Page 35 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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" Colonel Polly may bo expected to return from bis leave by tho io-cominp Mail,* and I
would propose to send him to Maskat. in the first instance, bufoio he proceeds to Busbiro, with
such instructions as tbe Governor General may approve...
“ With this view these proceedings should be at onco roporled to tho Governor General,
and early instructions should bo solicited/'
88. In reply to the letter from tho Bombay Government, submitting the
Letter form the offici.tin,.. Ur,ter Secret,,*, foregoing Minute, the Government of
Foreign Department, No. 940, dated tho btU Nov India Communicated OH tllC 8th Novem-
ember 18G5.
her 1865 the following telegraphic instruc­
tions from Sir Charles Wood:—“A telegram has been sent to the Senior
Naval Officer at Bombay to comply with any request of yours. It may bo
advisable to beg the Senior Officer at Bombay to proceed to the Coast of Arabia,
and in concert with the British Resident to take such measures instrumental
tboy may think likely to promote an arrangement between the Wahabi Chief
and tho Imaum. He is not, however, to undertake anything on land.” In
communicating these instructions, the Government of India desired that
Colonel Polly should impress on the Sultan of Maskat the necessity of vigorous
action on his own part, and discourage any hope that tho British Government
would fight his battles for him. ____________

XXV.—British Operations against the Wahabis, 1865—1866.

89. Colonel Pelly having meanwhile returned from Europe, he was furnish­
ed with the instructions received from the Government of India on the 14th
November 1865 (tho date of their receipt) and proceeded in the Steamer Bere­
nice to the Persian Gulf, for the purpose of enquiring into the actual position
of affairs in Oman so as better to enable him to act on tlm arrival of a man-of-
war at Maskat. On the 28th November be met the Sultan atBarka, and found
that bo was fully alive to the necessity of vindicating his authority atSur, and
taking measures for the defence of this inland frontier, but that he was ill-prepared
to do so from the weakness of his material resources. His great immediate want
was monov. Colonel Pelly strongly recommcudcd that a loan of two lacs, at
5 per cent., should be granted to the Sultan, for which His Highness had offered
tbe customs of tho port of Gwadur as security. Ho also recommended that two
18-pounder guns with ammunition should be supplied to aid the Sultan in his
defensive operations. The Government of India, to whom these recommend-
Mr. Secretary Muir's letter No. 41, datod tho 17tb atioUS Were Submitted, approved the
January 1860. grant of the guns and ammunition, but
observed that no sufficient reason bad been adduced for the loan of the two
lacs.
90. Meanwhile Amir Peysal had died (1865) and was succeeded by bis
son Abdullah. This news however reached our Political Officers in the Gulf in
January 1866.
91. Before Colonel Pelly’s arrival at Maskat the officer in charge of the
Residency in the Persian Gulf, forwarded a communication purporting from the
Wahabi Amir Peysal in reply to the represontions whioh had been made to
him regarding the mal-treatraent of British subjects at Sur. The Amir
while stating that he bad ordered the release of the British subjects who bad been
taken prisoners by his lieutenant in the attack on Sur, and the restoration of
their plundered property, was silent about making any reparation for the injury
already done, and in regard to compensation for the man who had been killed
on the occasion.
92. Tho Amir defended the proceedings of bis lieutonant on the ground
that there cxistod botween the Wahabi Power and the British Government an
Agreement originally effected in the time of the late Saud, and again ratified
in the time of the present Ruler.
93. On this point tho Assistant Resident at Bushire was requested by
telegraph, to stnto whothor tliore was any ground for tho assertion of tbe
Wahabi Chief—that any such spooific or formal engagement existod between
him and tho British Government.