Page 320 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 311

) ( 9 )
visited Bushiro in the hope of obtaining support from Per?
sia, or the intervention of.-tho-"British Government.
Though lie lingered long the second time, ho failed in his
object of playing off ono power against tho other. Prom
Bushire lie prooccdcd towards Dcraaum, which was then
being closely besieged by tho
A. V. IBM.
'W’ahabces1 in concert with his
rivals, and endeavoured to throw supplies into it. In
this he did not succeed, and was obliged to fly to
Koweit for his life. With the capitulation of Demaum
his downfall was complete. Ho sought eventually an
asylum at Nabend on tho Persian coast, and though
tho presence of his sons was toloratcd at Moharrag, tho
victorious party, at the head of which was Mahomed bin
Khalifa, would allow them no share in tho Government.

10. Sheikh Abdoolla, though in exile, did
not the less endeavour to enlist the sympathy of
Persia. To check any movement in his favour the
British Resident was desired to acquaint the Persian
Ministers that, “unless the right of the Shall to
Bombay SrUrliont, XXIV., take part in ' the quarrels of
\»p. 408-12G.
rival claimants to the possession
of Bahrein were beyond dispute, the interference of His
. Majesty would be viewed with much jealousy by tho
British Government in India, and might possibly lead
to serious (liscussions with England.’* Por a time tho
comuiunication^had the desired effect. The Ex-Chief,
in consequence of the' depredations which he was.
making, was similarly instructed, that, so long ns ho
choyc to resido on the shores of Persia, he must abstain
from all hostilities against Bahrein;;. To this.ordcr,' how­
ever, he showed littlo or no rdgnrd,ibut issued, forth, ns
. occasion offored, from his-placo -of: asylum,-to prey-, on •
Bahrein craft. In lS'iiG he allied himself with tho
Wahabccs, but tho countcrmoVc of Mahomed bin Khalifa
in blockading. Kuteef and.Ojair :put it out of his power
to commit'muohdnjury. . Whilat-.at Kuteef he received
an invitation froth the Regent of.iPars to make Bushire.
his residence till he could- mature.-his plans.V.Ho, how­
ever, courteously declined th6>voffcr, being awaro by
previous experience how little connection, beyond that
of receiving tribute, the Persian Government cared to .
have with him.^ The Persian Consul at'j Bagdad wrote
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