'33 File 665 Hostilities between Shaikh Zaid and Shaikh Jasim' [‎296r] (626/845)

No. 17, dated Busliire, the 31st January 1889.
prom— C olonel E. C. R oss, c.s.i.. Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
T 0 —The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department, Calcutta.
I enclose a translation of a report received from the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent' at
No. 10, dated 20ih J„uarj 1888, with .»accom. Bahrain on the subject ot an expedition of
paniment. ShaiKli Jasim bin Muhammad Tnani
against the Beni Yas, and the alleged slaughter by Jasim's men of a large
number of Arabs at a place named El Jowa, which is also called El Zafarh, and
is situated some four marches west of Abu Dhabee.
No. 10, dated the 20th January 1889.
From— The Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent, Bahrain.
To— The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
After Compliments.-—1 beg to send herewith copy of a letter sent by Jasim
bin Thani to the Chief of Bahrain,'with a special messenger, who has also brought
a number of other letters giving welcome tidings to Mohamed bin Abdul Wahab,
Mujbil and ibn Eedan ; and mentioning the number of people who were slain out
of the inhabitants of El-Jowa; viz., 520 persons ; and that they took from them
large booty and numerous camels, and that Jasim returned safely with his
army. I hear from reports, that Jasim tost 8 men killed. Others say 48,
others again 110. But as yet there is no correct report, as since arrival of
this messenger, no one has come from El-Katr owing to heavy " shemall"
winds. It is stated that Jasim has not yet reached El-Bida.
I hear that Eesau bin Zyab, a cousin of Shaikh Zaeed bin Khaleefah Jbas ,
arrived at Bahrain from Aboothabee and interviewed the Chief. According to
what he says there are not so many people at El-Jowa, and that Shaikh Zaeed
had not received any report of Jasim's proceeding from EUKatr to El-Jowa,
or any other place. I shall make further reports, when I receive any fresh
news.
Dated the 13th January 1889.
From— Jasim Bin Mohamed Bin Thani.
To— Shaikh Eesau Bin Ali, Chief of Babrain,
After Compliments. —I am grateful to God for his favours and a succession of
his gifts, which are bestowed on those who are of good habits. 1 must communi
cate to you the happy tidings of the victory and success which God has favoured
us with," and the disgrace to the evil-doers, and their destruction. When it was
reported to me that Zaeed had taken the field, I wanted to meet and encounter
him, and when we were abreast of El-Jowa from the east, it became known to
us that he had taken refuge in his town, and we entered El-Jowa from the
east, and proceeded in a westerly direction, while our men made it their busi
ness to plunder, slaughter and burn, right and left as they went along, until
they were masters of the whole town. The inhabitants who escaped this slaugh
ter took refuge in the fort, which contains two citadels. On the 6th day after
our entering El-Jowa we reached the fort. This is the strongest fort in the
place.
About 120 men were slain in all the districts. When we made a halt
before El-Jowa there were about 400 men to defend the fort, and they refused
us admission'—our people took it by storm, and all the men were slain—it
was impossible to take an account of the slain, notwithstanding that they re
peatedly passed by the place. Some of the slaves, who have been captured,
state that the men in the fort numbered about 400. The whole town found
itself completely destroyed, and enveloped in ruins from east to west, and all
its plantations mown down, as if they did not exist the day before. Among
the dead were about 15 of the leading men of the Al-bu-Ealah. Our army took
possession of all their property, while the women and children fled towards
the coast. And we remained there for about 12 days. We used to assemble
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