Page 195 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 183UJ5. 27

reinforced by a powerful Sheikh from the interior, and felt strong enough to withdraw their
submission and defy the Portuguese. Albuquerque therefore resolved on reducing the town
without delay, and having ordered his ships to take up positions, commenced to Lombard the
stockade and batteries. The fire of the guns, however, had little effect, owing probably to the
distance of the ships, and Albuquerque thought it best to call a council of war to decide on what
was to be done. Tho captains, who had already begun to get restive under the iron rule o£
their commander, seeing that Albuquerque had made up his mind as to the coarse he would
pursue, and dreading perhaps the strength of the place, declined to discuss the plan of operations,
or express an opinion, and informed him simply that they were ready to obey his orders. Being
now free to act, Albuquerque no longer hesitated, and gave directions for an assault on the morrow.
He divided his force into two, giving command of the right division against the stockade to
Captains deTavora and daCosta, while he himself took charge of the left. The landing wa*
effected under the fortifications; and although an obstinate defence was made, the walls were
stormed and carried at both points. A junction was then effected in the streets between the
two attacking parties, according to previous arrangement, aud the enemy was then gradually
driven through and out of the town.
The Sheikh, whose arrival had caused such rejoicing and had inspired the people to oppose
their invaders, escaped after a long pursuit, hut the slaughter of the Arabs was very great, and
included the Persian Governor of the town and a number of women and children. In the
slaughter of the women, the two captains who subsequently mutinied aud deserted their leader,
ris., Antao doCampo aud Joao daNova, seem to have particularly distinguished themselves ;
but Albuquerque's couduct is equally deserving of reprobation, for after the rout of the Arabs
was complete and the scattered Portuguese soldiers were collected in the town, he proceeded to
massacre most of the remaining inhabitants, men, women, and children, without distinction.
After guarding against surprise, the town was occupied and pillaged, and the men were allowed
to retain their loot and remove it on board, as some compensation for the hardships they bad
undergone. Among the spoil were thirty guns, bows and arrows, lauces and other weapons
used by the Arabs. Albuquerque spent eight days here, and took the opportunity to refit his fleet
aud victual it with provisions and water. Having dona this he was preparing to evacuate the
town and set it on fire, when the inhabitants, who had taken refuge on the heights above,
guessing bis intention, despatched an Arab with a flag of truce to beseech him to be content
with having slain the women and children, and to spare the town and ships from the flames.
Albuquerque replied to the envoy that he regretted the destruction of the city, but that the
iuhabitants bad broken faitn with him, and he could not consequently admit tbeir claim to
forbearance. He consented, however, to hold the city to ransom, which he fixed at 10,000
Ashrafis in gold, to be paid the next day at noon. This amount the Arabs were unable or
unwilling to pay by the time appointed, and the town was therefore destroyed by fire, together
with 34 dows and many fishing boats. The mosque, described as a very large and beautiful
edifice constructed of wood elaborately carved, also fell a prey to the flames; and it is related
that three Portuguese engaged in hacking at the carved wooden pillars were crushed and
buried by the 6uddcn collapse of the building: all believed they had perished; but as they
emerged unhurt, the commander at once returned thanks to the Holy Virgin for her miraculous
interposition in their behalf during their pious labour. Albuquerque gives the following
curious description of Muscat at that time
"Muscat is a large and very populous town flanked on both sides with high mountains, and the front is
close to tho water's edge; behind, towards the interior, there is a plain a* Jorge as the square of Lisbon, all covered
with salt-pans. Not that the tide reaches there, but the springs are salt and salt forma there. Hard by are
many pools of fresh water of which the inhabitants make use, and there are orchards, gardens, and palm groves
with wells for watering them by means of swipes and other engines. The harbour is small, shaped like 4 borso.
ahoe, sod sheltered from every wind. It is tho principal entrepot of the kingdom of Hormnz, inf<* which all the
►hips that navigate these parts mu^tof necessity entor to avoid the opposite coast, which contains many shallowa.
It is an ancient mart for the shipment of horses and dates. It is a very fine town with many good booses, and
supplied from tho interior with much wheat, millet, barley, and dates for lading as many vessels aa come for
them. This city of Muscat forms part of the kingdom of Hormuz, and the interior belongs to a Icing called
v** Henj&ber, who had two brothers. Between these brothers was divided the country which extends as far aa
-den. On the north it is washed by the Porsian 8ca, and from thenoe it stretches as far as the vicinity of Mecca.
„ * Arabs call this country the Island of Arabia, because the Persian Sea turns inwards, opposite to the Red
in such a manner that the country ie circular and is almost surrounded by water, that it, by the Red and
ernan Seas. It is a very small country, and is called on that account the Island of Arabia. It had formerly
1 , ,ro^ om ^7 a called tho Bonjaber, and this man had three sons, to whom, at his death, he left the
Th ik amonB them, and the eldest afterwards retained the name of Henjabor aa the father bad dona,
e other tvo acknowledged him as their lord. This Benjaber has dominions over Fartsk, Dhofur, Kilbat, aud
vseat, and his boondary reaches to tho land of the Sheikh of Aden | the other two dwell oa the ©oast of tha
er»ian Sea, and one of them had taken from the King of Hormuz the Island of Bahrein, where there ia a pearl