'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.' [‎417] (448/582)

history of the joassamee pirates.
417
hove in sight, and perceiving this vessel in company with the
dows, without any apparent resistance, judged her to be a prize
in possession of the pirates. She accordingly gave them all
chase ) and coming up with the brig, the Arabs took to their boats
and abandoned her, when she was taken possession of by the
frigate, and secured. The chase was continued after the dows
themselves, but without success, owing to the detention here
occasioned, and their own superior sailing; though it is said that
the Nereid sunk one of them by a broadside.
Only three days after this, the East India Company's cruiser
Nautilus, of fourteen guns, commanded by Lieut. Bennet, was
proceeding up the Gulf with dispatches, and on passing the island
of Anjar, on the south side of Kishma, near the Persian shore,
was attacked by a squadron of these pirates, consisting of a bug-
hala, a dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , and two trankies; the two former mounting great
guns, the others having oars as well as sails, but being all full of
armed men. The attack was made in the most skilful and regular
manner, the two larger vessels bearing down on the starboard-bow,
and the smaller ones on the quarter. As Lieut. Bennet had re
ceived the same positive orders as his brother officers, not to com
mence an attack until fired on, he reserved his guns until they
were so close to him that their dancing and brandishing of spears,
the attitudes with which they menace death, could be distinctly
seen, and their songs and war-shouts heard. The bow-gun was
then fired across their hawse, as a signal for them to desist, and the
British colours were displayed. This being disregarded, it was
followed by a second shot, which had no more effect. A moment's
consultation was then held by the officers, when it was thought a
want of regard to their own safety to use further forbearance, and
a broadside was instantly discharged among them all.
An action now commenced between the Nautilus and the
two largest of the boats, mounting cannon, and continued for
nearly an hour; the trankies lying on their oars during the
contest to await its result, and seize the first favourable moment
3 h