'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎309] (351/733)

JOASMEES.
309
in future he would issue instructions to his tribe not to molest or come
near any ship or vessel under British colours ; nor did they wish to
inteirupt the British trade in any way. As he was proceeding to
Deiiah, Hussein bin Rahmah took Mr. Bruce's messenger with him, to
obtain a reply to the letter to the Wahabee Chief.
46. The messenger returned with another letter from Shaikh Hussein
bin Rahmah, in which, though he acknowledges that his cruisers had
visited the northern ports of India, yet denied that they had knowingly
molested any vessels navigating under British pass and colours, and
repeating his assurances of a desire not to molest the British trade.
At the suggestion of Mr. Bruce, the passes were ordered to be written
in the Arabic language also, to prevent the Joasmees pleading ignorance
of any pass being on board.
47. On the 2nd of October a Vukeel, named Hussein bin Mahomed
bin Gaith, arrived at Bushire, with letters from the Wahabee Chief, and
Hussein bin Rahmah ; the former disapproving of the conduct of that
chief, and of his tribe, and binding himself to compel the latter to
deliver up such property as we could prove them to have captured ;
who, on the other hand, denied having captured any British property,'
expiessing a hope that we would not be too severe in scrutinizing the
past. The Vukeel was authorised to enter into an engagement with
Mr. Bruce. He stated that the Joasmees were anxious to be on the
best terms with the British Government, whose good will they would
study hereafter to merit ; that they would respect our flag and subjects ;
but that they hoped we would not insist on their leaving off cruising
against those States who were at enmity with them ; as, according to
the law of nations among the Arabs, blood could only be repaid^by
blood ; that if they did not follow this kind of warfare, they would lose
their rank amongst the Arab Slates, and that their enemies would
come to their very homes to attack them; that they were, moreover,
compelled by the Wahabee Chief to wage war against the Mahomedan
States of the Gulf, to bring them under the yoke and religion of the
Wahabees ; and only to respect the British flag and subjects, to whom
they were directed to be attentive, and to cultivate their alliance;
that if we would guarantee, on their leaving off this mode of proceed
ing, that none of the Arab States would molest them or their vessels,
and would guarantee also their safety against the vengeance of
the W ahabee Chief for not obeying his commands, they would then
abandon the course of life they were pursuing; but otherwise their
natural situation in the Gulf was such that they were compelled to be
enemies to the greater portion of it.
48. Mr. Bruce confirmed the truth of Hussein bin Gaith's state
ment regarding their peculiar situation, and the system among the