'Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1877-78.' [‎237v] (20/165)

4 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENCE
result was that Odeyd became a resort of piratically inclined Bedouins,
such as the Beni-Hajir, and the Beni-Yas settlers became implicated in
irregular proceedings on the sea. To check this growing evil, as well
as in justice to the Trucial Chief of Afcu-Zhabi, it was decided by
the Government of India that he should be permitted to assert his
rightful authority at Odeyd and be supported in doing so. Efforts
to promote a friendly reconciliation between the Chief and the refrac
tory elan proved of no avail, and permission was accorded to Shaikh
Zaeed to take measures to assert his rights at Odeyd. The British
Agent was instructed to accompany the Chief of Abu-Zhabi to Odeyd,
and the Resident also proceeded to the spot in Her Majesty’s Ship Teazer
to exercise control over the proceedings, and, if necessary, to intervene;
but especially with the resolve to prevent any undue severities or cruelties
being resorted to.
11. The Odeyd tribe, however, removed from the place before the
arrival of the Abu-Zhabi Chief and the Teazer, after dismantling their
huts. As the Chief of Abu-Zhabi objects to any renewed settlement
at Odeyd, the place will remain uninhabited; and the wells having
been filled up, there will be no further attraction for predatory Arabs
of the neighbourhood to resort there. The Abu-Zhabi Chief, on his
side, acknowledges that he has now no plea for exemption from respon
sibility for the good order of that part of his territory.
12. The next port to the north on the Katr Coast is Wakrah, the
Chief of which has no treaty relations with the British Government,
and is supposed to claim the Turkish connection. Between Odeyd and
Wakrah intervenes a desert unpeopled waste.
3 .— Bahrein.
13. The Chief of these islands having during the year enjoyed
immunity from the apprehensions he has so often laboured under, from
the intrigues of external enemies, might be supposed to have leisure
to apply hirpself to the improvement of his internal administration.
But in point of fact this seems to have been more slack and careless
than usual, and petty robberies have so frequently occurred and passed
unpunished, that I considered it necessary, for the comfort and safety
of the Indian subjects residing in the islands, as well as in the
interests of the Chief himself, to urge on him the necessity of more
vigour and strictness in his government. Sheikh Fahad-bin-Ahmed,
cousin of the father of the present Chief, Eesa-bin Ali, having been
accused, or suspected, of intriguing against the Government, was put
to death by Sheikh Ahmed-bin Ali, the Chief’s brother, and his
personal effects confiscated. Two other murders have occurred during the
year. Haji Abdallah Ghallaf, once Wazeer, was found murdered in his
house, and some suspicion is said to rest on the present Wazeer, but no
steps have been taken to bring home the guilt. The other victim was
a villager, who was killed by a party of robbers, who have not been
traced or discovered.
14. The pearl banks were as productive as usual, but bad weather
interfered with the diving operations, and half the season was lost.