Page 326 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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3rd.—Dhecah or blood-money for the wilful murder of Abdul Rahman-bin-
O.sman, and Suleyman ibu Abdul Abdul Aziz on the high seas, six hundred
i dollars for each =1, 200 dollars.
4th.—Penalty or fine for the attempted murder in the samo way of the
survivor and informant, Abdullah-bin-Husain-ul-Baili.
5th.—Amercement for the piratical act itself 1,000 dollars, which sum
Resident consented to forego when tho chief murderer, the Nakhoda Obiyd,
should knvo been publicly executed for his offence on the high seas.
Punishment of the murderers was left to the Chief, tho surviving individual
and relations of the murdered men having consented to forego blood for blood,
and having accepted its price in accordance with the Muhammadan law.
75. Later in the year it became known to tho Resident, whilst on a circuit of
tho Gulf, that Mahomed bin Buzzan, one of the perpetrators of the murdors,
had taken refuge at Khussab, his native place. The Resident determined,
I
therefore, if practicable, to cause his surrender. He called upon the Chief and
Elder oither to make over the murderer, or to pay the fine of a 1,000 dollars,
and by way of impressing upon them the necessity of immediate compliance
! with one or other of the demands, he requested Captain Baifour to mako a
demonstration with the mcn-of-war under his command. The Chiefs and
Elders deemed it prudent to comply with the Resident’s requisition, and
surrendered the culprit unconditionally into his hands. Captain Felix Jones
conveyed him to Maskat, and delivered him over to His Highness, Syid Toweyni,
i; whose* subject he was, to be dealt with in accordance with His Highness’s views
and ideas of justice, and His Highness having unhesitatingly declared that by
death alone could so heinous a crime be expiated, sentence of death was
pronounced upon him accordingly. The sentence, was publicly carried into
effect on the 21st of May 1860, Mahomcd-bin-Buzzan being blown from one of
the Imam’s guns on the shore.
76. Tho Government of Bombay, after acknowledging Captain Felix Jones’
communication reporting that tho whole of his demands upon the Sheikh of
Debai for piracy and murder by some of his dependents had been complied with,
informed tho Besident that the proceedings reported in his letter were fully
approved by Government, and that Commander Balfour appeared to have acted
with great judgment and firmness.
77. The Secretary of State in a despatch, dated 17th November 1860,
observed:—
" The vigor and promptitude with which the Political Resident, Captain Jones, acted on
the occurrence of thft piracy and murder pci petrated by subjects of the Chief of Debai, and the
energy with which the heavy fine of 4,600 dollars imposed by the Resident was recovered
by Commander Balfour, were highly creditable to both these officers, and their ccn'duct in this
matter has attracted the favourable notice of Her Majesty's Government."
78. We may note the manner in which the 4,600 dollars recovered from the
Chief of Debai were disposed of. Of the above sum as reported by the Resi­
dent in a despatch to the Bombay Government, No. 56 of 22nd February
I860—“ eighteen hundred dollars plundered from the victims were refunded
to their immediate relatives, and the survivor, Abdullah-bin-Hussain-ul-Baili,
to whom also, in accordance with custom, the blood-money recovered—
1,200 dollars—was also paid. The balance, being penalties or amercements
inflicted for the offence, the Resident transferred to the credit of Government
as a set off to contingent expenses ” in the Gulf in conformity to instructions
conveyed in tho Secretary to Government’s letter under date 4th December
1858.

(11) MARITIME OFFENCES COMMITTED BY THE SIIEIKII OF IIIMRlAlf, I860.
79. Salim bin Ayaf, a subject of Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Sifcf, the Chief
of Himriah, was guilty of plundering some females who had taken passage in
his boat from the port of Shaam to that of Shareah.. Sheikh Abdul Rahman
happened to visit Shargah, and our Agent Haji Yacub took occasion to.demand,
from him paymont of the sum of 46 dollars due for the outrage. For some time