"٣٣ ملف ٦٦٥ عداوات بين الشيخ زايد والشيخ جاسم" [و‎‎٣‎٠‎١] (٨٤٥/٦٣٦)

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join him in view to proceeding to El-Katr; he did not go out to meet Jasim,
because they were uudet the impression that Jasim would not go as far as El-
Zafrah without the presence of Ibn Rashid, and they further thought that
there were only few men at that place.
Arrivals from El-Bida report that Jasim has erected towers around El-
Bida for protection, and that the people of Wakrah have rebuilt the town wall,
as they all fear Shaikh Zaeed. The Bedouins of Jasim have for the present
gone to their houses ; but it is said that in the event of Shaikh Zaeed attacking
El-Katr, they can muster about four to five thousand fighting men. No doubt
they will meet him (Zaeed) before he reaches the town. It is said that the Turkish
soldiers will protect the town and the watering place-at Na'aijah.
There is a common report that Shaikh Zaeed wants money and arms. The
above Abu-Ghareb says that if five hundred of Shaikh Zaeed's party or even less
number had attacked them (Jasim's party), they would have been totally
" destroyed. They returned from the place greatly fatigued:
No. 28, dated the 14th February 1889.
From—The Residency Agent; Bahrain.
To—The Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
A fter Compliments, —Arrivals this day fron?. El-Bida report that the inhabit
ants are in great fear of Shaikh Zaeed, and keep watch during night; and Jasim is
with the Ka'aim, in the neighbourhood of Zobarah, and he intends marrying the
daughter of Naser-bin-Jaber, and the inhabitants are busily engaged in build
ing towers in ditferent quarters of the town; that up to date they have erected
about eleven towers.
They daily receive false alarms, and they go out of the town and then
come back. The Turkish soldiers are also said to have moved out to Ma'aijah,
the watering place about 3 miles distant from the town. They have taken
with them ammunition, and if an attack is made they will fight; that Jasim
has been giving them money and rice as a bribe to make them fight against
Shaikh Zaeed's party. But according to their regulations they will not proceed
inland beyond this limit, unless Jasim forces them, and gives them a written
order under his seal, bebause he is a Kaem Makam, or deceitfully induces the
commandant to do so.
It is reported that Shaikh Zaeed moved out of Aboothabee, bound for
El-Katr.
No. 26, dated the 20th February 1889.
From—The Residency Agent, Bahrain.
To-—The Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
After Compliments. —Arrivals from El-Bida report that all the inhabitants
of the El-Katr ditricts are in great fear of Shaikh Zaeed-bin-Khaleefah, and the
inhabitants of El-Bida are engaged in building towers around the town, and they
intend to build a wall also. They have devoted their full attention to these
defensive measures and have given up their ordinary business transactions. The.
people of Wakrah have repaired the towers and their town wall, and the Tur-^
kish soldiers have built defensive works along the path leading to the watering
place Na'aijah, where they have a fort and a tower. It appears they in
tend to defend this spot against their enemy. I hear that Jasim has sent a
special man with letters to Ba^ra and Kowait, but his object has not transpired.
Intelligence is received that Shaikh Zaeed has moved out of Aboothabee, and is
collecting an army, and that the people of Debay and other territories and Bedou
ins have joined him. It is said that in the event of Shaikh Zaeed proceeding to
attack them they will go out of the town and meet him at some, distance frortt.
the town.