Page 383 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JOASMEES. 339

fortifications, and that lie should pay the value in coin of what he
could not restore in kind.
These proceedings, as above detailed, were the result of the intrigues
of the Joasmcc Chief to bring under his immediate authority and
subjection the Chiefs of Ejman, Amulgavine, and Debaye,—a design
which, in the records of the Residency, lie is repeatedly mentioned as
having entertained for some time previous; but the settlement of the
serious disturbance they had caused happily removed all further
obstacle to the renewal of the Maritime Truce.
Suggur bin Sultan, the son of the Joasmee Chief, at the instigation
of that intriguing and restless character Muktoom bin Butye of Debaye,
now attempted to cast off the authority of his father. He commenced
by ingratiating himself with the people, inducing many to join him,
by persuading them that if he were chief he would deal more leniently
with them, and greatly reduce the tax upon the pearl divers (levied by
all the chiefs at a rate ranging from 1} to 7 crowns,—the latter being
the amount recovered by Sultan bin Suggur upon each at the last
season).
The father, Shaikh Sultan, at first resolved upon a recourse to
arms, but was at length persuaded to negotiate ; and an arrange­
ment was agreed to, by which the son, instead of being Governor
of Shargah, and receiving a salary, as before, was to hold it as
a permanent possession, paying annually a stipulated sum. To these
terms he (Sultan bin Suggur) was compelled by circumstances to yield,
but with a reluctance which indicated that he only did so in the hope
of being sooner or later able to avail himself of some favourable
opportunity to overthrow the illegally acquired authority of the son.
The loss of the most productive and populous of his seaports appears
to have been to him a source of great distress, and to have had a
material effect upon his health and person. Affairs remained in this
state until December, when the Shaikh’s brother, Saleh bin Suggur
(the former Governor of Shargah), and some of the principal residents
in the place, disgusted at the influence Mukloom of Debaye had
acquired over the mind of Shaikh Suggur bin Sultan, and foreseeing the
injurious results to the best interests of the Joasmee Tribe likely to
accrue from the division the irregular proceedings of the latter had
introduced among them, determined, by a vigorous and well arranged
effort, to restore the legitimate authority of their chief. Accordingly
they informed Shaikh Sultan, that if he would contrive to be clandes­
tinely in the neighbourhood of Shargah on a certain night, they would
introduce him into the town, and, partly by the aid of their own
adherents, assisted by the moral effect of his actual presence, put him
in possession of the person of his son Suggur.

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