'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎129] (148/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
129
In both these attacks timely information of the designs of the
enemy had been given to the authorities by the British Agent
at Lahej, and it was mainly through his instrumentality that
they were so easily frustrated. This circumstance coming to
the knowledge of the Sultan, the Agent, Hassan Khateeb, was
murdered, and his dwelling and those of his family were plun
dered; also as a Jew had been the bearer of his letters, an
order was issued directing the sack of every Jewish house in
Lahej, and all landed property belonging to the residents in
Aden was confiscated. The losses sustained by the merchants
amounted to 15,000 dollars, exclusive of the plunder of sixteen
houses belonging to the Khateeb family. In neither of these
two attacks had the Akrabi joined, but, on the contrary, they
had evinced the most perfect good faith towards the British;
irritated at this, the united forces of the Abdali and Foudtheli
besieged their castle of Bir Ahmed, but were unable to reduce
it. The duties of the garrison and of the crews of the Indian
Navy vessels in port, owing to the expectation of an attack from
a large body of Arabs collected in the vicinity of Aden, were of
a very arduous and harassing nature, owing to the constant
night alarms, and severe sickness broke out. The vessels in
port sent up their boats nightly, manned and armed, and the
crew of the Hon. Company's ship 6 Zenobia,' also proceeded
every night to the Turkish wall, to take charge of a large gun
boat, stationed close in shore so as to cut off all communication
with the town.
The Bombay Government found themselves under the neces
sity of increasing the garrison, and, on the 19th of July, the
Hon. Company's steam frigate 4 Sesostris ' sailed from Bombay
with three hundred men of H.M.'s 6th Regiment. This rein
forcement arrived not a day too soon, for upwards of two
hundred 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. had left Aden suffering from wounds or the
last extremity of sickness, and nearly three-fourths of the
remainder were affected with scurvy occasioned by want of fruit
and vegetables; the small European force, consisting of three
hundred and fifty of the European Regiment and one hundred
artillerymen, was, in comparison, tolerably healthy. But before
the arrival of the reinforcements from Bombay, the combined
Arab tribes made a third, and desperate, attempt to retake Aden.
The day selected for this final effort, was the 5th of July, and
the hour 2.45 a.m. The enemy mustered about five thousand
men, and advanced towards the isthmus defences with great
impetuosity; but the sudden and unexpected fire from a block
boat, moored within twenty yards of the shore, and several ships'
boats within twelve yards, officered and manned by the Indian
tion and effect were produced upon the Arabs, as both upon their advance and
retreat the guns were ably brought to play and with much effect upon the whole
attacking section.''
VOL. II. K