Page 442 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXIV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 403

sidered by them only in the light of an East­
ern compliment, it was directed that no assist­

ance should be afforded him, and the Bombay

government have not therefore the authority
to send a single vessel to the aid of one of

their oldest and most faithful of allies. The
sacrifice of so considerable a portion of his

revenue to meet our wishes with respect to
the slave trade, and his offer even to cede to

us his territories in Zanzibar, for the further­
ance of the same object, might, with many

other instances, be adduced in proof of his
sincere devotion to us. The knowledge that

he possessed the support of the British Go­
vernment has hitherto preserved his domi­

nions to him ; and was it for certainty known
that these would be withdrawn, Oman would

speedily be overrun by the Wahhabis, who
are in intimate connexion with the Johasmi

pirates, and who, once in possession of Mas-
kat, might prove most troublesome neighbours.

I think it can therefore admit of no doubt
that the wisest, most politic, and most just

line of action, which we can pursue in refer­
ence to this prince, would be to make our

naval force, as with the native princes of

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