'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎16r] (36/180)

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In December 1818 the H.E.I. Company's brigs "Thetis" and "Psyche," Escape of a
assisted by H.M.S. "Eden," succeeded in cornering 14 piratical Qasimi vessels in ^ a Q^ t ^ et
Gwatar Bay; but, time having been allowed them until the morning, in opposition December'
to the advice of the Company's officers, they made their escape during the night. igis.
On the 21 si of December 1818, near the island of Qishm, the Company's Defeat of
cruiser " Antelope " came upon the " Rahmany," a full-rigged ship belonging ^
to the Sultan of 'Oman, beset, along with a native Baghlah Large trading vessel. , by a Qasimi fleet by the
consisting of 4 great Baghlahs, 2 Batils of the largest size and another vessel, with "Antelope,"
which they had maintained a running fight for two days, almost exhausting their December
ammunition. The " Antelope," Lieutenant Tanner, immediately attacked the 1818 -
pirate fleet and drove them towards the coast of Qishm; they then turned at bay
and made desperate attempts to board their determined assailant, but were repulsed
bv the accurate fire of the British guns, after having on one occasion succeeded
in approaching within 100 yards. On the pirates taking to flight the " Antelope "
gave chase and pursued them for 5} hours, but could not overtake them on account
of the lightness of the wind. This was a remarkable action, inasmuch as the
combined force of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. amounted to 29 guns and about 1,070 men,
whereas the "Antelope" carried only twelve 18-pounder carronades and two
12-pounder brass guns with a crew, all told, of 71 Europeans and 37 natives. The
Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. subsequently confessed to the loss of 117 men in the affair with the
" Antelope."
On Christmas morning, 1818, H.M.S. " Eden " and the Company's brig-of-war Various
" Psyche " rescued a captured boat from two pirate Trankis, which managed to engagements,
escape; during the whole of the same day the Company's cruiser "Thetis" ^^ritish tC '
followed without success a Qasimi fleet of 7, and on the next day another of 4 sail; C r U i S ers,
and on the 10th and 11th of January 1819 H.M.S."Eden" sunk 2 piratical Baghlahs October 1818
off Oishm and Hanjam, but failed to capture 6 Trankis by which the Baghlahs to February
were accompanied. About the same time H.M.S. " Conway " found 17 Qasimi 1819 -
war vessels at Bahrain, returning with a large number of men from Qatif, where
they had arrived too late to help the Wahhabi Amir in opposing the Egyptian
forces which were then overrunning Arabia; but the commander. Captain Barnard,
out of respect for the neutrality of the port of Manamah abstained from attacking
the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. at anchor; and, once at sea, the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. were able to evade his
pursuit. Between October 1818 and January 1819 the Company's cruisers
"Thetis " and " Psyche " encountered the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. sailing in flotillas of 2 to 10
vessels no less than 17 times, and continued to drive them from place to place;
but, on account of the superior sailing qualities of the Arab boats, the British vessels
seldom or never succeeded in bringing them to action. In February 1819, on the
occasion of a British naval demonstration at Bahrain, the Shaikh of those islands
was induced to arrange with Hasan-bin-Rahmah for the exchange of some
Qasimi prisoners in the hands of the British Government against Indian women
then held in captivity at Ras-al-Khaimah: of the latter 17 were released.
The Oawasim now entertained the design of forming a settlement at Basidu Preparations
on the island of Qishm, to which they might retire if successfully assailed by the by the
ever advancing Egyptians, and whence, at the same time, they might continue to Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima.
prey with convenience upon the upward and downward commerce of the Gulf,
The gallant action fought by the "Antelope" is believed to have been largely
instrumental in frustrating the execution of this scheme.
Conscious of impending retribution, the de facto Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah Overtures of
at this point made overtures for a reconciliation with the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima.
and adverted to the negotiations of 1814 between himself, the Wahhabi Amir [h^G^vern-
and the British power; but it was too late. His advances were sternly rejected. ment 0 f
Bombay.
The third British expedition against the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , 1819-20
The third campaign of the Indian Government against the pirates of the Deliberations
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was undertaken, after full consideration, with a firm resolve that preceding the
it should be final and conclusive; and it probably would not have been so long cx P ctiltlon -
delaved as it was, had it not been for difficulties in India, particularly those
occasioned by the Ghurka war of 1814-15 and by the Pindari troubles and Maratha
war of 1817-18. Operations appear to have been contemplated as early as 1816;
but it was not until September 1818 that the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. submitted.
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