'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎160v] (320/344)

300
Part VII— C hap. LXxi.
596. In the course of the day the Sheikh himself requested an interview.
He came in the afternoon, accompanied only by Sheikh Mahomed, the head of
the Dumukh tribe. In his conversation he principally dwelt upon the
ungenerous treatment he was now to experience at the hands of the Shiraz
authorities, after all the sacrifices he had made—that the attack and capture of
Tulisia, and the foray into the Rudhilla districts, which had been stripped of
flocks, herds, camels and everything the unfortunate inhabitants possessed,
had been executed by the Tungistunis at the instigation of the Nizam-ul-
Mulk, Mahomed Ali Khan, whose enmity to him was such that nothing but
his (the Sheikh's) entire ruin would satisfy it. That the object of all their
aggressions was simply to embarrass his affairs, and by preventing his collecting
the usual revenues from the districts, disgrace him with the Prince through his
inability to send the quotas of revenue demanded from him. Their intrio-ues
he said had succeeded, as, had his districts remained unmolested, be would
probably have collected from them a sum equal to the demands existing against
him. He had now, he said, come to the Resident in his present unhappy
position to ask his advice whether to fly or resist.
597. In reply Major Hennell recommended him to adopt neither of
such hazardous and useless plans, but to make up his mind to go at once
to Shiraz, where he thought it likely the favorable sentiments entertained
towards him by the Prince personally, and other influential persons at his
Court, would probably bring about a speedy and satisfactory arrangement
of his affairs. This suggestion however Sheikh Nasir positively refused to
accept saying that nothing should induce him voluntarily to put himself
into the hands of his enemy the Nizam-ul-Mulk, that he would make one
more attempt to soften the Prince, and if that failed, he would go away
from the place, if leisure were afforded him, but that if he were driven to
desperation he would resist. He then asked the Resident whether if called on
by the Prince he would interfere. The reply was in the negative , as his
instmctions were to abstain from mixing up himself in any way in the local
affairs of the place. The Sheikh in the course of the conversation occasionallv
referred to the Dumukh Chief for his opinion, and he gave it plainly for
fighting as long as they could, and then leaving the place when they were
reduced to extremity. He said that the new Governor, Mirza Mehdi Khan
was to be accompanied by Bakir Khan, the Chief of Tungistun, as a sort of
Wazir Minister. . That the late disgraceful defeat experienced by the Tungistunis at
Ahmedi, in which they had lost some 50 of their best men, would never be
forgiven by their Chief, who would doubtless avail himself of his influence with
the Persian Governor, to lay hold of every man of any consequence amon®-
them with whom he was now at blood-feud, and make away with him Tha^
their treachery in murdering the Chief of Ahmedi, when they had promised him
quarter, showed distinctly how' little reliance could be placed on their pledges
or forbearance, and therefore he concluded by saying, they had better die with
arms in their hands, than be exposed to the cruelty and revenue of the
Tungistun Chief. Sheik Nasir evidently received these remarks with
satisfaction, and although he professed his own intention was to leave the place
quietly, the impression left on the Resident by the interview was that he
would resist vi et armis, the entrance of Mirza Mehdi Khan into Bushire.
598. On the night of the 4th instant, by the Sheikh's orders, Mahomed
Hashem Khan with his three attendants and their horses, were embarked in
native boat, and taken over to Shif, where they were landed, with a
recommendation to make the best of their way to Shiraz.
599. The Bombay Government expressed the opinion that it would have
been better had Lieutenant-Colonel Hennell refrained from giving to Sheikh
Nasir the advice to proceed to Shiraz, since it might have embarrassed Govern
ment had the Sheikh acted on it and met with ill-treatment from the Persian
Government (letter dated 30th November 1849).
600. Towards the close of the year 1850 Sheikh Nasir was finally dismissed
from the Governorship of Bushire. The grounds on which he was dismissed are
explained in the Resident's letter quoted below :—
In reply to the enquiry made by Your Excellency in your despatch dated the 15th October
last, regarding the ostensible reason assigned for the dismissal of Sheik Nasir, I have the