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XXXIII— Seoond mission of Haji Ahmed to Baghdad and confinement
of Adbul Rahman bin Feyeul, 1872—1873.
164. They embarked at Khatif on 24th October 1872. The Political
Agent, Turkish Arabia, in noticing tbeir
8oorot, April 1873, No*. 62-54.
arrival and that of a rival messenger from
Abdullah bin Foysal on a similar errand, mentioned that though no definite
arrangements bad been made, Rauf Pasha bad written to Saud encouraging
him to hopo for the sanction of tbo Porto to bis nomination as Kaira Mukam
of Nejd, but stating that the Turkish troops would not be withdrawn from
LTa9a. lie thought that if the Porto were to recognize Saud on his under­
taking to pay a reasonable revenue, withdraw its troops from Ilasa, and
leave him to establish his own power, Abdullah would soon disappear from the !
field, tranquility would bo restored to the country, at any rate for a time, while
the supremacy of the Ottomau Government would bo recognized. Sand’s
prospects had now much improved. Tbo capture of the Ejman Chief by the
Turks bad been the means of procuring him many adherents, whilo Abdullah’s
treachorous breaches of faith, notably in his attacks on the Shammar and Ejman
tribes, had alienated from him most of his former friends. Sand, who was
now at the lioad of a large force, was said to have worsted his brother iQ
Sscret, February 1873, No*. 167*310. an engagement near Kherj and to have
Secret, April 1B73, Nm 46 'G. blockaded liiadh and plundered tbo sur­
• PolUical A., May 1873, Noe. 162*165.
rounding country. Travellers from Hasa
subsequently reported* the capture of Riadh and defeat and flight of Abdullah
towards Koweit, whilo Saud was emboldened by hissuccossos to threaten Eerik
Pasha with attack unless he vacated the
Political A., July 1873, No. 624.
country. The report above alluded to
was confirmed by a letter from Saud to tbo Resident; Abdullah was urged
by his brother, Mahomed, to make his submission to Saud, but, though too
weak to meet him in the field, be refused
Political A., Joly 1878, No. 378.
to do so. Saud appears now to have
remained quietly for some time in Riadh, whilo Abdullah continued in the
neighbourhood of Koweit.
155. Farhan bin Khoirullah was not detained long at Baghdad, but Abdul
Rahman was evidently looked upon by the Turkish authorities as a hostage,
placed under surveillance, and apparently treated with severity, whilo his
distress was increased by the non-payment of the small subsistance allowance
which had been at one time made to him by the Local Government. In
February 1S73, a few months after Abdul Rahman’s arrival at Baghdad, Fahad
bin Sintian, Sand’s Agent at Hasa was arrested by the Turks and deported to
Baghdad, probably in consequence of Saud’s successes in Nejd, which was now
reported to ho entirely subject to him.
Political A.. November 1873, No. 7.
Saud complained of this treachery to the
Polilical A., July 1873, No* 826-626
Resident in the Persian Gulf, but the
Government of Tndia desired that bo might be informed courteously'that they
declined to interfere in the matter.
:
XXXIV-—Visit of Abdullah’s messenger to Baghdad, 1872—1873. 1
166. With reference to the messenger from Abdullah noticed above (para­
graph 13), it appears that under instruc­
Political A., December 1873, No. 122.
tions from Red if Pasha, who had suc­
ceeded Rauf Pasha, Mussur Pasha pensioned Ex Sheikh of the Montefik,
wrote to Abdullah inviting him to Baghdad to confer with tlio Governor*General
of Turkish Arabia. Abdullah in his reply, which lie sent by his slave Malibub,
who was formerly AVa/.ir to Fovsal and Governor of Bereymi, but was
driven out by the pooplo of that place for his oppressive conduct, stated that
ho could not trust himself in the power of tlio Turks, repeated his complaints
of their treatment of him, and instancod that of his relatives as au additional
argument against his going to Baghdad. At the same time if they were really
willing to aid him, they should1 instruct the Chiefs of Hasa and Khatif to
submit to him and make ovor to him tboso districts for which bo would pay