Page 54 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

responsible to the paramount shaykh, Husayn b. ‘All.338 In the name of jihad,
they campaigned against any corrupt Muslims, heretics and unbelievers they
might confront on the sea. The adoption of the phrase “Allahu Akbar”
as their battle-cry and the purification of captured vessels with water and
perfume are but two indications of their religious enthusiasm. 339
Because subsequent harassment and molestation of British ships by Qasiml
squadrons more or less coincided with the suppression of Sultan b. Saqr’s
power, British agents in the Gulf suspected Su‘udl instigation.340 However,
in spite of the fact that the Su‘udl amirs encouraged and even supported their
allies in waging a holy war against other Arabs in the Gulf, there is no convincing
evidence that they urged the Qawasim to harm the English or to plunder their
property. Lorimer has stated that such attribution can hardly be conclusive.341
On the contrary, Su‘ud, like his son, ‘Abd Allah after him, sought the friendship
of the British Government and made an effort to enter into a formal agreement. 342
However, Surd’s hostility towards the Al Bu Sa‘Id dynasty, in whom the
British were to take a gradual interest, deterred the British from establishing
close relations with al-Dir‘Iyah’s rulers. The restriction of Sultan b. Saqr’s
power to Ra’s al-Khaymah deepened his resentment towards the Su‘udl
influence and was, in part, responsible for his subsequent detention and
defection. As mentioned earlier, this restriction of power came as a
repercussion of the treaty he signed with the British. It affected both his
credibility in the eyes of his overlord and his ability to make his followers
observe the stipulations of the treaty. Prohibited by this agreement from
conducting their activities in the Gulf, the Qawasim tribes extended them
beyond the restricted area.343 It appears that some of the subordinate heads
began to overlook the orders of the paramount shaykh and expected to receive
instructions on matters pertaining to the coast from al-Dir‘Iyah’s amir himself.
Sultan viewed this as a sign of internal challenge to his power and attributed it
to the Su‘udl influence among his people. However, it was not until 1809,
during the invasion of Ra’s al-Khaymah by the British and Masqatl troops,
that Sultan b. Saqr became the victim of his own actions and suffered the
consequences.
Following his defeat at Khawr Fakkan at the hands of Sultan b. Saqr and his
followers, Sa‘Id b. Sultan of Masqat made another attack, this time on Ra’s
al-Khaymah, the stronghold of the Qawasim. In April 1809, with assistance
from the Resident at Bushire, Sa‘Id b. Sultan led an expedition by sea but was
again driven off and suffered great loss.344 Disappointed by his repeated
military failures to win over Ra’s al-Khaymah, Sa‘Id turned to diplomatic
means. He appears to have arranged a meeting with Sultan b. Saqr and to have
pointed out to him the impossibility of Sultan’s defending himself against the
English maritime power.345 The Qasiml shaykh seems to have acknowledged
the increasing English presence in the Gulf and to have realized the threat of
British collaboration with Sa‘id against the Qawasim, for he considered initi­
ating a peace settlement with Masqat.346 Sultan’s followers denounced such a
plan and appealed to Amir Su‘ud who, finding the Qasiml shaykh engaged in
dubious communications with the enemy, had him taken to al-Dir‘Iyah and
detained there.347
While conducting their customary maritime activities, the Qawasim at the
same time placed their full support behind the Su‘udl general, Mutlaq al-
Mutayri, enabling him to tighten his grip over the greater part of‘Uman. The

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