Page 339 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

41

CHAPTER X.

•TELEGRAPH AND TRIBES AT MUSSENDOMi JURISDICTION
AND SOVEREIGNTY OVER THIS TERRITORY, 1804.

101. Tko following correspondence about laying the telegraph at Muklub and
the difficulties that arose from the tribes
Politic*! A, May 1804, Nos. 149-1C0.
throws much light on their position :—
Persian Gulp Telegraph Station at Mussendom.
No. 149.
From the Hon'ble II. L. Andf.e'ov, Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay,
to the Secretary to Government of India in the fcoreign Department,
Simla,—(No. 11, dated the 19th May 1864.)
“ I am directed to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy
and Governor-General in Council, the accompanying copy of a Report, dated
the 29th February last, No. 44, from Lieutenant-Colonel Disbrowe, the Political
Agent at Muscat, communicating intelligence relative to the Persian Gulf
Telegraph Station in the Mussendom Territory.
“ I am desired to transmit copies of two previous letters on this subject from
the Political Agmt, noted in the margin,
No. 35, dated the 22nd February 1804, with ^fiih a transcript of the reply of this
^o!Q39.’dated the 24th Febraary 1864. Government, dated the bth March 1864,
No. 660
No. 150.
From Libutenant-Colonel Herbert Disbrowb, Political Agent, Muscat, to
W. H. Havklock, Esq., Officiating Secretary to Government, Bombay,—
(No. 44, dated off Stewart Island, the 29th February 1864.)
“ On the 23rd and -;4th instant I addressed you two letters, Nos. 36 and 39,
and conveying, for the information of His Excellency the Governor in Council,
particulars of how affairs then stood at our telegraphic station in the Mussendom
Territory.
“ In continuation of the above letters, I do myself the honour to submit the
following additional intelligence :—
“On the 24th instant Colonel Stewart and myself left Muscat; on the
26th idem we arrived back here, and Colonel Goldsmid, who with exceeding
kindness had consented to remain behind for the purpose of watching over
our newly-established relations with the Arabs, hastened to rejoin us, and to
make known to us that, although nothing could be said in praise of Sooley-
man, the Hubbalayn Chief, personally, but rather the reverse, still the terms
we were on with the Arabs generally were not on the whole less satisfactory
than when Colonel Stewart and myself had quitted Mukheb for Muscat a few
days antecedent. One or two matters had, however, occurred which demanded
delicate handling, and which I proceed to relate in detail.
« The first event refers to the unfriendly demeanour and behaviour of Sooley-
man, the Hubbalayn Chief, and it is thus Colonel Goldsmid has described it:
«• Sunday, 21st.—Sooleyman and Abid came to our camp with a few followers.
It was reported to us when sitting in the tent that the two had set upon one of our
builders and beaten him. Mr. Philiiparoslie (wc in original) stated that, had he
not reacued him, he would have suffered severely; as it was, he was much cut and
hurt with hard blows from stioks. Wet < .
t Ur. Walton and I. Mr. Hux, Ao., Ac.
instantly rushed out and the result was
a long remonstrance and discussion. Sooleyman argued that, if we took the part
of these people, we might lose all our stores, and he would not be responsible.
The men stole and deposited the effects in his village. I gave him to understand
• For general account of telegraphs iu the Penian Golf, tee the Precis on Commerce and Communication*
•» tk* Pinion Out/.
34 F.D.