Page 27 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

PART I—CHAPTER V.
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done like other Arab Statesbut it would not appear that this Treaty was ever accepted or
confirmed by the authorities in India, as Mr.
Not ratified by the Indian Government.
Warden in the 58th paragraph of his minute dated
,2th August 1819 speaks of it as an unratified agreement.
4. Although in my opinion the maritime Arabs inhabiting the shores of the Persian Gulf
. , . can exhibit no claims founded upon treaty for
The probable effects of on.ncrease in the dune« thc maintenance of the former rates of duties
exacted upon Arab Vtsuis con„dcrcd. ^ ^ ^ Qf upQn ^
yet the question of thc political influence which the proposed change may exercise upon
them, is one of too much importance to be passed over without further remark.
5, Notwithstanding a general belief that informer times a very extensive and flourish­
ing trade was carried on by the inhabitants
Owing to the poverty of their countries the com- tjie Arabian Coast, yet it is unquestionable,
,",*i.VdPpVinclV.?ly,«ho “ tha,t since th*y ha,vc 50me ™ore ™™ediatcly
«on
r r under our notice, they have always appeared a
poor people as far as their own immediate resources were concerned. Their country
produced no articles of export, excepting the Pearls collected on the banks, and these
are almost invariably disposed of to Banian, and other native merchants connected with
houses in India, who reside in thc principal Arabian seaports. With the produce of the
Pearl Fishery they purchase dates, rice, grain, and similar necessaries of life, for which
they are almost altogether dependent upon other lands, the productions of their own being
quite insufficient for their consumption. It is evident therefore that almost all their
commercial pursuits must necessarily be confined to the carrying for others, and it is in
this occupation that the large vessels of Ras-el-Khymah, Shargah, Bahrein, and Kowcit,
are mostly employed. By a fortunate coincidence, the season of the Pearl Fishery, vis.,
from May to October, is thc period when, on
The Pearl Fishery occupying them during the account of the monsoon, all native intercourse
monthi of oou-mtercourse w«t n 10. with India is suspended, and it may be remarked,
that so deeply are the interests of the different tribes involved in the successful pro­
secution qf this Fishery, that their usually turbulent and predatory spirit is much moderated
and a very general desire for peace with each other is exhibited, during that period. On
the termination of their employment upon the
e‘h“ Pcarl Banks, the season for renewed communi-
' 7 * cation with India commences, and several
hundreds of restless Arabs are engaged in the prosecution of voyages to and from that
country, which, were it not for thc occupation thus afforded by commercial pursuits, would
be driven by poverty, not less than by inclination, to a recurrence to their former habits
of piracy and rapine. I would observe that exactly in proportion as the different Arabian
Ports are engaged in commerce, in the same ratio is the exhibition of a predatory spirit
diminished, as in the instances of Koweit, Bahrein and Ras-el-Khymah.
6. Having thus remarked that not alone the future welfare and civilization of the
The welfar* of the Arabs and our policy for the Maritime Arabs are deeply involved in their
■opprenion ot piracy would be aerioujly affocted being able to find employment for their vessels
were thi« Trade cut off. and men in the carrying Trade between India
and the Gulf, but that the success of the policy we have so long and at so heavy an expense
pursued for the suppression of piracy would also be materially affected, were this important
branch of their occupation cut off, it is hardly necessary to point out, that the almost
inevitable result of the proposed change in the duties will be eventually to transfer the
commerce of this Gulf to vessels under British colors and passes, as indeed, is admitted
by the Right Honourable the Governor General of India in Council in the enclosure accom­
panying Mr. Secretary. McNaghten’s letter. It is granted, that as long as the imports
and exports remain confined to their own individual ports, that the establishment by
the Governments of Arabia of equivalent discriminating duties, would in a great measure
counterbalance the advantages gained by the British Vessels in being subjected to a lower
rate of taxation in India, but this protection could not avail those employed in the carrying
trade between Ports other than their own. On the whole therefore, with reference to the
tribes inhabiting the shores of the Persian Gulf it would appear to rest for the consideration
of the Right Honourable the Governor General of India, whether the advantages attending
the establishment of an uniform rate of taxation upon all foreign bottoms without
exception, together with an immediate, although comparatively speaking small increase either
in the employment of tonnage belonging to the subjects of the estate, or in the amount
of the duties realized, be sufficient to counterbalance the prospective evils which may
arise to our political views for the permanent suppression of piracy, should the change
proposed to be made in the rates of duties formerly levied upon Arab Vessels, be attended
with the effects anticipated, of depriving the inhabitants of the Arabian Coast of so
important a source of livelihood and employment as the carrying trade.
In respect to the second point adverted to by the Right Honourable the Governor
Tta .,„.4 AM, Kh.n 'vS
Government, TTee°' to ’“SA l do"not
conceive His Highness can have any ground