Page 97 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

and disregarded the final clause, for there is no evidence that he appealed for
Su‘udl help during the troubles in al-Batinah and the interior which followed
his departure for Africa in 18 34.749 It was the British who interfered to stop the
expansionist proceedings of Humud b. ‘Azzan towards Masqat.750 Until the
end of the reign of Amir TurkI in May 1834, the agreement appears to have
been respected by both sides, contributing to a considerable understanding
between Masqat and al-Riyad.

Faysal and Eastern Arabia

The sudden death of TurkI in May 1834 prompted his son Faysal to terminate
the campaign against the Bahrayni forces at Sayhat and to retire to al-Hufuf.
The withdrawal of Faysal from eastern Arabia gave the shaykh of al-Bahrayn
the opportunity to bring Sayhat and Tarut Island on the coast of al-Hasa under
his own authority.751
Later Faysal marched towards Najd, where he besieged Musharl, the
instigator of Turkl’s assassination, and his supporters in al-Riyad. He forced
them to surrender, executed Musharl, and proclaimed himself ruler of the
Su‘udl state.752 After having consolidated and arranged his administration in
Najd, Faysal turned his attention to eastern Arabia. This initial period of
FaysaTs reign lasted little more than three years and was marked by Egyptian
efforts to gain control of Najd. Faysal was kept busy fighting a losing war
against their expeditions. Consequently, the Su‘udl amir had little time to
establish relations with any of the neighbouring countries in eastern and
southeastern Arabia, with the exception of al-Bahrayn.753 This section will
therefore begin with a brief examination of the position of the Su udls in
al-Hasa and of the circumstances which necessitated relations with the *
Khallfah of al-Bahrayn.
Faysal’s earliest action on the eastern frontier, in the summer of 183 , was o
despatch a contingent to al-Hasa under the command of Zuwayd, as ave 0 *
late Amir TurkI, to strengthen the government there and jepu se t e ear
Egyptian attempt to foil Faysal’s authority in that quarter. is a
been undertaken by a man named ‘Abd Allah b. Mushari, a 01™ rrom
of al-Bahrayn.755 ‘Abd Allah had come to the Persian Gulf bearing letter
Ahmad Pasha, the Egyptian governor of Makkah, to e a Hah as a tax
al-Bahrayn and Najd, slating that he had ^‘^^Id Pashai^uested
farm amounting to $MT 20,000 - $MT 24,000. Ah ? *(ake Mediate
that the rulers of the respective countries permit A
possession and control of the territory.757 Ier 0f Masqat
The communication of the Egyptian governor VV1 cooperation in
could have indicated the possibility of designs for
bringing al-Hasa under joint control, thus ^ , b. Sultan, had been
further expansion.758 However, the ruler of asq . jn Easl Africa for
increasingly directing his interest toward is cp ^ Egyptian plan-
the past few years and presently did not 5ef ..... b Musharl with a ship
Nonetheless, Sa‘id courteously furnished^ Abd a
and provisions to convey him to al-Qati . oarcd t0 allow any threats to
The Su‘udl amir, on the other hand , was ^1deSpatched a body of troops
his authority in al-Hasa and therefore immediate y P

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