Page 243 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat
P. 243

Peace agreement, 1824                   233

                                   KKOll II ASS AN.                      525

          In January 1820, an intimation from the Resident at Bushire was
                              conveyed to Rahmah bin Jaubir, that his vessels
              a. d. 1820.
                              were  not to be permitted to leave Ivatocf to cruise
        against the people of Bahrein, unless acting with an authorised State in
        regular warfare, and that if they did so he would be punishcd>by the
        British Government. The next month Rahmah came over to Bushire
        with three vessels, in order to co-operate in a projected expedition
        against Bahrein by the Prince of Shiraz. Orders at this time had been
        issued by Sir W. G. Keir for the destruction of all the vessels belonging
        to this chief, but as he was at the lime of the receipt actually in the
        service of the Regent of Fars, it was judged expedient to suspend their
        execution until a further reference could be made. Rahmah sailed for
        Tharee on the 10th February, to join Ilis Royal Highness the Prince of
        Shiraz, but on the way down, his large Buggalow was wrecked on the
        Yerdislan Shoal, and it was with great difficulty he and his people
        escaped with their lives.
           On the 13lh April Rahmah bin Jaubir came over to Bushire, and on
        his waiting on the Resident, he was requested to become a member to
        the peneral Treaty, which he refused, under the plea of his being then
        a servant of the Persian Government. This statement being confirmed
        by the Shaikh of Bushire, and as the latter engaged to be responsible
        for his peaceable conduct in future, the excuse was admitted.
           Notwithstanding these promises, Rahmah still continued his aggres­
                               sions upon the trade of Bahrein, and in the pearl
              a. d. 1821.
                               fishing season of 1821 he captured seven boats
        belonging to that island, and killed twenty men, which induced the
        Utloobee Chiefs to apply to the British Government on the subject.
           The Resident at Bushire was accordingly directed to prefer a
                               remonstrance to the Court of Shiraz against his
              a. d. 1822.
                               proceedings, in consequence of which the Persian
        Government ordered the Shaikh of Bushire to call on him to account for
        his conduct, and likewise to detain his son and family as hostages for
        his future good behaviour; but Rahmah having in the mean lime left
        Bushire, and placed himself under the protection of the Imaum, this
        injunction was attended with no results.
           In the commencement of the year 1822 this chief and Shaikh
        Abdoolla bin Ahmed, of Bahrein, waited upon the Acting Political
        Agent in JCishm, for the purpose of adjusting their differences ; but
        both parties were so unreasonable in their demands that the attempt
        failed altogether, and Shaikh Rahmah bin Jaubir proceeded to Muskat,
        to lay his case before the Imaum.
           About November 1822 Rahmah bin Jaubir returned to Bushire, and
        at the same time a communication was received from Ilis Highness the
   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248