Page 496 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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WAHABEES.
g«ns, in the possession of Ameer Khalid at I-Ioofoof, Kateef, &c.
deserved the name.
On Abdoolla’s approach to Riaz, the army of Ameer Khalid advanc­
ed to oppose him: a skirmish ensued, and the former sustained a
defeat; but on the same day> the leading inhabitants of the city secretly
invited him to repair with his adherents to the south gale at dusk, when
they would be prepared to act in concert with him. Abdoolla accepted
the invitation, and effecting an entrance within the walls, was pro­
claimed ruler of Nujd. His first act was to put to death three of the
leaders of the opposing army,—sparing, however, the life of Omer
bin
Oofeysan, a resolute man, and one on whom entire dependence had
been placed by Ameer Khalid.
On its becoming known at Lahsa that Riaz had fallen into the hands
of Abdoolla bin Sooneyan, its inhabitants secretly wrote to him, tender­
ing submission, while Ameer Khalid, doubting their loyalty, assembled
the head men, and a second time pledged himself to disband his merce-
nary troops. He nevertheless despatched to them orders to repair to
him in haste and secrecy at Kateef. His stay, however, at this latter
place, was not of very long duration : the inhabitants conspired with
his own traitorous generals against him, and he was compelled, after
dismissing his western or Egyptian troops, to take refuge with Moo-
baruk (son of the Bahrein Chief, Abdoolla bin Ahmed), the Governor
of Demaum, who came out to meet and ofFer him asylum.
His hopes in this quarter of recovering power were now entirely des­
troyed, and he shortly left Bahrein for Koweit, with the design of pro­
ceeding thence to Gusseem, a town three days’ journey from Medina,
where he believed himself to possess some staunch adherents.
Moobaruk bin Abdoolla made a diversion in favour of his guest upon
Lahsa and Ajeer, but his success was only partial and temporary, his
troops being compelled to retreat on the approach of those of Abdoolla
bin Sooneyan.
Abdoolla bin Sooneyan, in February 1S42 fully acknowledged
Wahabee ruler, desired to extend his authority
a. d. 1842.
and influence over the tribes of Oman, with
whose chiefs he commenced a correspondence by letter, intimating his
intention of sending Syud bin Mootluk as his Agent to them, and invit­
ing them cordially to unite with and afford him every aid and assistance.
The originals of these letters, with the exception of that to the
address of Khaleefa bin Shakboot, the Beniyas Chief (who alleged his
right to keep, and denied that of the British authority to ask it of 11m),
were procured by the Acting Resident, Colonel Robertson, who thereon
addressed a letter of remonstrance to the Wahabee ruler, exp a^in®
ill effects which had hitherto resulted from the establishment of Wahabcc

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