Page 341 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VIII—Chap. LXXVII. 319
CHAPTER LXXVII.

DUTIES OF RESIDENT OX THE PERSIAN GULF, 1841.
620. In 1641 Captain Hound left tho Karrak (the Hoad Quarters of the
Volume os—1288 of ]811*42, p. 105. Residency at this time) for the Presi­
dency on account of ill health having
instructions for tho Officiating Rosidont (Captain Mackenzie), which throw
light on the duties of a Resident in those days and are therefore quoted below•
MEMORANDA FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE OFFICIATING RESIDENT.
Such letters from tho Chiefs in tho Gulf or such portions of tho reports of tho Agents at
Muscat, Lingah, Sliargah, Brymee, Bahrien, and Shiraz as may bo of interest or importance
aro to bo translated aod sout to tho Secretary to Government in the Seoret and Political
Departments.
Such letters from tho Agent (or Reporter) at Shiraz as may contain matters of local or
general interest, relating to tho affairs of Fare, or tho South of Persia, aro to be translated
and sent to Her Majesty’s Envoy at tho Court of Tehran, to whom this Residonoy is subordinate
in all matters connected with that country. At the present time there is a Qholam (Alice
Reza Beg) of His Excellency’s here, who should be sent off with tho first despatch for the
Mission which may arrive from India. In general a cossid is despatched to His Excellenoy
when a ship from Bombay arrives bringing letters for himself and suite. By such an
opportunity the reports from Shiraz are forwarded, but in cases of unusual nature or of
importance a special cossid is 6eut off.
On the 10th of each month the monthly mail should bo despatched to Bussorah. By
this opportunity a concise report is to be made to the Honorable the Secret Committee, in
duplicate, regarding events and go ieral state of affairs in the Gulf aod the South of Persia,
during tho preceding month. One copy of this despatch is sent under flying seals to
Colonel Taylor for his information.
All other letters on general subjects to Government are addressed in the Departments
they may happen to bo in, a* the Military, Marine, General, etc., etc., etc., but in every case
each subject should as far as possible bo kept separate iu a letter of its own.
The reports of Moollah Houssin the Agent at 8hargah may always be relied on in
respect to facts, if he expresses no doubt ou the subject.
On the occasion of a piracy ocurring in the Gulf, every exertion is to be made by circular
letters to the different Agents and Shaiks, to find out to what tribe or Chief the perpetrators
may belong. When a clue is obtained, a demand upon the Chief for explanation should be
made, and when it is satisfactorily established that his people are the culprits, an intimation
should bo given that he is expected to afford redress. Snould he hesitate or decline to do this,
after a reasonable period, he must be oompelled by force : but it has beeu my practice not
to make a final ana peremptory demand, unless backed by at least two, but if possible three,
vessels of war. This always prevents any idea of resistance, from a conviction of its
hopelessness. Tho naval force in the Gulf is generally too weak to afford so many ships,
but the advantage may be taken of the occasional visit of a war steamer to colieot the
requisite number. Of course cases of great emergenoy may occur, in which instant and
energetic measures must be adopted at all risks, with whatever available means may be at
hand.
The conditions of the maritime force ought to be carefully guarded, but no interference
whatever must take place in the quarrels, feuds and disputes on shore. The truce will expire
about next May, when it should if possible be reaewed. It is not unlikely the Government
may order this to be attempted for a longer period than one year—„----■-------■„--------
-- ■ ,>t------------ --------------„■ ' ■■—. On the occasion of renewing the truce
it is usual to make a present of a pair of pistols and a piece of cloth to each of the members
subscribing it.
In the event of Captain Jopp’g Mission to Ameer Khaled failing, an early report should
be made to Bombay, and the Arabian Chiefs strongly urged to oppose any attempt of the
Nedgdee8, under Syed ben Mootluk to subjugate Oman, or attack Brymee. The instruc­
tions of the Governor-General on these subjects are full and explicit aud will be found iu the
records.
It is strongly recommended that the Arabian Coast should not be left longer than six
weeks without being visited by a vessel of war. The relative positions of the Resident and
Commodore in the Persian Gulf are fully and exactly defined in Mr. Secretary Willoughby’s
letter No. 140, Secret Department, under date the 23rd January 1841.
The funds in the Treasury are kept up by bills drawn on the Government, and disposed
of in Bushire. They are signed by the Resident. Mr. Edwards, the Residenoy Accountant,
can give full information regarding all arrangements connected with accounts, and the general
routine of the Office. Hajeo Ahmed the Arabic Mirza, a person of great talent and
intelligence, and quite trustworthy, is also well acquainted with the routine as conneoted with
the Maritime Arabian Chiefs, and with the transactions in the Persian Gulf for the last ten
years.