'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎170] (212/733)

170
MUSKAT.
of his allies, on whom he chiefly depended for his supplies, and forced
to make a precipitate retreat.
12. We hear nothing of the Arabs of Muskat from 1736 to 1769, at
itoc i -ro the close which latter year a dispute occurred
A. D. l/do to l/oy. IT," 1
between the Persians and Muskatees, in conse
quence of Kureem Khan demanding from the latter a Persian ship
which had been a long time in the hands of the Muskat Arabs, and the
arrears of tribute they formerly paid to Nadir Shah. With these
demands the Muskat Government refused to comply, alleging that the
ship was lawfully purchased from Shaikh Abdoolla of Ormus ; whilst
with respect to the claim to tribute, they replied that Nadir Shah was
too powerful a tyrant to contend with,—it was therefore paid to him,
not as a matter of right but of policy : that Nadir Shah, however, and
Kureem Khan, were characters widely different,—the one they dreaded,
the other they rather despised ; the one was the conqueror of all Persia,
the other was merely a Vukeel of two or three of its provinces;—if, there
fore, Kureem Khan thought proper to persist in his demand, they
threatened to answer it by force.
13. At the commencement of the following year the Imaum's fleet,
q consisting of several ships and gallivats, made
its appearance in the Gulf, with five thousand
troops on board. It was intended to proceed to Bushire, to demand
satisfaction from the Persians for some losses the Muskatees had
suffered from them. The fleet having, however, dispersed, and not
re-assembling at the appointed rendezvous, returned to Muskat.
14. Hostilities continued to prevail between the Persians and the
Imaum of Muskat. Shaikh Nassir of Bushire,
who had been appointed to command the Persian
gallivats, was authorised by Kureem Khan either to prosecute the war
or to make peace with the Imaum, who showed a disposition to
accommodate matters, by surrendering some Persian property, which
he had detained at Muskat on his rupture with the Khan. The efforts
to negotiate a peace failed, as the Imaum would not listen to the
conditions proposed by the Shaikh on the part of Kureem Khan, which
were considered disgraceful. The Imaum professed a wish to be on
amicable terms with the Persians, but disdained to purchase their
friendship by the payment of an annual tribute on any consideration
whatever. The Muskat Government was at this time in alliance with
the Shaikh of Julfar, or Ras-ool-Khyma.
15. On the attack of Bussora by the Persians, the Imaum of Muskat
detached a fleet to assist in its protection. It
anchored at the entrance of the river early in
the month of August, having dispersed the Persian gallivats, under