"دليل الخليج. الجزء الأول. المواد التاريخية والسياسية. ملخص عن التوسع التركي على السواحل العربية للخليج العربي وشؤون الأحساء والقطيف" [‎٦‎٤] (١٦٠/٧٦)

Constantinople through the Canal to any port they like in the Red Sea with troops on boarrl,
or march troops across to Bagdad and ships via C anal can, and have met them at ' f Ei Basra
with supplies ready to convey them, as in the present instance, to Katif, or for the invasion
of any part the sea-board of Arabia.
The Russians are generally supposed to be desirous of having Constantinople, Possibly the
Turks may be awaM, and our late policy wi;h
poL7onKmk ,, _ l a'c. opi ° io ° ot tl>c ''° ppMed r '' gar<110 the Treat y o£ 1855 ma y m . ake them s,i11
more assured that we and probably Western
Europe will not be disposed again to fight in their defence, and that, under these circumstances
it is their duty to seek out among more friendly creeds a counterbalance in some sort for the
lo?s she might singlehanded susrain against Russia. This view of the case seems strengthened
by the fact that of late "Turkey has much strengthened herself at Hodeidah and other ports
in the Red Sea, assemblinar large bodies of troops, under the never-failing excuse of" keeping
rebellious Arabs in subjection, the same policy seetrs tj have bepn going on at Bagdad. Till
at last off starts an army fu'ly equipped from the shores of the Euphrates in Turk' transports
accompanied by much Native craft, a squadron leaves Constantinople and appears unexpectedly
in the Gulf supporting them, and I believe more troops have been sent to the Red Sea.
Ostensibly the Sultan of Turkey, the "Padishah/'" the father of his people," regrets to see
children in Arabia destroying themselves in interminable feuds, and that as the " Nejedeans"
in particular did not do him the honour of consulting him, as he holds they should have done
about the succession to the Chieftainship, he proceeds to quiet the country, establish law
and peaoe and to put Abdullah on the throne of his father. The Turk squadron in the mean
time having landed the troops, employs its spare time in paying visits to the various parts on
the coast, saluting their Sheikhs and disposing of small Turk ensigns for the country craft to
disp'ay, explaining them the great advantages that may accrue to them in being under the
protection of so great a Power, that a day may come when this ready acknowledgment may
be remembered to their advantage, and that, for the present, the Turk flag will render them
quite independent of any other interfering nations thero may in the Gulf waters, etc.
Russia, meanwhile, we will suppose, looks on with a complacent eye; it assists to divert
attention from herself, while she possibly may make some bargain with Persia for a port upon
the northern sea board of the Gulf. (Bunder Abbass would suit her well, it was for over a
century held by the Seyyeds of Oman, then by the Dutch, Portuguese, and ourselves for a
short time, so that parting wiih that port and district to a Persian mind would not be felt
like the giving away of territory they have always held. ' It is conveniently situated with res
pect to the Indian Ocean, with plenty of good anchorage between it and Hormuz, which island
might again be made a stronghold and emporium as renowned as in times past). Besides con
quests by Turkey out here might be calculated to gradually reconcile the Turkish mind to a
mio-ration across the Hellespont; the day is half won when your opponents begin to see matters
in the same light as yourself.
Russia has ports in the north of the China Sea and undoubtedly would like a port
somewhere in these latitudes to rendezvous her ships in : now that they can pass from Sebas-
topol down the coast of Syrii to the Canal, and so on out to India to our possessions, towards
winch there seems much reason for supposing her cupidity tends. I cannot help thinkino- that
the oultan and Czar understand each other remarkably well, and that the Turks have been lelt
on to sending a squadron of ships into these waters as a feeler just to see how far we shall
take notice, or object to this invasion of a sea in which for many years we have held undisputed
sway.
The Trucial Chiefs are some seven or eight Sheikhs of sea board towns with whom
• we have made Treaties since the reduction of the pirate stronghold of Ras -el-Kheimah in
1819 that there shall be no more fighting at sea between them, no sending to sea of armed
vessels, no interfering by one Chief with the pearl boats of another, and on our part we
guarantee to protect them from molestation by sea from any other Arab tribe and to defend
them by sea from invasion.
It appears that Sheikh Mahomed bin Thoweynee of Bidda and I believe some others of
still less power and importance (not Trucial Chiefs) have lately been persuaded to hoist the
1 urk flag : these Sheikhs, when asked why they do so, say, " truly you may be Sultan of the
sea, but who will deiend us by land this is doubtless a pithy reply, but it is <f o-all " to
men like Colonel Pelly having their close fitting arrangements thus interfered with—men
who have seen the day when withtheir squadron of Bombay ships their word was law depos-
ing this c hief and setting up that. Such is much the case with Bahrein. The present Sheikh
Esa,u bin Khuleefah a son of the late Sheikh, who was murdered a few years since Colonel
. elly established (I believe fairly enough) in spite of opposition, and has maintained him in
his authority, cutting oil all opponents. The Turks much want Bahrein; it is the only well-
watered and fruitful place along the whole Arab coast of the Gulf, and there is no doubt thev
will neglect no opportunity of coercing Sheikh Esau, or pretext for occupying the place.
Consequently, Colonel Peily watches jealously this point, and hopes to meet Midhut Pasha