Page 367 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JO ASM EES. 325

them, even in the event of his not receiving any support. In reply, it
was intimated to him that the views of the British Government in these
quarters were confined solely to the suppression of piracy, without
interfering in the internal affairs of the Arabian Stales.
The fear, however, of any material or immediate alteration in his
situation, appears to have been removed soon after from the mind of
Shaikh Sultan, in consequence of the Wahabee Chief having refused
to furnish Rashid bin Humeed with a body of troops to enable him to
obtain the ascendancy in the Joasmee territories, at the same time
intimating to him that he should always continue to look upon the Chief
of Ras-ool-Khyina and the Imaum as the heads of all the Arabian Tribes
in Oman.
In the latter part of 1830 and beginning of 1831 Shaikh Sultan was
busily engaged in negotiating with the Imaum
a. d. 1830-31.
of Muskat, regarding the terms on which he
should lend his support against Sohar, as, notwithstanding his having
already received half the amount of subsidy, he now refused to move
unless either Dubba or Khore Fukaun (places on the Coast of Batinah)
were given up to him. This proposal the Imaum rejected at once, and
in consequence Shaikh Sultan desisted from the preparations he had
begun for the assistance of His Highness. His dependent, Shaikh
Rashid bin Humeed of Ejman, however, proceeded to join the Imaum,
but on the defeat of the troops of the latter before Sohar, Rashid and his
tribe turned their arms against their late allies. On their return to
their own country, they found that their flocks had been carried off,
and Ejman plundered, by a party of the Beniyas and Monasir, sent by
Shaikh Tahnoon. In consequence, both Shaikh Sultan and himself
declared war against Aboothabee, and extensive arrangements were
made by the former for the blockade of that place; but finding that
their subjects were entirely disinclined to carry on hostilities during
the season of the pearl fishing, both parties requested the mediation of
Shaikh Mahomed bin Guzeeb of Lingah, and peace was once more
concluded between these unquiet and turbulent spirits.
These amicable relations were however soon disturbed by the lawless
conduct of Shaikh Sultan’s subjects, who, in the month of September,
committed a piracy upon two Beniyas pearl boats near Bahrein. On
the intelligence of this proceeding reaching Shaikh Tahnoon, he laid
an embargo upon fourteen Joasmee vessels which chanced to touch at
Aboothabee for provisions. Alarmed at this decisive measure, the
Shaikh of Ras-ool-Khyma immediately disavowed the conduct of his
people, and after punishing the person who had committed the piracy,
he restored the captured boats, with their crews and cargoes, to the