Page 40 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

30 Records of Bahrain

372 UTTOODEES.

ready mavt for lliciv plundered property at Bahrein, but purchased,
with the proceeds, supplies of dates and rice, and of all kinds of stores
necessary for their vessels, which were brought to Bahrein in abundance
by the ships belonging to Arab owners residing at Bombay.
40. That it was impossible under these circumstances to look on
Bahrein in any other light than that of a piratical port; for although they
may not individually commit piracies in their own vessels, the assistance
they afford to those freebooters operates to the same end, and, in fact,
considerable numbers of the crews of the pirate boats arc actually com­
posed of the inhabitants of that island, who proceed to Ras-ool-Khyma,
and enter on board for a cruise. If successful, they return to their
homes; if not, they continue there until their avarice is satisfied.

CONTINUATION OF THE FOREGOING SKETCH, TO
THE YEAR 1831,

BY LIEUTENANT S. IIENNELL.

Mr. Warden terminates his account of this tribe in a. d. 1S17, by
alluding to the opinion entertained by Mr. Bruce, that although not
actively engaged in piracy themselves, they could be looked upon in no
other light than as piratical, as they were the receivers and purchasers of
I;
a great portion of the properly plundered by the Joasmees, and not only
gave them free access to their ports, but supplied them with all kinds of
provisions and warlike stores.
Notwithstanding the signal defeat experienced by the Imaum in his
attack upon this island, the XJttoobccs were kept for some time in a
state of suspense, in consequence of His Highness proceeding with his
fleet to Congoon, to wait for the reinforcements promised him by the
Shiraz Government, for the purpose of making a second attempt. But
their apprehensions were subsequently removed by the arrival of a
messenger by name Sikundur Khan, who was sent over by that Court to
Bahrein, to offer terms to the Shaikhs, which they agreed to, and, in
return for the presents which they sent, were presented with honorary
dresses by the Prince of Fars.
In the month of February 1819, a report having been received that
several Indian women had been brought from
a. n. 1819.
Ras-ool-Khyma, and publicly sold in the bazar of
Bahrein, Captain Lock, of His Majesty’s Ship Eden, in company with
five vessels of war, proceeded to that island, to procure their liberation.
After some negotiation, the Bahrein Shaikh succeeded in convincing the