Page 153 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat
P. 153

Civil war in Bahrain, 11140-1847             511

                                            87 G

              Was ovontually obtained in July 1844, not however until Bashir-bin-
              Rahmab, now settled like 'Isa-bin-Tavif at Doliah in Qatar, had
              seized two Naband Batils by way of retaliation. Bashir, it should be
              added, immediately gave up these prizes when ordered to do so by the
              Resident on the ground that the ease was already in process of settlement
              by the British authorities.
   Visit of tiio  Shaikh 'Abdullah, on the failure of his attempt to convey supplies to
   Kuwait ami Dammam, was hotly pursued by four Batils detached from the blockad­
   es third visit   ing squadron, but lie succeeded in making his escape to Kuwait, where
   to Dusbebr,
   1814.      for a short time he resided. On the fall of Dammam most of Shaikh
              'Abdullah's sons came to Bahrain and were allowed to settle in
              Muharraq ; but Mubarak took refuge with his father's friend Shah'
              among the Dani Ilajir; and Shaikh Muhammad of Bahrain, in violation
              —so his adversaries alleged—of terms arranged in the presence of the
              Wahhabi Amir, refused to allow the cx-Shaikh to return to Bahrain
              unless as a private individual and on condition that his conduct in
              the future should he guaranteed by the British Government,—a
              requirement which the propoundcr well knew to be impossible. After
              a short stay at Kuwait, Shaikh 'Abdullah returned southwards and
              obtained, on the way, an interview with the British Resident at
              Bushchr; the meeting was held, by request of. the ox-chief, at a place
              on the seashore about three miles from tho town. The object of the
              visitor was clearly to extort help from the British Government by a
              threat of combining with the Wahhabis and availing himself of their
              as6islaucc to recover Bahrain; but, as no interest was shown by tho
              Resident in ln*6 intcutions or affairs, Shaikh 'Abdullah contiuued on his
              way and once more took up his residence at Naband.
   Proceedings   Soon after bis arrival at Naband, the cx-Shaikh, whoso movements
      tbo cx-
   Slinibk    greatly ulnruq’d tho divers on tho pearl banks, proceeded to the Qatar
   during a   coast with the intention of attacking 'Isa-bin-Tarif at Duhah; but
   roaidcni’C,
     Riband,   he found that vigilant enemy well prepared, and so sailed on into tho
 ■ 1814-46.   homo waters of Bahrain. Shaikh Muhammad, learning that his grand,
              uncle was in the neighbourhood, sent a deputation of merchants to invite
              him to return to his homo j but Shaikh 'Abdullah, after evading  oom-
              pliauco by insisting on conditions wbioh bo know could not bo accepted,
              proceeded to Qatif and thence despatched ono of his soii6  on a  friondly
              mission to tho "Wahhabi Amir. After this, seizing two small vessels by
              the way near tbo Kushl-ad-Dibal, ho returned to Nubuud. A letter was
              nt onco sent by the British Resident to tbo chief authority at Naband,
              requesting him to restrain Shaikh 'Abdullah from 6uch disorderly pro-
   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158