Page 455 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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keep up an acquaintance with the inferior Chiefs and ether inhabitants
of Blekrim; and that for these purposes the Political Officer must travel
occasionally up and down the coast.
"If," lie said, “ it is homo in mind that my duties are tboso oE a Political Officer, a
permanent travelling allowance fot chaise of 700 miles of tliu most inhospitable (physically)
oountry in the world can scaicely bo thought inappropriate."
303. And in a separate communication of the same date* (1st February
lb69), in which he asked to be exempted
• Elcctrio Tologrrtph Proceodiuga A„ Juno 1869,
No. 69. in common with other Political Officers in
the Persian Gulf from the payment of
table monoy when on board Her Majesty’s vessels, Captain Ross observed
“I b«ir respect fully to submit that, notwithstanding tho circumstance of my being paid
by tho Telegraph Department, my duties aro surely ihose of a Political Officer, and it will be
a heavy blow to my profe**ioual prospects if I am to be excluded from the privileges attached
to the position of a Political Officer."
304. The Commissioner in Sind submitted Captain Ross’ representation
for favourable consideration, saying—
" In addition to tho care of the line of tel-graph, tho duties performed by that officer are
numerous and very important, and I am strongly of opinion that he well deserves to bo
include i in tho roll of Political Officers serving under Oovemment, instead of being regarded
merely as an officer serving in connection with the Telegraph Deprtment without any position
in the Political Department/-’
305. As the questions of the travelling allowance and table money have
only been introduced into this precis ns being incidental to the question of the
duties and position of the Assistant Political Agent, it will be unnecessary to
pursue them further beyond remarking
f No. 176, dated 4th May 1869. (Eleirio Tele­
graph Proceedings A., June 1869, No. 66.) that in submitting them for orders, the
Government of Bombay observed f
"Although, as a matte'-of account, the oxpauije oE Captain Ross' appointment has been
debited to the Indo-European Telegraph Department, yet the Assistant Political Agent
Mfdoan Coast, is, as bis designation denoies, a Political Officer and a member of the Political
Department."
306. In reply { the Government of India enquired what instructions had
tNo 367, dated27tu May 1869. (Proreedingaas been issued by the Government of Bombay
above, No. 81.) . for Captain Ross’ guidance in his relations
with the Native Chiefs; and with reference to that officer’s description of his
duties as contained in his lettor to the Commissioner in Sind of 1st February
1869, it was remarked that the Governor-General in Council was decidodly of
opinion that the officers who had beon sent to the coast in consequence of the
establishment of the telegraph should carefully abstain from interference in
the affairs of the country, unless their interposition was called for or warranted
by the requirements of the Telegraph Department, or bad been directly
authorized by the Government of India or Bombay. It was added that it was
not intended that the officers concerned should he discouraged from forwarding
to the Government of Bombay all information with regard to the state of
affairs which they might be able to obtain which might be important and
should bo communicated with as little delay as possible.
307. With its letter No. 336, dated the 10th of August 1869, $ the
Government of Bombay sent up a letter
$ Political A., September 1869. No. 312.
from Captain Ross, in which he stated
that the verbal instructions which he had received from Mr. Mansfield, who
personally introduced him to the Chiefs in 1863, were to the effect that he
should gain .all possible information concerning Gwadur and the adjacent
districts, cultivate friendly relations with the Chiefs and inhabitants by per*
eonal communication, and gradually feel his way by acquiring a knowledge of
the languages and dispositions of the people towards establishing a beneficial in­
fluence. In cases of a serious disorder he
II Political Agent, Xholat. to report to Major M. Green|| on the
1 Political Agent, Muaoat. was
one side, and Lieutenant-Colonel Disbrowe^-
on tho other. Captain Ross added that he had not at any time been authorized
to interfere with tho political affairs of the districts, and that he had, as a rule,
most carefully abstained from suoh interference.