'ARBITRATION CONCERNING BURAIMI AND THE COMMON FRONTIER BETWEEN ABU DHABI AND SA'ŪDI ARABIA' [With maps] [‎101v] (207/541)

[p. 245].
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on a Base of salt—yet it was extensively occupied by the Portuguese Its proximity
to the Private Ports and its ready to command of the general channel of the Gulph,
which is here very narrow, combined with the sound or safe Roadstead, framed by
this Island and Kishme, are advantages which render it unequalled, as a naval
position in the whole Gulph—The sound requires to be well surveyed and both
Channels into it to be laid down.—
11 th I took an opportunity of examining Basadore on the South Western
extremelylszc] of the Island of Kishm—as being still near to the Pirate Coast,
but this point of the Island is surrounded by an extensive sand Bank which renders
the Channel to the Anchorage off the Town too circuitous and entrecateLsv'c] to
enable vessels to get promptly to sea and is thus useless to one principal object—
Among the ruins of large Town, are some excellent Tanks of Water, and the place
could be easily made defensible.—
12 th I next inspected a place called Zeellah about 25 mhes East of Bassadore,
which had been represented to me as eligible—It has the near advantage in this
part of the world of a natural supply of good fresh water but it has no other
requisite.—
13 th From Zeellah I proceeded to Deristan opposite the Island of Anjar when
the troops cantoned after leaving Rasulkhyma its appearance gave little promise
of its being healthy, and it could not be more a convenient, or secure Post, without
great expence.—
14 th Under all these circumstances I am of opinion we should continue for
the present to occupy the Position near the Town of Kishm The inconvenience
of its locality, in not possessing a more speedy command of the Pirate Coast may
be partly obviated by Vigilance. It requires no expence for works of defence
against any local enemy, and its disadvantages the want of space and the possible
scarcity of fresh water, may only be seriously felt in proportion to the increase of
Population which has not been repaid as yet.
15 th I have always felt persuaded that nothing but the Establishment of a
military and naval Post in Gulph could keep down the Piratical Tribes.—
16 th Whatever may result therefore from the pretensions of the Court of Persia
to the Sovereignty of the Island and to Kishme, in particular I shall still anxiously
hope that important object will be obliged to establish ourselves, on the Arabian
shore.—
17 th His Highness the Imam of Muscat would not readily give us up any Port
or Town we wished, so satisfied is he with the benefits of our presence in the Gulph
---His Highness has not studied the least concealment of his contempt at the
Threats of his Persian mission.—
18 th There can be no doubt that the policy of our Establishment in the
Gulph has been already proved, in securing the advantages gained by Sir William
Keir’s force, but the present year should be considered one of great importance
as likely to future habits of the Piratical Tribes in rendering their means of sub
sistence dependent in industrious pursuits instead of on those of fraud and
violence.—
19 th To express them into such a desirable Course, and to keep down the
attempts and hopes of renewed Piratical Powers they should be constantly watched
on their own shores, and while discussed Ls7c] [1] as they are at present, the
Honorable Companys Cruizers (though some of them certainly appear modelled
on mysterious capacities for war) may be considered fully equal to that service.—
20 It is by the conduct of this branch of the service therefore that Govern
ment will chiefly have to depend for preserving what has been effected by so much
labour, and expenditure of Men and money, and every scrutiny which can improve
the condition of the cruizers and every incouragement which can stimulate the
exertions of the affairs of that services would seem particularly called for, at the
present juncture.—
i ^ m y s . e ^ the honor to enclose copies of the instructions which I have
issued to the acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and senior marine Officer at Kishme, on this
subject, it regulates a system of Cruize and watch, as now suggested providing
Uiso for Cruizers occasionally visiting Bussora and Bushire.—
22 Among the enquiries which could be usefully setforth, to improve the
efficiency and extend the active services of the Cruizers, in this quarter it seems
(1) disused{l).
-r-
[p- 249].
' fp.250].