Page 345 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JO ASM EES. 303

with his formidable enemies the Joasmees. They desisted from these
hostile intentions through the interposition of the Resident at Bnssora.
10. The Joasmecs do not appear to have co-operated with the
Imaum in his attack on Bahrein; nor do we hear
a. n. 1802-03.
anything more of them until 1802, when the
attention of the Imaum was directed to the formation of an alliance
with the Joasmecs, which failed ;—its object probably was to assist in
the attack on Zobara and Bahrein. Shaikh Suggur dying in 1803, was
succeeded by his son, Shaikh Sultan.
17. The Joasmees must have been kept in check by the progress of
the Wahabees, who had by the month of May 1802 reduced to nominal
submission the whole coast from Bussora to Dubba, whicli included
their territory. They appear, however, towards the close of 1804, to
have been in alliance with the Uttoobees, since it was in an engage­
ment with these two tribes that Syud Sultan, the Imaum, lost his life.
18. We may now date the period when the Joasmees may be said
to have engaged in piratical depredations. Up to the close of 1804, they
committed no act of piracy ; but, with the exception of the attack on
the Bassein Snoiv, and Viper cruiser, manifested every respect to the
British (lag.
19. The influence of the Wahabees having been introduced over the
principality of Seer, and the Government of
a. d. 1805.
Muskat having, on the death of Syud Sultan,
also fallen under the control of that power, the characters of the different
tribes in the Gulf underwent a material change, and the attention of the
British Government was directed to check the spirit of piracy which
at this period began to display itself.
20. The contentions for the succession, between the members of the
Muskat family, threw the Gulf into a state of great confusion : the
Joasmees captured two vessels (the Shannon and Trimmer), belonging
to Mr. Manisty, with public despatches, and treated the commanders
with great severity and cruelty ; and a fleet of forty sail surrounded
and fired into the Mornmgton cruiser, but a broadside or two com­
pelled them to sheer off. They were co-operating, also, with Moolla
Hussein of Kishm, with whom they were allied, against Bunder Abbas
and Minao ; whilst Beder, the successful competitor for the Imaum-
ship, was projecting a plan (notwithstanding the support he was receiv­
ing from the Wahabees) with the Uttoobees, to destroy the Joasmees,
who were at this time in subjection to Abdool Azeez.
21. Syud Beder, on the adjustment of the disputes with Syud
Ghes of Sohar, proceeded with a land and sea force for the recovery of
Bunder Abbas, Minao, and Ormus, which he effected. Operations
were at this time actively prosecuted by the British against the
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