"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٠‎٣] (١٧٨٢/٣٤٦)

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revival of piracy. The essential feature of the new system was continu- for P rc "
servation of
ous cruising off the Pirate Coast by three or four vessels of the East order at sea,
1822-23.
India Company^s marinej of which six in all were now allotted to the
service of the Gulf. It was ordered that ; in cases of piracy committed
by denizens of the Persian coast, direct action should not be taken in
future by British political or naval officers, but that application should be
made to the Persian local authorities, or in case of need to the Persian
Government, who since the punishment of the Qawasim had professed
themselves able and willing to deal effectually with such offences when
committed by their own subjects. Masqat was at first the place of
rendezvous of the Indian Government vessels employed in, or visiting, the
Gulf; but it was found too distant from the principal field of British
naval activity to be convenient, and a resolution was taken to substitute
Mughu, where a depot of stores would be located and a native political
agent appointed. The Mughu arrangement possibly came into force for
a short time; but in the autumn of 1823; on account of apprehended
objections on the part of the Persian Government, Rasidu on the island
of Qishm was adopted instead as the British naval base in the Persian
Gulf.
On the withdrawal of the British detachment and its commanding Special in-^
officer from Qishm, the political supervision of the whole Persian Gulf
the Resident
on the part of the Indian Government devolved on the British Resident (^If^ndToor
at Bushehr; and special instructions were given to Lieutenant j^ e h ™ a °^ n
McLeod, the successor of Captain Bruce, as to the manner in which his coast, 1823.
duties as Resident, particularly under the General Treaty of Peace of
1820, should be performed. It fell to him to explain the requirements of
the Treaty, which were not so well known or understood as might have
been expected, to the signatories ; to give effect, so far as possible, to
certain of its provisions-—such as that rendering obligatory the use of a
distinctive flag—-which had been neglected ; and to make it evident that
the withdrawal of the British military garrison hitherto maintained in
the Gulf did not proceed from any loss of interest on the part of
Governmert in the maintenance of security at sea. He was also directed
to establish personal touch with the various Shaikhs of the Arab coast, to
investigate closely the political conditions prevailing, and to make
arrangements for obtaining regular information of passing events.
These tasks were admirably discharged by Lieutenant McLeod, who in
January 1823 made a voyage—almost of discovery along the Arabian
littoral, visiting the chief ports of the Pirate Coast, Qatar and Bahrain,