1844.] ASSISTANCE OF THE SULTAN. 205 



would lend his powerful assistance in order to effect their 

 recovery. I was much pleased at the frankness and cor- 

 diality with which he entered into my views, promising, 

 without hesitation, not only his interference by letter, 

 but that he would also despatch one of his own prahus 

 with a Hadji, and proper officers to accompany us, and 

 facilitate our operations. I took advantage at the same 

 time, upon perceiving that his feelings were excited by the 

 transit of the six Lascars through his territory, to inti- 

 mate to him, that the British Government would not 

 sanction anything in the shape of ransom., and that dis- 

 tressed subjects of Great Britain, upon reaching the terri- 

 tories of her allies were not only free, but entitled to the 

 same kindness and attention as subjects of his, or those 

 of any other foreign nation would meet with, on reaching 

 any of Her possessions. 



I was much gratified on finding not only a complete 

 recognition of this principle, but an express denial of any 

 right on the part of his subjects to require ransom for the 

 six Lascars forwarded to Manila ; it was decided, also, 

 that the matter should be made one of special inquiry, 

 and that the Nakoda of the prahu (Si-Dawut) who had 

 brought them, should be punished, if he had exacted it 

 without it being paid at Curan. He further remarked, 

 that if the arrival of the six Lascars had been properly 

 brought before him in the first instance, he would have 

 directed their immediate release, as he had previously 

 done, when Mr. Wyndham had claimed two Englishmen, 

 and that the difference of colour had probably been the 

 cause of mistake. 



I found a great deal of jealousy and party-spirit existing 



