Page 185 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

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Port V-Chap. XXXVI. 103
will not molest our vessels, oven if they should relapse into piracy against tho neighbours in
tbo Gulf. Wo ought to encourage them as much as possible to embark in trade, and en­
deavour to bring them to more pcacoful habits by affording them all tho protection in our
power, and at the eamo time asserting our right to maintain the poaeo of tho sea. But thoir
]X)vcrty, thoir habits of piracy and the feuds which seem inhorent in tho Arab tribes, aro such
obstacles, that wo cannot expect any suddon or entire reform, nor can wc look to any othor
motivo but tho dread of our power for koeping them true to their engagements.
75. Our great object, I think, is to keep down hostilities at sea if possible, and to
prevent qunrrols nmongrft thomsolvos from leading to a renewal of disorders; at the
sarao lime wo must not interfere too far, and must observe great caution to avoid giving
offoncc. Much may bo dono by persevering in tho system of steady control, which Govern­
ment has adopted. Some directions will howover be required to guard against disgusting tho
Sheikh by too much interference, and we must bear in mind that any incautious or harsh aots
on our part, which may tend to oxasperate them, will agaiu embroil with these desperate and
lawless tribes.
70. The feud between Imaum of Muscat and Sultan bin Suggur is p-rhans as muoh to be
dreaded as the ambition of the latter Chief or the quarrels amongst the tribes themselves. His
Highness is accused of encouraging disorderly characters, besides itashid bin Humid, but I
hopo my suspicion on tho head may prove unfounded, and I have the highest opinion of tho
Imaum’s genoral character and conduct. Me might, I thin*-, be warned against tho
danger of involving himself in a war with Sultan bin Suggur by which he can gain nothing
and is almost certain of losing a great deal, besides being the means of involving the Gulf in
tho renewal of disorders and piracy.
77. I intend, if possible, to pay a visit to Mudcat about tho month of November noxt, with
tho view of communicating with Ilia Highness in person, and afterwards to revisit tho wholo
of the Arabian porta, in ordor that I may bo able to judge of tho effects of the present system,
and inform myself more fully than I could possibly do on my first visit, regarding every
particular connection with the affairs of the Gulf.
78. I have derived much valuable assistance and information from Captain Faithful),
whose opinion entirely coincides with those I have now laid before you.
298. The following observations were made by the Government of Bombay
on this report (G. L. No. 393 of 20th March 1823) :—

No. 393, dated 20th March 1823.
From—W. S. Nbwnham, Esq., Chief Secretary, Bombay Castle, Political Department,
To—Tho Resident in the Pcrsiau Gulf.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch to the late Chief Secretary,
dated the 27th February, and am directed to express to you the satisfaction of the Honourable
the Governor in Council with tho very clear and ablo view it affords of the states on the
Arabian shore of the Gulf, and it will no doubt greatly facilitate the decisions of Government
on all future questions that may arise connected with the piratical states in the Gulf.
2. The 10/h Article of the 'freaty concluded, by Sir W. 0. Kcir appears to the Governor
in Council to refer to India alone, and to engage that tho British Government shall not only
admit the friendly Arabs into its own ports, but use its influeuco to procure their admission into
those of its allies, and to protect them from all disturbance.
8. Tho Article in regard to the slave trade does certainly not bear the construction that has
been hitherto put ou it. It evidently only alludes to descents made on the coast of Africa for
the purpose of mailing slaves : this is justly declared to be plunder and piracy, terms which it
would have been an abuse of language to apply to any trade however detestable a* long as it
was peacefully conducted. In this seuso tho article must be understiod, but every infringement
of it whon clearly established must be resented exactly as a case of piracy would be.
4. Tho Governor in Council has little doubt of the accuraoy of tho opinion communicated
by you on the character of Soollaun bin Suggur and he agrees in tho opiuion that it is greatly
to be wished that he should succeed in fully establishing his authority over the whole of the
Joassmee ports; the Governor in Council conceives the views whioh you have taken of the
conduct to bo adopted by the British Government in relation to that Chief and his alleged
dependants to be perfectly correot, and he further adds that before we directly contribute to
the aggrandizement of Sooltaun bin Suggur it should be well ascertained that our doing so will
not injure the interests of the Imaum whose fidelity entitles him to the greatest consideration
from our Government.
5. No argument should be omitted to prevent the occurrence of hostilities between that
Chief and Sooltaun bin Suggur, an event which more than almost any other would contribute
to unsettle tbo present tranquillity of tho Gulf.
0. Nearly tho same observation applies to the projected attack on Bahrein, which however is
is hoped tho weakness of Persia and the jealousies of her intended auxiliaries may of themselves
be sufficient to prevent.
T