Page 511 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

BENIYAS. 467

vessels to cruise off the fort, to prevent assistance being sent by him,
while the Joasmee troops from Shargah and Ras-ool-Khyma invested
it by land.
No steps, however, were taken in the affair till March 1827, when the
Imaum sailed with his fleet for Derah, and
A. D. 1827.
caused that place to be demolished. At the same
time, as a sort of compensation to Shaikh Tahnoon’s wounded dignity,
he supplied him with cannon and ammunition, besides using all his
influence to induce the inhabitants of Debaye to place themselves under
his authority. Prior to His Highness’ appearance, a negotiation for
peace had been commenced between the rival Shaikhs, which had
nearly been brought to a favourable termination, when the arrival or
intrigues of His Highness (who has always felt disposed to view with a
jealous eye any combination between these powerful chieftains) threw
matters into the same disorder and confusion which had formerly
existed. Tahnoon, availing himself of the support afforded to him by
the Imaum, made a sudden and vigorous attack on Debaye, which was
successful.
In November 1827 Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur declared war against
Tahnoon, on account of his continued aggressions. Among these was
the seizure of several Shargah pearl boats by Khaleefa bin Dumeethar,
the Governor of Debaye, who, however, was compelled, by the prompt
and efficient measures taken by the officer commanding the vessel of
war cruising on the pearl banks, to restore both the vessels and cargo.
The proceedings of Dumeethar produced a strong remonstranoe from
the political authority to Shaikh Tahnoon, and
a. d. 1828.
subsequently, in an interview held with that
personage in April 1828, Major Wilson pointed out the ill effects likely
to arise if he permitted his dependents to conduct themselves in such an
irregular manner. Shaikh Sultan, however, does not appear to have
acted upon his declaration of war, as he took no further steps after
publishing it, and affairs remained as they were.
Agreeably to the arrangement previously made with the Imaum,
Shaikh Tahnoon joined His Highness with a large contingentin October
1828, and accompanied the expedition against Bahrein. From what
has since transpired, there is reason to believe that a secret understand­
ing existed between the Beniyas Chief and the Shaikh of Bahrein; for
after the appearance of the fleet before that island, the inhabitants were
minutely informed of everything in agitation, while the irregular and
insubordinate conduct of Shaikh Tahnoon and his followers was the
principal cause of the total failure of the whole affair.
The two notorious characters Sooedan bin Zaal and Syf bin Thykan,
mentioned as having carried off a number of boats from Aboothabee,

I