'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎481] (523/733)

BENIYAS. 4gl
was to render neeessary the recall of all the fishing-boats belonging to
the parties concerned, and hostilities at sea, in the shape of aggressions
upon each other's boats (highly irregular, as being contrary to truce),
■were the result. An accommodation was, however, immediately effect
ed, by the mutual restoration of the slaves and plundered property, and
their boats returned to resume the fishery.
Subsequent to the meeting of the several maritime chieftains, who
a. d. 1839. ' Ia '' fieen assembled on board a British vessel,
Shaikh Khaleefa bin Shakboot, contrary to his
promise, held friendly communication with Syud bin Mootluk, the
Egyptian Agent; and it was not until required by the British authori
ties to declare openly, in writing, his views and intentions, that he
avowed Ins determination to abide by the wishes of the British Govern
ment, in opposing to the last extremity the Egyptian aggressions. In
direct opposition to all his pledges and engagements, however, Shaikh
Khaleefa proceeded in person with a force to the attack of the Naeem
nbe of Brymce, in pursuance, it was asserted, of an agreement be
tween himself and Syud bin Mootluk, by which he bound himself to
harass the people of that place by every means in his power, pending
the return of the Egyptian emissary with a large and efficient force.
The Naeem Tribe of Brymee, however, repulsed these treacherous
attacks, and gave him so severe a check that he proposed terms of peace,
which they in their turn rejected, being fully aware that his object was onlJ
to save his Bedouin allies from the retaliation they had lain themselves
open to at the hands of those they had so much injured. He contrived
subsequently to effect a peace with two out of the three tribes, upon the
understanding that all past aggressions were to be buried in oblivion-
but was nevertheless informed by the Resident, that if within the space
of three months he had not restored the camels belonging to Ras-ool-
lyma and Debaye, or did not produce a satisfactory letter from the
Brymee Chiefs, certifying that he had fully adjusted all the causes of
complamt existing against him, he would be considered an enemy to
the British Government, and compelled to pay down the sum of 1,000
erman ciovvns, as a moderate compensation for the injuries he had
inflicted upon the Naeem and Shuwamis Shaikhs, and as a punishment
Government raOS, SOlemn PledgeS ^ P ' 0miseS t0 ,he Brilish
On his at length, after some vain excuses, producing a letter from
a. d . 1840. t ' le Naeem Chiefs, acknowledging their terms
.... 0f friendsh ip with him, and their satisfaction
for injuries received, these demands were foregone, but conditionally
Egyptians re ,en0r COnt,UCt With refere " Ce t0 Brymee and