Page 50 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

38 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP TUB PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

Mohammed Al-Ghureyr and bis brother Barrik Al-Gburcyr, and at the
time of the rise of the Wah&beo
[MS.]
power, the ruling Chief was 'Aree 'Ar-
el-Dejjccn-ibn-Sa'doon-ibn-Mohammcd Al-Ghurcyr.
The hardest contests of Mobammed-bin-Su'ood were with the
Bcnu-Khdlid of El-Hasa and the people of the neighbouring and rival
town of Kl-Riadh under their Chief
[Mcngin.]
Dahara-bin-Daus. Over the latter he
was successful, and forced Daham to pay tribute.
On the death of the Amir Mohammed, his son 'Abdul 'Azeez was
A.D. 1765. elected to succeed him. This Prince had
'Abdul ' Azeez* bia-Mohammcd. already seen much active service in
command of his father's armies, and was known to be an able and
zealous leader. After his succession, 'Abdul 'Azeez, in his turn, em­
ployed his son Su'ood to conduct his military operations. Warfare con­
tinued to be waged by the Wakdbecs against El-Riddh, which was at
length taken by 'Abdul 'Azeez in 1772,
A.D. 1772.
and the Chief Daham having evacuated
the fort fled to El-IIasA In the wars between the Wababees and
El-Riadh, upwards or 3,000 men are said to have fallen on either side-
Su'ood-bin-'Abdul 'Azeez, the Amir's son and General, was constantly
on the move, engaged .against hostile tribes towards both 'Irak and
El-Hasi. The. latter district he twice reduced to submission—first
A.D. 1795. in 1792 A.D., and again in 1795, and
[MS.] Wahabee Governors and Mutawa'as
were placed in charge of the province.
The proceedings of the W ah a bee Chiefs about this period excited
tbe attention and indignation of the Turkish Government, their raids
having been freely carried into Turkish territory, so that alarm was even
felt for the safety of Busrah. Orders were accordingly repeatedly sent
to Suleimdn Pasha, Wuli of Turkish Arabia, to send an expedition to
occupy El-Hasi aud chastise tbe Wahdbees. An irregular force of
Arabs having been first tried, and having
A.D. 1798.
failed, the Pasha in 1798 despatched
his “ Kahiya" or Secretary, 'Ali, in command of an expeditionary force
of 4,000 or 5,000 Turkish infantry and artillery, with a large contin­
gent of Arab irregulars collected from the Montefik, El-Dhafeer, and
other tribes under Ibrihim El-Thikib.
[Mengin, MS., &c.]
'Ali Pasha, having penetrated to El-
Hasi with his force, reduced that province, with the exception of the
fort of Sahood of El-Mubarriz and the citadel (El-Koot) of Hofhoof,
which held out against him for upwards of two months, after which
time, by advice of his Arab colleagues, the Turkish Commander aban­
doned the siege and returned with his
[M.S. & Mengin.]
force northwards. Su'ood-bin-Mobam-
med intercepted tbe retreat of the Turkish army, and took up a position
at the walls of Tij. A battle was imminent, but was averted by tbe
mediation of the Arab Shaikhs. 'Ali Pasha continued his retreat to
Busrah, and Su'ood marched into El-Hasi, where be punished those who
had submitted to the Turks, and rewarded the garrisons of Sahood and