Page 343 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JOASMEES. 301

3. In 1772 we find Shaikh Rashid, of Ras-ool-Khyma, who had
succeeded his father Shaikh Muttur, in alliance
a. d. 1772.
with the Imaum of Muskat, and co-operating
with Shaikh Khulfan, the governor of that port, against the Persians.
They destroyed two Persian gallivats off Gombroon, and a magazine
which the Persian troops had formed at Lingah.
4. In 1775 the Imaum of Muskat was at war with Shaikh Rashid,
who had become very powerful by land ; the
a. d. 1775.
Shaikh captured some Bushire craft, under the
plea that their cargo belonged to Muskat.
5. Shaikh Rashid retiring from public life, resigned the Shaikhdom
to his son Shaikh Suggur, who, marrying one of Shaikh Abdoolla’s
daughters, all differences between them were settled.
6. The Joasmees now appeared as traders, and, in a very few years,
by their activity, carried on a most profitable concern ; but, adds
Captain Seton, their rash and treacherous disposition was constantly
showing itself, and leading to petty wars and quarrels, both among
themselves and their neighbours.
7. The Ras-ool-Khyma fleet, in consequence of the decline of the
Persian ascendancy in the Gulf, being constantly
a. d. 1//S-79.
on the cruise, roused almost every petty chief to
fit out armed boats, manned by lawless crews, under no control, but
who depended solely on plunder for their maintenance, which they
indiscriminately practised. This state of affairs arose out of the
war between Ras-ool-Khyma and Muskat.
8. The internal state of Persia being unsettled, the war with
Ras-ool-Khyma continued; Shaikh Abdoolla of Ormus was at variance
with Karrack ; the Shaikh of A1 Haram with the Jamia people; and the
Utloobees of Zobara and Grane with the Chaab.
9. Shaikh Suggur next appears endeavouring to negotiate a peace
between the Persians and Uttoobees, who had plundered and taken
Bahrein; but failing in his efforts, he joined Shaikh Nassir of Bushire
in an expedition for the recovery of the island, the Joasmee Shaikh
having taken part against the Uttoobees, in consequence of their having
captured a boat of his, and murdered eighteen of her crew. These
attempts for reducing Bahrein were repeatedly made, and not abandoned
until 1785.
10. The Joasmees appear not to have taken any part in the disputes
■
which occurred between the Montific Arabs and
a. d. 1785 to 1796.
the Turkish Government, nor is any mention
made of the Joasmees for a number of years. The Gulf enjoyed, also,
every degree of tranquillity in 1793, 1794, 1795, and 1796.