'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎770] (913/1782)

770
1874-75. In 1874 the Shaikh, having repeated hie request in regard to an
expedition by sea, was informed of the prohibition of the Government
of India; and in 1875 he stated that he had received letters from the
Turks, ordering- him to abstain from interference with 'Odaid. At this
time it was reported that the 'Odaid settlement possessed both a Trucial
and a I urkish Hag, and that either was flown as the ciroumstances of
the moment happened to dictate.
1876-77. In 1876-77, various piracies having been committed by Bedouine
belonging to the neighbourhood of 'Odaid, a strict enquiry was made into
the behaviour and circumstances of the colonists. It was stated that
some Turks had previously visited 'Odaid, and that a small annual
tribute of l$l-0 or 60 was now paid by the inhabitants to the Turkish
Government. In regard to the piracies, it was shown that the offen
ders were A1 Morrah, who had made use of creeks and anchorages and
even of vessels belonging to "'Odaid,—proceedings which the headman of
Odaid was not in a position to prevent. In consequence of this last
discovery the case took a new departure; and, in May 1877, the Govern
ment of 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 \as tribe, at the same time authorising him, in case of non-
success, to assist the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi in coercing the eeceders.
i hese instructions were duly approved by the Secretary of State for
India, and steps towards their execution were at once taken by Captain
Piideaux, 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
•v a piracy by 'Odaid boats upon a Wakrah boat, which occurred in
Aprn and obliged Captain Prideaux to insist on the liberation of some
prisoners who were confined at 'Odaid. In December 1877 Colonel
oss, ho had meanwhile returned to his post, reported that his efforts
at leconciliation had failed in consequence of the reliance which the
eadman of ^ Odaid now placed on the help of the Turks and did
hesitate to express, even in writing. He further applied for
serviees^ of a war vessel for the purpose of executing
instructions, and the'■ Teazer" was placed at his disposal. On
simal of this ship at Odaid it was found that the settlers had
1880
Affairs in
the Baraimi
not
the
hie
the
fled,
first dismantling their houses and tilling up the wells. These transac-
•ons ed to a discussion with the Turkish Government which is
(vcscnbed iu another place.
The Odaid fugitives found an asylum at Dohah in Qatar, where
apparently 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
iuu a ter the Shaikh's son Khalifah went in person to bring them
i tu ^ wer ? 0 ^o e< i to escape secretly from Dohah, where Jaeim,
^k a *kh, would now have compelled them to remain; hut
ey reached Abu Dhabi in safety, resumed their allegiance to their
ie , anc received back their date palms and other property.
Q question 8 affecting 'Odaid are connected with the history of
rather than with that of Abu Dhabi.
On«^ 1 T a T no ^ v 00nB ider shortly the recent historv of the Baraimi
^ , v uch, after the expulsion of the Wahhabis in 1869, ceased to
^ymrin
^ las,