'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎93] (112/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
93
doubtful economy, from which few statesmen can ^escape, the
Indian Navy was abolished as an encumbrance. The loss was
speedily felt: attempts to coerce slavers and to entice reluctant
chieftains into treaties which must be kept, require, it need
hardly be said, something more than mere diplomatic skill."
Less fortunate than Wood was his brother officer. Lieutenant
W. H. Wyburd, whose fate is shrouded in mystery. Before
and during the time of our invasion of Afghanistan, any attempt
to explore, or even to enter, the states of Western luikistan,
was resented by the savage rulers of the three Khanates; and
not without reason, considering the aggressions of England and
Russia in Central Asia, and the consequences of 44 Commercial
Missions," as exemplified by that under the command of Burnes,
when the hospitality of the Ameer of Cabul was repaid by our
invading his country and dispossessing him of his throne. ^ In
1835, at the same time that Lieutenants Wellsted and White-
lock were proceeding on their travels in Arabia, and shortly
before Wood's journey to the sources of the Oxus, Lieutenant
Wyburd, an accomplished linguist, who filled the office of in
terpreter to the Commodore in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , was despatched
by the British Envoy at the Court of Persia, on an important
mission to Khiva. In 1845, ten years after he left Persia, it
transpired that he had never reached Khiva, but that, like our
unhappy countrymen. Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly,
he was seized by the Ameer of Bokhara. The British Govern
ment was then appealed to, and an inquiry was instituted.
Wyburd's sisters many times entreated the Government to
recognise and claim their brother as a British subject and
servant, but their request was always met by the unwarrantable
assumption of his death. Thirteen years after Lieutenant
Wyburd was sent on his mission to Khiva, it came to light
that he had escaped from Bokhara, and was in slavery in the
Khanate of Khokand ; and, in the latter part of 1849, the dis
covery was made that he was still alive. The Khan of Khokand
despatched a letter to Colonel (now General Sir) George
Lawrence, Deputy Commissioner in charge at Peshawur, in
which he said, " I have seized a Sahib at the fort of Huzrat
Sooltan, who came by the road of Tajkund and Dusht-i-Kazak.
His name is Wypart, an Englishman, he says, and not a Russian,
and that he has been travelling many years ; he has two Persians
with him named Mohammed and Hussein, who say they were
formerly in Stoddart's service, and were # sold at Bokhara, and
purchased by Wypart. These men say their master is English.
Now I have sent Allahdad to ascertain from you whether he is
really English or not; that should he be so, I may treat him
with honour, but if Russian that I may punish him."
Mr. Wyburd's sisters complained that, notwithstanding this
discovery, they had been unable to obtain from the Government