Page 168 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

much what you would expect of such a character. He was of
middling size, his features marked, strong and prominent, with a
full, brilliant hazel eye, constantly on the enquiry of what was
passing in the minds of those present.’
‘A circumstance took place at this interview which gratified
and pleased me in no small degree, though I must say that it gave
me a very different feeling when I saw the object of it. Captain
Bruce, Dr. Dukes and Captain Thompson were each well versed
in the language, and were present as interpreters. On the men­
tion of my name, Hassan bin Rahmah enquired which I was.
On my being pointed out, lie rose, came forward, and seized me
by the hand, as if he had found a friend among those who
surrounded him. The many communications which had taken
place between us, was the cause of his conduct. I could not help
feeling the abject state that this poor man was now plunged into.’
‘There was now a long argument about the exact meaning of
the word “Amatim”, which was used in the General’s proclama­
tion to the chiefs before they came to pay their respects and (if l
may call it) homage. They claimed the meaning of the word to
be perfect forgiveness of all that was past, and freedom to act in
future as they thought proper. The schism between the Inter­
preters ran so high as nearly to create as much bad blood between
the different parties as betwixt Gulliver’s Big and Little Endicn.’
The other interpretation of this word which, in fact, means
‘protection’, was that it implied that the lives of the Arabs should
be spared, but all other conditions should be left in the hands of
the General. The General seems to have taken a middle course,
for he allowed Hassan bin Rahmah to go ‘widi perfect freedom,
and to do, act, or go where he pleased, under the pledge of dis­
continuing his former course of life. To ensure his so acting,
Ras al Khaima was to be razed to the ground, with the exception
of the Shaikh’s house, and the different stone buildings surround­
ing it’, which were retained as barracks for the garrison.
The truce between the British and the pirate chiefs was the
origin of the term ‘Trucial Shaikhdoms’, which became the desig­
nation of the territories of the pirate tribes of the Oman coast.
Preliminary agreements were made with each individual Shaikh,
and on January 8th 1820, a ‘General Treaty of Peace’ was signed,
which included the Shaikhs of Bahrain, whose representative
came to Ras al Khaima to sign the treaty on their behalf.
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