Page 206 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

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38 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GOLF POLITICAL

In the meantime tho English landed lheir cargoes at Ja*k, and on the 28fli December
having determined on renewing the contest, anchored within a cable and a half of their opponents’
and opened a heavy broadside fire. The action continued until 3 i\m., when the Portuguese
cut their cables and steered off*. The English then remained in undisturbed powceeion of
Jask, the Portuguese being no moro seen.
In the following May the English fleet left Surat, whither it bad proceeded in February
to pass the monsoon at the Island of Masccra, where they arrived on tho 2nd June 1021*
On the Cth July they heard that the London was lying at Soor, having watered at Teyweej
where they had lost their Surgeon and Chaplain's servant, who had been surprised and taken
prisoners by the Portuguese and Arabs. The Ilart and Roebuck therefore left Mascera and
joined tho London at Soor on the 6th August, from whence they all returned soon after to
Surat
On the 14th November of the same year another English expedition, consisting of five
ships and four pinnaces, was despatched from Surat to the Persian Gulf to encounter the Portuguese
fleet and to obstruct their trade. This fleet arrived in sight of Hormuz on the 23rd Decem­
ber, and the result of the expedition was the capture of that fortress and entrepot in conjunc­
tion with a Persian army on the 23rd May 1622. This important event was a staggering
blow to the Portuguese and commenced the disruption of their empire in the East.
The Persians had no- sooner possessed themselves of Hormuz than they turned their
attention to Muscat and Suhar. The occupation of the latter place appears to have been
easily accomplished, but for the capture of Muscat the aid of a maritime power was requisite,
and negOciations were accordingly set on foot with the English commander. Being reluctant
to enter on this service he demanded exorbitant terms; these were that Hormuz should be
given over to the English with half the revenues of the Customs House and city, the English
to maintain four ships there for the protection of trade in the Gulf. The terms were not
acceptable to the Persians, who were as jealous of the English as they had been of the Portu­
guese, and preferred to see Hormuz ruiued and desolate rather than flourishing in the hands of
infidels. The ncgociations accordiugly fell through, but the English commander was ready to
sell to the Persians, who bad determined to carry on the war in Oman alone, a small frigate
which was damaged and of no use to himself. The Persian expedition against Muscat appears to
have taken place in March 1623, for in the next month we find that the Viceroy at Goa de­
spatched Buy Frere deAndrada with six ships to the relief of Muscat and arranged for further
reinforcements to follow from Chaul and Diu to continue the war against tho Persian*.
Buy Frere was not only successful in relieving Muscat, but felt strong enough to assume
the offensive and attempt the recovery of Sohar. He proceeded thither with sixteen ships, and,
having landed his meo, assaulted the fort, which had been in the meantime strengthened by tho
Persians. The first attack was repulsed with a loss of 21 men and 4 officers; he neverthe­
less continued to besiege it, and at length the Persians were compelled to capitulate and
marched out with the honours of war. Sohar Was razed, and Ruy Frere then sailed on to Khor
Fakan, also held by the Persians, which he soon stormed and took, putting the inhabitants to the
sword.
Ruy Frere now determined to proceed with the chief object of his expedition, tho recap­
ture of Hormuz. He accordingly established a blockade of the island, which he maintained
with great vigour and persistency for about six months, and, notwithstanding the inadequacy
of his force, reduced the garrison to such distress from want of provisions that they were
almost on the point of capitulation.
Meanwhile the Viceroy at Goa was engaged in collecting an increase of armament for
the re-conquest of Hormuz, designing, as rumour said (and the slowness of his preparations lent
colour to the slander), to arrive in time to reap the glory of its capture after Buy Frere hod
reduced tho defenders to straits. The Viceroy's scheme, however, over-reached itself, for he pro­
crastinated so long that Buy Frere, being unsupported and in want of provisions himself, wu
oompolled to raise the siege and retire to Muscat.
In April 1624, the first squadron of the great armada against Hormuz, consisting of ten
•hips, left Goa for Muscat under Saucbo de Toar, and shortly after five more vessels were
despatched. Besides these, 3 galleons were ordered from Mozambique to join Buy Frere.
Ruy Frere remained at Muscat waiting for the reinforcements, but before they oould arrive e
despatched Michel Pereira on the 24th April with 12 ships to recommence the blockade, and on
the 24th August started biiuseir with 26 galleots and many boats to take command.