Page 48 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

38 Records of Bahrain

380 UTTOODBT2S.

UUoobcc Buggalow called the Syar, they made an unsuccessful attempt
to capture her, and finally returned to Muskat without doing anything.-
If, however, they gained no great credit by their conduct on this occasion,
the Bahrein vessels did not distinguish themselves by their superior
bravery. On their way down the Gulf, they met a large Buggalow,
belonging to their inveterate enemy the Shaikh of Asceloo, but after
several hours hard fighting were all beaten ofl, and the Buggalow
reached her own port in safety. After cruising some time in the
neighbourhood of Music at, the. Bahrein fleet attacked and captured a
Buggalow belonging to Morbat, a place between Muskat and Mocha,
in no way connected with the Imaum. With this prize they set out on
their return to Bahrein, but when ofl’ Cape Moobaruk they were inter­
cepted by two of Syud Saccd’s ships of war. The Utloobccs immediately
ran into shoal water, and placing the Morbat vessel in such a position
as to shelter them from the cannon of the Imaum’s frigates, they first
transferred to their own Buggalow everything on board, and then,
having scuttled and sunk her, they took advantge of the darkness of the
night to alter their course, and, having by this means evaded the
Muskat mcn-of-war, reached Bahrein shortly after.
During this period, the British authority had been using every exer­
tion to induce the belligerents to settle their quarrel; but the Bahrein
Chief declared lie would make no peace that did not receive the
guarantee of the British Government. As this of course was out of the
question, and finding Shaikh Abdoolla deaf to all advice, the Resident
declined interfering any further.
While, however, the correspondence for the termination of hostilities
between Muskat and Bahrein was carrying on, the political authority in
the Gulf was engaged in another discussion with Shaikh Abdoolla bin
Ahmed, which gradually assumed a serious aspect. It will be recol­
lected that when the Bahrein fleet was cruising of! Muskat, it captured,
plundered, and destroyed a vessel belonging to Morbat. As this was
considered an act of piracy in every point of view, the captor was
peremptorily called upon to return all his ill-gotten booty,—a demand
which lie evaded, on various pretexts, for a considerable period, until
the Resident sent over two vessels of war, and stated explicitly, that if
immediate attention was not paid to his demand for the cargo of the
captured vessel, strong and unpleasant measures would be forthwith
carried into operation. This menace produced considerable effect:
property to the amount of Rs. 8,000 (being all that was not converted
into cash and distributed) was given up, and a considerable quantity of
goods belonging to people residing in Bahrein restored to the owners.
On this occasion a reference was made by the British authority to the
Government, us to whether further proceedings should be adopted to com-