Page 558 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

514 ejman.

tl,e integrity of their respective possessions, entered into a close
strict alliance, and proposed to the Shaikhs of Ejrnan and Amuleav'
that they also should join the league against the Beniyas RulT
Either, however, declined the invitation received, and refused to take
part in the machinations of the Joasmee and his complying associate
of Debaye.
In the month of September 1848 a serious conflict occurred between
the people of Ejman and those of Ilimreeah.
A feud, it would seem, had long existed between the inhabitants of
the two places, and although for some time past it had lain apparently
dormant, it was all of a sudden revived, and hostilities were resorted to
with more than their usual ferocity. The circumstances attending the
renewal of strife were these :—
On the 18th of September, Syf bin Abdoolla dying, the people
elected in his stead one of their elders, Abdoolia bin Abdool Suteef.
Whether the step gave umbrage to Shaikh Abdool Azeez, or whether he
thought a favourable moment for a recourse to coercion had arrived, is
not known. By whatever feeling he was actuated, however, he set out
with a force of no less than four hundred followers, for the purpose of
inflicting chastisement upon the people of Himreeah. His brother,
Humeed bin Rashid, also accompanied the expedition. One half of his
army was posted on the banks of the Khore, and with the rest he
proceeded to Himreeah direct. The foe was well prepared to receive
him : they left a small body of troops to defend their town, and with
a party, some hundred and twenty in number, hastened to meet the
invader. The detachments encountered, and notwithstanding the
numerical superiority of the Ejmanees, the people of Himreeah proved
quickly victorious. The former, perceiving the fall of Abdool Azeez,
their Chief, and also that Humeed bin Rashid, his brother, was wound-
ed, finding themselves deprived of a leader, were seized with a panic,
and fled from the field in the greatest disorder.
The Himreeahites followed close in pursuit, until they reached the
very walls of the town of Ejman, whence, after killing and wounding
a considerable number, they retraced their steps to Himreeah. Such
was the result of the conflict. As to casualties, the Ejmanees, besides
their chief, suffered a loss of twenty-six killed and twenty men wounded.
On the side of Himreeah, the chief and five others were killed on the
spot, and as many as twenty-two placed hors de combat.
Humeed bin Rashid was elected Chief of Ejman, and the son of Syf
bin Abdoolla head of Himreeah.
neither chief permitting
Hostilities continued for a length of time,
his subjects to proceed to the pearl fishery, the season for which had
arrived, until Abdoolla bin Rashid, Chief of Amulgavine, at the
now