Page 328 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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(lv) PIRACY OF THE FUTH-UL-KIIAIR, ISflO.
88. Tn the month of January 18G0 the Futh-ul- Khair, a vessel belonging
to Abdullah bin Tussuf, au inhabitant of the Persian Port of Lingah, proceeded
t..wards Shargah. She cucountered a storm, and mado for shelter to Itas-ul-
Khinia. This port she contrived to reach in safety, and anchored outsido the
bar. The violenco of the elements, however, increasing, she sailed for the
inner harbour, and whilst endeavouring to effect an entry unfortunately ran
aground. Presently, some 15 or 20 boats, containing armed men, and com-
manded by Sheikh Ibrahim, son of Sultan bin Saggar and Governor of
Kas-ubKhimo, surrounded her and attempted to bo:ird her. The crow of the
Futh-ul-Rhair for a time prevented them from effecting their object, but
Sheikh Ibrahim was not to be deterred from carrying out his purpose, and the
Futh-ul-Khair being incapable of resisting so large a force, was eventually
boarded and plundered of her cargo. The doings of Sheikh Ibrahim and
his followers did not rest here. iNot content with the amount of barbarity
and inhospitalitv they had already inflicted, they caused the defenceless vessel
to be damaged, aod in this condition they left her to the mercy of the elements.
She contrived to return to Lingah, notwithstanding the dilbculties she had to
contend with, and Commander Balfour happening to be in the neighbourhood
at the time of her arrival, her owner, Abbullah bin Yusuf, laid a complaint
before him.
39. Commander Balfour deputed Lieutenant Dyer, Commanding Her
Majesty’s Brigantine Tigris, to investigate the complaint, and to demand repara­
tion should the accusation prove well-founded, and having presently ascertained
that not only had the Sheikh of Ras-ul-Khima been guilty of the outrage, but
that he refused to afford redress, he repaired to Ras-ul-Khima in person with
three vessels of war to compel Sheikh Ibrahim to pay the full value of the
property plundered, such payment to he distinct from any fine the Resident
might subsequently see fit to' award for so gross and barbarous a case of piracy.
The first step taken by Commander Balfour was to call upon the chief offender’s
father, Sheikh Sultan bin Saggar, as lu ad of the Joisrni tribn, to make repara­
tion for the injury inflicted. Binding, however, fr**m Sheikh Sultan’s written
rejoinder that he denied all knowledge of the outrage, and directed his son
Sheikh Ibrahim to afford redress, Commander Balfour thought it advisable,
more especially as only a few days previous a heavy sum had been exacted from
Sheikh Sultan for a separate off ence to prefer his demands direct upon the
Ras-ul-Khima Chief. This course ho accordingly adopted, and called upon
Sheikh Ibrahim to disburse 810 dollars as an equivalent for the property pirated.
Sheikh Ibrahim professed his willingness, but from poverty his inhability,
to meet the demand, whereupon Commander Balfour entered the Ras-ul-
Khima creek with the boats of the squadron, 11 in number, 8 carrying guns,
seized six vessels, and took them in tow.
90. Sheikh Ibrahim, when he saw measures of severity like these were being
resorted to, promised Commander Balfour whom be had previously met on the
beach, to pay the coin in a few hours’ time, and left for the town to obtain it.
Commander Balfour placed the seizures in charge of an officer inside “ the bar,"
and returned with the boat force to the vessels of the squadron. To save
unnecessary details suffice it to say that in the course of 48 hours, thanks to the
energy displayed by Commander Balfour, the whole sum (dollars 810) was duly
paid, and a fine of 500 dollars extra having been inflicted upon the Ras-ul-Khima
Chief as penalty for the piratical offence, this amount was also recovered by
Commander Cruttenden during cruize he made in H. M.’s sloop of war Falkland.
It must be noted that the fine was ordered by the Bombay Government to be
inflicted in addition io the amount of compensation to mark this speoial abhor­
rence of the conduct of the Jasmi wreckers. The Government decided in short
that restitution of plunder or its equivalent in value was not sufficient to deter
lh* Arabs from the commission of fresh offences ond authorized the levy of an
extra sum as amercement (G. R., dated the 3rd May 1860).

(r) DETE.YTIOX OF A BOAT OF KIIASSAB BY TIIE CHIEF OF A.MUEGAVI.YE, 1861.
91. In May 18G1, the Resident received a complaint from the Sheikh of
Khassab that a Buteel belonging to his peoplo had been freighted by the