'Journal of a Journey from Persia to India through Herat and Candahar. Also Report of a Journey to the Wahebee Capital of Riyadh in Central Arabia' [‎101v] (202/268)

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interpolated a short prayer that it might please God to convince
these infidels of the peril of their ways. But he added, “ There
is always a distinction between religious and political warfare.
When the question is one of religion wo kill every body; but in
politics we make exceptions.^ The Imam then reverted to the
subject of the French; and said that a ship of war of that nation
had gone to Muscat, and tendered military aid to the Sultan in
his war against the Wahabees. I assured the Imam that I had
no knowledge of the affair and that my private opinion was that ho
must have been misinformed. The Imam then launched out with
contemptuous bitterness against the Sultan of Muscat, calling
him a weak man, surrounded by weak men, and a drowning man
who would catch at any straw. “ Muscat/’ he said, “ is our tribu
tary. Wo took it by force of arms. The late Imam Syed Saeed
understood things, and had conformed to arrangements. But Syed
Toweynee was different, and should be compelled by force.” The
Imam then returned to the subject of the French, and said that
some years ago, he had received a letter from a French ship
offering him assistance by sea or land in case of his needing it.
Ho did not reply to that letter; but about two years ago a
second communication of a like character had arrived with a
request that ho would send his reply to the French Consul at
Damascus. He had replied accordingly; returning thanks, and
explaining that he did not at present need any assistance.
75. The Ameer asked me whether I had any business upon
which I should like to see him privately. I replied that I had
not; that my principal object in desiring to meet him was to
make the personal acquaintance of a chief so well spoken of, and
that as both he and I had the one common object in view of
maintaining peace in the regions of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , it behoved
us to maintain mutually friendly relations. The personal
acquaintanceship between honest men was a source of confidence,
and prevented third parties from making mischief; and I
entertained no doubt that my present friendly visit would im
prove our relations, and have good results on the civilization