Page 232 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

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_ 210 LPort VI—Chap. XLIV.

in his expressions of satisfaction that ho had seen me and had been made 60 cxplicity aware
of tho disapprobation with which the proceedings of Khorehid Pasha and Sued bin Mootluk
in thoso quarters was viewed by the British Government, adding that the Pasha’s Agent was
only n promoter of feuds and quarrels among the tribes and that lie would plcdgo himself that
if once removed from Shargah that person should not be allowed to land at any place between
Aboothabco and the Guttur Coast. Notwithstanding all these professions, 1 foil quite satisfied
- from his manner that tho Beniyas Chief had been in frequent communication with tho Egyptian
Agent, but I think tho effect <f this visit and tho tone held by mo will prevent his commit­
: ting himeclf for tho present by any overt support or assistance to Sued bin Mootluk. Prior
to taking bis departure, the steamer was got uuderweigh at the Sliaik’a request, and tho
manner in which sho steamed out of tho narrow channel in which she was lying, directly
against the wind appeared to make a very powerful impression upon him.
7, Leaving Aboothabeo at sunset, tho Hugh Lindsay hovo to opposite Debaye tho
next morning, and about noon Sbaik Mukhtoora
^elaS/f‘ the Chief or that place, came on board. On
my opening tho object of my visit in nearly similar terms to those I had used to the Shaik of
Aboothabco, ho began by expressing his earnest desire to meet tho views of the British
Government in every respect, and then went into a long accusation against Shaik Lhuleofa
who, he affirmed, had by his trcaoherous proceedings rendered the engagements, which had been
entered into by the Arabian Sheiks in tho presence of Captain Edmunds against tho common
enemy, of no effect; that the Beniyas Chief had been iu constant correspondence with Sued
bin Mootluk over since tho dato of that interview, and that only the day hoforo two messen­
gers had arrived from Aboothabeo to the Egyptian Agent with letters from tho Shaik, offering
to support him with his forces in an expedition against Brymeo. Shaik Muktoom concluded
by saying that although Sbaik Sultan had rigidly fulfilled the terns demanded by Khuleefa
as tho condition upon which all further aggressions upon each other's territories were to cea6e,
yet tho latter had no sooner returned to Aboothabce than ho plundered seventeen
valuable camels from the neighbourhood of
Shargah. Debaye. These statements were corroborated
by the British Agent Moollah Ilousscin on his coming on board from Ghargab, to which
place tho Eugh Lindsay had proceeded on the arrival of Shaik Mukhtoom. The Agent like­
wise informed me that Shaik Sultan bin Suggar had put Sued bin Mootluk in possession of a
stron g fortified house and tower forming part of the defences of that town; he also told me
that three days before a messenger having arrived from Khorshid Pasha via, Kateef and
Balircin to tho Egyptian Agent, with other letters to the address of the different Chiefs, and
(according to the Sucd's statements) promising speedy reinforcements, flags were hoisted, and
guns fired, in token of rejoicing. Shaik Mukhtoom,
Copy and translation qf declaration made before taking his departure, assured me that
by Shaik Mukhtoom of Debaye. he had never visited Sued bin Mootluk, and
pressed me to insist upon Shaik Sultan ben Suggar
removing him from the coast, where his presence, ho observed, was productive of nothing but
injury to the Maritime Arabs. To my request that be would give me these sentiments iu
writing, the Shaik assented without hesitation. A copy and translation of this document
(forming enclosure No. 4) is now transmitted for the information of the Government.
8. Quitting Shargah on the afternoon of the 2nd the Hugh Lindsay anchored off Amulga-
Amulgavine. vine about sunset, and at my invitation I was
shortly afterwards visited by Abdoollah bin
Rashid, the Shaik of that place. The 6ubjeot of Khorshid Pasha, and the proceeding of Suo
bin Mootluk in this quarter formed the topic of our conversation. The whole tenor of the
Shaik’s language plainly showed that he was (as indeed he has always been represented)
altogether averse to the presence of Sued bin Mootluk on these parts and the extension of tho
Egyptian influence to the shores of the Persian Gulf. He said that the expulsion of tho
Pasha's Agent had been fully determined on by all the Sliaiks and lie was quite at a loss to
_ iprehend the sudden change in Sultan bin Suggur’s policy on this point. Shaik Abdoollah
com
bin Rashid urged me strongly to press upon the Joasmco Chief the expediency of removing
this intriguer from his territories, and added that it was of much coneequencc that this should
be done with as little delay as possible, as the evils arising from his artful proceedings were
increasing, while the difficulty of effecting his removal daily became greater. He expressed
great satisfaction on hearing that it was my intention to send an Agent to Bcymeo, saying
that he thought it would produce the best effect on the minds of the inhabitants of that place,
confirm them in their purpose of maintaning their independence, and make a great impression
on all the Arabs upon the coast and in the interior. The Beni Naeem, he said, were even more
than ever determined to resist the attempts of Sued bin Mootluk to subjugate them, since
the receipt of my letter of encouragement. He added that such was the satisfaction the
arrival of this communication had produced in Brymeo that a 6alute of ton guns had been
fired on the occasion. On ray showing him the paper given me by Shaik Mukhtoom
(enclosure No. 4) he readily gave me another from himself couched in the same terras.
9. At sunrise on the morniug of the 3rd instant, the steamer anchored off Rasel Khymah,
Batcl Khymah. “o great distance from the town. Having
sent our Agent Moolla Ilousreiu on shore with a
request to 8haik Sultan bin Suggur to afford me a meeting, that Chief accompanied by a few
of his principal followers came off about noon. After the usual compliments had passed, I