'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎45v] (90/344)

70
Part III—Chap. XX.
CHAPTER XX. pen
No.
- PP-
INSULT TO MR. WILLIAMS AT SHIRAZ—1816.
167. In 1816, one Mr. Williams belonging to the Bombay Civil Service
under the Company proceeded to Shiraz and was subjected to outrageous pp '
insults at the hands of Persians attached to the Court of Shiraz.^ The tollowmg
correspondence gives the facts and the measures taken for avenging the outrage.
Dated Bushire, the 27th September 1816.
From— M b. W illiam B buce,
To—The Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
In transmitting the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. Williams of the Civil
Service for the information of the Hobble Board, I have the honour to acquaint you that on
Mr. Williams leaving this for Sheras, I officially acquainted that Government of the drcum-
stances advising that he proceeded for change of climate and requested that the Zabuts and
chiefs of the village he might reside at should be instructed to be civil and kind to him and
supply him with such necessaries as he might require, paying for the same. He was also
living at this time in one of the Prince's gardens by the permission of His Royal Highness ;
consequently was to be considered as more immediately under the Prince s protection, notwith
standing which he has been insulted in such a disgraceful and shameful manner that even
decency forbids mentioning ; the three officers who are the aggressors are in the immediate
employ of the Prince and consequently about his person.
1 shall take an early opportunity of addressing His Royal Highness in terms showing
him the abhorrence we entertain of such proceedings and expressing my surprise that he should
have foregone punishing the offenders that could be guilty of such conduct, notwithstanding
Mr. Williams should have expressed himself satisBed, which it was natural he should do out
of respect for His Royal Highness. As the culprits were brought into his presence for punish
ment, I conceive the more necessary as His Ko>al Highness restored these officers to avour
immediately after Mr. Williams' departure from Sheras. The venality and duplicity of tins
Government is quite distressing to any person who has business to transact with them ; tor no
dependence is to be placed on anything they say or firmauns that they issue. I shall also
bring this affair to the notice of H. M/s Minister at Teheran, and I trust the Right Hon ble
the Governor in Council will approve of my intentions.
Dated Bushire, the 29th September 1816.
From— M b, J ohn W illiams , of the Bombay Civil Service,
To— M b. W illiam B bcob , Resident at Bushire.
It is with much regret I have to complain to you of the infamous and brutal conduct Po'!. Dept. Diary
offered to me by three person, attached to the Court of the Prince at Sheraz during my Xo.m of i™,
residence in his garden, and you will I trust after a relation of the circumstances be induced PP'
to take such measures as your judgment may suggest to make the Persian Government
sensible of the insult offered to me as an Englishman and for the security of others who may
hereafter visit the country.
On the 30th of August last when at the Prince's garden two servants came to inform
me that Feridoon Khan and two others wished to call on me; being in a bad state of health I
declined seeing them, notwithstanding which they forced themselves into my presence and
remained half an hour walking about the room abusing me and beating my servants; they
then left me and an hour afterwards eight of their servants came to tell me they were coming
ao-ain and I again declined seeing them and endeavoured to escape down stairs, but was
prevented and forcibly brought back into the room. They remained insulting me most infamously
for upwards of an hour till at last their conduct became so brutal, I was compelled to make my
escape by a rope out of the window at the risk of my life.
On my departure from this in May last I carried an official letter from you to one of the
Prince's officers reporting my arrival at Sheraz, consequently I felt myself under the Prince's
protection and applied to him to punish the officers which was with difficulty acceded to.
feridoon Khan was not brought forward but the other two were disgraced and expressed
myself satisfied, so it is not my wish that a further punishment should be enforced on them,
but it will I hope appear to you advisable to represent it to the Persian Government in the
strongest terms and also to the Envoy at Teheran.