'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎32r] (63/344)

Part II—Chap. XIV.
43
CHAPTER XV.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE JOASMIS IN 1809-1810! 1\S-
TUmiO\S TO Mil. BUNCE, NEW KESIDENT AT MASRAT.
111. The Joasmis continued true to their engagements in every point
that regarded the British; but they
Bombay Selection no. XXJK co-operated in the following year witli
Syud Beder, the Imam, in an attack on Syud Ghes, who had refused to
become a party to the peace, which he could not in honour do until he had
revenged the blood of Syud Sultan.
112. Precluded by the Treaty of 1806 from carrying on their cruises in the
Gulf, and urged by the Wahabis, the Joasmis extended them to India.
In the month of April 1808 they made their first appearance as pirates in the
Indian Seas on the coast to the northward of Bombay. The VVahabi Shaikh
had long contemplated the extension of piratical cruises to India. r lhe Joas
mis had by a late order of the Wahabi been rendered independent of their
lawful Shaikh, Sultan, who had at this period nothing left but Ras-ul-Khyma;
Eamse, IShargah, and other places sent out their boats without his permission.
Gadif, an Arab Chieftain of the Joasmi tribe, on the Persian main, was
averse to piracy; but his subjects, cut off from trade on account of the
general disrepute of their tribe, sought a livelihood in the vessels of others.
These piracies (as stated by Captain Seton) " can only be considered as a
general one at the instigation oi the Wahabees." In one cruise in this year
they captured twenty country boats, which so elated them that they deter
mined on sending a fleet of fifty towards Sind and Kutch.
113. On the 20th of October they committed a breach of the Treaty of
1806, by attacking and capturing 'the Sylph cruiser, in the Gulf of Persia.
She was re-taken by H. M.'s frigate Nereid, which was in sight when the
Joasmis boarded the cruiser,
114. In 1809 the Wahabis directed the Joasmis and the Uttubis to
proceed against Grane. The latter excused themselves, but the former offered
to go if they were supported by ships.
115. The Persians from Lar attacked the Joasmis at Lingah, and the
town of Cbarrack, and compelled them to retire to Bassidub, in the island of
Kishm. The Joasmis were jhowever successful against a fleet fitted out by
Mahomed Nubhi Khan against Khor Hassan, which twenty-two Joasmi
boats encountered, beat, and took six of the Bushire vessels.
116. The Wahabi Chief having appointed Hussein bin Ali, a Joasmi,
and who was the Shaikh of Bamse, his vicegerent in the Seer principality,
vested him with authority over Ras-ul-Khirna, and nominated Wahabi
officers throughout the Joasmi country. Sheikh Sultan, the Joasmi Chief,
having been invited to Deriah, proceeded to that capital, and was detained and
imprisoned by the Wababi Chief. He contrived to escape from prison, and
finding his way to Yemen, embarked at Mocha, and, proceeding to Maskat,
made overtures to the Imam, besought His Highness's protection, disclaiming
all countenance to, or concurrence in, the attack of the Sylph, and professing
on this occasion a desire to conform to the Treaty of 1806. The Imam took
him to Shargah, and placed him over the Joasmi tribes at that place, Sheikh
Sultan occasionally living at Lingah.
117. The British Government, determining to relieve the Imam from
the power of the Wahabis, and to suppress these piracies, an expedition
proceeded to the Gulf under the instructions dated the 7th of September 1809.
Their first operations were directed against Bas -ul-Khima. The attack
commenced by a bombardment during the 12th of November. On the follow
ing day, the Joasmis were vigorously attacked by sea and land : after a
bloody but ineffctual resistance they were driven into the interior of the
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