"رحلات في آشور، ميديا، وبلاد فارس، بما في ذلك رحلة من بغداد مروراً بجبل زاغروس وصولاً إلى حمدان، في أكباتانا القديمة، والبحوث في أصفهان وأطلال برسبوليس، ورحلة منها مروراً بشيراز وشابور وصولاً إلى ساحل البحر. وصف البصرة، بوشهر، البحرين، هرمز، ومسقط، وسرد لحملة ضد قراصنة الخليج العربي، مع رسومات توضيحية لرحلة بحرية لنيرتشوس، والمرور ببحر العرب إلى بومباي. [‎٤‎٩‎٥] (٥٨٢/٥٢٦)

ORDER OF BATTLE.
495
sengers from Hossein ben Rahma. The substance of the answer
brought by them was equally as unsatisfactory as their former
replies ; and they wound this up by saying, that if the commander
of the squadron would receive ambassadors on board his ship
from the Chief, and leave pledges for his conducting them safely
to the presence of the Governor in Bombay to treat of the affair
in question, as well as for their safe return to Ras-el-Khyma when
such treaty was concluded, they should be sent with instructions
for that purpose; but that if he refused this, and persisted in his
original demand, the issue must be left in the hands of Him from
whom all events proceed, and what He had decreed must come
to pass.
The messengers were accordingly ordered to quit the ship,
and repair with all possible haste to the shore; it being signified
to them, at the same time, that the final answer of their Chief
could be received in no other light than as a defiance of the
power of the squadron to enforce our demands, and that there
fore all further negotiation was at an end.
The signal was now made to weigh, and stand closer in to
wards the town. It was then followed by the signal to prepare
for battle, and shortly afterwards by the signal to engage the
enemy. The squadron bore down nearly in line, under easy sail,
and with the wind right aft, or on shore; the Mercury being on
the starboard-hand, the Challenger next in order in the centre,
the Vestal following in the same line, and the Ariel completing
the division. The north-easternmost dow had weighed to sail up
along-shore, and get closer to the other three, -the approach to
which was protected by the ten-feet bank or ridge described as
running along parallel to the beach there. It was intended that
the Ariel should have cut this vessel off; but, as the wind was
light, there was no approaching her in sufficient time for that
P A large fleet of small boats was seen standing m from Cape