Page 220 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

198 Part VI—Chap. XLIII.

to make arrnngemonta for its renewal, Sheikh Sultan bin Saggar attacked
Amulgnvino by sea (as well as land), and had noarly succeeded in taking the
ploce,* when the opportune arrival of the Resident permitted of his - success­
fully using his endeavours towards a reconciliation, and the blockading forco
having been withdrawn, the Maritime Truce was again established aud
subscribed to by ull parties for another yoar.
i 359. Government had long deemed it advisable that the suspension of
hostilities should be rendered obligatory upon the several parties for a moro
extended period than hitherto embraced within the annual truce.
360. In their letter Nos. 1020-A. and 2383, dated 13th July and 21st
August 1841, the Bombay Government
Volume 08—1293 of 18-11*42, p. 185.
expressed a wish that the maritime truce
might bo extended beyond the poriod of twelve months. In his reply, dated
19th October 1841, Captain Hennoll stated that ho was inclined to the belief
that the inclinations of the Chiefs of the Maritime Arabs of the Gulf were
rather in favor of an extension of the period of the truce thau otherwise, and
that on the termination of the engagement now existing, that he did not
anticipate any material opposition would be olfored to the proposition of ex­
tending it for two or even live years.
361. The Resident however explained the reasons which had hitherto
influenced him in mediating an engagement to abstain from hostilities for
only one yoar instead of for a longer period.
362. The line of coast from the southernmost part of the Gulf to its
entrance was occupied by the Beniyas and Joasmi tribes. Of these the
former was powerful by land, while the strength of the latter lay in its naval
resources. Sheikh Khalifa, the Chief of the Beniyas, being a mau of restless
and ambitious disposition, availed himself of his numerous adherents and
dependants in land, continually to foray the districts of his hereditary enemies
the Joasmis. These aggressions Sheikh Sultan bin Saggar, the Joasmi Chief,
in consequence of his inferiority by land, was barely able to oppose, and
naturally looked to his superiority by 6ea, as the means of retaliating upon
the marine of his enemy, the aggressions he was exposed to on shore. Such
however had been the advantages derived by his subjects and himself, from
their being enabled to carry on the pearl fishery in peace and quietness,
in consequence of the establishment of the Maritime Truce, that hitherto Sheikh
Saltan bin Saggar had sacrificed his resentment to his interests, and had been
a cordial supporter of this engagement, although for the period it remained
in foroe ho was precluded from avenging the numerous insults and losses
inflicted on himself and dependents by the Beniyas Chief. Still however
Sheikh Sultan was an Arab, and could not witness bis subjects being exposed
to such aggressions, without feeling all an Arab’s desire for revenge, a desire
which was doubtless greatly aggravated by the loud and iudignant complaints
of his tribe. On such occasions the Sheikh moderated his own anger and that
of hi9 followers by a determination of taking full revenge upon the Beniyas
by sea, immediately on the termination of the truce. Time rolled on; the
smart created by the forays of Sheikh Khalifa was diminished, and when the
period for renewing the truce came round, the pressure of immediate interest
overpowered the remaining promptings of indignation, and the Arab pride
being satisfied that no obstacles existed to their retaliating the injuries they
had received, if such a measure be desired, all parties readily united in a
renewal of the Maritime Truce. 8uch had been the working of the Engage­
ment since first introduced by me in 1835, from which date to the present
a profound peace had, with one or two trifling and momentary interruptions,
existed throughout the Persian Gulf, although the usual spirit of rapine and
bloodshed had exercised its influenoe uncontrolled in land. So long a period
of maritime tranquillity was unknown in the former annals of this part of
the world. Under the present arrangement the reply to frequent complaints
made to the Resident regarding the injuries and losses sustained by the
aggressions of the Beniyas Chief was that on the termination of the truce,
Sheikh Sultan would bo a free agent in respect to taking measures for redress
• The Joasmi Chief was guilty of deception aud cunning In thus taking advantage of the interim which
bad been unavoidably allowed to ensae between tho lapio of the truce for 1839*40, and its ronewal for 1840*41, aa
ho had replied in the affirmative to a communication from the Resident, requesting to bo iuformod whother ho was
willing to renew the. truce for the period of the ensuing pearl fishery. Ho was, moreover, gailty of an infraction
of one of the conditions of the Treaty of 1820, wbioh forbade any Chief engaging in hostilities without the
previous knowledge and sanction of the Resident, to whom he was thereby bound to make application.