'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎24] (43/622)

24
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
of the commanding officer were tied, and he was deterred from
firing a shot until an open act of aggression had been committed
by the enemy. These ill-judged measures necessitated the
expeditions of 1809 and 1819, the expenses of which form such
formidable items in the Finance Committee's Report. But the
fatuous nature of this Report appears in the eighteenth
paragraph, wherein it is recommended that protection should
only be afforded to British trade, and that thus we should
cease to maintain the police of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Red Sea.
Sir John Malcolm, than whom no man was equally conversant
with this phase of the question, effectually disposed of so
suicidal a proposal in his Minute.
After this unexpected outbreak of the piratical proclivities
which it was known lay dormant in the breasts of these truculent
Arabs, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. squadron was strengthened, and
it was deemed imperative that some limit should be imposed on
the extent of the cruising grounds of their war vessels. Accord
ingly, in January, 1836, it was personally intimated to the Arab
chiefs, by Captain Hennell, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , who went
the tour of the Gulf with the Commodore of the Indian Naval
Squadron, that, under instructions from the Bombay Govern
ment, the excursions of their vessels must thenceforth be
confined within a line drawn from Khor es Shem, or Elphinstone
Inlet, near Cape Mussendum, to within ten miles south of the
island of Bomosa, or Abu Musa, (lat. 25° 53' N., long. 55° 3' E.),
and thence onward through the island of Seir Aboneid (lat. 25°
15' N., long. 54° 14' E.); and Captain Hennell further informed
them, that the commanders of the Company's ships-of-war had
been instructed to seize any of their vessels, other than trading
craft, carrying cargo found within the Persian side of this
neutral ground. Upon this Sultan bin Suggur represented that
he had sometimes occasion to send his war boats round Cape
Mussendum to his possessions at Khor Fukaun ; upon which he
was informed that, previous to his doing so, he must obtain
the sanction of the Commodore of the Gulf Squadron at
Bassadore, who was instructed at the same time that it was
desirable, if possible, that the observance of the prescribed
limits should be enforced upon the Joasmi Sheikh, especially
between the months of October and July, during the chief com
mercial intercourse between India and the Gulf, At the same
time it w'as officially intimated to the Beni Yas that, as a
punishment for their recent aggressions, the cruising ground of
their war boats should be limited for a period to within sight of
their own coast.
Subsequently, upon the commission of some piratical acts by
the sons of the Sheikh of Bahrein, whilst in rebellion against
their father, the restricted line imposed upon the chiefs of the
Maritime Arabs, was made applicable to Bahrein, by being ex-