"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٧] (٦١٦/٢٩٩)

2Q2 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
20 houses by cannon fire and compelling Sadan to give compensation for the
stores and cash, 2,000 dollars, looted from the Government.
An unpopular Turkish officer, Tabur Agashi, Mahmud Beg, who hud
been recalled from Hasa in 1906 and had made several futile efforts subse
quently to get the people to concur in his return, having forced his way
back in January 1908, was promptly shot dead in the Hofuf J^azar by four men
who were believed to belong to Mubarraz.
The previous year's Mutasarrif, Najib Pasha, returned to Basrah in Au^t
1907, and was succeeded by Rashid Pasha in the following October.
In Katif at the commencement of the year Mansur-bin-Ahmad-bin-Mahdi
a lonal magnate and the rival of Haji Mansur Pasha, was acting as QairQmaqam ,
He was soon relieved by a Turk named Ahmad Effendi who officiated untii
February or March 1908, when he was relieved by Muhammad Amin-biu-
Sultan, the present incumbent.
In June 1907, in consequence of rumours having reached Bahrain of
the pirate Ahmad-bin-Salman showing some activity in the neighbourhood
of Katif, the Commander of H.M.S. L tpwing was requested by the
Political Resident to proceed to the port and enquire of the Qaimmaqam
whether he had any news of the outlaw^ whereabouts and what measures he
was taking against him. The Lapwing did not touch at Bahrein on account
of the prevalence of plague. On arrival at Katif, Lieutenant Commander
Gouldsmith received a most unfriendly reception, being prevented by an
armed guard at the landing stage from advancing and meeting the Qaimmaqam.
'ihe incident lias since formed the subject of a strong representation to
the Porte by the London Foreign Office, and subsequent to the close of
the year under report, a satisfactory apology has been presented to the
Commander by Ahmad EfTendi's successor, who went on board the Lapwing
on her next arrival in the port and expressed his regret for the incident in
writing as well as verbally.
Darwish Effendi, mentioned in last year's report as having been removed
from the post of Treasury Officer, Katif, in 1906, was reappointed to the
same office in April 1907.
The Customs farm of Hasa, Katif and Ojair was sold for the year com
mencing i4th March 1907, to the same contractors as before for 13,000
Turkish Liras ; this shows a decrease of 3,000 Liras on the previous year's
price.
P iracies.
No piracies occurred during the year under report, though rumours
of the movements of the professional, Ahmad-bin-Salman, occasionally
filtered to Bahrain. It seems that dissensions were rife amongst his friends
in the early part of the hot weather, which hindered their putting out to sea
and interfered perhaps with their system of gaining intelligence. The frequent
presence of a gun-boat in the neighbourhood of Bahrain had also undoubtedly
a deterrent effect upon the lawless Bedouin and their leader.
P olitical R esident's and N aval C ommander-in- C hief's V isits.
Major P. Z. Cox, C.I E., and Commodore Sir G. S. Warrender, Bart.,
C.B., M.V.O., readied Bahrein on the 16th April 1907, in H.M.S. Hyacinth,
which was accompanied by the R.I.M.S. Lawrence, The Chief of Bahrein
and the Political Agent called on His Excellency the Commodore and the
Political Resident after they had transferred to the Lawrence^ and sub*
sequently the visitors accompanied by the Political Agent returned Sheikh
Esa's visit at his Muharraq residence.
On the following morning His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief left
for Karachi in the flag-ship, while the Political Resident proceeded a little later
to Bushire in the Lawrence.
V isits of G overnment V essels.
. H.M.S. Hyacinth and R.I.M.S. Lawrence, bringing the Naval Command-
an( ^ Political Resident, paid a brief visit to Bahrein on the
16th April 1907, both vessels leaving on the following day.