Page 522 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

478 BENIYAS.

To prevent Aboothabce being depopulated, and the
consequent im­
possibility of enforcing our demands, it became
a. d. 1S36.
necessary to comply in a measure with the re­
quest of their chief, and discourage the different Arab Chieftains from
affording asylum and protection to Ecniyas subjects. The Gubeysat
branch, under IChadim bin Nahman, nevertheless seceded, and proceed­
ed to establish themselves at Adeed, leaving debts to a considerable
amount unsettled, Previous to taking their departure, they plundered
some Aboothabee fishing-boats. All arguments and endeavours on the
part of the Resident to bring about a reconciliation having failed, he
was under the necessity of withdrawing himself from any further inter­
ference, and of permitting the parties to take their own measures for
the settlement of their respective claims.
The situation of Adeed and Wukra afforded particular facilities as
places of resort to pirates, and other desperate characters, who supposed
themselves intangible to our naval force; and the evil effects of the
secession of the Gubeysat from Aboothabee, and their establishment
at the former place, began now to manifest themselves. A member of
that tribe, Jassim bin Jabbur Rugragee, and two others, Soheil bin
Ateesh, and Ali Iiowlee, each acting independently of the other, and
commanding each a small boat, containing a crew of from twelve to
eighteen men, principally Bedouins of the interior, commenced a sys­
tematic course of plunder. Their practice, on the capture of a boat,
was to convey it or the cargo found in it to Merfa, a desert spot situated
between Adeed and Aboothabee, behind Khore Bizzum, near Ras
Aswamee, there load their booty on camels kept in readiness, and,
having made arrangements for its disposal, re-embark, and put to sea in
the prosecution of further depredations.
It became imperatively necessary to undeceive the perpetrators of
this dangerous species of piracy with regard to their fancied security;
and Merfa being utterly inaccessible to the means at the disposal of the
Resident, the only course left to him was to hold the Chiefs of Biddah,
Wukra, and Adeed responsible for their acts,—a measure justifiable on
the grounds of their having identified themselves with them, inasmuch
as Jassim had, in the first instance, issued from the last place, and,
there was every reason to believe, received support from Khadim bin
Nahman, until the publicity of his conduct had rendered it dangerous
had been
to countenance him any longer. A portion of the property
sold at the other places; and further, it was known that it was in their
power to put an end to these lawless acts, by the seizure of the persons
the destruction of their boats, they being dependent
in question, and
upon them for their water, and other necessaries ol file.

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