Page 279 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VII—Chftp. LIV. 257

admonish him most seriously as to his futuro conduct, and that he would
at the same time inform Ilis Royal Highness that the Shah, so far from
overlooking any improper conduct on the part of the Sheikh, would make
him (the Prince) auswcrablo for it. In answer to this offer, Captain Wilson
boggod to mention that ho had hitherto received every civility from Sheikh
Abdul Rassul and his bringing up tho subject was simply to have matters
placed on such a footing as would supersede the necessity of troubling His
Royal Highness in future, that ho was far from wishing to insist on anything
which might ho unpleasant to tho feolings of tho authorities at Shiraz,
and that ho considered it would bo sufficient for tho Khan to impress upon
tho Sheikh in a private interview the sentimeuts of His Majesty the Shah,
with relation to the English. To a question from tho Resident as to what
ho couceivod were the real feelings of the Court of Shiraz towards the British
Residency, he replied that ho thought they were friendly, but hinted that
the attention which the Resident had lately received was principally owing
to the measures he had adopted, and the letters he had written, previous
to his departure from the north ; he continued to say that if Captain Wilson
wished he would so arrange matters that the Princo should request a letter
to the Shah, to the effect that the Resident was perfectly satisfied with the
recent conduct of himself and his Ministers; to this Captain Wilson replied
that he would consider the subject.
481. The affair of the Plunder of the boats wrecked off Dashty wa9
next introduced and the highly irregular conduct of tho Chief of that coast
in plundering, instead of affording assistance to the vessels lost in its
neighbourhood, commented upon. Tho Khan said that lie was perfectly
ignorant of all matters relating to the sea, but had been informed that
such had been the long established custom of tho maritime inhabitants
of Pars. In answer to an enquiry from him, touching our custom on suoh
occasions, he was told that the cargo of any vessel belonging to a subject
of Persia, which might bo wrecked on the coast of India, would be preserved
and guarded with the greatest care. The Khan then asked what steps
Captain Wilson wished taken respecting the bugla belonging to Sied Humza,
adding that be bad authority to compel the Chief of Dashty to make restitution
of ali that had been taken from it if he was provided with a list of the
cargo. In answer to this, the Resident briefly mentioned the terms the
English were on with the inhabitants of Johanna, the manner in which the
affair first commenced, the steps taken by the Shiraz Government in sending
an officer to Dashty, his return without doing anything, and the narrow escape
Sied Humza and the Resident’s servant, who accompanied him, had from
being poisoned, and concluded by laying there were still two free men
belonging to Johanna, detained in that oountry whoso release he was
most desirous of procuring. The Khan then suggested that a letter
should be written to the Prince as acknowledging the receipt of the
Shah’s firman and His Royal Highnoss’s Ruckhum, and stating that Ali Murad
Khan would communicate to him the particulars of the conversations he had
held with the Resident on the above and other subjects. To this Captain
Wilson assented. The Khan then continued to say that liehadsent for Jasnal
Khan, and hoped to arrange the business iu a satisfactory manner.
4j82. In the course of conversation it was suggested by the Resident that
effectual steps ought to be taken to prevent the duties of the Bahdaree being
levied on the English and those individuals conneoted with them, as had lately
been done in two or three instances. With this the Khan fully agreed, and said
he would take a written document from Mirza Ali Ukbar Kalunter, the Chief
of the Customs and superior of all the Rahdars, deolaring the exemption above
mentioned in the most precise and positive terms; he also promised to procure
a paper from Sheikh Abdul Rassul disclaiming all intention of interfering in
any way with the merchants of Bushire, in the disposal or lading of their cargo
upon any vessel, whether English or other, they might think proper, and that
he would not compel them to embark their goods on his ships alone. Nothing
further of any particular consequence was discussed, but the Khan was pro­
fuse in his protestations of the high degree of favor the Shah held Captain
Wilson in, and whioh ho had afforded sufficient proof of, by bis seuding down a
special messenger to Bushire to congratulate him on his arrival in the Gulf,