'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎85r] (169/344)

Part V—Chap. XXXIV.
149
policy. You will explain that it is our determination to persevere in that policy notwith
standing the removal of our troops from Kishm, which has been restored to the Imam of
Maskat under whose sanction we occupied it ; and that the pretensions to its sovereignty
remain precisely in the same state as at the period when that sanction was granted.
9. The enclosed copy of a Minute by the Honourable the Governor and of the letters
addressed to His Majesty's Envoy at Tehran and to Captain Bruce will make you fully
acquainted with the circumstances connected with the claim to the value of some boats belonging
to the Persian ports of Linga and Charrack which were captured by His Majesty's Navy in the
last expedition on the ground of their being connected with the Joassmee pirates.
10. You will perceive the determination of the Governor in Council long since formed to
compensate the owners ; you will proceed to give effect to that determination in the mode already
prescribed without any reference to the stipulation contained in Captain Bruce's agreement for
that purpose, and in direct communication with the sufferers : should you experience any
difficulty on the subject which a reference to the Envoy at Tehran may not remove, you will
apply for further instructions to the Governor in Council.
11. With respect to the nature of your permanent local functions at Bushire they are
exclusively of a commercial character to protect the British trade against the exaction of
higher rates of duty than have been fixed by the Government of Persia, and all merchant ships
belonging to subjects of the British Government trading to the port of Bushire and all
British subjects residing or trading under the protection of the British jiag in the lawful
prosecution of their commercial dealings,
12. Our relations with the Imam of Maskat, viVzxq we have a native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , are best
explained by the enclosed copy of an agreement negotiated with that State in 1798 by the
late Mahomed Ali Khan and subfequently confirmed with Sir John Malcolm in 1800. It is
also necessary to put you in possession of the correspondence between the Imam of Maskat
and the Bombay Government and recently between His Highness and Captain Morseby of
His Majesty's Ship Mendi respecting the abolition of the slave trade carried on by foreign
European Powers.
13. 1 also enclose the copy of a correspondence with the Imam regarding the terms oil
which the Chiefs of the Beni Boo Ali Arabs have been permitted to return to Arabia, as the
British Government is in some respect answerable for their personal safety.
14!. There is nothing in onr relations with M[askat that requires any special instruction^
except the renewal on your part of an assurance that His Highness will continue to observe that
friendly connection with the British Government which has hitherto proved reciprocally
advantageous to the two States. It will, however, be essential that you should advise the
Imam of Maskat, in whatever countenance or protection he may afford to Ram ah bin Jauber,
who was formerly Chief of Khore Hussen and notorious for his former depredations, if not on
the British at least on other traders, to guard against his renewing his former courses or
disturbing the tranquillity of the Gulf.
Sugsan bin Eahmah, Chief of Hatt and
Faleii, late of Russul-Khyma, Razib bin
Ahmed, Chief of Jezirat at Hannah.
Shakhout, Chief of Ahou Dhabyu, Hussan
bin AH, Chief of Zyah, Mahomed bin Raza
bin Jaal, Sheik of Dubey-Zaud bin Seyf, uncle
of Sheik Mahomed Sultan bin Saggur, Chief
of Shargah.
Seid Abdul J alii bin Seid Yas-vakeel of
Sheik Solymann bin Ahmed and Sheik
Abdullah bin Ahmed, of the family of
Khalifa Sheiks of Bahrein Rashid btn Hamid,
Chief of Eimar.
Abdullah bin Rashid, Chief of Uman-ttl-
Kowyn.
16, It is necessary that you should have a personal interview with those Chiefs with thef
view of conciliating and confirming them in the disposition they have hitherto manifested to
conform to their engagements: you will explain to them that a confidence in the continuance
of that disposition has led us to withdraw our troops from Kishm which was from the first a
temporary arrangement, that a squadron of cruizers will still be maintained in the Gulf
to preserve its tranquillity, which will occasionally visit their posts to uphold the friendly
intercourse that has been carried on since the conclusion of those treaties, and that you will
yourself occasionally visit them with similar views.
17. You will hereafter be furnished with copy of the instructions under which the
maritime control over the piratical ports is to be conducted on the removal of the force from
Kishm. They will be sufficiently full and explicit and supersede the necessity for any further
orders on this branch of your duty; you will, however, concert with Lieutenant-Colonel
Kennett the best means of furnishing the Arab vessels with the flags and papers prescribed
by the general treaty, and communicate the result to the Arab Chiefs concerned in their
observance. They should be granted or renewed either by yourself or under your authority
by the Officer Commanding the squadron whichever may prove the most convenient to the
Arab traders : you will in fact consider and suggest the most effectual mode for enforcing thef
provisions of those treaties now that the control has been transferred from Kishm to Bushirt.-
Should it be necessary to carry on offensive operations against any Chief who may show »
ir i
15. With the Petty Arab States enumerated in
the margin Major General Sir William Keir
entered into Treaties for the abandonment of piracy
in the last expedition, to which they have hitherto
satisfactorily adhered. You will receive from Lieu
tenant Colonel Kenuet the records of our proceed
ings with those States, from which, with the result
of a personal communication with that officer, you
will ascertain the nature of our intercourse with
those principalities and the prospect there is of
effecting a complete reformation in the piratical
habits of the Chiefs.