Page 327 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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the Chief not only refused to disburse the amount, but aggravated matters by
holding improper language to Haji Yacub. Eventually, howover, the 46 dollars
were paid, and distributed according to the Political Resident’s orders among
tho sufferers.
80. Not many months bad elapsed, when tho Chief of ETimriah committed a
fresh maiitimo offence. The Sheikh of Shargah, who was engaged in a land
attack upon Bu Heileand Khan, solicited his assistance. Sheikh Abdul Bahmau,
rogardlcss of consequences, was rash enough to proceed by sea to the scene of
hostilities with troops and munitions of war. The Political Resident sentenced
him to a fine of 25U dollars, which sum he duly disbursed to the British Agent
at Shargah, after a demand had been preferred upon him for payment by
Commander Cruttonden ^Resident's letters dated 26th February I860,
No. 61).

(iii) MARITIME OFFENCES COMMITTED BY THE SlIEIIill AND PEOPLE OF
BOKHA, ISflO.
81. The Sheikh of Bokha, one of the Shihiyin ports, who for some timo
before had been occasioniug trouble was at length guilty of two offences
destructive of maritime order.
82. A native of Shaam repaired to Bokha, and professed his desire to enter
into terms ot friendly alliance wiih Sheikh Suleyman bin Malik, the Chief of
the place. The latter assented, requiring, however, as proof the sincerity of
the former, that he should perpetrate some act of annoyance against the people
of Shaam.
83. Tho native of Shnam accordingly departed in the night, and stole away
a Buggarah and some fishing nets, returning with them to Bokha. Sheikh
Hussan bin Mahomed, Chief of Shaam, preferred a complaint, which resulted in
an infliction of a 100 dollars lino upon the Bokha Chief by the Political Resident,
and the deputation of Commander Balfour to enforce its payment.
84. The second offence was still more heinous in its character. It was a case
of inhospitable and barbarous treatment of a shipwrecked crew. An inhabitant
of Sharga, white abreast of Khor Khoweyr, to which place he was hound in his
buggarah manned by three men and a slave, met with adverse winds that pre­
cluded him from entering Khoweyr harbour. He thereupon directed his course
upon Khassab hut, while off the port of Bokha, the sea running high, his boat
foundered. All hards reached the land. In lieu, however, of receiving kind
treatment, they were seized by the Governor who robbed them of their
slave and 20 kronees, which was all (hey had saved from the money in the
buggarah.
86. Prom this outrage a further penalty of 100 dollars was inflicted, making
a total of 200 dollars to be taken from Sheikh Suleyman bin Malik, the Chief
of Bokha.
86. Commander Balfour reached Bokha on the 15th February 1860 in Her
Majesty’s Steam Frigate Semiramis. The Elphinstone was also in attendance.
Prior to Commander Balfour arrived, Lieutenant Uyer, commanding Her Majes­
ty’s Brigantine Tigris, had already demanded the 1*00 dollars for tho first offence,
hut had met with a refusal from tho Chief. The appearance, however, of one
of Her Majesty’s Steam Frigates accompanied by the Sloop of War blnhinstone
seems to have produced a salutary influence upon Sheikh Suleyman, for he
waited on Commander Balfour, paid over 100 dollars, a moiety of the total duo,
and give a written bond pledging himself to disburse the remainder alter a
lapse of two months. Commander Balfour, after admonishing him to be more
caroful how he ever again refused any demand made on him by the Captain of
one of Her Majesty’s Indian Navy vessels, admitted his exouses, and accepted
his offers.
87. It may be observed that the bond was duly discharged by tho Pokha
Chief on tho occasion of the Resident’s tour of the Gulf during the month of
May 1860.