The New York herald., 1870-01-03
The Quarrel Between Muscat and
the British Adjusted.
EXPEDITION AGAINST BAHREIN.
Uahfein and Kateef to be Born
barded and Looted.
THE TELEGRAPH AT BUYIIRE.
MUsCAT, Nov. 13, 1850,

In former letter from Bombay sent on the par
tculars Of the quarrel that had sprung up between
the British Indian government and the Sultan OF
Muscat 10 VIII be remembered that the garrison OF
one Of the forts at the entrance or Mnscat harbor
had the impudence 10 fire upon her Britannia
Majestys gunboat Clyde, and the authorities refused
10 give proper apology for the outrage 70 the Con-
sui. No harm beyond the abstract wrong Of an In
suit to the British nag was done, and the fire was
only voley OF hah dozen pieces OF nusketry. II
was clear however that unless proper display OF
force made further and more serious liberties
would be taken. couple Of gunboats were there
FORE despatched from Bombay, and the political
agenJs ana cOnsuls from all quarters OF the Persian
Gull were summoned to muster round the star Of
the Political Resident Colonel Pely, ut Muscat. m
Bombay 1t was whispered that the place would be
put under the British nag or that. at any rate,
treaty would be exacted ceding certain valuable
commercial privileges.
Luckily, perhaps, Ior the sultan there IS trouble
In other parts Of the Gulf demanding the earnest
attention OF Colonel Pey and a the naval forces he
can muster; and In addition to this there Is q bitter
ana long-s,anding reud between Colonel Pelly ana
tue Consul at Muscat, which strongly predlsposcs
the former gentleman to run counter to the latter
even at the sacrifice OF little national prestige.
Colonel Pely saw IN the affair not much an insult
10 the British nag as an opportunity 10 snub tho
Muscat Consul by showing that the matter about
which the latter had made such tremendous FUSS
was really only diplomatic mares nest. Under
these circumstances II Is not surprising that the
Sultan has succeeded In mahlng hts peace with the
British lion.
When Colonel Pey and the three gunboats under
his command arrived here tae sultan lost no time
in adopting measures OF cancellation. In reply TO
the Coloneps letter demanding explanation he
made the most fuisome apologies II was true, he
said that hs had fred at the Clyde. but II
IN ignorance OF ner being British gunb0at Tho
Clyde had been In Muscat frequently before but she
had always anchored IN the hagbor. On this occa-
sion, however, she took up position on the outside
OF the bay and the soldiers In the garrison. NOS
recognizing her nag, fred at her. They had acted
this entirely without orders; even II u had NOS
been an English snip he (thc sutan) should have
been seriously displeased at what they had done;
but there no over In the world for whom ne
entertained SO profound . respect as tho English,
and he was therefore deeply PANIED az this absurd
act oil his troops. He had roprmanded them Sc
verely; thing would certainly not occur again:
and ne trusted the Coionel would, behalf OF his
government overlook what had taken place, and
accept his apology. This Ii a Of course the verlest
buncOmbc imaginable; but as nave before stated,
Colonel Pely disposed TO pafcn up the affair
well aud as speedily AZ he was aolc and gladly ac-
cepted It.
As soon as these negotiations were completed the
gunboats and Colonei Pels left for BahreIn, wnere
sbeIkn ManOMed khueela awaits his arrival,
having captured by the local chiefs after he had
looted the town. 1t seems that these chiefs are by
means inclined 10 give him up unless Colonel
Pely consents 10 some obnoxious arrangement they
have decided upon IN regard 70 the iuture Snekh Of
| the Island. The late Snelkh, Mah0n eo's brother,
whom Colonel Pelly put IN power about year ago,
WIS Killed IN the recent fight with khuesla, and the
people are determined 70 have as ms successor .
the acquescence OF the latter 10 taa threaten 10 let
| Mahomed 80 at large. TO punish then Tor their
insoeuce Colonel Pelly has resolved To lombard the
town. The resident British subjects, who are entirely
indian "banian" merchants have already lost tnelr
all in the recent buccaneerng the only
people viii suffer, therefore, the Arabs. Az
| soon az lie has arranged matters at Bahrein by de-
| stroying Ine iortincations and hanging Mah0med
BIN khuleela ana putting W an eligible man aB
sneikh, the expedition win sail for Kateef, strong
| place on the mainland, where Manomed mustered
the force he recently led and TO which place hls iO.
