'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎105v] (210/344)

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Part VI—Chap. XLII-
collected a large force of Bedouins and citizens, and moored with iron chains
to the shore six or seven of their largest vessels, well manned, for the protection
of their shipping. After a cannonade of three days, which was promptly and
effectually answered by the besieged, Sheikh Sultan's baggalow having received
two shots in her hull, his whole fleet weighed out of range of the guns on shore,
and anchoring confined itself to the maintenance of a close,blockade. The
besieged were shortly reduced to the greatest distress from the want of pro
visions, and the departure of His Highness the Imam for his African posses
sions removed all prospect of relief from foreign assistance. Their difficulties
were further greatly increased by the capture of thirty of their boats in Khyran
Beniyas, and the loss of ten men killed by the people of Debayee (of the
seceded tribe), who, also acting on the offensive by land, intercepted and
carried off a caravan of fifty camels, laden with dates from Brymi.
326. Presssd by famine, they fitted out three boats, manned with five
hundred men, and secretly despatched them to sea by night. Twenty vessels
of the blockading squadron went in pursuit, but unable to come up with them
returned after three days to resume their position off Abuthabi, reinforced by
some additional vessels from Bussora. The blockading squadron was not with-
out its difficulties and privations : provisions and water had to be brought from
Kas-ul-Khima and Lingah, and each individual being required to send for
his own food, great suffering was experienced.
327. Both parties, therefore, tiring of these protracted hostilities, and dis
posed to come to an arrangement, a peace was easily effected, through the
mediation of Mahomed bin Guzib, the Lingah Chief, on the condition that
Sheikh Kalifa bin Shakbut should give up all the boats and pro] erty his
people had captured since the commencement of the war; and the blockading
fleets were withdrawn.
The "Wahabis were desirous of befriending the Beniyas in this quarrel,
but the threats of their representatives at Brymi proved insufficient to over
awe the Joasmi Chief (whereby a decrease of the power of the sect at that
time may be argued), and had the effect only of restraining the Bedouins from
affording any assistance to Hussein bin Hahmah, who had been despatched into
the interior to raise troops for the purpose of cutting off the communication
with Abuthabi by land.
828. At the period of the disturbances in the Imaum's dominions, owing
to the aggressions of his relative Hamud bin Azan, Sultan bin Saggar
proceeded with a large fleet to his possession of Khore Fakaun and Dibba.
Although formerly requested by the Imam to assist his representatives in
Maskat in any quarrels with their neighbours, it was evident that, far from any
intention to exert his power and influence in favour of His Highness's relatives,
his sole object was to avail himself of the state of affairs to benefit and promote
his own interests at the expense of either party.
329. The proceedings of his fleet, however, were not confined to depreda
tions upon the boats belonging to Sohar and its dependencies, as the enemies
of the Imam, whose interest he pretended to serve, as also upon the property
of the subjects of the Maskat Government, his ally, but were extended to acts
of a decidedly piratical nature, upon the vessels of individuals having no
concern or connection whatever with the contending parties. For these of
course he was compelled by the British Government to afford redress; hut
with reference to the seizures of vessels belonging to Maskat, the acting
Governors of that place, fearing to incur his more decided enmity, so far from
remonstrating, tacitly, and in some cases openly, sanctioned them.
330. In 1837 Sheikh Sultan bin Saggar applied for permission to grant
assistance to the Sheikh of Touoanah against him of Charrak, both Persian sub
jects, who were preparing to decide their quarrel by the sword,—a request with
which his engagement connected with the establishment of the restrictive
line of course afforded one just plea, among others, to the Resident, for
refusing compliance.
331. The people of Elra, under the authority of Sultan bin Saggar,
committing a piracy upon a boat belonging to Bunder Abbas, that Chief of his
own accord compelled restitution of the property plundered, and adopted
measures to prevent a recurrence of the offence.