'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎362] (403/590)

362
HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY,
after being brought up a narrow, intricate, and shallow creek
a distance of upwards of three miles, had to be dragged through
a muddy swamp, and afterwards over a considerable space of
rocky and intersected ground, before they could be placed in
the batteries."* He continues, " Nor can I conclude this report
without feeling that it is due to Lieutenant Brucks, the Agent
of Transports, to bring to your notice his laborious exertions in
the particular line of his duties, during the embarkation and
subsequent landing of the troops on the 18th inst., on which
occasion the officers and men belonging to the cruisers and
transports, had all to endure a day of most severe labour and
privation." The Commander of the Expedition, in his Field
Orders to the Army, dated " Ras-ul-Khymah, 25th of December,
1819," says of the services of the Naval BrigadeThe
Major-General feels at a loss to express in adequate terms his
obligations to the Navy, but the value of their services will he
estimated when he declares that the enterprise must have failed
without their assistance." The column, after destroying the
fortifications, returned to the camp before Ras-ul-Khymah on
the 26th of December.
On receipt of the intelligence of the fall of the pirate strong
hold, whence the Joasmi fleets had issued to prey upon the com
merce of all countries, the Governor of Bombay issued a
General Order, dated the 28th of December, announcing the
success of the British arms, in which he speaks as follows of
the services of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. :—" The conduct of Captain
Hall, and of Lieutenants Maillard, Arthur, Faithful, Greenway
and Watson, in command of cruisers, and of Lieutenants
* The military oflicer "whose description of the capture of Ras-nl-Kymah we
have already given, says of the operations at Zayah :—" A strong fort on a neigh
bouring hill, called Zaire, still held out. The duty undertaken by the seamen
was most arduous in this case; two 24-pounders were dragged by the poor
fellows for a space of two miles over rough and swampy ground. After batteries
had been erected, a brisk cannonade was kept up against the fort, and shells
nn^ re ^ r0Wn w ^ ou ^ i n termission. The firing was unremitting and tremendous.
The fort was deemed quite impregnable by the natives, but they had soon speedy
reason for entertaining a mortifying belief to the contrary ; they accordingly
manifested a wish to captitulate. The Greneral offered unconditional surrender,
which, after half-an-hour's deliberation, was acceded to. Sheikh Hussein Bin
Ali, the Chief, was sent prisoner on board one of the transports. He was the
most active and the most cruel of the pirates, about thirty years of age, hand
some in person, mild in demeanour, but with a look of sullen, tiger-like ferocity
lurking in his restless eye.
''On our return to Kas-ul-Kymah, we found the place totally in ruins; the
forts and towers having been blown up by the indefatigable soldiers and seamen
employed on that duty. A strong work was in a state of forwardness for such
of our troops as it might be deemed requisite and expedient to leave behind for
the entire prevention of future piracies, and a check upon the Arabs in their
attempts to rebuild their forts and strongholds.
"On the 3rd of January we quitted the coast and proceeded to the different
harbours in the vicinity, in order to capture and destroy all the piratical vessels
and small craft. This operation was carried into complete effect, and it is hoped
has succeeded effectually in destroying the roots and nipping the branches of
piracy for a long period to come."