Page 125 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V—Chap. XXVI. 103
(II) CAPTURE OF RAS-UL-KHIMA.
210. The British fleet proceeded to the rendezvous at Kishm, while the
Lov't Hittory qf Indian Navy, Volume l, Liverpool sailed to Maskat, which she
page 352. reached on the 13th of November 1819, and
on tho 7th the military and naval chiefs had an interview with the Imam, who
promised to co-operate with four thousand men and three vessels of war. Aa
it was a matter of importance that a reconnaissance should be made of the
defences of llas-ul-Khima, Sir W. Grant Keir proceeded thither on the 25th
of December in tho Liverpool, leaving the couvoy to water at Kishm, and, on
tho same day, mot the Hon’ble Company’s Cruiser Benares, having on board
Dr. dukes, who had been sent on in advance of tho expedition on a special
mission to arrange for the Imam’s co-operation, and a Commissariat Offioer, who
was to make arrangements for the provisioning of the large force on their
arrival at Kishm. Sir W. Grant Keir communicated with Dr. Jukes, and learnt
from him that tho letter of the Governor of Bombay to the Prince of Shiraz
had beon forwarded from Bunder Abbnss direct to Shiraz on the 16th of Nov­
ember, and that a duplicate had been transmitted by the Hon’ble Company’*
cruiser Teignmouth on the 4th of the same month to Mr. Bruce, the Political
Resident at Bushire, also to bo forwarded to Shiraz. As it was desirable that
Ras-ul-Khima should be blockaded, Captain Collier ordered the Benares to
aocompany him to assist in the operation, and on the same day the two ships
arrived off the place. The Military Commander, accompanied by his staff and
the Commanding Engineer, reconnoitred the town during the 26th and 27th
November, and, after careful consideration, arrived at the conclusion that the
troops now at Kishm would be sufficient for the reduction of Ras-ul-Khima,
without waiting for the arrival from Bombay of the four remaining transports.
Benares accordingly, despatched to summon the fleet, and, upon
its arrival on the 2nd of December, immediate arrangements were made for
disembarking the troops and camp followers from the[transports. During
the afternoon the remaining four transports from Bombay came in sight; on
the same day the Imam arrived with two frigates and about six hundred men,
considerably less than he had promised, but his zeal appeared unabated and his
co-operation was of no little value.
211. On the following day the disembarkation was conducted, under cover
of the gunboats and armed launches of the squadron, with surprising celerity
and good order considering the great distance the ships were obliged to anchor
from the town, and the lack of a sufficient of means for transporting so large a
force with all the guns, supplies, and stores necessary for seige operations. The
place was immediately invested and battered in breach, after an active resist­
ance of 6ix days; the town was taken possession by the British force on 9th
December.
212. Some days previous to the British getting possession of Ras-ul-Khima a
Sir William Grant JT..V. r .part, ia„d M P*Pe? had OOIlTeyed into that place
January 1820, Volume 52 - 49 of 1820-1821, offering quarter to the Chief, Hassan-bin-
paye 147. Rachma, and the whole or any part of the
garrison who should come out and surrendered themselves prisoners; this
summons was not, however, complied with, but after the evacuation of the
town a Chieftain, named Kazib, who, with his followers had formed part of
the garrison, came in and surrendered himself upon assurances of safety. He
represented that his great desire was to be at peace, and to obtain a written
protection from Sir William Grant for himself and followers. Whilst they
should conduct themselves in a peaceable manner Kazib was accordingly
dismissed with the letter of protection which he was desirous of obtaining.
213. The next day the principal Chieftain, Hassan-bin-Rachma, intimated
by a note that he likewise would gladly come in, and an answer was sent
offering him security expressed by the Arabic word Amdu : he accordingly came
into camp with four attendants, and was placed in confinement until some
distinct information could be procured on which to form a judgment of what
course it would be most advisable to pursue.
214. At the end of a few days it was discovered that considerable agitation
prevailed amongst the Arabs, occasioned by the confinement of this Chieftain,