Page 571 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

KIIOR HASS AN* 527
that if he did not desist from such proceedings, he would be compelled
to obedience. The refusal of this chief to attend to any remonstrances
appears to have been produced by his belief in the advancing power of
the Wahabees, and of their disposition to support him in every measure
tending to a renewal of the former system of predatory warfare ; more
particularly in those which were likely to injure their old enemies the
Shaikhs of Lahsa and Kateef (Mahomed and Majid al Arareer, Chiefs
of the Beni Khalid Tribe). It was, however, subsequently decided by
the British Government, that as long as Rahmah’s hostilities were
confined to the people of Kateef, we were not to interfere. At the same
time, in a reply to a communication sent by him in explanation of his
proceedings, he was strongly urged by the British Government to
change his conduct.
Shortly before the removal of our cruisers from Demaum, consequent
on the decision above alluded to, the misunderstanding so long brewing
between Rahmah and Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed broke out into acts
of open aggression upon each other, without, however, their carrying
on regular hostilities, from which the presence of the British vessels
restrained them.
Notwithstanding the hostile nature of the relations subsisting between
the Uttoobee Shaikh and Rahmah bin Jaubir, the withdrawing our
ships of war from the neighbourhood of Demaum was viewed by both
parties with considerable apprehension, neither being prepared for
immediate and open hostilities. They both, therefore, applied to the
British Resident to proclaim a truce, but as there appeared no disposi­
tion on the part of Rahmah to admit the people of Kateef to a
participation of the benefits of the proposed arrangement, all further
interference was declined, except such as would lead to a general
pacification.
In the course of the many desperate actions in which Shaikh Rahmah
had been engaged with the people of Bahrein, in
a. d. 1826.
consequence of this war, the greater portion of
his tribe was by degrees destroyed. About the end of 1S26, finding
himself much pressed by his enemies, who had invested Demaum,
Rahmah proceeded over to Bushire, with the view, if possible, to
interest the British authority in his favour, and also to procure an
addition to the crew of his Buggalow, which, from the reasons above
alluded to, had suffered very materially. In his interview with the
Resident, this singular old u an (although nearly seventy years of age,
totally blind, and covered with wounds) displayed the same haughty and
in omitable spirit which had always characterised him, and he express-
f. ecluf^ ferocity and scorn against his Uttoobee enemies. Failing in
esign of inducing the Resident to interfere in his behalf, he set sail

m