'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎326] (345/622)

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY,
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sidered it due to the dignity of the former that, on the first
occasion of the Commodore's proceeding to Bahrein, the
Uttoobee Chief should visit him, and personally express his
regret that anything incautiously spoken by himself, in a
moment of irritation, should have been considered offensive
or disrespectful to the British Government." To this sugges
tion a ready consent was given by Sheikh All on the part of his
brother, and, in due course. Sheikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa
proceeded on board Commodore Porter's pennant ship, and
made the amende honorable to the majesty of the British
Government.
Humeed bin Majdull, the Amayir Chief, was a true Bedouin
of the Ishmaelite type, whose hand was against every man; in
him piracy was bred in the bone and perforce manifested itself
in the flesh. The severe lesson he had received in 1846, had not
taught him prudence, or the conviction that it was vain to war
against the invincible British Government. In 1854, he was as
aggressive and insolent as ever, and it was found necessary to
have recourse to what a French diplomatist once called saignee,
a little blood-letting, before the body politic could be restored to
a healthy condition. Humeed bin Majdull—otherwise known
among his compeers as a Sahail bin Ateesh," or "the Sun of
the Morning Star," because he eluded the cruisers, and was said
to be a myth—had captured a large baghalah, and replied to
the repeated remonstrances of the 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 went
there in person to demand its restitution, by defiant messages
and a refusal to yield up what he had gotten by his strong arm
in the manner of his ancestors in the days before the Company
assumed the police of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; he even went so far
as to tell Captain Kemball that the territory belonged to the
Sultan of Turkey, and pointed to the Turkish flag flying oyer
him as affording protection from the British demands. The
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. now applied to Bombay for instructions, and
was directed to employ force. Accordingly the matter was
placed in the hands of Commodore Robinson,* and, in November,
1854, that officer sailed for El Kateef, in his flagship, the 4 Olive,'
accompanied by the 'Falkland,' Commander Hewett; 4 Tigris,
Lieutenant Foulerton (an active officer who had been Second
Lieutenant of the 6 Coote,' in 1846, when Commodore Hawkins
brought Humeed to his senses) ; and 4 Constance,' Lieutenant
Crane. The Arab chief had established himself and his
piratical crew, consisting of no less than two thousand des
perate and well-armed men, at Anich, near El Kateef, where,
owing to the water being so shoal that ships' boats could not
approach within eight miles of his position, he thought he w T as
safe from all attack. He counted, however, without his host,
* Commodore Porter's term of service expired in April, 1852, when he was
succeeded by Commodore Gr. Eobinson.