Page 543 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

BOO FELASA. 499

however, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur having disclaimed the possession of
any control or authority over Dcbayc, and remonstrances having failed to
bring the Shaikh of that: town to afford ample reparation, it became
requisite to resort to demonstrations of force, and threats of coercive
measures, which had the desired effect, and secured the payment of 920
dollars, the amount of the value of the property plundered.
The death of Obcd bin Syud, the principal, on the 9th June, left the
supreme and undivided authority at Debaye in
a. d. 1836.
the hands of Muktoom bin Butye, a young,
haughty, and inexperienced character.
From the date of the secession of the tribe, and its defeat in the attack
on Aboothabee, when co-operating with the Joasmees, it had not failed
to offer every annoyance to the Beniyas Chief, by offering asylum to his
discontented subjects, and shelter to his enemies, as well as occasionally
plundering his boats.
The latter, fully alive to the injuries thus inflicted upon him, was only
waiting his opportunity to retaliate. During the
a. d. 1838.
year 1838 he succeeded in surprising and captur­
ing the sea tower of Debaye, but was very shortly compelled to vacate it.
Early in the year, a piracy was 'committed by a Debaye Buggarah
upon one belonging to Khaboora. The former, having on board a
Nakhoda and eight men, proceeded to Khassa, and thence to the
Batinah Coast, on its way to Musk at. When off Burka, observing a
Buggarah at anchor, the crew waited until night, and attacked her,
with the intention of plundering. Her crew, however, were on the
alert, and offered resistance, until six of their number having been
wounded, the remaining three jumped into the sea. These were
afterwards permitted to regain their vessel, but two of the wounded
having subsequently died, the aggressors were, through their Chief
Muktoom, called upon to pay the Deeah, or price of blood, and to make
good the property plundered.
An individual named Bin Asker, one of the Gubeysat Tribe (that
which had seceded to Adeed, but was subsequently
a. d. 1840.
compelled by its Shaikh, Khaleefa bin Shakboot,
to return to Aboothabee), upon whom that chief’s brother had claims
for money advanced previous to his going to the pearl banks, quitting
Aboothabee, plundered on his way two Buggarahs belonging to the
Beniyas Tribe, of pearls to a large amount, and took refuge at Debaye,
the chief of which place granted him asylum. He was, however, called
upon to surrender Bin Asker to his own chief, and to pay the sum of
200 dollars as the value of the property subsequently plundered by his
dependents from the three Aboothabee boats in Belor Shat’s affair,* a
* Vide page 482 of this Selection.