Page 355 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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JOASMEES.

CONTINUATION OF THE FOREGOING SKETCH, TO
THE YEAR 1831,

BY LIEUTENANT S. HENNELL.

Mr. Warden’s notices of the Joasmee Tribe are brought down to the
year 1819 ; and conclude by stating that, alarmed
A. D. 1819.
at the rapid success of Ibrahim Pasha over the
Wahabee power, and apprehending that after the reduction of Kateef
the next operations of the Turkish General would be directed against
Ras-ool-Khyrna, the Joasmees contemplated forsaking that town, and
forming a settlement and building a fort on Eassadore (the western
extremity of the island of Kishm). Information of this intention
having been received in India, orders were given to the commander of
the British naval squadron in the Persian Gulf to prevent their carrying
it into effect. It appears, also, that Hussein bin Rahmah, the Chief of
Ras-ool-Khyma, probably alarmed by the reports of an expedition
preparing in Bombay for the Gulf of Persia, made a proposal, about the
commencement of the year, to continue on terms of friendship with the
British Government, which was declined without hesitation. Mr*
Warden likewise alludes to the Imaum having in contemplation an
expedition against the Joasmee capital, in conjunction with Shaikh
Sultan bin Suggur, and Shaikh Tahnoon bin Shakboot.
In the month of October 1819 an expedition, which had been con­
templated for some time, but which various causes had operated to
delay, was prepared in Bombay, for the purpose of completely crushing
the lawless and sanguinary proceedings of the Joasmees. This force
consisted of 3,069 men under arms, viz. 1 company of artillery ; H.
M.’s 47th regiment; H. M.’s 65th regiment; 1st battalion 2nd regiment
Native infantry ; the flank companies of the 1st battalion 3rd regiment
Native infantry ; and those of the Marine Battalion ; together with half
a company of pioneers; making a total of 1,645 European, and 1,424
Native soldiers, under the command of Major General Sir William
Grant Keir. The naval part of the expedition (which was composed of
H. M.’s ships Liverpool, Eden, Curlew, and the vessels of the Honorable
Company’s Marine) was placed under the orders of Captain Collier, C.B.
A short time previous to the sailing of the expedition, a communication
was made by the Governor of Bombay to His Royal Highness the
Prince of Shiraz, explanatory of the objects in equipping so large a
military and naval force ; and after intimating that no course of proceed­
ing would be adopted inconsistent with the friendly relations so long
established between the two Governments, expressed an earnest wish