Page 300 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

278 Part VII—Chap. LXIV.

540. Tho Resident had asked Hr. McNeill’s orders on the question of tho
removal of tho Residency to Karrak, but was informed by him that he had
received despatches from England from which it appeared that, the authorities
there did not wish tho Residency to ho withdrawn from Bushiro evon in tho
event of Mr. McNeill having to leave Persia. But if any hostile demonstra­
tion should bo made by tho Shiraz Government, and especially if it ho found
that it was proposod to take steps to fortify and strengthen Bushiro, or to place
a garrison thero, and if tho Resident was of opinion that the forco under
Colonel Sherrill’ with tho naval forco at his disposal was sufficient for tho
occupation and defence of Bushiro, he was told to intimate to the Governor of
Shiraz that any hostile demonstration ho might mako would oblige him
immediately to occupy Bushiro and defend it if necessary; hut if uo such
demonstration should bo made, Mr. McNeill desired that the troops should
remain in Karrak until he received further instructions (letter from M r.
McNeill to Captain Hcnnell, dated 10th July 1888).
541. Sheikh Nasir having returned from Bushiro roads came off on 20th
June 1838 to the steamer to pay tho Resident a visit. After the usual compli­
ments had passed, ho expressed his satisfaction that wo had sclccio.l his island
as tho placo upon which to locate troops. He said that he had suffered
so much from the oppressive rule of tho Pars Government that he should
he delighted to be under our protection; his object, lie added, in going ouce to
Bushiro had boen to ascertain from Resident whothor lie would not be
permitted to retaliate upon the Porsians the many and grievous injuries
he had experienced at their hands. Captaiu Hcnnell replied that we were
not at enmity with Persia and it was to he hoped that no occasion would arise
to render necessary any chauge in the friendly relations hitherto maintained
with that country, that the British Government had sent, up a body of
troops for special service, and that the Island of Karrak had been chosen for
their location on account of its superiority of situation and climate, that
under these circumstances it was in every respect advisable the Sheikh should
abstain from commencing hostilities, otherwise, it would most ccrtaiulv he
believed that we had instigated him to do so. The Sheikh acknowledged the
justice of this observation, and said, that he would remain tranquil for a few
months and see what turn affairs might take—adding, that he could raise a
force of throe or four thousaud men in a very short time, and submit them
without difficulty, by making descents upon the Persian coast ])rovided wo
only withdrew our interference. He then proceeded to intimate that tho
necessity of maintaining a garrison for the protection of the women and
children on the island during the absence of their male relations, was a source
of considerable expense to him, and loss to his dependants, most of whom were
unable to carry on their usual employments of fishing and trading in conse­
quence of their apprehension of an attack from the Persians, while they were
away. He therefore wished to be informed whether we would defend the
place under such a contingency. The Resident replied that as long as our
troops were located on the plain at a distance from the fort, and having no
connexion with it, he did not see how we could interfere, as the town would
of course be defended by its own garrison, it being only necessary for us
to take such stops as were required for the safety of our own camp, hut thero
were parts of the defences rented by us as a depflt for coals and stores, these of
course must be protected from every aggression. It was then hinted that tho
small citadel erected by the Butch would he a suitable place, for the hire of
which he was prepared to pay a liberal rent. The Sheikh replied that ho
could not give the fort as all the wives and families of himself and relations
dwelt there, and in point of fact had no other place of residence upon the
island, but that he had no objection to let us have the southern bastion of the
town walls (which completely command the best landing placo during the
prevalcut winds) at a monthly rent of 250 rupees. That the place specified wa9
certainly much out of repair, but that we might expend two or three months of
the hire in putting it into an effective state. That if this offer were accepted
the only stipulation he wished to make was that the entrance should be from
the outside, and that it should not communicate directly with the town. In
reply he was told that the Resident would consult with Colonel Sherriff,
the Commanding Officer of the Troops, before giving a definitive answer upon