'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎323] (342/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
323
Early in the year 1845, one Humeed bin Majdull, chief of
the Amayir, a small tribe occupying an island between Kateef
and Grane, having put to sea with three baghalahs, seized and
plundered a trading vessel belonging to Kharrack, and when
the nacodah, or native captain, represented that the property
he was plundering belonged to a British subject, that chief
laughed him to scorn and Insolently asked, 64 Who are the
English?" He was soon to have a reply to his question. It
was ascertained that the Amayir chief had, shortly before com
mitting this piracy, broken with part of his tribe, and quitting
his residence, Jezirat-Boo-Ali, took refuge with Mahomed bin
Khaleefa, the Bahrein Sheikh; but he soon parted from his
entertainer, and repaired with a large band of followers to a
small island called Gunnah, or Jinnah.* Here he established
himself, and, relying upon the strength of his position, as
owing to shoals the island was unapproachable to the cruisers,
gloried in his deeds of piracy, and expressed his utter contempt
for any endeavours the English might make to bring him to
punishment. As the piracy upon which he was now embarked
was of too flagrant a character 44 to admit of a compromise
being made regarding it," although it was in June, one of the
hottest months of the year. Commodore Hawkins sailed for
Gunnah with his flag-ship, the 4 Coote,' and the schooner
4 Constance,' Lieutenant Ford, in order to exact full satisfaction
from Humeed bin Majdull. Captain Kemball, the Assistant
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , who accompanied the Expedition, writes as
follows of its results 44 When the naval force approached the
pirate's den, and Humeed bin Majdull was called upon to afford
redress for the wrongs he had committed, he sent back a reply
of haughty defiance ; he declared his perfect indifference for any
ment in the following engagement:—1st. That the Gl-overnment cruisers, when
ever they may meet any vessel belonging to myself or my subjects, beyond a
direct line drawn from Cape Delgado, passing two degrees seaward of the island
of Socotra, and ending at Cape Graudel, and shall suspect that such vessel is
engaged in the slave trade, the said cruisers are permitted to detain and search
it. 2nd. Should it on examination be proved, that any vessel belonging to
myself or my subjects, is carrying slaves, whether men, women, or children, for
sale, beyond the aforesaid line, then the Government cruisers shall seize and
confiscate such vessel and her cargo. But if the aforesaid vessel shall pass
beyond the aforesaid line, owing to stress of weather or other cause of necessity,
not under control, then she shall not be seized. 3rd. As the selling of males and
females, whether grown up or young, who are " hoor," or free, is contrary to the
Mahomedan religion, and whereas the Soomali tribe is included in the "ahtar"
or free, I do hereby agree that the sale of males and females, whether young or old,
of the Soomali tribe, shall be considered as piracy, and that after four months
from this date all those of my people convicted of being concerned in such an act,
shall be punished the same as pirates.* "
* These islands lie along the coast, which extends between Kateef and Grrane
(or Koweit) in a north-westerly direction. This country is called Burr-el-Adan,
and is frequented by Bedouin tribes. Jezirat-Boo-Ali is the first large island to
the north-west of Kateef, and contiguous to the mainland. About eight miles to
the eastward of it lies Grunnah, now called El Jinnah on the charts.
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