'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎383] (425/733)

UTTOOBEES. 383
Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed, who with his sons Moobaruk and Nas-
a o 1833 S ^ r rema ^ ne ^ ^ or a length of time at his pos
sessions on the Guttur Coast, to watch the pro
ceedings of the Wahabees, now made up his mind to refuse allegiance to
them, and to retaliate all attempts at aggression. His first step was'to
endeavour to induce the Imaum of Muskat, which he did successfuHy,
to pledge'himself not to interfere in the event of hostilities breaking out
between Bahrein and Shaikh Toorkey, and the next to confederate-the
neighbouring Arab Tribes who were inclined to fall into his views and
designs of opposition to the extension of Wahabee authority, and induce
them, by money and promises, to make incuTsions into all parts of their
territories.
He secretly instigated the Amayir Tribe, who, quarrelling with Shaikh
Toorkey, left the neighbourhood of Kateef, and taking up their position
in Demaum, established a very close blockade of the former port,
plundering all vessels that attempted to enter, and putting to death all
inhabitants of Kateef found on board any boats whatever.
At this time a gross insult was offered to the British Government in
a. d. 1834. i he person of its Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , by the sons of
Shaikh Abdoolla bin Ahmed. The cause of
dispute would appear to have been a sum of money due by the Agent,
on account of some mercantile transactions, to the Shaikh himself, which
his sons were desirous of possessing, in opposition to their fathers
wishes. They demanded, and by abuse and ill-treatment enforced,
payment of certain large sums of money ; nor would the old Shaikh
either settle the matter with them, or protect the Agent against their
extortion. Hie offence was aggravated by a repetition of the ill-treat
ment while the Agent was actually employed in his official duties,
having left his concealment for the purpose of going on board a British
vessel then in the harbour. This, and the failure of early remonstrances
in obtaining redress, rendered it imperative that some public and
undeniable reparation should be insisted upon. The appearance of a
respectable force, and the threat of resorting to coercive measures, at
length induced the Shaikh to comply with the demand upon him, that
his son, or, in the event of his failing to do so, he himself, should come
on board the senior officer's vessel, with a Khelut or dress of honour for
the Agent, and that the persons who had been instrumental in the ill-
treatment should be flogged, either on board the ship, or alongside 1 in
one of his own boats, in presence of the crew.
On the demise of Toorkey bin Saood, and the absence of his son and
successor, Fysul, from Kateef, Shaikh Abdoolla.bin Ahmed succeed-ed,
by bribery, in obtaining possession of the fort of Tirhoot, a dependency