'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎132r] (263/344)

Part VI—Chap. XLIX.
243
informed me tliat in the affray two Debaie men had been wounded and their property carried
off, and that one of the crew of an Aboothabee boat fishing in company had been likewise
killed on the occasion.
It is proper I should mention here that on the previous day I had brought the above
matter to the serious notice of Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur. Though not, I said, constituting
a cafe for my authoritative interference, yet it bordered so closely upon maritime irregularity,
that 1 hoped the respect he entertained for the favourable opinion of Government, to say
nothing of motives of good policy, would prompt him to afford all the redress in his power.
The Joasmee Chief was earnest in his promises of acquiescence, but from the general tenor of
the excuses by which they were preluded, to the effect that as members of an inimical tribe
the sufferers had no claim upon his sympathy, and moreover that the aggressors were for the
most part Bedouins, not subject to his authority, I could encourage little hope of their
fulfilment.
11. The advent of the Wahabee force under Abdullah bin Fysul being referred to, Sheikh
Saeed bin Butye observed that their presence in Oman in such strength was opposed to the
best interests of the maritime tribes and could not fail sooner or later to be productive of
much embarrassment to the British Government; nothing was easier, he added, than for the
Government to defeat their schemes by declaring the whole line of coast from Aboothabee to
Mussendom under its protection—with much more to the same purpose, all tending to the
query with which he concluded. "Whether if the "Wahabees attacked his territories, or offered
to co-operate with either of his ambitious neighbours in such an enterprise he might count
upon its support and assistance ? To this I replied, " the neutrality generally observed by
Government in inland aflairs seemed to suggest a sufficient answer. The Maritime Chiefs,
whether united or singly, might always assure themselves of its sympathy and even its
good offices when struggling fur their independence, but I could at present contemplate no
contingency which should move it to deviate from its declared policy. All I could promise
him was that, as heretofore, he should be gale from attacks from the side of the sea, or from
any hostile demonstration whatever upon that element ; the above consideration, he answered,
had been one of his principal sources of anxiety, but being now satisfied that no change was
intended in this respect by the new treaty, he did not despair by judiciously availing
himself of the jealousies of the Baniyas and Joasmee Chiefs of counteracting any plans which
might be formed for his subjection.
12. The language and demeanour of Sheikh Saeed bin Butye impressed me with his
character for activity and intelligence ; though wanting perhaps the abilities of the late Sheikh
Muktoom, he is said to possess all his energy, and will probably meet with equal success in
maintaining his position. In his relations with Government I am happy to observe that he
has as yet exhibited the same readiness to fulfil his engagements, which distinguished his
brother during the latter years of his life.
13. On the 9th The Clive reached Aboothabee, when at my invitation, and in the
absence of his brother, Humdon bin Thanoon came off to meet me. He informed me that
Sheikh Saeed bin Thanoon's return might be looked for daily, but that as his representative and
vested by him with full powers, if I did not choose to await bis coming, he was himself
prepared to transact business in his behalf. Finding that my visitor suffered severely from
sea-sickness, I did not detain him longer than sufficient to explain the objects of the proposed
treaty, and to prepare a provisional document for his signature vouching for his brother's
acceptance of its obligations, a precaution the necessity for which was, however, superseded
by the latter's arriving in person yesterday, and by his visiting me this morning to affix his
seal to the new engagement. This he did without hesitation, and without any allusion to his
previously avowed designs for the reduction of Debaie, on which subject his silence was to be
accounted for by his having lately resumed friendly relations with the Chief of that place.
14. With the exception of a complaint of the affair at u Khore Ghurabee/'to which I
have referred to paragraph 10 of this report, the rest of our conversation was entirely engrossed
by the proceedings of the Wahabees at Brymee. On arriving, he said, in their camp he found
that Abdulla bin Fysul, being correctly informed of the defenseless state of Batinah, had
made up his mind to invade the district, and had accordingly pitched his demands upon Syud
Soweynee at so high a rate, including therein a requisition for his personal attendance as
apparently to close the door to an accommodation. The approach of the Joasmee Chief was
then only awaited and a day had been fixed for the march of the coalesced forces. Matters
having gone thus far he wrote to Syed Soweynee recommending him to proceed himself and
to despatch all his available troops to Sohar, and to assume at least an attitude of resistance
in order to give weight to his mediation. He could eee, he told me, that both the Joasmee
chief and the Wahabee Lieutenant were employing Syed Gez bin Azan as the instrument
to subserve their own ends, and he felt, therefore, that by holding a bold language towards
the latter, while he tendered his personal security for a reasonable amount of tribute, it might
be possible to divert him from extreme measures. Much negotiation thereon ensued, but it was
not until he declared his adherence lo the Imaum's I'arty, and begged, if the expedition were
finally determined upon, to be permitted to withdraw, that his remonstrances seemed to make
any impression. The result, as already known to me, was the deputation of himself and
Ahmed el Sirdeyree to Sohar for the purpose of effecting an amicable arrangement. He
regretted to add that, in spite of all his efforts, he was unable to obtain more favourable terms
than payment of arrears of tribute to the amount of 60,000 dollars as the price of a Treaty