'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎407] (438/582)

HISTORY OF THE JOASSAMEE PIRATES.
407
properties of their prisoners, are preached, not merely as admis
sible, but indispensable duties, binding on all adherents of the
true faith, and both cowardly and criminal not to carry into
execution.
The conquered Joassemees were called upon to abandon not
only their former corrupted faith, but also their former mode of
living; the merit of which in industry, sobriety, and fidelity, was
far outbalanced by the defiling state of communication in which
they lived with unbelievers and strangers to the true God. They
obeyed the call with all the enthusiasm which new religions are
so frequently found to inspire, and lived for a short time on the
scanty productions of their own soil, and the fish of their own
waters. This, however, could not last long ; the spark of religious
zeal once kindled, either bursts into a blaze, or becomes again ex-,
tinguished; for if in any one state of feeling more than another
a stationary medium cannot be admitted, it is certainly in the
fanaticism of new converts to a proselytizing faith. The Joas-
samees, therefore, directed their views to war and conquest; their
leaders easily persuaded them that God was on their side, and
that therefore the legions of hell itself could not prevail against
them; and as their own feelings accorded with the admonitions
of their teachers, war and plunder was the universal cry, and
destruction to infidels was vowed in the same breath that uttered
the name of their merciful Creator, and implored his aid to the
accomplishment of their holy labours. The local position of the
Joassamees offered them no wide field of conquest by land ; but
as the sea was still before them, like the great high-way of
nations on which men of every faith and denomination had
hitherto passed unmolested, they determined to reap the harvest
of their toils on what might be termed in every sense their own
element
The small coasting-vessels of the Gulf, from their defenceless
state, were the first object of their pursuit, and these soon fell an
easy prey ; until, emboldened by success, they directed their views