Page 31 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Sultan olearlv understand, that the British Government had no intention of
interfering in the differences hot ween tho powers on the shores of the Persian
Gulf, by aiding one party to coerce the other.”
73. Colonel Polly’s enquiries* did not satisfy him that the Wahabi
• Report io Government, dated 2ist januarj deputy was acting under instructions from
l8C6- his capital. He wrote:—
“ It is more probnMe that tho deputy saw a chanco of interfering with Maskat, that he
availed hinisolf of this, and that when tho matter came boforo tlio Amir, he watched events.”
*• Had tho Sultan of Muskit consulted mo beforo h» acted, I would have advised
him, firstly, to avoid, if possible, a struggle with the Wahabi power, and secondly, to post-
ponp, using my name as an arbitrator until after I should communicate with the Wahabi
Amir. His using my name is intended as a compliment, but in practice cannot but induce
in the mind of tho Wahabi Amir a presumption that my arbitrament may lean towards
Maskat/'
74 These views wero concurred in by Government, and Colonel Pelly
was requested! to avail himself of an opportunity of personally communicating
f Government letter f'O. 747, dated tho 22nd with His Highness tho Sultan on the
March 16(36. subject. The Sultan was at the same
time informed hv Government of the instructions which had been communi­
cated to Colonel Pelly, with a view to placing his relations with the Wahabis
on a more friendly basis.

XXII-—Visit of Colonel Pelly to Riadh. 1865.
76. On the 14th February 1866, Colonel Pelly announced to Government
his intention of visiting the Amir of the Wahabis at his oapital. Various
rcasous induced hiui to take this extraordinary step. Ho wrote :—
“I found that tho name of the Wahabi Amir was always mentioned with a kind
of respectful dread. The at.iitude of the Amir towards ourselves was considered hostile; or
to use the words of Colonel Disbmwe, in his letter to your addre-'S, No. 277 of the .Sid
December last, the sympathies of the British Government, through it* rcprcsenlative in the
Gulf, were with Maskat, whil« Wahabi encroachments were considered essentially noxious.
A recent cause of ill-blood had been by our seizure of certain of the Wahabi craft. And
whon, after arrival in the Persian (iulf, I forwarded a friendly letter to the Amir, in view
tj an amicable interview, bis reply was curtly repulsive, and couched io language which
showed at once indignation and a sense of injustice at our line of policy.
“ This was not. a state of relations which could tend to the general peace and development
of commerce in the regions of the Persian Gulf. And I therefore availed myself of a sub­
sequent opportunity for again writing to the Amir in a polite, spirit, giving him credit for
the justice and sternness of his rule, and assuring him that he would always find me cordially
willing to co-operato in maintaining the general peace and good order which he too seemed
to have at heart.
“ Sometime after tho abovo occurronco, I learned from the proceedings of the Royal
Geographical Society, issued on lha 2vth of April 1864, that lit tie seemed to he known of
the interior of Arabia; tlmt it was a desideratum to determine with scientific accuracy the
geographical position of the Wahabi capital, and of some other points of interest; and that
the Society were desirous of solving certain questions as to the identification of names of
places, and as to the direotion of the watershed.
“ I confess, also, that when I found the Socioty recording that it was very difficult for
‘Europeans' to enter Arabia on account of the ‘extraordinary ' jealousy of the population,
and that to he known as a Kuropean traveller at any rate in the Wahabi country, that is to say
in the central plateau of Arabia, would be exceedingly dangerous, possibly even fatal, I wus
unwilling that tnis should bo supposed to be tho case in rogard to any Asiatic territory which
might be adjuoant to my jurisdiction, for it had been my habit to consider that an English
Officer can go anywhere when his duty to the Government requires it.
“On tho whole, it seemed advisable to land at Koweit, and thenoe visit tho Amir at his
capital, returning to the Persian Gulf by another route. Accordingly I am now on the march,
and hnpo that I shall leave tho Wahabi piovinccs on polite terms with the people, and with
the prospect of more friendly relations with tho Wahabi Government. It is possible,
also, I may find an opportunity for a casual nn-l frioudly offico towards 6moothiug the presont
differonoes between the Sultan of Maskat and tho Wahabis."
76. Colonel Pelly appoars to have successfully accomplished his journey
to tho Wahabi capital of Riadh. Ho returned to Bushire on tho 26th March,