Page 200 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

32 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN CULP POLITICAL

The Viceroj at tlat lime, Dom Duarte deMcnczc?, on hearing- the new from dcMcira
despatched Dom Gon Calo in advanco to encourage the garrison at Ilorrauz, and to intimate tho
speedy setting oat of a fleet under Dorn Luiz deMcnezes to their assistance. The arrival of
Dora Gon9alo seems to have turned tho tables entirely in favour of tho Portuguese, nnd to
have restored their predominant position through tho dread of retaliation for the atrocity that
had been perpetrated. In the meantime Manoel deSouza, tho Captain-Major, had been sent
back by the commandant to try and recover the prisoners in Oman. On anchoring at Muscat ho
found the place deserted, owing, ns he learned, to the fear entertained by the Sheikh that tho
new Persian Governor of Kilhat, Reis Dclamin Shah, was about to attack the town. On hearing
of M. deSouza Tavares' arrival, however, the Sheikh presently returned to the town and
solicited Portuguese protection. Having no reason for delaying here, M. deSouza
deTavares proceeded to Kilhat where his demand for the surrender of the captives met with a
decided refusal from the Acting Governor, Khoja Zein-ul-Dfn, v/ho said he had a letter from
the King Toorun Shah for Dora Luiz deMcnezes, aad that he would wait for the latter’s
arrival.
It was in February 1522 when Dora Luiz deMenezes set out from Chaul with a flotilla of
three galleys, four fustas and one caravclla to avenge the massacre and restore order, having
already despatched in advance the new Coinmaudant or Hormuz, Joad ItodriguesdeNoronha, to
relieve Continho, whose three years tenure of office had expired. Dora Luiz anchored first at
Kilhat, where his first demand was for the surrender of the captives, now reduced to 26 in
number. The Governor replied by sending off the King's letter addressed to Dom Luiz, which
contained nothing but a series of complaints against the present and former Portuguese Com­
mandants of Hormuz, but he evaded the demand for the delivery of the prisoners by saying
that be had no authority, and must await the new Governor. Dora Luiz being in want of
water for his ships, proceeded to Tcynwee, where a collision occurred with the Arabs, in which
the latter were defeated, and in revenge for which they murdered seven Portuguese they had
in their hands. While at this place, Dom Laiz received a message from Sheikh Rashid,
reporting the approach by land to Muscat of Reis Deiaiuin Shah with a large force, and be­
seeching armed support. Dorn Luiz accordingly detached the caravel la for Muscat with orders
to support the Sheikh from the sea as far as the guns of the vessel would reach, but to under­
take no operations on shore. The Sheikh, nevertheless, obtained the aid of five Portuguese
volunteer?, and attacking the Persians in the Great Wady completely defeated them, their leader,
Delamir Shah, being killed in the fight. Dom Luiz arrived at Muscat two days after this
affair, aad having congratulated the Sheikh, rewarded him handsomely for his loyalty and
orotection to the Portuguese during the revolt. He then stationed a fusta as security for tho
port and apparently for the first time established here a garrison of 2(J men for tho defence
of the town.
After a stay of four days, during which time he was joined by two more vessels from
Goa, Dom Luiz set out for Sobar, where there was a large Persian garrison. The Arab chief
in the neighbourhood of Sobar at this *»*"<? was Sultan-bin-Mesood, who dwelt in the interior
near the hills and whose army was composed of 250 horse and 8,000 foot. Another ncighbonr
was Sheikh Ha«ein-bin-Saeed, the Chief of the great tribe Ben Jabra, who bad 300 horse and
4,000 foot. These Ben Jabra were Bedouins, and possessed more than 500 leagues of country.
Sheikh Husein was therefore the lord of all the interior as well as tho Island of El Bahrein
and the entire coast as far south as Dhofar.
Dom Luiz having information about these two important personages, who being Arabs
were always at war with the Persians of Hormuz, determined to seek their alliance, and
accordingly wrote to them, offering to put them io possession of Sobar if they would aid him in
ousting the Persians. To this proposal the two Sheikhs readily agreed, bat Dom Luiz was
detained on his way to Sohar by contrary winds, and in the meantime, by an untoward incident
which occurred off the Batineh coast, Sultan-bin-Mesood became estranged.
Dom Lab's plan was that the Arabs should surround Sohar by land while be attacked
it from the sea; but on his arrival there on the 11th March 1522 he found Sheikh Husem
only with bis force in position, 8heikh Sultan having retired in dudgeon. The gallant Persian
Governor, Reis Shehab-ul-Dfn, moreover, had already effected his escape, leaving his garrison
of 80 men to defend tho fort as best they might. Dom Luiz arranged to attack the p aoe a
once, but the garrison, deserted by their leader and dreading the resentment of their enen“^
had no intention of awaiting the assault; and having bribed the Arabs outside, wore al owe
pass through their lines at night and decamp iq the darkness. The Portuguese troops on
•bore hearing of this, scaled the walls and entered the fort, and having massacred or cap ur