'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎420] (451/582)

420
HISTORY OF THE JOASSAMEE PIBATES.
collected; though it was thought that most of the treasure and
valuables which they possessed had been removed into the interior
on the first news of their enemies approach. A journal of the
second-mate of the Minerva, up to the day before the siege, was
said to have been found, but he himself was not heard of; so that
he was conjectured to have been killed on the first hostile steps
of his countrymen.
This career of victory was, however, suddenly damped by the
report of the approach of a large body of troops from the interior,
and though none of these were seen, this ideal reinforcement
seemed to have struck a panic on the leaders of the invading
party. A general order was issued for the plunder to cease, and
the troops were instantly recalled and reimbarked. This they
did with some precipitation, and were fired at during their retreat
by the yet unsubdued inhabitants, who had rallied to bid a second
defiance, or to claim a victory over those who had thus hastily
withdrawn.
The embarkation took place at daylight in the morning; and
while the fleet remained at anchor during the whole of the day,
parties were still seen assembling on the shore, displaying their
colours, brandishing their swords and spears, and discharging
their muskets from all points ; so that the conquest was scarcely
as complete as could be wished, since no formal act of submission
had yet been shown. The officers of the expedition are them
selves said to have regretted that their work was to be abandoned
so prematurely ; but whether the report of the reinforcements
expected from the interior, or the temporizing and lukewarm
instructions of the Bombay Government, guided the measures of
the leaders in their retreat, is not accurately known.
From Ras-el-Khyma the expedition proceeded to Linga, a
small port of the Joassamees, on the opposite side of the Gulf, on
the Persian coast, and a little to the eastward of the eastern end
of the Island of Kishma. From this place the inhabitants fled
into the mountains on the approach of the vessels, taking all