Page 32 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

22 Records of Bahrain

364 UTTOOBEES;

increased in strength’ and consequence. This state of prog)
excited in particular the fears and jealousy of Shaikh Nassir,
Bomchecrc Tribe, who was also Shaikh of Bushins and of Bahrein anc
who had been empowered by his sovereign of Persia to reduce Zoba
res
Repeated but ineffectual attempts were accordingly made to rcduc-
that place between the years 1777 and 1801.
11. Availing themselves of the general warfare that prevailed in lb
Gulf on the death of Kureem Khan, the Zobar
a. d. 1732-33.
Arabs made a descent on the island of Bahrein
and, after a short conflict, obliged Shaikh Nassir to retire to the for*
after plundering and destroying the town, they returned to Zobars
taking with them one of the Bushirc gallivats that had been sent «
Bahrein to receive its annual tribute to Persia.
12. In pursuance of orders from Ali Moorad Khan, Shaikh Nass
prepared an expedition against Zobara, for the destruction of h
powerful rival, in which lie was to be assisted by the Shaikhs c
Bunder Rcig, Genowa, Dushistan, &c. The floct sailed from Busliii
with two thousand of the Dushistan Arabs for Bahrein, under tb
command of Shaikh Mahomed, Shaikh Nassir’s nephew. Thong
deemed sufficient to attack Zobara, it appeared to be Shaikh Nassir
object to bring the Arabs to terms by blockading their port, for whic
purpose the Persian fleet kept constantly cruising between Zobara an
Bahrein.
13. .The Ultoobccs, unable to oppose them, oflered through AIc<
Gunnech, of Bunder Rcig, to restore the whole plunder taken at Bahrei
as the price of peace. That Shaikh proving unsuccessful in b
negotiations, Shaikh Rashid of Julfar engaged to settle all the dillc
cnees to the satisfaction of both parlies.
landed
14. These negotiations also failing, the Persian troops
Zobara to storm the fort, which they expected to reduce with it*
opposition. The Persians, however, had scarcely landed, when t c
were resolutely attacked by a force much greater than they cxpeclc
which sallied from the fort, and, after an obstinate conflict, the 1 c*-iai
threw down their arms, fled, and embarked on board their Sa
Shaikh Mahomed was killed in the action, and a nephew of ,al
Rashid’s, and some men of consequence belonging to the Shai ’
Ormus. Intoxicated with their success, the want of means of tia ^1
alone prevented the Zobara Arabs from proceeding to the attfl
Bahrein. * ^cr
lo. The Granc* fleet, consisting of six gallivats, and a 1111 jU]
armed boats, arrived on the same day at Bahrein, set fire to, an|
dered the town, and obliged the force left to protect it to return to
* The At Khaleda, or UUoobcc Tribe of Arabs, occupy Granc.