Page 329 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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induce them to call oftenor, he tried to secure cargo by booking it at lower freight than
that charged by the British India Agents (Messrs. Towcll & Co.), who In turn were obliged
to reduce their rates. This competition was maintained for some timo without any advan­
tage to the Bombay and I’cisia Steam Navigation Company, which after a year's trial gave
up sending their steamers so often to Muscat M. Chapui ultimately lost the Agency some
time in 1886, having failed to remit the freight collected to the extent of R 8oo, which
at the time he was supposed to have misappropriated.
M. Chapui's opposition to the British India Agents annoyed Mr. Maquire, the proprietor
of the firm of Messrs. Towcll & Co. and Consular Agent for France, and through his
influence the Sultan gave notice to M. Chapui to vacate the Custom House. When the
notice was served M. Chapui claimed R l,6oo as compensation for repairs but the
matter was
compromised for R 800. This was early in 1884 and after that M. Chapui engaged another
house.
To revenge himself he began intriguing with the French Consul at Bombay, and
supplanted Mr. Maquire as French Consular Agent in 1885, though he did not exercise the
functions nor hoist the French flag as he was not permanently located in Muscat. The
Consular spals which he received from Mr. Maquire were entrusted to his clerk and ulti­
mately returned to Bombay in 1886, when M. Chapui himself, after a stay of six years in
the Gulf, returned to France.
In 1884 a French line of steamers subsidised by the French Government began to
run direct between England and the Gulf; M. Chapui gave out that he was the promoter
of the undertaking, and the establishment of the line was attributed in the press to the
efforts of an enterprising Frenchmen to push French trade in the Gulf.
Having spent the funds with which he came out to Muscat M. Chapui was greatly
hampered. He did not do any appreciable business either in Bunder Abbas or Muscat,
but occasionally managed to ship on a small scale sulphur and ochre from Hormuz and dates,
from Muscat, though, as he possessed no credit, he had great difficulty in obtaining funds.
To do so he mortgaged the bills of lading with the French Bank in Bombay and then drew
against it by drafts which he sold at a heavy discount. He was never for more than two
months together cither at Bunder Abbas or Muscat, and kept on travelling from one
place to the other with the ostensible object of attending to business.
To persons who were acquainted with the state of his affairs in the Gulf, and
who asked him why he was constantly travelling with no settled purpose, he at one time
alleged domestic troubles, and at others insinuated that he was a Russian spy.
There is no doubt that during his stay in the Gulf he used to supply information to his
Government regarding the commerce of Oman and the Gulf, and several other subjects, but
it was not known whether he was paid for it or not. His correspondence was extensive
and he received several letters by every mail.
M. Chapui returned to France at the end of 1886 and returned to Muscat at the begin­
ning of 1887. On his arrival he opened a liquor shop at Jask : he had once before tried this
in Muscat but had failed. In the present attempt he wished partly to give employment
to his clerk, and partly to compete with Messrs. Durate & Co. at Jask against one of the
members of which firm, employed by Messrs. Towell & Co. at Muscat, he had a grudge.
Accordingly M. Chapui’s clerk took with him some cases of wine and liquor worth about
R 500 to Jask. The house selected for the shop was within the telegraph limits ; and when
the cases were landed they were attached for want of a license until eventually the Director
permitted the opening of the shop, which however was closed four months later.
M. Chapui was suspected of having aroused the fears of the Persian Government about
the importance of the Telegraph colony at Jask, and took to himself the credit of having
ousted the telegraph guard there when it was withdrawn in 1887.
As he had found employment for his clerk at Jask he finally left Muscat and went to
Bandar Abbas in the middle of 1887. On his return from France he had brought samples
of merchandise of every description, and now began to import goods on orders. But his chief
object was to export salt, and accordingly he came to an arrangement with the chief of
Kishm: he also entered into partnership with some merchants in Calcutta who sent a charter­
ed steamer from there to take away the salt; but just before the arrival of the steamer the
greater portion of the amount collected was washed away by the rain, and out of 3,000 tons
only 800 were save 1. M. Chapui did all he could to get the steamer full cargo, but failed for
want of funds. The Chief of Kishm who had a large quantity of salt declined to part with
it except for ready money, so finally the steamer returned to Calcutta with only 800 tons.
This took place in February 1888, and M. Cbapui was now in great difficulties. Apart from
the loss he had sustained both by the destruction of the salt and the expense of the charter,
he had a debt of about R 800 to pay in the Bunder Abba9. His creditors began to dun
him and at last he has to sell his furniture and a greater portion of his personal property
to satisfy some of them. He then went to Karachi and Bombay, and returned with money
to B »ndar Abbas to pay the rest.