Page 319 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

■

21
I added that, if by 10 o'clock the Chief did not bring on board a written compliance with our
demands, the ship's guns would open on bis fort.
At half after nine the Chief camo on board and handed mo the subjoined declaration *
which was witnessed by Captain and myself :—
» * * * * * # * * *
The Chief further Gent on board to mo the two Arab mares which he had received from
the Bahrein Sheikh as portion of the Katar plunder; These mares are now at Bassadore in
charge of the First Assistant Resident. Their owner, tho Sheikh of Wakia, hus been invited
to send a duly authorized Agent to receive charge of them. I warued the owner, how«-ver,
that if for the future he or any other Chief should take the law into his own baud instead of
referring to the Resident, aud should thus loso his mares, 1 would, indeed, compel tho
pluudcrer to givo them up, but that, instead of restoring them, I would cause them to bo
publicly shot.
As regards the guns (three in numbor) of the Abu Tbabi Shoikh, it seemed proper that he
should suricnder them, but at the same time there was risk if he were deprived of them, that
bis fort might be insulted by the bedouins, aud that injury would result to the trade of the
port. I arranged, therefore, in concert with Uaptaiu Brown, that tho guns should be surren­
dered and then returned to the Chief on deposit pending good conduot, thus taking a guarantee
for the future.

* See Ailcliiaoa'a Trealiet (1692), Vol. X, p. 137.

■