Page 225 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

MUSKAT. 183

or tire Wababee fleet, with fifteen of their principal officers, were made
prisoners. From Bahrein the armament proceeded to Khor Hassan.
91. The inrinence of the Wahabees had been introduced into Bah­
rein, which, however, continued in the possession of the Uttoobecs, who
were required to pay a tribute to Abdoolla Saood. The Imaum made
this attack in consequence of the successes of Ibrahim Pasha having
obliged the Wahabec Chief to withdraw his garrison from Zobara, for
the purpose of concentrating his forces.
82. An Agent arrived at Bombay from the Imaum in the month of
June, soliciting such an auxiliary force as we might be able to allot, for
the protection of Oman, during the ensuing season, against the attempts
of hostile associations of armed Arabs situated in the vicinity of his
capital, and more particularly to overawe the Wahabees, by the pre­
sence of a British force of about two thousand men, from his projected
measures against the Government of Muskat, a compliance with which
was of course evaded.
83. Mr. Bruce having paid a visit to the Presidency in 1S13, was
directed, on his return to Bushire, to call at
a. d. 1813.
Muskat, for the purpose of making arrangements
for the duties of that station, which was placed under his control. On
his arrival at that port, he found the Imaum preparing an expedition
against Ras-ool-Khyma, for the purpose of reinstating Shaikh Sultan,
the Joasmee Chief, in his government.
84. The Imaum requested that Mr. Bruce would accompany him to
witness the treaty which he should enter into with Sultan bin Suggur,
and for the purpose, also, of negotiating a treaty with that chief on the
part of the British Government, which would have more effect in keep­
ing him to the performance of his engagements than anything else, as
Sultan bin Suggur was now aware of our determination not to allow
the slightest insult to pass unnoticed.
85. As the renewal of the treaty entered into by the Joasmee Chief
with Captain Seton in 1806* was deemed essential for restraining the
piratical acts of his subjects, Mr. Bruce was instructed to adopt the
necessary measures accordingly; and to contract similar engagements
with the other chieftains in the Gulf, promulgating the determination
of the Government to attack and destroy every vessel that might be
met with, to whatever State she might belong, engaged in piracies, and
that we should not relax in the prosecution of that object until we
should obtain the most perfect security for the vessels and trade of our
subjects visiting the Gulf.
86. Mr. Bruce accompanied the Imaum on that expedition: they
proceeded over to the Arabian Coast to Boothabane, the principal port of
* Vide page 75 of this Selection.

A*MIS