'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎463] (505/733)

IS |
BENIYAS. 403
to poverty through the loss of their cattle, took up their abode on the
shores of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on the line of coast between Debaye, and a
short distance from the island upon which the town of Aboothabee now
stands, but which at that time, from its being supposed to be wholly
destitute of water, was uninhabited. It was, however, sometimes visited
by the Beniyas fishermen, as a place well adapted for the prosecution
of their employment; but on these occasions they were under the
necessity of taking their supplies of water with them. One of these
individuals, however, having occasion to dig into the ground was
delighted to find the pit fill with tolerable water; a discovery which
induced the visitors to take up their permanent residence upon the
island of Aboothabee.
The first establishment (which consisted of twenty houses) took place
a. d . 1761 to 1763. about the year 1761. The intelligence of water
having been found quickly spread through the
tribe and before two years had elapsed the place had increased to four
hundred houses ; from which period to the present additions to the
population and dwellings have been constantly making. The Shaikhs
0 the tribe for many years continued to reside in the interior, payino-
occasional visits to Aboothabee, and receiving presents from the
inhabitants According to one opinion, the original founder of the
uboo Fulah family was Shaikh Yas bin Amer bin Ghes bin Nuzur
(From the last the t Prophet of Islam is said to be descended.) It is
^wever, asserted by others that Shaikh Tahnoon's ancestor was'
Zhelal, a lineal descendant of Gharrem^ool-Zeighee. Nothing, how-
ever, appeals to be known regarding his successors until after the
death of the great grandfather of Shaikh Shakboot, the father of the
sZT* ^ 0f Ab00thabee - This P^son left four sons, named Inhian,
!n<l the B 10m T k an - TheSe Soon with each other,
the Beniyas Tnbe, being consequently divided into four parties, a
1 T"T7 T pro, '' acted contest was carried on between them. On the
c eath of the three first, they were succeeded by their respective sons, Esa
n Inluan, Zaed bin Mahomed, and Sultan bin Saadoon, during whose
son Zhcab f.h ^ ^ V ' m]ent - ^ WaS suocee d e d by Us
son Zheab, a the nominal head of the Beniyas. The new chief observing
that the inclinations of the bulk of the tribe were inclined to his unci!
Zaed bin Mahomed, availed himself of a favourable opportunity and
over the ^h ^ ^ ^ -^lishedhis
ei the v..lole of the Beniyas. He continued to govern undisturbed
or some time, until a grandson of Mahomed, named Huza bin Zaed
w resided in Aboothabee, endeavoured to stir up the neighbourin"
tribes against Mm. At this time Shaikh Zheab resided in theTnterio.
paying only occasional visits to his capital.