Page 304 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

282 Part VII—Chap. LXV.
with his personal baggage, and any attempt to stop him would bo considered
ns nn insult to tho Admiral personally, as nothing of the sort had been dono to
any one beforo, also as ho bad the moans of resisting any aggression or
attempt to impode his embarkation ; ho should go oil on Monday, and request­
ed the Governor distinctly to state if ho would provont it; this ho deolined
answering more than onoc; and tho Admiral got up to leavo declining under
these circumstances tho proffered band of the Governor; tho Governor howovor
laid bold of him and got him to sit down again ; the question was again repeated
twice, and again an answer declined, when tho Admiral got up, and with his
party quitted the place.
651. On Monday morning tho boats of Her Majesty’s Ship Wellesley and
those of the Indian Naval Squadron came off the Residency to secure Ilia
Excellency’s embarkation from insult. It must bo mentioned that immediately
aftor the return of the Admiral to the Residency, a party of Suborze came down
and went into the Sea Tower near tho Residency and a scntinol was placed
at tho lauding place: it was ascertained that thoy had orders to prevent the
boats lauding.
552. On Monday morning tho Gigs of tho Wellesley and Captain
Maitland and the Elag Lieuteuant came iu, far in advance of the other boats;
in these two boats neither tho men or officers displayed any arms, on tho con­
trary they were carefully conoealed. Sir Frederick tho Admiral, the Resident
and several officers of the Royal and Indian Navies were standing on the cliff
over the landing place unarmed. A crowd of people wero also lounging about.
On Captain Maitland’s boat touching the beach, a Suborze of the Governor
cocked his musket and told them to keep off, or he would fire; this not being
heeded ho brought his musket dowu to the arm, and would have shot Captain
Maitland had not the Admiral seized the musket and thrown the muzzle up,
at the same time Captain Honnell aud the other officers seizing the man and
after much resistance disarming him. At this moment tho mob around
attacked the party with sticks and stones, but tho gig’s crews displaying their
arms and landing they dispersed towards the huts. Captain Maitland and
several officers were struck ; fortunately the Admiral escaped this additional
insult.
553. Tho other boats now began to near the shore, when a fire was opened
upon them from a breast work, which had been thrown up during the night,
and was quickly returned, but without much injury owing to the shelter of
the breast work; the Admiral immediately on the fire opening from the boats
ordered to cease, and a messengor was sent to the Governor to say bis
people must cease firing or he would bo responsible for tho consequences;
shortly after the firing from the breast work ceased and the embarkation
took place. It appears that the destruction of Bushire or at least the lives
of many of the inhabitants, was only prevented by the lenity and for­
bearance of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Maitland, for the insult was without
cause given, and the firing on the boats premeditated, the orders the sentinel
had, his attempting to fire on Captain Maitland, as well as the throwing
up a breast work, and filling it with armed men wero sufficient proof on
this point.
551. It having in consequence of these uncalled for insults and aggression
been determined to remove the Residency to Karrak, the Resident remained
on shore until evening, giving aid in furtherance of this object; when every
thing being entrain and the place quiet, he went on board Wellesley leaving
Commander Hawkins to superintend this duty; on Wednesday morning
2*7tli Clive telegraphed that a party of artillery under Captain Leslie with
two guns bad arrived, and that one hundred Europeans under Captain Strong
had left Karagh the day before; as the latter bad not arrived and some boats
bad been seen from the Wellesley to leeward of the port, Captain Henneli
offered his services to the Admiral to go down to Hallilali in Her Majesty’s
Brig Algerine to pick them up, as it was of much consequence they should be
prevontod landing and marching on Busliire, a circumstance likely to occur
from their being unacquainted with the actual 6tate of affairs, and which
might have caused serious inconvenienoe; in the evening we anchored in?
Hallilah Bay, transhipped the men and returned to Bushire at 11 a.m. on the
28th.