Page 87 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat
P. 87

Selections from the Records, 1818-1856           77

                                     UTTOOBEES.                           419

         and welfare,—a letter, in fact, one tissue of falsehoods,—neither more
         nor less than a ruse to blind and mislead the understanding of the self-
         sufficient Shaikh Mahomed bin Khalccfa.
           These attacks upon Bahrein independence   were duly represented to
         the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, who wrote in reply that Mccrza
         Abdool Jabbur (Persian Consul at Bagdad), in perfect ignorance of the
         relations existing between the ruler of Bahrein and the British Govern­
         ment, had thought it a clear matter of duty on his part to do all in his
         power to further the views of Abdoolla bin Aluncd, who, from the day
         of his downfall, had been treated with so much consideration and
         respect by the Persian Government, but that now lie was aware of the
         interest taken in Bahrein by the British Slate, lie would abstain from
         further interference with the affairs of the island. Not many months
         after this had occurred, Shaikh Mahomed bin Khalcefa himself expressed
         a wish to the Resident that Bahrein should be taken under British
         protection. The Resident, who had been called upon to give his
         opinion as to the advisability or otherwise of entering into an alliance
         with the rulers of that island, had in the outset inclined against the
         measure; but the spontaneous offer of allegiance now preferred by
         Shaikh Mahomed bin Khalcefa, combined with other circumstances, led
         that officer to alter his opinion, and to recommend the immediate
         acceptance of the proffer made by the chief. After much considera­
         tion, however, the Government of India, considering it inexpedient to
         make any alteration in the character of the relations then subsisting
         between the British Government and the Chief of Bahrein, and the
         Home Government concurring in that view, the Resident at Bushirc
         was in September 1849 directed to decline the offer of the Chief of
         Bahrein, assuring him at the same time of the continuance of the good
         will and friendship of the British Government. In this wise termi­
         nated the long discussion, protracted over a period of more than
         two years, respecting the proposed alliance with the Shaikh of
         Bahrein.
           A few occurrences worthy of notice have been of necessity passed
        over during the relation of other matters that engrossed our attention,
        and must be briefly described ere passing on to the consideration of
         future events.
           At the latter end of the preceding year, Shaikh Mahomed bin
        Khalcefa made an unsuccessful attempt to induce the Shaikh of Charrak
        to expel from Kcnn the Bahrein fugitives who had taken refuge on that
        island. He also behaved most improperly in the matter of one
        Khalcefa, of the Gubcysat Tribe, who committed a number of piracies,__
        amongst others, one upon a vessel belonging to his own dependents,__.
        and who, although detained by the Shaikh for a time, at the instance of
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