Page 557 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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EJMAN.

to approach the boat, or lay hands on the rice. After a while, the
owners of the cargo, apprised of what had befallen their vessels, came
to Ejman, where they remained a period of six days, drying their rice,
and eventually left for Shargah, without having lost a grain of their
property.
So marked was the conduct of Shaikh Abdool Azeez, so far removed
from the usual spirit of mischief displayed by the chiefs in cases of like
temptation, that the British Government thought it right to notify their
approval of his behaviour by a special vote of thanks. Major Hennell,
therefore, was requested to intimate to the Ejman Chief how highly
the Government he represented appreciated his praiseworthy exertions
and conduct.
In the early part of the ensuing year (1846), Shaikh Abdool Azeez
entered into an alliance with the Chiefs of De-
a. d. 184G.
baye and Arnulgavine, for the purpose of resist­
1 ing and repelling the combined attacks of their common foes, Shaikh
Sultan bin Suggur the Joasmee Chief, and Shaikh Syud bin Tahnoon
the Beniyas Chief. He scarcely, however, deserves the name of an
ally, for in lieu of remaining staunch and firm to the cause he had es­
poused, and to which, moreover, it was his especial interest to adhere,
he was ever inconstant and changeable.
We find him on one occasion permitting himself to be detached from
the side of Shaikh Muktoom the Debaye Chief, and acknowledging his
subservience to Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, merely, it was supposed, to
enable him to proceed to the fishery.
Again, we are told by Major Hennell, some three months later in
the selfsame year, that “ the Chiefs of Debaye, Ejman, and Amulga-
vine, one and all loudly complained of the Joasmee’s unfriendly
proceedings, in preventing intercourse between their respective sub­
jects” ; and lastly, in a letter from the same officer, bearing date the
15th of December 1846, we read that “ the Shaikh of Ejman had
found himself so pressed by the adherents of the Joasmees on either
side of his port, that he had been compelled to withdraw from his
alliance with the Chiefs of Amulgavine and Debaye, and place himself
under the protection of his former enemy, Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur.”
From which it would seem that he accommodated himself entirely to
the existing state of circumstances, and had no hesitation in declaring
for this party or that party, according as he thought would be
most
beneficial to his personal interests.
There is nothing of importance to relate until the summer of the
year
1848, when, after the Brymee forts had succumb­
a. d. 1848.
ed to the prowess of the confederate Chiefs of
Aboothabee and Sohar, the Joasmee and Debaye chiefs, trembling for