| lowers retreated wnen the inhabitants of Bahrein
rallied aud drove them Oh. kateei Is very strong,
and only be taken by q landng party oi marines
and SAILORS. The water very shallow, Snd the gun
boats cannot approach nearer than seven miles from
| TO be OF any service. An attempt Was made by .
| similar expedition under Colonel Peliy three years
ago to capture Kateof Dut The dincuisy VI the ex-
| plot mad been underrated and the British
beaten or with loss of seven Killed aud twenty
| or tnirty wounded. On the present occasion the
landing force Will consist of 800 men, all told, ana
proper preparations have been made Tor the
| OF the expedition The men are very anxious 10 re-
trievc the former defeat There " every probability
that the ngbt VIII be a bloody one, however and
whatever may be the result the loss IN mea VIII be
| towards bad soldiers ana although they are
armed with old matchlocks aud possess only Two or
three pieces OF ardllery, winch the Portuguese
brought here 200 years ago they Gun manage to do
great deal or execution l had almost forgotten 10
| say that the men the gunboats are to nave the
privilege OF l0OtlnR both Banrcin ana kateet. IL IS
| rather an antique addition To The horrors OF war
fare but IL nourisies Ill over these parts, ana the
British sailor thinks ne has AZ good ri2t ID rob al
Arab merchant az an AraD pirate mas 10 loot Brl.
in Muscat, here. we are living In daily spprshen-
sion of "a revolution The sultan, after arranging
matters with Colonel Pony Inarcned into she Into
with force OF 1000 men to punish the Bedaween
VINO live in the district near kas I'll Had for their
refusal to acknowledge his right 70 the throne.
These tribes are The same who defeated the Brltlsli
troops that came here IN Tie expedition Of 1872 and
they arc still formidable Zoe tAen Azan's
soldiers themselves believe that they are going to be
defeated; and the opinion OF the people of Auscat
that every three or four days q rumor Ii started q
great victory BY the Bedsween Tnere n not much
use OF their victory bayond Induaing In loot.nR
raid upon the more fertile regions OF The country
Azan and his demoralized array wiil probably come
flying into Musca In y very scared and dliapGateI
condition; out once inside the gates they are SAFE
Azan is, however threatened seriously In another
direction. Frequent revolutions Ia MnscAt
tney are always headed by one or the royal family.
NO Arab would raise q finger against the sultan
except at the instance OF souie blood relation OF tne
sultan whom lie likes better. But AZ tne present
time II unfortunately happens that two exiled men-
bers OF the royal family are proDaby each preparing
a separate revolt 10 understand the position L Is
necessary TO remember that three years ago Seim
cut the throat OF mis- father with hIs own hands anu
maze hum yery unpopular, aud the murdered Sui
ian's brother, Syud Inoorkee, attempted 10 GUST the
parriclde. Tnoorkec Was greatly liked by the people
ana was very nearly successful Dut 5eiiIn mana red
| 20 beat hlm on. Ihoorkcc retired TO Bombay,
where lie has since resided, the govern
ment having granted him an asylum on
| condition that nc pledged himself 10 make
no further attempt on Muscat by sea. About
| year ago what Thoorkee had vainly attempted was
accomplished by Azan bn Ghcs, the present sultan
whose Claim To Tire throne ~ very weaS-sO weak
that the British government, although they commu-
i
recognized him as Sultan. II Azaa we're disposed
TO make himself popular the weakness of his claim
would no doubt be forgotten. But he Ias al,enatcd
every outside the clrcio OF his army warrior
| prestS.n
Tue fighting VIII be very severe, for the wahha-
| bees are very llt.e better than Wild Bedaween,
1nlamed TO the lever pitch OF courage by fanaticsm
| Their cardinal doctrine Ii he duty to lnfdel
throaLs and they have both resolution and Courage
sufficient ~ act out their creed.
Another magic thread connects India and the
Gulf win Europe. The submarine cable from
Kunachee To bushire has been successfully laid.
Bombay therefore, has nov two lines to the head or
the Persian GUT, and from there again there are
i nIf fpru ttya ufaz nh Ruo