Page 35 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter I- 13

35. On tlio 18th and 19th July 1705, tho Kaab Shoikh with six gnllivats
Iiairah Factory Diary No. 3’10J of 17G5-G7* attacked tho Sally and took her and
Selection/, 1C00—1S00, 1Y0. CLl. tho Company’s Yacht as thoy were hot.li
coming up the river from Bushirc. They then captured the Fori William. Tho
Mussalim on being applied for assistance, despatched a messenger to the Kaab
Sheikh ’with a strongly worded letter of remonstrance and demanding the
releaso of tho vessels. Two oflicersof tho vessels—Captain Philliphs and Holland
were released. The Kaab Sheikh demanded a treaty of friendship with tho
English on tho old footing (letter from the Agent to the Presidency, dated 14th
August 1765).
36. The Government of Bombay thought that tho capture of tho ships
by the Kaab, rendered it necessary, in tho interests and to the credit of tho
Company, that the tribe should be reduced to obedience, and for this purpose
they despatched the ships mentioned in the
Bombay, Grab.
Succesi, Ketch. margin, with 50 European infantry,
Dolphins and Tyyer, Schooner#.
Wolf, Gnllivat. 15 artillery men, 150 sepoys, 25 lascars,
Fame, Storeship. under tho command of Captain Leslie
Baillic and Captain John Brewer. Tho Agent was instructed to obtain resti­
tution of tho vessels and cargoes taken, compensation for the charges of tho ex­
pedition and the loss of the owners of the vessels for detention (letter from
the Presidency, dated 5th January 1766, Selection No. CLllI).
37. Some of the English ships sailed up the Dorak river, hut could
effect nothing as tho Turkish forces moved very slowly to assist them. The
Agent at Basrah asked the Besident (Mr. Jervis) at Bushirc to apply to tho
Sheikh of Bushirc for sending his fleet and forces against the Kaab, but by
no means to stipulate for English assistance to tho Persians against Meer
Mohana, as the policy of the Company was then, as the Agent supposed, to
remain on terms of friendship with Meer Mohana, unless by his conduct he
gave just cause to violate tho friendship (letter from Basrah, dated 29th May
1766, Selections No. CLFII1).
38. Tho English ships waited in vain for the Turkish forces. At length
• Tins officer .houid apparently be duunp.ui.cd Lieutenants Nesbit and Brewer went up
frem Captain Ncabit, who also took part in this ODC of tllC Creeks With armed boats to I’CCOn-
cxpcdiuon. noitro and destroy the Kaab boats. They
succeeded in burning same boats, hut failed in an attempt against a newly erected
fort at a place called Mansurc, for want of water and people to drag the guns.
The party commenced to retreat at midnight but lost on tho way Lieutenant
Nesbit and an European gunner, while four others were only wounded. As tho
Turkish troops were never oomiug, Mr. Wrench (Agent) then warned
tho Mussalim that the fleet would not bo detained longer than the 30th J une
1766, unless the charges thereof were paid out of the Turkish treasury, to
which condition the Pasha agreed by sanctioning 1,000 tomans a month for the
maintenance of tho English fleet. In July the Mussalim gave the Agent a
note for 600 tomans in part payment of the cost on tho customs, which sum
was being quickly realised (Selections Nos. CLFII1 ancl CLIX).
Karim Khan was asked by the Ageut not to afford protection to tho Kaab
in caso they fled to Persian territory, but he did not even reply to the Agent’s
letter—for he appears to have felt very much disappointed at the English not
having assisted him against Meer Mohana (Agent’s letter, dated 30th July 1766).
39. Tho English operations were mainly conducted on the Dorak river, as
they had not a sufficient foroo to carry on operations by laud. As there
was little prospect of the Turks ever coming to their assistance by land or
paying up the arrears of tho charges of the fleet, the English kept up an
appearance of concluding a treaty with the Kaab, which induced tho Turks to
accelerate their march towards the Dorak river. Mahomed Kia then engaged to
pay up the arrears and to encamp the troops near the English ships in tho
Dorak river (Despatch from Pasrah to the Court, dated 24tli August 17GG).
40. There was once a good prospect of inducing the Kaab Sheikh to come
to terms, and Captain Nesbit was asked by Sheikh Ganum to meet him to
discuss tho terms. When Captain Noshit went up the river Dorak to meet
the Sheikh within a mile of tho Kaab’s lower fort, where tho captured ships
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