'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎112r] (223/344)

Part VI—Chap. XLIV.]
203
him strongly to remonstrate with the Egyptian Commander against persever*
ing in his designs on Bahrein, and explicitly inform him that his proceedings
were in direct opposition to the understanding existing between his master
and the Government of England; and that his not attending to our remon
strance would probably lead to an interruption of the amity now existing
batween the two States. The Resident was asked at the same time to point out
to the authorities at Maskat that it was not for their interests that the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
of Egypt should extend his conquests in the Gulf and that Government
confidently expected they would not in any way favour his designs, but on the
contrary act in unition with the wishes of the British Government.
377. In his letter No. 42, dated 7th May 1839, the Resident (Major
^ Hennell) submitted his report about the
o ume o jo .,p. . disposition, the strength and relative
interests of the contending parties in the Gulf with the establishment of the
Egyptian power in Arabia.
378. It was found at the time Khorsid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the Egyptian Commander,
Abdullah bin Ahmed, the Sheikh of Bahrein, and Esa-ben-Tarif, the Head of
the Al-i-Ally tribe, were the only parties who could strictly speaking be said
* sheikh Jaber of Koweit. to be in hostile relations with each other.
t ii al i a / a of A ^ b " ot u habe • The list,* however, of those whose
Sheikh Muktoom of Debay. . . , 7 ' ,
Sheikh Saltan-hea-Suggur of Ras-el-Khyma interests were more or less atiected by the
and shargah. advance of the forces of Mahomed All
Sheikh Ab^iiah^beiS^hed^f ^Am^lgavine. direction, included all the Maritime
Said Hamud ben Azan of Sohar. Arabs from the mouth of the Euphrates
His Highness the imam of Maskat. to Ras-el-Hud, as detailed in the margin.
379. The strength of Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. lay in his artillery and regular
_ „ , troops, the exact number of which it
Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . j'/c iaj . • • -r.
was dimcult to ascertain. It was,
however, thought that, including his cavalry and irregular Mughrubbee
infantry, he had not above 3,500 available, unless indeed he had received the
reinforcements of 1,000 horse and 2,000 foot expected by him from Medinah,
From the coast, which was already in his possession, and the Beduins under
his authority, he could probably collect from 4 to 5,000 men, but upon these
little dependence could be placed in the event of his experiencing anything
approaching to a reverse.
380. The means of resistance possessed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed
auj i, u u- 11 j were such as to afford a prospect of suc-
Abdullah bin Ahmed. i i i ^ . i r i -^-r.
cess it fairly brought into play. His
insular position, and the great superiority of his naval force, of course were
very much in his favor. His war boats, which were numerous, were of the
first description of that class of vessels. His subjects were brave and deter
mined, and were moreover equally accustomed to serve at sea as well as on
shore. Of these, on the two Islands of Monama and Muharag alone, perhaps
not less than six thousand armed men, prepared to support their Chief to the last
extremity could be collected without difficulty, while half as many more
might be^ brought over in case of emergency from the Uttubi possessions
on the main land. The population of Bahrein could furnish a much larger
number of men capable of bearing arms than that above specified, but not
including the aboriginal or Shia inhabitants, who were an unwarlike race, but
who, smarting under the oppressive conduct of their Uttubi masters, would
gladly see the downfall of that tribe, and the establishment of any other power
m its room. Could Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. once gain a footing on the Island of
Monama with his guns and stores, and at the same time keep open his
communications with Ojeir and Katif, it was probable that the unregulated
bravery of the Uttubis would eventually succumb to the powerful effects
of the disciplined troops and artillery of the Egyptian Commander, but as
long as the Bahrein Chief maintained his naval superiority, the enterprise
would be one of so much risk, as to render it doubtful whether it will ever be
attempted by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. unless supported by the ships of the Viceroy, or those
of His Highness the Imam. The arrival of the former had been long looked for
in the Gulf, but it was possible that the earnest remonstrances of the British
Government might have induced Mahomed Ali to suspend his intentions
3 D