Page 155 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat

Civil war in Bahrain, 1Q40-1847 513

878

between the Wahhabis and the Shaikh of Bahrain ; lmt no active part in
the hostilities was taken by the ux-ehief. It was not until August 181-7,
when a peace was concluded between the principal belligerents by which
the Wahhabi Amir hound himself not to abet Shaikh 'Abdullah in his
machinations, that the cxilo suddenly woke to life, launched a
vessel at Dnmmuin with tho supposed intention of proceeding to Qais to
intrigue with some discontented 'IHub there, and was joined l»v ’I.sa-bin-
Tarif of the Al-Uiu-’Ali, whose dislike of Shaikh Muhammad had now
overcome his former hatred of Shaikh 'Abdullah. The demand made
by the allies upon Shaikh Muhammad was for the restoration of his
grand-uik*1o'k vessels and other possessions. The immediate commence­
ment of hostilities at sea was prevented by tho arrival in Iho “ JSlphin-
slono " of Commodore fiowe, who required that tin* regular sanction of
tho Resident should first be obtained by tho parties; but, when this
omission hud been supplied, tho war, which quickly took a turn unfavour­
able to tho ex-chiof, began without further delay.
Death in
battle of Tho Restrictive Tiino was violated, at an early stage of the proeecd-
Txa-biu- iugs, by Shaikh 'Abdullah, who crossed to tho Persian coast to obtain
Tnrlf and
final ruin of reinforcements; and Shaikh Muhammad, on hie part, asked that the.
the ex- British Government would cither restrain the 'Atbi malcontents settled
Shaikh's
fortunes. on Qais or grant him leave to take suitable measures against them. This
1817.
request of tho Shaikh was referred by tho Resident to Government; but,
before orders could bo received from India, tho campaign had been
brought to an end by a baitlo fought on land, in which (bo troops of
Bahrain, commanded by Shaikh Muhammad in porson, defeated the allies
a near Tuwairat in Qatar; 'Isa-bin-Turif himsolf was among the slain.
This disaster was the death-blow of Shaikh 'Abdullah's hopes, Tho
i
orders of the Government of India, at length received, wero that an inva­
sion of Bahvapi by tho allies should ho prevented, if necessary, by a
British naval force ; hut tho decision was not communicated to Shaikh
Muhammad, as it might have led him to neglect precautions for his own
defence.
Cnrrcjpoml- About this time, probably in 1848, 'Abdul Jahhar Khun, the Persian
Mioe of ike
I’orsiAU Consul-General at Baghdad, opened a correspondence with bot h parties.
Consul-
(idiiornl nt To tho ox*Shaikh ho wroto assuring him of the aetivo support of tho
lhghdAd Persian Government, "and hogging him to make every preparation for
= ivilli bulb
I'nrlica. “ carrying into effect the plans lie. might have in contemplation,—however
‘‘momentous, however gigantic,—Persian assistance, full and powerful,
“would most surely ho accorded to him." 11 is letter to Shaikh
Muhammad was equally friendly and was apparently intended to blind

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