Page 184 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

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162 Part V—Chap. XXXVI.

sea by any other ro*lreH8 if possible. In all such matters connected with tho I'ersiau
‘•ld the remonstrance through the Jtovornment of Kars
sido of tho Oulf,,1 paragraph of my instructions. In cases of open war it will bo
us directed in t o R je °0£ S„0h importance »o encourage a spirit ot traflic against tho
impossible to mtcrfo , . . • , v0 call »;v0 thorn that it is very desirable to prevent,
Arab tnbes by all the from who arc not parties to the treaty.
“ *6o" It i. I tl.mk to b» feared that tho Chief, oa the Persian.sido ot tho Gulf will bo at
^ sr r;
1-
i ^though lonV .to“ ordorcd to Jo so. It ..ill ho nocossavy for our eruiwr to pay frequent
V'“tY70 MfrlLid to he strongly inclined to renew his old practices, end to hare
67. Kama Lin of t]ltf removal of our troops from Kishm. He is now
mado op-n rejoicings h hi8 youth, and there is much to fear, from his
10«»™ubis 1,1 i,Mticular- llia so',a aro a“iJ
Jortanotoly to bo rf ^ establishing a channel of com-
■r1 fiulntlfl ports • it would however, I think, bo very desirable to have a native
mumcation at tho pirat P » b u enJeavour to procuro a person for tho purpose ;
at & might with advantage he transferred to Sharga. In
perhaps our Agent rono80 sending to Mogu will bo very useful, becauso ho
the meantime the. man fPtij proceedings of tho Arabs, both on this sido of tho Gulf
W,!,l h,° Zto ^t through tho channel of Lingua, which is near Mogu, and is
“bj«r to i near mhtion 'of Sultan bin Suggur, who has constant communications with
Sharga.
69. It is difficult to say what may be the effeot of the removal of tho troops from Kishm:
their presence was certainly of the utmost use in preserving tranquillity, but the naval
arrangements which Government has directed have convinced tho Chiefs that wd do not mean
to withdraw our control, and will I hope prove efficacious. The force however is hardly
sufficient when the description of vossels is considered. Of five cruizers now in the Gulf three
are stationed off the pirate coast, and one is detained at Bussora. The Bep6t at Muscat is
more distant than could bo wished, since it requires on an average nearly twenty days for a vessel
to proceed thitberand return to her post; I am informed none of the vessels carry more than
a few weeks* supplies. The scarcity of fresh water aud the prevailing winds in the Gulf
present such difficulties that I do not believe there is any other port of which we could more
conveniently avail ourselves. The only romody that suggests itself is the employment of a
larger vessel which could convey supplies for the cruizers. But those are poiuts on which I
am not qualified to judge.
70. The ships employed on the survey have uniformly received the greatest assistance
from the whole of the Arab tribes, from Capo Musseldom to Bahrein. I beg leave to suggest
that the cruizers employed in the Gulf should bo furnished with copies of the survey on their
leaving Bombay.
71. There are many other points in my instructions on wliioh I am directed to report,
but I have not at this early period hud it in my power to collect any further information which
I can venture to submit to the attention of Government. I hopo at a future period to be
enabled to offer a full account of the piratical tribes.
72. I may in the meantime state that I understand the Jawassmis procure all their
materials for building as well as their warlike stores from Muscat, Bahrein and Persian ports
in the lower part of the Gulf. The timber is all Indian teak, the arms are chiefly of Persian
manufacture, but of the latter articles their prizes furnish them with an abundant supply
from all quarters. They possess no articles of export j since their pearls are generally purchased
by merchants on the 6pot, and tho produce of their country is not even sufficient for their main­
tenance. Their only employment is catching fish, diving for pearls and importing dates and
other necessaries of lif« whioh they purchase with the price of their pearls. These dates are
chiefly brought from Bahrein and Bussora ; gum and cloth from Masoat and the Persian
ports. They appear to be very poor, and I should fear that they can never find muoh employ­
ment in commerce unless in carrying for others, but I believe they at one time pursued a very
extensive trade, and it is to be hoped their resources may again improve.
73. Although there is now no remnant of the Wahabi power on the coast, yet the tenets
of that seat arc still said to be cherished by a great number of tho inhabitants.
74. In conclusion I beg leave to express my opinion that the Arab Chiefs have at present
every disposition to respect their relations with us, and although I ara not sanguine enough to
expect entire tranquillity, yet I think that as long as they are treated with conciliation, they