'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎116v] (232/344)

212 [Part VI—Chap. XLIV.
of Suid bin Mootluk from h's coasts, that he was sincere in It ' h professions, and
secondly he must add a clause t<> the declaration given by the otlier Shaiks, binding
himself to enter into no correspondence or treaty with Mahomed Ally, his dependents
or any other foreign Power, without the knowledge and consent of the British Government ,
and, moreover, that the friends and enemies of the English should stand in the same relations
with himself. To the addition of this clause, the Shaik consented without hesitation, and
said that to remove all doubts of his sincerity, the engagements above referred to mio-ht be
deposited in the hands of Moollah Housseio, the British Agent at Shargah, with instructions
that it was not to be handed over to him (Shaik Sultan) un il the final departure of Suid bin
Mootluk and his followers. This arrangement being finally agreed upon and Shaik Sultan
Declaration of Shaik Sultan. ^ vin ; his seal the declaration o£ which
No. 7 is a copy and translation. I drew out
an agreement to furnish him, under certain conditions, with warlike munitions, and now do
myself the honour to submit a transcript of this document both in the Original and Arabic
Copy Of agreement with Shaik Sultan bin for the consideration and I venture to hope, ap-
Piggin regarding supplies of warlike muni- r rova ' of the Right Hon ble the Governor in
tions. Council. In concluding the particulars of my
. . interview wuh Shaik Sultan 1 must not omit
to mention that he dwelt with great indignation r.pou the utter faithlessness of Shaik Khuluza
m havmg without provocation, plundered the Debaye Chief uf a number of valuable camels'
although he himself had made a considerable sacrifice in settling the claims of the former upon
the latter, in order to effect a permanent reconcihation. Shaikh Sultan urged it upon me
that the ensjagement to abstain from any further aggressions upon each other's territories
had been solemnly ratified in the presence of my a-sietant Captain Edmunds, on board, one of
the Government vessels, and therefore, I ought to take up the subject. As the Shaik's
arguments were not destitute of reason, 1 promised, that when more weighty matters were
settled, I would enquire into the affair, and exert my influence to procure the restoration of
the plundered property.
10. In referring to the commencement of my communication to Sued bin Mootluk
For translation of letter from chiefs of ( e £ nclo6Ure I f 0 - 6 ) intimating that the Beni Naeem
Brymee. of Hefmee had been taken under protection pend-
. ^ _ ing the settlement of the subjects in discussion
between the British and Egyptian Governments, I now beg to forward, for the information
or the Hon ble the (iovernor in Council, a translation of a letter from Humud bin Surtor, and
Mahomed bin Abdoollah, Chiefs of the Naeem Tribe, to the British Agent at Shargah appeal
ing to the English authority in the Gulf for support and protection against the intrio-ues
and aggressions of Sued bin Mootluk. Thisapppal, under the present critical juncture of affairs
1 have comidered myself justified in receiving favourably, and therefore, in reply, I have
encouraged them to stand firm in their determination to maintain their own independence,
informed them that as soon as a suitable person can be found it is my intention to send an
Agent to reside in Brymee, and that in the event of their being attacked for their compliance
with our views, that 1 will furnish them with a supply of ammunition if necessary.
11. I feel quite assured that Shaik Sultan bin Sujfgur at the present moment is sincere in
Copy and translation of letter to the Chiefs ^ j P ro ^ e8S ions and promises he has made to me,
of the Naeem in Brymee. an( i I think it likely he will take immediate steps
i • i , . i, , . to induce Sued bin Mootluk to quit his territory, in
which object, aided as he will be by the support and wishes of the Shaiks of the neighbouring
oifet'icts, he will probably be successFul. But the character of the Joasmee Chief is so hollow
and rarthless, and at the same time so vacillating that it would not very much surprise me,
to nud him again changing his intentions and policy. However this may be, I entertain
ever^ hope that I have succeeded in giving a cheek, at least for the present, to the intrigues
or Sued bin Mootluk, and the encroachments of Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in Oman, by having infused
confidence and courage into those disposed to uphold their connexion with the British, and
lowered the hop-s and pretensions of the party inclined to advance the Egyptian influence in
this part of Arabia.^ I consider it however my duty explicitly to lay before the Government
my opinion that this favourable re-action is not likely to be permanent, unless supported by
firm a d decided measures by the Indian and Home autfcorities. The repoitof Ibrahim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
jemg successful in his impending conflict with the Sultan—the arrival of reinforcements in
Oman either by land or sea trom Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , or the return of Sued bin Mootluk (suppos
ing urn now removed) with a larger and better equipped body of troops—all or any one of
tiiebC not improbable contingencies would be t-ufficient to turn the scale, and give the final
blow to our already unsettled influence in these parts. Previously to having had the
a( yantairc of a personal examination into the actual state of affai's on the Arabian Coast of
this Guli, it was my opinion, as expressed in a late communication to the Hon'ble the Secret
Committee, that the only effectual check to the encroachments of Mahomed Ally, in this
lie* t on, could be given by Her Majesty's Ministers making serious and peremptory re-
monstrauees to Cairo. I am, however, inclined now to think that this alone will not be
eumcient, unless some demonstration be likewise made by the Indian Government on this side,
is cut cult to point out, how such a demonstration could be mot-t effectively exhibited, but
would mo.-t respectfully suggest for consideration that in the event of Shaik Sultan bin
uggur not removing Sued bin Mootluk voluntarily, agreeably to his promise, that he should
e o.tt'd to exj el him, and supported by our naval and military means should he allege his
want oi power as an excuse for the non-perftrmance of his engagement. The naval force in