Page 149 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat

Civil war in Bahrain, 1840-1847 507

872

M UII AM M A D-BIN-KIIA LI FA H.
1813-1808.

Continuance of the civil war after the expulsion of Shaikh ’Abdullah -
bin-Ahmad from Bahrain, 1843-1849.

lnUrforenco In June 1843, the ex-Shaikh 'Abdullah having’ begun to make
of the raids upon the commerce of the Bahrain Islands from his lair at Dammam,
Wahhabi
Amir, 1813. a flotilla was sent by Shaikh Muhammad, 'Isa-bin-Tarif and iJashir-bin-
ltahmah which effectually confined his boats to the limits of
the Dammam anchorage. The new Wahhabi Amir, Faisal-bin-Turki,
whose position at homo was still insecure, at first amused himself by
playing off each of the Bahrain claimants against the other, and
obtained promises of advantage from both; but, in the end, antipathy
to the ex-Shaikh determined his attitude. Muhammad, a son of Shaikh
'Abdullah, having sallied out of Dammam to proouro boats upon the
adjoining coast, was arrested by the Wahhabi Governor of Qatif; and
a similar tfate befell another son 'Ali, on his arriving from Lingch to
join his father with a small contingent of the Al Bu Samait tribe.
Intorreotioo A disinterested attempt to save the ex-Shaikh by mediation from
of the Shaikh the worst consequences of his defeat and expulsion was now made by
of Kuwait,
Augmi 1843. Jabir, Shaikh of Kuwait, who had hitherto refrained from interference.
In August 1843, with tho approval of the British llcsidcnt, Shaikh Jabir
proceeded to Bahrain with a licet of eight largo vessels, and was successful
in persuading Shaikh Muhammad to invite Shaikh 'Abdullah to a friendly
coufcrcucc; but the former, aware that his restoration to power was not
to be expected, declined‘to appear,* nor did ho at this time return to live
with Shaikh Jabir at Kuwait, us the latter had intended that he should
do iu caso no settlement were arranged.
Appeal by tho An effort was next made by tho sons of tho cx-oliiof, Shaikh 'Abdul-
tbcfsbaikhs° to iutorost tho rulers of Sharjah and Dibai in their father’s
cause;
su/dUm/1 UUt* ^ey obtained a promise that, on condition of there being no objee-
lli« first ' tiou on the part of cither tho British Government or the Wahhabi
hosbebr. Am*r, support would bo given him at the close of tho pearling season.
'Tsa-bin-Tarif and Bashir-bin-ltahmuh, with a view to neutralising this
combination, at ouco opened communication with tho Shaikhs of Abu
Dhabi oud Umm-oLGaiwain; and tho latter, 'Abdullah-biu-Hashid,

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