Page 310 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 301

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on Mahomed bin Abdoollah, in virtue of the island having been formerly
ruled by his ancestors, and in virtue, too, of his own personal ability and
merits. Mchdco Khan, in his letter to the Pirate Chief, attributes the
appointment to his influence, announces his intention of shortly visiting
Bahrein, but meanwhile summons Mahomed bin Abdoollah to Dayer td
arrange matters. He promises that a firman and a dress of honor from}
the Shah will be awaiting his arrival, and takes the opportunity of sending
a shawl on his own account. Concerning the tone of this document, His
Excellency in Council agrees with Colonel Pclly in considering that it
would have been difficult to write a letter “ more explicitly favourable to the
Chief who had taken piratical possession of Bahrein and plundered British
subjects, or tending more to encourage breaches of the maritime peace.**
5. The Chiefs of Dashtee, in their letters, recount their exertions
in behalf of Mahomed bin Abdoollah and the representations which they
made of his case for the protection of the town and inhabitants of Bahrein
to Melidco Khan, and urge him to proceed to Dayer without delay.
G. Amongst the intercepted papers there is also a - letter, dated 29th
November 1809, from Mclidec Khan to Colonel Pclly, the tone and burden
of which are very different from that which Mclidec Khan wrote to Ma­
homed bin Abdoollah. It was apparently written to conciliate Colonel Pclly,
so far as the Sirtocp could, whilst reserving the territorial claims of. the
Shah over Bahrein. Mclidec Khan speaks of the Pirate Chief’s appoint­
ment to Bahrein as only temporary ; he takes credit to himself for his en-'
dcavours to recover the property plundered during the disturbances at
Bahrein, assumes that Colonel Polly’s views and the object for which lie
(Mclidec Khan) lias been appointed coincide ; ho offers to assist in tho-
punishment of those who have infringed the maritime peace, and claims, on.
operations being completed, the right for the Persian Government to nomi­
nate to the administration of the island such person as it may- deem fit.
7. In your despatch No. 9<L, dated December 11th, 1869, you record
the complaint of the Shah that his Agent was •prevented “ from landing or
communicating with the Chief, and that, in consequence of this interference
on the part of the Resident, he was obliged to return to Bahrein without
having delivered his letters to the persons to whom they were addressed.”
IIis Majesty had also, you intimated, expressed his regret that his Agent
should have been stopped, and hopes that,8tcps might be taken to prevent
such an occurrence in future.
8. As this was written four days earlier than the letter in which
Colonel Pclly reported to His Excellency in Council through the Bombay
Government the state of tho ease, it is possible that you refrained from giving
any opinion on the matter for want of detailed information. With both
accounts before him certain inconsistencies have attracted the attention of
His Excellency in Council. Thus the Persian Government has taken no*
notice of the fact that Hajee Abd Alec was trying to run a blockade, of
which Colonel Pelly had given you due intimation at Teheran on November
1‘lth by Telegraph, and which you had communicated to the Persian-
Government through your first Moonshce on the following day; it docs not
explain why he was sailing under Arab colours. The admission that he was
acting as the Agent of the Persian Government diffors from Hajee Abd
Aloe’s own statement that ho had no authority from that Government, but
was merely the deputy of Hyder Khan, Chief of Dashtee; it ignores the faot
tluit Hajee Abd Alee wished to be allowed to hand over his letters to the