Page 225 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

The General Treaty with Britain, 1820 215
ion rnvtv—Chap, xxxvi

wan tho risk that these disorders would lead to tl«o revival of piracy, that I would enquire
into tho subject, aud omlcavour to induce Sultan bin Stiggur to desist, if I found Him the
aggressor ; and that at all events I should use evory offort to put a stop to aggressions at
sea if possible. Tho Sheikh promised to libido stiictly by all our arrangements in respect to
the treaty, and returned to tho shore.
10. I was anxious to aco as much of Sultan Suggur as possible, and therefore proceeded
Co land at once at Slmrga, accompanied by
Sultan bin Suggur. Captain l''aithfull and the other Commanders of
tho cruizors. Tho Sheikh rcccivod us very well, gave us a house aud a tent, and supplied us
with everything we required during our stay of two days on shove.
11. This Chief is certainly by far tho most powerful and ablost of all the Sheikhs from
ltam6s to Bahrein. Ilo outcrod at great length on the subject of tho treaty, and urged
strongly his supremacy over all tho other Chiefs of tho coast, which ho alleged had been
confirmed by Sir William Grant Keir by a special agreement which lie produced. This
paper proved to bo the preliminary treaty, by which the Sultan engaged to deliver up tho .
towns, guns and vessels at tho port of Sliarga, Imam, Umal Guwyn and their dependencies.
As tho Shaikh quoted this as a confirmation by our Government of his rights over all those
ports, aud of his obligation of responsibility for their conduct and observance of the treaty,
I told him that it did not appear to mo to confer or confirm any right whatovor, but merely
to acknowledge tho state of things as it 6tood at the timo of tho agreement.
12. Ho next adduced, in proof of his posilivo rights ovor the ports, and particularly
in justification of his present proceedings against Rashid bin Humid, a letter fiom tlio Chiefs, •
said to bo a duplicato of ono addressed by thorn to the Hon'blo the linvurnor last year, in
answer l presume to a printed circular to the parties to the treaty which was transmitted to
Kislim from tho ollico of Country Correspondence on the SJ'ith July 1821. I caunot discover
whothor this letter evor was actually sont to Bombay or not; and Colonel Kcunott does not
seem to have boon aware of its contents; but tho duplicato which I examined had overy
appearance of authenticity and boro the seals of tho Chiefs. 1 have the honour to enclose
a copy and translation of it for tho information of liovermneut.
13. I informed him that we did not in any way deny his right over any one who was
himself willing to oboy him and would consider him as tho superior of all who acknowledged
him, that wo had nothing to do with his dispute for supremacy, hut must in suuli eases look
to every one to answer for himself, and that particularly, as far as regardod the stipulation
respecting vessels, it was indispoiiKiblc that each Sheikh, whethor subordinate or not, should
himself bo held responsible for his own port, sinco references to him on theso points would be
most inconvonicnt, and could not bo admitted, although they might bo acquiesced, and promised
to givo instructions accordingly.
14*. Sultan bin Suggur expressed great anxiety to ho allowed to erect some defences
towards the land sido of tho town to repel tho Bedouins, who he said took advantage of tho
defenceless state of tho placo to come aud attack it during the pearl fishing season, when
all the men arc at sea, and no one left hut tho woincu and children. He said lie had no wish
to erect any work towards the sea, or within gun shot of the shore, and that although ho bad
surrendered his guns and towers to be destroyed by Sir William Grant Keir, yet ho had not •
bound himself not to orcet olhor defences. I told him that under tho orders of Government
I did not feel myself at liberty to authorize bis erecting any works so near the beach as he
desired, but that further inland he might build what ho pleased, that it was true fclicro was
no oxpress stipulation in the treaty against rebuilding their fortifications, but that it was tho
evident intention and spirit of our proceedings and agreements to provent it, and that I
bcliovcd tho Sheikhs had thomsclvcs acknowledged this right on our part. I however
promised to represent the caso to Government and obtain orders.
15. Tho Shuikh next slated that tho Imam of Muscat aud ho were already at hostilities on
laud, and asked liovf he was to act in the event of the Imam's attacking his vessels. I replied
that I hopod I ho Imam would not commit any aggression, that I would ndvi60 Mis Highness not
to endanger tho tranquillity of tho Gulf by such proceedings, and that if tlio Imam should take
any of his vessels which were peaceably trading under our Register, l would remonstrate with
Ills Highness ami endeavour if possible, to procure redress. That although wo had no right
to interfere in thoir quarrels or wars, or oven to prevent them from prosecuting just hostilities
at sou, and still loss to forbid any one to (h-foud himsolf from aggression, provided tho60
hostilities did not load to piracy, vet Hint wo could not in any way countonnneo them, and
must strongly dissuado all parlies from iliom. I explained that our Uegistors wore granted for
purposes of pcaco, not of war, and would not protect any suspicious vessels, and that ns in
such cases it was baldly pn.NM’uln for our cruizor* to distinguish liotwcou vcsrols intended for
lawful war and thoro whoso intention:* were piratical, armed boats would often bo inovilably
exposed to suspicion and even danger, and at. any ralo to the risk of trouble aud detontiou.
l(h On my enquiring respecting bis quarrel with Rashid bin Humid Sultan doniod all bis
accusations and complained loudly against him, that after submitting, and solemnly ack­
nowledging bis. supremacy, bo had now thrown off bis allegiance, and was alining up all hie
epumice against him in eonoert with the Imam or Muscat; that Rashid bad always boon most
huitilo to the knglifih no well ns lo himsolf. Ilo declared limb bo had no iutcul-ious against
him furihor than to bring him back In his formor engagements which ho had broken, and
nsisriod bis right to do so uccordiug to tlio paper whioli I bad scorn Under tbia