'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎82r] (163/344)

Part V—Chap. XXXIII.
143
CHAPTER XXXIII.
UNAUTHORIZED AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BY MR. BRUCB
WITH THE PRINCE OF SHIRAZ, SEPTEMBER 1823.
287' Mr. Bruce reported in his letter No. 35, dated 3rd September X822,
his proceedings in concluding an agree-
Voiume 90 Of 1822. ment with the Prince of Shiraz as regards
Bahrein and other matters:—
No. 35, dated Shiraz Bagh Jaun Numah, the 3rd September 1822.
From— C aptain W. B buce, Resident at Bushire,
To—The H on'ble M ountstuabt E lphinstonb, President and Governor in Council, Bombay.
In reference to ray address to the Honourable Board through the Chief Secretary, under
date 6th ultimo, in this Department, No. 32, I have the honour to acquaint you that His
T?oval Hiehness fixed on the 8th ultimo for me to meet the MiniBter. Zikee Khan. I
accordingly complied, when the communication referred to was made rae in the presence of
SrU Banker Auhie the Sheikh of Bushire, and two other Khans, Aga Baba Khan and
Mirza Mahomed Ali Kafrakee. We discussed the subject, when certain stipulations were
no-rped to and which the Minister informed me His Koyal Highness had the permission of
?hP Shah to say would he approved of and confirmed a Court when made known, and he
reauested I would therefore transmit them for your Hon'ble Boards consideration and
approval as tending to cement the ties of amity and good understanding.
2 That he would in a few days draw them out in writing and have two copies trane-
nribpd' each of which we were to sign with the translation annexed : one Mirza Banker wag
to take up to Tehran to be laid before the Shah for his confirmation and approval, and the
other I was to transmit to your Honourable Board.
8 The copies were finished and signed by each of us on the 30th ultimo, and last night
Mirya* Bauker Auhie set off for Teheran with one of them ; the other I have now the honour
to transmit for the information of your Honourable Board, and shall be happy to learn it
may meet their approbation. ^ n j t. u i.^
4 With regard to a cruizer being furnished from the station at Bassadore suould the
Pprsian Government require it, the stipulations I have made for her to be supplied with pro-
visions and necessaries if detained beyond 40 days nearly amounts to the same as if she was
I *. f u r n i 8 hed for the imbecility and tardiness of this Government in all their measures, with
the very limited means they possess of meeting an expense of the kiud, will always operate so
as to forego the service of a vessel rather than incur the charge.
5 His Roval Highness has, I believe, made up his mind to fit out an expedition this
• against Bahrein, and if he should not meet with many obstacles in procuring tonnage
Tor the embarkation of the troops, I have little doubt but what he will put it to the test; and
• pypnt of his doing so, I think it more than probable he will take the island without
'l b opposition The JLe.kh of Bushire has pledged himself to furnish h.s ships and
buggalows for this service, ivbich, if he performs, the other ports will readily supply such
vessels as they possess. _ , t , ,
6 But His Royal Highness builds more upon carrying his wishes about Bahrein m
/wprtu'res which be thinks the Beni Attabee Sheikhs will make to him after he gets down on
the eoa«t, and which he will readily accept if they tend at all to place the island a s s „bor^
dinate to bis authority, however limited that may be, rather than risk the attempt by
f ' jree 7 The ostensible reason of the Prince being more urgent for the expedition taking place
Qr , ' i8 , 0 a void being called up to Conrt this winter, which he certainly will be, unless he
can occupy himself ou some expedition of the kind that will require his personal attention
Wkb the principal officers of his Court j while at the same time the charges attendmg an
avmament necessary for a service of the kind will be a State charge, and afford reasons sufficient
foranv default tbat may ariee in the regular remittances to the Royal Treasury ; whereas,
if he should proceed to Court, his expenses and the necessary presents required would amount
to something" very considerable, and he entirely out of hia own privy purse.
o Tu e Island o£ Bahrein reverting again under the authority of Persia will tend mor«
to thetranqnillity of the Arabian side of the Gulf than almost any other act and wil. at once
do away the constant petty act. of aggression and retalmbon eiieting jKtween the different
branches of the Beni Attabee Arabs, particularly so between Abdella bin Ahmed and lUbma
b O Jauba bcth of whom the Honourable Board would learn from Colonel Kennett had lately