'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I: Historical and Political Materials: Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904.' [‎18v] (36/68)

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* f These operations appear, with one partial exception, to have been most successful, and
have, moreover, been executed with a care for the lives and property of non-combatants, which
reflect great credit on Captain Pasley and all employed.
“ While lamenting the loss of the brave men who were killed at Demaum, I would express
our sincere admiration of the gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Long and the whole party
engaged, and particularly of those who are named by their Commanding Officer, as worthy of
special mention.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pelly is of opinion that it will be necessary to return to Demaum
with the means of battering it from a raft.
“But before making any fresh attempt of the kind it will be well to ascertain from the
Resident what has been the effect of the operations already carried out ? It appears that after
the expiration of the terjn fixed by Colonel Pelly in his demand on the Wahabis for satisfac
tion, several Wahabi war-buggalows and the tower of Burj Bullif, commanding one entrance
to the harbour of Khatiff, were destroyed, and the fort of Demaum itself was plied with shot
shell and rockets to an extent which must have made a considerable impression on the garrison*
and probably removed any notion they may have entertained as to their power to resist any
+ W x £ ^ight be made on it with an adequate force. It will be well to ascertain the
total effect of all these operations before undertaking any thing further against the fort of
Lemaum which seems in itself to be of little importance.
I would propose, therefore, to ask the Commodore to visit Maskat before the season for
active operations in the Gulf draws to a close, taking with him any part of his squadron which
can be spared from other service, and that he should confer with Lieutenant-Colonel Pelly
who will, by that time, have ascertained the general effect on the Wahabis and the littoral
Arabs, of the whole senes of operations, including those which may have been undertaken bv
His Highness the Imam by land. Should it appear that sufficient has been done for this
season, no further operations against KJiatif will be necessary, if otherwise, the Commodore
will be in a position to decide what may be possible and necessary to secure, at least for the
currenc season, the peace of the Maritime tribes of the Gulf, and the safety of the British
subjects residing amongst them. J -^rinso
r “,? in - Ce f 0 '™ 6 .’, Pel, y h ? will have received the instructions of the Governor
Gene al in Council as contained m Mr. Secretary Muir’s letter of the 24th January last
WaUK; A -' ‘T 688 ° P T'‘ ° ““ Vicero - v that i* would be inexpedient to pS the
Wahabi Amir for compensation for any loss which British subjects may hav/incurred
Lr.fta'ri'KS.™: -sSS; s f V-K »~sns
. ‘‘ 1 ^ oul(i submit theso remarks with Colonel PellV desmteheq fo fho ,
further operations on the Arabian Coast The f'n ri° Ur » s . < l ua( ^ r0I V or useful to our allies in
preclude Ms undelKag anr^'Je^ior^ ln f‘™tions from the Admiralty
Governor General’s wishes. operations except under a written intimation of the
“ I do not, however, anticipate that it will he fmtnrl Tx«r«'i.i
further operations on the Pirate Coast this season. P ossl Me or necessary to undertake
<fma y w'sH k> note as our reason for not a si-inn. ft.* j
bay the reply of the Governor-General in Cou^il thlt +h ? Wait at Bora “
of Pearl-fishing, when the evil-disposed among the littoral 8Ummer / s 1 believe time
some, but our men-of-war cannot, 6 without the most 1 nVcW T m °? apt t ? be double-
operations m the Gulf at that season, and, therefore if it t /} ece8Slt ^ undertake active
necessary to do anything for the protection of British suhier-tc n° U a PP ear 1 to (l be absolutely
weather sets in, there is no time to be lost. ° SUbjects ° r P ro P e %j before the warm
“ A t Mussendom the Commodore will bo »U 0
General in Council by telegram.” t0 earn tbe Wlsb es of the Governor
108. In a letter written to Government by Commodorp Trn
Letter from Commodore Hill ya r, with accoo, in- Cantain 1 ’ 00 reCeiV ”
pamments, dated the 20th February 1866. & ^ a ptain Pasley S report of the pro-
he remarked on the apparent want of conlrW* 6 ¥ i - 9h fy er in the Gulf,
not proceeding himself to aid in a service whfch by the Kcsid ™t in
experience such as a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. could not Bo - n 6 ' 1 for local knowledge and
this point the Governor in OonMil observ^ ^renlv 1 “ Pe ° ted ‘ 0 ^ On
(< Colonel Pelly was alone with t? _ ,. ’
ncc ^Sity for hif renmining to urge the MacU Tthorifea or . Ass;sta nt. and the
p,evented h.m from going up the Gulf with the d”pntbg°his^Nativ* Agent