Page 479 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

WAHABEES. 435

Gulf. He deputed an envoy (Ibrahim bin Abdoolla Kurcem) to the
Governor of Fars, with the view of conciliating his friendship, and to
prevail on the Persian Government to postpone the march of a force it
meditated against the Wahabees, which had alarmed Abdoolla bin
Saood. The mission was well received; the Persian Government, in
fact, did not possess the means requisite for attacking the Wahabees,
as her ports on the coast were at this time more under the influence
of the chief of that sect than her own. Whilst, therefore, it was politic
in Persia not to disclose its own weakness, it was equally so in Saood
to use every means to prevent the chance of an attack from the Persian
side of the Gulf, which the reverses he had experienced rendered him
very ill able to resist.
35. On Abdool Kureem’s return from Shiraz, he waited on Mr.
Bruce, and communicated the anxiety of his master to form a connection
with the British Government of mutual amity and friendship, such as
might be beneficial to both States, and that the ports of each nation
might be open to each other, and a free and unmolested trade be
carried on by their subjects. These overtures having been submitted
to Bengal, the Supreme Government deemed it inexpedient to negotiate
any treaty, or to form any intimate connection with the Wahabee Chief­
tain, but considered it politic to maintain a friendly intercourse with
him, and to endeavour, by a cordial and conciliatory conduct, to confirm
the amicable disposition which he professed to entertain towards the
British Government.
36. The power of Saood was however still very considerable ; for
independently of the predominance of his in­
a. d. 1813-14.
fluence on the Persian side of the Gulf, the whole
of the sea coast on the Arabian shore was subject to him, except the
island of Bahrein, which had been recovered by the Uttoobees, and the
port of Grane. To the southward, his influence extended to Cape Mus-
seldom on the sea coast, and in the interior joined the Muskat territories,
where, again, his power was acknowledged to the southward of Ras-ool-
Gate. Kateef, his principal seaport, was twelve days’ march from Deriah.
37. The Wahabee Chief wuo also negotiating a peace with Mus­
kat, but, as the Imaum wrote to Mr. Bruce, " nothing has taken place
between us, as the Agent wished the Imaum to enter into engagements
which were inconsistent, nor could His Highness enter into his views
as long as Ras-ool-Khyma remained the obstacle between them.”
38. Saood died on the 10th of April 1814, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, Abdoolla bin Saood, who, after making the necessary
arrangements incident to the death of his father, proceeded on an
expedition against the Nnjd Arabs, who had in a great measure thrown
off the Wahabee yoke.

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