'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎21v] (47/180)

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carried into effect, these arrangements were slightly modified, four instead of three
vessels being appropriated to active cruising duties, while one only was reserved
for general employment between Masqat and Basrah. Masqat was made, at the
end of 1822 the point of rendezvous of the H.E.I. Company s vessels in these seas;
but in 1823'Mughu on the Persian Coast was substituted, and arrangements were
made for establishing a store depot at that place, as also a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. on the
part of the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Ultimately in September 1823 the
Resident was instructed, in case, as appeared to be probable, the Persian authorities
should object to a British establishment at Mughu, to make the necessary
dispositions at Basidu instead.
Instructions
to the
Resident,
November
1822.
Lieutenant
McLeod's
tour on the
Pirate Coast.
January
1823.
Questions
relating to
the inter
pretation of
the Treaty,
1823.
Relations of the British Government with the Pirate Coast, 1820 35.
The immediate supervision of the Pirate Coast having devolved, at the with
drawal of the Qishm detachment, on the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushehr, Lieutenant J.
McLeod,* an able and judicious officer, now appointed to that post vice Captain
Bruce removed, was directed to visit the signatories of the General Treaty of Peace
for the purpose of conciliating them, and of confirming them in the disposition
which they had hitherto shown to adhere to their obligations; he was also to
take advantage of the opportunity to explain that the^ evacuation of Qishm
betokened no change ot policy on the part ot the British Government, and that a
marine force would still be maintained in the Gult and would continue to visit
the Pirate Ports; and he was to arrange for the introduction of ships' papers and
the use of a particular flag,—two provisions of the treaty which had hitherto been
generally neglected. In case of a recurrence of piracy he was empowered to proceed
to the destruction of boats; but he was not to resort to operations by land. On
the Persian side the Resident was to maintain a close watch upon piratical ports;
but, in case of action becoming necessary, he was merely to refer to the Persian
Government, who had now undertaken full responsibility for the control of their
own coast. Lieutenant McLeod, besides establishing a system of news reports,
was to study in detail the whole political system of the Persian Gull. The true
understanding of local affairs upon the Arabian side may be said to date from
the time when these orders were carried into execution.
In January 1823 the Resident, in the " Ternate" accompanied by the
" Aurora " and the Antelope," all under the command of Captain Faithfull,
made a voyage along the Pirate Coast and visited Qatar and Bahrain. Besides
interviewing all the principal Shaikhs and fulfilling the other instructions which he
had received from Government, especially that relating to the institution of ships
papers, the Resident discussed with the chiefs a number of points that had arisen
in regard to the interpretation of the General Treaty of Peace, of which document
even the simplest requirements did not appear to be universally understood; and
the free and friendly intercourse thus established inaugurated a new epoch in the
history of British dealings with the Pirate Coast. Incidentally, Lieutenant McLeod
sought to dissuade Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar of Sharjah from hostilities against the
ruler of Masqat, for in his opinion a state of war between these two, of whom the
former possessed the greater military strength and had less to lose, while the latter
was the more wealthy, was fraught with grave danger to the safety of seas; and
he concerted measures with the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi to compel Suwaidan-bin-
Za'al, a dangerous maritime wanderer with a large following, to adopt a more settled
mode of life. As a marine survey of this part of the Gulf, recommended by General
Sir W. GranW Keir before his departure, was now in progress, the Resident took
the opportunity afforded by his cruise to visit the scene of operations. Between
Sharjah and Dohah in Qatar the squadron took a still unsurveyed passage.
One measure now recommended by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. was the establish
ment of a Native Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Sharjah, if necessary by the transfer of a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government.
who was then maintained at Qatif; and the proposal appears to have been carried
into effect soon afterwards.
Connected with the Treaty of 1820 were a number of doubtful points, certain
of which, raised for the most part by the perverse ingenuity of Sultan-bin-Saqar,
the Resident now referred to Government for an authoritative decision. Before
the removal of the troops from Qishm, Colonel Kennett being then the political
officer at that place, two other questions had been agitated,—whether the British
* Lieutenant McLeod died of fever at Bushehr in the following September.