'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎35r] (74/180)

59
enforced without the approval of the British Resident. The Government of India
were at first apprehensive lest the new system, by unduly increasing the power of
the Shaikhs over their subjects, should lead to oppression; but Colonel Ross was
able to assure them that, under the patriarchal form of government which prevailed,
cases of genuine oppression were rare, and that the system was not likely to be
abused. Experience has now fully demonstrated both the justness of this view
and the beneficial tendency of the Agreement.*
Relations of Trucial 'Oman with the Wahhabis, etc., 1853-92.
The power of the Wahhabi agent in Trucial 'Oman, though his presence was
not at once removed, had fallen to a low point; and, having no longer any material
force at his command, he was reduced to maintaining his position by petty intrigues
and by playing off one Shaikh against another.
In 1854 Ahmad the Sadairi, who at this time was still the representative of
the Wahhabi Government in Baraimi, was reported to be making a laudable use
of his influence to restrain the Trucial Shaikhs from wanton aggressions on one
another; and he had even, on the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi declining to hold himself
responsible for the conduct of the Manasir, organised a successful expedition
against that predatory tribe.
In 1855 on the contrary, in a difficulty which occurred between a colony of
Shihiih at Hamriyah and the Shaikh of Sharjah, the suzerain of that place, reason
was found for suspecting that the Wahhabi agent had encouraged the rebellion
with a view to the eventual creation of a pied a terre for himself upon the Truciai
seaboard. In this project he was opposed by the Na'im of Baraimi, one of whose
chiefs, Fadhil-bin-Muhammad, had an interview with Captain Kemball at the coast
in 1855, and suggested that British influence should be brought to bear for the
expulsion of the Wahhabis; but the Resident explained that the policy of Govern
ment 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 Wahhabi representative.
From 1864 to 1866 the attention of Turki-bin-Ahmad the Sadairi, Wahhabi
agent at Baraimi, was chiefly engaged by the affairs of the Oman Sultanate, on
which he was trying to enforce payment of an increased tribute; but from this
struggle, which is described in another place, the Trucial Shaikhs, including Shaikh
Sultan-bin-Saqar who was now in his dotage and died in 1866, seem to have held
themselves aloof. About this time Shaikh Khalid-bin-Sultan of Sharjah, who had
thrown in his lot with the Wahhabis, ventured with their assistance to erect
a fort on the coveted Zora site between 'Ajman and Hamriyah; but, as this
innovation threatened to disturb the peace of the entire coast, the fort was
bombarded and destroyed by H.M.S. "Highflyer" in January ^^. on J^ e
occurrence of a breach between the British Government and the Wahhabis. 1 he
question of Zora remained in abeyance thereafter until 1895.
In 1867, on the re-incorporation of Ras -al-Khaimah with the Shanah bnaiKn-
dom, the intervention of the Wahhabis was sought, but without success, by
Ibrahim, the displaced Shaikh of Ras -al-Khaimah. , , ,
In April 1869 the Wahhabi representative at Baraimi, having proceeded .o
Sharjah, entangled himself in the domestic quarrels of the ruling family with the
result that, in the general affray which look place, he was shot dead. A numoer
of his followers were killed on the same occasion, and the others withdrew. wo
months later the opportunity thus presented was taken advantage ot by Saiyid
'Azzan-bin-Qais of Masqat, as related in the history of the Oman Sultanate, to
drive the Wahhabis once and for all out of Baraimi. j r • ^
Baraimi affairs, from the departure ol Wahhabis, are treated ot m e
Annexure' 1 ' on the history of the Abu Dhabi principality, with which the Oasis,
thouah independent, is very closely connected. . .
In 1888 there were rumours, emanating from Qatar, of a contemplated invasion
of Trucial 'Oman by Ibn-Rashid of Najd; but, as no invasion was attempted, . l
seems probable that they may have been invented and disseminated by Jasim, tnt
A1 Thani Shaikh of Dohah, for his own purposes. The Shaikh of Dibai was at
* The text of the Agreement will be found in Annexure No. 7 to this Chapter.
(1) See p. 80 of these Extracts.
48533 K
Wahhabi
intrigues.
1854.
1855.
1864-1866.
1867.
Final expul
sion of the
Wahhabis
from Baraimi,
1869.
Threatened
invasion,
1888.