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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 359

In his second despatch of the 3rd of January, 1820, Sir \X.
G. Keir estimated tlie loss of the enemy " as little less than a
peninsula, on which tlie town is situated, witli the neiglibouring country, anil tlie
whole of the day was occupied in getting tents on shore to shelter the men i'roni
the rain, landing engineers' tools, sand bags, &c., and making arrangements pre-
paratory to commencing our approaches tlie next day. On the morning ol' the
4th the light troops were ordered in advance, supported by the pickets, to dis-
lodge the enemy from a bank within 9U0 yards of the outer fort, which was
expected to aiford good cover for the men, and to serve as a depot for stores
previous to the erection of the batteries. The whole of the liglit companies of
the force, under command of Captain Backliouse of His Majesty's 47lh Regi-
ment, accordingly moved forward, and drove the Arabs witli great gallantry from
a date grove, and over the bank above described, close under tlie walls of the
fort, followed by the picKcts under Major Molesworth, who took post at tlie
sandbank, whilst the European light troops were skirmisliing in front. The
enemy kept up a sliarp tire of musketry and cannon during these movements
;
and I regret to add tliat xMajor Molesworth, a gallant and zealous otllcer, was
killed by a cannon shot at the head of the pickets ; Lieutenant Stepney, of tlie
65th, was wounded on this occasion. The troops, however, maintained their
position during the day, and in tlie niglit ell'ected a lodgment within three
hundred yards of the southernmost tower, and erected a battery for lour guns,
together with a mortar battery on the right and a trench of communication for
tiie protection of the covering party. TJie weather having become rather un-
favourable for the disembarkation of tlie stores requu-ed for the siege, it was with
considerable difficulty that this primary object was effected ; but every obstacle
was surmounted by the zeal and indefatigable exertions of the Navy, and on the
morning of the 6th we were enabled to open three 18-pounders on the fort ; a
couple of howitzers and six-jwunders were also placed in the battery on the
right, which played on the defences of tlie towers, and nearly silenced the
enemy's fh-e. The ' Liverpool,' during these oi)erations, warped in as close to
the shore as her draught of water would permit, and opened her guns on the
town, which must have created considerable alarm in the garrison, but she was
unfortunately at too great a distance to produce any decided ell'ect. The enemy,
who during the whole of our progress, exhibited a considerable degree of resolu-
tion in withstanding, and ingenuity in counteracting an attack, sallied fortli at
eight o'clock this evening along the whole front of our intrenchments, crept dose
up to the mortar battery without being perceived, ami entered it over the parapet,
after spearing the advanced sentries. The party which occupied it was obliged
to retire, but being immediately reinforced, charged tlie assailants, who were
driven out of the battery with considerable loss. The attack on the left was
repelled instantaneously by tlie spirited resistance of the covering party under
Major Warren, who distinguished himself much on tliis occasion by liis coolness
and gallantry. The enemy repeated his attack towards morning, but was
vigorously repulsed. During the 7th, every exertion was made to land and bring
up the remaining guns and mortars, which was accomplished during tlie niglil,
after incessant labours, by the sailors, assisted by working parties from llie troops,
and those of his Higiiness the Imaum, who cheerfully volunteered their services.
They were immediately piaceil in battery, together with two 21-pouniler9, which
were landed from the 'Liverpool,' and ui the morning the whole of our ordnance
opened on the fort, and iired with scarcely any intermission till sunset, when tlio
breach on tiio curtain was reported nearly practicable, and tlio towers ulmo.-t
untenable. Immediate arrangements were made for the assault, and the tnwps
ordered to move down to the treneiics at daybreak the next morning. Die
bombardment continued during the niglit, and the batteries having recommenced
tlie ih-e before dayliiilit, completed the breaches by eight o'clock. Tlie accom-
panying orders will explain to his Excellency the disposition of attack, as well as_
the measures taken to guard against the possibility of a failure, iu tlie event of
the enemy defending himself as desperately as might have been expected from
his previous defence. These precautions, however, were unnecessary ; the party
moved forward about eight o'clock and entered the fort without liring a shut ;
and it soon appeared that the enemy hail evacuated the place. The town was