'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎17] (36/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
17
acts of that portion of the Beni Yas, established at Abu ThubL
had demanded severe repressive measures on the part of the
Hon. Company's cruisers, but they were now to receive a lesson
which was not forgotten during the remaining thirty years of
the existence of the Service. After the occurrence, of which
we will now give a detailed account, the officers of the cruisers
landing at Abu Thnbi and other ports on this coast, were
of the Company's ships to enforce reparation. Although the piracy was committed
in May, 1832, it was not until early in the following year, owing to Sheikh
Nassir's proceedings at Bushire urgently requiring the presence of the cruisers of
the G-ulf squadron, that the Resident's demand upon him for the delivery of the
culprits, or the payment of 1,500 German crowns, was acceded to, by the
adoption of the latter alternative. The satisfaction thus afforded, however, put
it out of the power of the Sheikh of Sharjah to excuse any further delay in
making good his share of the value of the property plundered; and the Com
modore of the Gulf squadron accordingly called upon him to disburse the sum of
2,000 German crowns. Owing to non-compliance, the vessels of war despatched
on this duty found it necessary to destroy a batil belonging to Sharjah, lying near
Ejman. In April, 1833, Sheikh Tahnoon's life was sacrificed to the ambition and
jealousy of his two brothers, Khaleefa and Sultan, whom he had recalled from
banishment at the earnest entreaty of their father. Discovered in plotting
against their brother, Sheikh Khaleefa, having concealed a loaded pistol under his
clothes, shot Tahnoon in the side, when Sultan immediately despatched him with
his dagger.
The Company's surveying vessels in 1826 received much attention from this
Chief, who engaged in the games with which officers and men while on shore
passed away their time. On one occasion an officer, seeing the Chief overhauling
him in a foot race in which they had been matched, threw himself across the
Sheikh's path, when Tahnoon fell headlong over his opponent. Like a gentle
man, however, he retained his temper and congratulated the officer on the
successful ruse. While Tahnoon lived, the reduction of the tribe to submission
promised much difficulty to the Wahabee chief: for the late Sheikh, says
Wellsted, retained in his pay four hundred men, well armed and equipped; but
the first act of the usurpers was to tender allegiance and the payment of tribute
to Toorkey bin Saood, the Wahabee leader, who intimated to the Joasmi chief
that they were under his protection, and that he would permit no aggressions upon
them. The oppressive and arbitrary conduct of the usurpers very soon disgusted
the tribe, and a conspiracy was formed in August, 1833, for their murder; this,
however, was discovered, but the discontent created by their proceedings induced
two branches of the Beni Yas, the Boo Felasa and Rumsha, consisting of about
eight hundred persons, to proceed to Debaye, which, after a little hesitation and
delay, was given up to them by the Beni Yas governor, when they summoned
the rest, who were on the pearl banks, to join them there. Taking advantage of
these dissensions, the Joasmi Sheikh, Sultan bin Suggur, on the 7th of September,
proceeded to Abu Thubi with a combined force, consisting of seven hundred men
of the Boo Felasa and Rumsha tribes in eighty boats, and five hundred and
twenty of his own men in twenty-two boats, in the full conviction that the place
would be taken without difficulty. The threatened attack, however, had the
effect of settling the disputes between Sheikh Kaleefa, Sultan, and the father
Shakboot, and a force of three thousand five hundred men of the Beni Yas and
Monasir tribes had been assembled in Abu Thubi. The invaders were taken by
surprise and suffered a severe defeat, and Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur had a narrow
escape from drowning. The Joasmi chief now blockaded Abu Thubi, but at
length, after much plundering at sea and fighting on land. Sheikh Kaleefa sent
his father, Shakboot, to Sharjah, who succeeded in concluding a peace with Sultan
bin Suggur, one of the conditions being that the Boo Felasa, the branch of the
Beni Yas residing in Debaye, should thenceforth be under the authority of the
Joasmis. At length, in the middle of 1834, the people of Abu Thubi committed
acts of piracy which drew down upon them the severe chastisement detailed
above.
VOL. II.
C