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[ VI ]
(2) Against Meer Mohana in co-operation with the Persians, which
was however so half-hearted and ill-managed that our forcee
effected nothing, while a revolution drove away Meer Mobana
from Earrak, and opened the way for its ocoupation by the
Persians.
Period XV% 1770—1779.—This was the most eventful period in our
connection with the Persian Gulf. We may mention hero the leading
events of the period
(1) negotiations with Karim Khan rendered abortive by the antipathy
displayed by Agent Moore against the vakil and against Mr.
Skipp, who was deputed to Shiraz to conduct the negotiations ;
(2) plague at Basrah in 1773—74?, when the agency was withdrawn
from there;
(3) seize and capture of Basrah by the Karim Khan’s forces under
Saduk Khan, 1775—76;
'
(4) re-establishment of the Residency at Bushire in 1775 ;
(5) reduction of the Agency at Basrah to a Residency in 1779.
Period XVI, 1779—179?.—On the death of Karim Khan, Basrah is
abandoned by Saduk Khan and the country becomes a prey for several years
to civil wars. The East India Company’s trade thrives both at Basrah
and Bushire, though its progress was much retarded by changes in the Govern­
ments. The British influence becomes now paramount in the Gulf.
Period XVII, 1793—1800.—1The Kajar dynasty comes into power in
Persia. The French scare opens a new epoch in our Persian and Persian Gulf
affairs and Embassies are sent to establish our political influence as against
that of the French at Maskat, Tehran and Baghdad.
The Summary and Selections pre-suppose a knowledge of contemporary
history of Persia, and Turkey and the East Indian Company’s affairs, which,
among others, can be gathered easily from the following popular works :—
Malcolm's History of Persia.
Markham’s History of Persia.
Creaey’s History of the Ottoman Turks.
Hunter’s History of British India (up to the year 1708).
Low's History of the Indian Navy.
Curzon’8 Persia.
Encyclopoediaa Britannic—(9th edition), articles on " Persia ” (modern
history), and “Turkey ” in volumes XVIII and XXIII.
A connected account .of the events in the Persian Gulf during the last
three centuries will be found in Chapter XXVII of Curzon’s Persia.
On the various periods of the history covered by this Summary and Selec­
tions, the following works might be usefully read :—
Calendars of State Papers (East Indies)—
Preface of volume for 1518—1016, page Ixv.
1617—1021, pages lviii—lxvi.
1022—1024, „ lxv—lxix.
w 1625—1629, „ xvi—xvii.
1030—1634., „ xxxix—xliii.
Betters received by the East India Company—
Introduction, Volume II, page xr.
u „ IV, pages xxxiv—xxxv.
V, „ i—xix.
VI, M i—xviii.