Page 397 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

JO ASM EES. 353
Joasmce, who was chief of the place, and on a par with his father for
uprightness in dealing and single-mindedness of purpose, made a
treacherous attempt to surprise and capture the fort of Ejman on the
12th January 1848. His plot, deeply laid though it was, signally
failed, and led to all the maritime chiefs once more uniting and breaking
off relations with the sons of Shaikh Sultan.*
With regard to Shaikh Sultan himself, Moolla Hussein tells us, in a
letter dated February 1st, 1848,—“ When he (Shaikh Sultan) heard
of the proceedings of his sons, and the failure of their stratagem to
capture Ejman, which had led to an alliance between the minor chiefs
and Shaikh Syud bin Tahnoon of Aboothabce, he was much grieved,
since detriment and injury could not fail to accrue therefrom to his
interests; and he immediately wrote to the several Shaikhs, denouncing
and disavowing their act : but this communication was dictated by the
result,—had the attempt been successful he would have approved of their
conduct.” We entirely concur with the Agent in the opinion he has
above expressed, and are moved to pity for the Joasmee Chief, who was
doomed to witness so many of his gigantic and disinterested plans both
foiled and frustrated.
About this period, hostilities commenced between the Nujdee Lieu­
tenant and the Chief of Aboothabee. The course pursued by Shaikh
Sultan throughout the war was of a piece with the rest of his conduct.
The following extracts from letters addressed to the Resident by Moolla
Hussein, British Agent at Shargah, will sufficiently illustrate Shaikh
Sultan’s character; and laid down, as they are, in regular order, they
furnish a clear though diminutive outline of the part he played in
the struggle.
The first passage selected is one from a letter of the 29th of May
1848, wherein he writes:—“Great animosity before existed on the part
of Shaikh Sultan against Shaikh Muktoom bin Butye, and he was
exciting Shaikh Syud bin Tahnoon to attack the latter; but when he
observed Syud bin Tahnoon had joined the coalition against Mahomed
bin Syf, he secretly sent to Muktoom to propose an alliance.”
Again, in a letter of the 14lh of June 1848, he says:—“On the 10th
of June, Shaikh Sultan returned to Shargah, and wrote to Syud bin
Tahnoon, that he had at first determined to come for the purpose of
arranging matters between the parties, but when he learned that he did
not desire it, he had given up the intention ; and at the same time I have
heard privately he wrote to Mahomed bin Syf that he had prepared to
go to his assistance, but could find none of the chiefs of the coast to
* Ibrahim is the second party referred to. He too took part in the plot against Ejman.

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