"تقرير عسكري حول عربستان (المنطقة رقم ١٣)." [ظ‎‎١‎٠] (٣٦٦/٢٥)

A. B*
5 87-1590.
1700 approx
1766 .
1766 .
10
„ i Tr mentioned in the history of Persia
Arabistan »in ^ ; better understood tj its foople
“ d“™l„p™”Z y are b,ought about by the Anglo.
r . nil^ Vivn tmiv it will continue to hold a back number m
flTTnals S SJrn Petsian history. The dates of the few
events which have given cause m the past few centuries or
■Zhton to be mentioned in Persian history, are tabulated
below. •
The Turkish Invasion. During these three years Turkey
annexed the western provinces of Persia, including muc o
Luristan and Khuzistan.
For a long time previous to this date ’Arahistan, which had
held a semi independent position, was a subject of dispute
Seen Teheran and Constantinople, as to whether the southern
movince should or should not form part of the dominions of
the Shah. Persian influence had usually been predomman ,
hut the nonulation had become almost entirely Arab. To
wards the 1 end of the 16th or the beginning of the 17 th century,
theArab element was further strengthened by the immigration
of the great tribe of the Cha’b, who were originally subject to
attoman rule As between Turkish and Persian domination the
Cha’b had no preference, for both were equally distasteful to
them but wheii they spread eastwards they found themse ves
oblSed to yield tribute to the Shah. Nominally subject to
PeLia, they were virtually independent and they appear now as
the allies of Persia, now as the allies oi lurkey.
British relations with the tribes and shaikhs of ’Arabistan go
back over 250 years to the time when, in 1765, the Agents of the
Honourable East India Company attempted naval operations
aSinst the pirates of the Cha’b. These efforts met with little
success Thev were repeated in June 1766 on a large scale, but
again failed to he altogether satisfactory. Our attack on the
fort ot Mansur, in the Khor Buzieh, 36 miles east ox Muham-
marah was repulsed, our losses including one British officer
Sid one European gunner killed and four men wounded.
In August, however, we succeeded in capturing and 6nrmng
several boats. In alliance with the Turks the fort of Qubban
was next attacked, but disastrously; the Turks railed to suppor,
the Company’s troops and 3 officers, a European sergeant and 13
men were killed and 32 wounded. We also lost a field piece and
32 chests of ammunition.