Page 429 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

UTTOOBEES. 385

of Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed, who, immediately subsequent to the
re-establishment of peace, instigated a portion of the A1 Gowarah Tribe to
proceed against Huailah, where they sank a boat, and killed a depend­
ent of Esai bin Tarif, one of the heads of the opposite party, who, on
complaining of this infraction of the agreement so lately entered into,* to j:
the Bahrein Chief, could obtain no satisfaction. He, therefore, accom­
panied by Bin Sulcmah and their followers, seceded from Bahrein, and
took refuge at Aboolhabee, whence he desired permission of the British
authorities to carry on hostilities against the trade and territories of his
late master,—a request which was of course denied him, on the grounds
that he had established himself in a friendly, or at least neutral port,
whose chief must either be responsible for his acts, or make common
cause with him against Abdoolla bin Ahmed.
About the middle of the year 1836 Abdoolla bin Ahmed, alarmed at
the revival of the claims of Persia, in consequence
a. d. 1836.
of the receipt of a communication from the ener­
getic Mootamid of Shiraz, calling upon him as a Persian subject to
tender his submission to the reigning Shah, and the possible contin­
gency of the Imaum’s co-operation being afforded in any attack upon the
island, resolved to make up his quarrels as far as possible with the Arabs
on the mainland, and, by a timely submission to the Wahabee Chief, to
engage his support and assistance in case of invasion. Terms were
accordingly entered into, Abdoolla bin Ahmed paying the small annual
tribute of 2,000 dollars, and the Wahabee Chief on his side engaging to
supply a contingent of troops to repel any invaders of Bahrein, and not
to call for the vessels of that island in the event of his purposing to
attack Muskat. The communication with Kateef and Ajeer was now
therefore re-opened.
In consequence of the grinding oppression exercised by the sons and
nephews of the Uttoobee Chief, many of the wealthiest inhabitants,
finding that there was no security to life or property, left the island, to
settle in other parts of the Gulf. The old Shaikh himself, too, unable
to tolerate their refractory conduct, had determined upon proceeding
with his family and immediate followers to Khor Hassan, but was in­
duced to give up this intention by their expressions of contrition for
past offences, and professions of obedience and amendment for the
future. His conduct towards them was most unaccountable,__that,
having the power and authority to repress them, he should tacitly ac­
knowledge himself a cypher in the government, by studiously shutting
* The principal articles of this agreement were that each should retain the advantages he
might have acquired during the war; that Huailah should be evacuated and demolished; and
that the inhabitants should return to Bahrein, under the guarantee of the Imaum for*their
safety.