'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎318] (337/622)

318
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
Consuls, and to endeavour to suppress the threatened conflict
which afterwards broke oat between the Turks and Arabs.
From January to the following April, Lieutenant Adams was
engaged, in conjunction with the 4 Elphinstone, ? Captain
Frushard, assisting our allies, the Turks, in the defence of
Hodeida, which was besieged by a vast horde of the Asseer
tribe of Arabs, estimated by Captain Playfair to be not less
than sixty thousand men. The two ships took up positions
commanding the town, and, for a considerable time, received on
board the families of the besieged who sought refuge from the
horrors of an assault by the enemy. At length the Asseer
Arabs, despairing of success, dispersed, owing chiefly to a
virulent outbreak of cholera, which, according to Playfair,
carried off fifteen thousand men and many of the principal
chiefs. This was the last service performed by the 4 Queen,'
which, though constructed only sixteen years before, was worn
out, being as short-lived as most of the British-built steamers
supplied to the Service.*
Government of the Tehama, or seaboard, upon the condition of paying 70,000
dollars annually. In 1848, the new Imaum of Sanaa declared war against Shereef
Hoossein, whom he first defeated in battle, and then compelled to capitulate upon
his own terms, which were the surrender of Mocha and other places, together
with the payment of a ransom of 20,000 dollars. But now the tide of success
again turned, and Zebeed was captured by one division of the Shereef's army,
while another laid siege to Mocha, which, after an obstinate defence of two
months, was delivered up by an act of treachery. So suddenly was this perfidy
planned and executed, sajs Captain Playfair in his "History of Arabia Felix,"
that the Shereef's Greneral, Ameer Futteh Mahommed, had barely time to save
his life by taking refuge on board the ' Mahi,' which happened to be lying in the
roads. He was taken to Aden, where he was entertained at Grovernment expense,
and provided with means to return to his country. A desultory warfare was now
carried on between the Imaum and Shereef Hoossein, and, in 1849, the Turkish
Grovernment sent a fleet and land force against Hodeida, whereupon he delivered
up the ports of the sea-coast, and, retiring to enjoy his ill-gotten gains, died in
March of the following year.
Many ships of the Service proceeded to Mocha and Jiddah to protect British
interests during the above disturbances, among them the ' Zenobia,' Lieutenant
A. H. Grordon, in 1840, and the £ Euphrates,' Commander Campbell, in 1848. In
that year also Lieutenant Adams was sent in the £ Tigris ' to Jiddah to enquire for
some women, said to have been sold into slavery by a Bombay merchant, and
held a conference with Hassab Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Fatimah, halfway between Jiddah
and Mecca. The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. consented to send the women to Jiddah, where they were
examined by Lieutenant Adams, but they were too well tutored to own the
truth.
In January, 1856, as above stated, the Asseer Arabs invested Hodeida, but
they were prevented from proceeding to extremities by the presence of the
' Queen' and ' Elphinstone.' The Turkish Sultan having appointed a new
Shereef of Mecca in April, 1856, he proceeded from Suez to Jiddah m t e
Hon. Company's steam-frigate 'Ferooz,' as already mentioned, and, after
severe fighting before Mecca, his authority was acknowledged in the Ho y
* Captain Adams writes:—"We remained at Hodeida a considerable time,
until a transport with Turkish troops came from Jiddah; the suburbs were urn
to prevent the enemy forming a lodgment, and I took up a position to cover
town and assist the defence of the southern fort. Disease, said to be cho era,
in, and the Asseer tribe took their departure. I then went on to J id a 1 ?