'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎42r] (83/344)

Part III.—Chap. XVIII. 53
PRIVATE DEMANDS,
Brought forward , ... 22,832 3 78
Balance of a demand by Mr. Bruce against
Sheikh Abdul Rasul Khan for grain
supplied him in the famine of 18U6 , 747 0 0
Amount due to Aratoon Constantine, broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. ,
for sundry articles of merchandize sold to
Sheikh Abdul Kasul Khan . 2,536 1 124
Amount due to Aratoon Mehdin, linguist,
for sundry articles supplied to Sheik Abdul
Rasul Khan ..... 364 0 0
Peastres . 3,647 1 12^
Difference of Eyr and Raye . 292 0 0^
Peastres 3,939 1 121
or Bombay Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . ... ?,954 2 09
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . ... 25,787 1 87
145. The downfall of Sheikh Abdul Rasul was brought about by the
intrigues of Mahomed Nabi Khan, who had lately gone to India as Persian
Envoy, and who now stepped into the shoes of the family who had held the
Government of Bushire for nearly half a century. Mahomed Jaffar Khan
acted as his Deputy at Bushire.
146. Captain Pasley, who was attached to the Staff of General Malcolm,
appointed to proceed on his third Mission to Persia (see Chapter IV above),
arrived in advance at Bushire on 1st December 1809. His Report dated 2nd
December about Mahomed Nabi Khan's having proceeded to Shiraz, the fall of
the Minister Nasurallah Khan, and the reception he had at the hands of the
acting Governor Mahomed Jaffar Khan, is interesting and is quoted below :—
I have the honour to report to you for the information of the Right Hon'ble the
Governor-Geaeral in Council that we reached this place yesterday after a very long and
tedious voyage.
2. We had unavoidably incurred a delay of about a week by joining the expedition *
under Captain Wainwright and continuing with it until the reduction of Ras-ool-Khima—he
could not, previously, to the execution of that service, spare us an additional cruiser for a
convoy up the Gulph, and it did not appear advisable to proceed without one, whilst we
continued destitute ot information, with regard to the piratical force \^hich might then be
at S ' j a. We parted from Captain Wain Wright 's Quardroon off Linga on the 16th ultimo
and from that period to the day of our arrival we had uniformly to contend with an adverse
wind.
3. Lieutenant Bruce the Acting Resident at this place came off as soon as we bad anchored
and I learnt from hiui that Mahomed Nabbee Khan had been suddenly summoned to Shiraz
about 10 days ago ; that immediately upon his arrival Nasroolah Khan the Vizier to the
Prince Ferman lurma of Fars had been divested of his official situation and now with his
son Alidoola Khaun placed in a state of confinement in their own houses.
4. The ostensible motives for the adoption of this measure are numerous complaints of
extortion from the renters of the different districts of Pars, and it is said that they are supposed
to have received £150,000 more than has yet been accounted for to the public treasury.
I have not yet been able to obtain any current information on this subject as to ascertain
how far Mahomed Nabbee Khan may by his intrigues have been instrumental in producing
their disgrace, but it appears most probable that he has been active in promoting its accomplish
ment. as he has long been on bad terms with Nasroolah Khan and was immediately invested
with the office of \ izier to what 1 understand he had been previously appointed by a Royal
Firmaun.
5. Aga Mahomed Jaffur, brother to Mahomed Nabbee Khan and acting Governor of
Bushire came off to me at noon attended by the officers of Government and principal
merchants of the place. I congratulated him on the late elevation of his relation and he was
most profuse in the expression of his delight and satisfaction at my arrival which I could
observe he considered aa a certain indication that General Malcolm would very shortly
make his appearance in this quarter; I allowed him to understand that such was not an
improbable event, but I avoided any particular declarations at the moment by informing him
that I should in a day or two prepare letters for the Ministers and Mahomed Nabbee Khan
descriptive of the future view and intentions of the British Government in India on this and
all other points.
6. It appears neceseary here to state that the dispatches which I had addressed to the
Persian Ministers notifying my appointment and the ratification by His Lordship in Council
of tire preliminary treaty have not yet been forwarded to their destination as I found then
* (Se« paragraph 130 above.)