'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎322] (364/733)

322
JOASMEES.
Jn April 1828, Ras-ool-Khyma was visited by the British authority in
the Gulf of Persia, who thus speaks of its state
IgOg 1
at that time :—" A square tower, of no great
strength, has been built on the mound raised by the ruins of the strong
outwork destroyed after the siege in 1819. A straight stone wall nearly
connects one side of the town with the backwater or harbour, but as
Yet there are no defences towards the sea, excepting two old guns. The
ruins of the old walls and towers serve as stone quarries, and the town
of Ras-ool-Khyma is rapidly increasing. The houses are of stone and
chunam, and, although small, are carefully built, and remarkably neat,
even with some finish. Building is yet very cheap, from the old mate
rials being so close at hand ; and Shaikh Sultan is said to encourage it."
About this time, when a profound peace had happily extended itself
over every part of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the commercial inhabitants were
thrown into considerable alarm, in consequence of a very daring and
atrocious piracy being committed by a man named Mooslim bin Rashid
(an inhabitant of Ras -ool-Khyma), upon a boat from Sohar, on the Coast
of Batinah. This vessel, after being plundered of cargo to the value of
three or four thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , and the whole of her crew, fourteen in
number, being tied to a grapnel), and thrown overboard, was scuttled,
and sunk. The pirate Buteel, after selling portions of the plunder, was
met off Lingah by a Buggalow Large trading vessel. which Shaikh Sultan (alarmed at the
probable consequences of this infamous proceeding, and the strong
remonstrance addressed to him) had sent in pursuit. A sharp action
ensued, which terminated by the Buteel being run on shore at Lingah,
and Mooslim bin Rashid, together with the greater part of his crew,
made prisoners, and carried off to Ras-ool-Khyma. Shortly afterwards,
Shaikh Sultan having assembled the heads of tribes, laid the affair
before them, and at the same time mentioned his fears of being brought
to a severe reckoning by the British Government. In consequence, it
was unanimously resolved that Mooslim bin Rashid should be put to
death ; he was accordingly taken out of his prison during the night by
four of Shaikh Sultan's slaves, and, having been conveyed to the sea
beach, was there strangled, and buried ; declaring, however, with his
dying breath, that the piracy had been committed under the knowledge
and approbation of the Joasmee Shaikh, who, he further stated, had even
given him a document in writing to that effect, w r hich he had lost when
his Buteel was captured.
The rest of the crew were kept in close confinement for several
months; but were subsequently set at liberty with the consent of His
Highness the Imaum, to whom the pirate vessel, together with all the
plundered cargo recovered, had been given up.