"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٤‎٣‎٠] (١٧٨٢/١٥٨٥)

1430
Shaikh Nasir; and that^ if Shaikh Fahad demanded the removal of the
two brothers from his jurisdiction, they should be compelled or induced
to reside at Baghdad on a guarantee, confirmed if necessary by the Porte
for the safety of their persons and the security of their property, includ
ing large estates which they owned on the Shatt-al-'Arab. This advice
appears to have commended itself, at least in part, to Namiq Pasha. On
the 19th of March he despatched a steamer with a liuyuruldi (or patent)
and flag of investiture for Shaikh Fahad-al-'Ali. A letter accompanying
the Buyuruldi merely stated that the Shaikhship of the Muntafik had
been conferred on Fahad upon the same conditions as those on which
Shaikh Bandar had formerly held it. No more precise mention was
made in the letter of the limits of the new Shaikh's jurisdiction, of the
amount of his financial obligations, or to the period for which the
arrangement was to remain in force,—a vagueness which Colonel
Kemball thought likely to be productive of distrust in the recipient's
mind. .Returning from Baghdad to Hillah the British Political Agent,
with the previous approval of Namiq Pasha, addressed letters, probably
of warning or remonstrance, to Shaikh Mansur and Shaikh Nasir.
At the beginning of April, partly because of the detention of Shaikh
Nasir at Baghdad against his will—an evident breach of faith against
which Colonel Kemball did not fail to protest, as the Shaikh had come
in on a safe conduct—and partly perhaps in consequence of the appoint
ment of Shaikh Fahad, Sulaiman, a son of Shaikh Mansur, suddenly
appeared on the Baghdad-Hillah road with a body of armed tribesmen,
and telegraphic and all other communication between the two places
was temporarily interrupted. Namiq Pasha, who expected that Shaikh
Fahad would be able to restore order immediately, declined an offer by
Colonel Kemball to place himself in communication with Shaikh Mansur
01 even, if necessary, proceed in person to his camp ; but Shaikh Fahad
continued to haggle over the terms of his appointment, and matters
remained in suspense. ( No general amnesty such as might have served to
conciliate the adherents of Shaikh Mansur was published; but the Pasha
was eventually persuaded to send letters of assurance, through Shaikh
Fahad, to the principal men whose attitude was doubtful.
Farlv in May Shaikh Fahad. who had not yet accepted full
responsibility for the Muntafik, was encamped on the right bank of the
Tigris at 'Ali-ash-Sharqi. Assisted by a detachment of 300 Turkish
infantry with one gun, 200 'Aqaili matchlock men and 100 Bashi
Bazouks from Amarah, he had repelled a half-hearted attack made on