'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎140] (182/733)

140 UTTOOBEES.
UTTOOBEE TKIBE OF ARABS.—BAHREIN'.
Date.
A. D. 1716
1766-75
1776
177'
1782-83
Occurrences.
The Beni Subah, A1 Yalahiraah and A1 Khaleefa, consider
able tribes of Arabs, the first under Shaikh Soleyman bin
Ahmed, the second under Jaubir bin Uttoobee, and the
third under Khaleefa bin Mahomed, enter into a compact,,
and take possession of Koweit, belonging to the Persians.
Khaleefa bin Mahomed, with a portion of his tribe, passes
over and settles at Zobara, where, after gradually drawing
over the rest of his own tribe, completely separating him
self fropi the other two, he establishes his independence.
The Yalahimah, shortly after expelled from the port and
town of Koweit by the Beni Subah, seek and obtain the
protection of their kinsmen at Zobara. Quarrelling in a
few years, they quit Zobara, and take up their residence
at Raveish, a barren spot, a short distance eastward of
Zobara.
A desperate feud arises between the tribes, which terminates
in the almost total destruction of the Yalahimah.
On the attack of Eussora by the Persians, some of the mer
chants of that place, and one of the Shaikhs of Koweit, with
many of the principal people, retire to Zobara, and the
power, wealth, and influence of the Beni Khaleefa rapidly
increase.
The fears and jealousy of Shaikh Nassir, the Persian C4o-
vernor of Bushire and Bahrein, are thereby excited. His
repeated attempts, however, to reduce Zobara, are
ineffectual.
On the death of Kureern Khan, and the warfare and confu
sion which ensue, the Zobara Arabs make a descent upon
Bahrein, compel Shaikh Nassir to retire to the fort, and,
having plundered and destroyed the town, return to
Zobara.
A military force, in a large fleet from the Persian Coast,
blockade Zobara, and, after some fruitless and unsuccessful
negotiations on the part of the Arabs, assisted by Shaikh
Rashid, of Ras-ool-Khyma, land to storm the place ; but,
resolutely attacked by an unexpectedly large force, are