Page 314 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 305

( 3 ).. .

for more than one expedition wero made with the view of
recovering the lost possession.. But every year added to
the internal dissensions of Persia. The Sheikh himself
was called on to support Lootf Ali Khan against his
Hanoi™, Voi. it., pp.' 175178. rival,- Aga Mahomed Khan. Con-
Jjoinbny Sct«<Uons, XXIV., °
p. OGtJ. scqucntly the TJttoobccs reaped
the benefit by being left to their own devices. Meanwhile,
under the resolute rule of Syud Sultan, the influence
of Muscat had been sensibly increasing, and Persia
was content to look to that State for hostile operations
against Bahrein which she herself was incapable of
orgauizing. At the instance of the Beglcrbcg of Pars the
Imam fitted out an expedition,
a. d. 1709-80.
which ended in the reduction of
the island and the carrying away of the representatives
of the leading families to Muscat. When tidings of the
intended attack first reached the TJttoobccs they had in­
timated to Sheikh Nussccrtheir readiness to own allegiance
to Persia. The Sheikh, for his own ends, secretly visited
the island, and received a year’s tribute. But the aid or
the remonstrance which might have availed to save them
from the threatened blow, and of which the tribute was
evidently the price, was never vouchsafed. Those of
the TJttoobccs who managed to escape in the general
mclc'e to Zobara at once made
A.». 1801.
overtures to the Wahabces, and
in the following year by their aid recovered the island.

6. The influence of Syud Sultan proved on his
dcatli to have been no more than personal. The
Rotnloy Srlrction*, XXIV., pp. disputes which ensued concerning
G8 mill 3GG-7.
the succession to the Government
of Muscat left tho ascendancy in the Gulf with the
Wahabces, and the TJttoobccs, no less than tho other
Chiefs of the Littoral, were for some years completely
under their control. In 1.805 they tired of their allegi­
ance, and wero also disinclined to share in the piratical
schemes whioh the Wahabces systematically encouraged.
Thoir Shciklle -accordingly enquired from tho British
Resident in the Gulf whether#;if they retired from tho
mainland and withheld- their Allegiance from, the Walm-
bccs, tho British Government.'would supply them for a
time with a vessel or two, so as to onablc them to remain
undisturbed at Bahrein. The Resident recommended