Page 294 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

272 Part VII—Chap. LXIII.

CHAPTER Mill.

PLUNDER OF THE CARGO OF THE SHIP “ FUTEIl-UL-
RUIIMAN” WRECKED NEAR HEN JAR, BY THE CHIEF
OF KISHM—EM BARCSO ON HIS SHIP’S VISITING
BOMBAY AND MANGALORE, 1830-1841.
619. In the month of May 1838, a bugla under Arab colours, named
Futch-ul-Itnhman belonging to Obid Ali
Summnry, Volunio 066 of 1838*1841.
of Maskat, with a valuablo cargo on board
from Bombay, got aground and swamped near Anjar, on the Island of
Kishm. Her Nakhoda immediately engaged a boat to take a messenger to
Bunder Abbas, for the purpose of requesting the aid of 8yef bon Nubhan, the
Governor of that port. When Sheikh Abdul Itahman of Kishm heard of
what had taken place, he detained the boat with the messenger while on her
way to Bunder Abas; and, with a body of about 1,000 men, proceeded by land
to the spot, where the wreck was.
620. Upon reaching the ground, Sheikh Abdul Bab man sent off a party
of his men on board the wrecked bugla, lying about 100 paces from the shore,
for the purpose of taking possession of her; and having summoned the
Nakhoda, he compelled him by threats to give a paper promising half the
oargo as salvage. After this, the Sheikh is said to have taken possession of a
large portion of goods, which had been safely landed by the crew of the bugla,
prior to his arrival and to have caused the greater part of the boxes and cases
so saved to be broken up and their contents mixed together, so as to prevent
the legitimate owners from recognising their own property.
621. On the 16th August 1838 a vessel named Mombassa belonging to
the Sheikh of Kishm, arrived at Bushire, with a portion of the cargo saved
from the Futeh-til-Ruhman for the purpose of being made over to the owners.
Upon enquiry, Captain Hennell, the Resident in the Persian Gulf, was
informed that the goods restored by the Sheikh did not even amount to a
sixth purt of the original cargo, the whole of which, with the exception of
some sugar, was believed to have been recovered from the wreck, and a large
portion of which was insured by British subjects in Bombay.
622. As the oonduct of Sheikh Abdul Rahman on this occasion appeared
to Captain Hennell so shamefully irregular, and as he was a dependant of the
Imam of Maskat, that officer in his letter dated the 18th August 1838
recommended to Government the expediency of making a formal demand upon
the authorities of that place, for the portion of the cargo insured by, and
lond-fide the property of, British subjects, or its value and in the event of
their pleading their inability to compel the Sheikh, either to restore the one
or maae good the other. Captain Heunell was of opinion that this demaud
should be enforced against the Sheikh himself (as soon as the squadron was
rendered available by the settlement of our relations with Persia) by blockad­
ing his port of Kishm, or by taking possession of his vessels.
623. Captain Hennell was on the 15th September 1838 informed that
Government concurred in the view taken by him of this case, and the propriety
of adopting (when the proper period arrived) the measures suggested by him
for the recovery of the plundered property. Captain Hennell addressed a
letter to. His Highness “ Syed Suwany,” the Acting Governor of Maskat, on
the subject of the irregular proceedings of 8heikh Abdul Bahman in order to
know whether His Highness would take upon himself to realize such portion
of the cargo seized by the Sheikh, as was bond-fide the property of, or had been
insured by, British subjects. His Highness in reply informed Captain Hennell
that he had given orders to the Kishm 8heikh to restore the property in question
which the latter in a separate communication also promised to do.
524. In the month of April 1839, Captain Hennell instructed his
Assistant Lieutenant Edmunds, then on a visit to the Arabian Coast, to touch at