'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎329] (348/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
329
Notwithstanding this lesson, the Beni Yas chief, in March,
1852, sent out an armed vessel, and seized a bagarah belonging
to a Debaye merchant of Abu Thubi. The Resident, on
hearing of this infraction of the Maritime Truce, immediately
wrote a letter, demanding the immediate restitution of the
captured property and individuals; and Commodore Robinson,
who had just succeeded to the command of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
squadron, sailed for Abu Thubi, with a view, in the event of
contumacy being displayed by the delinquent chief, "to give
weight by his presence to the requisition proposed against him,
and to warn him of the consequences which must ensue from
such a wilful disregard of his engagements with the British
Government." The Beni Yas chief was amenable, as before,
to reason, when it assumed a material shape, and both the
property and prisoners were restored without demur.
Our faithful ally, the Imaum of Muscat, or more properly,
" Seyyid " Said, had often cause to congratulate himself on his
ancient and oft-exhibited friendship for the English, particu
larly on those critical occasions when the services of the Indian
Naval squadron were called into requisition to save his
kingdom from anarchy and secure his unstable seat upon the
throne. His Highness's sovereignty over portions of his rest
less Bedouin subjects, was often limited to the extraction of a
fluctuating amount of revenue.
On the 31st of May, 1829, a British ship, the 'Oscar,' being
wrecked a few miles south of Ras Roos,* on the Jaalan coast,
was boarded by some Beni-Boo-Ali Arabs, who plundered her
of cargo to the value of <£80,000. In consequence of represen
tations made to the Bombay Government by the underwriters
in India, Commodore Collinson sailed in the 6 Ternate,'
accompanied by the 'Fly' schooner, having on board the
Eesident, for Muscat, where was already assembled a squadron
of three of the Company's vessels of war from Bomba^y. A
portion of the cargo, consisting of Cashmere shawls, which had
found its way to Muscat, was recovered, and, on the 19th of
October, the British squadron sailed for Sohar, accompanied by
the Imaum, who was most anxious for restitution of the
property, with two of his frigates ; but after a minute investi
gation, no trace of any plundered cargo could be found.
From this place the Commodore and Resident proceeded to
Khor Jerameh,t where they had an interview^ with Mahomed
bin Ali, the famous chief of the Beni-Boo-Ali tribe. The
In 1852 the British ship 4 Centaur' was wrecked at this place ; the Bedouins,
accordiDg to their invariable custom, plundered her, but one of their vessels took
the crew to Muscat.
f This place, called also Bunder Jerami, is used by native vessels as a har-
our of refuge—in 1846 the Hon. Company's surveying brig, 'Palinurus,' found
iirty-nve baghalahs anchored here—but the town which is said to have formerly
existed on the south-western side, has long been abandoned for want of water.