Page 521 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

477
BENIYAS.

Muskat, was placed under embargo by the authorities there, who were
authorised to detain her as a set-ofF against the claim of 10,000 dollars
advanced by them for the Muskat Buggalow plundered by these
pirates.
With reference to the other cases, one brig, seven Buggalows, two
Butccls, five Buggarahs, and the greater part of the goods on board the
Durya Dowlut, were recovered, together with upwards of 10,000 Ger-
man crowns in cash and property, besides an engagement for 1,600
more on the termination of the pearl fishery, towards the liquidation of ■
the claims made for the cargoes of the vessels destroyed and plundered.
;
All their captives were released, and the two pirates Mahomed bin !
Suggur bin Zheab and Mahomed bin Majid, who headed the outrages
upon the British flag, surrendered. The three principal Beniyas vessels
concerned in the late piracies were put into our possession, as pledges
for the settlement of the balance due on account of the English
Buggalow. Add to this the seizure of their own Buteel with a valuable
cargo in Muskat, as above mentioned, in compensation for the loss
occasioned by the plunder of a Buggalow belonging to that port, and. I
the chastisement inflicted upon the piratical fleet, which make up a i
summary account of the reparation obtained from the Beniyas, without
any further recourse to hostilities.
The engagements entered into by Shaikh Shakboot, the father, and :
accredited Agent of the Beniyas Chief, for the gradual liquidation of
the amount of the claims remaining unadjusted, were confirmed by his
son, and subsequently strictly fulfilled. The surrendered pirate
commanders were sent to Bombay, where the principal one was
tried, found guilty, and condemned to death; but a point of law
being raised, the question was referred to the King in Council, and
the sentence subsequently commuted to transportation for life.
The other, Mahomed bin Majid, against whom, unfortunately, no
prosecution could be maintained, was returned, to be handed
over a prisoner to Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, to whom was left
the infliction of adequate punishment. The prisoner, however, effect­
ed his escape unobserved, by swimming from the vessel in which
he was being conveyed, on its arrival ofF Shargah, and succeeded in
reaching the shore, distant about four miles. This just retribution
exacted from the Beniyas led many of the tribe, who had actively
engaged in the late piratical proceedings, and shaved in the advantages
resulting from their success, to take shelter under the protection of
another power until the demands pressing so heavily upon them
should be liquidated, in order thus to avoid a participation in the
consequences of their acts—a punishment they so justly merited.