'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎25v] (55/180)

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Manasir despatched by Shaikh Tahnun-bin-Shakhbut; and war against Abu Dhabi
was immediately declared on his part and on that of the Shaikh of Sharjah. A
peace was shortly patched up by the Shaikh of Lingeh, no doubt with the object
of postponing matters until the end of the pearl season; but in September it was
broken by subjects of Sharjah, who attacked two pearl boats of the Bani Yas near
Bahrain, an act to which the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi immediately replied by seizing
14 vessels of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. that happened to call at his port tor^provisions. A
partial adjustment of claims now took place, but in December 18 j 1 the situation
was again strained; no further serious operations however took place.
Determined In 1833, encouraged by a split among the Bani Yas and the secession of
but ineffec- the Ba Fal a Sa h section and others from Abu Dhabi to Dibai, Shaikh Sultan-
oTshlrjah bin-Saqar resolved on a supreme attempt to overthrow, once for all, the power of
to crush his hated rival the Bani Yas Shaikh.
Abu Dhabi, All Sharjah subjects having been hurriedly recalled from the pearl banks
1833-34. j n t h e height of the diving season, much to their discontent, a naval expedition
against Abu Dhabi was prepared without delay; it consisted of 22 boats carrying
520 Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , under the command of Shaikhs Sultan-bin-Saqar and Hasan-bin-
Rahmah, and of 80 boats manned by 700 of the A1 Bu Falasah and other refugees
at Dibai. On the afternoon of the 10th September 1833 the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. and their
allies landed at a point about four miles from Abu Dhabi, which town they
expected to find almost deserted and to capture without dilficulty on the morrow;
but the Shaikhs of the Bani Yas had received sufficient notice of the intended attack
to collect a large number of their own tribe and of Manasir Bedouins; and, when
the sun rose, the invaders discovered that they were surrounded by a vastly superior
force. Seized by panic they fled to their vessels; but most of these, left high and
dry by the tide, were not available for escape. Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar himself
was nearly drowned by the sinking of a small boat, in which he had put to sea along
with four of his slaves. The losses of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. on this occasion amounted to
30 men killed, including a brother of the Shaikh of Lingeh; and six of their vessels,
one a Batil, were taken. Of the Bani Yas allies 15 were killed, and 235 were taken
prisoners and compelled to return to their homes at Abu Dhabi, while oi the 80
boats contributed by the Bani Yas dissidents no less than 60 were captured.
The Shaikh of Sharjah did not, however, abandon his enterprise, but by means
of alliances with the Shaikhs of 'Ajman and Lingeh got together a fresh fleet, which
sailed from Dibai on the 9th of November 1833. Having arrived before Abu
Dhabi, Sultan-bin-Saqar during three days endeavoured to take the place by direct
naval attack; but his attempts were defeated by a large mixed garrison of
townsmen and Bedouins, whose fire from six or seven large vessels moored by
iron chains to the shore was very effective and even damaged the Baghlah Large trading vessel. ol
Shaikh Sultan himself. A blockade was accordingly substituted on the part of
the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , by which the defenders of the town scon found themselves reduced
to serious straits; and the departure of Saiyid Sa'id from Masqat to his African
possessions destroyed, about the same time, their last hope of assistance trom
without. To add to the troubles of the besieged, thirty of their boats were captured
by the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. at some distance from Abu Dhabi; ten of their men were killed
in an engagement with the people of Dibai; and a caravan of 50 camels bringing
dates from Baraimi to Abu Dhabi was intercepted by the enemy.
The garrison, however, did not lose heart, but under cover of night sent three
large vessels carrying 500 men to sea; these were pursued by a detachment of
20 sail from the blockading fleet, but were not overtaken. The first exploit of
the escaped vessels was the capture of an Ajman Baqarah near Bustaneh; out
of the crew of eight men, seven were put to death. Then they attacked a Masqat
Baghlah Large trading vessel. , killed five of her crew, and plundered her of a quantity of dates, Rs. 3,000
in "cash and all her guns,—a piratical proceeding for which they afterwards
voluntarily accounted 'to the Masqat authorities without the intervention ol the
British Resident. After this, a pursuing Qasimi squadron coming in sight, they
made sail for home and regained Abu Dhabi in salety.
Meanwhile Shaikh Khalifah-bin-Shakhbut of Abu Dhabi had succeeded in
inflicting deterrent punishment on the Ghafalah and other Bedouin tribes who had
assisted the people of Dibai in cutting off his supplies by land, and the discomforts
endured by the crews of the blockading (leet were hardly less than those which the
inhabitant's of the beleaguered town suffered: for the provisions and water of the
fleet had to be obtained from Lingeh and Ras-al-Khaimah, and each individual
on board was required to make the arrangements for his own supply. Finally, in
1834, a peace was arranged through the Shaikh of Lingeh, the Shaikh of Abu