'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎17v] (39/180)

24
Captain
Sadleir's
negotiations
with the
Sultan of
'Oman,
May 1819.
Captain
Sadieir's
quest of
Ibrahim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and
journey
across
Arabia, June
to September
1819.
Unsatisfac
tory issue of
Captain
Sadleir's
negotiations
with Ibrahim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
September to
November.
Assurances
to Persia.
but, whatever those designs might be, he was to refrain irom giving the Egyptians,
on behalf of the British Government, any guarantee beyond that authorised in
regard to Ras-al-Khaimah. As much information as possible regarding the
geography and resources of Central Arabia itself was to be collected by Captain
Sadleir in his journeyings; and, having accomplished his mission, he was to return
to the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. headquarters.
Before Captain Sadleir's arrival on the spot, the political situation had so
changed as to render the main part of his task impossible of fulfilment, but in his
efforts to perform it he showed himself possessed of extraordinary energy and
perseverance. Incidentally he achieved the unique distinction of being the first
European to traverse the Arabian continent from sea to sea, and that at the hottest
season of the year.
Captain Sadleir remained at Masqat from the 7th to the 18th of May 1819
and was successful in obtaining from Saiyid Said a careful estimate of the
political position and military force of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , a promise by the Saiyid to
co-operate in person with the British expedition at the head of a large force, a
precise statement on the part which he was prepared to take in the operations, and
a detailed undertaking to assist in the matter of supply and marine transport. In
one respect only Saiyid Sa'id was not amenable to persuasion: he would not
consent to any sort of association between his own troops and those of the
Egyptians; and he manifestly regarded the proposed co-operation of the latter
at Ras-al-Khaimah as in the highest degree dangerous to his interests. Saiyid
Sa'id also expressed an opinion that Ibrahim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would be unable to reply to
the British proposals without a reference to his father, the Viceroy of Egypt, and
that Captain Sadleir's mission could not be accomplished before the time fixed
for the expedition, unless the hitter were postponed; in both of these respects his
anticipations were remarkably confirmed by the event.
On his journey from Masqat to Bushehr, Captain Sadleir was much delayed
by contrary winds; nor did he reach Qatif, where his attempts to open
communication with Ibrahim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. began, until the 21st of June. He found the
credit of the Egyptians already gone and their short-lived occupation of Eastern
Arabia practically at an end, but he still considered it his duty to convey his
despatches to their destination. From Hofuf, which he reached on the 11th of
July, he accompanied the disorganised and retreating Egyptian forces by Dara'iyah
and SKaqrah to Rass in Qasim, where he arrived on the 26th of August, only to
learn that the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ^had left 48 hours previously for Madinah. From Rass it
was impossible for Captain Sadleir, in the actual state of the country, to return
to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and he therefore pushed on with the Egyptians to Madinah,
in the environs of which he arrived on the 6th of September, his horse falling
down exhausted just as he reached the last halting place.
On the 8th of September Captain Sadleir obtained an interview with Ibrahim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and on the following day he delivered the letters of the Governor-General
of India and the Governor of Bombay, together with a sword, a gift from the
former to the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ; but the Egyptian commander insisted on referring the
proposals of the Indian Government, though no longer capable of being put
into effect, to Muhammad "Ali at Cairo. The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. then proceeded on pilgrimage
to Makkah, Captain Sadleir meanwhile awaiting the result of the reference at
Yanbo', where he suffered severely from fever. When a sufficient time had elapsed
for the receipt of a reply from Egypt, Captain Sadleir followed Ibrahim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to
Jiddah; but the tone of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , formerly friendly, had now become uncivil.
Eventually, in consequence of a studied insult to the Governor-General of India
contrived by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in connection with his return present. Captain Sadleir
broke off communication on the 14th of November. On the 23rd of January 1820,
the H.E.I. Company's cruiser " Prince of Wales " happening to visit Jiddah, Captain
Sadleir was taken on board and so, apparently, returned to Bombay after an
absence of nearly a year, during which he had supported with indomitable spirit
the most unusual hardships. Of the despatches sent by Captain Sadleir to the
Government of India after his departure from Hofuf not one reached its
destination; and in the expedition against Ras-al-Khaimah, which meanwhile
took place, the expectation of Egyptian assistance was after the first discarded.
To prevent a misunderstanding by the Persian Government of the objects
of the British expedition, such as might easily arise through the chastisement of
the Shaikhs of Lingeh, Mughu, Charak and Chiru, who were believed to be
implicated in recent piracies and whom it was intended to punish, Dr. Jukes was
despatched in advance with reassuring letters from the Governor of Bombay for