"دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول: المواد التاريخية والسياسية: ملخص حول شؤون نجد، ١٨٠٤-١٩٠٤". [ظ‎‎١‎٦] (٦٨/٣٢)

94. Colonel Felly was at the same time requested to enquire and report on
Bombay Government letter No. 3119, dated the the extent of mischief Committed at Sur,
21 st December is65. and whether anything might reasonably
be demanded on this account from the Wahabi Chief.
95. These proceedings were duly reported to the Government of India,
Bombay Government letter No. 197 , dated the and the Foreign Department at Calcutta
2 ist December 1865. \yas subsequently informed by telegraph,
that no trace of any such Treaty as that mentioned by the Wahabi Chief
Letter form Mr. Secretary Muir, No. 66, dated the COllld be found OU the records of the Bom-
24 th January 1866 . "bay Government or of the Bushire Resi
dency. In reply, the Government of India after alluding to this fact, which a
search in their own records had helped to confirm, observed :—
fC It will be advisable for the Bombay Government to inform the Wahabi Amir that the
British Government is not aware of the existence of any formal agreement between itself and
the Amir; but that if any such document does exist, a copy cf it, no doubt, must be in the
Amir’s possession, and the Amir will do well to produce it for verification.
“ The Amir should be further given to understand that the Imaum of Maslcat is our
friend and ally, and the British Government while hoping for a happy settlement of any
differences which there may now be between the Imaum and the Amir, cannot regard any
encroachment on the Imaum’s territory without grave concern.
His Excellency in Council considers that it would be inexpedient to press the Wahabi
Amir for compensation for any loss which British subjects may have incurred during the
late hostilities.”
96. Before these instructions reached Colonel Felly’s hands, events in the
Persian Gulf rapidly assumed a momentous aspect arising from the determina
tion of the Maskat Government to proceed to open hostilities with the Waha
bis.
97. On the 21st December, Colonel Felly re-visited the Sultan of Maskat
and communicated to His Highness the offer of Government to aid him in guns
and ammunition. He had entered on preparations for blockading the Wahabi
ports of Khatif and Ojair, having received solemn assurances from the Bahrein
authorities that they would co-operate with him. It was arranged that Syud
Turki, who had recently given unequivocal proofs of fidelity and attachment
to his brother the Sultan’s cause, should proceed with the Maskat fleet to
Bahrein in view to carry out the contemplated blockade.
98. Colonel Felly being desirous of examining the state of affairs on the
Arab Coast proceeded to Bahrein with the Sultan’s ships, and en route communi
cated with the Chiefs of the Pirate Coast, reminding them of the aggressive
policy of the Wahabis, and stating that the English Government would not
object to their aiding the Sultan by land. During this time the Sultan was
engaged m collecting his tribes, and equipping them for an advance towards
Beraymi, a strategic point of great importance—threatening the Maskat
territories and the Pirate Coast.
yj. Ihe Wahabis were not indifferent to these warlike preparations. They
No L ^SSt n h!i. P n'!i S r, , l 86? ^ had a short time before moved a detach-
, r , „ ment upon the port of Saham, only a few
hours dis ance from Sohar itself, and driven the Bunnya residents into the sea,
by drowning. “ It ls remarkable ” wrote Colonel Felly
JpcfJnn tlr ^ i hl L } J ad taken P lace the Sultan was ™der the im
press that the Wahabi leader was concealing himself. One noticeable
feature of these inroads is that those among the invaders who are fide
Wahabis of Nejd seem to he comparatively few. Thev are rathor tlm
ers of frontier tribes on the borders of Oman itself ” 7 1
100 . Commodore Montresor concentrated his Squadron at Bombay early
2 sfh 0 C ci°rl86l elcsram to Bomfcay Governmeilt of ^ December 1865, in persuance of instru-
... . Ctions from the Lords of the Admiralty
nor General r S/ r ° m ^ G °7d
b. Captain Fade; h.flag aa,b„W fto 5 ™ fcf&TtaSSfi