Page 293 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

254 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [cH.

navigation, in the hands of the Phoenicians,

made its infant efforts in the Indian seas, if in
this part of Arabia an equal protection has

been afforded to the bark of the merchant
when sailing along its shores.

There is, however, reason to believe such
security will exist no longer than we main­
tain our present policy towards the Arab

chiefs. If our naval squadron was withdrawn
from the Gulf for a single season, they would

very soon make head again. All their towns
have been rebuilt, and are perhaps more ex­

tensive than before; and when the treaty of
1819, by which they stipulated to refrain from

fighting with each other by sea, had in 1835
expired, they addressed the Indian Govern­
ment to be permitted to renew their ancient

mode of settling differences, many of which
during that period had arisen between them.

As this was at once known to be merely a
pretext for renewing their outrages on their
more peaceful neighbours, it was of course

refused them. But a few months before, a
piratical boat fitted out by the Beni As tribe,

seized and plundered an Indian vessel pro­
ceeding to Bushir, but was encountered