'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎503] (545/733)

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effect reprisals, and to board and plunder a Buggarah belonging to
Abdoolla bin Butye of Shargah. This act was not in any way coun
tenanced by Shaikh Muktoom bin Butye ; far from it,—he inflicted
punishment upon his offending subjects ; caused whatever had been
taken from Shaikh Sultan's people to be restored to them ; and went
so far as of his own free will to bind over the delinquents to keep the
peace, by making them lodge in the hands of the British Agent the
sum of 100 crowns, as security for their future good behaviour. A
striking proof was this of the well working of the system in operation
for the suppression of piracy ; for it was Shaikh Muktoom bin Butye
who m former years gave as much if not more trouble to the British
representative than any one of the maritime chiefs, by the open manner
in which he encouraged a spirit of maritime irregularity.
From the commencement of 1845 to the close of the ensuing year
a. d. 1845-46. the Joasmee and Aboothabee Chiefs did all in
their power to reduce the Shaikh of Debaye to
a state of submission. Shaikh Muktoom bin Butye, and his staunch
and faithful ally the Chief of Amulgavine, proved, however, more than
a match for their formidable adversaries : they successfully defended
themselves against all the attacks, both foul and fair, that were made
upon their territories, and at Ae close of 1846, when a last and tre
mendous attack was about to be directed on the fort of Debaye, a
quarrel arose between the two allied chiefs, each of whom suddenly
shifting his policy, preferred overtures of peace to the common foe,
a. d. 1847. Shaikh Muktoom bin Butye, who entered into an
alliance offensive and defensive with Shaikh Sul
tan bin Suggur, but refused the advances of Shaikh Syud bin Tahnoon.
When we commenced our narrative, the Beniyas and Joasmee
Chiefs were in the thick of contentions; then came the Shaikh of
Debaye, who by joining the former offended the latter ; presently the
Beniyas and Joasmees entered into an alliance offensive and defensive,
and attacked the Shaikh of Debaye ; and now we find the Debaye and
Joasmees acting in concert, and the Beniyas at enmity with either.
The last arrangement, however, though scarcely more than nominal
a. d. 1848. ol ^ se ^ remained unbroken until the month
of July 1848, when a truly close and intimate
alliance was entered into between the two (Debaye and Joasmee), for
the purpose of opposing the plans of aggrandisement which the now all
powerful Chief of the Beniyas seemed to entertain in the direction
of their respective territories.
Shaikh Muktoom, fearing an attack upon Debaye, found it to his in
terest to remain in league with Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur, who on his
Side, too, trembled for the safety of his possessions on the Batinah