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328 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.

it undesirable for the small British force to undertake reguhir
siege operations.
The commanders were not to be dismayed, however, by
appearances, but ordered the boats to be ])repared to receive the
troops at two in the morning of the 13th. The main body,
consisting of H.M.'s ()5th Regiment, and flank companies
of the 47th, with detachments of marines and native troops,
rendezvoused alongside one of the cruisers stationed oif the
south end of the town, while two gunboats and the ships' boats,
with a few troops, pulled in towards the mouth of the harbour.
The latter, as the first dawn of day appeared, commenced
a most furious fire on the north end of the town, Avhich
impressed the enemy with the idea that they were trying to
force their w-ay into the harbour. Their whole attention was con-
sequently drawn to that point, and a heavy fire of musketry was
opened by them, which was the signal for the main body of the
British troops to land at the other end of the town and push
directly for the wall.
The enemy too late perceived the rapid advance of this body
in the boats, and, the fire then opened from their towers and
buildings not appearing to check its progress, boldly cajue
down to the beach to dispute the landing, sword in hand. The
troops had been ordered to form under the rise of the beach,
which would secure them, in some degree, from the enemy's
fire; but, before this could be done, and when little more than
one company had landed, a desperate attack was threatened on
their left. The good conduct and steadiness of the gunboats,
which had been appointed to flank the landing, was here most
conspicuous, for, steadily reserving their fire of grape to the
last monjent, the enemy, when nearly in contact with our troops,
received a most severe check, which gave time for the formation
of the advanced guard of the British ; these, in their turn, made
a desperate and successful charge, and the first rays of the sun
which darted over the lofty mountains forming the background
to this scene of strife, lit up the cross of St. George floating on
the towers of Ras-ul-Khymah, thus proclaiming that the hour
of retribution, though long delayed, had at length struck.
The British forces burned with ardour to advance into the
heart of the town ; but their commanders, before undis-
mayed by sinister appearances, now showed equal prudence
in not giving way to too much elation at the improved prospects
of success. Instead of immediately following up the blow and
hastily entering a town defended by a well-armed population,
they took possession of the land wall and its towers, and of a
few of the buildings in the vicinity, in the meantime landing
and bringing up their field pieces, ammunition, and scaling
ladders. The circumstance of most of the houses being flat-
roofed, and furnished with numerous loopholes for musketry,