Page 224 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

182
MUSKAT.
Bnrka, and after wan! s proceeded to the attack of
defence of which it was acknowledged the ImaumTacTiosT ’hC
hundred of his troops. two
77. The Imauin represented on this occasion to the
Bombay
Government that his co-operation with his friends
and allies, the
English, in the late expedition, had involved him in a perpetual and
implacable war with the Wahabees, with whom he was before at peace
and trusted that the British Government would not remain neutral
during the struggle which he was making to defend his
possessions
and capital from the invasion of an ancient and inveterate
enemy,
whose resentment had thus been strongly re-excited against him.
78. The Supreme Government, considering the declaration of the
Imaum, that he had refrained from taking advantage of the peaceable
overtures of the Wahabees in consequence of his connection with the
British, to proceed from a wish to promulgate a belief that we were
united with him in his contest with the Wahabees, and that he might
expect to derive advantage from the reputation of having the support of
so powerful an ally, and thus lead to a rupture with the Wahabees,
against whom various considerations rendered it inexpedient, and
indeed impracticable, to afford the Imaum any assistance, it was
deemed of some consequence that His Highness should be undeceived
on this subject, or rather that he should have no room to propagate the
belief of our being a party in the war with the Wahabees.
79. It was therefore intimated to the Imaum that it was unnecessary
to regulate his reply to any overtures on the part of the Wahabees by
reference to his connection with the British Government, which had
always considered itself to be at peace with that tribe, the late
co-operation with the Imaum not having been in prosecution of
war against the Wahabees generally, but merely for the extirpation of
the pirates, whose augmented power and audacity had endangered
the security of his own dominions, as well as interrupted the com­
merce a nd navigation of the Gulf. That the British Government, there­
fore, was no further interested in the contest between him and the
Wahabees than as it was solicitous for the welfare and prosperity o
the Imaum . Under the influence of that solicitude, and a just sense °
recommended to
the benefits and blessings of a state of peace, it was
the Imaum to grant the terms of pacification solicited by the Wahabees,
if consistent with the honour and security of the State of Mus vat.
communication, the Ima
80. Previously to the receipt of that
an expedition
brother, Syud Willah bin Humeed, had sailed on
and the
against Bahrein and Zobara. Zobara was taken, Pln“cr® ’ lraia
—b“;"‘ “d
were landed at Bahrein;