Page 169 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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Government. But it came from a private source. In June 1863 Mr. Aitchin-
son, who was then compiling the Bombay
Political A., January 1864. Nos. 948-49.
Treaties, called for an authentic copy of
the agreement. Revd. Mr. Badger, the well-known Arabic scholar, who was
then engaged on the Maskat-Zanzibar Commission, obtained —
** a copy of the treaty referred to on the original Persian, together with an English
translation of the same from an Arabic version, furnished by His Highness the Sultan of
Maskat.''
101. In Revd. Mr. Badger’s translation, article 12 restricted the grant
“ to the person of Saiyid Said, who is now living, and to his children"
(ou/ad) In article 4 the privilege of selection of a Governor is vested in the
“Imam and his sons.” In 1864 Colonel Felly submitted translation of the
agreement made from the Persian original, which was inserted by Mr. Aitchin-
son in his Treaties. It differs slightly from Badger’s translations, but both
agree on limiting the terms of the farm to Saiyid Said and his sons. The
point was raised afterwards whether the
Polit'cal A., J*nuary 1865. Nor.. 115*116.
word * oulad ’ was not wrongly translated
and should not include grandsons and further issue (see paragraphs 103 ct sc(j.
below).
XVI.—Revocation of the lease-of Abbas, etc., on the death of Saiyid Thoweni and
succession of Saiyid Salim, his son and its renewal, 1868.
10a. After the death of Saiyid Thoweni, and on the accession of Saiyid
Salim, grandson of Saiyid Said, Colonel
Political A., June 1868, No«. 151-59.
Felly at first reported, on the authority
No 47, dated atst Match 1867.
of two independent but unofficial sources,
“that the Persian Government had consented to farm Bandar Abbas and the
adjacent districts to the present Sultan of Muskat, as they did to his late father.”
103. A fortnight later he reported that the Persian Governor of Fars had
communicated to him the wish of the
No. 51, datod sth April 1867.
Persian Government that Saiyid Turki,
the younger brother of the deceased Sultan, should be nominated Governor of
Bandar Abbas, in which case the lease would be continued, though at an
increased rent. The Prince Governor in this communication brought forward
the argument that Saiyid Salim, as grandson of Saiyid Said, could not continue
to hold under a lease granted only to Saiyid Said and his sons.
104. This argument was reiterated by the Prince Governor at an interview
Seo Colonel Peiiy'* letter No. to6, doted sth which Colonel Felly had with him in the
September 1667. course of the next few months. The
Prince informed him that the lease of Bandar Abbas had been renewed at an
enhanced rate of 20,000 instead of 16,000 tomans in favour of its former Arab
Governor, Sheikh Said, a relation of the Maskat family, but as a direct
dependent of Persia, and not in his capacity as representative of Maskat.
105. The neighbouring port, Lingah, which had been included in the
original lease, was about the same time made over in name to Hajee Ahmed,
late Vizier of Maskat, but in reality remained in the hands of its former Arab
Governor. The Hajee Ahmed thus mentioned had now again been received
into favour by Saiyid Salim.
106. Matters remained in this state till the spring of the year 1868.
Throughout the winter Saiyid Salim was too much occupied in the difficult
task of securing himself in the Government of Maskat to be able to devote
attention to the former dependencies of his family on the Persian side of the Gulf.
107. The Persian Government, however, found that they had a by no
means submissive lessee in Sheikh Said. Their demands for the balance of
tribute were rejected by him, and, accordingly, the Prince Governor of Fars set
out for Bandar Abbas with the view of coercing him.
108. The Shah was much alarmed by the aggressive attitude of the Maskat
Arabs, and requested the good offices of the Government of India for the pro­
tection of Persian territory and commerce.
,09;Jn reply Mr. Alison was informed that the Sultan of Maskat had too
much difficulty in maintaining his position to be of any cause of just apprehen­
sion to Persia.
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