Page 230 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

188
MUSK AT.

arriving at Busline, did not proceed himself to the interior hi
h1S letters and papers to Court by a courier. On His Hiah > senf on
to Muskat from his unfortunate expedition, he despatched two\w return
cruise off Cape Ras-ool-Gate, in order to protect the vessels bel P* *°
to his subjects (returning from India) against the anticipated attaMr?"^
the Uttoobees, who were of course inclined to make reprisals for ti°
hostile demonstrations so lately shown towards them. Soon afterwa d
the inhabitants of Ras-ool-Khyma, alarmed at the approach of'the
Turkish troops under Ibrahim Pasha, after the fall of Deriah made
proposals to His Highness to settle their differences, and to enter into
an offensive and defensive alliance, which proposition was rejected.
About the end of 1819, an expedition was despatched from Bombay,
under the command of Major General Sir
a. d. 1819.
William Grant Keir, for the purpose of punishing
the insults offered to the British flag, as well as putting an end to
the piracies daily committed upon English and other vessels, by the
maritime inhabitants of the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf. Ge-
neral Keir touched at Muskat on his voyage ; and, in the course of
an interview held with the Imaum, communicated the instructions he
had received to His Highness, who willingly entered into all the
views of the British Government, and promised to furnish 4,000
troops by land, and to add three vessels of war to the naval part of
the force. The expedition subsequently sailed for its destination,
and by the destruction or capture of all the vessels, and the principal
stronghold of the piratical chieftains, inspired a wholesome dread of the
British power, and restored peace and safety to the Persian Gulf.
Encouraged by the complete success of these operations against the
piratical chieftains, His Highness determined to avail himself of the
strong impression produced in the minds of the maritime inhabitants of
the Persian Gulf, by his having co-operated with the British forces, to
make another attempt to carry his designs against the island of Bahrein
into execution. He however endeavoured to learn previously from Sir
W. Keir the light in which this intention might be viewed by the
authorities in India, but without success, as the General would give
no opinion on the subject. On leaving the expedition, His Highness
returned to Muskat in 1820, ostensibly for the purpose of commencing
his preparations, but shortly after informed Sir W. Keir that, conceiving
it was the wish of the British Government that he should not come
an open rupture with the Uttoobees, he had ^^""'^^’"Vcrowns I
with them, on receiving an annual tribute of 30,00 „ular
but that he required the guarantee of the Governmen or *8M,
payment of this sum. General Keir, in rep y o ^
communication, stated that he had no authority to give y

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