Page 226 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

184 muskat.

\he Beniyas, situated to the westward of Ras-ool-Khvma 'PI r
had a conference with Shaikh Shakboot, the head ofthe" tr^h aUm
agreed to co-operate in the attack on Ras-ool-Khyma, with t»„ C’ Wh?
men. At this place the Imaum received a despatch fromSuUr
Suggur, staling that he had been joined by several Arab Chiefs ^ h
Persian side, and that he had force enough to join in the expedhio
The Shaikh of Bahrein also promised to co-operate with fifteen or twenty
sail, and two thousand men, and proposed to join the Imaum at the port
of the Hiza Arabs. *
S7. The Imaum acknowledged on this occasion that it was owing
to our presence that the Arab Chiefs had so readily come in to his views,
and had made so favourable an impression to bis interests that he was
almost certain of carrying his point against Ras-ool-Khyma. His High­
ness said that Sultan bin Suggur had expressed his gratitude very
warmly to the British Government, and would consider himself as
having been restored to his hereditary situation by its influence. Sultan
bin Suggur having joined the Imaum at Debaye with a hundred and
fifty sail of vessels, there was every prospect of accomplishing their
object.
88. The expedition failed from an ineffectual co-operation on the
part of the Beniyas Tribe, who do not appear to have voluntarily
offered to aid in the undertaking. Another expedition was undertaken
by the Imaum in the following year, for a similar purpose, His High­
ness apprising Mr. Bruce that the Shaikh of the. Beniyas and Hera
Tribes, and Sultan bin Suggur, were entreating him to join them, pro­
mising most faithfully to support him with all their strength, and to act
contrary to what they did in the preceding year. Mr. Bruce stated on
this occasion that a severe skirmish had taken place between the
Beniyas and Ras-ool-Khyma Arabs, in which the former were victorious,
having killed near three hundred Joasmees, and carried off about
four hundred head of camels. Shaikh Sultan had, moreover, obtained
possession of Shargah with his adherents. The famous Wahabec
General, Mootluk, who defended Shinas with so much bravery, when
attacked by Colonel Smith, and whose support of the Joasmees hai
caused the failure of the Imaum’s armament, had died, and there was
every prospect of success. . .
89. The Imaum having proceeded on the second expedition again-
Ras-ool-Khyma, the chief inhabitants sent a
A. D. 1814. mediator to him, and solicited peace, which >e
Imaum granted, and returned to the island of Ormus. Thei termsrw j
that the ports on the line of coast from Congoon to the south ward o
Persian side, and those on the coast from Bahrein to Cape
on the Arabian side, should be at peace with eac i ot ier.

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