Page 63 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

Selections from the Records, 1818-1856 53

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UTTOOBKES.
Kliov I-Iassan, on the main, which too he delivered up to partial plunder,
lie then, with a view to concentrating and strengthening his resources
on the Guttur Coast, planned and commenced the rebuilding of Zobara,
now deserted, but which forty years before had been the Uttoobcchcad
quarters.
Omcr bin Oofeysan, the Wahabcc General, and Governor of Lahsa,
having seized the person of the Chief of the seaport town of Sohat, and
compelled the destruction of that fort, the inhabitants (for the most part
pearl divers), at the instigation of Shaikh Abooolla bin Ahmed, seceded
to Bahrein, to the number of about three-fourths of the population.
The continued detention as a prisoner, by the Wahabcc ruler, of
Shaikh Shafee, the Chief of the Iluwajir, a staunch adherent of Shaikh
Abdoolla bin Ahmed, whose release had been declared a sine qn& non
by that chief to the entertainment of any overtures of peace between
them, precluded compliance on the part of the latter with the demands
of the former, for the suspension of the blockade of his seaports of
Kateef, Sohat, &c., and determined the former in favour of the cause of
his guest, Mahomed bin Khalccfa, to whose solicitations his power had
not as yet attained sufficient stability to admit of his actively acceding,.
in consequence of some of the Bedouin Tribes having failed to tender
their submission to his authority. Mahomed bin Khalccfa accordingly
commenced collecting forces on the mainland, for the purpose of
renewing the war.
Affairs were in this slate, and the unpopularity of the Uttoobce
Chief at his height, when Esai bin Tarif, of the A1 Ali Tribe, residing
at Kenn, and Bushccr, (with from three to four hundred adherents,)
the son of Ballmah bin Jaubir (the famous Pirate Chief of Demaum,
who in the latter end of 1S26, worsted in an engagement with a
very superior Uttoobce force, to avoid capture, with his own hand j
set fire to the powder magazine, and blew up himself and his vessel),
visited Bushirc together, for the-purpose of intimating to the Resident
their desire to make common cause with the junior Uttoobce Chief,
who had invited them to join his standard ; and of soliciting hi»
permission to wage open war accordingly upon Bahrein.
The reason given by the latter for becoming a parly to this formid­
able coalition* was, that in consequence of the blockade maintained by
Abdoolla hin Ahmed, he was unable to carry away the produce of
his paternal estates at Demaum (near Kateef).

* l'hc outline of the cause of Esai bin Tarif’s discontent has been already given. The
public opinion was now very strong that the late disturbances at Bahrein had been iustignted
and fomented by him, who, having no adequate means singly of attacking Shaikh Abdoolla,
lorccd on gradually by his intrigues that great object of his ambition, a powerful coalition
against his enemy.
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