'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Turkish Expansion on the Arab Littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa and Katif [al-Qaṭīf] Affairs' [‎21] (38/164)

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such as are necassary for disembarking troops and the stores for expedition, and that
we hope disembarkation may not occur at places other than where it has already com
menced. This is most desirable for securing maritime peace. Any question connected
with political position of States and tribes can only be discussed between Her Majesty's
Government and Ministers of the Porte. It appears to Viceroy that it is understood
between the British and Turkish Governments that the position which the British Govern
ment has long held in the Gulf is not in any way to be affected by expedition against
Nejd."
Narrative of events in Nejd up to date of landing of the
Expedition.
80. The position of affairs in Nejd when the Turkish expedition was first
proposed has already been briefly noticed in paragraph 51. Colonel Herbert's
despatches of the 24ith and 29th March to the Ambassador at Constantinople
contain a more detailed account of the
Secret h., 1871, Nos. 114 -120 (No. 117). state of parties at the time. In the former
letter he writes—
" It is said that the mass of the people have joined Saood, and that he is master of the
country ; while Abdoollah is reported to be a refugee somewhere to the north of the Jibil
Shamar [the exact locality is not stated] with his uncle Abdoollah-ibn-Toorki, his son Toorki,
and a handful of followers.
" It does not appear that any further battle has taken place.
" After the successes of Saood, as reported in my letter above mentioned,* the garrisons of
* This allusion is to a previous letter of Colonel two forts of El-Hasa and of that of Kateef
Herbert's dated 20th February 1871, No. 6, to the gave up to him these places with all the treasure
Ambassador at the Porte. contained in them.
" Abdoollah, after his flight from Eiadh, was heard of as encamped at a place called Tieb-
ism, about 150 miles south-west from Sook-oos-Sheookh on the Euphrates, with a force of
about the same numerical strength as that of his brother, composed of Arabs of the tribes of
the Shammar, Anezah, and El Kahtan ; but this gathering appears to have had no adhesion,
and to^ have melted away, the Arabs all going over to Saood, and consequently Abdoollah
was obliged again to fly.
" It is reported that Bunder-ibn-Rashid, Sheik, of the Jibil Shammar, has made his sub
mission to Saood, sending him, in charge of his brother, an offering of 20 mares, and that he
has been summoned to attend in person.
" Sheikh Feysul left two brothers, Abdoollah-ibn-Toorki, above mentioned, and Juloo-
ibn-Toorki.
s< The former, as reported, is with Abdoollah, the latter is in Riadh ; but he has sent his
son Saood to join the new Chief, and holds Eiadh in his name.
" Abdool Rehman, the fourth son of Feysul, is reported to have joined his brother Saood at
El-Hasa, as also Mahboob, the former Minister of Feysul, and all the principal persons of the
place.
" It is said that, on Abdoollah applying for aid to the Shereef of Mecca, the latter wrote
to Bander-ibn-Rashid and to Sheikh Zamil, Chief of Anezah in Kaseem, to join and support
him; but both excused themselves.
14 Sheikh Zamil, having in former years suffered much from the oppression of Peysul
and his sons, Abdoollah and Mahomed, particularly in the prolonged siege of his native city
and the slaughter of many of the inhabitants about eight years ago, is unlikely to permit to
pass the opportunity of supporting the cause of a Chief from whom he may reasonably hope
for more generous treatment.
Saood is stated further to have nominated a friend of his own, Hassan-ibn-Abd-ool
Mohsen, whose family has suffered terribly at the bands of Abdoollah, as Sheikh of his native
city of Bareida in Kaseem in the room of Mahomed-us-Sudeeri, an adherent of Abdoollah who
has retired to Sudeer.
" It now appears that the letters from Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to Abdoollah, which I previously
mentioned as having been sent by the Muteserif of Bussorah, contained offers of assistance
and a promise to send troops to his support if Abdoollah would despatch a confidential person
to act as their guide.
" These letters, contrary to my expectation, reached their destination, in accordance
with them, Abdoollah despatched one of his followers, named Abd-ool-Aziz Babtein, with
presents consisting of horses and other things.
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