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HISTORY OF THE IXDIAX NAVY. 353
transmitted by the Hon. Company's cruiser ' Tcignmoutli ' on
the 4th of the same month, to Mr. Bruce, the Political Resident
at Bushire, also to be forwarded to Shiraz. As it was desirable
that Ras-ul-Khymah should be blockaded, Captain Collier
ordered the ' Benares ' to accompany him to assist in the ope-
ration, and, on the same day, the two ships arrived off' the place.
The military commander, accompanied by his staff and the
commanding engineer, reconnoitred the town during the 2()th
and 27tli November, and, after careful consideration, arrived at
the conclusion that tlie troops now at Kishm would be sufficient
for the reduction of Ras-ul-Kliymah, without waiting for the
arrival from Bombay of the four remaining transports. The
' Benares ' was, accordingly, despatched to summon the fleet,
and, u])on its arrival on the 2nd of December, immediate
arrangements were made for disembarking the troops and camp
followers from the transports. During the afternoon the
remaining four transports from Bombay came in sight; on the
same day the Imaum arrived with two frigates and about six
hundred men, considerably less than he had promised, but
his zeal appeared unabated, and his co-operation was of no little
value.
On the following day the disembarkation was conducted, under
cover of the gunboats and armed launches of the squadron, with
surprising celerity and good order, considering the great distance
the ships were obliged to anchor from the town, and the lack of
a sufficiency of means for transporting so large a force with all
the guns, supplies, and stores necessary for siege operations.
The landing was effected under the superintendence of Captain
Loch, assisted by Lieutenant IMoff'at, R.N., and Lieutenants
Edward Seawright and (jeorge Barnes Brucks, of the Comi)any's
]\larine, who had been a])pointed agents for transports befure
leaving I^ombay. Captain Collier reported to Govennnent of
these officers as follows :— "Lieutenants Seawright and Brucks,
agents for transports, deserve the highest commendation ; their
duties have been arduous and harassing. Nothing could exceed
the zeal of these officers, and I truly feel confident that they
will meet that reward they are so truly deserving of. In short,
any praise I can bestow will tall far short of what they
deserve." The troops were landed by the ships' l)oals about
two miles from the town, under protection of the armed launches
of the squadron, the large boats belonging to the Imaum being of
great service, while his people worked with energy in bringing
up the guns and aunnunition to the batteries. That little resist-
ance was encountered in landing, was due, in a great measiuv.
to the valuable diversion caused by the "Aurora' and ' Nautilus."
which brought up near the mouth of the creek and openeil a
heavy fire in that direction ; for their services on this occasion
the officers and men of these vessels received the hearty com-
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