Page 382 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

338 JOASMEES.
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assistance, in the shape of a moderate supply of military stores and
provisions.
Some of the Bedouin Nacem Tribes, under Humecd bin Obed bin
Subt, the Chief of Hccra, under the pretence of prior right over the then
1-uler, Rashid bin Ilumced, to authority over Ejman, surprised the town
at night, and gained possession of the fort. Shaikh Sultan bin Suggut
in the first instance declined to interfere in favour of the lawful gover­
nor, but considering, without any grounds, that he would thereby give
umbrage to the British Government, subsequently directed his son
Suggur, and Muktoom bin Biitye, to proceed and eject the Shaikh of
Hcera, which they did, and moreover burnt his town, in retaliation for
the injuries he had inflicted upon the people of Ejman.
As anticipated, the Joasmee Chief, having lulled his opponent into
supposed security, by declaring himself satisfied with the extent of pu­
nishment he had already inflicted by means of his son and the Shaikh
of Rebaye, was only awaiting the lapse of the term of the annual
Maritime Truce, whose conditions were guaranteed by the British
Government, to commence an attack upon Amulgavine by sea and land.
He then despatched a fleet, composed of three Buggalows and sixty
Buggarahs, conveying 1,500 men, under the orders of Suggur, his son,
and Muktoom bin Butye of Debaye, to blockade the place by sea, while
he assumed the personal command of a force of 700 Bedouins, to invest
it by land.
The only operations which had been carried into effect previous to
the Resident’s arrival on the coast, for the purpose of establishing the
Maritime Truce for another year, were directed against a tower com­
manding the entrance to the backwater, which it was necessary to take
or destroy before the blockading boats could pass. An entrenchment,
erected in advance of this tower, had been carried by the Joasmee force,
who, however, in attempting to improve their success, by advancing
upon the fort, had been received so warmly as to be obliged to retire,
with the loss of eight men killed and forty wounded. An attempt by
Shaikh Khaleefa bin Shakboot to create a diversion in favour of
Amulgavine, by surprising Debaye, had failed, Affairs had reached
thus far when the timely mediation of the Resident effected an arrange*
ment of the quarrel, and the siege was raised.-
It was agreed that Shaikh Sultan bill SuggUr should withdraw the
demand he had made for the destruction of the tower commanding the
wells of fresh water, while Shaikh Abdoolla bin Rashid on is par
should make good the losses sustained by the Joasmee Chief in the
several skirmishes which had taken place prior to the siege. pon is
formal treaty of alliance and friendship was completed, with
basis, a
the additional stipulations, that Shaikh Abdoolla should erect no new

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