Page 460 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

416 UTTOOBEES.

forsook the cause of the Bahrein Chief, and united themselves to the
Wahabees, which caused Mahomed bin Iihaleefa to address the Resi
dent, informing him that Ilumced bin Mujdell, having renounced his
allegiance, he could no longer be held responsible for any irrcculariiio,
that chief might think fit to commit.
Somewhat later in the season (August), an amicable
arrangement was
entered into between Ameer Fysul and the ruler of Bahrein, by the
terms of which the Ameer pledged himself, although he took Abdoolla
bin Ahmed under his protection, and gave him asylum at Lahsa not to
aid or abet the ex-chief in any measures he might be pleased to adopt
with a view to the re-establishment of his own authority. Shaikh
Mahomed bin Khaleefa engaged on his side to pay the Wahabec the
sum of 4,000 dollars; and thus for a time terminated the protracted
struggle between the Shaikh of Bahrein and the people of Ameer Fysul.
Scarcely, however, had Abdoolla bin Ahmed taken up his abode at
Lahsa, under the wing of the Ameer, than his discontented spirit began
once more to cry aloud, and to crave a fresh recurrence to mischief.
He suddenly left the place, and returned to Dcmaum, where he launched
one of his vessels, with the supposed intention of proceeding to
Kenn, for the purpose of entering into a confederacy with the dis­
contented Uttoobees on that island against Mahomed bin Khaleefa.
The fears of the latter chief were at once revived : his mind, never at ease,
became haunted with pictures of nought but attacks and conspiracies to
depose him; nor were those fears relieved by the unlookcd for defection
I
of his dependent, Esai bin Tarif, who took offence at some proceeding
on the part of his master, formed a coalition with “ his former deadly
enemy, the ex-chief, and demanded from Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa /
the restoration of the vessels and possessions of his grand uncle, Shaikh
Abdoolla bin Ahmed.”
Preparations were set on foot by either party for an immediate re­
course to maritime hostilities, and a collision would no doubt have
i
ensued, had it not been for the opportune arrival of Commodore Lowe,
in the Elphinslone, who placed an interdict upon any engagement at
sea until the sanction of the Resident had been fully obtained. In due
course of time this permission was granted, and hostilities commenced.
«
An engagement took place on the mainland near Fowarit, between the
troops of Esai bin Tarif and those of Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa,
the latter commanded by the Shaikh in person, which ended fatal y to T
the A1 Ali side, who lost their chief, and were signally defeat*j*
Whatever prospects of success might have been hitherto held by
doolla bin Ahmed must now have been effectually blasted, for not on y
was he deprived of the services of a strong and powerful ally >y