Page 262 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Constantinople through the Canal to any port they like in tho Red Sea with troops on board,
or march troops across to Itugdad and ships via Canal can, and have met them jit •* Ki Basra "
with supplies ready to convey thorn, as in tho present instance, to Kutif, or for the invasion
or any part the sea-board of Arabia.
Tho Russians are generally supposed to be desirous of having Constantinople. Possibly the
Turks may be aware, and our late policy with
I quito »preo in tlii» opinion of tho supposed regard to the Treaty of lft55 may make them still
policy of tlie Turk.—11. C. more assured that we and probably Western
Europe will not he disposed again to fight in their defence, and that, under these circumstances
it is their duty to s«ek out among more friendly creeds a countevb dance in some sort for the
loss she might siuglchniulcd sustain against Russia. This view of the ease seems strengthened
bythcfaclth.it of late " Turkoy has much strengthened herself at Hodeidah and other poris
in tho Red Sea, assembling largo bodies of troops, under tho never-failing excuse of' keeping
rebellious Arabs in subjection, the same policy seems to have ben going on at Bagdad. Till
at last ofE starts an army fu'ly equipped from tho shores of the Euphrates in Turk transports
accompanied by much Native cruft, a squadron loaves Constantinople and appears unexpectedly
in the Gulf sui p ivting them, and I believe mote troops have been sent to tho Red Sea.
Ostensibly tho Sultan of Turkey, the "Padishah/’ “ tho father of his people." regrets to sec
children in Arabia dnstroying themselves in inlcrminahlo fends, and that as the “ Ncjcdeans"
in particular did not do him tho honour of consulting him, as he holds they should have dooo
about the succession to the Chieftainship, he proceeds to quiet the country, establish law
and peace and to put Abdallah on the throne of his father. The Turk squadron in the mean­
time having landed the troops, employs its spare time in paying vi-its to the various ports on
the coast, saluting their Sheikhs and disposing of small Turk ensigns for tho country craft to
disp’ay, explaining them the great advantages that may accrue to them in being under the
protecti >n of so groat a Power, that a day may come when this ready acknowledgment may
bu remembered to llicir advantago, and that, for the present, the Tuik Hag will render them
quite independent of any other interfering nations there may in the Gulf waters, etc.
Russia, meanwhile, we will suppose, looks on with a complacent eye ; it assists to divert
attention from herself, while she possibly may make some bargain with Persia for a port upon
the non hern s« a board of the Gulf. (Bundor Abbass would suit her well, it was for over a
century held by the Seyycds of Oman, then by the Dutch, l’ortugueso, and ourselves for a
short time, so that parting with that port and district to a Persian mind would not bo felt
like the giving away of territory they havo always held. It is conveniently situated with res­
pect to the Indian Ocean, with plenty of good anchorage between it and Hormuz., which island
might again be made a st ronghold and emporium as rennwnod as in times past). Besides con­
quests by Turkey' out here might ho calculated to gradually reconcile tho Turkish mind to a
migration across the Hellespont; the day is half wou when your opponents begin to 6oo matters
in the same light as yourself.
Russia has ports in the north of the China Sea and undoubtedly would like a port
somewhere in these latitudes to rendezvous her ships in : now that they can piss from Sebas­
topol d«»wn the can? I of Syrii to tho Canal, and so on out to India to our possessions, towards
which there seems much reason for supposing her cupidity tends. I cannot help thinking that
the Sultan and Czar-understand each oilier remarkably well, and that the Turks have been lelfc
on to sending a squadron of ships into these waters ns a Tcelcr just to sec how far we shall
take notice, or object to this invasion of a sea iu which for many years we have held undisputed
sway.
The Trucial Chiefs are come seven or oight Sheikhs of sea board towns with whom
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• we have made Treaties since the reduction of the pirate stronghold of Ras-el-Kheimah in
1819—that there shall he no morn fighting at sea between them, no sending to sea of armed
vessels, no interfering by one Chief with the pearl boats of another, and on our part wo
guarantee to protect them from molestation by sea from auy other Arab tribe and to defend
them by sea from invasion.
It appears that Sheikh Mahomed bin Thowcynee of Bidda and X believe some others of
still less power and importance (not Trivial Chiefs) have lately been persuaded to hoist tho
Turk flag: these Sheikhs, when asked why Ibpy do so, say, “ truly you may bo Sultan id tho
sea, but who wiil defend us by landthis is doubtless a pithy reply, but it is “gall to
men like Colonel Belly having their close fitting arrangements thus interfered witb--men
who havo seen the day when with their squadron of Bombay ships their word was law, depos-
ing this Chief and setting up that. Such is much the case with Bahrein. The present ShMkh
Esau bin Khnleofah a son of the lato Sheikh, who was murdered a few years since, Colonel
Felly established (I believe fairly enough) in spite of opposition, and has maintained lum in
his authority, cutting oh* all opponents. The Turks much want Bahrein ; it is the on y well-
watered and fruitful place along the whole Arab coast of the Gulf, and there is no doubt tlioy
will neglect no opportunity of coercing Slnikh Esau, or pretext f.-r occupying tho place.
Consequently, Colonel Polly watches jealously this point, and hopes to moct Midhut l asna

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