Page 365 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JOASMEES. 323
The peace between the Joasmee Chief and Shaikh Tahnoon of
Aboothabee, although frequently shaken, was
a. d. 1S29.
never wholly ruptured, until the commencement
of 1829, when Shaikh Sultan again declared war against the latter.
Whether really irritated against the Imauin for the secret and open
assistance which he alleged was furnished by His Highness to Shaikh
Tahnoon, or whether he was desirous of taking advantage of the
unfortunate position in which Syud Saeed was placed, in consequence
of his failure at Bahrein, the Ras-ool-Khyma Shaikh, in a letter to the
British authority in the Gulf, intimated an intention of likewise com­
mencing hostilities against His Highness. He did not, however, think
proper to proceed to any overt acts of warfare, and his relations with
the Muskat Government gradually resumed their old footing.
It being considered by the British Government that the cruising of
the ships of war on the pearl banks, as usual during the fishing season,
was not unlikely (with reference to the very general state of warfare
in which all the tribes on the Arabian Coast were engaged) to involve
us as principals, or at all events to produce an impression that we did
not act up to our declaration touching our non-interference in lawful
war, while carried on after the manner of civilized nations, it was
resolved to discontinue the practice for that time, and to trust to the
monthly visits of our cruisers for the protection of neutral vessels.
About the end of May 1S29, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur represented to
the British authority in the Persian Gulf, that although he had given
due intimation of his intention of blockading Aboothabee, yet he had
been given to understand that a vessel carrying an English pass and
colours had been hired, by some of the people of Muskat, to convey
provisions and warlike stores to the Beniyas capital (Aboothabee), which
was suffering in consequence of the scarcity of food. On the arrival
of the vessel in question (the merchant ship Sunbury) off Shargah,
she landed a portion of her cargo, destined for that place, and
was about to proceed on her voyage to Aboothabce, in spite of
Shaikh Sultan’s earnest remonstrances, when an arrangement was
made by the agent of the owner, without the knowledge of the
Captain, to sell all her cargo to the Joasmee Shaikh. Boats were
accordingly sent off, the crews of which boarded the ship in a very
insolent manner, and an attempt was made to haul down the British
colours, which the Mate resisting, he was struck with some violence by
one of the Arabs. Shaikh Sultan, however, on the Captain protesting
against such conduct, disavowed the whole of the proceedings, and the
opportune arrival of the Amherst sloop-of-war removed all apprehen­
sions of any further violence. The Joasmee Chief, to prove the truth of

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