Page 146 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

340
CCLX.
Instructions to Mirsa Mehedi All Khan for guidance as Resident at Bushire.
1st. The following aro the Instruction for your guidance of Resident at
Buahire nod on your way thither.
2nd. Embarking from this on the Fanthir you will first prooeed to Muscat
and haying an interview there with the Imam and delivering to him the
Governor's letter, you are to ondoavour to ascertain his real disposition
respecting the French and to do all in your power to dissuade him from
assisting them, reporting fully thereon what you believe to be in that respect
his soutiments and those of the principal olficors of his Government as likewise
on the demeanour of Norottum Ramchunder Rowji, the Company's Broker
there, and whether he be trustworthy or otherwise ? There may indeed bo
considerable ground to apprehend the contrary, if it bo there, as has been
recently reported by Captain Spence, of the Fearl, that there is now a
Frenchman there, who is said to be ostensibly at least interhand in the way
of his possession, by the Imaum and thro* whom two small vessels, aro said
to be kept continually passing and repas9ing between that and the Mauritius, in
which oaso it is certainly high time to endeavour to interrupt so dangerous a
channel of communication, which we confide iu your best exertions for effecting ;
offering in the event of the Imaum’s agreeing to send away the Frenb Doctor,
and to exolude all Frenohmen from his dominions during the war with Great
Britain, to supply his place, if desired, by a regular bred surgeon from this
Presidency; and you are at the same time to enquire whether the Imaum
will consont to the Company’s establishing a Factory at Muscat, on the usual
terms endeavouring to procure his ascent to all these points, as well by your
own immediate agreements with the Imaum, and Khelfan, to whom you have
also a letter from the Governor (if necessary), thro* the assistance of your
consultation with Haji Khelat, who is represented as standing in the situation
of surety for the Imaum to the present governing power in Persia for the
revenues that the former is said to form of the ports of Gombroon, Koong,
and Duloom, on the opposite side of the Gulph, and to possess as a capital
merchant and Banker very great influence throughout Persia; and as there
is a report that the person abovementioned under the title of Khelfa is now
either altogether out of place or reduced to small consideration and influence ;
we have it to you to judge of the propriety there may be in delivering or
retaining the Governor’s letter to his address.
3rd. On your arrival at Busbiro, you are to receive charge from
Mr. Smith and to grant to the Gentleman, receipts for the treasury cash
and all the articles that may bo made over to yon, of which you are also
to transmit a List, and after you have been a few months gone and that
an estimate can be made of sirams and of the advantage therein likely to
result to Government, your own salary shall then be fixed in view thereto, and
in the meantime you aro to transmit your monthly accounts with the same
punctuality, and with the like description of vouchers as you were use to
at Ghazipoor, taking care to observe the utmost economy in your oxpences
and not at most exceed the medium of the charges hitherto usually incurred
at tbe same place as will appear from the Books there.
4th. The great object of your appointment is the extension of the
Company's European imports into Fersia, and the improvement to the highest