Page 9 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870—1874 335

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.cession of the island and the payment of the tribute
formerly given to the Wahabccs ; and that it was
even reported that the fortresses of Bahrein had
actually been delivered up to the troops of Ibrahim
Pasha, and that the island was subject to his
authority.
The Imaum of Muscat thereupon urged on the
Shah the necessity of endeavouring to recover a
possession which, he stated, "had for ages acknow­
ledged the sovereignty of Persiahut the entreaties
of the Imaum failed to induce the Shah to take
any active steps in the matter; and Mr, WiHock
announced to the Governor-General of India in the
following month that the Shah had, “ for the
present,” dropped all intention of taking any steps
in support of his pretensions to the t sovereignty
of that island. Still, the Imaum of Muscat con­
tinued his preparation for an expedition against
Bahrein.
The British Government of India were opposed
to this expedition, being of opinion that the main­
tenance of hostilities between any of the maritime
States in the Persian Gulf would obstruct the
permanent accomplishment of its views for the
suppression of the disorders which had called for
their interference.
The Persian Gulf was at this time infested with
piratical tribes, and in 1810 a naval and military
expedition was fitted out by the Government of
India for the destruction of their maritime forces
and resources. This expedition speedily proved
successful. Has ul Rhyma was captured by the
British expedition, and the Sheikh of Bahrein
thereupon delivered up the vessels belonging to the'
Pirates which were.in his harbour.
lUrtilct'a Treaties, vol. viii, On the 8th January, 1820, a General Treaty was
sP. 794.
signed at Ras ul Rhyma between Great Britain and
certain Arab Chiefs of the Persian Gulf, relative to
the suppression of Piracy, the Slave Trade, &c., and
to this Treaty the Sheikh of Bahrein acceded.
As the principal object of this Treaty was to put
a stop to the system of Piracy and plunder which
had prevailed in the Gulf, it was stipulated in one
of the Articles that the tribes “ should be at peace
\vith the British Government, and should not tight
with each other.”
The tranquillity thus re-established in the Persiuu