'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎414] (456/733)

414
UTTOOBEES.
his power, and made good his escape from the hand of the enemy : and
finding that all his plans were frustrated, he determined to visit Koweit,
and there he arrived in safety, after effecting the seizure of a Bahrein
Gooncha he fell in with on the way. When the Resident became
acquainted with all the occurrences I have related, he wrote word to
Mahomed bin Khaleefa, that for any acts of piracy that might be
committed by Humeed bin Mujdeil he would be held responsible by
the British Government, that chief having become his constituted de
pendent, and therefore amenable to his authority. He also addressed
the Shaikh of Koweit, expressing a hope that he would not permit the
ex-chief to commit aggressions upon the trade of Bahrein so long as he
remained within his territory.
Matters continued somewhat in the same condition (Shaikh Abdoolla
residing at Koweit, and Mahomed bin Khaleefa
keeping up the blockade of the ports of Kateef
and Oojeer) until the summer of 1846, when the Wahabee Governor of
the former port (Kateef) had the presumption to address the Resident,
telling him that unless he took measures to expel the Amayir Chief
from the position he held, and made him restore a Gooncha and five
boats he had seized belonging to people of Kateef, he would let loose
the Beni Hajir and other tribes to commit all manner of piracy. By
way of reply to the above threat, Abdoolla bin Saeed was honoured
with a visit from two British cruisers, that were sent to warn him in a
friendly manner of the treatment he might expect to receive should he
dare to carry into execution his haughty menace.
At this juncture, too, the Persian Ministers seemed once more
inclined to espouse the cause of Abdoolla bin Ahmed; and notwith
standing the distinct intimation they had received that interference
by them with the affairs of the island of Bahrein would not be tolerated
by the British Government in India, the Regent of Fars went so
far as to invite the ex-chief in June 1846 to repair to Bushire, where,
he assured him, he should be liberally entertained at the expense
of His Highness, and could remain in peace and quiet until such
time as his plans were matured, and the season for action had
arrived. Whether or not His Majesty the Shah had any intention to
revive his asserted right to the sovereignty of Bahrein, or whether the
Regent of Fars had merely invited the ex-chief in hopes of being able
to realize from him an amount of tribute, it is difficult to say, and also,
from the turn that took place in affairs, a matter of but little importance;
for Abdoolla bin Ahmed, influenced no doubt by the favourable recep
tion he met with from Shaikh Jaubir (Chief of Koweit), and buoyed up,
perhaps, with the expectation of assistance from that chief, did not seem