File 522/1922 Pt 5 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Administration: Internal Affairs: British Interference' [‎52r] (114/356)

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In 1791 Said Sultan of Muscat, with the encouragement of the Persian Governor
of Shiraz, which place was no longer the seat of the Persian Government, declared
war on Bahrain.
The Utb Sheikhs, alarmed by his proceedings, opened correspondence with
Shaikh Nasir of Bushire and on their offering to become tributary to Persia the
Shaikh proceeded privately to Bahrain and received an instalment of the revenue
for the previous year on behalf of Persia.
11 . In 1800 Saiyid Sultan of Muscat invaded Bahrain, deported twenty-five
of the leading families to Muscat, and established an Omani garrison on Maharraq
Island. This garrison was in the following year, however, compelled by the
Utb to surrender and to evacuate Bahrain.
The Persians do not seem to have assisted, but in the same year, 1801, the
Muscat ruler, with assistance from Bushire, given with the permission of the
Persian Governor of Shiraz, again landed at Bahrain.
12 . By this time however the Bahrain Shaikhs had secured the support of the
Wahabis who were threatening the outposts of Oman and Saiyid Sultan was obliged
to return to protect his own country. For the next ten years the Shaikhs of
Bahrain succumbed, though reluctantly, to the influence of the Wahabis.
In 1803 they sent a fleet to cruise against Muscat during the pearl season, and
not only sustained the resultant pecuniary loss, but also received a heavy defeat.
In 1805 they joined a movement to destroy Wahabi influence, but in 1810 the
Wahabis appointed an agent to live at Bahrain to superintrn 1 the administration
though leaving the local authority in the hands of the Utb Shaikhs. At the same
time they appointed Wahabi teachers to convert the people to the Wahabi doctrine.
13 In 1811 the Wahabi Amir reduced his garrison in Bahrain in consequence of
the gradual advance of the Egyptians on his frontiers. The Imam of Muscat
attacked Bahrain, and the Wahabi agent was taken prisoner and the power of the
Utb restored.
14 To follow year by year the change of fortune of Bahrain its dependence
now upon the Wahabis, its dangers now from the Sultan of Muscat, and then
the Egyptians who had ousted the Wahabis, the claims of Turkey fro ."J the
they conquered the Wahabi country, and the continued though intermittent claim
of Persia though every detail of it bears upon our position in Bahrain ^d that
of Persia, has taken a hundred pages of foolscap to note upon It is obvious
that no despatch could bear this weight. . accor , the subiect
assistance of Major Barrett, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. of Ba rain, a n ‘ P j m
which 1 will forward separately and which can be referr.d to if n“es s "y. a
this despatch I will attempt to keep to the mam events which have affected
question.
15. In 1817 the Resident found the conduct of the Utb S ha “ “f G Xand
factory An East India Company trading post. in connection with piracy, our main concern m pirates,
Bahrain became the principal mart for the proper y P drew their sup-
and the main depot from which the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. the pirate centre, drew their sup
plies of rice and dates. .
t ,-i • o _ fKp Resident, Lieutenant Bruce, of the Indian
Navy n had e madman informal agreement with the ^ haikhS m ^ ^the objecrof
me,it of a similar nature was contemplated by the Government with the object
restraining the Bahrain Arabs from piracy. .
16. In 1820 the Persian Governor asMthe^Sultanrf Mus«»tan ^ “^je
British also, to convey Pensan ^ Succeed made full submission to the
government, fearing that an attack would s » , ono annum
Sultan of Oman and agreed to pay him an annual tribute of fe3,000 per annum.
Both parties appear to have asked for the guarantee of the British Govern-
ment to this agreement. ,
In February of the same year a preliminary treaty of Peace wasmade by the
Shaikhs with the Bombay Government t° preven benefits of the general
and under this treaty the Shaikhs were admitted to the benefits of the general
treaty of Peace of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .
MCuSIFD