"دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول: المواد التاريخية والسياسية: ملخص حول شؤون نجد، ١٨٠٤-١٩٠٤". [و‎‎١‎٧] (٦٨/٣٣)

25
sailed for the Persian Gulf, visiting Maskat and Sokar en route, and delivering
Dpspatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Pelly, with the guns aild ammunition to One of the
accompaniments, No. 7, dated the 12th February Sultan’s ships at the latter port. On the
. , . , , , „ , 3r{i January, the Highflyer called at
.hlphmstone inlet and found that Colonel Pelly had left for Sohar to which
place Captain Pasley accordingly returned. At his first interview with Colonel
Polly he requested him to state in "writing what were his views in regard to
the Maskat and Wahabi disturbances. Colonel Pelly replied :
<a I understand that Her Majesty^s Government will not do anything by land to aid the
oultan or Maskat, but that they are prepared to aid him on the seaboard by the presence of a
man-of-war. J r
" The only points where the Wahabis can be touched from seaward are their ports of
jaii and Khatif with the intermediate Island Fortification of Demaum, commanding the
entrance to Khatif, and so far as my unprofessional eye can see the only method by which a
ship of war can aid the Sultan in his present crisis is by blockading the Wahabi ports until
the Y\ ahabi government comes to terms.
“ Complicated with the Wahabi invasion is the butchery of one British Indian subject,
and the plunder of ten or more others at the port of Sur, on the Maskat coast, by th®
Wahabi troops. If you blockade, the arrangements of this matter might be included in the
general settlement ; if you do not blockade, it would be for you to give to this matter such
• The orders furnished to Captain Pasley by the consideration as you may deem fit, and may be
Commodore enjoined him to assist the Resident at enabled to, under the orders* you have received
Maskat, sAowta A* require ui writing, even so far fmm the f’nmmnrlnro J
as to use coercive means, in aid of our ally the Imam, Ir0m ttte ^ OI H mo UOre.
but he was clearly to understand that be was not to
undertake any thing on land.
“ In either case I shall be happy to hand to you a letter calling on the Wahabi gov
ernment to apologize and make adequate reparation for that insult.
“ The letter would require seven days for its transmission to the Wahabi capital from
the date of its delivery to the Wahabi authorities at Khatif, three days more might be
granted for the consideration of the letter by the Wahabi government, and seveS days
more for the return courier, in all seventeen days before commencing operations. J
“ If you determine to blockade, it would be necessarv for me to give the usual warning
It will probably be obvious to you that it would not be advisable for the English Government
to begin any operations which it might not be convenient to carry to a conclusion, to act
otherwise would be to confirm the impression already so prevalent of our own absence of
Naval power, and would be to leave our ally the Sultan more than ever liable to Wahabi
aggression.”
101. Captain Pasley rejoined :—
“ I perfectly agree with you that it would be injudicious to commence any hostile opera
tions wich it might not be convenient for the Government to carry out, and as the Highflyer's
time is limited in the Persian Gulf, and as I have no reason to suppose any other vessel of
war is coming to take my place, I cannot recommend the establishment of a blockade which
would not be enforced after the departure of the Highflyer.
With regard to the injuries inflicted on British subjects by the Wahabis at Sur, I
shall be very happy to convey your letter, demanding an apology and reparation for that
insult to the Sheikh of Khatif, for conveyance to the Wahabi Chief, and as the answer will
be seventeen days returning to Khatif, I propose to visit the different ports on the Pirate
Coast, returning to Khatif on the 27th or 2Stli instant, when I hope to hear from you.
“ Should the answer from the Wahabi Chief be unfavorable, I shall be happy to assist
you in confiscating the shipping in the port of Khatif, or by destroying his ports or otherwise
as you may direct.”
102. In accordance with Captain Pasley’s views, Colonel Pelly handed
him on the 6th January, a letter to the address of the Wahabi Chief, with
one to the Governor of Khatif, and placed at his disposal the services of “ the
Native Agent for the Arabian Coast,” whom Colonel Pelly described “ as the
best man for this work in Gulf.”
103. The following is a translation of the letter addressed to the Wahabi
Chief: —
“ Your Highness has invaded the territories of Maskat, an independent State, in alliance
with the British Government. About nine months ago the British Government permitted
me to use my good offices as mediator between you and the Sultan of Maskat. I addressed a
polite letter to you on this subject, your Highness did not acknowledge that letter, on the
contrary your troops have since butchered one British Indian subject, and plundered ten others
of all they possessed.