Page 149 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V—Chap. XXVIII. 127
become a subject of futuro disoussion botwecn myself and tho Persian Governmont, I have
lo81 no opportunity of obtaining every information I could collect from tho best authorities,
as to the sovereignty of the island, both at Maskat and Kislun, and although the informa­
tion I have obtniuod is not so comploto and satisfactory ns l could wish, I beg loavo respect­
fully to submit it to tho consideration of tho Honourable tho Governor in Council.
2. Tho Bini Mnainec tribe orginally resided at Koong on tho Persian Coast, nnd it is
now about 70 or 80 years since Shaik Abdulla Maaincc took tho Island of Kishm from
Mulla Aly Shnli, who was then Chiot'of tho Island, on behalf of tho Porsian Government;
and Shaikh Abdulla afterwards farmed Bunder Alassec and its dependencies from Nadir
SAah.
3. Tho Bini Muainco tribe remained in possession of tho island for many years, and
after Nadir Shah's death, continued to pay tribute to tho present reigning family of Persia,
for Bunder Abasseo and its dependencies which thoy still retained.
4. About 2fl or 27 years ago tho inhabitants of Kishm, being dissatisfied with the
tyrannical system adoptod towards them by Mulla Hussan Maainee, thoir Chief and Governor,
solicited Ilis Highness Syed Sultan, tho Imam of Maskat, to take tho Islands under his
governmont aud control; tho Iinnin proceeded accordingly with an army, and by force of
arms took possession of tho Islands of Kishm, Bunder Abasseo aud Ormuz, from Mulla
Hussein, and it has ever Binco remained under the general control of tho Imam of Maskat.
6. Syed Sultan, notwithstanding ho had taken these places by force of arms from
Mulla Huseeiu Maainee, continued to farm Hundcr Abasseo, and its dependencies from the
Porsian Governmont, as tho Bini Maaincc tribe had done before him, and h»s son Syed Saeed,
the present Imam of Maskat, continues to do the samo ; ho pays four thousand Tomans
annually for the town and depcudencies of Bundor Abassee, including Mcena Ilumeel and
Khumcer. Syfo bin Mubhaun, an Arab Chieftain, is at present Governor of Bunder
Abassee on the part of His Highness the Imam, aud his younger brother is tho Governor
of Ormuz. Shaikh Abdul Rahman Maainee, the Governor of Kishm, is related to
His Highness by marriage, so that the Government of all the principal places farmed
by the Imam of Maskat io entirely in tho hands of tho Arabs at present, and I do
not know whether the Persian Governmout would venture to risk tho attempt of taking
these places forcibly from them, under any circumstances, but as the Imam has several
ships, aud could command tho sources of a great number of buggalas and boats belonging
to the different Arab tribes in the Gulf, it is almost certain, I think, that the Imam would
be able to retain the Islands of Kishm, Ormuz and Larak, in spite of every exertion of the
Persian Government.
6. The whole of the Persian shore of the Gulf is in the possession of different Arab
tribes, and though they may have little differences aud quarrels among themselves, they
would cordially unite to repel any attaok tho Persians might make to accept or subdue any
one of them.
7. It is quite impossible that tho Arab tribes and the Persians can ever oordially bleud
their interests aud act iu concert together. The habits of the people are very different, the
independence of an Arab Shaikh submits reluctantly to the Persian yoke, and tho difference
of religious feeling effectually prevents anything liko a cordial co-operation between them.
8. I regret extremely that neither at Maskat nor at Kishm, havo I been able to obtain
a sight of one of the old Persian Furmauns by which His Highness tho Imam farm*
Bunder Abasseo from the sovereign of Persia, in order to ascertain what places are particularly
specified, ns constituting its dependencies. I think it unlikely that suoh an important
documont as the grant, or Furmaun of the Kiug of Persia, by which His Highness the
Imam, farms so large a portion of territory and for which he pays 4,000 Tomauns annually
should uot bo in existence; it is possible it might have been mislaid at the time I was at
Maskat or it might have been intentionally withheld, but I was expressly informed by Syed
Abdul Kahir, His Highness's confidential Secretary, that neither Kishm, Ormuz, nor
Larak are speoified on the receipts annually granted by the Persian Government for the
stipulated sum paid to them ; and in reply to a series of questions which I wrote out to be
answered at Maskat, and which I know were carried by Syed Abdul Kahir to His Highness
the Imam himself, it was expressly declared that the Islauds of Kishm, Ormuz and Lfirak,
belouged exclusively to the Imam.
9. It appears to me extreme presumption in the Persian Government to deolaro that
even Maskat itself i9 a dependency of Persia, and the information I have obtained satis­
fies me that Maskat never wa9 tributary to that State ; perhaps the pretensions of Persia may
be grounded on the following circumstances, which I obtained in detail from what must be
oonsidered the highest authority, the Imam himself.
10. About 78 years ago, Sultan bin Syfe Gaarubi was Imam of Maskat and the
Province of Omaun; he made himself very unpopular by his tyranny, and was removod from
the Government by the general voice of the people ; ho went and sought the aid of Nadir
Shab, then sovereign of Persia, to reinstate him in his Government ; Nadir Shah complied
with hie request, and sent an army back with him to restore him to influence and to power.
This army landed at Ros-sul-Khiraa, and after much hard fighting they suoeeeded in marobing
through the country as far as Maskat which place alone seems then to have been retained by
the adherents of Sultan bin Syfe, while all the Province of Omaun remained unsubdued.