Page 435 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

UTTOOBEES. 391

which the real enmity and jealousy existing between them, as well as I
the overbearing conduct of relations on either side, had long threatened
to produce. Although a reconciliation was effected between the parties,
and the impending rupture between them for a time averted, it was
evidently nothing but a hollow profession on the part of both, but par­
ticularly the young Chief Mahomed bin Khaleefa, who subsequently
addressed a letter offering his services to the British Government, and
soliciting assistance against his grand uncle. ITe soon after proceeded
to the Gultur Coast, and engaging the good will of the inhabitants, set
up a species of opposition most annoying to his superior.
A piracy committed early in the previous year, upon a Koweit boat,
off Boo Syf, baffled every endeavour on the
A. D. 1841.
part of the British authorities and agents in
the Gulf to discover the perpetrators, until August 1841. when a
clue was found, which tended to the inculpation of an individual
named Syud bin Azeez, a follower of Shaikh Moobaruk (the son of
Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed), residing at Dcmaum. It was advisable,
nevertheless, that it should be impressed upon the minds of the Mari­
time Arabs, that no lapse of time would be permitted to afford impunity
to crime, which in this case having been traced and brought home to the
culprit above mentioned, a demand was made upon the Uttoobee Chief
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for the payment of 274 Mahomed Shah rupees as the value of the plun­
dered property, or the surrender of Syud bin Azeez and his boat. The
former alternative was complied with, and the money paid.
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Another case of aggression was likewise committed on the banks
about the commencement of the pearl fishery, by some of the inhabitants
of Bahrein. One Ali bin Yoosoof, an inhabitant of Lingah, having
taken on board his boat at Kateef 250 bags of dates and SO mats, was
on his way to Bahrein, when she grounded on a Subeenah situated to
the westward of Ras Reccan. While the crew were engaged in
floating their boat, five Buggarahs, commanded by a person named
Jallijeh, came off from the shore, and plundered them of ISO bags of
dates, and the SO mats, worth altogether 240 Mahomed Shah rupees.
The complainant proceeded to Muharag, to lay his case before Nassir
bin Abdoolla, the Bahrein Chiefs son, who, in reply, promised to
recover his property ; but finding himself put off from day to day,
without any prospect of receiving reparation, and ascertaining that his
dates had been carried off to the banks, he returned to Lingah, and
represented what had occurred to his Chief, Syud bin Guzeeb, who
recommended him to the Resident for redress.
■
This being a case very closely allied to piracy, Shaikh Abdoolla bin
Ahmed was held responsible that satisfaction should be afforded. As
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