Page 37 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Bailed for the Persian Gulf, visiting Maskat and Sohar eu route, and delivering
Despatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Polly, with the guns and ammunition to one of the
accompaniments, No. 7, dated tho 12th February bultail S ships at tllC latter port. On thO
18GC* 3rd January, the Highflyer called at
Elpkinslonc inlet and found that Colonel Polly had left for Sohar to which
place Captain Paslcy accordingly returned. At his first interview with Colonel
Polly he requested him to slate in writing what were his views in regard to
the Maskat and Wahabi disturbances. Colonel Polly replied :—
111 understand that Her Majesty's Government will not do anything by land to aid tho
Sulton of Maskat, but that th*y arc prepared to aid him on tho seuboard by tho presence of a
man-of-war.
" The only points whero the Wahabis can be touched from seaward aro their ports of
Ojair and Kliatif with the intermediate Island Fortification of Demaum, commanding tho
eutrance to IChatif, and so far as my unprofessional eye can 6ec the only method by which a
ship of war can aid the Sultan in his present crisis is by blockading the Wahabi ports until
the Wahabi government comes to terms.
“ Complicated with the Wahabi invasion is the butchery of one British Indian subject,
and the plunder of ten or moro others at the port of Sur, on tho Maskat coast, by tho
Wahabi troops. If you blockade, tho arrangements of this matter might be included in the
general settlement; if you do not blockade, it would be for you to give to this matter such
* The orJeM fnrnUhcil to Captain P.utcy by tl.o consideration as you may deem fit, and may be
Commodore enjoined bim to a*»i»t tbe Resident at enabled to, under the orders* you havo received
Maskat. thonld he require in writing, even *o fur from the Commodore.
m to uso coercive means, in n d of our ally tho Imam,
but bo was clearly to understand tliut lo was not to
uudertako any thiug on land.
a In either case I shall he happy to hand to you a letter calling on tho Wahabi gov­
ernment to apologize and make adequate reparation for that insult.
u Tbe letter would require seven days for its transmission to tho Wahabi capital from
the date of its delivery to the Wababi authorities at Khatif, three days more might be
granted for the consideration of the letter by the Wahabi government, and 6even days
more for the return courier, in all seventeen days before commencing operations.
“ If you determine to blockade, it would be necessary for me to give tho usual warning.
It will probably be obvious to you that it would not be advisable for the Euglish Government
to begin any operations which it might not bo convenient to carry to a conclusion, to act
otherwise would be to confirm the impression already so prevalent of our own absence of
Naval power, and would be to leave our ally the Sultan more than ever liablo to Wahabi
aggression."
101. Captain Paslcy rejoined :—
u I perfectly agree with you that- it would be injudicious to commence any hostile opera­
tions wich it might not be convenient for the Government to carry out, and as tho Highflyer s
time is limited in the Persian Gulf, aod as I have no reason to suppose any other vessel of
war is coming to take my place, I cannot recommend the establishment of a blockade which
would not be enforced after the departure of the Highflyer.
With regard to tho injurios inflicted on British subjects by tho Wahabis at Sur, I
shall bo very happy to convey your letter, demanding an apology and reparation for that
insult to the Sheikh of Khatif, for conveyance to the Wahabi Chief,- and as tbe answer will
be seventeen days returning to Khatif, I propose to visit the different ports on the Pirate
Coast, returning to Khatif on the 27th or 2Sth instant, when I hope to hear from you.
“ Should the answer from tire Wahabi Chief he unfavorable, I shall be happy to assist
you in confiscating the shippiug in the port of Kliatif, or by destroying bis ports or otherwise
as you may direct."
102. In accordance with Captain Paslcy’s views, Colonel Pelly handed
him on the 6th January, a letter to the address of tho Wahabi Chief, with
one to the Governor of IChatif, and placed at his disposal the services of “ the
Native Agent for tho Arabian Coast,” whom Colonel Pelly described “ as the
best maa for this work in Gulf.”
103. Tho following is a translation of the letter addressed to tho Wahabi
Chief:-
" Your Highness has invaded tho territories of Maskat, an indeocndcot Slate, in alliance
with the British Government. About nine months ago the British Government permitted
mo to use my good offices as mediator between you and the Sult.au of Maskat. 1 addressed a
polite letter to you on this subject, your Highness did not acknowledge that letter, on tho
contrary your troops have since butchered oue British ludian subject, and plundered ten others
of all they possessed,