Page 15 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

6 Records of Bahrain

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markod down for the Ural attack, and, on tho whole, it seemed to mo essential
that, at all cYonts for iho moment, affairs ohould not be complicated by any
unnecessary proceedings on the part of tho local Persian authorities. Ac­
cordingly, I addressed Mr. Alison by telegram on the 10th idem,
Appoodii 1.
and submitted copy of my tclcgrum to India.
7. On tho 20th of August an Arab merchant, who had fled from
Bahrein, met mo at Bushirc, and assured me that Mahomed bin Khalifoh, tho
principal Shaikh of Bahrein and originator of tho recent piratical raids at sea,
had abandoned his island aud concealed himself near Khor llassau on tho
Guitar Coast. Tho merchant added that the Arabs themselves wero weary of
tho tyranny, exactions, and mad ccceutricitics of .tho Chief,—a testimony
which has been unanimously confirmed to mo by mauy tribes and classes.
8. On the 1st Septomher, Captain Brown arrived in the Vigilant. This
ship required a day or two to look to her engine, and wo agreed that moan-
titno I should proceed in Sind, taking Hugh Hose in tow to Wukra, tho chief
town on tho Guitar Coast. This arrangement necessitating a separation of
tho Bcsidoucy steamer from Vigilant, I left my 6ccoud Assistant, Captain
8idncy Smith, with tho latter vessel, and temporarily obtained from tho
Persian Telegraph Department the services of Lieutenant Lovett, n. e.
Appended is a sketch of tho Bahrein aud Aboothnbeo coast line,
App«ndlt X
wil)i which Lieutenant Lovett has favoured mo, and I have to
thank both him aud Captaiu Smith for their valuable aid on all occasions.
0. Arrived off the Guitar Coast, the Chiefs como on board and confessed
their breaches of the maritime truce, but pleaded their belief that the British
Government would no longer interfere, and that they had been outraged
beyond endurance by the piratical plunderiuga or destructions of their pro­
perty and towns on tho part of the Bahrein Chiefs. They declared nt tho
samo time their willingness to seal any documents which shall secure the
general peace, aud concluded by expressing their desire to hand Mahomed
bin lCliulifo.h (who was concealed on tho Guitar Coast) over to the Residency,
in order that arrangements might bo made for preventing him continuing a
career which, during a quarter of a ccutury, has increasingly become the terror
of his neighbours, aud the main obstacle to all progress and accumulation of
woalth in his own naturally fortuuato islonds. I explained to the Gutter
Chiefs that I expected their aid in catching- Mahomed bin IChnlifch, in order
that I might communicato to him tho demands of Government, and I con­
cluded by saying that I would return to Guitar after visiting Bahrein.
10. Prom Guttar I steamed to Bahrein, where, on tho evening of tho
6th, I rendezvoused with Captain Brown, who simultaneously arrived with
Vigilant, having Clyde and some coal boats in tow.
11. On tho moruing of the Glh wo went on board Hugh Rote, and
steamed into the inner hurbour of Mcnomct, on the main island of Bahrein.
Tho co-Chicf and brother of Shaikh Mahomed, named Shaikh Ali, rccoivod,
in the absence of his brother, a letter which I had addressed to
AppodU as. the two Chiefs conjointly, and which, after recapitulating their
Apj»odn C2. offences, summarized tho demands of Government. Shaikh Ali
sent an Agent on hoard with instructions to stato that ho was
desirous to. meet the views of Government; that tho offences committed were
wholly owing to his brother; that ho himself, like all his subjects, wero at
length reduced to admit that tliero was no altornalivc other tliun the ruin of
their country, or the removal of Shuikli Mahomed from power; and that ho
(Shaikh Ali) would bo glud to meet me on shore, or depute au Agoofc
arr&ngo matters.
12. I replied that tho instructions of Government were explicit; that I
forwarded him a note of_safe conduct; and that I advised him to come on
uouru wiiiioui dciay. ilo camo accordingly, cringing with iura a low ox
most considerable persons of Bahrein. All these representatives concurred in
declaring that Shaikh Mahomed bin IChalifeh, by his piracies and flight, b