'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎325] (344/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
325
and to warn him that should he dare to carry his threat into
execution he might expect the treatment that awaited all those
who attempted to prev upon British, or other legitimate, com
merce in the Gulf. In the following year, the intervention of
Commodore Lowe, in the ' Elphinstone,' prevented the outbreak
of hostilities between the troops of Esai bin Tariff, an ally of
Mahomed bin Ahmed, ex-chief of Bahrein, and those of
Mahomed bin Khaleefa, the reigning Sheikh of that island,
until the permission of the Resident being obtained, a battle
took place, which resulted in the death of the former chief,
and the ru'in of the cause of Mahomed bin Ahmed* _
In 1850 some Bedouins, owing allegiance to the Sheikh of Bah
rein, committed an act of piracy, npon which Commodore Porter,
who'had succeeded Commodore Lowe in the command of the Per
sian Gulf squadron, proceeded to the island, and exacted compen
sation to the Nacodah and crew to the value of the plundered
cargo; it was much to the interest of this powerful chief to
keep on good terms with the English, for not only had the
Eesident, under instructions from Bombay, intimated to him in
September, 1849, that although his Government declined to
take him specifically under its government, yet the squadron
would prevent any attack on Bahrein from the Wahabee and
other confederated"chiefs, but, in the previous June, one of the
cruisers conveyed back to the island some of the most influential
of the merchants, who, disgusted at the Sheikh's arbitrary pro
ceedings, had quitted Bahrein and taken up their quarters at
Kenn. Notwithstanding these favours, Mahomed bin Khaleefa
exhibited the petulance and arrogance characteristic of all
these ignorant Arab chiefs, for, scarcely had he given satisfac
tion to Commodore Porter in 1850, than, irritated at some
slight cause, he sent messages to Colonel Hennell, of the
most " insulting and unbecoming character," applying to the
British Government as well as to the Resident personally. A
ship-of-war was at once despatched to Bahrein to demand
explanations, and the Sheikh, repenting his ebullition of anger,
deputed his brother. Sheikh Ali, to Bushire, to offer his humble
apologies. The Resident, in reply dated October, 1850, ex
pressed his willingness to forgive all expressions as regarded
himself personally, but to such as " bore reference to the
British Government as well as to himself. Colonel Hennell con-
# The Uttoobees of Bahrein were always among the least predatory of the Arab
tribes of the Grulf, the great pecuniary interests involved in the maintenance of
the pearl fisheries probably acting as a restraining influence. However, oc^
casionally the cloven hoof of Bedouin lawlessness would show itself, but the only
instance of importance was in 1834, when the sons of Sheikh Abdoolla bin
Ahmed ill-treated and insulted the Native British Agent. As the father afforded
no reparation, the Indian Naval squadron appeared at Bahrein, when the Sheikh
restored the money that had been extracted from the Agent, and presented him
with a khelut, or dress of honour } on board the Commodore's ship.