'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎420] (462/733)

420
UTTOOBEES.
the British Agent was eventually set at liberty, ere a reply to a reference
made on the subject by Hajee Jassim had been received. This
proceeding being, in point of fact, nothing more or less than a direct
violation of an agreement entered into with the British Agent, was
strongly condemned by Colonel Hennell, and led to a humble apology
being offered Jay the Shaikh for his unfaithful conduct, together with a
promise that he would do his utmost to seize and detain both Khaleefa
and his vessel.
From the day that Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa had assumed the
reins of government, his mind had been one continued succession of
hopes and fears; and no sooner had he been relieved from some heavy
weight of anxiety or impending calamity, than the clouds were again
observed to gather, and fresh troubles assailed him.
About this period occurred the death, at Muskat, of Abdoolla bin
Ahmed, who had touched at that port on his way to Zanzibar, whither
he was proceeding on a visit to his once deadly enemy, the Imaum of
Muskat, hoping to be able to prevail upon His Highness to aid him in
the recovery of his lost possessions. Such an occurrence as this tended,
no doubt, greatly to dissipate the fears entertained by Shaikh Mahomed
bin Khaleefa. Tile relief, however, was not of long duration, for four of
the principal merchants of the Bahrein island, disgusted, it was said,
with the arbitrary proceedings of the Shaikh, had in January 1849
secretly fled to the Persian Coast, and, taking up their quarters upon
the island of Kenn, united themselves to the disaffected Uttoobee^, who,
already strong in numbers, being joined by parties of such weight and
influence as these, became a most formidable enemy, and increased the
alarm of the Shaikh to so great an extent that he deputed his brother.
Shaikh Ali, to Bushire, to seek aid and advice from the Resident.
Shaikh Ali was told, on arrival, that although the British Government
would never permit of an expedition being organised from the Persian
Coast for the purpose of attacking Bahrein, and the British cruisers
would most assuredly seize or destroy any armed vessels found
proceeding with such intent, yet, there being many and distant calls for
the services of the vessels of the squadron, it was highly necessary that
Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa should keep a strict look-out, and be
well prepared to resist any sudden or unexpected attack that might,
perchance, be made upon his territories during the absence of the ships
of war. The Resident also strongly counselled him to strive, by
conciliatory measures, to induce the seceders to return and settle upon
the island. How far he followed the advice of the Resident does not
appear, but through the intervention of that officer was a reconciliation
subsequently effected between the Shaikh of Bahrein and \oosoof bin
Ibrahim, the most influential of the four merchants who seceded from the