Page 54 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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anything thoy might demand. That ho was ready to become the vassal of
Turkey was further proved by a letter said to have been written by him to
the Chief of Slmrgah, in which ho said
Political A., Norember 1B73, Nu». 11, 14, 16.
that if he obtained bis wishos as regards
Hasa aud Khatif, ho would march on Oman with a viow to the capturo of
Bereymi, where his suoccss would doubtless bo welcome to the Turkish
Government. The Assistant Rosident did not put much faith in tlio genuine­
ness of this letter, and lator accounts agreod that Abdullah was quito uuable to
carry out his threat of invading Omau.
157. No arrangement seems to have been concluded with the Turks,
for on the return of ltcdif Pasha, who
Political A., January 1874, No. 128.
was not at Baghdnd when Mahbub ar­
rived there, the Turkish policy in the Wahabi territory underwont an-
other change; the arrangement with either of the sons of Foysul scorns to
have been considered impracticable, and the Governorship of liasa was con-
ferred upon Bczecli A1 Arayer, Chief
Political A., April 1674, No*. 1C4, 1C6, and 248.
of the Beni Khalid, on the security of
lii9 brother-in-law Nasir Pasha, Sheikh of the Montolik Arabs. The Beni
Khalid were expelled from Hasa when Sand, called the First, conquored and
annexed it to Nojd ; their present Chief was stated by the Political Agent,
Turkish Arabia, to bo a man of no special qualifications for the post, which ho
probably owed to his connection with Nasir Pasha, who had ingratiated himself
with Redif Pasha. In consequence of his appointment it was further decided
to withdraw the regular troops and entrust the defence of the frontier between
Nejd and Hasa to a body of Gendarmerie to he raised in the country for that
purpose. As the result of these changes four battalions of infantry returned
to Baghdad having suffered in a stay of 14 months losses varying from 16 to
25 per cent, of their total strength. It was generally supposed that Saud bin
Feysal would seize this opportunity of wresting this part of his father's
I territories from tho feeble hands in winch it ivas now placed. The appointment
of Bezeoh wa9 anything hut popular at Hasa and several of tho chief persons
there prepared a remonstrance sotliug forth his unfitness for the post; the
only result of this wa9 their imprisonment by Nasir Pasha.

XXXV.—Release of Abdul Rahman bin Feysal, 1874.
158. Affairs in Nejd do not seem to have undergone any material change
for the next fow months until the release of Abdul Rahman, who remained
in virtual captivity at Baghdad until August 1874, when he was sot at liberty
under the orders from the Porte, procured probably by the intervention of
the British ambassador at Constan­
Political A., Norember 1873, No*. 6*7.
tinople, to whom the Political Agent in
Turkish Arabia, had referred the case. Fahad bin Sintian also was shortly
afterwards released and joined Abdul Aziz ; who had gone to Bahrein.
Abdul Rahman-bin-Fey9ul, on arrival at Bahrein, learned that, dis­
gusted with tho effete, cruel and rapacious rule of Bczecli, the inhabitants
of Hasa and the neighbouring districts were ripo for revolt, and only
awaited a leader of tho Sand family. Crossing to the mainland ho was
at onco joined by hands of the lUorali, Jsjinan, and other tribes, at the
head of whom he marched on Hasa. The inhabitants welcomed, him, and
after a number of tho Turkish gendarmes had been slain, the rest with Sheikh
Bezeoh were besieged in the fort of liofhuf.
109. Nasir Pasha, who had pledged himself to tho success of tho plan of
appointing Bezecli, was called on. by
Political A, May, No 127. Redif Pasha to quell the insurrcciion,
and despatching 300 Arab horsemen by land proceeded himself by sea with a
battalion of regular infantry to Hasa. Discord bad broken out amongst
tho adherents of Abdul Rahman in nasa owing to the jealousies^ of tho
leading Sheikhs of the Kjraan, and on the approach of Nasir Pashas forco
thny dispersed, and Abdul Rahmau joined Saud at Riadh. iho fort o