'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎90v] (180/344)

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Part V—Chap. XXXVI.
him ; they^ aeJcnoioledge the general svjpremacy of the Imanm of Muscat, but are at present in
alliance «ith Sultan bin Su^gur.
46. You are already aware that Sheikh Shakbut, the former Chief of Abuthabi, was ex
pelled by the Imaum of Mascat, about two years a<:o, and his son Tahnun set up in his stead.
Sheikh Mahomed, the brother ot Tahnun, fled to Bidaa, and engaged the services of a Chief
named Sonidan bin Zaal; the struj^le led to disorders which have already been explained by
Colonel Kennett, and which through the interference of the Imanui of Mascat been put a stop
to. Through his influence it would appear that the parties have so i'ar been reconciled, that
Sonidan bin Zaal has desisted from his depredations, and Sheikh Mahomed has left Bidaa and
retired to the protection of another branch of the tribe in the interior.
47. Sonidan bin Zaal is Sheikh of the Muhasiba branch of the Beniyas tribe. He is a
Sonidan bin Zaal. ^ndering Chief, and has no fixed place of abode,
but was considered the subject and friend of the
Sheikh of Abuthabi, until the accession of Tahnun, when he espoused the cause of Sheikh
Mahomed against that Chief. He gained his livelihood by fisliing and piracy, and latterly
resided chiefly at Bidaa. In November 1«23 he proceeded to Mascat, where he received some
p esent from the Imaum ; and since his return he has I hear gone to establish himself in the
Island of Sur Beni Yas which is the southernmost of the o roups lately discovered, and is
described by Captain Grubb in his report of the 19th September 1821. He is accompanied by
his friend and relation Sheikh Nuhai man; they have nearly a thousand men at their command
and possess one fine batille and about fifty fishing boats.
48 These particulars respecting Sonidan I did not learn till after my arrival at Bidaa and
Bahrein ; otherwise I should have made a point of finding him out. I am also informed that
it is very doubtful whether he will obey Sheikh Tahnun's order, and that he is a very dangerous
unsettled character, ready to join in any ditorders that may occur. It is extremely desirable
that a person of this description should either be succeeded {sin) to dependence on his lawful
(. hief if indeed h* does own allegiance to any one, or that he should be obliged to fix himself
in some tangible place of abode, and leave off his present roving life.
49. I intend to write to Sheikh Tahnun, that if Sonidan submits to his authority, it is
well; if not, that we should not object to his reducing him by force, provided he really owes
him allegiance, but that if he remains quietly at Sur Beni Yas, and does not disturb the peace
of the sea, it is better to allow him to settle there; and that we cannot interfere further than to
see that he obeys all the articles of the treaty, to which I consider him in any event a party to
a certain degree, since he has been furnished with a Register for his boat by Colonel Kennett •
but that if he commits any act of piracy we will assift to destroy h im .
50. I shall at the same time request Captain Faithfull as soon as possible to send a cruiser
to find Sonidan, to whom 1 shall write to the same effect as to Tahnun, recommending him
at the same time to submit to Tahnun. and warning him ; that in any event his renewal of dis
orders at sea will draw down our vengeance on him; that if, on the other hand, he chose to live
in peace at Beni Yas we will not molest him; but that if he does not settle somewhere, I shall
be under the necessity of withdrawing his Register, since we cannot admit to the lawful rights
of the treaty, a Chief who persists in leading a wandering life on the high seas, and ac^ in
the suspicious manner which he has done.
51. I have also written to the Imaum of Mascat on the subject, and shall be guided by
the answers I receive, whether to admit Sonidan formally as a party to the treaty or not; should
he commit any fit disorders I shall be possibly obliged to recommend an attack on him.
52. The Sheikh of Abuthabi and Duby profess to be very well disposed to our Government:
they both seem to be more of pastoral and military habits than the other chiefs of the coast; the'
former possesses a great many boats, but the latter very few. They were both employed with
their people a f^vv miles inland from Sharga, according to their own account, in tending their
flocks, and guarding them against the attacks of the Bedouins and others who were instigated
by Bashid bin Humid to plunder them ; but I suspect they were actively aiding Sultan bin
Suggur against that Chief.
53. I don't think that any danger is to be apprehended from the Uttubi, unless their
quarrel with Rama bin Jabir and the wars of the Persians and the Imaum of Mascat on Bah
rein should lead to disorders in that quarter. The authority, however, of the Sheikh does not
appear to be so absolute as might be expected, and is borne with much reluctance by the in
habitants of the islands. In fact 1 am doubtful whether the Sheikh has it in his power to
restrain entirely the inclination of his subjects to revenge themselves for the injuries they
may receive from their enemies.
54. Sheik Abdulla bin Ahmed and nearly all the Uttubis reside on the smaller island of
his brother; Sheikh Suleiman is a very old man and has retired to spend the remainder of his
days at a email fort called Kuffa on the Island of Bahrein, about eight miles from the town of
Manam, where his son Khallifa exercises the principal control, but there appears to be some
divisions of authority amongst several sons and servants of the Sheikh.
55. Persia has renewed its attempts against this island, at least I understand that Mirza
Bankir Auhu has proceeded to Mascat to invite Imaum to a conference with Zukee Khan at
Bunder Abass, to arrange operations for a joint attack on Bahrein, and also that letters have been
forwarded to Sulten bin Suggur, requesting his co-operati m, and offering him the naval com-
Oiand of the expedition. It is not probable that a coalition of this description will take place,