Coll 6/67(1) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎265v] (535/794)

Muscat, which they had conquered by May of 1850, and a truce was then concluded
with Muscat. In November 1850, however, Shargah, Abu Dhabi, and the Beni
Naim of Baraimi were again allied against the Wahabis. In 1851, Abu Dhabi and.
Shargah having reached an understanding (one result of which was to make Dibaf
draw closer to the Wahabis), Abu Dhabi assisted Bahrein against the Wahabi Amir.
Bo. Sel.
XXIV. 232,
359, 496,
507, 520.
Aitch. XII,
Xo. xxiv,
pp. 252-3.
Bo. Sel.
XXIY, 292.
Lor. I, 726.
P. R. to Bo.
5a, 22.9.54.
2a, 6.6.55.
Lor. I, 727.
Expedition of Abdulla bin Feisal to Oma,n, 1852.
77. Towards the end of 1852 the Wahabi Amir despatched his son, Abdulla, to
Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. . Abdulla is stated to have come “ in the character of arbitrator and
redresser of the wrongs suffered by his people (the Sheikh’s) in Oman at the hands
of Muscat.” He established himself at Baraimi, supported by an imposing force,
and called upon all the maritime and inland Sheikhs to attend hirm All the
maritime Sheikhs responded to this summons with the exception of Debai, who sent
his uncle to represent him, but explained to the Resident that he was opposed to
the presence of Wahabis in Oman. Shargah, anxious to injure Muscat, lent his
fullest support to the Wahabis and urged an attack on the Batineh. Abu Dhabi
thereupon adopted an opposite course, intimated that he would, not be prepared to
co-operate personally in such a policy, and disbanded most of his forces.
The Resident and the Wahabis, 1852-1853.
78. Meanwhile, the Resident was anxious to renew the maritime truce concluded
for 10 years in 1843 and called upon the Trucial Sheikhs to attend him for this
purpose. The Trucial Sheikhs other than Debai were all at Baraimi, and Umm al
Qaiwain, in particular, “ in seeking permission to return to his port for the purpose
of meeting the Resident, had some degree of restraint imposed on his actions.”
Shargah also alleged that he was detained at Baraimi. He was instructed in reply
to proceed forthwith to the coast. The Resident informed the Wahabi Commander of
his extreme surprise that any circumstances whatever should induce him to prevent
the Sheikhs from obeying his call, and a warship was sent to patrol the Trucial
Coast. These measures proved effective, the Sheikhs repaired to the Resident, and
on the 4th May 1853 signed as independent rulers the Perpetual Maritime Truce at
Shargah.
Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. in 1854.
79. A report from the Resident in 1854 remarks that the Trucial Sheikhs “ are
independent, but acknowledge the feudal supremacy of the Wahabi ruler whenever
his own power or their dissensions may place him in a position to exercise it.
Their chiefs are expected to afford military aid in his expeditions and to furnish
supplies to his troops when present, as in the case of the garrison at Baraimi, in
Oman. The territorial possessions of the maritime chiefs are confined to the
inhabited spots on the sea coast and may be said to be bounded by the walls of
their towns and the date gardens in their immediate vicinity. . . . The maritime
tribes are closely related to the nomad tribes in the interior, over whom the chiefs
of the former exercise a limited control.” Shargah, Debai and Umm al Qaiwain
are described at this time as belonging to the Wahabi sect.
Decline in Wahabi Influence in Oman, 1854.
80. But despite the imposing character of the Wahabi mission to Oman in 1853,
the power of the Wahabi Agent at Baraimi had by 1854 fallen to a low point.
“ Having no longer any material force at his command he was reduced to maintaining
his position by petty intrigue and playing off one Sheikh against another.” In
1854 he was reported to be exercising a restraining influence on the Wahabi Amirs.
But in the following year he was involved in intrigues against Shargah, and in
that year the Naim of Baraimi suggested to the Resident that British influence
should be used for the expulsion of the Wahibis. The Resident, however, explained
“ that the policy of Government was now one of non-intervention in internal
affairs, and himself merely continued to avoid, as his predecessors had done since
1840, direct communication with or recognition of the Wahabi representative.”
81. In 1855-56 the Chief of Abu Dhabi was expelled from his State, and
appealed to the Amir to instruct his Agent in Oman to assist him. With the
assistance of the Agent the ex-Sheikh re-established himself in Abu Dhabi.