Page 499 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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WAHABEES.
In December 1843 he made an altempt to mediate a reconciliation
between the Bahrein cx-Chief and his grand ne phew, Mahomed bin —
Khaleefa; but his good offices being refused by the former, who =
declined coming to any friendly arrangement with his successful
rival, he determined upon supporting the latter. The fort of Demaum,
held by the ex-chiefs sons, continued therefore under blockade at sea,
and the Wahabce Chief promised to send a force to invest it by land,
and check the proceedings of certain tribes opposed to his re-establish­ I
ment in authority, and who in the meanwhile had espoused the cause
of Abdoolla bin Ahmed, and continued to supply the garrison with
such necessaries as it required.
Tliis long promised land force at length made its appearance, its
march having been delayed in order to carry into effect the chastise­
ment its leader was called upon to inflict upon those tribes who had
hitherto refused to acknowledge him, and who had, further, been con­
cerned in the plunder of Persian pilgrims, and other robberies.
Demaum fell, and was immediately taken possession of by Ameer
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Fysul, who has since maintained a garrison there, with a view to
appropriating the revenues, to the prejudice of the lawful owner,
Busheer bin Rahinah; who, having joined the coalition in the hope of
ultimately recovering his patrimony in the event of success,—its restora­
tion having been, indeed, guaranteed to him in such case by Shaikh
Mahomed bin Khalcefa,—is of course much disappointed.
Ameer Fysul having gained tlte object for which he engaged in the
war, viz. the cession of Demaum, would appear inclined to permit the
contending parties to prolong or terminate the struggle without any
further interference on his part, provided he were not alienated from
the cause of Mahomed bin Khaleefa, and induced to take part with the
ex-chief, by the former’s being so blind to his own interests as to persist
in neglecting to fulfil his engagement for the payment of the annual
tribute.