"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٨‎٧‎٨] (١٧٨٢/١٠٣٣)

878
Death in
battle of
'Isa-bin-
Tarif and
final ruin of
the ex-
Shaikh 's
fortunes,
1847.
Correspond
ence of the
Persian
Consnl-
General at
Baghdad
with both
parties.
between the Wahhabis and the Shaikh of Bahrain ; but no active part in
the liostilities was taken by the ex-chief. It was not until August 1847,
when a peace was concluded between the principal belligerents by which
the Wahhabi Amir bound himself not to abet Shaikh 'Abdullah in his
machinations, that tlie exile suddenly woke to life, launched a
vessel at Dammam with the supposed intention of proceeding to Qais to
intrigue with some discontented Utub there, and was joined by Isa-bin-
Tarif of the A)-Bin-'Ali, whose dislike of Shaikh Muhammad had now
overcome his former hatred of Shaikh 'Abdullah. The demand made
bv the allies upon Shaikh Muhammad was for the restoration of his
grand-uncle's vessels and other possessions, 1 he immediate con i men ce
ment of hostilities at sea was prevented by the arrival in tlip u Elphin-
stone " of Commodore Lowe, who required that the regular sanction of
the Resident should tirst be obtained by the parties; but, when this
omission had been supplied, the war, which quickly took a turn unfavour
able to the ex-chief, began without further delay.
The Restrictive Line was violated, at an early stage of the proceed
ings, by Shaikh 'Abdullah, who crossed to the Persian coast to obtain
reinforcements; and Shaikh Muhammad, on his part, asked that the
British Government would either restrain the 'Atbi malcontents settled
on Qais or grant him leave to take suitable measures against them. This
request of the Shaikh was referred by the Resident to Government; but,
before orders could be received from India, the campaign had been
brought to an end by a battle fought on land, in which the troops of
Bahrain, commanded by Shaikh Muhammad in person, defeated the allies
near Fuwairat in Qatar; ' Isa-bin-Tarif himself was among the slaiu.
This disaster was the death-blow of Shaikh 'Abdullah's hopes. The
orders of the Government of India, at length received, were that an inva
sion of Bahrain by the allies should be prevented, if necessary, by a
British naval force; but the decision was not communicated to Shaikh
Muhammad, as it might have led him to neglect precautions for his own
defence.
About this time, probably in 1848, 'Abdul Jabbar Khan, the Persian
Consul-Genfial at Baghdad, opened a correspondence with both parties.
To the ex-Shaikh he wrote assuring him of the active support of the
Persian Government, " and begging him to make every preparation for
carrying into effect the plans he might have in contemplation,—however
momentous , however gigantic,—Persian assistance, full and powerful,
would most surely be accorded to him." His letter to Shaikh
Muhammad was equally friendly and was apparently intended to blind