Page 37 - Arabian Studies (V)

Lieutenant Wyburd’s Journal of an Excursion into Arabia 27

off with the night flood; the bottom was so much damaged that we with
difficulty made Katiff where they hauled her up on the beach.
30th October. Finding the repairs required by the Boat would occupy more
time than I chose to waste, I determined on proceeding by land to Ajeer
[‘Uqayr] and persuaded the Bedouins to accompany me, we hired camels at
Katiff, and set out in the morning. We stopped at about 7 in the evening at
a well of brackish water, the country through which we had passed during
the day was generally a sandy desert, excepting in the immediate vicinity of
Elkatiff which abounds in gardens and springs.
October 31st. Reached Ajeer about noon, the country with little variation
the same as yesterday. We here found a Boat on the point of sailing to
Bohrean [Bahrayn]. Having changed all my money into Gold at Bussora. I
thought it advisable to go to Bohrean, thinking it unsafe to change it in the
interior. I therefore took leave of my friendly Bedouins (who left for their
native village of Gisheh [Jishshah]) and embarked in her; Thowanee the
Arab who joined us at Moshaub did the same and seemed to be determined
to attach himself to me, which, though unwilling I could hardly avoid.
November 1st 1832. We anchored in the afternoon in Bahrean Roads, and I
acted the part of Gunner to an old six pounder, which thanks to the
badness of the powder did not burst. Thowannee and myself went on shore
in the Evening, and took up our quarters for the night in one of the
Mosques.
2nd. Having changed as many Venetians or Sectrins (into dollars) as I
thought would be sufficient to carry me across the Peninsula, I consented
to accompany Thowannee to Rufa [Rifa‘], he pretending to have business-
with Khaleefa Ben Sulmaun the Sheik of Bohrean.15 We rode out on hired
asses, and on our arrival in Moodheef or Guest House, a brekfast was sent
us by the Sheik consisting of half ripe dates, bread and butter milk. The
Sheik himself made his appearance in the afternoon and I then became
acquainted with who Thowannee really was; it appears that [November
5th) on a vague report of the generosity of Khaleefa Ben Sulamaun, he had
left his tribe (the Montefeik) under the expectation of receiving a present.
At our interview with the Sheik he represented himself as a relation of
Aisan Ben Mumood (the present Chief of the Montefiek) who had been
obliged to leave in consequence of the feud which exists between Farras the
Son of Ajcel and that chief.16 The reception Thowannee met with from the
Sheik was not one at all calculated to inspire a hope of his expectations
being fulfilled, he ‘however continued sanguine’—After staying at Rufa
until the 6th during which time we were treated with every hospitality and
attention I left for Manama, Thowannee still pertinacious by adhering to
his determination of extracting something from the generosity of the Chief.
While at Rufa I had an opportunity of remarking the enmity which exists
between the Bohreen Chiefs and the Imaum of Muscat—An itinerant
Minstrel arrved with a budget of scurrilous verses lampooning the above
personages these gave great delight to the Sheik and his followers and the
poet reaped a golden harvest.17
•This ridge was between Boo Ailee [Abu ‘Alii and Ras Sanura [RasTannurah].