Page 28 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

PART I—CHAPTER V.
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of complaint founded upon Treaty on account of Muscat vessels not being placed exactly
upon the same footing, in respect to the duties levied upon them, as those belonging to
our own subjects. In the coulnamah, or written assurance given by the late'Imam of
Muscat which was negotiated in 1798 by Mehdy Ally Khan, and subsequently confirmed
by Captain Malcolm in 1800, no stipulation is made touching the footing upon which vessels
and merchandize should reciprocally be treated, the only part of it referring to the
subject of duties, is, in the seventh article, which among other concessions states, that
the rates of duties to be levied at Bunderabass (Gombroon) on goods in buying and selling
shall be on the same footing as at Bussorah and Bushirc.
8. The remarks however made upon the Maritime Arabs of this Gulf arc perhaps
. , . equally applicable to the subjects of His High-
“° ,PP Tl ‘.bC ‘"’■'T a",d Shci\ llumm0.0d bc" A,a„
1 of Sohar, as they have not even the resources
of the Pearl Fishers to look to. From the coast of Batinah to Alla skara, I have reason to
believe( that exclusive of ships, upwards of 300 boats, large and small, visit India every
year and employ upwards of 8,000 men in
300 boiu and 8,000 men omplojed In Ihe Trado their navigation. Of these, a large proportion
wuh n "* will, it is to be apprehended, be deprived of the
means of gaining a livelihood, in the event of the trade with our Indian possessions
being carried on in British bottoms, and as
Muit report to piracy for subustcnco If deprived they cannot starve they must necessarily have
r recourse to piracy for a subsistence.
9. His Highness the Imam, as well as the Sheiks of Bahrein and Koweit, by levying
Th. chiri. .ho could protect thcm.cNcr b, u.P?n theu belonging, to our subjects
levying discriminating duties will be withheld from Visiting their ports. Similar duties to those which
doing »o ih ough fe»r of the displeasure of tho are exacted from their own in India, might ip
British Government. great measure guard against these consequences,
but lam satisfied, that the dread of incurring the displeasure of the British Government were
they to do so, would operate as an effectual check to prevent them. Their only remaining
resource therefore would be to avail themselves of the facilities existing, to make a nominal
But the practice of n nominal transfer of their transfer of their vessels to individuals, who by
▼easel* to British subjects likely to be greatly a sufficiently long residence in India, have become
increased entitled under the present regulations to claim
a British pass and colours. It is needless for me to point out, in what an extended degree
the chances of insult to our flag and the necessity of taking measures for its protection
will be multiplied in the event of this plan being resorted to.
10. How far the long existing and very friendly relations subsisting between the
British Government and His Highness the Imam
The Imam's particular claims for consideration.
of Muscat, the readiness at all limes exhibited
by him to meet its views, to say nothing of the loss his annual revenues have sustained in
consequence of his having consented at its request to drop the traffic in slaves with
Christian Nations, may be considered to give His Highness a claim to greater privileges
than those enjoyed by any other foreign powers, will of course, as a question of general
policy, be decided upon by the Right Honourable the Governor General of India in
Council.
11. In conclusion I beg respectfully to state my opinion, that as far as treaties are
concerned we appear to be at full liberty both
Opinion expressed that although Government is with reference to His Highness the Imam, and
the Friendly Arabs, to enforce any or whatever
quence. likely to-rise from a chtnge should be duties may be considered expedient upon the
seriously weighed before it is carried into effect. merchandize imported or exported on board
their vessels into our possessions, but that adver­
ting to the political considerations connected with the suppression of piracy, it is highly
desirable, that the serious consequences of any measures which may incur the risk of
preventing the restless and uncivilized Arab from gaining his subsistence by means of
peaceful and legitimate commerce, should be duly weighed, before they are carried into
permanent operation. In support of this opinion I cannot do better than conclude with the
words of the late Sir John Malcolm, who in the 10th paragraph of his Minute dated
the 28th October 1830 on the subject of the proposed reduction of the Indian Navy
expresses himself as follows: “We cannot have a better proof of the happy progress
Opinion of the late Sir John Malcolm quoted in of the change w$ desire than the fact of the trade
corroboration. with the Gulf being now carried on much more
than it was before by the Arabs in dows and small craft from India, but this, whilst it has been
a great means of reclaiming men from predatory habits, has diminished the number of
English Vessels engaged in this commerce, and Hence all statements from Merchants of
Calcutta and other places where their interests may be affected by such changes, should
be. received with great caution. If they were to succeed in monopolizing Ihe greater part of
the freight they might perhaps have vessels to defend themselves, but we assuredly owe
as much encouragement to the predatory Arab who from our measures has become a
Trader, and as much protection to our native subjects who navigate small vessels from