Page 369 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JOASMEES. 329

FURTHER CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING, TO
THE YEAR 1844,

BY LIEUTENANT A. B. KEMBALL.
In the latter end of December 1831, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur and
his dependent (the Chief of Ejman) declared war against the Bcniyas,
I in consequence of the injury they had received at the hands of the
latter while the Ejman Shaikh was engaged in the assistance of the
Imaum’s forces against Shinas ; or rather, on the contrary, while acting
the part of a traitor towards His Highness, and accelerating and
completing the defeat of his troops. The good offices and mediation
of the Lingah Chief had succeeded in delaying the threatened hostili­
ties, but depredations having nevertheless been mutually committed at
sea by the subjects on either side, negotiations were being carried
on for the settlement of the claims arising therefrom, and of others of
ancient date, from which most unsatisfactory results were anticipated.
Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur having intimated to the Resident his
) intention of declaring war against the Imaum of Muskat, and of imme­
J diately commencing hostilities upon his possessions, had, previous to
the arrival of the naval force at Muskat, destined for the assistance of
the existing Government against the Chiefs of Burka and others, and to
the receipt of the Resident’s communication, taken advantage of the
very disturbed state of the affairs of the Imaum, consequent upon the
imprisonment of his son and nephew by the Chief of Burka, to proceed
with a strong force against Khore Fukaun, Khulla, and Dubba, and
succeeded, either by surprise or treachery, in obtaining possession of
these places, with their surrounding country; and had been only
deterred from attacking Shinas, a place of considerable strength, by the
opportune arrival there of two of the Imaum’s frigates, with a reinforce­
ment of men and warlike stores. In the meanwhile his dependent,
Shaikh Rashid bin Humeed of Ejman, in direct opposition to the orders
of the Joasmee Chief,—as it would appear from the latter complaining
of his proceedings to the Resident, and recommending the despatch of
ships to bring him to order,—committed the most daring and open
f depredations* upon the trade, not only of Sohar, but of Muskat.

* Upwards of twelve boats, with their cargoes, fell into his hands. The origin of these
i lawless proceedings of the Shaikh of Ejraan is to be traced to his conduct on the occasion of
the siege of Sohar. Shaikh Tahnoon of Aboothabee, Chief of the Beniyas Tribe, the great
rival of the Joasmee Shaikh, Sultan bin Suggur, having been suspected of treachery while
acting as the ally of the Imaum of Muskat, on his expedition against Bahrein, found his

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