troops." In the 1820s the Isaaq Sultan Farah Guled penned a letter to Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi requesting military assistance and joint religious war against the British. He was praised as a pious and righteous ruler upon the sunnah. War with Abu Dhabi Sultan rebuilt the town of Ras Al Khaimah, using the rubble of the old town to build the new. By 1828, the town was once again established as a settlement. Incensed by a coalition between his old foe the Sultan of Muscat and the Bani Yas of Abu Dhabi, Sultan used the opportunity of their expedition against Bahrain to blockade the town of Abu Dhabi. The blockade was lifted in June 1829 after peace-making efforts by the Sheikh of Lingeh, both parties being keen to take part in the annual pearling season. By 1831, however, Bedouin loyal to Abu Dhabi raided Ajman and Sultan joined with Ajman and declared war on Abu Dhabi. A brief peace was negotiated, but pearling boats from both sides were seized. In 1833, the Al Bu Falasah section of the Bani Yas seceded to Dubai under Obeid bin Said bin Rashid alongside Maktoum bin Butti bin Sohail and Sultan decided to use the opportunity to move against Abu Dhabi once again. Recalling Sharjah's boats from the pearl banks (a highly unpopular move, taking place at the height of the season), Sultan embarked for Abu Dhabi with 22 boats carrying 520 men under himself and Hassan bin Rahmah and 80 boats carrying 700 men from the Al Bu Falasah and other secessionists of Dubai. On 10 September 1833, the allies landed four miles from Abu Dhabi and encamped, ready to move on the town the next day. However, at sunrise they discovered they were surrounded by a large force of Bani Yas and Manasir Bedouin. The invaders fled to their boats, but these were left high and dry by the tide and a rout followed, 45 men killed and 235 taken prisoner (and made to return to their homes in Abu Dhabi), while the Al Qasimi lost six boats and the Dubai contingent lost 60 of its 80 boats. Undeterred, Sultan allied with the Sheikhs of Lingeh and Ajman and once again sailed against Abu Dubai in November 1833. This expedition, failing to take Abu Dhabi by force of arms, blockaded the town. The blockade was effective: 30 Abu Dhabi boats were