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murdered the Captain Herbert Sutherland and his officers when the Islamabad
lay at an anchor at a place called Magoo upon the Persian shore, is now taken
into consideration.
2. It appears on reference to the Bushirc letters wrote by Mr. Jervis to this
Agency under the ICth March, 24th April, and 16th May 1705 : that after the
murder of Captain Sutherland ctca. the Arabs who were the murderers plundered
the ship of money and pearls, to a very considerable amount, with which plunder
they proceeded to the island of Khist: on their arrival there: the Simile of that
island seized the stolen treasures, bound the murderers, and sent them in a small
boat over to the continent of Persia.
3. It further appears that Nassir Khan the Governor of Lahoor had sent a
considerable force against the island of Khist under the command of Shaik
Abdulla of Ormuse; this said Shaik accordingly took from the Shaik of Khist the
pearls and treasure belonging to the Islamabad, which he had taken from the
Arab Lascars who as before mentioned were both the murderers and the thieves.
4. Mr. Jervis further observes in his letter of the 16th March, that the
village on the Island of Khist according to his intelligence was a very defenceless
unfortified place, and that a very triffling force would be sufficient to oblige the
Shaik to deliver up the money, &c. the Tartar and sloop he imagined would
be sufficient.
5. Captain William Justice, the Commander of the Berkshire, in a letter to
Mr. Wrench regarding this same subject writes from Muscat under the 19th
September 1766, that, “ Agreable to his promise he had enquired at Gombroon
concerning the Islamabad’s treasures: that it was taken from the Shaik at Khist
by Nassir Khan and Shaik Abdulla the former was taken by Carim Caim in the
fall of Lahore, and was then in his custody—the latter, Shaik Abdulla was on the
island of Ormuse—that he was with him 3 or 4 days at Ormuse but gave
him not the least hint of our suspecting him to have any part of the Islamabad’s
treasures—that his fort was all in pieces, and not one of his Gun Carriages but
what was useless : that his fort was all in pieces, and not one of his Gun Carriages,
but what was useless: that his Gallivats were all in very bad order that our
ships could go within hail of the fort, and that if they were to go, the Fort
could not hold out two hours. 5 >
6. On this same subject, the Honorable the President and Council of
Bombay under the 5th January 1766 and Bombay Grab wrote this .Agency as
follows.
7. “We have been informed restitution of the whole or great part of the
treasure and effects taken from the Islamabad may be obtained, if proper
measures are pursued for that purpose ; if this is really the case, we permit of
your employing the force for that purpose, as soon as the service against the
Chaub is over; and you are accordingly to give such orders to the commanding
officers, as you may judge most likely to answer that end ; observing that what­
ever treasure stores or effects may be taken either on this occasion, or from the
Chaub, must be kept in deposit untill our orders are received concerning them.**
The whole of this intelligence relative to this unfortunate affair being thus
collected, and the permission given us regarding it by the Honourable the
President and Council of Bombay duely considered, we think a more seasonable
opportunity for endeavouring to recover the Islamabad’s treasures from Shaik
Abdulla of Ormuse, will never present itself—our reasons for it arc.
Our operations against the Chaub are entirely at a stand, untill we know
the determinations of our Superiors at Bombay—to whom our situation is fully