Page 368 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat

724 Records of Bahrain

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" Although it may not be denied that, since the Egyptian invasion of Ncjd in 1839-40,
A mir Fey sal has remained1,tributary to the Turkish authorities of Mecca, his tribute being
regarded probably as an offering to the head of the religion it is certain that the Porte has
never exercised any jurisdiction, or attempted to extend its authority, over that country.
Were it otherwise, were a Turkish administration established capable of controlling the
province, restraining the Wahabis and their dependents from the piratical practices for which
they were once so notorious, and finally of preventing or giving satisfaction for any breach
of international law, 6uch a state of things might be as conducive to good order, as it would
be certainly less burdensome to the British Government than the maritime surveillance,
which, in the interests of commerce, the British Government is now compelled to maintain
in the Persian Gulf, But in point of fact, the l’orlc has not the power to punish or coerce
its tributary; not a single Turkish functionary exists in the country; and to judge from my
own experience of the duties of the British Resident in the Persian Gulf, I feel assured that,
were the relations of that officer with the Amir of Ncjd to be disturbed in a manner to with­
draw the Wahabi Coast from his immediate supervision, the effect must be highly prejudi­
cial to the policy which has hitherto obtained under the orders and sanction of Ilcr Majes­
ty's Indian Government in that quarter,"
39. In April 1862 the Resident reported that he was making another and a
final effort to effect a peaceable settlement between Amir Fcysal and the
Chief of Bahrein, but that he much feared open war between, the two parties was
inevitable.