Page 414 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

I 1

370 UTTOOBEES.

would they ever do so ; that he was exceedingly happy Mr. Bruce had
arrived, as he was on the eve of sending over to Bushire, to ascertain if
there was any truth in the Imaum’s reports; that if we did intend to
assist him, he confessed candidly lie was not able to cope with us • but
as for any native power, he was not alarmed ; that his ports were'ever
open, and should continue so to us, and every aid at all times rendered
to our vessels, whenever they should arrive ; and asked if we would
allow his vessels to continue to visit India on the terms they had
hitherto done. On Mr. Bruce replying certainly, he was overjoyed, and
said he now did not care anything for the Imaum, as this was the most
he had at heart. He said the Imaum had always given out that it was
owing to his intercessions we allowed the Arab States to visit India.
To convince him the more fully of our friendly disposition, Mr. Bruce
said he would, although not authorised by Government, draw out a
few articles of agreement, which we would exchange, and had no
doubt but that they would be approved of, and be sanctioned by the
British Government. He was highly satisfied with this. He then
informed Mr. Bruce that the Wahabee Chief had directed a large force
to march against Muskat by land, under command of one of his brothers,
which would compel the Imaum to return; that then he should fit out
all his vessels and boats, and proceed to blockade Muskat; and that he
might rely on the strictest orders being given to his boats to respect
the British flag in the highest degree, from a ship to the smallest boat.
He hoped hereafter our vessels would frequent Bahrein more than
we had hitherto done ; that there was a great field open to us, as they
had hitherto received a great portion of their Indian goods through
Muskat, which we could now furnish them direct by our own ships,—
particularly the article of rice, several ship loads of which were annu­
ally required for the interior of Arabia, and which went all from Bahrein,
and came via Muskat.”
37. Mr. Bruce represented the Beni Attaba Arabs of Bahrein to be
a very strong and powerful body of maritime Arabs, who carry on
a very extensive traffic with India, and who have always been very
peaceably inclined, preferring commerce to a predatory life, but which
they were on the verge of falling into, from the late extraordinary
proceedings of the Imaum of Muskat.
38. That from the account of Bahrein, the Government would be able
to appreciate the necessity of keeping on terms of friendship with its in­
habitants, when such an extensive mart for commerce and speculation
was held out, and when the balance of trade was so much in our favour,
we only supplying the produce of our soil and labour for specie and
pearls.
39. The Imaum was at this time on his way to the attack of Bahrein;