Page 41 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

31
Selections from the Records, 1818 1856

TJTTOOBEES. 373

IBrilish aulliorilics that llic report was without foundation, and entered
into an agreement with Captain Lock, by which he bound himself down
to prevent the sale of captured British property in his territory,—to
which engagement it appears, however, from subsequent accounts, lie did
not pay the slightest attention. At Captain Lock’s request, lie opened
a communication with Hussein bin llahmah, the Chief of Ras-ool-
Kliyma, offering on the part of the British Government the release of a
number of Joasmcc prisoners, in exchange for several females who had
been captured by the pirates. This proposal was finally agreed to, and
seventeen Indian women were thus restored to liberty.
On the 17th January 1820, after the capture of llas-ool-Khyma, and
the destruction of the Joasmcc fleet, by the
a. a. 1820.
expedition under Sir W. G. Keir, the Shaikh of
Bahrein delivered up the vessels belonging to the piratical powers
which were in his harbour, to Captain Lock, of Ilis Majesty’s shipEden}
for the purpose of being destroyed ; and at the same time entered into
an agreement not to admit any boats of the above description into his
port until permitted by the British Government. The General Treaty
between the British Government and the Arabian Chiefs, negotiated by
General Keir, was first signed in Ras-ool-Khyma by the Vukccl of the
Ulloobcc Shaikhs, and subsequently by themselves in Bahrein.
Influenced, probably, by the general impression conveyed by the
success of the British troops, and the increased degree of confidence
acquired by the Imaum from his co-operation with them, the A1 Kha­
leda (Shaikhs of Bahrein) deemed it prudent to take measures to avert
the attack preparing by Ilis Highness, in conjunction with the Prince of
Shiraz, against their island. They accordingly sent an Agent to
Muskat, who concluded an agreement, by which they bound them­
selves to pay His Highness 30,000 German crowns per annum; both
parlies, however, stipulating for the guarantee of the British Govern­
ment, which docs not appear to have been afforded. In return, Ilis
Highness engaged to release some of the Ulloobee Shaikhs detained by
him, and restore all the vessels and property, belonging to Bahrein,
which lie-had put'undcr an embargo, on their way up from India. Of !
this tribute the sum of 12,000 crowns was subsequently remitted. '
In April 1822, an Agent of the Bahrein Chief made a verbal request,
___ on the part of his superiors, that the British !
a. n. 1822.
Government would mediate an adjustment of ,
the dispute between them and llahmah bin Jaubir, on the principle
of status quo ante helium. This was acceded to, and instructions to the
effect were issued to the Resident at Bushiro, with a strict reservation,
however, that the Government was not to be pledged in any way to
enforce the fulfilment of the conditions. Shortly after Shaikh Abdoolla