Page 187 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V-Chap. XXXVII. 1G5

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

QUESTION OF ALLOWING THE PIRATE CHIEFS TO BUILD
FORTS-1S21-1823.
300. In 1821 Sultan bin Saggar solicited permission to construct a fort
for the purpose of keeping the different tribes in subjection. In reply to this
application the Chief was informed through Major-General Smith, on his visiting
the Gulf in 1821, that tbo British Government would not oppose bis building a
fort inland in such a situation as might protect him from his enemies, but that
no fortification could ho crcotcd on any navigable creek or other site by which
piratical vessels could bo screened.
301. In 1822 the Imam of Maskat having represented through his Agent,
Aga Mahomed Shustry, his alarm at a report which he had received that Sultan
bin Saggar was building a fort at Uas-ul-Khima by permission of the Resident,
Mr. Macleod, and his apprehensions that if the fort were completed Sultan
bin Saggar would commence disturbances, for, as His Plighnos stated, he
and his adherents had been on the look-out for opportunities to commit
depredations ever since it had been certain that the troops were to bo removed
from Bassadore.
302. At the time this communication was made, the Bombay Government
had not received any report of this circumstance from Captain Macleod, and
indeed a letter received from Captain Faithfull on the occasion of his visiting
the piratical ports, seemed to discredit it. It was deemed therefore only
necessary to notify to His Highness that the terms of the Treaty concluded by
Sir "William Grant Keir did not allow of our preventing the building of the
forts, or the retaliation of tribes ; a eircum>tanec which seemed also to have
awakened His Highness’s alarm in the idea of its being sanctioned by the
Resident.
303. In 1823 a report was received from the senior naval officer in the
Persian Gulf, stating that, in consequence of a report he had received from the
Commander of the Antelope Cruiser, Sultan bin Saggar had in the absenoe of the
cruiser appointed to watch the port of Ras-ul Khirna constructed a square
tower of about 30 feet high on tho sea face of that town, suited to matchlock
defence, he had immediately proceeded with all tho cruisers at his command
to the Arabian Side of tho Gulf, and having obtained from Sultan bin Saggar
at Shargah an order, apparently given from the formidable appearance of the
squadron consisting of live cruisers, for the destruction of the fort, he proceeded
to Ras-ul-Kliima to see it carried into execution.
The Bombay Government expressed appreciation of the zeal which led
Captain Faithfull to proceed immediately to demolish the tower: but could not
omit expressing his regret that he should have adopted such a step, without
previously consulting tho Resident; that as all instructions of a political nature
were addressed to that officer, they could not too strongly impress on Captain
Faithfull the necessity of abstaining from every act of a nature affecting our
relations to the Arab States, without express authority from the Resident,
except in those cases of actual piracy in which promptitude was absolutely
necessary and whioh are pointed out specifically in the instructions formerly
issued to the Senior Officer on that station.
304. The Bombay Government regretted that the Treaty made by
Sir William Grant Kcir did not include
Loiter to the Government of India, No. 481, an article specifically guarding against
dated 12th April 1821.
tho erection of the sea defences at Ras-ul-
Khima and the other piratical ports, and it would be, they thought, advisable
if advantage could bo taken of any favorable opportunity to obtain such a
formal concession from Sultan bin Saggar, against the reconstruction of the
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