Page 180 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

158 Purt V—Chap. XXXVI.

27. My chief difficulty was respecting tho dispute with Rama bin Jabir ond l
mn sorry to say that my endeavours to effect an
Jtama bin Jabir.
adjustment have hitherto been of no avail. This
affair howover will form the subject of a future letter.
28. Tho Sheikh informed me that a Hatiilo belonging to one of his subjects hal been
captured by His Majesty's shin Sophia in consequence of having seized a boat from Buehiro in
Bussora river, on account of a claim which the owner of tho Hattilo had against the Sheikh of
Bushirc. IIo declared his entire disavowal and disapprobation ol' tno uct nnd justified himself
by saying that ho had oxprcssly warned tho owner <»f tho boat not to retaliate on any Bushiro
vessels which ho might meet with. I informed him that until I was mado fully acquainted
with tho circumstances, I could not judge of the merits of the case, but that overy Sheikh must
bo answcrablo for tho acts of his subjects, and that if ho could not punish them, wo must.
Tho Sheikh assented to this, promised to punish tho offenders and expressed much anxiety
in endeavouring to excuse himself from blame. It was not until my return to this place that
I found tho Ballilo had been carried to Bombay, undor circumstances which 1 have already
explained to Government.
29. Tho Sheikh made great complaints against tho Imaum of Mascat, who he 6aid had
not only violated bi* engagements with him, hut had abetted Rama bin labor in his un-
provoked aggression on his peoplo, although it was only at the I.naum's entreaty that he had
admitted that Chief, who was tho auci*nt onemy of his family, to term? of peacn. Ho at tho
same time professed tho utmost contempt for the Imaum as well as for the Sheikh of Buphire,
and the Persians in general as enemies ; and declared that the Utuhis were both able and willing
to revenge themselves on tho whole of them, but for their peaceable engagements with us.
80. Observing that the Sheikh seemed to consider the adoption «»f the pncificatcd flag as
implying a nearer and more dependent relation with our Government than it really does, I
took occasion to explain to him that it was the Arab, no', tho British flag ; but those tribes who
were parties to the treaty with us had agreod to distinguish themselves by wearing round the
red flag a border of white, which is alone emblematic of peace, in token of their relinquishment
of piracy.
81. Both tho Sheikhs were profuse in their assurances of attachment to our Government
and promised to abide by their amicable engagements ; indeed, the whole of the Sheikhs of tho
coasts professed their determination to avoid every act which would bo an infringement of their
present friendship with the English. I made small picsents to them all, with which they seemed
gratified.
32. On our voyage back to Bushirc-, I took the opportunity of violent and continued
contrary winds to visit Oongoon, and reached this place on the loth February.
33. Having thus detailed my proceedings in execution of the orders of Government, I beg
leave to offer for your consideration some further
General state of the Gulf.
particulars respecting the state of the Gulf, and the
condition of iis Chiefs.
84. The most prominent character in the Gulf is Sultan bin Suggur. As this Chief has
hitherto been generally branded with the stamp of
Sultan bin Suggur.
almost every crime which can disgrace human
nature, it would be presumption in mo on so very short experience to hold out nny hopes at
variance with the sentiments which I believe all the British autlior.ties in the Gulf have from
time to time expressed of him. Y^tfrom personal enquiry on tho spot, and from other sources of
information, I am strongly inclined to suspect that his offences against us may have been somewhat
exaggerated, whatever bis conduct in other respects, may have been. He is a turbulent and
ambitious man, and was driven to desperation, partly by the effects of his own misconduct, and
partly by the power of his enemies A rooted enmity has always existed between this family
and that of the Imaum of Mascat, who bimsclf bears the most raucorous hatred towards him.
Sultan bin Suggur has opposed tho Imaum’s views, b«»th by sea and land, and His
Highness, through whoso representations our opinion of him may probably have in some measure
been found, has naturally depicted bis character in the blackst colours.
85. I am not prepared to offer a history of the life of this Chief, far less to excuso his
actions, but I may remark generally, that as far as my information goes, I believe that he was
an exile during tbe principal period of the Wahabi power, and that although ho was the Chief
ol Rasul Khyma in 1809, yet he was afterwards represented as the particular friend of the
English when all tho rest of the pirates had joined against us, that I thiuk his alleged trea­
chery towards, Imaum of Mascat, if true, may perhaps bo palliated by the conduct of His
Highness to him, since there is reason to suspect that tbe Imaum only espoused his cause in
order to make him subservient to his own views iu Rassel Khyma; and I bavo heard thufc some
of the distinct acts of piracy on English vessels which havo lately been charged to Sultan
bin Suggur, were not committed at his instigation, although ho may have been obliged to wink
at thoir commission by his dependants.
86. The Imaum of Mascat probably possesses great wealth, but ho is extremely weak
from the military point of view. Sultau bin Suggur, on the]other band, is at the head of a most
powerful and warlike tribe, which have nothing of their own to lose, but everything to gain
in a contest with these weak neighbours. The Imaum fears Sultan bin Suggur because he
is conscious that lie i6 weaker than him, and has much more to lose; whilst the reverse is the
case with Sultan bin Suggur.