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of 12,000 crowns, besides arrears to the extent of 60,000 orowns, and the usual
supply of provisions and stores. The Wahabi likewise pledged himself to
assist His Excellency in every hour of difficulty, and the boundaries of the
dominions of either remaiuod as hereto fore.’*

XVII — Feysal’s nominal dependence on Turkey, 1855.
61. The next record of any interest is dated January 1855. The Resident
having found it necessary to paint out to Feysal that the British Govern­
ment regarded the Arab tribes on the coast as independent powers, Feysal
replied as follows:—
“ "With regard to what you observe that engagements have existed between the Chiefs
of the coast of Oman and the Resident for a period of .'JO years, this is well known to me, their
object being to guard against the occurrence of irregularities and the harbouring of disorderly
characters, nought else. This is an arrangement of which I quite approve on tho part of
Residents, both those who have gone before, and those who come after, for there is an under­
standing between us and the British Government ojf_100 years duration for the security of
traders and travellers passing on the seas. The coasts of Oman, however, and the territories
thereof appertain to the Peninsula of Arabia under my control, and acknowledging my
authority. Further tho people of the districts in the interior of Oman and at the scats of tho
Bedouin tribes are more powerful than, and have the command over the inhabitants of the coast
and cimld not be restrained from preying upon ^nd slaughtering them, but that I maintain a
Lieutenant with a force in Oman, who holds them back from the people of the coast These
last arc well assured of his protection ; otherwise, were they abandoned to their fate, they
could not subsist. Moreover, when owing to their negligence, disagreements, too long to bo
detailed, and bloodshed have arisen between some of the Chief’s of the coasts aforesaid, there
was none could check them and restore order and good will among them, except, tho Lieutenant
in charge of Oman, whose office is among the things pleasing to God and his Prophet, as also
to the Sultan oF tho faithful—may God strengthen the faith by his means. Bt-ing a dependant
of the exalted Turkish Government, I hold the confirmation of the Sultan to my continuance in
authority over all the Arabs. To exemplify this, when Mahomed Ali Pasha, having projected
his schemes against Basrah and Mohammerah and the territory pertaining thereto, enter­
taining designs upon India, deputed his envoy t© me, proposing to hold me dearer and
more cherished than his own sons, to induce me to forward his views with respect to the
coast of Oman and elsewhere within the Peninsula of Arabia, and to offer no hindrance or
opposition—for of others, besides the Arabs, he took no account owing to his exalted dignity—
I replied, ‘you know that I am a dependant of the Sultan of the Faithful from whom if you
possess orders to that effect let me be informed of them ; otherwise the thing is impossible/
Thereon war broke out between me and him, which lasted two years, and intelligence thereof
duly reached the Sublime Porte, and they (the Sultan’s Government) greatly rejoiced, and
were much pleased with me and my influence and consideration with them increased
exceedingly. May God perpetuate their rule and tho glory of their State”.
62. In writing in this strain Feysal’s object apparently was twofold; first to
put forward a general claim to lordship over the whole of Arabia; and second,
to try whether the affectation of being only the Vicegerent of a European
Power might serve to divert the British Government from interference, bet­
ween himself and the maritime Arabs whtfm he asserted to be his feudatories.

XVIIL—Renewal of Wahabi attempt on Bahrein—British inter­
ference* 1859—1861.
63. After a silence of nearly five years our records resume mention of the
Wahabis. Feysal this time re-appears in his old character as partisan of the
refugee Sheikh of Bahrein (Mahomed bin Abdullah) against the de facto
Chief (Mahomed bin Khalifa) with the design of appropriating Bahrein to
himself. Notwithstanding repeated warnings from the Resident, and solemn
assurances of pacific intentions from Feysal, in defiance even of the presence
of a British corvette, extensive preparations for tho invasion of Bahrein were
made at Katif and Dcmaum, including the piratical seizure of some Turkish
and Persian vessels and the impressment of their crews for sorvico in tho pro­
jected expedition. Hereupon Commodore Balfour with tho Persian Gulf
Squadron was despatched to the scene of action, and the very threatening
attitude assumed by this officer soon induced tho Wahabi Governor o
Katif to abandon his designs, and humbly sue for pardon. In reporting 10
Commodore’s success, tho Resident expressed an opinion that, wo had borne
too long with Feysal, who, while giving us fair words, still falsified all ho sai

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