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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 345 ;
weighed anchor soon after sunrise, and stood across the gulf
towards Ras-ul-Khymah, where they anchored at two p.m. On
the following day a letter was sent to the chief signifying the
cause of their hurried departure, and granting him until the
following noon to prepare his final answer to the original
requistions.
At about noon on the 1st of December, a boat appeared,
bringing some messengers from Hussein-biu-Rahmah with an
answer as unsatisftictory as his former replies. The signal
was now made to weigh, and the squadron bore down nearly in
line, under easy sail, and with the wind right aft. or on shore
the 'Mercury' being on the starboard hand, the 'Challenger'
next in order in the centre, the ' Vestal' following in the same
line, and the ' Ariel' completing the division. A large fleet of
small boats was seen standing in from Cape Mussundom, and
escaped by keeping close along-shore and passing over the
bar, thus getting into the creek, or backwater, behind the town.
The squadron continued to stand on in a right line towards the
four anchored dhows, graduall}^ shoaling to two and a half
fathoms, when stream anchors were dropped under-foot, with
springs on the cables, so that each vessel lay with her broad-
side on to the shore. A fire was now opened from the ships
in succession, the ' Vestal' discharging the first gun upon the
four dhows anchored close in shore, which were full of Arabs
brandishing their weapons in the air, their whole number
probably exceeding six hundred men; but owing to the great
distance the fire was not very eff"ective. The 'Challenger,'
having a draught of fourteen feet, could not approach within a
mile of the beach, but, at the risk of grounding, the ' Vestal'
and ' Ariel' dropped to within six inches of their own draught
of water, and under the ' Mercury' there was less than a foot.
These ships now re-opened their fire, which they maintained
with much spirit. The shot from the dhows fell short, but
two of the forts, after some time past in prejiaration, at length
opened with some effect, and one shot carried away the
' Vestal's' fore-shrouds in its passage, and then dropped mider
the weather-bow. The Arab colours were displayed on all the
forts, crowds of armed men were assembled on the beach,
bearing large banners on poles, and dancing around them with
their arms, as if rallying around a sacred standard, so that
there was no sign of submission. Seeing that all the effitrts
of the ships were unavailing. Captain IJridges signalled to
cease firing, and, about four o'clock, the squadron weighed ami
stood out to sea.
On the following day the ships separated, the ' Mercury'
and ' Ariel' proceeding to Sharjah, Linjah, and Cliarrack, for
negotiations similar to those entered into at Kas-ul-Khymah ;
the 'Vestal' to Bombay, where she arrived on the lilth of