"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٤‎٩] (٦١٦/١٠٣)

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ADMINISTRATION" REPORT ON THE PERSIAN" GULP POLITICAL
The Sheikhs of Doha and Wakra are theoretically the local Agents of their
relative and Chief, Jasim, though they possess a. large measure of uncontrolled
authority, and the first-named of these two Sheikhs, to whom the Kaim-makam-
ship with its irksome duties of conciliating the Turkas has been delegated
is, if a strong man, in virtue of his position as probably successor to the
Chief ship, most naturally able to acquire a position of almost equal influence
with that of his aged tribal Chief. The result has been that during the past
few years a certain amount of jealousy has sprung up between the two sons of
Muhammad bin Thani, and that Sheikh Ahmad has not always found it
convenient to see eye to eye with his brother Jasim. The most apparent
instance of this fact is found in the relations of the two brothers with the
Wahhabi Chief of Riadh. Sheikh Jasim has always been the bitter enemy of
Sheikh Zaid-bin-Khalifa of Abu Dthabi. He is also a sincere "Wahhabi, and a
well-wisher therefore of the Amir of Riadh, to whom each year he has been
in the habit of sending pecuniary and other gifts. Sheikh Ahmad, however
apparently distrusted the Amir, and he, therefore, of late years cultivated
friendly relations with Sheikh Zaid and formed an alliance with the A1 Morra
and Beni Hajir tribes to resist the advances of the Wahhabi who has powerful
adherents east of Hasa in the Ajman tribe. To such a degree of difference
had the policies of the two brothers arrived in 1905, that when Sheikh Jasim
sent a letter of welcome with 338,000 in cash and a present of rifles and rice
to Bin Saud on his arrival in Hasa in July, Sheikh Ahmad sent the Amir
word that if he continued his advance across the border of Katar he and
Sheikh Zaid-bin-Khalifa were prepared to meet him with an army of 25 000
men to turn him back.
During the earlier months of the year under review the internal condition
of Katar was generally tranquil though rumours were sometimes heard that
Sheikh Ali-bin-Ahmed, the absconder from Bahrain, who had taken refuge
amongst the Nairn tribe, was contemplating mischief. These rumours were
fortunately falsified by the surrender of Sheikh Ali in July.
In April 1905, Sheikh Ahmad-bin-Thani led a raid of A1 Morra and Ben
Hajir (Makhadhdhaba) tribesmen against the 'Ajman, Beni Khalid (Amayirs)
and Beni Hajir (A1 Muhammad) tribes in the districts of Jafura, which divided
Hasa from Katar and Biyadh between Hasa and Katif. After a small success
and the acquisition of some looted flocks the raiders returned to Katar with a
loss of five lives.
In September 1905, Sheikh Ahmad-bin-Thani unwittingly murdered a
Muhammadan Turkish subject, who had visited Doha for trading purpose,
and it was anticipated that this accident would seriously embroil the Sheikh
with the Basra authorities. Sheikh Ahmad had mistaken the murdered man
for a Jew, who was bis partner, and on learning his mistake he expressed his
regret to the Turkish authorities and tendered the usual blood^money of
51800, which, however, was refused by the murdered man's relatives.
In November, the Political Agent paid a short visit to Katar by native
boat. He stayed three days in the Camp of Sheikh Jasim-bin-Thani at
Bu-Hasa, about 10 miles west of Lusail, and 24 hours with Sheikh Ahmad-bin-
Thani at Doha. Sheikh Jasim was found in remarkably good health consider
ing his great age. He was however temporarily suffering from sore eyes, from
which complaint it is satisfactory to know that he soon afterwards recovered.
His conversation indicated that his mental qualities were still unimpaired.
Sheikh Ahmad-bin-Thani gave the impression of possessing much discretion and
mtelligence. He was evidently seriously exercised at the heaviness of the
lurkish incubus at Doha, but as a patriotic Arab he did not seem much to
favour the alternative of intimate relations with the British. In the course of
this visit the evidence of Sheikh Jasim was recorded under a Commission
received from the High Court of Bombay, and subsequent events have shown
that the settlement of several commercial claims of British subjects and
proteges against residents of Katar was also materially advanced.
I 11 Sheikh Jasim's Camp an interview was also accorded to Nasir-bin-
Mubarak A1 Abdallah, the Bahrain Pretender and son-in-law of Sheikh Jasim,
with the result that the futility of his claims was at last recognized and
admitted.