'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎140r] (279/344)

Part VII—Chap. LV.
259
CHAPTER LV.
INSULT TO THE BRITISH FLAG AT BUSHIRE AND
REPARATION EXACTED, AUGUST 1827.
483. In August 1827 Commander John Betham had a fracas with Sheikh
Nasir of Bushire, which might have
Volume 284 of 1827, page 341. entailed unpleasant consequences but for
that officer's promptitude and the Sheikh's timely yielding. The facts as
narrated by Captain Betham himself in his letter, dated 29th August 1827, are
as follows:—
484. Having obtained information on 28th August 1827 that a deserter
from the Amherst was on board a bugalow in the Bushire Harbour, Captain
Betham sent a midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. with the cutter to take him out: he shortly after
wards returned, complaining that the people of the bugalow had beaten the
lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. of the Amherst and refused to give up the man. One Hadji Jassimwas
then sent to the Sheikh with this information, and Captain Betham proceeded
immediately afterwards himself with Maliomed Ali as Interpreter, but meeting
with Hadji Jassim on the road, was informed that the Sheikh was not at home—
consequently Captain Betham jumped into the boat and went to the bugalow
fearing the deserter would otherwise make his escape, which in fact he did as
they approached the vessel, together with the persons who had beaten the
lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. .
One of the men belonging to the bngalow was ordered into the boat,
who voluntarily acknowledged that he knew where the deserter was secreted,
and also that he knew the persons who had ill-used the lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. . Captain Betham
therefore wished to have him as a witness before the Sheikh, and sent
Mahomed Ally to Sheikh Nasir with his compliments to state what had occurred
and to beg he would order the Amherst's man to be delivered up instantly.
Instead of complying with this reasonable request, he beat Mahomed Ally in a
most barbarous manner, and was nearly putting him to death ; he seized the
Amhersfs Syrang, one of its lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. and the Nautilus tindal Non-European boatswain or head of a group of labourers. threw them into
prison and threatened them with punishment. Captain Betham therefore sent
his witness on board the Clive and informed the Sheikh that he would keep him
until the deserter, who was a British subject, was delivered up and that unless
he released the men forthwith, he should consider the Sheikh an enemy, and
act accordingly and that without delay. This was refused, whereupon Captain
Betham immediately ordered the Inspector to join the Clive and Nautilus,
which order was promptly obeyed. He also desired his boats to be sent on
shore armed and the gun to be got into the launch to protect him in case
any attempt should be made to prevent his embarkation, which from the
insolent messages he had received from the Sheikh, he thought not unlikely.
Captain Betham then intimated to the Sheikh that unless he obtained
satisfaction for the gross insult offered the flag within two hours he would
proceed to his ship, sink the Homani, a Persian ship, and do his utmost to
destroy all the Sheikh's vessels. At this time the British boats had reached the
shore and the Sheikh became a little sobered in his judgment, seeing that the
British Commander should probably carry his resolution into effect, and
consented to release our men and Mahomed Ally also, and to send a lascar A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships.
(a British subject) in lieu of the deserter until he could be found. Captain
Betham agreed to this arrangement, but stated that he would only wait half an
hour longer on shore for them. He waited rather more than the specified time
and then embarked, when they brought the men down to the beach with
Mahomed Ally. He then returned, and the matter was thus far adjusted.
The Sheikh promised to satisfy Mahomed Ally. The latter refused to
go, in fact his eyes had both been nearly knocked out. This man had served
the English for the last twenty years and had committed no other fault than
going with him as interpreter.
2 L
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