Page 379 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JO ASM EES. 335

nnd Ras-ooUKhyma despatched their boats in a body, forming unitedly
a Heel of twcnly*lwo sail, in order that, in paying their annual visit to
Bussora, they might be prepared to repel force by force. On their
arrival at Bushire, the Resident addressed a letter to the Shaikh of
Cliaab, deprecating any interference or molestation on his part towards
the Joasmec boats, on the grounds that neither Shaikh Sultan bin
Suggnr nor his subjects had the slightest concern in the piracy on the
Karrack boat, and that Shaikh Syud bin Guzecb had done all in his
power to forward justice, inasmuch as he had, at great trouble and
expense, seized and given over the perpetrators. Tho misunderstanding
was thereby amicably arranged, to the satisfaction of both parties.
Shaikh Sultan bin Snggur, after various unsuccessful attempts by land
against the Shehaheen tribe, residing at Casaab,
a. d.1839.
Koomza, and Ras Musseldom, resolved to des-
patch a naval force to blockade their ports, and thus bring them under
control. Although the Shchahec.n were completely enclosed on the
land side by the territories of the Joasmec Chief, whose alleged autho­
rity over them was admitted by His Highness the Imaum to the British
authorities in the Gulf in 1S36, yet that tribe had long continued to
maintain a sort of independence, and, keeping up a friendly inter­
course with Muskat, to exhibit little disposition to submit to the claim
of-supremacy advanced by the Joasmee Chief.
The immediate cause of the present quarrel arose from the trea­
cherous surrender of one of the Shahaheen forts to the Naib of Shaikh
Sultan, residing at Dubba, who immediately dismantled it. Skirmishes
and predatory inroads on either side were the consequence, until the
Joasmee Chief, finding that he could make no impression by land,
meditated the adoption of the measures before alluded to.
Alarmed, however, at the rapid successes of the Egyptians, and their
tool Ameer Khalid, he relinquished his hostile intentions against the
Shehaheen, and both parties being thus equally averse-to war, amicable
arrangements were quickly concluded, through the means of an envoy
from himself.
Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, who had previously applied to the
British authorities in the Gulf, to be informed whether he might look to
the British Government for support in the event of his subjugation
being contemplated by the Pasha of Egypt, was now (March 1S39)
compelled to receive his Agent, Syud bin Mootluk,* and by him
induced to summon the Beni Naeem to surrender their fort of Brymee
into his hands. The only effect of his summons was to lead that tribe
to make the most active preparations for self-defence,—a measure
of bold determination, which did not fail to give him secret pleasure.
* Vide Sketch of the "Wahahecs, in a subsequent part of this Selection.