'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎422] (464/733)

422
UTTOOBEES.
vernment also. Explanation was demanded, and a ship of war des
patched for the purpose of receiving the explanation. Shaikh Mahomed
bin Khaleefa, repenting the hastiness of his conduct, deputed his
brother, Shaikh Ali, to Bushire, to offer his humblest apologies,
and to crave the Resident's forgiveness. The Resident declared
his willingness (October 1850) to forgive all that had been said
so far as concerned himself alone, but as the expressions used by
Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa "bore reference to the British Govern
ment as well as to himself. Colonel Hennell considered it due to the
dignity of the former, that on the first occasion of the Commodore
proceeding to Bahrein the Uttoobee Chief should visit him on board his
ship, and personally express his regret that anything incautiously
spoken by himself, in a moment of irritation, should have been consider
ed offensive or disrespectful to the British Government; and to this
suggestion Shaikh Ali readily consented on the part of his brother."
We are now on the eve of great events,—of disturbances that again
arose between Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa and the ^/Vahabee
Ameer. Fresh complications are presented to our view ;—new dis
orders, in new shapes and new forms, of so violent and so dangerous
a character, at this period occurred, that the Bahrein island was con
vulsed, and well nigh falling a prey to the combined attacks upon its
independence.
Some three years before, it will be remembered, a peace was
concluded between the Uttoobee Chief and Ameer Fysul. This peace
had run a course smooth and uninterrupted, either party adhering to
the terms whereunto he had pledged himself, until the present time,
when divers matters transpired to engender a feeling of jealousy and
enmity, which shortly after led to a rupture.
In the month of April 1850, Syud bin Mootluk repaired to the neigh
bourhood of Bahrein, and, on arrival, deputed his son on a visit to
Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa, who received his guest with the utmost
formality and coldness, and permitted him to leave the island without
showing him the slightest mark of honour or respect. Howevei
imprudent such an act on the part of the Shaikh may have been, how
ever likely to be attended with grave results,—we cannot with justice
blame his conduct; for only a short time previous to this occurrence
Mahomed bin Abdool Raheem had been sent by Ameer Fysul on a
mission to Shaikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa, and every attention, every
show of distinction had been heaped upon the envoy, who quitted
Bahrein loaded with presents, and highly elated with the treatment
he had experienced. These presents, these favours, one and all did
they rob him of, when he returned to Kateef, and by order of the Ameer
they confined Mahomed bin Abdool Raheem for having accepted the