Page 545 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

BOO FGLASA. 501

quircd to furnish a written document, duly signed and sealed,
ever re
setting forth that the ground to be occupied belonged to Shaikh Sultan
bin Suggur, and that the tower was to remain there only so long as he
thought proper, and to be destroyed upon his requisition to that effect.
This occurred at a time, loo, when a division had arisen among the
Debayc people, which had led to the secession of five hundred of the
Boo Muhair to Shargah, owing to their disgust at Muktoom’s usurped
and severe authority,—an occurrence which afforded unfeigned satis­
faction and delight to the Joasmee Chief, as diminishing the power and
influence of one whose former encouragement and support of his son
Suggur, when in open rebellion, still evidently rankled in his breast.
The absence of the Debaye people from their tower, the only guard
left therein being twenty-five men from the Persian Coast, and the men
of the tribe being themselves for the most part engaged in the pearl
fishery, afforded to Shaikh Khaleefa bin Shakboot a further opportunity
of prosecuting his revenge upon the Boo Felasa. Having made up
matters with the Beni Kuttub and other inland tribes, and secured him­
self from any opposition on their part, the Beniyas Chief issued secretly
from Aboothabee, with a parly of one hundred and fifty men, for Debayc,
which he reached in two days. After doing much injury to the date
groves, the party succeeded in surprising and gaining possession of the
town and fort, plundered the market and houses, and burned all the
stores of rice and dates that could be found, as also the Buteel* which
had been presented to Shaikh Muktoom by the Chief of Bahrein, killing
two men who happened to be on board.
Muktoom, immediately on gaining intelligence of the above, solicited
the aid-of Shaikh Suggur bin Sultan of Shargah, who joined him with
two hundred men, but too late to be of any avail, for the Beniyas, after
having done all the mischief in their power, had left the place, and
taken up their position at Joomeerah, distant about eight miles from
Debaye. Not yet satisfied with the very serious blow inflicted at
Debaye, Khaleefa bin Shakboot a few days subsequently sent out a
foraying party, which surprised Khan (a village on the coast between
Debaye and Shargah), and completely stripped the place, carrying off
fifteen slaves, without any loss to themselves. The presence of this
courageous and energetic chief greatly harassed and annoyed the
Shargah and Debaye people, keeping them constantly on the watch ;
for nearly all the male inhabitants, having proceeded to the fishing, had
left their territories in an almost defenceless state. Reinforcements
were sent to Shargah from Ras-ool-Khyma and Lingah, upon which
the Beniyas Chief returned to Aboothabce, but shortly again set forth
* This Buteel was originally the property of Esai bin Tarif, but was confiscated on his
seceding with his tribe from Bahrein.

i