Page 388 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

344 JOASMEES.

as it saw fit. The Shaikh of Ras-ool-Khyma, on the other hand, refused
to listen to any compromise; and, with reference to a proposition to
aflord him assistance in enforcing compliance, declared that he had
washed his hands of the business, and that he looked entirely to the
British Government to hold both parties to their agreement, as entered
into through the mediation of its representative. The Amulgavinc
Shaikh being called upon to suspend the further addition to the old or
the construction of any new works, the case was now referred for the
decision of Government.
In accordance with the instructions thereon received, the Assistant
Resident, then in charge, proceeded in May 1843
a. d. 1843.
to Amulgavinc, and finding the Shaikh as little
disposed as ever to make the requisite amende, by destroying such
towers as had been built or added to, in contravention of the treaty,
was constrained, after the failure of every other argument, to have
recourse to threats of coercion, before that chief would be induced to
concede and pledge himself to a compliance with his just demands.
The establishment of the Maritime Truce for the extended period of
ten years, which took place at this time, overturned in a great measure
the arguments of the Amulgavine Shaikh for the non-destruction of the
proscribed towers, particularly that erected as a defence towards the sea,
and in like manner removed the objections of the Joasmee Chief to
their existence. It was therefore agreed, that on the former’s acting
fully up to his engagements, he would be at liberty to rebuild or erect
what towers or defences he pleased, and that the British Government
would thenceforth be relieved of all further responsibility arising from
its guarantee,—in short, that the treaty should be considered null and
void.
The British Agent was directed to remain a month or a month and a
half at Amulgavine, for the purpose of reporting every ten days the
progress that should have been made.
Before the expiration of the period thus allotted, when one of the
towers had been levelled with the ground, Muktoom bin Butye be­
coming mediator, and the Amulgavine Shaikh threatening to withhold
his adherents from the pearl fishery, for the purpose of foraying the
territories of his opponent,—a proceeding which would have subjected
the latter to great injury, either by debarring his dependents from the
profits to be derived from the fishery, inasmuch as he would have been
compelled to retain them in a similar manner at home in self-defence,
or by exposing them to such losses, during their absence on the banks, as
the former had it in his power to inflict,—Sultan bin Suggur orma y
intimated his consent to forego the further destruction of the proscribe
towers, if it were any longer permitted him to do so.

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