Page 389 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 357

"Before nightfall, repeated flags of truce were despatched
from the town, but to these no attention was given, and dark-
ness put an end to the firing. The cannonade was recommenced
at an early hour the next morning, and as the progress of tlie
hreach became hourly more apparent and practicable, tlie
necessary arrangements were made to assault the works. Ou
receiving the announcement, great satisfaction was expressed by
the force, for though a severe struggle was expected, success
was deemed certain, and much plunder was anticipated. About
one hundred seamen were assembled in the trenches, and these,
with the gallant 47th, and the grenadier and flank companies
of the other regiments, composed the storming party. On a
signal being given, the whole rushed from the trenches in sight
of the enemy, and advanced rapidly towards the breach, which
was soon mounted, and the place entered. No one disputed the
entrance, not an Arab was even visible in the town, from which
they were observed running at their utmost speed towards the
hills. The disappointment of the men was excessive, and the
result of their search over the town for an enemy ended in the
unearthing of four decrepid hags, whom the gallant Arabs did
not deem worth removing, Still more disgusted were our
fellows at finding that plunder there was none. Towards the
close of the siege, the garrison had been employed in secretly
removing all their effects out of the place ; bullocks and goats
only were left, and these Jack was seen driving, in herds of
five, ten, and twenty, down to the beach, each man jealous
of any interference with his flock, and conveying as many of
the goats on board as he could stow away. The Union Flag
was immediately hoisted in place of the blood red flag of the
pirates, and orders were issued to dismantle the whole fortifi-
cation and raze the place. The walls of the several gooharries
and towers were five and a half feet thick, and so strong and
well built as to render theu) impregnable to all, exce))! Kuropean
artillery. Our total loss in this tedious siege was one ollicer
and four men killed, and three ollicers and fi)rty-nine men
wounded. The loss experienced by the enemy was very great,
being at least three hundred killed and seven hundred wounded;
and sixty-two guns were captured in the place. Hassan Win
Rahma, Chief of Ras-ul-Khymah, with nearly one tlionsand
followers, surrendered hiuiself prisoner. He stated that during
the siege, while he was holding a couneil, a shell from our
They returned to the trenches, loudly huzzaed by their comrades ; ' We've pot
the , my lads ! and now for prime beef steiiks to you all.' The neek of
the cock was wrung, and tlie buUoek's throat cut, and the body eut up into liir^;e
pieces, which the men cooked in tlie trenches and devoured with keen appetite,
amidst many an applauding; joke and praise of their brave conduct. The ollicer,
whose duty it was to re]iriuiand tlie men for this breach of discipliiu', could
hardly control his risible faculties, or ussuuio a grave look or steru
demeanour."