Page 348 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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JO ASM EES.
vessels in port, amounting to upwards of fifty, with the English prize
ship the Minerva, were burnt. 1
32. The Shaikh of Ras-ool-Khyma, in the most insulting manner
had the audacity to demand a tribute from the Government to allow
British ships to navigate the Persian Gulf in safety.
33. From Ras-ool-Khyma the armament proceeded to Lingah, where
twenty Dows were destroyed, the inhabitants abandoning the town on
the approach of our ships. Finding no vessels int he ports of Congoon,
Bunder Mullim, and Ilomeram, the armament proceeded to Luft,
situated on the north side of the island of Kishm. The town was soon
taken possession of by our troops, but the unexpected strength of the
fort, and the desperation with which it was defended, frustrated every
attempt to carry it by storm. All the essential objects of the attack were
however fully attained ; their boats and Dows were completely destroyed.
The bombardment having continued, Moolla Hussein surrendered the
place, together with property to the amount of two lakhs of rupees,
belonging to the Imaum, which, with the fort, were delivered in trust
for the Imaum to Shaikh Dervish, the head of the Beni Naeem, a tribe
of Arabs who have always been firmly attached to His Highness.
34. On the reduction of Luft, the armament proceeded to
Muskat. The commanders of the expedition expressed their readiness
to co-operate with His Highness in the recovery of any other of his-
ports. He proposed to accompany the armament with a considerable
force to the attack of Sliinas and Khore Fukaun.
35. The joint forces arrived at Shinas on the 31st of December,
which was summoned on the following day.
a. d. 1810.
As this had no efTect, it was bombarded. The
situation of the fort, however, being too distant to be reduced by these
means, the troops were landed, Shinas was defended with the most
determined and heroic bravery. After an obstinate and sanguinary
resistance, the fort was surrendered, and made over to the Oman
troops, but was so much demolished that the Imaum did not think it
prudent to keep possession of it.
36. The Imaum having expressed some hesitation on the policy of
attacking Khore Fukaun, from apprehending a similar obstinate resist-
to that made at Shinas, which would render it untenable by His
ance
Highness’ troops, the object was abandoned, there being no British
interest connected with it, as there were no pirate vessels belonging to

the port.
37. The commanders were unable to form a treaty with' Ras"0°|"
Khyma, Shaikh Sultan, their chief, having been seized by the Wababees,
and their Government completely overthrown ; in epen ent y o> >
no treaty could be binding on the Joasmees without the direct autho y