Annotated Copy of Persia and the Persian Question by George Curzon, with Inserted Papers [‎776r] (1568/1814)

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have ever since paid an intermittent tribute to the chief of Nejd p-> , /
but, in the intervals of Wahabi aggressiveness, have enjoyed a prac-X^ *m>
tical independence. The events that first brought them under < ^
Wahabi domination also brought them into sharp collision with the
British Government, which, in the interests of commerce and peace,' ^ x e
and for the security of the large capital invested by British subjects. ■
in the Gulf trade, was compelled to charge itself with the repression ;
of piracy in the Indian Seas. A period of hostility and conflict was^^^^ - ^
followed by treaty engagements, and finally by a perpetual truce^y/^^^ &
under which the maritime security of the Gulf is now assured, and ,
the signatory parties are entitled in diplomatic parlance the Trucial
Chiefs of Oman. f
The history of these relations, interesting alihe in its stormy
prologue and in its felicitous sequel, may be briefly summarised. 1 ^/^ . //i
IC^x.
1 I will consign to a footnote the details that might be held unduly to en- '
cumber the text, and which I have culled from a variety of official and other
sources :— >v ' ' / » “* ^
1805. The Jowasmi pirates captured two vessels, the ‘ Shannon ’ and ‘ Trimmer,’ g /' >
belonging to Mr. Manesty, British Resident at Busrah, and treated their com- ,
manders with great cruelty. A fleet of 40 sail also surrounded the ‘ Mornington ^
cruiser, and fired into her, but were compelled by her superior armament to sheer /
off. A British punitive expedition, in conjunction with the forces of Oman, was
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sent against the pirates. t-v// #
1806. February. The first treaty was concluded with the Jowasmi pirafies, , ^L.
binding them to respect the flag and property of the East India Company and its ^
subjects. JcaJ^js f Cjz f
1807. Piracy renewed. The Jowasmis seized Bahrein, and drove out the
Oman garrison. They attacked H.M.S. ‘ Lion,’ but were beaten off.
1808. Three pirate boats attacked H.M.S. ‘Nereid.’ Two were sunk, the third
run down.
1809. H.M.S. ‘ Minerva ’ was attacked by a pirate fleet of 55 ships and 5,000
men, and, after two days’ fighting, was boarded, and every man put to the sword.
The chief of Ras-el-Kheimah demanded tribute of the British Government as the
price of security for their vessels.
1809- 10. Colonel (Sir L.) Smith, in command of a land force of 1,623 men,
and the ‘ Chifonne ’ frigate (Captain Wainwright), assisted by a large body of
Persian horse, were despatched against the pirates. They destroyed Ras-el-
Kheimah, burnt 50 large ships, and, in conjunction with an Oman force, attacked
and took the fort of Shinaz in the Indian Ocean.
1810- 19. Piracies renewed.
1819, November. An expedition sailed from Bombay, consisting of a naval
squadron under Captain Collier, and 3,547 men under Sir W. Keir Grant, which
besieged and captured Ras-el-Kheimah (after a most gallant resistance) and the
fort of Zyah, burnt 202 pirate vessels, released many Hindu prisoners, and returned,
leaving a garrison of 1,200 sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. at Ras-el-Kheimah.
1820. First general treaty with the pirate tribes. The British, in alliance
with Oman, attacked the Beni-bu-Ali tribe near Bas-el-Hadd. Captain Thomson
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