Page 60 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

50 Records of Bahrain

392 UTTOODEES.

the delinquents stated that they had only taken such portion of the
cargo of the Lingah boat as had been regularly agreed upon a3 salvage,
it was arranged that the value of the property claimed should be lodged
in the hands of the British Agent, until the claim for salvage should be
substantiated by oath of ZunTulaak, in the presence of the Native Agent,
which having been done according to form before the Kazee, the money
was returned.
The authority of the old Shaikh being now openly defied by his sons,
who had each from one to three hundred followers, ready to commit
any a'ct of violence or aggression at the bidding of their leaders, the
island became rapidly the scene of increased anarchy and confusion:
as a natural consequence, the trade had diminished to nearly one-half
within the last few years.
At this time (April 1S-12) Ameer Khalid came from Demaum to Khor
Ilassan, to meet Shaikh Abdoollo, who treated
a. d. 1812.
him with great respect, and led him to hope that
lie would assist him in the -recovery of Kateef to the utmost in his
power. After visiting Mahomed bin Khalccfa at Bahrein, the cx-
Wahabce ruler returned to Demaum.
The Bahrein Chief, however, if he ever entertained such an intention,
had already too much on his own hands to admit of his acting up to his
promise, for the serious dissensions in his own family, as about to
be detailed, had reached to such a pitch as to demand his utmost
attention.
The immediate and ostensible cause of the present open rupture
originated in the opposition offered to the marriage of Ahmed, the son
of Abdooila bin Ahmed, with a young girl, the daughter of one Abdool
Jlahman bin Rashid. The suitors respectively threatened to possess
her by force,* when her guardian, Moobaruk bin Khalecfa, appealing
to their mutual relation, Mahomed bin Khalccfa, against the injustice
and disgrace of permitting such a violation, he having already selected
one from his own family to be her husband (Mahomed bin Moojarrin
bin Fail), angry discussions and threats were produced, and the efforts
of the old chief, who came over from Khor Ilassan for the purpose,
failing to effect an amicable arrangement, both parties began to collect
troops, calling in principally the ignorant but warlike Bedouins from
the mainland, themselves in no way interested in the quarrel, and led
on solely by the prospect of emolument and plunder.

* The damsel on whose account so much disagreement had arisen resided at Muhnrng.
and was on the commencement of hostilities at tho mercy of her would be suitor, who, she
moreover consenting, might without immediate opposition have possessed himself of her
person; hut ns the real ground of the dispute had no reference whatever to her, so the contest
did not cense with her possession.