Page 65 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

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Selections from the Records, 1818-1856 55

UTT00BEE9. 397

flight attention,—indeed employed somewhat threatening language, to
urge his observance of perfect neutrality.
The representations at the same lime (January 1843) of the chief
men of his territories at Gutlur, on the main-
a. n. 1S‘J3.
land, of their inability to defend themselves
against any attack by Mahomed bin Khalecfa, proved that that chief
had not abated in his preparations for hostilities, in which lie was un­
doubtedly- secretly assisted by the Wahabcc ruler, without whose
connivance or countenance he must certainly have abandoned them.
The small fort of Mcezccr, in Gutlur, fell into the hands of Mahomed
bin Khalecfa, who, sending his troops, had forestalled those of his oppo­ i1
nents in its occupation. The latter, on their approach, finding that it
was already in his hands, retired, without attempting its recovery. A
communication was thus established with the colleagues of Kcnn.
Several boats, also, coming over from that island, excited the fears of
Shaikh Abdoolia bin Ahmed, who for the second time conveyed a
request (Fcbvuary 1S43) to the British authorities, similar in its
object to his previous one, having reference to the proceedings of Esai
bin Tarif and Bushccr bin llahmah ; but as, at the same lime, reports
were received at Bahrein from Kenn by a Muskat boat (which, arriving
from the head quarters of his enemy, should scarcely have been deemed
worthy of credit by a discreet and wise chief), that these parties had
abandoned the objects they had in view, in the belief that the Wahabcc
ruler had withdrawn his aid and countenance from the cause of tho
younger in favour of the elder chief, the communication of these
reports to Bushirc led to the supposition that the necessity for making
the request* had passed away, and that, consequently, it did not re­
quire a reply.

* This request was again implied ns requiring reply in the report made subsequently by the
British Agent of a conversation which passed between himself and Shaikh Abdoolia bin Ahmed,
and again conveyed in the Agent’s report of the 23rd of the same month ; and further implied
in the Shaikh’s letter of the ‘20th March, when he was informed that there was no other reply
than that given by the Assistant Resident when he met him.
These references arc here noticed, hccauscthc ex-chief pertinaciously but unfoundedly
attributed his misfortunes to his having been led to consider himself sceni c from attack by the
coalesced forces, in consequence of a promise which lie alleged to have been made by the
Assistant Resident when that officer was deputed to Bahrein in November 1812, that hostili­
ties should not be permitted to commence until his boats and adherents had returned from
their trading voyages.
The following arc extracts of a letter from the’ex-chief of the 2.9th December 1843, and,
of Captain Hcnncll’s reply of the 30th December, bearing upon this subject: —For instance,
when 1 told your man llnjcc Jnssim that it was my intention to launch my boats, and take the.
initiative with the people of Guttur and Kcnn, before they could attack me, lie forbade my
doing so, saying that the English would not permit this. This is known to all tho inhabitants
of Bahrein and Bushirc, and every one else. When your Assistant came to Bahrein, he toUV