Page 55 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part II—Chop. XIII. 33

CHAPTER XIII.

PIRACIES IN THE GIJLF, 1S00-1S05. DEATH OF SYUD SULTAN
OF MASRAT. RE-APPOINTMENT OF RESIDENT AT
MAS RAT (CAPTAIN SETON).
81. Wo now come faoo to face with the disturbances of the peace of the
Gulf oausod by piracies of the Joasmis, an Arab Maritime tribe in North Oman,
which occupied our attention and taxed our military and naval energies to
their utmost for the first quarter of the 19th century. Up to the year 18u4, the
only piracies committed by the Joasmis against British ships were in the case
of the B ossein Snow and the Viper.
The Bassein Snow, under British colours, and charged with public des­
patches, was taken on the 18th of May 1797, oil Ramse, by a fleet of dows
belonging to Itas-ul-Khima : she was, however, released by the Sheikh two
days after. In October following the Viper cruiser was attacked by the
Joasmis, whilst at anchor in Bushire Hoads. The Joasmi dows had arrived
about six days before the Viper, under the command of Sheikh Saleh, Chief of
the Beni Joasmi Arabs, and nephew to the Joasmi Sheikh, who were at
war with the Imam of Maskat. Their object was to intercept the Suri
Arabs, who were at Basrah. On the day the Viper arrived, Sheikh Saleh had
an interview with the Resident at Bushire, when, after the strongest professions
of friendship, he stated what his views were, and begged that we would not
proteot the Suri dows, nor ship any British property on board ; but if we did,
he promised that it should be held sacred. After these professions, Sheikh
Saleh requested a supply of balls and powder from the Viper} which having
been furnished, ho treacherously attaoked the cruiser, but was beaten off.
82. The Resident at Basrah remonstrated against both these acts; they
were met on the part of Sheikh Saggar by professions of regard for the
English, contending, in respect to the attack of the Viper, that the cruiser had
fired first on the dows. He stated that Sheikh Saleh left Ras-ul-Khima,
separated himself from the tribe, had proceeded to the Persian shore, and
there established himself among the Beni Khalid Arabs, marrying a woman
of that tribe, which was one of a villanous nature and character; that since
the commencement of hostilities between the Joasmis and people of Oman,
Sheikh Saleh had acted independently of Ras-ul-Khima, committing depreda­
tions according to his inclination; that the Joasmis had no disputes with
the English, and considered the people of Oman alone as their enemies.
83. These disputes arose in consequence of the unsettled state of the
Maskat Government on the death of Syud Ahmed, and the usurpations of
Syud Sultan. He had involved himself in serious disputes with the Arabs of
the Gulf, which brought on a war with many of them, who had united against
him; and the Bombay Government conceived that those acts of aggression
experienced, by British vessels had been from Arabs in the interest of the
deposed Prince of Oman.
84. In 1804 Syud Sultan met his death at the hands of the Joasmis.
It was about this time that the Wahabis had gained a complete ascendancy
over the Joasmis and the latter displayed a remarkable change for the worse
in their depredations in the Gulf. In 1805 they captured two vessels, the
Shannon and Trimmer, belonging to Mr. Manesty, with public despatches,
and treated the commanders with the greatest severity and cruelty, and a fleet
of forty sail surrounded and fired into the Morningtan cruiser, but a broadside or
two compelled them to fly off. They were also co-operating with Mulla Hussein
of Kishm, with whom they were allied, against Bandar Abbas and Minao.
85. From the Gulf let us turn over to Maskat. On the death of Syud Sultan,
the Governor-General, Lord Wellesly, thought that the circumstances required
the presence of a Resident at Maskat and accordingly ordered the Bombay