"ملخص لمراسلات تتعلق بشؤون الخليج الفارسي، ١٨٠١-١٨٥٣" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٤] (٣٤٤/٢٤٨)

228
Part VI—Chap. XLV.
by fear of Wahahi arms as sympathy with Wahabi tents, vied with each other
in tendering their allegiance to Feysal's representative. Elated with greater
success than he had expected, Syed bin Mutluk ravaged the territories of
the Sohar Chiefs seized the fort of Mujis, butchering all its garrison, and
compelled the Chief to consent to a very heavy tribute. He at the same
time demanded a large tribute from Maskat, and was preparing to enforce
the request by invasion. At this juncture the Bombay Government again
addressed the Government of India, enquiring what was to be done if the
Imam asked for our help against the Wahabis. The Government of India
replied on May 6th in the following terms :—
o It would appear that Feysal-bia-Turki, in whose name and on whose behalf the present
expedition of Syud-bin-Mutluk has been undertaken, has not hitherto done more than
endeavour to re-establish the Wahabi supremacy as it existed in the time of his father, Tarki-
bin-Saud, before the Egyptian aggression reduced the Wahabi power, and that it is the
opinion of Major Hennell that our interests with respect to the maritime Arabs are likely to
suffer by Syud bin Mutluk's proceedings.
« if therefore the mere establishment of the Wahabi power in Oman and the reception
of the willing allegiance of the maritime Chiefs whom on a former occasion we took under our
protection and encouraged to resistance were to be the only result of the present expedition of
Syud -bin-Mutluk, the Governor-General in Council would see no occasion to modify the
opinion given in the letter from this office of 7th October 1843, that our interference is not
called ior; but if it appear to be the purpose of Feysal-bin-Turki to extend the Wahabi
supremacy 'beyond former limits and to encroach upon the possessions of our ally, the Imam
of Maskat, or if the result of these proceedings are found detrimental to our relations with
the Maritime Arabs and our measures for the suppression of piracy, a case for our interference
will, in the opinion of the Governor-General in Council, arise, and it may be perhaps desirable
in such case for you to instruct the local authorities to declare to Feysal-bin-Turki that our
forbearance, from which he may have hitherto taken some encouragement, will be extended
no further,' and that we cannot countenance or allow wanton aggression on the territories of
our ancient ally.
« The Governor -General in Council is disposed to think that the explicit expression of our
feelings on this subject will be sufficient to cause the Wahabi Chief to desist from active
operations, should they be contemplated, against the Maskat district, or that, at any rate,
a demonstration by sea by the force now in the Gulf will produce the desired effect. On
this subject the local Government of Bombay will be better able to form a judgment than
the Governor-General in Council.
" The Governor -General in Council, however, wishes it to be understood that he would
not, on the one hand, commit the Government at the present moment to a line of policy
which would be likely to involve the necessity of despatching troops to the Gulf, nor would he,
on the other, make to the Wahabi Chief or his agent Syud bin Mutluk a threat which he
would not be prepared fully to carry out.
44 If therefore the Bombay Government consider that a mere declaration of our views or
naval operations alone will in all probability effect what is desired, the Governor-General in
Council authorizes the Bombay Government to instruct the local authorities accordingly ; but
if on this subject His Honour in Council entertains doubt, he is requested -to refer to us again
with a full exposition of the views and opinions of the Bombay Government for the further
instructions of the Government of India."