Page 322 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 313

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frequent; the Resident's advice was asked only to bo
disregarded; agreements were broken as soon as made;
trade languished; the common people were oppressed, and
took every opportunity that presented itself of flying
from the hands of their oppressors. The Wahabccs, in
the hope of serving their own ambitions designs, joined
gladly in the periodical attacks which Mahomed bin
Abdoolla organized againstjthc island. At last, when
repeated warnings had proved unavailing to overcome
the deep-seated feeling of revenge which he cherished
against the party in power, and when a descent on
Bahrein was imminent, the British Government inter­
roliMoftl rroooodingn, Mnroh fered and expelled Mahomed bin
28 r<l, 18CO, Non. 4-8.
AUchison't Treaties, Vol. VII., Abdoolla from his asylum at Dc-
p. 202.
maum. Mahomed bin Khalifa,
misinterpreting the support given him on this occasion
by the British Government, thought himself at liberty
to avenge himself on the allies of his prostrate rival, and
began to levy taxes on Wahabcc vessels by force, and to
seize the property which they contained. When remon­
strated with for these unwarrantable proceedings, he
declared his allegiance first to Persia, and afterwards to
Turkey. Moreover, lie again blockaded the Wahabcc
ports. He was compelled, ho\ ar. hg-tho British Rcsi-
dent to raise the blockade, an n 1861 a “ perpetual
p ^ treaty of peace and friendship” was concluded with
A/' -him in which the engagements entered into in 1820
were declared to be valid and in force, the Chief as “ in-
dependent llulcr of Bahrein,” bound himself to abstain
from prosecuting war, piracy, and slavery by sea, so long as
he received the support of the British Government in
. maintaining the security of his own territories against
similar aggressions on the part of neighbouring tribes,
and the British Government on their part engaged to
take the necessary steps to obtain reparation for injuries
inflicted by sea upon Bahrein or its dependencies.
Whilst this Treaty was under consideration Sir Henry
Rawlinson, then Minister at Teheran, had, in a.letter to
Froooodinna, Mnroh I860, No. the Resident in the Persian Gulf,
110. ’
expressed his opinion, with refer­
ence to a demand of the Shah' for the transfer of the
island to himself, that " under no possible ciroumstanccs
can the British Government bo expected to concur in the
proposed transfer of the sovereignty of. Bahrein to the

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