Page 49 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part II—Chap. X. 27

CHAPTER X.
THE POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IMAM OF
MASK AT AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.*
G7. The first point of difference with the Imam arose from his partiality
for the Frenchmen whom ho had taken prisoners (paragraph 58 above). A vessel
had also been wrecked on the coast at Masiras and a Frenchman, its joint
owner, who was formerly a Surgeon in the Fronch armies, named Maurelle,
found his way to Maskat. He oured in a few days a wound that had been
inflicted on one of the Imam’s right hand fingers. He thus became a great
favorite with Seyyid Sultan and introduced others of the countrymen into his
service. At last he abused his favour and went off with a sum of money
he had been entrusted with; and his countrymen knowing his intentions
concealed them, which lost them much in the opinion of the Arabs. Under
one pretence or other they had been all sent away and the only European in
Imam’s service was a native of Flanders, Justaigne, who had been shipwrecked
at Maskat in an Imperial ship from Malic. He had a wife and child in Bengal
and on the conclusion of peace intended going to them. The Imam had also
purchased a ship called Armenia, which the French had captured from the
British and brought with their vessels to Maskat.
68. When the Bombay Government were apprized of this, the Resident at Secret acd Poll.
Maskat, Captain Seton, was instructed (orders dated 31st July 1801) to remon-No^moPisoi
strate with the Imam that his entertaining Justaigne in his service, who must P. .127.
necessarily be in the French interest, who appeared to volunteer its uniform, and
was of a countty now subject to that Government, could only be considered
an infraction of the treaty entered into by His Highness with Mehdi Ali
Khan and afterwards confirmed with the lato Persian Envoy from the Su­
preme Government. The Imam was therefore asked immediately to remove this
man and all other French subjects from his territories, inclusive of course of
those lately arrived with the returned vessels from the Mauritius. Although the
Government did not positively object against the Imam’s purchase of the
Armenia, yet they thought that it would have been more suitable and con­
sistent with the spirit of the connection between the Company’s Government
in India and that of the Imam, if he had declined to turn to his own advantage
even in the way of purchase, any ship or vessel made prize of by the French
from his frionds the English.
69. It had once been customary for Chellaby and other Gulf merchants
at Surat to bring the piece-goods intended for the consumption of Hasa and
Kalif to Maskat, as the number of pirates made it dangerous to go to those
places themselves. The Imam’s ships freighted part of these goods, and the others
they left to the Arabs on their paying them a small duty. This system was at last
extended to every kind of goods that went up to the Gulph and Seyyid Sultan
was particularly solicitous to extend it as far as possible. Mahomed Nabi and
Hazi Khalil trading under the British flag however avoided it. Not knowing
Mahomed Nabi’s boat the Akaub had a flag and pass or Company’s property on
board he ordered it to be seized by Swedi pirates, because it did not touch at
Maskat. The Bombay Government despatched the ship Duncan with sepoys on
board under the command of Captain Taylor to attack and punish the Swedi.
Strong remonstrances were also conveyed to the Imam and the Regent at
Maskat. The captured boat was offered baok or indemnity in lieu of. To have
accepted the boat again or the indemnity would have given the Swedi tacit per­
mission to take every boat that had not a flag and pass, or, had they Company’s
property, they had only to return that, whereas the native property, trustod under
the protection of our flag would bo lost and the flag itself would cease to be 1
respected. The Swedi was subject of the Wahabi. He was not so in any
case till on repeated representations he drove them from under his protection
and even then the Swedi came to him as if nothing has happened ready to i
* Soo foot noto on page 25.
a 1