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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 361
Slicikh Hussein Bin Ali, whom it was necessaiy to subdue as
from his talents and hxwless liabits, as well as from the strength
and advantageous situation of his fort, he was likely to seek
to revive the piratical system at the first favourable opportunity.
The squadron proceeded thither with a large detachment* of
troops, under Major Warren, commanding the (ioth Regiment, but
the General, on his arrival, discovering that the fortifications
were more formidable than had been represented, ordered up a
reinforcement of the 47th and the flank com])ani(.'s of the first
battalion of the 3rd N.I., to complete the close investment of the
place, and Commodore Collier also landed two 24-pounders from
the ' Liverpool,' which were placed in battery with the other
artillery, by the sailors of the squadron, who won great com-
mendation by their cheerful alacrity.
The service that ensued, though short, was arduous in the
extreme, owing to the difficulties of transporting the guns and
stores for a siege, and the resolute defence made by the enemy.
One officer. Ensign j\Iathieson of the 65th, was killed during
the desultory fire that took place between the 18th and 22nd
of December, when the investment of the fort was completed.
At half-past eight that morning fire was opened from the
batteries, one to breach the fort on the north-east side, and the
second to destroy the defences of the Sheikh's house in the town
to the westward, and such was the precision of the practice,
that, in two hours, a practicable breach was effected, and the
column told off for the assault were about to advance, when a
white flag was displayed. Hussein Bin All's followers, if not
the Joasmi chief himself, had recognised the futility of further
resistance, and, after some little delay, marched out to the
number of three hundred and ninety-eight fighting men, the
women and children being at the same tiuju collected together
in a place of security. At half-past one, p.m., the liritish flag
was hoisted on the hill fort and at the Sheikh's house, and,
soon after, the whole of the prisoners were taken on board the
squadi'on, and were brought to Kas-ul-Khymah, where they
were landed. The loss of the liritish force was one ofiicer and
three men killed, and sixteen men wounded, one of whom died.
A detachment of sean)en j)articipated in these operations, under
the command of Captain Walpole of the ' Curlew,' and the inde-
fiitigablc and gallant First Lieutenant of the ' Liverpool' com-
manded in the 24-pounder battery. Major ^^'arren pays a
handsome encomium to the zeal and ability displayed by these
and the other officers and men of the Naval Brigade, which
enabled them to "overcome the dinieiilties attending the
landing of the supplies and stores, partictdarly the gmis, which,
* Thirty Artillen-mcn, witli two brass 12-iiountli'rs, two S-inch mortars, and
four 6eld-picces ; 11. M. Gotli Kogiiueut, niul tlio tlauk companies of the 1st
Battalion 2ud llegimeut N.l.