Page 25 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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masters. And secondly, in October 184*1 a report having arisen that he con­
templated the invasion of Oman, a British Oilicer was deputed to visit him at
his camp in iiasa, seventy miles from the coast,-who obtained from him an
assuranco that he had no such intention. Indeed, Khalid bad no power to
moditalo foreign invasion. Deprived of the Egyptians, he was quite unable to
hold his own in Nojd. ___________
XIII.—Abdullah* bin-Suney an seizes the kingdom- Fey sal returns
from exile, 1842-
4.8. Abdullah-bin-Suncyan or Thancyyan, a distant cousin of Kahlid, enter­
ing the lists against him, after a short and uneventful contest succeeded in wrest­
ing his power from him, and becoming fully acknowledged as Ruler of the
Wahabis. This happened in February 184*2.
49. The new Ituler had been just a year installed in authority, when
Fey sal re-appeared in Arabia having somehow' effected an escape or a release
from Egyptian captivity. The Ncjdeans flocked to the standard of the rightful
Prince, aud in June 1S43 Abdullak-bin-Suneyau was forced to surrender at
discretion.
XIV-—(1) Oman threatened- (2) British Policy, 1843—1845-
60. In July 1843 Feysal sent a messenger with letters to the maritime
and inland Sheikhs of Oman, intimating his intention of sending an army under
Syud-bin-Mutluk, on tho termination of the hot weather, for the purpose of
bringing that province under his authority. In consequence of thi9*threat the
Chiefs of the inland fort of Beraymi applied for tho aid of tho British Govern­
ment.
“ They wero informed, in reply, that the communications formerly entered into with
them by tho British Government had reference' solely to the advanco of the Egyptian
troops, and the connection subsisting between Ifis IIigliu^s Mohammed Ali Pasha with
N,-jd ; but that these circumstances being now altogether changed, and the impendiug dan­
ger removed by the departure of the troops under Khurshed Pasha from that province, it wa>
uuw the intention of tho British Government to withdraw from all interference in tha internal
affairs of Arabia.”
61. At this very time too the Resident received a communication from the
Amir himself expressive of a desire for
Foysal'a pacific overtures.
the renewal of the amicable relations which
bad existed betwoen his father, Turki, and the Britisli Government. Proper
response was made to this demonstration of amity, and the Amir was further
informed that the sole object of the British Government in this quarter was
the suppression of pluuder and bloodshed on the seas, and the security of all
well-disposed inhabitants on the shores of the Gulf.
62. In September 1843 the Bombay Government (at that time headed by
Sir George Arthur) enquired of the Gov­
British t'hw of hit proceedings.
ernment of India what policy should
be pursued towards Feysal. The Bombay Government considered that as long
as the Chief remained within his former possessions no interference would be neces­
sary, but it nevertheless doubted whether ho should be allowed to obtain a prepon­
derating influence at Bahrein and with the Arab Chiefs who 'were under treaty
engagements to us. To this reference the Governor General (LordEUenborough)
in Counoil replied simply that it was “ not at present necessary or expedient
to interfere with tho proceedings of the Chief.”
63. In "December the same year Amir Feysal interposed in a quarrel
between two rival claimants for tho Chief-
Wahabi intcrferonco at Bahrein.
ship of Bahrein, and having scoured the
victory for his own protege appropriated the fort of Dcinaum as tho reward of
his assistance.
61. On tho 2Cth August 1844 tho Bombay Government renowed its
Briti.hroiic enquiry “as to the polioy whioh should be
,cy' pursued in tho now cortain event of
Amir Feysal, tho legitimate Wahabi Ruler, extending his authority over the
Chiefs of Oman, and especially if ho ondoaveured to effect this object by sea.”