'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎217r] (433/540)

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constantly the honor of corresponding with his Majesty, and expects imme
diately to be favoured with an audience. From every thing which has yet
appeared the highest hopes are entertained of the success of his mission. He
has been received by Mohammud Ali Khan, the Beiglerbeg, in a still unex
ampled and unexpected. The nobles and Chiefs of the City came out three
Kos to welcome him, and the Beiglerbeg himself received him without the
walls and conducted him in with every circumstance of respect. May this
farther instance of the influence of your happy auspicious be only the omen of
successes yet to come, and may it be participated until the end of time to the
interests, over which you preside.
^As to the arrival of the Imam of Muscat and his expedition against The imam of
Behrain, the Beiglerbeg had sent his brother in command of a body of t ^ 0 a n s ^ n ®t Pedi "
troops to Bushire, are now come to a halt without the City. Shaik Nasser Retake.'
Khan, however, has taken upon himself the office of mediator, and proceeded
to Behrain, where he has received from the inhabitants an acquiescence in the
payment of the Dewany Revenue, which supersedes the necessity of the expe
dition altogether. Syed Sultan, it would appear, is a little enraged to find
himself thus left in the lurch, and to make amends for his disappointment,
has taken possession of the Castle of Kharuk, from which he has since pro
ceeded to Behrain. Shaik Nasser has not returned, but writes that the
Uttoobees are willing to accede to every proposition of the Beiglerbeg,- whose
brother is now writing for farther intelligence from Behrain, to decide upon
what line of conduct, the events of the hour may make it necessary to pursue.
I have little farther to add but my professions of sincere attachment to those
whom I serve aiad my assurances that whatever occurrences may be worthy of
transmission, I shall have the honour of forwarding to you with all possible
dispatch. Bushire, 22nd July 1799.
P. »S.—I have ordered a boat to Bussora to return with your commands
if there be any, to the address of the Nuwab my master.
CCLXXX
From S amuel M anesty to the Governor and Council at Bombay.
Eon'ble Sir,
In my former address, I have had the honour to expatiate on the subject
of the Bacha's suspicions of Seiad Sultan, and in a particular one, I ventured
♦ The Imaum in 1799, proceeded, in compliance with the application of the Beiglerbeg of Fars, with four
ships, and sixty Buggalows and armed gallivats, to attack the Uttoobees, and{reduce Bahrein. The Ottoobees
had only three ships, which were on a trading voyage in the Indian seas, which were all taken by the Imaum
on their return.
The Uttoobees wrote on this occasion to Shaikh Nassir of Bushire, stating that the island of Bahrein was
originally under the Turkish Government, the Kings of the Sofi race having for some time brought it under
ontrol, but that it was seventy years since they had been in possession of it ; that they were now desirous of
becoming subject to the King of Persia, to whom they would pay tribute. Shaikh Nassir availed himself of
this invitation, and privately proceeded to Bahrein, and received the tribute for 1798.
The Imaum, on hearing of the intelligence, expressed his displeasure at the Shaikh's conduct. He seized
the opportunity of Shaikh Nassiv's absence from Busbire to spread a report in Karrack thbt he had fled from the
Island and Shaikh Gbanum, Shaikh Nassir's cousin, had been appointed Governor, recommending them to send
all the Bushire people back from Karrack, as Shaikh Gbanum would consider them as rebels and confine their
women, and to entrust the charge of the fort to him. The Karrackees, in consequence, gave up the fort to the
Imaum, who immediately vrote to the Beglerbeg of Fars, that as there weie very few people at Karrack, he
had taken possession of it, to prevent the Uttoobees occupying It, and offered to give five years' revenue
in advance if the Island were given up to him. The result of this application is not known, but Syud Sultan
havino- amicably adjusted matters with the Uttoobees and the Shaikh of Bushire, returned to Muskat, an event
■which restored tranquillity to the Gulf.