Page 457 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

UTTOOBEES. 413
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Chief, appear to have roused his apprehensions, and led him to act with
a singular degree of energy ; for not only did he positively refuse to
acknowledge the sincerity of the Wahabee’s advances, but he responded
thereto by placing the ports of Katecf and Oojeer in a state of blockade,
lie also employed Ilumecd bin Mujdell as his recognised dependent,,
to assist him in the undertaking—an unwise and impolitic measure ; for
however unscrupulous, however ready to perpetrate any act that might
be required of him, such an ally as Humced bin Mujdell could hardly
fail to lead his superior into all manner of difficulty, either by actual
deeds of violence upon those that should be friends, or by a sudden
I
resistance to his master’s authority. Indeed, when we carefully study
the character of Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa, and observe the tone of
his behaviour towards those beneath him, we can neither praise his
justice nor commend his policy. We have already seen him heaping
favours innumerable upon the faithless Ilumeed bin Mujdell,—a creature
of lawless impulse,—one ready to forsake his cause so soon as a likeli­
hood of obtaining better favours from others lay spread before him; and
we presently find him receiving with the utmost formality and coldness a
new and powerful ally, one richly deserving of reciprocation of friend­
;
ship,—I allude to the noble Esai bin Tarif; with so much coldness,
indeed, that we are struck with astonishment at the length of time
and the faithfulness with which he adhered to his master’s cause. -
While affairs were in this condition, Abdoolla bin Ahmed made a
stealthy approach in the direction of Kateef, and, having landed a
messenger at Tanoorah, despatched him with letters to his son
Moobaruk, and to Abdoolla bin Saeed, informing them of his being in
the vicinity, and telling them to be on the alert, and ready for action.
He promised to decoy the blockading force away from Kateef, by
feigning an attack upon their vessels, and enticing them to leave the
port in pursuit of himself, at which favourable moment he hoped no
difficulty would be experienced by his son in carrying the island of
Bahrein. The plan was plausible enough, and might, perhaps, have
succeeded : the letters, however, were never destined to reach the parties
for whom they were intended; they fell into the hands of the Amayir,
who immediately carried them over to Shaikh Ali bin Khaleefa,
and laid bare the plot that was about to be aimed at the overthrow
of his brother. Preparations were set on foot without delay to with­
stand and defeat any attack that might be meditated on the island, and
vessels were sent without the port, to waylay and oppose the advanc­
ing fleet of Abdooila bin Ahmed. The latter made his appearance at
the appointed time, but quickly found himself compelled to retire, for
long ere reaching the port of Kateef he perceived the hostile armament
sailing towards him. He withdrew, accordingly, with all the speed in