'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎48r] (100/180)

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India directed the Resident to use his best endeavours to promote a reunion
between the settlers at "Odaid and the main body of the Bani Yas tribe, at the
same time authorising him, in case of non-success, to assist the Shaikh of Abu
Dhabi in coercing the seceders. These instructions were duly approved by the
Secretary of State for India, and steps towards their execution were at once taken
by Captain Prideaux, the Acting Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Gulf; but he was not
able to bring about any agreement. Matters were further complicated by a piracy
by 'Odaid boats upon a Wakrah boat, which occurred in April and obliged Captain
Prideaux to insist on the liberation of some prisoners who were confined at 'Odaid.
In December 1877 Colonel Ross, who had meanwhile returned to his post, reported
that his efforts at reconciliation had failed in consequence of the reliance which
the headman of 'Odaid now placed on the help of the Turks and did not hesitate
to express, even in writing. He further applied for the services of a war vessel
for the purpose of executing his instructions, and the " Teazer " was placed at
his disposal. On the arrival of this ship at 'Odaid it was found that the settlers
had fled, first dismantling their houses and filling up the wells. These transactions
led to a discussion with the Turkish Government which is described in another
place.
The Odaid fugitives found an asylum at Dohah in Qatar, where apparently 1880.
they resided during 1879; but in January 1880 they accepted an offer of Shaikh
Zaid to let them return to Abu Dhabi; and, a short time after, the Shaikh's son
Khalifah went in person to bring them home. They were obliged to escape
secretly from Dohah, where Jasim, the A1 Thani Shaikh, would now have compelled
them to remain; but they reached Abu Dhabi in safety, resumed their allegiance
to their chief, and received back their date palms and other property.
Later questions affecting 'Odaid are connected with the history of Qatar rather
than with that of Abu Dhabi.
We may now consider shortly the recent history of the Baraimi Oasis, which. Affairs in
after the expulsion of the Wahhabis in 1869, ceased to play an important part
in the general history of Trucial 'Oman and became almost an annexe of the
principality of Abu Dhabi.
At the beginning of 1875 a state of war existed between the Bani Yas and the 1875.
Na'im; and many distant, and in some cases murderous, raids were executed,
especially by the former, who were assisted by their allies the Manasir and Bani
Hajir Bedouins. In January 200 mounted Manasir and Bani Hajir made an attack
on the Na'aimi town of Dhank in Dhahirah; and about the same time a similar
force of Manasir and Mazari' made an unsuccessful expedition against Baraimi.
The Bani Qitab, finding themselves in danger from the Bedouin allies of Abu
Dhabi, applied for protection to the Shaikh of Dibai, who went out with a force
of camelry and stood guard over them until satisfactory assurances had been
received from Shaikh Zaid.
In May 1887 the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi went to war with some of the Dhawahir 1887-89.
of Baraimi who opposed the extension of his influence to that place. The Sultan
of 'Oman, Saiyid Turki, sent assistance in money and ammunition to the
recalcitrant Dhawahir; but the consignment arrived too late. Within a month of
his departure Shaikh Zaid returned home victorious, bringing two Shaikhs of the
Dhawahir back with him as prisoners. In April 1889 the Shaikh of 'Ajman went
to Baraimi and composed come disputes which had arisen there among the Na'im.
In April 1891 the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi marched to Baraimi, where he was 1891.
joined by the Shaikh of Dibai with 30 horsemen and 300 camelmen and apparently
engaged in hostilities with the Dhawahir, for his principal operation was the storm
and capture of the village of 'Ain. Peace was now established between Shaikh
Zaid and the A1 Bu Kharaiban Na'im of Baraimi ; and the Shaikh even took to
wife a daughter of the Na'aimi holder of the Baraimi forts. The Bani Qitab and
the Bani Ka'ab, formerly reckoned dependents of 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. , now attached
themselves to the interest of Abu Dhabi; and in June 1891 the Shaikh, being then
on a visit to Masqat, persuaded the Sultan to restore some allowances which he
had been accustomed to pay through his Wali of Sohar to the Na'im and Bani
Qitab tribes but had suspended.
When by these and by other similar means he had established a considerable 1897-1907.
degree of influence over Baraimi, Shaikh Zaid proceeded to adopt more open and
unmistakable measures for the virtual annexation of the Oasis. About 1897, or
possibly earlier, he appropriated or reclaimed the estate of Jahali on the south
western border of the cultivated area; and since then divers pieces of land and
sundry water channels in Baraimi or its environs have been purchased by Shaikh
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