Page 362 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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JOASMEGS.

and therefore displayed a determination not to pay the remuneration
money, which he had promised through the influence of the British on
that occasion. This pretence, however, was not admitted by the
authorities in the Gulf. y
In an interview held with the British Resident
in October 1826,
Shaikh Sultan complained of the injury his
a. d. 182G.
subjects were exposed to, in consequence of the
proceedings of the Soocdan Tribe under Salmin bin Nassir (who still held
possession of Derail, notwithstanding Shaikh Tahnoon having formerly
agreed to its demolition), and therefore requested permission to expel
the occupants by force of arms. As this measure would have led to an
immediate rupture with Shaikh Tahnoon, and involved the Gulf once
more in hostilities, he was requested to defer taking any steps of this
nature until it was seen whether the Bcniyas Chief could be prevailed
upon to withdraw his countenance from Salmin bin Nassir. Shaikh
Tahnoon, however, obstinately refusing to attend to any recommen-
dation having for its object the demolition of Derail, a representation
was in consequcnce made to the Imaum, who, indignant at the
continued contumacy of the Aboothabee Shaikh, promised to send two
vessels of war to co-operate with Sultan bin Snggur’s troops against the
place above alluded to.
Having observed the marked disinclination with which the occur­
rence of maritime war among the tribes of the Persian Gulf was viewed
by the British Government, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, with his usual
acuteness, in a letter to the Government, dated December 1826, revived
a number of dormant and unfounded claims against the people of Con-
goon, for the seizure of a Buggalow several years before, and also
against Bussora, for the imprisonment and detention of the Nakhodas
of some of his vessels. At the same time he intimated, that unless
the Government made good his losses on this occasion, he required
their permission to go to war.
The Government, in their reply, dated February 1S27, intimated that
the Resident in the Persian Gulf would be re-
a. d. 1827. the subjects of his complaint,
quired to report on
but that if he did not consider that justice had been done him, he was
at liberty to commence hostilities, provided that it did not degenerate
into piracy. The report was soon after made, showing that real facts
had been grossly misrepresented by the Shaikh, who, failing in ns
object of inducing the Government to interfere actively in behalf of
his unfounded claims, prudently remained quiet. ,
About March 1827, His Highness the Imaum appeared off Derah
wilh his fleet, end redeemed his pledge to the Br.h.h Gov™“'’^
direeting that fort to be demolished. The presence of die Im.am,
i

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