Page 415 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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and in a letter to the British Government staled that he was urged to
the measure by the Uttoobees having joined the pirates, and acknow­
ledged themselves subject to the Wahabees. His Highness added, “ that
when that power reduced the island, the Uttoobees sought an asylum
at Muskat, and surrendered their country to him. Under that assurance,
he went forth with his fleet and army, and wrested the country from the
I
possession of the Wahabees, and gave the Uttoobees a place of abode
in it, on their engaging to remain subject to his authority ; but they had
broken the treaty with him, and joined the Wahabees a second time.”
40. A few days after Mr. Bruce left Bahrein, His Highness arrived
at the island. The troops landed at Arad,* and commenced an attack,
with some prospect of success, but ultimately experienced a signal
defeat, with great loss, two of his relations and principal Sirdars being
killed on the occasion.
41. The Imaum, after this defeat, proceeded to Congoon with the
whole of his fleet, for the purpose of taking on board a reinforcement of
troops which the Prince of Shiraz had engaged to furnish, on condition
of the Imaum’s engaging to defray their expense, and to pay an annual
Peshkush should the troops embark and the expedition be abandoned,
but if they landed and reduced Bahrein, the Imaum was to pay 10.000
Tomans annually to the Government of Shiraz.
42. The expedition was abandoned, the Imaum discovering that the
Government of Persia had been actuated by mo­
A. D. 1816.
tives of treachery, and contemplated his seizure,
and that of the different Arab Chiefs, and carrying them off to Shiraz.
43. In the following year Mr. Bruce represented the Chief of
Bahrein to be affording the fullest and most
a. n. 1817.
effective aid in his power, in grain and stores of
all kinds, to the Joasmees, who hourly frequented the ports of the
island, and that the piratical boats kept up a constant communication
with Bahrein, to which place they conveyed all the property they
captured, great portions of which finds its way across to Bushireand the
other ports on the Persian side of the Gulf, by the Grane boats which
trade to the island.
44. The subsequent unfriendly conduct of the Shaikh of Bahrein,
when he defied our power, is entirely irreconcilable with the friendly
spirit that distinguished it on his interview with Mr. Bruce. The
encouragement and protection which the pirates met with at fhat port,
in the reception and disposal of their plunder, are subjects of further
representation by the Resident at Bushire.
45. Mr. Bruce remarked that the pirates not only experienced a

* An island separated from Bahrein by a narrow channel for boats.