'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎486] (528/733)

48G
BENIYAS.
that Khaleefa bin Shakboot set out, in the commencement of the
summer months, on a tour of the country around, and contrived, by a
rare combination of dexterity and skill, to induce the very tribes he
had but lately been plundering to forsake the Joasmees and enter into
alliance with himself. Other tribes, too, did he manage to win over to
his side,—indeed he appears to have conciliated the whole of the people
he met with; for Syud Humood bin Azan, Chief of Sohar, quitted his
territories, and repaired to Brymee to meet him ; Syud Kahtan bin Syf,
the Governor of Shinas, hastened to wait upon him ; and with one and
all was he said to have entered into a close and strict confederacy.
While at Brymee, too, he invited Shaikh Muktoom of Debaye to go
and join him, telling him he was anxious to settle the feuds existing
between himself and the people of Ghuflah. The Debaye Chief, how
ever, somewhat mistrustful of Khaleefa bin Shakboot's motives, politely
declining the kind invitation he had received, on the plea of the expect
ed arrival of a British vessel at his port, deputed his brother Syud bin
Butye to proceed and wait upon him, instead of himself.
In the month of December 1844, after Shaikh Khaleefa had returned
to Aboothabee, an affair occurred that led to endless correspondence
and trouble, which T will endeavour to describe in the fewest possible
words.
Shaikh Faris, the Chief of Chaab, at a time when all was peace and
quiet, took it into his head, without the slightest provocation, and upon
the frivolous pretext of a claim he possessed upon the Aboothabee
Tribe of more than thirty years' standing, to seize and detain a Buteel
belonging to the subjects of Shaikh Khaleefa bin Shakboot, that happen
ed to touch at the port of Mohumrah. This aggression, as uncalled for
as it was sudden, led to an appeal to the Resident by the Shaikh of
Aboothabee, who begged that officer either to cause full reparation to
be afforded him, or to permit him to proceed with his maritime forces
against the presumptuous Shaikh Faris.
The Resident, after inquiring into the particulars of the case, and
finding that the Chaab Chief had acted in a most unjustifiable manner,
addressed a communication to Shaikh Faris, pointing out to him the
injustice of his behaviour, and advising him to release the Buteel, and
everything appertaining to her.
Shaikh Faris not only disregarded this appeal to his feelings, but
expressed his intention to commit further injuries upon the people of
Aboothabee, unless their chief chose to make good the claims he insist
ed he had a full right to demand,—claims, it may here be observed,
that not only referred to occurrences which transpired previous to
Shaikh Khaleefa assuming the reins of government, but which, also,
"Weye found to have been forfeited by the course of subsequent events.