Page 292 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

270 PartVII-Chap. LXI.

Enclosure.
It is with muoh regret that in consequence of tho " highly irregular proceedings of a
person named Sheikh Khulfan, I find myself under tho necessity of troubling Your Royal
Highness on the present occasion. Tins person who is the ° Zabit " of Asscloo has, contrary to
former established rule and custom, sent out vessels to sea, and captured and pluudcred
several boats belonging to a faithful subject of Persia named Sheikh Joobarah the " Zabit "
of Congoon which ho line subsequently sold for a largo sum to tho Arabs of Oman, vis., the
Benoyns tribo.
Apparently it is not unknown to Your Royal Highness that the British Government has
for many years post kept up a naval force iu the Gulf of Porsia at very heavy expense, for
tho solo purposo of maintaining the safety of the lines of traffic, and the suppression of
piracy and aggressions upon tho property of others, in ordor that both tho inhabitants on
tho coasts, as well as the voysgors on tho seas, might bo enabled to carry on their several
occupations of trade and commorco, and earn their subsistence in peace and safety. Certainly,
from tho presence of the Government cruisers in this Gulf the seaports of Persia have benefited
in a very great degreo in two respects. Firstly, from the general protection thus given at
sea. Secondly, from aggressions being put an end to and redress afforded to their inhabitants
in eases where thoir vessels and proporty havo been plundered by pirates and evil disposed
porsons. As a sufficient proof of this I would refer Your Royal Highness to the occurrences
which took place three yoars ago, wliou a number of vessels with a largo amount of property
and goods belonging to merchants of this country were captured and plundered by the
Beneyas tribo. Upon the occasion of theso outrages, tho vessels and cargoes in question
having been recovered by the British Government from that tribe, were restored to the
respective owners, and the guilty parties visited with condign punishment.
Sheikh Khulfan of Asseloo is however on close terms of friendship with this tribe of
tho Beneyas, and it is to be apprehended that if ho acts in the manner ho has done, the evil
disposed among them, and the Joasniccs, etc. etc., will make the pretext of affording
assistance to either party the cover for committing every species of excess and aggression
upon tho vessels belonging to the Persian Coast, and as the part of tho sea where Slmik
Khulfan sends out his boats to attack those of bongoon is directly in the track of the
Bushiro vessels coming from India, it is to bo feared that if the irregular proceedings of that
person be not checked and punished, tho trade of the Persian ports may be injured.
I have written to Sheikh Khulfan upon tho subject of this letter, and have been informed
by him in reply that both Sheikh Joobarah and himself had been summoned to the presence of
Your Royal Highness, in order that the matter should be inquired into. It is however well
known that although Sheikh Joobarah has obeyed tho summons of Your Royal Highness and
proceeded to Shiraz, Sheikh Khulfan has no intention whatever of doing so or even of quitting
Asscloo. I feel however quite a?6ured, that Your Royal Highness will not permit your
authority to be thus treated with contempt by on inferior defendent, but that Your Royal
Highness will take measures for enforcing the attendence of tho Asseloo Chief at Shiraz and
punishing him according as you may sec fit, for having dared without any permission from
Your Royal Highness to disturb for tho tranquillity of the Persian Gulf.
S. Hennell,
Officiating Resident in the Persian Otdf.

Translation of a Bukem from His Royal Highness the Princo of Shiraz to Captain 8. Hennell, Officiating
Resident in the Persian Gulf, dated Snflur 1264 or May 1838.
Be it known to the high in rank and dignity Mr, Hennell, the Resident of the Eng fish
Government, that his friendly representation has been received, and the degrees of faithfulness
and loyalty of that exalted in the estimation of the two mighty Governments have been
understood. With reference to the aggression of Sheikh Khulfan, upon Sheikh Joobarah Khan,
which was represented, the truth is, that the tenor of both tho representation, and the letter
was contrary to the custom of the friendship of tho two powerful States, and opposed to
the understanding and faithfulness of that high in station, because the two Shniks and the
two ports with relation to this established Government are as one, and the oppression of either
towards the other, if true, is contrary to regulation. In the fortunate presence,* and those
ordered for the service of the frontior, the
* vie., tbc 8 b ah.
rule over 6ea and laud is the same and it is
apparent that whenever any of the subjects or Governors bo oppressed, and make representa­
tion, the oppressor will be subject to punishment and retribution, without the necessity of
foreign assistance.