'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎117r] (233/344)

Part VI—Chap. XLIV.]
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the Gulf should be fufficiently increased to enable us to provide for the safety of Karrak, and
at the same time to keep two vessels of war cruizing off the Arabian Coast until the present
crisis be past. In the event of Sued bin Mootluk's return to Kateef and Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ag-ain
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preparing to despatch him by sea, wiih a larger force to the Coast of Oman, authority should
be given to blockade that port as well as those of Ajeer and Lohat. Should it be ascertained that
any of the Chiefs on the coast, for the furtherance of their own feuds and quarrels with each
other, are aiding and abetting the Egvptims, or these tribes connected with them, in
attacking Brymee, they should be threatened with the destruction of their towns and vessels
if they did not immediately desist, and this threat should be carried into execution if necessary.
If these measures were authorised, and at the same time an explicit intimation given to
Mahomed Ally by Her Majesty's Government that he would be held responsible for any loss
of life which might arise from carrying them into operation, it would, I venture to think, at
once put an end to the temporizing policy he has so long successfully pursued, and by compel-
lino- him to issue peremptory orders for the with»irawal of his troops and agents from the
direction of the Persian bulf, secure the independence of this side of Arabia, and thus establish
the influence and reputation of Great Britain in this part of the world, upon a firmer founda
tion than ever.
(IT) SHEIRII OF RO WE IT'S DISCOURTESY TO OUR AGENT—FULL! A ISLAND, 1839.
390. Whatever we can trace about our early relation with the Sheikhs of
. , ^ Koweit is interesting. They had been
Vol. 68—1064 of 1839-40, p. 28o. ... j. , i * -i i * i qqq
always Inendly towards us, but m lo39
we find Sheikh Jabir in the grasp of the Agents of Mehemet Ali, Yiceioy of
Egypt. Lieutenant Edmunds, Assistant Resident at Bushire, was deputed
by Captain Hennel to sound the Sheikh and if possible keep him from tailing
into the net spread by Mehemet Ali with a view to make the Arab Chiefs on
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. his vassals. The Sheikh, however, disposed to be friendly
with the British, had a dread of the name Mehemet Ali, and received Lieut
enant Edmunds with scant courtesy. We shall quote extracts from the
Assistant Resident's report about the reception and the value of Koweit and
the island of Eujira for commercial and military purposes :—
Extract of a report from Lieutenant Edmunds, Assistant Resident, to Captain Hennell, Resi
dent in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated 5th November 1839.
I h nve the honor to report that having agreeably with your instructions embarked on
board this vessel, I arrived at Koweit on the i30th ultimo and immediately sent your letter
to Sheik Jabir, who told the bearer that I should have an answer in the morning. From the
circumstance of no return having been made to, or any notice whatever taken of the salute
ficed by this vessel as we anchored, and from the Sheik's having omitted the usual compli
ment paid by Arab Chiefs to English vessels of war arriving at their ports (in this instance
the more marked as he had been informed that the object of my visit was to hold a personal
conference with him), viz., that of sending some one of their relatives or followers on board
to offer their services and welcome those arrived, I thought it as well, with a view of observing
what degree of friendship he really entertained for us, to wait a day or two,before making any
further advances. Meanwhile and chiefly through the great kindness and attention of Moo-a
bin Faris, a wealthy and highly intelligent merchant of Bussora who has lately settled at
Koweit, I was enabled to make every enquiry regarding the facility of forwarding the over
land post, and other points connectid with the place. This person, who has frequently visited
India and has travelled a good de»l, is much better informed than any Arab I have met with,
and evidently entertains, what so few of his countrymen are capable of doing, an adequate
estimate of the power os, the British Government. Hearing that I was anxious to enquire of
the merchants regarding he different routes to Syria, he of his own accord came on board
the vessel to volunteer his services, and afterwards introduced me to other merchants more
immediately engaged in the Damascus and Alleppo trade than himself. Having until the
third day after our arrival remained altogether unnoticed by Sheik Jabir, I then sent to say
that 1 was desirous of meeting him ; and shortly after went to his house, when I found the
old man sitting with a number of people about him. My reception was anything but gracious
as the Shaik onlv half rose from his seat and did not think it necessary to lay aside the pipe
which he was smoking. I told him that my visit was on6 of business only and to enquire
from himself whether he was willing to assist in forwarding the Government mails; that
if I had not been charged with this duty 1 should, in consequence of his neglecting to letinn
our salute to answer the letter of introduction which I had brought or to take any ot er
notice of us, have left the place without seeing him. He answered that his people it well
paid would convey packets to Damascus, Aileppo, Bussora or Bagdad, and al&o went into
some details from which I did not gain any new information but which served to show t lat
he hes not the excuse of dotage for his unusual conduct and manners ; from his advanced age
I hac at first thought this probable. The Sheik then shortly denied having been gmlty of
am omission towards us stating that he had never been in the habit ot noticing iiUglisn
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