"دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول، مواد تاريخية وسياسية، ملخص عن التوسع التركي في الساحل العربي من الخليج الفارسي وشؤون الأحساء والقطيف" [‎١‎٢‎٦] (١٦٤/١٤٣)

126
CHAPTER EIGHTH.
(IX)—Piracies in 1902 and proposal of the Chief of Bahrein to main
tain an armed dhow for pursuit of pirates, 1902-1903.
471. In 1902 there was recrudescence of piracies in the vicinity of Katif
secret e., january 1904, nos. 118-139. and Bahrein, committed hj a party of
Bern Hajir under the leadership of the
notorious Ahmed-bin-Selman. In July 1902 they stopped a boat at Seaalis, with
which they crossed to the island of Urn Nasan, and on 4th August captured
a Bahrein dhow of 28 tons burden, which was lying there to load lime for
Bahrein, by means of which dhow, some ten days later they waylaid and robbed
another Bahrein boat of Thaein in the Katar peninsula, of property valued at
$ 5,400.
472. In his letter No. 167, dated 8th December 1902, Colonel Kemball
No 12 3 reported that Ahmed-bin-Selman belonged to
the A1 Khalifa branch of the Bahrein Sheikhs,
and had been once a subject of Bahrein, but had long since turned an outlaw.
He first settled on Katar but had removed to Katif before the recent piracies
were committed. In these circumstances the chief of Katar could not be held
responsible for these piracies. The chief of Bahrein proposed that he should be
permitted to employ an armed dhow in pursuit of the pirates. He believed that
a small vessel like a dhow at his disposal *could pursue the pirates'boats at a
moment's notice and with great facility and quickness in the narrow channels
between Katif and Katar, and Colonel Kemball was inclined to think (paragraph
No 1 33 < last of his letter No. 167, dated 8th Decem
ber 1902), that the chief might be given the
permission applied for on the following conditions :—
(i) That the permission of the Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein be
obtained in the first instance;
(ii) that one of the Chief's sons or other responsible person be put in
charge of the boat;
(iii) that the operations of the boat be confined to the seas between a
point north of Ras Tanoura and eastward round of the Katar
peninsula towards the neighbourhood of Bidaa.
473. The Government of India then addressed the following letter to Sir
C. C. Drury, Commanding His Majesty's Naval Eorces, East Indies Station
(No. 675-E., dated 16th April 1903):—
Under the terms of the agreement which he executed in 1861, the Sheikh of Bahrein
]y 0> 124 hound to abstain from any act of aggression
or retaliation at sea, and any departure from the
piinciple of this agreement might be attended by undesirable risks. At the same time
there would probably be considerable advantage in making some special arrangement
for the patrolling or policing of the waters in this neighbourhood; not only oq account
of the increased security which should result, but also from the point of view that earlier
and more accurate information might, if suitable measures were adopted, be obtained as to
the condition of affairs on the neighbouring mainland. In the circumstances, I am to invite
any suggestions or advice which Your Excellency may be in position to offer on the subject.
The alternatives which present themselves to the Government of India are:
(i) the maintenance at Bahrein of an armed dhow of the class that has, it is
understood, been recently employed with good effect in checking piracy and
the trade in arms in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea; or
(ii) the maintenance by the Sheikh, at his own expense, of a dhow manned by his
own subjects, but which would be commanded by a junior British officer
lent from the Royal Navy or from the Royal Indian Marine, to ensure that
it only employed for proper purposes.
If Your Excellency is able to propose any precise arrangemeiits, I am to request that
an estimate of the probable cost may, if possible, be furnished. On receipt of Your
Excellency's reply, the Government of India propose to addrew His Majesty's Secretary
of State.