Page 509 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

TJENIYAS. 465
carried off a number of boats belonging to that place with him. After
leading a wandering life for some time about the Gulf (during which
his proceedings were viewed with more than ordinary suspicion by the
British authorities), he finally settled in Biddah, under the protection
of the Bahrein Shaikh. Shaikh Tahnoon, enraged at his flight, prose­
cuted very active operations against him, and succeeded in capturing
some boats and property belonging to him. These proceedings being
considered as likely to endanger the tranquillity of the Gulf, and lead
to a renewal of piracy, an intimation was made to His Highness the
Jmaum (who was supposed to hold some control over the Beniyas
Chief), through Colonel Kennett, (the Political Agent), that unless
Shaikh Tahnoon gave up what he had seized, and desisted in future
from any such proceedings, a vessel of war would be sent to Abootha-
bee to compel restitution, and destroy his fortifications.
In the end of 1823 Shaikh Tahnoon’s brother, Mahomed bin Shak-
boot, having collected together a body of the
a. d. 1823.
Monasir Tribe, attacked and plundered Aboo-
thabee. The former immediately marched with 1,500 men to relieve
the town, and after an action, which lasted some hours, Mahomed was
forced to retreat, after losing thirty-five men, and subsequently took
refuge in Shargah. This place being threatened by Shaikh Tahnoon
if the fugitives were not given up, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur collected
troops, and prepared to resist, but soon after Mahomed bin Shakboot
left his protection, and took up his residence in Iluailah, under the
authority of Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed of Bahrein.
About this time a treaty of peace between the Imaum, Shaikh Tah­
noon, and Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, was con­
a. D. 1824-25.
cluded, through the mediation' of the British
Resident in the Persian Gulf, the principal condition of which was the
destruction of the towers of Brymee, as well as the fort of Derah, a
small fort between Shargah and Debaye, occupied by the Sooedan
Tribe, under Salmin bin Nassir. A number of secret intrigues appear
to have been carried on in respect to the former place, which cannot
now be unravelled; but Shaikh Sultan showing considerable hesitation
in fulfilling his portion of the engagement, the Beniyas Chief made
preparations for the renewal of hostilities, which were only averted by
the influence of the Imaum and the Resident in the Persian Gulf, both
of whom, it was at last arranged, were to send messengers along with
Sultan bin Suggur’s people, to see the stipulation of the treaty regard­
ing the destruction of the towers of Brymee carried into effect. This
arrangement was, however, rendered useless by Shaikh Sultan violating
the truce, and attacking Derah. This proceeding was the signal for the
renewal of hostilities, which were carried on for some time, without any
material advantage being gained by either party over the other.