Turkish Expedition to Nejd [‎475v] (44/94)

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tii the Tmaum Saood had remained inland between Lahsa
4 a ' _Mea a?d the capiS Bkdh. Hearing of his brother AMooliah being
at a place called Kharj, Saood moved against and defeated him.
Abdoollah retreated into Biadh, where he found shelter with the
Chief Mollah, whose daughter he had married. Saood followed^
Abdoollah to Biadh, and demanded the surrender of Abdoollah,
on failing this he would attack. Saood was before Biadh with a
larcfe force when last heard of.
5 ^ people of Nejd are reported as dissatisfied with Abdoollah for
having called in the Turks.
g//, —While inland the Imaum Saood addressed two letters to me (trans
lated purports enclosed), and sent them by special messenger to
Bushire. The principal subject-matter of these letters related to
permission to operate by sea. The request was vaguely put;
but I ascertained that the real object was to obtain from me a
crpueral nermission, or at least a promise that we would not
interfere, and that then my letter would be circulated to
the Abuthabee and other maritime trucial Chiefs, as sanc
tioning their putting to sea in favor.of the Wahabees, much
inthe°same manner as the Kowait tribe have done in favor of
the Turks. I have had a personal interview with the Imaum’s
messenger, and informed him orally that as I am proceeding in
person to Bahrein, it would be more convenient to me to reply to
the Imaum from that point, and after ascertaining whether the
road to the interior is still open.
7 ^ The notification of the Government of India for the guidance of the
Vide para. 1 of my letter No. 559—141 of Conduct of the tmcial Chiefs Was,
stii June 1871. as already reported, forwarded with
out delay; and down to date of last reports from the Arab Coast,
no breach of the maritime peace had occurred whether on the
part of or against those Chiefs.
8 ^ —1 entertain little doubt that communications did take place between
some person or persons (whether from Kowait or elsewhere) on
behalf of the Turks, and the Chiefs of Guttur; and that similar
communications, but less explicitly expressed, seem to have been
made to the Bahrein Chief. The object of these communications
was at once to encourage and intimidate. The Bahrein Chief
held entirely aloof and awaited counsel from us. Some of the
Guttur Chiefs seem to have either welcomed or pretended to wel
come the emissary. Boats were prepared for sea. But my
letters to Guttur arriving, the intention to move, if really enter
tained, was abandoned.
6 . The question suggests itself what is the policy of Saood in remaining
inland and permitting the Turks to occupy his littoral unopposed ? One theory
is that Saood is unwilling to oppose the Turkish Government until he shall
find every other means of gaining his object fail. This theory supposes that
the r l urkish Government is prepared to come to terms with either brother;
and that, therefore, Saood’s policy is to demonstrate that the condition of
Abdoollah is hopeless, or, if possible, to seize and dispose of Abdoollah thus
leaving the Turks without a choice.
7. It is possible also that it may have suggested itself to Saood that if a
decisive fight is to have place between himself and the Turkish troops, the
further inland this fight occurs, the better for his chances of success. For if
Saood advanced to the littoral, he would obviously elongate to the utmost his
line of communications, while the Turks would be close to their maritime base,
whereas by taking up a position of defence well inland, Saood would com-