'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎19r] (42/180)

27
III.
Useful assistance, especially in the matter of disembarkation and embarkation
and in the conveyance of guns, materiel, etc., was lent by the crews of the Masqati
frigates. The 'Omani land army did not arrive until two days after the capture
of the town; and, at the instance of the British General, they were immediately
sent home, lest their presence should lead to complications, and because ol the
scarcity of supplies. The Saiyid himself remained on the spot until the 7th of
January, when he took his leave.
On the fall of Ras-al-Khaimah the " Curlew," " Aurora " and Nautilus '
were sent to blockade Rams, a coast village a few miles to the northward, at which
there were some piratical vessels and of which the Shaikh, Husain-bin-'Ali, was
devoted to the Wahhabi interest and had at one time acted as agent on behalf of
the Wahhabis in the whole Qasimi country. Rams was found abandoned, the
inhabitants having retired to Dhayah, a place about 2 miles inland, where there
was a village with a strong fort belonging to Husain-bin-'Ali upon a pyramidal
hill; and, as the fort was considered by the Arabs to be impregnable, preparations
for its capture, in view of the moral effect which its fall might be expected to
produce, were immediately undertaken. On the 18th of December a force,
consisting of His Majesty's 65th Regiment, of the flank companies of the
1st Battalion of the 2nd Native Infantry Regiment, and of 30 artillerymen with
two brass 12-pounders, two 8-inch mortars and four field guns proceeded against
Dhayah under the immediate command of Major Warren of the 65th, General
Grant Keir, however, accompanying the troops in person. On the 19th the enemy
were driven back upon Dhayah, disputing every foot of ground as they retired
through the date plantations; an evasive answer was returned by the Shaikh,
who had been summoned to surrender; and a couple of mortars commenced
playing on the fort. The defences of Dhayah were found to be unexpectedly
strong. On the 20th more ground was gained, and the attacking force was
increased by the flank companies of H.M.'s 47th Regiment, under Captain
Backhouse, and of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Native Infantry. On
the morning of the 21st Dhayah was completely surrounded. Ensign J. Matheson*
of the 65th, " a most gallant, intelligent and zealous officer," being killed; and in
the evening two 24-pounders from the " Liverpool," which had been brought up
in face of great physical difficultiest by a naval contingent from the ships, were
got into position against the fort on the north-east side, and a couple of 12-pounders
against the Shaikh's house on the westward. On the 22nd an opportunity was
allowed the garrison of sending their women and children to a place of safety;
but it was neglected. At 8-30 a.m. the guns opened, and at 10-30 a breach had
been made practicable and a column were about to advance to the assault, but
were halted on the appearance of a white flag. The besieged now surrendered
on condition that their lives should be spared, they giving up their arms and other
property; at 1 *30 p.m. the British flag was hoisted on the fort and Shaikh s house,
and the prisoners, amounting to 398 fighting men, were marched to Rams to be
embarked on the transports. For the safety, and even comfort, of the women
and children, who exceeded 400 in number, every consideration was shown; and
before the departure of the squadron so many of the male adult prisoners as were
certified by Lieutenant Bruce, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , to be usually peaceful
cultivators were set at liberty and permitted to rejoin their families, with whom
they found an asylum at the adjacent village ot Shimil in Sir. The prisoners not
released, amounting—exclusive of the Shaikh himself to 177, most of whom
were either professional men-at-arms or natives ol places that remained to bs
visited by the expedition, were then removed by sea to Ras-al-Khamail. Eleven
guns were captured, and the fort and the Shaikh s house were blown up. The total
British loss in the operations at Dhayah was 1 officer and 3 men killed and 16 men
wounded, one of whom died; among the Indian troops there were apparently no
CclS LI cllt 10S
At their return to Ras-al-Khaimah, on the 26th of December 1819, the force
from Dhayah found that the demolition of the defences there ordered to be
destroyed had been completed by the troops left behind, while the construction
of a work for the accommodation of a British garrison had also made considerable
Co-operation
of Saiyid
Sa'id.
Operations
against and
capture of
Dhayah,
18 th to 22nd
December.
Further
operations,
January and
February
1820.
* Also spelt (in the same Regimental Records) Mathison and Matthison.
t The a uns had to be brought three miles up a narrow, intricate and shallow creek, and
dragged first & throuch a muddy swamp and then over rocky and intersected ground. The efforts
of the sailors under Captain Walpole, R.N., and Lieutenant Campbell, R.N., were described by
General Keir as "astonishing and, in his experience, unsurpassed.
48533 F
■t ••
P