Page 427 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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UTT00BEE9. 383

Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed, who with his sons Moobaruk and Nas-
sir had remained for a length of time at his pos­
a. d. 1833.
sessions on the Guttur Coast, to watch the pro­
ceedings of the Wahabees, now made up his mind to refuse allegiance to
them, and to retaliate all attempts at aggression. His first step was to
endeavour to induce the Imaum of Muskat, which he did successfully,
to pledge himself not to interfere in the event of hostilities breaking out
between Bahrein and Shaikh Toorkey, and the next to confederate the
neighbouring Arab Tribes who were inclined to fall into his views and
designs of opposition to the extension of Wahabce authority, and induce
them, by money and promises, to make incursions into all parts of their
territories.
!
He secretly instigated the Amayir Tribe, who, quarrelling with Shaikh
Toorkey, left the neighbourhood of Kateef, and taking up their position
in Dcmaum, established a very close blockade of the former port,
plundering all vessels that attempted to enter, and putting to death all
inhabitants of Kateef found on board any boats whatever. i

At this time a gross insult was offered to the British Government in
the person of its Native Agent, by the sons of
A. D. 1834.
Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed. The cause of
dispute would appear to have been a sum of money due by the Agent,
on account of some mercantile transactions, to the Shaikh himself, which
his sons were desirous of possessing, in opposition to their father’s ]
wishes. They demanded, and by abuse and ill-treatment enforced,
payment of certain large sums of money ; nor would the old Shaikh
:
either settle the matter with them, or protect the Agent against their
extortion. The offence was aggravated by a repetition of the ill-treat­ ;
ment while the Agent was actually employed in his official duties,
having left his concealment for the purpose of going on board a British
i
vessel then in the harbour. This, and the failure of early remonstrances
in obtaining redress, rendered it imperative that some public and
undeniable reparation should be insisted upon. The appearance of a
respectable force, and the threat of resorting to coercive measures, at
length induced the Shaikh to comply with the demand upon him, that
his son, or, in the event of his failing to do so, he himself, should come
on board the senior officer’s vessel, with a Khelut or dress of honour for
the Agent, and that the persons who had been instrumental in the ill-
treatment should be flogged, either on board the ship, or alongside in
one of his own boats, in presence of the crew.
On the demise of Toorkey bin Saood, and the absence of his son and
successor, Fysul, from Kateef, Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed succeeded
by bribery, in obtaining possession of the fort of Tirhoot, a dependency