Page 165 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V-Chap. XXXIII. 143

CHAPTER XXXIII.

UNAUTHORIZED AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BY MR. BRUCH
WITH THE PRINCE OF SHIRAZ, SEPTEMBER 1823.
287. Mr. Bruco reported iii his letter No. 33, dated 3rd September 1822,
his proceedings in concluding an agree­
Volume 90 of 1822. ment with the Prince of Shiraz as regards
Bahrein and other matters:—

No. 35, dntod Shiraz Bagb Jaun Numah, the 3rd September 1822.
From—Captain W. Brock, Resident at Buahiro,
To—Tho Hon’olb Moontstcabt Elphinstonb, Pro.idont and Qovornor in Council, Bombay.
In refcrenco to ray address to tho Honourable Board through tho Chief Secretary, under
date Gth ultimo, in this Department, No. 32, I have the honour to acquaint you that His
Royal Highness fixed on tho 8th ultimo for mo to meet the Minister, Zikee Khnn. I
accordingly complied, when the communication roferred to was mado mo in tho presence of
Mirza Banker Auhio, tho Sheikh of Bushiro, and two other Khans, Aga Baba Khan and
Mirza Mahomed Ali Kafrakec. We discussed tho subject, when certain stipulations were
agreed to, and which tho Minister informed me His Royal Highness had tho permission of
the Shah to 6ay would bo approved of and confirmed a Court when made known, and he
requested I would therefore transmit them for your Hon'ble Board's consideration and
approvul as tending to cement the ties of amity and good understanding.
2. That he would in a few days draw them out in writing and have two copies trans­
cribed, each of which we were to sign with the translation annoxed : ono Mirza Bauker was
to take up to Tehran to be laid before tho Shah for his confirmation and approval, and th«
other I was to transmit to your Ilonourablo Board.
3. The oopies wore finished and signed by each of us on tho 30th ultimo, and last night
Mirza Bauker Auhie set off for Teheran with oue of thorn ; tho other I havo now the honour
to transmit for the information of your Honourable Board, and shall bo happy to learn it
may meet their approbation.
4. With regard to a cruizer being furnished from the station at Bassadore should the
Persian Government require it, tho stipulations I have made for her to be supplied with pro­
visions and necessaries if detained beyond 40 days nearly amounts to the same as if she was
not furnished, for the imbecility and tardiuess of this Government in all their measures, with
the very limited means they possess of meeting an expense of the kiud, will always operate so
as to forego the service of a vessel rather than incur the charge.
5. His Royal Highness has, I believe, made up his mind to fit out an expedition this
wintar against Bahrein, and if he should not meet with many obstacles in procuring tonnage
for the embarkation of the troops, I have little doubt but what he will put it to the*test; and
in the event of his doing so, I think it moro than probable ho will take the island without
much opposition. Tbe Sheikh of Bushire lias pledged himself to furnish his ships and
buggalows for this service, which, if ho performs, tho other ports will readily supply such
vessels ns they possess.
6. But His Royal Highness builds more upon oarrying his wishes about Bahrein iu
overtures which he thinks the Beni Attabee Sheikhs will make to him after he gets down on
the coast, and which ho will readily accept if they tend at all to place the island as subor­
dinate to his authority, however limited that may be, rather than risk the attempt by
force.
7, Tho ostensible reason of the Prince being more urgent for the expedition taking place
so soon is to avoid being called up to Court this winter, which he certainly will be, unless he
can occupy himself ou 6ome expedition of the kiud that will require his personal attention
with the principal officers of his Court; while at the 6ame time the charges attending an
armament necessary for a service of the kind will be a State chnrge, and afford reasons sufficient
for any default that may arise in tho regular remittances to the Royal Treasury ; whoreas,
if he should proceed to Court, his oxpenses aud tho necessary presents required would auuouut
to something very considerable, and be entirely out of his own privy purse.
8. The Island of Bahrein reverting again under the authority of Persia will tend more
to the tranquillity of the Arabian sido of the Gulf than almost any other act, and will at once
do away the coustant petty acta of aggression and retaliation existing between the different
branches of tbe Beni Attabee Arabs, particularly to between Abdella bin Ahmed and Rahma
bin Jauba, beth of whom the Honourable Board would learn from Colonel Kennett had latvlj