Page 430 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

386 UTTOOBEES.

his eyes to their tyrannous and extortionate
unchecked, promised, at no very distant period,'^to effectfhe Tuin^nd
depopulation of the rich and fertile island.
The Shaikh was nevertheless fully aware
of the Probable results of
these divisions m his family ; and apprehending the necessity which
might occur for bringing over troops from the mainland, for the purpose
of re-establishing his authority, and the scene of bloodshed and plunder
that must necessarily ensue, took the precaution, customary and sufli-
cientin the eyes of the Arabs to absolve him from further blame or
responsibility, to warn a Bushire merchant, in the presence of the
British Agent, for the information of the rest, and also of the Shaikhs of
that town, that he must no longer look to him for redress or protection.
The Shaikh then prepared for his removal to Khor Iiassan, by des­
patching to that place two of his wives, with their
a. d. 1837.
families, together with the furniture of the houses,
even to the very doors,—a proceeding which much alarmed his sons and
relatives, as leaving them in doubt as to what ulterior measures he
might have in contemplation ; and tended for a time to check their
insubordinate and unruly conduct.
The Amayir and Huwajir Tribes, (the Huwajir inhabiting De-
maum, under the authority of the Uttoobee Chief,) taking advantage of
the disturbed state of Nujd, in consequence of the struggle for power
between Ameer Fysul and the pretender Khalid, commenced the
systematic plunder of all boats belonging to Kateef, including also,
occasionally, those from Bahrein. Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed there­
fore solicited and obtained the sanction and authority of the Resident
to chastise them, which he did by forcibly seizing two of their boats,
in effecting which five of their number were killed.
Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed, although anxiously desirous for the return
to his authority of the rulers of the A1 Ali and Boo Ejman, who had
with their tribes seceded to Aboothabee, yet, with marked obstinacy
and inconsistency, would make no concession, or yield no point which
could lead to an amicable settlement: and further, complained (in
October 1838) of permission being granted equally to them as to him,
in the event of his desiring to resort to hostilities, forgetting that
through the Resident’s remonstrances and exertions alone had the A1
Ali for three years past been restrained from revenging the injuries
they had sustained at his hands, and imagining, apparently, that whi e
free himself to adopt forcible measures against the A1 Ali, they, on t e
other hand, were to be withheld from offering any opposition in se
defence. •
All persuasions and attempts at mediation having failed, both Part^
were informed that no further interference would be made, an t

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