'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎75r] (149/344)

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Part V—Chap. XXVIII. X-9
4. It is understood that there are doubta as to the right (according to the late
treatri of demanding to know for what purposes Nepals are building m the ports before
mentioned, as also the right to destroy them on the stocks in the event of it appearing they
are meant to be piratically employed. In such case it will scarcely be practicable to prevent
their escaping to sea in the night, when no remedy can be applied, but by capture w h en the y
may be found at sea without the authorized papers and wearing the proper flag, in which case
there should be four cruisers in front of the ports before mentioned instead ot three, and it
might be advisable to make trial of this measure for one season before the garrison wa^
withdrawn. . .
5 As connected with this subject, I beg to state that it has been brought to my notice by
Officers Commanding the E. 1. Co.'s cruisers in the Gulf, that several instances have occ ^ ie
of Nepals belonging to the ports before stated, having been found navigating without ei
the flag or documents as provided for in the 3rd and 5th articles of the Treaty concluded by Sir
William Grant Keir, and that on said Nepals having been taken to Kishm, the Commandi g
officer did not feel himself authorized to detain them. I therefore respectfully 8U =S®®
the Chiefs of the aforesaid ports be cautioned not to suffer vessels to depart there
without the proper flag and documents before mentioned or otherwise vessels may be at wa
whose aim may be piracy when opportunity offers.
258A. In Bombay Government letter No. 1703, dated 10th December
1821 Mr. Meriton was directed to issue the necessary orders to give effect to the
arrangements suggested in his letter above quoted, and as regards the troops he
was told the necessary orders would be passed on receipt ot Dr. Juke s tinal
reports.
(vi) REMOVAL OF THE DETACHMEXT TO SALAK AND THEM TO BASSIDORB.
9f>q In Eebruarv 1822, the detachment was removed from the town of
in jjeoruaiy o , Kislim * to th e village of Salak. The cir-
Volume 91 Of 1822, page 16, cumstances under which the removal
•was decided upon are explained in Captain Kennet's letter, dated 23th Janu
ary 1822:—
I beo leave to state to you, for the information of the Hon'ble the Governor in Council,
that 1 am under the necessity of removing the cantonnent to the south side of the Island
for the following cogent reasons which I now beg to enumerate.
1 The rainy season which commences in November or early in December at latest in
most years has not yet set in, and from the present appearance of the atmosphere there is little
bability of any falling for some time; this circumstance alone I consider would be sufficient
^use for the removal of the troops as a great deficiency if not a total failure of the annual
^ ply 0 f that indispensable article is to be expected. The water here is now so bad that many
are complaining of slight bowel complaints.
2 I have received a letter written by the Assistant Surgeons at this station marked A
which I have the honour to enclose detailing the sufferings of the sick which, although it givei
mP i a ncholy picture of our situation, I do not think it too highly coloured and they also re
commend a change of situation in the hopes of finding a more healthy spot on the south or
windward bide of the island.
3 In consequence of Government having directed Mr. Assistant Surgeon Tod in conjuno-
t' with Mr. Assistant Surgeon Nimmo to make a tour of the island to see if there wag
^nore eligible spot for a cantonment, it was evidently the wish of Government that the pre
sent cantonment should be removed before the next (fast approaching) hot season.
I made a tour round the island in the beginning of this month, and visited every plact
\ pre I heard o-ood water was to be found attended by the Master Attendant and Mr. Assist-
* s ar o-eon Reach. The former for reporting on the roads and anchorage for shipping
marked "b and the latter for tne purpose of ascertaining the best situations and healthfulnes®
of the different stations for a cantonment marked C.
I first visited Deristan where the water was good in many of the wells, but they were
\ out 2 miles from the beach, and I believe the failure of the water wds the 'principal came
for the troops quitting that cantonment formerly and sea breeze coming over a burning sand
(though for so short a distance) does not promise much benefit.
Tnext visited a place called Salak (by the natives) but which in Maior-General Smith's
renort to Government, 23rd April 1S21, is the same place which he calls Zullah. It is about
15 miles west of Deristan ; there are several wells of excellent water, and as no ram has t a [ l en
thiR vear it is evident it must be a natural supply and as they occupy a spacf5 of 400 or o00
vards in length there is every probability of having an abundance by digging intermediate
nnPR • on inqliiry amongst the few cultivators who now reside there they informed me that there
was fresh water to be had in every part, and that the hot weather during the summer mouths
was not so intense as on the northern side of the island.
The site for a cantonment being within 500 yards of the beach which is covered with
a vegetation that renders the reflection and heat still less and being entirely open to seaward
* Th« garrison was again removed from Deristan (Bee paragraph 239 above) to Kishm.