Page 74 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

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64 Records of Bahrain

406 UTTOOBEES.

slaughter of those individuals who had taken refuge there ; the plunder
of the goods of a British subject, by his followers, during the attack
upon Manama; the seizure of British property from a boat carrying
British colours ; and the forcible robbery of the Charrak vessel by his
adherents of the lluwajir Tribe, had certainly tended to diminish the
friendly feelings entertained towards him.
lie endeavoured to explain these causes of umbrage to the British
Government, and added, that his only reason for coming to Bushirc was
to seek a temporary refuge, while he matured his plans; that he was
fully aware of the hollowness of the professions made by the Persian
authorities of affording him aid in the recovery of Bahrein, but that he
had made a convenience of them, to suit his own purposes.
It was not doubted that the Shaikh was perfectly sincere in his
wishes to remove the unfavourable impression his conduct had made
upon the British Government; but no credit could be attached to
his explanation regarding his motives for coming to Bushirc; for
he was certainly at one time buoyed up by the extravagant promises and
professions made to him by Shaikh Sulman, and it was only when he
had reason to believe that these were without authority or foundation
that he affected to despise them.
The ex-chief’s departure was probably hastened by the intelligence
now received that the garrison of Dcmaum, so hardly pressed for provi­
sions, had been compelled to propose to Ameer Fysul the surrender of
the fort, upon certain terms which had been rejected. On leaving
Bushirc, he proceeded over to the neighbourhood of Bahrein, and
attempted to send in a boat to them, with a supply of stores and provi­
sions ; but the blockading force were on the alert, and having succeeded
in capturing the boat in question, despatched four Buteels in pursuit of
the ex-chief. These, however, did not overtake him, and he found a
temporary refuge at Kowcit. The fort of Dcmaum very shortly after
surrendered, the garrison stipulating only for the safety of their lives, and
permission to carry away their personal property. Nassir bin Abdoolla
and his younger bvotber returned to Bahrein, but the elder brother,
Moobaruk bin Abdoolla, the governor, fled with Shafcc, the Chief of the
Iiuwajir, to join the Bedouin Tribes, towards Biddah. From Kowcit,
where on this occasion he had taken refuge, the cx-chief revisited
Bushirc, and, at his own special request, had an interview with the
Resident on the sea shore, about three miles from the town, where he
was unwilling, as he stated, but without giving his reasons, to land.
Ilis ostensible object proved to be, to consult the Resident regarding
certain overtures, of a very favourable nature, he had received from the
Wahabce ruler, urging that it was not to be supposed that the latter
had volunteered to procure the restoration of his property, vessels, and