Page 315 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

306 Records of Bahrain

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that tho request slibuld bogranted, but the. Bombay Go­
vernment declined to interfere in the rnattor. The next
' ' step on tho part of the Wahabccs.
A. P. 1810-11.
*’ was openly to assume tho Govern-
ment of* Bahrein and Zobara by the appointment of
Abdoolla biu-Oofeysan as Vakeel over those , places, ns
well as over the districts of ICutccf and Katar. His work
was that of supervision and collection of tribute, and of
conversion, if tho latter could be effected. Tho admi­
nistration remained in the hands of Uttoobees. Shortly
afterwards when the advance, of the Turks imperilled
the safety of the Wahnbeo Province of Nejel, tho number
of troops in the garrisons of Zobara and Bahrein was
diminished; the authority of the Vakeel, without an
efficient force at his command, ceased; and the Uttoo-
bccs, after making him a prisoner, agai^ remained para­
mount in the island.

G. In 1815 the Imam of Muscat,' Syud Saecd,
attacked Bahrein, but was repulsed with great loss. The
brothers, Sulcinan bin Ahmed and Abdoolla bin Ahmed,
were then co-Shcikhs; but even at that early period in
Jloinliai/ $tUi Horn, XXJV., pp. his career the latter seems to have
363-72.
had the greater political influence.
The Imam fell back on Congoon, whence he hoped,
by the help of the Prince of ' Shiraz, tQ fit out
another expedition . to retrieve bis disaster. But in
the midst of negotiations for this purpose, he sus­
pected treachery on the part- of Persia, and aban­
doned his project. The mere 'withdrawal to Congoon
bad raised the fears of the ’Uttoobees, and their
anxiety was not quieted till a messenger larrivcd from
Shiraz with dresses of honour1’bestowed by the Prince
of Pars in return, for presents which they had already
' sent him, and with' an offer of terms, which they
assented'to.’ What these-terms were the chronicler of
this period, Lieutenant S. Hcnncll, docs not say. The
acceptance of dresses-of honour, interpreted by tho light
of Oriental etiquettb, looks as though the Uttoobees at this
juncture found it necessary to temporize by giving mi
outward token of their dependence on Persia. At this
time they had so far departed from their former policy
ns to cncourago pirates to resort to their ports, in order to
dispose of their plunder. But, with the exception of a fcv'