Page 240 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

198 MUSKAT.

near. In consequence, they changed their intentions, and continued
the action with their guns, till, night coming on, the Buggalow altered
her course, and arrived soon after at Bahrein, very little injured herself
but with a considerable portion of the cargo damaged.
In May 1829 the British Government directed their Agent in the
Persian Gulf to endeavour to compose the differences existing between
His Highness and the Shaikh of Bahrein. The offer of mediation was
accepted by His Highness with great alacrity, as the slate of his affairs
in Zanzibar imperiously called upon him to proceed in person to the
African Coast, for the purpose of crushing, if possible, the rebellion of
the people of Mombassa. After some correspondence, His Highness
sent, up one of his confidential men for the purpose of arranging terms,
but the Bahrein Chief, notwithstanding the earnest advice and re com-
mendation of the political authority, refused to listen to any conditions
of peace, however favourable to himself, that had not the guarantee of
the British Government to them. This, of course, was absolutely
refused, although His Highness earnestly begged that the pledge might
be given. Finding the Bahrein Chief firm in his determination, the
British Resident, after a correspondence of several months, declared his
mediation at an end. Whether the Uttoobee Shaikh conceived that our
desire for peace was so strong that, sooner than fail in the mediation, we
should have acceded to his wishes regarding the guarantee, or whether
he really regarded our friendly interference with an eye of suspicion,
is doubtful; but certain it is, that we had no sooner declined taking any
further steps in the affair than peace was concluded betwixt the
belligerents (through the agency of a dependent of the Imaum, who
had proceeded to Bahrein), on terms perhaps even more favourable to
the interests of His Highness than those offered to the Uttoobees through
us ; thus adding another to the many instances in which the offer of our
mediation tended rather to protract than expedite a return to amicable
relations.
A small vessel, belonging to Mr. Shipton, having been attacked and
plundered on her way from the Red Sea by some dependents of the
Imaum, His Highness took immediate steps to obtain satisfaction for
this outrage, and remitted in the first instance about 6,000 dollars,
which he had recovered from the pirates, and subsequently a further
sum of 1,100 crowns, to the Bombay Government.
run
About this time a merchant ship, called the Oscar, having been
ashore off the Coast of Jaalan, on her way from Bombay to Bushire,
she was boarded by the Arabs (principally of the Beni Boo Ali and
Beni Boo Hussain Tribes), and plundered of all her cargo, amounting
in value to eight lakhs of rupees, the greater portion of which, had it not
been for the violence of the Natives, might perhaps have been save