'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎211r] (421/540)

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he determined to defend Bushire to the last extremity and if ultimately
obliged to evaquate the town to destroy it by fire, and embark on Board
of one of his Dows for that island; but my principle motive for wishing to
remove Carrack was that a greater expenditure for donations would probably
incurred if Saikh Khunnum's opponent took the place, than by my withdrawing
from it as I intended, till the storm of faction had at least a little subsided.
Accordingly I had hired a large dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and exported almost the whole of the
Hon'ble Company's and my private property on board of her with an English
Flag and intended the next morning to have embarked myself; but in the
interim Shaikh Nasser with the fleet of Benee Attaba Arabs infested the place
by sea and we became completely blockaded. The first boat of this fleet being
considerably ahead of the rest behaved in a very hostile manner to the dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
waiting to receive me by boarding her, striking the English Elagand plundering
her of several articles, but on a representation of this conduct to Shaik Salem
in command of the boats he expressed great contrition for what had
happened and made the aggressor to return his booty except 2 bags of tin
the property of the Hon'ble Company and four or five bags of rice my
private property which were lost overboard or destroyed in his precipitation
to accomplish his inimical designs before the arrival of the rest of the
Elect. The Benee Attabs having previously taken Carrack and delivered
to Shaikh Nasser, I was obliged to relinquish every thought of retiring thither
and his illiberal, and pusillanimous jealously made him adverse to the plan, I
therefore again landed everything from the dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. except the tin and rice,
having disposed of the former to be delivered (every previous risk and
expence on account of the Hon'ble Company) to the purchaser at Bussora and
the latter amounting to 130 gunnies Shaik Salem requested me not to land
alleging, it was his and to Shaik Nasser's determination that no provision
should be imported while they were beseiging the place, therefore I was
obliged not only to pay the freight of it to Bussorah but must lose considerable
by its sale. Your Hon'ble Board will I hope consider that I undergo enough
in other respects in these disturbances without allowing me to suffer the
loss of my private property and hard earned subsistence, and altho' I have
never received, solicited or expect, your favour you will surely not refuse
the grant what .iustioe demands. But the return to the event of the
contest after sustaining a siege for five days, and obliged to drink water
little better than the sea on the night of the 20th, the enemy were disposed
by the great guns of an entrenchment they had thrown up before the place.
Shaik Khaunnum attacked a small party and took possession of their works.
They were however, soon after attacked and in their to obliged to
retreat. A reinforcement was sent out to support the fugitives, but the contest
become so unequal in numbers that they were also obliged to fly and being
pursued to the walls of the Town some disaffected person in charge of one or
the gates, threw it open, and both parties entered indiscriminately altogether-
such a panic immediately seized the garrison Shaik Khaunnum after every
ineffectual exertion in which he displayed great courage, actively and per
suasion to make their men sally and recover their loss was obliged to save
himself by flight, and ihe conquerors plundered the town till the morning.
Scarcely a hoube escaped being stripped and it was with greatest difficulty
with the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. and my own threats that I fustrated the
several attempts made upon this old ruin, inviting cn every side an easy access.