Page 260 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

238 Part VI—Chap. XLVII.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

DISTURBANCES IN THE IMAM’S RENTED POSSESSIONS ON
THE PERSIAN COAST. POLICY OF PROHIBITING
MARITIME WAR BY THE IMAM ON THE PERSIAN GULF
ATTEMPTED, 1840 47.

433. Disturbances occurred in 1846 in the rented possessions of tho Imam
of Maskaton tho Persian Coast, in whioh tho British Resident for the first time
prohibited the Imam from carrying on maritime war and thus disturbing peace
of the Gulf. Tho Imam had two grounds of complaint against tho proceedings
of tho Persians.
434. Firstly in 1846, Mirja Abbas, Governor of Busbire, instigated it was
said by tho evil counsels of Mir Baukor, a Busbire merchant, tried to extort
a largo sum of money from a newly arrived wealthy merchant of Maskat,
Mahomed Ali Bundera. As the latter obatinatoly refused to pay tho money,
recourse was bad to harsh measures and ill-usngo, but without offeot: at last,
however, driven to extremities, and finding that preparations wore in course to
infliot torture upon him, he agreod to pay the sum of 750 Tomans. Having
given the above promise, he was reloased, and contrived to make good his
escape from Busbire harbour before he had paid any portion of the money.
Mir Bauker pretended that the sum of 750 Tomans was due to himsolf, for he
said that, having guaranteed the payment thereof to Mirza Abbas, he was
eventually compelled to disburse the whole amount from his own pocket.
435. During the preceding year (1845), some seven cases of indigo were
sent to Busbire for sale by Syud Mahomed bin Salim of Maskat, nephew to
His Highness the Imaum, Mir Bauker, ever seeking a pretext for revenge,
and still incensed at the escape of bis would-be victim, now thought a fitting
opportunity for the practioe of a little more villany had arrived. He declared
Bjf bin Salim’s indigo to be the property of Mahomed Ali Bundera, and,
by means of bribes, and a representation of his claims upon tho latter party,
induced Mirza Hedayut, Acting Governor of Busliire, tc seize and confiscate the
whole of the boxes. These were transmitted to Shiraz, and no appeals from
the Resident either to Mirja Hedayut or to Sheikh Nasir, the de facto Governor
of Bushiro, could effect their relinquishment. The Maskat authorities retaliated
by the seizure of a quantity of silk, belonging to Persian merchants, that was
intercepted on its way to the Presidency. Much discussion arose, and many
letters were exchanged on the subject of the above “seizure and counter-
seizure,” but it was not until after the lapse of close upon a year that matters
were in any way settled or adjusted.
436. We now come to the second ground of complaint:—This consisted in
the despatch of troops by Hussein Khan, the Governor of Fare, against
Bandar Abbas, with a view to exacting a large sum of money from Sheikh
Syf bin Nubhan, the Governor, aud the Imaum’s deputy in that place.
437. The Imaum was determined to resent these injuries. He addressed
himself to the Governor-General of India, “ intimating his desire to blockade
the port of Busbire,” and also wrote to Sheikh Nasir direct, remonstrating with
him for the unfriendliness of his behaviour in the matter of the indigo, and
telling him plainly that as be understood Persian troops were encroaching upon,
and “ destroying his possessions in Bandar Abbas, he would retaliate by destroy­
ing Busbire.”
438. The ohief fears entertained by 8heikh Nasir, on receipt of the above
communication, were lest the Imaum, by means of his fleet, should take
possession of Karrak.
439. The Governor of Fare likewise seems to have bad a wholesome dread
of the Imaum’s naval superiority ; for although he did not actually deign to
express such feeliDg, he besought the Resident to pacify and appease His