Page 141 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

there, ostensibly for his education, but in fact as a hostage for his
father’s good behaviour. He was given solemn assurances of
safety, and is said to have been attracted by the offer of the hand
in marriage of the Prince’s daughter. Another reason for his visit
was in order to discuss with the Prince plans for retaking Bahrain.
As soon as he entered the city walls, he was seized and impri­
soned. It was proposed that he should be put to death, but if this
were done, probably much of his treasure in Bushirc and Kharak
would be seized by other people, so an enormous ransom was
demanded from him. It was collected, and paid, and the unfor­
tunate Shaikh was allowed to return to Bushirc, shorn of much
of his wealth. On his way home, quite close to Bushirc, he was
attacked by a band of brigands, led by a man who had a grudge
against him. After a desperate fight, he was killed and hacked
to pieces. Although he had been notorious for his severity and
for the exactions which he had levied on merchants, Wcllstcd
describes him as ‘not ill fitted for the people over whom he rules’,
and when he died ‘the better class of people’ in Bushirc, ‘bitterly
regret his loss*.
One morning, Loch was in the courtyard of the Residency
when an Arab horse from Ncjd was brought in to be shown to
Bruce. Suddenly, there was a buzz of chatter among the servants
and hangers-on in the courtyard. A remarkably handsome old
man, tall, well dressed, with a stately demeanour, and a long
white beard, made his appearance. He was led into the court­
yard by his son, a good-looking young man, and was greeted
with ‘a low obeisance’ by all the Persians who were present.
The old man was blind.
The horse was led up to him. He caressed it, feeling the
texture of its skin and measuring every part of its body and legs
with his hands. He then gave his opinion on the merits of the
animal, pointing out its proportions, and drawing attention to
certain defects which had not been noticed by those who judged
the horse by the eye instead of by the more correct rule of
measurement.
There is some doubt about the identity of this old man, who,
according to Loch, was called Abdul Futtah, though from his
history, which Loch describes, he was probably Ali Khan, who
was famous as the finest judge of horses in Persia. In 1788, he
had shown a disposition to aspire to the throne, opposing the then
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