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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 301
to be obtained from the Imaum of Sanaa and embodied in a
treaty.
Captain Bruce, the Resident at Bushire, formerly an oflEicer in
the Marine, who was appointed agent for the Government of
Bombay in conducting these negotiations, sailed for Mocha on
the 23rd of August, 1820, and, on his arrival, made known to
the authorities the demands of the British Government, but
declined to land until an officer had arrived from vSanaa to make
the required apology. From the intercourse which passed
between Captain Bruce and the Dowlah's agents, every expecta-
tion was entertained of a favourable result ; and a letter was
addressed by the Uowlah to the Imaum, enclosing the ultimatum
of the Bomba}' Government, and expressing a hope that its
demands would be complied with. But the authorities at Mocha,
notwithstanding their pacific professions, were mounting guns
on the different towers, and the militia were ordered in from
the several villages ; to give time for the arrival of these levies
the Dowlah made a request, with which Captain Bruce complied,
that a few more days than had been first lixed, might be allowed
for the arrival of the answer from Sanaa, On the 24th of
October Captain Bruce received the Imaum's reply, conveying
friendly assurances, stating that a person would be sent to
communicate with him, and requesting that he would land at
Mocha ; private letters from Sanaa were also to the effect that
the Imaum was highly displeased with his Minister for having
allowed matters to proceed to so great a length.
On the arrival of the Imaum's deputy, Futteh Iloosain, who
gave an assurance that all demands would be acceded to, Captain
Bruce proceeded on shore, accompanied by the Dowlaii's
brother and a party of merchants. The result proved entirely
unsatisfactory, as Futteh Hoosain said he had no authority to
bring Haji Futteh, the offending Governor, to Mocha, but that
he was authoris(Kl to accompany ('aptain Bruce to Sanaa,
where that Dowlah would be brought. Captain l^ruce replied
that, until the apology had been made at the British Kesideney,
he could not proceed to Sanaa, and as, after protracted
discussions, it was evident that they were only attempting to
evade the demand, he determined to proceed on board ship,
have free ingress and egress at all the gates of Mocba, amongst others, that of
Sheikh Shaduli, from which Europeans had been excluded for some years piist,
on account oi' the ])rctendcd sanctity it derived from the tomb of that saint being
in an adjoining mosque.
That the rate of export duty on British trade be reduced from 3i to 2i
(5).
per cent., which was the same as the French had paid since tlicy bombarded
Mocha, nearly a century previously.
(6). A piece of grou^id to be allotted for a cemetery, and no British subject
to be insulted on account of his religion.
The P.ntish Resident to liuvc free permission to proceed to Sanaa, to com-
(7).
municate with the Imaum, whenever he might deem it necessary ; the Dowlah
of Mocha, on those occasions, furnishing an eecort.