Page 318 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 309

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to’a peremptory demand from'the Governor of Shiraz
that ho should tender his submission to the Shah.
Tearing in the future a possible combination of Persia
and Muscat agaiust him, the Sheikh, by promise of an
annual tribute of 2,000 Dollars, obtained from the
"Wahabce Ameer an engagement to furnish a contingent
against any invaders of Bahrein, and to refrain from
calling on his ally for vessels of war if he purposed an attack
against Muscat. On this the blockade of the "VVahabcc
ports was raised. The fortress of Tirhoot, however,
was still retained. Matters progressed smoothly till
Ameer Fysul, with whom these conditions had been
arranged, sought safety in flight
A. D. 1830.
on the irruption of the Egyp­
tian Army into his dominions. • His General, Omer-bin-
Oofeysati, asked for and received protection’at Bahrein.
His surrender, as* also the surrender of Demaum and
Tirhoot, were demauded by the usurper, Khalid, the
creature of the Egyptian Yiceroy, but the Sheikh
evaded the demand under the excuse that be was
a feudatory of Persia. To carry out the pretence,
overtures were made to the Shah, which resulted
in the despatch of an Envoy from Shiraz with a
mandate and a dress of honour for the Sheikh. His
« orders were to stay at Bahrein as Persian Agent, aud
to transmit periodically the tribute which- His Majesty
hoped, though vainly, to receive. At the same time,
Sheikh Abdoolla was equally liberal in his conduct to
Korshid Pasha, the Egyptian Commander, who was
won over by a promise of an annual tribute of 2,000
Dollars to undertake that he would not encroach on his
territories or his authority. The British Government,
which at this time was watching with anxiety the progress
of the Egyptian troops, expostulated withthoSheikh on the
BemU:, &(„«.*, No. xxiv., wayin which ho-was sacrificing
p*3a0* his independence. He admitted
in answer that11 both himself and every Arab detested
the being at all connected with, or coming under the
rule of, the Egyptians, and declared that, if the British
Government would give a distinct and written pledge
to protect him* and .bis from.;all attacks and ag­
gressions, he would, drop .all fur.tbbf connection with
him (the Pasha) and avow himself a depondant of Groat
Britain.” This assurance, however, ho v^ould not put in