Page 515 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

BENIYAS. 471
offended and alarmed the remainder that they too secretly entered into
a conspiracy in order to put the original design into execution with
the brothers. Accordingly, Shaikh Khalccfa, having concealed a loaded
pistol under his clothes, took the opportunity of Tahnoon’s being off his
guard to shoot him in the side, when Sultan immediately despatched
him with his dagger. While Tahnoon lived, the reduction of the tribe
to submission promised much difficulty to the Wahabee Chief; but the
first act of the usurpers was to tender allegiance and the payment of
Zukat, in return for which, Toorkey bin Saood intimated to the Joasmee
Chief that they were under his protection, and that he would permit of
no aggressions upon them.
The oppressive and arbitrary conduct of the usurpers very soon
disgusted the tribe, and a conspiracy was formed (August-September
1833) by some of the principal members, who communicated their plot
to a nephew of Shaikh Shakboot, the person they had selected to put his
cousin Shaikh Khaleefa to death, and become chief in his room. This
individual, however, betrayed them to Shaikh Khaleefa, who retired
within the fort, and seizing the chief conspirators, put three of them to
death, viz. Sultan bin Majid, Mahomed bin Rumeen, and Mahomed
Muleefa. He likewise imprisoned two merchants, with the intention of
killing them ; but the ferment thereby raised among the people of
Aboothabce, combined with his brother Sultan’s entreaties, induced
him to spare their lives. One of them, Bin Iyan, however, after beating
and stripping him of his property, he sent away, together with his rela­
tives, in a Buggarah to Lingah. Consequent upon the discontent and
disgust created by these proceedings, two branches of the Beniyas, the
Boo Felasa and Rumsha, consisting of about eight hundred persons,
determined upon leaving the place on the first favourable opportunity:
accordingly those on the spot, leaving all their effects behind them,
proceeded to Debaye, which town was after a little hesitation and delay
given up to them by the Beniyas Governor, and they summoned the rest,
who were on the pearl banks, to join them there. Nothing could have
afforded more satisfaction to Shaikh Sultan bin Snggur, the Joasmee
Chief, than these dissensions and divisions among the Beniyas, and the
prospect of destroying his enemies by means supplied by themselves.
He lost no time in proceeding to Shargah, and agreed to assist Bin Iy an
with a large force in an attack upon Aboothabee. Accordingly, des­
patching two boats, he recalled his subjects from the pearl banks, and
likewise sent orders for all the disposable men in Ras-ool-Khyma to
meet him at Shargah. Impressed with the belief that, under present
circumstances, he had only to land with a few men near Aboothabee, to
ensure the capture of that place, Shaikh Sultan refused to attend to the
remonstrances of his principal adherents, pointing out the injury he