'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎29] (48/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 29
ment and capture of the strong forts of Mocha,* in which
the Service took so prominent a part, was so deep and lasting
that the representation of the commanders of the Company's
ships always received the respectful attention of the contending
factions in all the ports of the Rod Sea. We will give a brief
retrospect of the occasions on which matters portended trouble,
but were adjusted by the British officers without having occa
sion to resort to hostile measures.
In 1832, during the progress of the struggle between
Mehemet Ali, the great Egyptian Viceroy, and the Porte,
events adverse to the stability of the government of the former
were occurring in Arabia. The army of Mehemet Ali at Mecca
consisted of two divisions, one of which was commanded by
Zeman Agha, who having a dispute with Khourshed Bey, the
Egyptian Governor of Hedjaz, raised the standard of revolt,
and induced three officers, having similar grievances, to join
him with their regiments. The most courageous of these,
Mohammed Agha, surnamed Turki Bilmas 5 t a Georgian by
birth, having treacherously taken Khourshed Bey prisoner,
marched upon Mecca and Jiddah, which he occupied, and seized
the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's ships. The Sultan of Turkey confirmed him as
Governor of the Hedjaz ; and Turki Bilmas, elated by his
success, proceeded to Hodeida, which was blockaded by his
squadron of six ships. After a brief resistance, the place sur
rendered on the 25th of September, 1832, when he marched to
Zeebeed, and thence to Mocha, which fell to his arms by
treachery, and thus the whole of the seaboard of Yemen came
under the nominal suzerainty of the Porte. Turki Bilmas now
wrote to the Sultan of Aden, demanding that stronghold ; the
latter promised consent, but when he despatched a mission of
forty persons to obtain possession of the place, on the 17th of
February, 1833, they were treacherously attacked, and twenty-
seven of them murdered.
He also made an aggression on British trade, which afforded
a practical refutation of the unwise proposal of the Finance
Committee, appointed by Lord William Bentinck, that the
* The connection of the Indian Navy with Mocha was not always of this hostile
character, for a public work of considerable utility to the town was due to the
scientific attainments of an officer of the Service in the last century. Mr.
Abraham Parsons, who visited Mocha in 1778, gives a detaiieu account of the
town, and describes the pier, situated " one hundred and fifty yards due west
from the only gate by which goods and passengers can enter from the sea." This
pier, which is built of stone, was constructed, he says, " by Captain Watson, late
Superintendent of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. , about twenty years since." Captain
Watson, it will be remembered, was the gallant and skilful officer who fell at the
siege of Tauna, while in command of the expedition from Bombay directed against
the island of Salsette.
f Turki Bilmas, means " one who cannot speak Turkish." A full account
of his proceedings and escape from Mocha on board the 6 Benares,' may be
found in the "Travels to the City of the Caliphs," by Lieutenant J. E>. Well-
sted, I.N.