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without scarcely any opposition, as not above 12 or 15 were killed on cither
side. For by some unaccountable negligence the town wall was that night
alone loft unguarded and every body asleep. Skaik Ally and tho most of Shaik
Nassir’s people wore on tho ovont more intent on securing the Shaiks and their
own families and effects on board tho Gallivats whither they retired with 203
merchants and at last 300 men than in defending or attempting to recover
tho place which was so much weakened by that imprudent stop and served to
dishearten those left behind. The town was directly sot on firo to throw the
inhabitants into confusion and which burnt till day break consuming about
1,000 huts. All that time Shaik Sadoon kept close in his house not daring to
stir out though supported by near 200 men armed with musquets when 50 brave
follows led on by a man of courage might have recovered the place, but altho1
there were plenty of men ready to oppose the enemy tho want of such a Com­
mander to head them proved tho loss of Bushire containing 10,000 people to
a handful of men. Fear exaggerated the number of the enemy far beyond
what they afterwards appeared to be or the Town must soon have been
retrieved for it is impossible to describe the consternation of every body on
finding their conquerors so few.
Day light presented nothing but devastation produced by the fire for not an
inhabitant was to be seen in the streets, tho’ contrary to expectation the enemy
kopt peaceable possession without hurting or plundering any one. At noon
8haik Sadoon was frightened from his house to swear jointly with Reis Hamet
that both parties should remain quiet till Bagut Caun’s arrival. This shameful
treaty was no sooner concluded and Shaik Sadoon’s person secured than a party
of Arabs appeared to the assistance of Bushiro, who killed 4s or 5 Tankseer people
they met with at the watering place giving their horses water, which making
free with and learning that the Town was eventually lost, they departed not
however without execrating Shaik Sadoon for his pusillanimity.
The 1st of July Bagur Caun entered Bushire with about 200 men declaring
publiokly that he fled from the fear of Sadoo Caun’s resentment and took
possession of Bushire as a place of greater security for him than Tankseer and
promised with a seeming faith that the persons and effects of every body should
be sacred, adding that he would govern with the strictest justice. The inhabi­
tants were obliged to surrender up their arms people were employed in
completing the fortifications and through his insinuating and their own fears
the Moors Armenian and Gentoo Merchants here severally inducod to petition
Abdul Fatec Caun to continue him in the Government setting forth his taking
this place and his subsequent behaviour towards them in the most favourable
light.
The 2nd the two Gallivats sailed to the Southward in quest of Shaik Nassir.
The day following all the poor native Inhabitants of Bushire were turned out of
the Town and striped of everything to make room for the Tankseer families, a
few of whom including the Cauns and Reis Hemets were armed previous to this
one of Meer Ally’s Captains having come here and demanded the late Shaik
Ises family and his son they wore delivered to him and he departed the 5th for
Bunderick having assured me that Meer Ally so far from advising Bagur Caun
to this oapture when the latter was at his Bunder as was suspected and which
all the Tankseer people had positively affirmed that he was certain as soon as he
returned the Meer as well as the people of Genowa would repair to the relief
of Bushiro. By him I embraced the occasion of advising the Bussora Gentlemen
of my disagroable situation.