Page 224 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

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214 Records of Bahrain

Port V-Chop. XXXVI. 155

CHAPTER XXXVI.

AFFAIKS OF THE PERSIAN GULF: LIEUTENANT MACLEOD’S
HEP OUT, 1823.
207. Tho following report of Lieutenant Muclcod, Political Itosidout iu tho
Porsian Gulf, is froquoutly quoted, and is porlups tho most exhaustive and
interesting account of tho state of A rah Tribes about the cluso of the first
quarter of the ID ill century (No. 8, dated 27th February .823) :—
I hove Iho honour to report my proceedings during iny visit to the Arabian ports of tho
Gulf for which I left Eassadoro on the 12th January 1823.
2. On reaching Rnmz I found that the Sheikh of that place who signed the treaty
with Sir Williams Grant lveir has been deposed
Sheikh of llnraz.
through the inlluouco of Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur
and succeeded by a young man named Mdunned bin Abdul llalunan, whoso father had
formerly been Shoikh, until superseded by the late Sheikh Hussain bin Ali, who is now at
Sharga. Tho young man oxcused himself from visiting mo on board the ship, but sent
his head man to whom I fully explained the purposes of my visit, and the arrangements which
wero to bo mado as directed in my instiuctious. Ilo expressed his master's determination to
abido by tho troaty, and his readiness to comply with any measures which wo might think fit
to adopt in fulfilment of its engagement.
3. Ras-ul-Khima is entiroly subject to Sultan bin Suggur, whoso brother Sheikh
Mahomed has been placed by him in cliargo of
Jtat-ul-K/iima.
tho Government. The former Sheikh Hossain bin
Rama also resides there. The inhabitants, who havo returned to the place, have established
themselves on tho beach, on tho cast *ido of tho black-water, opposite to tho former town, the
wholo of which romains iu ruins, and deserted. Tho new town consists of good many huts
built of reeds, with only ouo or two houses of mud. Tho creek still serves as a harbour for
their boats.
4. As tho Sheikh's people wero very anxious to impress us with the idea that tho whole
coast from Ramss to Sharga was entirely subject to Sultan bin Suggur, I thought it necessary
to cxplaiu that although this might be the caso, yet that each Chief, whether dependent or
otherwise, must hold himself auswcrablo for tho vossols belonging to his own port.
o. After visiting tho town and receiving overy assuraueo of tho most frioudly disposition,
on tho part of Sultan bin Suggur and his brother, I returned on board and proceeded to
Jczirat-ul-IIumra.
6. Shoikh Quezeeb bin Ahmed or Jczirat-ul-Humra is dead and has boon succocdcd by
Sheikh Muhzim bin Abdul Rahman Suggu : tho
Jozirat-ul-JIumra.
Shoikh himself was absent at Mascot, but his sou
Mahomed bin Muhzim oamo on board. IIo acknowledged most fully tho gonornl obligation
of tho troaty, but scorned vory ignorant of its particular conditions, sinco bo admitted that
although ho had two boats iu trading voyages, neither of them had oithor pass or colours; and
ho scorned quite unconscious of tho impropriety of this neglect, or tho dangor to whioh his
vessels woro oxposed. On my explaining tho purposo of my visit, ho promised faithfully to
abido by his eugagoments, and furnished both of his vessels for registry. IIo acknowledged
gonorally the supremacy of Sultan bin Suggur, but declared that lie considered himsolf fully
nmcnablo to us for all his actions in respect to his treaty with tho English Government.
7. The Shoikh of Umal Guwyun, Abdulla bin Hashed, i6 tho same who signed the
treaty. IIo brought a copy of it with him, and assured mo that ho would not fail to abide
by it; ho acknowledged tho supremacy of Sultan bin Suggur, in tho same manner as the
Sheikh of Jczirat-ul-IIumra, and at tho same timo asserted his own responsibility for tho
vessels of his port.
8. On approaching Ejmau, which is tho noxt port, I received a mossago from tho
Sheikh Rashid bin Humid ontreating my intcrforonco to protoct him from, tho attaoks
of Shoikh Sultan bin Suggur, who ho alleged had collcctod tho tribo of Ecniyas to assist
iu overpowering him. Noxt day the Shoikh himsolf camo off, and ropoalod to mo in
tho most earnest niannor his complaints of tho aggro3sion6 of Sultan. I.Io represented that
his only offence was his alliauco with tho Imam of Muscat, who is at enmity with Sultan,
that ho hud novor been in any sliapo subject lo that Chief, and uevor would submit lo his
authority; that Sultan had committed various nels of nggressious against him oyou at sea,
winch his regard for tho treaty with us alone prevented him from retaliating upon him.
0. I told him although it won our anxious wish to provent hostilitico, yet that wo
could not douiro any ouo to refrain from defending himself when attacked, that wo Inul nothin g
to do with thoir quarrol, so long os tlioy did not disturb tho pcaco of tho sou, but Hint sue Ji
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