Page 17 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

first Su‘udl appearance in ‘Uman.
Al-Tuhfah al-Nabhaniyah fi Ta’rikh al-Jazirah al-Arabiyah29 was by
Muhammad b. Khalifah al-Nabhanl. The author, a scholar who taught in the
Holy Mosque at Makkah, made a long journey to eastern Arabia and al-‘Iraq
and stayed there for some time, during which he composed his book. Al-
Nabhanfs account of al-Bahrayn is most relevant to this study. It deals with
the history of al-Bahrayn from the rise of Islam until the early part of this
century and gives useful information on the successive shaykhs of the Al
Khalifah. It also deals briefly with Su‘udl-Bahraynl relations, reflecting
Bahrayn’s point of view with regard to the nature and consequences of those
relations as gathered from local tradition.

D. European Sources

History of Seyd Said30 is by V. Maurizi, a native of Rome who, after having
practised as a physician in several parts of the East, went to ‘Uman, associated
himself with Sa‘Id b. Sultan, and, at one time, was the commander of his forces.
Maurizi’s work has first-hand information concerning the countries and
peoples of the Persian Gulf as well as the Su‘udi state. Due to the presence of
warring factions in the area, Maurizi was unable to travel through the interior
of ‘Uman; this renders his reports on that area inaccurate on many occasions.
Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia31 by J. Buckingham is an important
source with regard to forces active in the Gulf area. One can find detailed
reports concerning the Qawasim allies of the Su‘udis, their involvement in
Masqat, and the conflict between the Qawasim and the rulers of Masqat on the
one hand, and with the British forces on the other.
Travels in Arabia32 and Travels to the City of the Caliphs33, the works of J.
Wellsted, an English military officer, are additional sources on the events of
interior and trucial ‘Uman. Wellsted toured the region and acquainted himself
with its people. His account of the tribes of the Ja‘lan district of southern
‘Uman, and especially of the Banu Bu ‘All tribe, is of particular significance. He
describes their traditions, economics, and social life. He also throws some light
on their political allegiances and religious orientations. In general, Wellsted’s
first-hand experience and copious notes increase the value of his information.
W. Palgrave’s Narrative of a Year's Journey Through Central and Eastern
Arabia34 is a detailed work on the political, social, and economic aspects of life
in various regions of the peninsula. The author visited Ha’il, the city-state of
the Al Rashid family, and al-Riyad, where he stayed for five weeks before
proceeding to eastern Arabia. Having the chance to make a general
reconnaisance of those regions and to discuss certain relevant issues with
officials in al-Riyad and eastern Najd, as well as to observe the behaviour and
orientation of the individuals with whom he dealt, Palgrave was able to enrich
his information and give a relatively clear portrait of the Su‘udl state in the
middle of the nineteenth century.
Report on a Joumey to the Wahabee Capital of Riyadh in Central Arabia35 is by
L. Pelly, one of the few British officials who possessed a good background on
the political developments in ‘Uman and eastern Arabia in modem times.
Pelly, who was then Resident in the Gulf, paid a visit to al-Riyad both to obtain
information about the interior of Arabia, and to acquaint himself with the

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