'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎63v] (126/344)

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Part V -Chap. XXVI.
30. The Imam lias begged to know whether I see any objections to the employment oE
his ships in the conveyance of the Persian army, but I have declined to give any direct reply
to this question, under the plea that my instructions do not relate to this point.
31. It may possibly have occurred to His Highness the Imam that the present is %
favourable moment for making an independent attack on Bahrein, aa although he might not
be able to induce the British Grovernment to join with him in this undertaking, he would at
least enjoy the advantages arising from a British force being in the Gulf, a circumstance that
would prevent the Bahreinese from being joined by allies who might otherwise assist them,
although now overawed by the intimate alliance known to subsist betwixt His Highness and
the British Government.
32. In the 8th paragraph of your letter of the 27th of October the Island of Bahrein is
mentioned as one of the places where property obtained piractically was disposed of. Subse
quent information on this head has tended to contirm the belief that it was even the principal
channel through which the pirates were unable to convert into money the valuable merchandize
which they captured.
33. Information having reached Captain Bruce that ten piratical vessels had taken refuge
at this island, His Maje-ty's ships Eden and Cuibia and the Honourable Company's cruiser
vessel were despatched by Captain Collier three days ago for the purpose of demanding the
surrender of these boats.
34. The Army of His Highness the Imamud of Maskat alluded to in my despatch of the
10th ultimo, arrived two days after the tall o c Ras-ul-Khima, but as its presence had become
unnecessary from thp termination of our military operations before this place previous to its
arrival, and as the strongest religious and other prejudices existed betwixt it and the inha
bitants of this neighbourhood which precluded all hope of the mmds of the people becoming
settled and reconciled to what had occurred, whilst this Army should remain, I requested that
His Highness would direct its return to his own territories beyond the mountains, a ehort
distance from hence, and this movement was made accordingly.
(IV) OCCUPATION OF RAS-UL-KHMl BY A BRITISH DETACHMENT.
228. No reply having as yet reached Sir William from Ibrahim Pacha
respecting the offer made to him by the Supreme Government of placing the
port of Kas-ul-Khima under the authorty of the Turkish Government, it
become necessary to make arrangements for its occupation. Measures were
accordingly taken for placing this fortress in such a state of defence as to
render its garrison secure against any sudden attack.
229. The gnrrison left was composed of a detachment of artillery and the
1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, Native Infantry. A strong detached work (one
of the principal defences of Eas-ul-Khima) having been most materially
injured during the recent operations and rendered useless and even incon
venient for our purposes, it was directed that it should be completely destroyed.
The other defences were in conformity to the 14th paragraph of Government
letter of the 27th October (paragraph 204 above) retained entire.
(\) PACIFICATION OF THE PIRATE COAST.
230. The success of the British operations on this coast were followed by
proofs of a strong and general effect. Hassan-bin-Ali, the late Chieftain of
Lava and Humz, was a prisoner in our hands, and Hassan-bin Rachma, the late
Chieftain of Ras-ul-Khima, again come into camp, for the purpose of sub
scribing to terms calculated to give permanency to the tranquillity which had
been established. Kazib, the Chieftain of lazerat-ul-Hamra, also came to the
Camp, and the Chieftain of Shargha arrived soon after to confirm his previous
offers of unconditional submission. All the Chieftains evinced their readiness
to enter, for themselves and followers, into any arrangements that might be
prescribed for the effectual pacification of the Gulf. The Chieftain of Debai
having died recently, his widow, who was in possession of the Government, sent
her son, a boy of about nine years of age, expressed her desire to enter into
gimilar arrangements.