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(B) Question of selecting Bandar Abbas as the rendezvous of the British
Forces.
192. In his telegram, dated 24th October 1856, Lord Elphinstonc informed
Governor-General that the rendevzous of
Volume II—31 of 1856.
the force proceeding to the Persian Gulf
would be Bandar Abbas.
The Government of India, however, feared that’the Imam of Maskat who
held that port on a lease from Persia might object to the course proposed lest
Persia should construe the admission of a hostile force in the port as a violation
of neutrality on his part.
The Government of India therefore suggested should any such objection be
raised that the British vessels might assemble at Bassidore (Government of
India letter No. 78, dated 31st October 1856).
193. The Bombay Government pointed out that the objection against
Bandar Abbas being made the rendezvous of our troops applies equally to
Bassidore, since the Imam held the island of Kishm (on which Bassidore is
situated) on terms similar to those on which he held Bandar Abbas.
It was not probable that the Imam would raise any objection to the arrange­
ment adopted, and Persia could not fairly make it a ground of complaint against
the Imam as he had received no previous intimation thereof, and he was not in
a position to oppose it, even had he the inclination to do so. A considerable
number of steamers and transports had already left for Bandar Abbas and it
was unpracticable to alter the rendezvous (Bombay Government to the Govern­
ment of India No. 180, dated nth Novembr 1856).

(C) Question of neutralization of the coast Sheikhs and the enlistment of the
coast tribes in our service.

Volume* XIII and XIV — 57 of 1857. 194. The following is the abstract of
Bell'* Account of thr British Wars in Persia. correspondence and notes on the subject:—

No. 67, dated 14th January 1857, from General Stalker, to the Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Forwards report by Lieutenant Disbrowe on the various ports of the Persian shore and
intimates that allowances have been granted to Shaikhs as under who have promised to
assist the British,and for whom protection cannot be guaranteed
Bauker Khan Tangist/ini Shaikh Muhammad Hussain of Bora sjan.
Shaikh Hutsain of Chahktita.
Shaikh Bahmjar Tel-i*Siah.
Mulla Ahmad ben Tahir of DilfCm.
Ahmad Khan ben Murad of Gun&wa.
Shaikh Abdulla ben Shaikh Muhammad, and Shikh Abdulla ben Rahman of Bandar Rig.

No. 49, dated aoth March 1857, from General Outram, to Lord Clarendon (on board the “ Ferooz " near
Hartep, 4 miles below Muhammarah).
Intimates that Rashid Pasha, Governor of Bassorah, declared Muhammarah to be
disputed territory and objected to any attack there by the British, in virtue of the claims
put fourth by the Porte. A further difficulty arose with the Turkish authorities namely,
the removal of an Ottoman ship-of-war stationed in the channel before Muhammarah.
Captain Kemball was despatched to settle these points, the first of which fell through in
consequence of an unprovoked attack by the Persians on the “ Comet ” despatch boat, and
in the case of the 2nd, Rashid Pasha consented to order the removal of the warship. This
the General looks upon as a sign of the friendliness of the Turkish authorities.
Captain Kemball was further directed to secure, if possible, the neutrality of the Arab
tribes and overtures were made to the undermentioned* chiefs to abstain from assisting the
Persians and to withdraw their followers, in order to avoid collision with the British Army.