Indian Antiquary Vol 49

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 105

JUNE, 1920]
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
101
treasure chest and was in the act of making off with its contents, when one Moorad [Murad], a sailor on board, remonstrated with him and caused him to desist. The Nakhoda's 74 plans being thus frustrated, he resolved to rid himself of his opponents and to perform by force what he was unable to do by stealth. The following night accordingly, at anadvanced hour, whilst his unsuspecting victims were in a profound sleep, he, with a number of his followers, fell upon and savagely butchered both Moorad and the supercargo : he likewise put an end to the existence of an unfortunate slave, who happened to be standing by at the time. Some of the crew, affrighted, leaped into the sea : 75 many took part in the bloody deed: and the rest, however well disposed in their hearts to resist, were too much overawed by the fierce brutality and fiendish threats of the Nakhoda and his accomplices to dream of opposing them.
Ahmad bin Dad Kureem vowed instantaneous death to any man of the party who would not take the oath of Zuntullak [zan talâq] (the most solemn form of oath among Arabs— By the divorce of the wife')—to keep inviolate secrecy. They then, one and all, nineteen in number, embarked in the longboat, having previously set fire to the buggalow and collected the treasure in date jars. Six of the men, notwithstanding that they had taken the oath required of them, fell victims to the Nakhoda's suspicions, and were cruelly slaughtered ; two others, fearful of their lives, let themselves down into the sea close to Shinas 76 and swam ashore, whence they proceeded to Lingah 76 and back to Muttra [ Mâtrah] their native city. Scarcely had they reached the latter place before they were seized and conveyed to Muskat, as accomplices of Ahmed bin Dad Kureem.
For a length of time they denied all knowledge of the matter, and assured both his Excellence Syud Soweynee [Sayyid Şuaini] and the British Agent that, as soon as the vessel caught fire, they threw themselves into the sea to save their lives; that they knew nothing further. Guilt, however, attached itself too strongly to these individuals to permit of their story being credited. Recourse was had to intimidation, and preparations were even made for inflicting torture upon them, when, upon being promised full pardon and liberty, they turned informers and related all that had occurred.
In March 1847, after endless search and trouble, Ahmed bin Dad Kureem was likewise apprehended and conveyed to Muskat, where, on being examined and told that there was evidence forthcoming to convict him of his dastardly act, he at once confessed his guilt and threw himself upon the mercy of his accusers. The matter of his trial was referred to the Bombay Government, who desired he might be tried before the Native Court in Muskat and suffer such punishment as the judicial authorities in that town might think fit to award.
His Excellence Syud Soweynee, strange to say, did not so much as consult the Court of Justice regarding the punishment to be inflicted, nor did he cause any form of trial whatsoever to be undergone by the prisoner, but simply and plainly pronounced sentence of death upon him. His execution took place on the 5th day of October 1848 in the presence of the whole concourse of the Muskat population."
[Selections from the Bombay Records, No. 24, p. 226.]
(To be continued.)
74 Pers. ndkhuda, skipper, master of a native vessel.-ED. T6 Apparently some of these got ashore and gave the first information of the crime.
To Shine and Langah are coastal towns on the Persian Gulf between the islands of Kenn and Ormuz,-En.