"تاريخ البحرية الهندية. (١٦١٣- ١٨٦٣)." [‎١‎٠‎٥] (٦٢٢/١٢٤)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
105
may imagine how strongly inclined the Marines must have been
to fire. The benevolent spirit of the Admiral, however, would
not allow it till the throwing of stones, and continued firing
from the Persians, called forth two volleys, which caused the
Persians to evacuate the breastwork. One was killed and two
wounded; their fire upon us, fortunately, did not injure any
one, but the Commodore and several other officers were struck
with stones. After this, the Residency was put in a state of
defence, and Captain Hennell had all the property conveyed as
quickly as possible on board the 4 Wellesley,' 4 Elphinstone,'
6 Clive,' and 6 Emily,' and finally abandoned the Residency on the
morning of the 28th, when surrounded by four or five hundred
armed Persians, composed of Bushirees and Tungustanees, with
Baukr Khan at their head. A deputation of merchants waited
upon the Admiral, to try to arrange matters so as to induce the
Resident to remain ; their request, however, could not, of
course, be granted; and, on the morning of the 29th, the
' Wellesley'and the other vessels reached Kharrack, bringing
along with them the whole Residency establishment, which are
now housed in tents, with the Resident's flag-staff beside
them."
The removal of British property from the Bushire Residency,
before its evacuation, as above described, was conducted under
the protection of the Marines of the squadron, commanded by
Captain (the late General Sir) Edward Ellis, R.M., of the
6 Wellesley.' On the following day, (the 29th) nine boats from
the f Wellesley,' 'Clive,' and 4 Elphinstone,' with guns, were
drawn up in front of the landing-place, to protect the embarka
tion of the Residency staff, which Captain Hennell declared was
threatened by the large force of armed men under Baukr Khan,
whose numbers had recently been greatly increased; and the
remaining boats of the squadron proceeded to the bunder
and embarked the Resident. This was safely effected,
though a collision was only avoided by the display of forbear
ance on the part of the British, as Baukr Khan marched a
strong force right across Captain Ellis's path, so that the latter
had to halt his men.
There can be no doubt that this method of dealing with law
less chiefs and insolent soldiery, though probably in consonance
with European custom, was contrary to the rough diplomacy in
vogue in all our dealings with Eastern races, and the result
was that our prestige suffered. The people of the Persian Gulf
attributed the benevolent conduct of the veteran Admiral in
avoiding the shedding of blood, to pusillanimity, and it was ever
after said in the Gulf that a line-of-battle ship and British
squadron were beaten by the brave Persians, and were forced
to withdraw, with their Resident, to Kharrack. This tale was
told, and believed, together with mendacious statements as to