shaikh Zaid (having changed his mind) wanted to march
on Katr, but found that the camels were all jaded, and a disease broke out
amongst them. The expedition lost only two men in the engagement at
Karah.
? j
Extract from the Diary of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for the week ending the
21st June 1889.
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1. It is said that a Turkish man-of-war is expected here shortly from
Busrah with troops for the relief of the garrisons of Katr and Katif. I saw a
letter from Ibrahim Agha Nasrani, the Turkish Commissariat Contractor at
Busrah, written to his Agent at Bidaa, informing the latter that a regiment will
go to Bidaa, and asking him to get ready the necessary provisions for them.
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