Page 394 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

350 JOA3MEES.

Shaikh Suggur had all along been looked upon as 11 the prime mover
and instigator of the aggressive proceedings of Shaikh Sultan,” his
father ; and this supposition was now confirmed, for Shaikh Sultan
although he expressed himself anxious to avenge the death of his
son, showed a greater anxiety for the cessation of hostilities. He on
the 2nd and 3rd April 1846 addressed the Resident, “ expressing his
regret at not having followed the advice of the Assistant Resident”
when he was lately on the coast; he told the British Agent in the plain­
est terms that he had been blinded by the counsels of his son, Shaikh
Suggur, now no more ; that he was for ever wishing disorders might
cease, but the evil instigations of others would not permit him to act
as he wished. “ What he now hoped was that the Resident would
again depute some person, on his part, in a British Government vessel,
to quiet affairs,” and reconcile all who were at feud with each other.
Here was a golden opportunity for putting an end to disorder,—here
was a time for mediation ;—nor was it lost sight of. Commodore Haw­
kins succeeded in bringing hostilities to a close, and through his inter­
vention was a temporary peace concluded between the contending
parties, whereby it was agreed that all the chiefs should withdraw
with their troops to their respective territories, and, until the ensuing
12th of November, a period of more than six months, one and all should
be at peace with each other. A satisfactory arrangement this,—one
highly beneficial to the interests of all parties. The pearl season was
now at hand, and the people of every tribe would be able to flock to the
banks, and pursue their vocation. There would be no fear of molesta­
tion either, for the treaty had been signed in the presence of a British
Commodore, and that alone would insure its being kept inviolate.
Such, we may readily suppose, were the feelings generally uppermost
in the minds of both chiefs and subjects ; such the assurances of peace
and quiet that reigned in their breasts;—and such, we are convinced,
would have been the state of the case, had the wily Joasmee not been
one of the members affected. He unfortunately was one of the number.
It was he, too, that had promises to fulfil beyond the mere abstaining
from warfare : he had engaged to demolish the towers he had lately
erected; he had promised to permit the people of other tribes to come
and go among those of his own tribe, whensoever and wheresoever they
listed. These, besides many others, were the engagements entered
into by Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur. Let us inquire with how much
faithfulness he adhered to his promises.
people of Debaye admittance into Shargah; he
He forbade the
lieu of demolishing ; he strove to instigate
commenced building, in
late his ally, to offend and annoy
Shaikh Syud bin Tahnoon, but

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