Supplement to the Gazette of India containing copies of correspondence relating to operations at Bahrain [‎2r] (3/10)

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SUPPLEMENT TO THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, JANUARY 22, 1870. G1
the boats close in with intention of isolating the fort by a line of small arms-
men across the spit. Some men from the fort then came down and parleyed
They strenuously denied the existence of Mahomed bin Khalifeh, but after bein^
^ suitably reminded of consequences agreed to surrender him, if only we would
permit them to communicate with the garrison. A few minutes afterwards
some of the garrison brought Mahomed bin Khalifeh down to the boats in irons,
and thus fell into our hands by a short manoeuvre this fierce old Chief, who has
for a generation past shown himself an incorrigible tyrant and pirate, and a stand
ing annoyance to successive Residents. It is characteristic of the man that
immediately his irons were removed, he first set to praying, then drank vi^or-
o-lyof coffee, and finally requesting a private interview, explained to "me
that if I were really an able man, I should replace him in power, or, failing
this, that the next best course would be to let him rouse the whole coast line
against every body else.
1 • nr 0 ; 0 , n , th( 5 moraill g of tiic 20tli we learnt that the Bedouins of Nauser
bin Mobarek had assembled in large numbers on the shore line below the
Menameh 1 ort, and threatened a night attack on the vessels. We further
learnt that the tribes and_ inhabitants in general wore in terror of violence from
the pirate Chiefs and their followers.
™ • } 7 '' /. To . mee f • ihese circumstances, a letter was addressed to the head
Chief informing him that if injury occurred, the ships would open fire.
- eantime Clyde was brought back to the anchorage opposite Menameh.
at i P 1 ™? 21st a further letter was addressed to Mahomed bin
Jdullah, mlormmg him that the proceedings and movements of Nauser bin
xUoharek had compelled us to resolve on dislodging him from the Menameh Fort
and we simultaneously addressed a letter to the head of the tribes on the coast
line, requesting that neither men nor animals might be allowed to embark.
Ii 0n i3 0 2 " n 1 rl VhflB was run in to the inner anchorage immediately
opposite the Menameh lort, while the boats in charge of Lieutenant Acklom
took up a Hank position commanding one of the gates. Nauser and his Bedou
ins were speedily shelled out of the fort with loss, and received the fire of the
small arms on emerging.
20. Nauser bin Mobarek then fled to a private house further inland.
A spy indicated the building, and a sh^ll bursting in Nauser's room again com-
polled him to fly with loss. 3
21 During the nights of the 22nd and 23rd information was brought
to us of Nauser bin Mobarek being lodged in a musjid close to the shore
line of the Bahrein Island. TV e therefore took the boats with intent to a nMit
surprise, but the Pilot mistaking the channel in the dark, the boats grounded
and had to return. Nauser, however, discovered our movement at davbreak
and retreated inland to the hill fort Euffah. 5
22. On the 2-lth the winter set in and suspended all operations duriii"
three days. 0
rr . 2 i ^ 0rl ^i 10 27 i tll . tlll, ce craft attempting to run the blockade were fired on.
iwo oi them then desisted, but one ran on and was burnt.
2L At sunset of the 27th intelligence reached us that Shaik Nusser -i
sort oi treasurer and general minister to the pirate Cliiefs, had sailed across to
Moharrag m view to an interview with his master, and that he would probably
return after dark to Menameh. lie was surprised accordingly in his boat while
returning, and was brought on board Clyde, This is the man alluded to in
tormer reports as having been the recipient of a large portion of the plunder
and without whose aid the pirate Chiefs and Bedouins could not have subsisted!
. 25 - learning on the 28th that Ahmed bin Abdullah, brother to the head
pirate Chief, had been appointed to the charge of the Menameh Fort, firm-
was re-opened on it; and Nymphe with Hugh Rose in tow arrivin-