'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎31v] (62/344)

I
42
Part II—Chap. XV.
The Persian Court know all this and had Mr. Bruce informed them of my being there,
they would not have been surprised at Mulla Hussim's letter, as they must well know, it is
impossible to do anything in this Gulf without some one of these nominal powers being hurt.
The Morninglon and Minerva sailed last mght in company. I wrote Mulla Hussain to
know why he had not sent the sulphur and the Trimmer, and telling him that I would renew
the war again, if his answer was not agreeable one. It is impossible to continue hostilities
without offending the Wahabeeor Persians and it is safer to do the latter, than the first for they
increase every day, and can bring seventy thousand men into the field, whilst the Turks
cannot trust themselves without their walls, nor the Persians make head against the Russians *
who are overwhelming them.
Shaikh Nassur is still at Busheab ; they say here, he fires a few suns every day, and at
night goes on shore to dine with Shaikh Rehma; one of the last ships that arrived said
he was looking for assistance from the Morning ton which will be odd after refusing it, but
1 imagine the report unfounded or Mr, Bruce would have wrote to that effect.
Resolution of the Bombay Government dated Ath Seplemler ISOo.
Ordered that copy of the Extract of the letter from the Resident at Mu«kat dated the
14th ultimo and copies of correspondence between that officer and the acting Resident at
Bushire be transmitted to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Fort William, with notice
that as the pirates against whom, their late depredations led to our equipment of the force
now in Gulph of Persia, appear to be thus connected on both the shores ol it, so as to claim
the protection of the Wahabie or King of Persia as may best suit their views of plunder and
security, it becomes peculiarly difficult to pursue measures towards their suppression without
giving offence to either or perhaps to both Powers ; at the same time that from neither ean
effectual redress be expected in the event of our trusting implicitly to such interposition, as has V
been exemplified in the case of applications unavailingly made for length of time past for the
recovery * of the goods plundered from the Hector by Shaikh Kehma, the Chieftain of
Nuckheloo and Busheab which according to all accounts is likely to terminal e in the ineffec
tual and collusive shew of assistance adverted to in the last paragraph ot Captain Seton's
present address.
Ordered that the Commander of the Margaret be called up to explain why he did not
remain at Muscat (when last there) 24 hours according to his instruction, as reported by the
Resident at that station.
Under these circumstances, it must afford us great satisfaction to have the benefit of the
farther instructions of the Supreme Government how far we may act in suppression of the
pirates sheltered as they thus are by powerful however indirect protection on either shore of
the Gulph, and meanwhile it should be enjoined to Captain Seton to adhere to the letter and
spirit of his first instructions, by undertaking nothing that may give umbrage to the Persian
or Turkish Government without our previous sanction and acting for this purpose in concur
rence with the opinion of the Acting Resident at Bushire, and consulting him and the Aeting
Resident at Bussora, on all applicable cases.
The Acting Resident at Bushire to be furnished with a copy of Cstptain Seton's letter of
the 14th of August and advised of the instructions thereon issued to that officer inclusive of
a full copy of this minute, desiring him thereon to report his sentiments as well to Captain ^
Seton as to this Government on the best means of suppressing the pirates and extending
the requisite security to the British navigation in the Gulph, without giving offence to the
Persian Government, which it is in every respect our wish to avoid of all which the Supreme
Government to be advised.
(iv) Treaty of Peace with the Joasmis, 1806.
109. In the month of October an Agent arrived at Maskat from Mulla
Hussein, deputed by the Joasmis to negotiate a peace for them. The instruc
tions of the Bombay Government having been applied for, Captain Seton was
informed, that in the event of its becoming a party to the peace, it should not
be of a limited nature, but extend generally to the whole Gulf, and every other
place and situation, and he was to require full indemnification for the losses we
had sustained.
110. Captain Seton, finding it impracticable to obey the orders of the
Government to obtain the required indemnification without having recourse
to hostilities, which would have involved us in a general warfare with tbe
whole Gulf, judged It advisable to enter into the agreement, dated the 6th of
^February 1806, with the Joasmis the whole bulk of whom he represented as
desirous of returning to their former mercantile pursuits. This agreement
does not appear to have been negotiated with the consent, or even with the
knowledge, of the Wahabi Shaikh.
* Vide paragraph 148 et seq. below.