Page 91 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

and hoped they would bring about some change in the existing chieftainship, a
change which would free him from his dependence on Shariqah.693 He even
went as far as to write to Turk! conveying his submission and asking for a
position as a Su‘udl vice-regent for the coast.
Meanwhile, Turkl was satisfied by the cooperative stance taken by the
shaykhs and decided to preserve the status quo of the Qasimi confederation. He
wrote to Rashid that he had no intentions of altering the leadership and that he
would continue to consider Sultan b. Saqr, the shaykh of Shariqah, as the head
of the coastal tribes.694 Consequently, Sultan’s fears regarding Turkl’s
intentions gradually diminished, and his ill-feeling towards the Su‘udi
ascendancy dissipated as well.
The following two years saw an increase of Su‘udl influence on the coast,
which was fostered by the restoration of the Burayml oasis and the
establishment of a Su‘udl administration and garrison in that province. 695
Moreover, the change in Abu Zabl’s chieftainship helped to bring this part of
the coast temporarily under Su‘udl domination as well. Tahnun, the shaykh of
Abu ZabI, had ruled the principality single-handedly since 1818, depriving his
two brothers, Khallfah and Sultan, of any authority or power whatsoever.
Through the years, fraternal relations worsened until the two brothers finally
assassinated Tahnun in early 1833 and took up rule in his stead.696 Although
they began by ruling jointly, Khallfah gradually became the predominant and
actual ruler. Unfortunately, Tahnun’s successors lacked the character of their
predecessor, “an active character, fond of enterprise who was reputed to
be both brave and liberal, and who appeared to be feared by his people. ”697
The brothers, on the other hand, felt vulnerable to attacks and were militarily
weak as well. Eventually they offered allegiance to Turkl and remitted zakah to
his vice-regent at al-Burayml.698 Such submission had an immediate effect on
the security of Abu ZabI and the safety of its government. Turkl eventually
demanded that the shaykh of Shariqah refrain from meddling in the affairs of
Abu ZabI.699 Ironically, Abu ZabI was soon to suffer at the hands of one of its
own tribes. Dissatisfied with KJiallfah’s rule, the Al Bu Falasah section of the
Banu Yas emigrated to Dubay. From there, with Shariqah’s assistance, they
occasionally conducted petty wars against Abu ZabI. 700
Unlike previous administrators who had treated the coast as a district in its
own right by appointing Qasimi chiefs as administrators at Ra’s al-Khaymah
and Rams, Turk! attached the administration of the region to that of al-
Burayml, where his representative resided. The latter appears to have assumed
full responsibility for the area, exercising considerable authority and “leaving
only the names and titles to the chiefs of the region”.701 The representative also
paid occasional visits to the various towns in the area to collect zakiih, enforce
law and order, and strengthen the tribal ties with the Su‘udl state.702
The Su'udis expansion into the coast brought them face to face with the
British, who had already established a dominant position in the Gulf.
Recognizing their dominance, Turk! tried to avoid any action that might lead
to hostility and confrontation with them, because the result could hamper his
own enterprises and prevent his influence. Furthermore, Turki made the first
move toward establishing amicable relations with the British, most probttblv to
neutralize their attitude toward his proceedings on the coast. In the middle ot
1831, he dispatched a letter to the Governor of Bombay expressing his desire to
be on friendly terms with the British government. The Governor, who had

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