Page 609 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

GULF OF PERSIA. 565

their aid he was placed in possession of the island. Having many
followers, this overture was attended to, and, by the assistance of the
Persians, he was made Shaikh or governor, and continued during his
life in peaceable possession of the government. Soon after his death,
some of the people belonging to his son and successor (Ahmed bin
Khaleefa) were murdered by the Governor of Bushire, when the Bahrein
people flew to arms, and threw off the Persian yoke. A large army was
assembled by the Persians, consisting of the people of Bushire, Dil-
lum, Bundereig, Congoon, and Lingah, from the Persian side, aided
by the people of what have since become the Pirate Ports, and invaded
the island.
The people of Bahrein were assisted by the people of Alassar and
Kateef. After a war of several months, with various successes, and the
loss of many men on both sides, they became tired of the war. Several
of the allies on both sides having quitted them, they entered into a treaty,
by which the Persian troops were withdrawn, and the Shaikh (Ahmed)
consented to pay tribute to the Persians, which was continued until
about 1790, when the Persian yoke was entirely thrown off, and they
have been independent of Persia ever since.
Although frequently threatened with invasion, it has never taken
place. They have had several wars with the Imaum of Muskat, who
invaded the island about.nine years back, but was beaten off with great
loss, his brother being killed. Having been on friendly terms with the
Joasmee pirates,—indeed having been the mart for the sale of their
plunder,—they were included in Sir W. G. Keir’s treaty in 1819.
They about the same time entered into a treaty with the Imaum of
Muskat, and pay him an annual tribute of 9,000 dollars. There have
been several wars of late belween them and Rahmah bin Jaubir, of
Demaum, near Kateef, who belonged to the same family. These were
at one lime settled through the mediation of the British Government,
but the turbulent disposition of Rahmah could not remain quiet, and
i they again broke out with fresh violence, which ended in the death of
: that chieftain.
The island of Bahrein or Awal is between eighty and ninety statute
miles in circumference, and about one-fifth of it is well watered, thickly
I inhabited, and partially cultivated; the remainder is either hilly or
a desert—nearly equally divided.
There are the remains of several fine reservoirs and aqueducts built
by the Portuguese, but falling fast to decay; as is the Portuguese fort,
which has originally been a strong place, and protecting the Portuguese
harbour, not now in use, having given way to that of Munama, near it.
The only other ruins of any interest are those of a mosque built by the
Alassar people.