'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎22] (41/622)

22
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
This exhibition of the determination and power to put down
piracy had the best effect; and, says Lieutenant Kemball,
44 very materially facilitated compliance with the demands now
made for the various vessels plundered by the" Chief of Abu
Thubi, to the total value of 24,597 German crowns." The
British demands were complied with, and one brig, seven
baghalahs, two batils, five baggarahs, and the greater part of
the goods on board the British baghalah 'Deriah Dowlut,' were
recovered, together with upwards of 10,000 German crowns in
cash and property, besides an engagement for 1,600 more on
the termination of the pearl fishery, towards the liquidation of
the claims made for the cargoes of the vessels destroyed and
plundered. All their captives were released, and the two pirate
chiefs, Mahomed bin Suggur bin Zheab, and Mahomed bin
Majid, who headed the outrages upon the British flag, surren
dered. The three principal Beni Yas vessels, concerned in the
late piracies, were given up as pledges for the settlement of the
balance due on account of the English baghalah. Add to this
the seizure of their own batil at Muscat, with a valuable cargo, in
compensation for the loss occasioned by the plunder of a
baghalah belonging to that port, and the chastisement inflicted
upon the piratical fleet, and it will be allowed that the repara
tion exacted was ample. The officers and men of the
Lowered the two cutters, sent them a-head to tow, and got out the longest oars
for sweeps, but without effect. We continued the chase until after sunset, when
he rounded the eastern point of Polior, about five miles a-head of us. Having
lost sight of her, and night coming on, deemed it advisable to give over the pur
suit in the present direction, and hauled up to the southward, in the expectation
of meeting with her at daylight, which not doing, stood on for Abu Thubi, and
about eight a.m. of the 17th, discovered the abandoned buggalow Large trading vessel. , and stood for
her. At ten o'clock observed a raft, with men waving flags, about five miles to
the eastward. Sent an officer to take possession of the buggalow Large trading vessel. , who found
eight bodies on her deck, and committed them to the deep. Sent the pinnace to
the raft, who found nine men on it, and brought them on board. On examining
them, they stated they were part of the crew of the buggalow Large trading vessel. we had taken pos
session of, called the ' Nassir,' belonging to Congoon. Had been forty days from
Mangalore, when she was captured by the fleet we found her with, near Koong,
four or five days ago ; the crew consisted of forty originally—a few are supposed
to have escaped, but the others and Nakhoda were put to death ; that the mode
of intended attack was to board us in passing between the two buggalows, in
different points, and that they were confident of success. They boasted of having
large vessels of oil boiling for the purpose of dipping us in when taken. They
had no idea of the effect of a broadside from 32-pounders, and were completely
paralysed; so much so, that they forgot to fire themselves, and immediately
jumped overboard. Salim states that his party threw twenty-five bodies over
board, and that the same number were taken away wounded. This makes thirty-
three killed in this boat alone, and it is highly gratifying to me to find that none
of the survivors originally belonging to the vessel were hurt by us. Two of them
had been cut and stabbed by the pirates, and two others injured in the contest
with them. They abandoned the buggalow Large trading vessel. about four p.m., preferring the peril
of a raft to again falling into the hands of the pirates, whom they expected to
return. The other buggalow Large trading vessel. must have suffered much more, and it is a matter
of deep regret that we could not get up with her. Salim states that it was the
intention of the pirates, after taking the ' Nassir,' to proceed to Eas-ool-had for
the purpose of committing more depredations."