تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٤] (٦٠٢/٤٩٣)

ADMmSTEATION EEPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
4. Bahrein.
2. Oman-
Mask at.
3. Oman Coast.
S. Koweit and
.Nejd.
yet succeeded in extending its control in this direction. Negotiations on the
subject are, it is understood, now proceeding at Tehran, where the Shaikh has sent
a representative to lay before the Persian Government his views on the subject.
At Bushire and the other Gulf Ports a transhipment fee of ^ kran per package
has been introduced for goods transferred within the harbour, and j kran per
package on goods landed and kept in bond and subsequently re-exported. A
limit of twenty days has been fixed within which such goods may be re-exported,
but this limit may be extended at the discretion of the Customs Administration.
Availing itself of tbe prohibition which exists against the export of provi
sions from Persia, the Customs Administration has lately seen fit to impose a 10
per cent, duty on barley, wheat, and rice and other articles of provisions, notwith*
standing the fact that these may have paid the 6 per cent, import duty. This duty
has been enforced in the case of provisions sent off to British ships within Persian
waters. At-Lingah, which is an important port of transhipment for the opposite
coast of the Gulf, this recent regulation is very unpopular, and it is probable that
the prosperity of the place will suffer in consequence.
I have not been able to ascertain the income derived from the Customs in
the Gulf, as the Director-General is not allowed to communicate the figures. It
is probable that a large increase of revenue over last year's figures has resulted,
as various new charges have been introduced and the control of the Administra^
tion generally extended.
Settlement of Claims for Compensation. —The Special Commissioner,
Hissam-el-Vizareh, alluded to in last year's report, arrived in Bushire on the
29th April. His mission proved to be a total failure, as he had no sufficient
authority from his Government to enable him to enforce his decisions, and
consequently the local authorities gave him no assistance whatever.
Major P. Z. Cox, I.S.C., was Political Agent throughout the year. Tran
quillity has generally prevailed in the Sultan's dominions. His Highness
suffered a great loss in the death of his faithful Vazir and adviser, Sayyid Saeed
bin Muhammad. The Political Agent's report of the principal events in Maskat
during the year forms Part II of this compilation.
The past year has been unusually tranquil and nothing of any importance
has occurred. The pearling season was satisfactory, and no cases of piracy or
disturbances at sea took place. I visited the Coast in Eebruary, and saw most
of the Trucial Chiefs. Hebay appears to be increasing in size and imports
ance. Owing to the policy of the Customs Administration at Lingah, more
steamers have recently visited the Coast, and landed goods direct, which would
otherwise have been transhipped from Lingah.
Mr, Gaskin was Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein throughout the year.
The pearling season was satisfactory, and altogether the year has been a pros
perous one. The Bedouins on the mainland have been giving a good deal of
trouble, and the caravan route between Ojair and El-Hasa has been very
unsafe. No piracies have occurred near Bahrein this year.
The Turkish authorities have, as yet, taken no steps to punish the Behaih
tribe who were responsible for the murder of the Chief's cousin, Shaikh Salman-
bin-Diaij, alluded to in last year's report. The new Mutasserrif for El-Hasa
arrived at Bahrein, on 3rd September, en route to Ojair. The Turkish authori
ties, fearing trouble from the Bedouins, have taken steps to strengthen their
position at Katif. The B. I. M. S. Investigator carried out, during the winter,
a detailed survey of the Bahrein harbour and neighbouring waters.
There appears to be no doubt that the defeat sustained by Shaikh Mubarak
at the hands of the Amir of Nejd, on the 17th March, near Aneyza, was decisive.
As is not unusual in Arab warfare, he was deserted in the hour of need by
certain Bedouins of Nejd who had espoused his cause and who went over to the
Amir's side, thus changing the fortune of the day. Mubarak's loss was very
heavy and included his brother Hamud and other notables. The Amir's losses
appear to have been considerable and to have included some leading men.
After this defeat. Shaikh Mubarak returned to Koweit, and the Amir of Nejd,
after inflicting punishment on certain tribes who had espoused M ubarak's cause,
also returned to his capital. Towards the end of September, however, the Amir
moved out and encamped for some time on the confines of Koweit, whence he
kept up communications with the Turkish authorities at Basrah, demanding