Page 179 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V—Chap. XXXVI. 157
circumstance I could only ropoat my former interferences to avoid extremities, and compromise
tho dispute, which I fear will l»o of little avail.
17. During n very 1 mg discussion on tho subject of tho trouty generally, tho Saltan quoted
tbo lost clause of tho tenth article of the treaty, w binding uh to protect vcseola sailing under
its stipulation; and to recovor nny which might bo captured from tho parties of tho treaty by
othors. I replied that I did not consider tho obligation as going quite so fur, hut that 1 would
interfere, n-« far as I could, to prevent unlawful molestation from power whioh wore not parties
to tho treaty, and that I would obtain further instructions from Government for my guidance
on this head.
18. Tho Shoikh concluded by assuranoo of his friendly disposition towards tho British
Government, his ontiro noquiosconco in tho present arrangements, and his determination to abide
by the treaty, and by any directions we might give respecting its fulfilment.
19. I liavo been rather particular in detailing my coinraunicaiiou with this Chief ; because
it not only shows tho vi.-wa which ho took of the subject, but those which formed tho basis of
my communication goucrnlly with all tho other Chiefs, in addition to tho points advertod to in
my instructions. Sheikh Sultan was, however tho only ono who teemed capable of entering
fully into the subject, the rest are very iuforior in evory respect.
2U. Tho Chiefs of Dubey and Abuthubi, who wero at a short distance inland from
Sliargn, both visited mo at that placo : I did not therefore thiuk it necestary to proceed myself
to their ports.
21. These Sh-iklis aro both of the Beni Yas tribe of whom Sheikh Thanun of Abuthabi
is tho superior. Sheikh Zaid bin Seyf of Dubey is the same who signed tho treaty, to which
both promised entire compliance. Shcikii Thanun h is fully established hie power to tho exclu­
sion of his father Sheikh Shakbut, and his brother Sheikh Mahomed ; tho former is said to have
submitted to his son, tho latter is with another branch of the tribe in tho interior.
22. On ray enquiring respecting Sonidan bin Zal. who is particularly mentioned in Colonel
Rennett’s letter to you of the Oth ultimo. No. 42, I'heikh Thanun stated that ho was his
subject, and was somewhere amongst tho islauds between that place and Abuthabi j that he has
got no fixed place of abode ; but that lie would iic answerable for his conduot, and would, if
1 pleaded, recall him either to Abu habi or Dubey and fix him thoro under his own eye. I thought
that this would be a very desirable arrangement under tho suspicious circumstances of this person,
and a* the proposal was publicly made in the presence of Julian bin Su<_»gur and the Sheikh
of Dubev, I requested >hcikh Thanun to write to Sonidan, and gave him also at his desire a
letter to that Chief desiring him to obey the orders of bis Sheikh, in addition to which 1 took
a dup'icatc of Thaoun’s letter lor Sonidan, in case 1 should fall in with him, but in this hope I
was disappointed.
23. At Sharga Captain Faithfull completed his arrangements for the stationing of the
cruizing vessels, and the renewal of the registry. As they are entirely consonant to the sug­
gestions offered in my letter to him of the 10th July, and have d rabtless been reported by him
to the Superintendent of Marino, it is not necessary that I should trouble Government with
the detail ia this place. 1 have however to solicit the sanction of Government for the occas­
sional hire of native boats by tho cruizer, which the senior officer dcoms necessary for landing
at times and places when the shin’s boats could not land, and also for avoiding the risk of the
ship’s boats being loft on shore, when the ships themselves are blown to sea.
24. We then proceeded through the islands to Bidaa, which we found is subject to
Bahrein, and governed by a Sheikh named Bnhur
Bidaa.
bin Inbran of the tribe of Abu o-ainee, all
the other Sheikhs having quitted tho place. The people seemed to know very little of the
conditions of the treaty, and bad neither flag nor register, excepting for one boat, which
had been procured turough tho Sheikh of Bahrein. However, they furnished lists of the rest of
ti.eir boat6 for registry, and promised to abide by the treaty, which I explained ; but as they
arc entirely subject to Bahrein, I did not think it necessary to ontor very minutely on the
subject.
25. On the 27th of January wo reached Bahrein and landed at the town of Manama ; we
had two interviews with Sheikh Abdula bin Ahmed,
Bahrein.
who, though the younger brother, is the manager
of all affairs; wo also visited the elder brother Shoikh Suleiman at Ruffa where he resides. \Ve
stayed several days and were treated with hospitality.
26. In addition to theso points of my instructions which wore particularly referred
to Bahreia, I' fully explained to Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed the arrangements that had been
made for cruizing off the pirate ports, that tho conduct of himself and his subjects had been
such as to render sucli measures of precaution unnecessary in regard to his ports, but that one
ship would occasionally visit tho island ; and that an officer would be 6ent for the purpose of
revising the registers, and would bring them to me or tho senior officer for signature. 1 called
his attention to thenccossity of observing tbo strictest conformity to the orders of the treaty, as
woll at Bahrein as at his other subordinate ports, and particularly at Bidaa, where its condi­
tions did nbt seem to be known. He promised that they should be most carefully obseivod,
wherever his power extended, adding that Bidaa was the only port from which trading
vessels sailed.
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