Page 450 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

406 UTTOOBEES.

slaughter of those individuals who had taken refuge there ; the plund
of the goods of a British subject, by his followers, during the attack
upon Munama; the seizure of British property from a boat carrying
British colours ; and the forcible robbery of the Charrak vessel by hfs
adherents of the Huwajir Tribe, had certainly tended to diminish the
friendly feelings entertained towards him.
lie endeavoured to explain these causes
of umbrage to the British
Government, and added, that his only reason for coming to Bushire was
to seek a temporary refuge, while he matured his plans; that he was
fully aware of the hollowness of the professions made by the Persian
authorities of affording him aid in the recovery of Bahrein, but that he
had made a convenience of them, to suit his own purposes.
It was not doubted that the Shaikh was perfectly sincere in his
wishes to remove the unfavourable impression his conduct had made
upon the British Government; but no credit could be attached to
his explanation regarding his motives for coming to Bushire; for
he was certainly at one time buoyed up by the extravagant promises and
professions made to him by Shaikh Sulman, and it was only when he
had reason to believe that these were without authority or foundation
that'he affected to despise them.
The ex-chiefs departure was probably hastened by the intelligence
now received that the garrison of Demaurn, so hardly pressed for provi­
sions, had been compelled to propose to Ameer Fysul the surrender of
the fort, upon certain terms which had been rejected. On leaving
Bushire, he proceeded over to the neighbourhood of Bahrein, and
attempted to send.in a boat to them, with a supply of stores and provi­
sions ; but the blockading force were on the alert, and having succeeded
in capturing the boat in question, despatched four Buteels in pursuit of
the ex-chief. These, however, did not overtake him, and he found a
temporary refuge at Koweit. The fort of Demaum very shortly after
surrendered, the garrison stipulating only for the safety of their lives, and
permission to carry away their personal property. Nassir bin Abdoolla
and his younger brother returned to Bahrein, but the elder brother,
Moobaruk bin Abdoolla, the governor, fled with Shafee, the Chief of the
Huwajir, to join the Bedouin Tribes, towards Biddah. From Koweit,
where on this occasion he had taken refuge, the ex-chief revisited
Bushire, and, at his own special request, had an interview with the
Resident on the sea shore, about three miles from the town, where lie
to land.
was unwilling, as he stated, but without giving his reasons,
His ostensible object proved to be, to consult the Resident regarding
certain overtures, of a very favourable nature, he had received rom tie
Wahabee ruler, urging that it was not to be supposed that the la er
bad volunteered to procure the restoration of his property, vesse s,