'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎122r] (243/344)

Part VI-Chap. XLIV.]
223
the 11th January, employing the interval in a friendly intercourse with the Brymee Chi.-£.
Unnn my return to cruiser, I availed myself of the authority conveyed iu the 11th paragraph
of the Officiating Secretary Haddock's" letter, dated the 1st August 1889, to make a distribu
tion of a small sum of money, together with a moderate quantity of rice and ammunition
according to the statement No. 1 herewith enclosed. Enclosure No. 2 contains a detailed
account of the expenses incurred in entertaining these Sheikhs and their numerous followers
(amounting to about 300 men) which the customs of Arabian hospitality obliged me to
undertake ^ they have, however, been limited to the lowest possible scale. The total amount in
money and rice distributed to the several chiefs, and expended in their entertainment is
German Crowns two thousand six hundred and nine and two-eighths which disbursement
I trust may receive the sanction of the Hon ble the Ciovemor in Council.
I venture to think that the personal communication I have had on the present occasion
with the Frontier Sheikhs of Oman, and the distribution I have made, will be productive of
much benefit, and while it promotes onr views of policy, will extend our name and influence
to ports of Arabia where it has hitherto been little known. At the same time the just aud
liberal conduct of the British Government will be placed in favourable contrast with the
tyrannical and oppre-sive proceedings of the Egyptians. The greater port ion of the money and
provisions and the whole of the ammunition, have been bestowed upon those Chiets, who, by
their resistance to Said bin Mullak, are fairly committ-d with the Egyptians. To the others
I have given sufficient to render them desirous of deserving an equal share of the favour of
Government with the Brymee Sheikhs, and as this favour is understood by all to be contin
gent upon their future'conduct and proceedings with reference to the Egyptians, there are
Sood grounds for anticipating that if Said bin Mulluk attempt to penetrate into Oman, he
may now experience a more serious, if not combined, opposition, than would have been the case
had such an expedition been undertaken at an earlier date.
(VII) THE EGYPTIAN AGENT LEAVES OMAN—WEAKENING OF THE EGYPTIAN
INFLUENCE.
397. Syud Mutluk, on receiving the Resident's protest and hearing of the
wi m measures which had been adopted by him
Bombay Selections No. X\1V, p. 447. ^ reference to the inhabitants of
the coast and of Brymi, at length evacuated Oman, and, embarking from
Shargah, proceeded to Ojeir, having been previously personally assured ^ by
Sheikh Sultan bin Saggar that if he returned to Oman in force he would join
him, and place all his resources at his disposal. Ilis removal from Oman
proved a severe blow to the Egyptian influence, and broke up the combina
tion rapidly forming in his favour. On his voyage from Shargah, having
landed on the island of Kenn, on the Persian Coast, he forcibly carried off
four hundred sheep and other property,—a gross and wanton aggression upon
the subjects of a friendly power, which was duly brought to the notice of
Mahomed Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and led, among other causes, to its being subsequently
intimated to the Sheikh of Katif, the Egypto-Wahabi seaport, that any
expedition against Oman or the territories of the Imam would be opposed
by the British squadron in the Gulf.
398. A portion of the Naim tribe (a branch of that which had so
openly resisted the encroachment of Korshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and his Agents at Brymi),
residin 0, on the Guttur Coast, having refused to pay the Zukat or tribute,
when called upon through Abdulla bin Ahmed, the Chief of Bahrein, Maho
med Effendi, the Egyptian Governor of Lahsa, despatched a party of regulars,
assisted by some of the Mukazibah Arabs, to ravage their pasture lands and
date "-roves. Before this foray could be effectually made, the expedition was
compelled to retreat, in consequence of the murder of Mahomed Effendi, its
originator, by some Arabs, in the suburbs of Eahsa.
399. A Guncha (belonging to Koweit) reached Katif from Hodeida, in
the Red Sea, in November 1839, laden with ammunition and military stores
for the use of the Egyptian forces in Nejd. The Agents on board did not
fail to spread all sorts of extravagant reports regarding a fleet of some eighteen
or twenty vessels, laden with troops and warlike stores, being about to follow.
400. The remonstrances of the Home Government combined with the
capture of Beyrout and other places on the Syrian Coast by the British
navy began now, however, to have full effect; m )reover the quarrels and d : ssen-
sions amongst the Egyptian Agents themselves, and the jealousy lately itubibed
l)y Mahomed Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of his General, Khorshid, tended very much to weaken
their power and influence, which were threatened by, among other disaffected
tribes, that of Ejman, numbering upwards of four thousand men, whose chief
had lately succeeded in effecting his escape from Lahsa, where he had been
treacherously seized and confined by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's orders. Communications