'HISTORICAL MEMORANDUM ON BAHREIN.' [‎6r] (11/50)

9
application to Bahrein of the “ Restrictive Line,” this being
a line laid down in that year by His Majesty’s Government
between which and the Persian coast no naval hostilities
were in future to be permitted.
Reassertion of Persian claim. Bahrein tributary
to the Wahabis, 1836.
30. In the middle of 1836 the Sheikh, alarmed by a Bombay
communication from the Governor of Shiraz calling on him Selections,
as a Persian subject to tender his submission to the Shah ’'
and by the possibility of the co-operation of the Imam of Ijor ' h 858 -
Muscat in a Persian attack on Bahrein, took steps for a
reconciliation with the Wahabi Amir. As a result, he
agreed to pay a nominal tribute of $2,000 to the Amir,
the Amir on his side agreeing to supply troops for the
defence of Bahrein against external attacks and to refrain
from calling on the Sheikh for marine transport in the
event of a Wahabi attack on Muscat by sea.
31. In 1837 the Sheikh, with the prior approval of Her Lor. 1,860.
Majesty’s Government, was allowed to punish certain pirates.
In 1839 the Resident was invoked to settle internal disputes
in the ruling family, but the parties would not agree to any
settlement without a guarantee by Her Majesty’s Government,
which Her Majesty’s Government were not prepared to give.
Egyptian Invasion of Hasa : Sheikh professes to be a
Persian Subject, 1839.
32. In 1838-39 the Egyptians conquered Hasa and cap- Bombay
tured the Wahabi Amir. They thereupon demanded the Selections,
payment of tribute and certain territorial concessions from
the Sheikh of Bahrein. The Egyptian Commander about
the same time intimated to the British authorities his inten
tion to attack and reduce the island. The Sheikh appealed
for assistance to the Government of India, but in the absence
of instructions from Her Majesty’s Government the Govern
ment of India were at first not prepared to give him any
pledge and the Sheikh was instructed to decide for himself
as to waiting on the Egyptian representative. Much alarmed
by the proceedings of the Egyptians, “ and perhaps even
more so by a rumour, apparently well founded, that the
Saiyed of Oman was intriguing with the Egyptians to
obtain and hold Bahrein as a fief under the Viceroy of
Egypt,” the Sheikh thereon professed, in reply to demands
made on him in the name of the Egyptians, to be a subject
of the Persian Government. Apparently as the result of
overtures by the Sheikh designed to substantiate this,
the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Shiraz thereupon sent an envoy—one Lor. I, 862.
Haji Qasim, formerly supercargo of a trading vessel—to
reside in Bahrein as Persian agent, “ and to be the medium
of receiving and transmitting the annual tribute which the
Persian authorities vainly flattered themselves the Bahrein
Chief was disposed to pay for their countenance and
protection,” and to bear a Robe of Honour and a letter to
the Sheikh. The envoy was accompanied by a guard of
10 Persian infantry. No details appear to be available xxiv 388.
about his mission, which was apparently a failure.
33. On 1st April 1839 Admiral Sir F. Maitland, then Precis, 375,
commanding the Gulf Squadron, was instructed by the tlovt. of
Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. to give the Sheikh all support 661
against the Egyptians, short of actually entering on dated4.1839
hostilities. If the Sheikh asked for a new engagement with
Her Majesty’s Government he should offer to transmit his
proposals to India. The Resident was simultaneously to
send a formal protest to the Egyptians. On the 18th April
2953 C