Page 196 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

28 ADMINISTRATION RETORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

fishery, alx/ut fire days' voyago from tbo Island of llormaz, and bad alao taken Kateef, in inland hell original!*
by the Kiuj of Hormuz on tho Arabian coast. 8 *
"In this country of Renjaber there nro many honics which llio farmers breed for sale; there i» also crea#
abundance of wheat, inillot, and barley, and groat flockt and herds, and there are many who'hunt with falcona
about the’ size of our goshawks and take by their aid gazelles, smaller tl.au oura, training very awift bounds
to assist tho falcons in catching tho prey."
Previous to the departure of the fleet from Muscat, the first open rupture took place
between the chief Captain and Captain Joao da Nova of the Flor de la Mar. Albuquerque
had information that daNova intended to desert him here and slip away to India, and he
therefore summoned him to his ship, and convened a council. DaNova did notdeny the charge;
and the officers having supported Albuquerque, daNova submitted and was ordered to continue
with the fleet under severe penalty.
Passing the Deymanietii islands the fleet nnehored in due course off Sohar. A message
was immediately’ despatched by the Governor to Albuquerque informing him that the city
belonged to the King of Hormuz, and intimating that if lie landed he would meet with a differ,
ent reception from what the other towns on the coast had given him; at the same lime the
messenger pointed to the troops on shore, where as much display and parade were being made
as possible. Albuquerque replied shortly that the Governor bad better rc-eonsider liis deter­
mination and ow n allegiance to Portugal, otherwise the fortress would assuredly be taken from
him in the morning. The sight of the imposing force of infantry and cavalry on shore had a
pacific cflcct on the other captains in. the lleet, but Albuquerque knew his strength better,
and, as soon as the messenger had gone, commenced his preparations for the attack. All was
ready by noon the next day, and the boats were about to shove off, when a deputation from the
town arrived and stated that the Governor had just dismissed a force of 7,000 men which had
been scut by the Bcujaber to his aid, and that as the King of Hormuz had not sent the succours
he had promised, the Governor was ready to submit to the King of Portugal, and to deliver up
the fort. Albuquerque said be was glad that the Governor had changed his rnind, and intimated
that he would accept the submission of the town on condition of its paying a yearly tribute.
The envoys, alarmed at the preparations they had seen on board, agreed to this, and having con­
cluded a conven;ion, returned to the Govern-.r. Due arrangements having been made, the Portu­
guese standard was carried to the fort in state and hoisted on the highest tower under a salute.
Ou seeing the strength of the place, Albuquerque was inclined at first to retain [>osscssion
of it, as he would thereby gain complete command of the Oman coast, but on second thoughts
he decided to entrust the fort to the Governor for the present, and accordingly placed him in
charge, appointing the yearly tribute fixed for the town for the payment of the Arab garrison.
A written acknowledgment of allegiance to the King of Portugal was then executed by the
Governor, and a guarantee of protection was) given by Albuquerque in return ; and matters
having thus been adjusted, Albuquerque weighed the next morning and steered his course for
Khor Fakan. The inhabitants of this place had received news of the fleet's approach by a
boat from Sohar, and made a great display of horse and foot on t he beach, hoping to deter the
Portuguese from attack by mere bravado. This continued the whole of the first day ; and as
Albuquerque received no message or offer of submission from the Governor, he determined to
attack early the following morning, aud made his signal two hours after midnight. After
clearing the beach by the guns in the boats, the troops landed and marched up pursuing the
Arabs, who hastily retired to the gates of the fort. As they entered pell roell, some of tbe
Portuguese, headed by Albuquerque's nephew Noronha, managed to press in with them, and
being scon supported by Albuquerque himself, found themselves, after a long and stubborn
fight, in possession of the town and fortress, which were occupied and guarded. One of the
elders of the town, who was too old and infirm to escape, and had concealed himself in a cellar,
was captured and brought before Albuquerque, to whom he gave important information
respecting the kingdom of Hormuz. He also gave Albuquerque a Persian history of Alexander,
and in consideration of this was honourably treated and released. - Some days were spent in
getting provisions and water on board, the prisoners being nsed as slave* in this work; and
meanwhile the Arabs made repeated attempts to regain possession of the town, bat without
•uccea*.
As the fleet bad approached Kbor Fakan, tbe Portuguese had observed several vessel*
•ailing away in tbe direction of Cape Muwendom, and they now learned thut these dows
contained tbe Hindu traders from Cutcb, escaping with their property : very little ooty
consequently was found in the town, much to the disappointment of the victor*. Nomeroua
captives, however, were taken, who appear to have been released with the customary mu n
of eari and noses.