'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎18r] (40/180)

25
the Persian Governor-General of Fars and the Persian Governor of Bushehr; and,
on the 15th of December 1819, a letter explaining the intentions of the Indian
Government was addressed to Mr. H. Willock, His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires
at Tehran, for the satisfaction of the Persian Court.
iz . J^ the inst [ uctions ultimately issued to Major-General Sir Willian Grant Keir,
K.M.G., m whom were vested both the supreme political authority and the
direction of the military operations, much was left to the discretion of the
commander; but it was clearly indicated that the main purpose of the expedition
was the exemplary punishment of the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. of Ras-al-Khaimah and the
annihilation of their power, by the capture of the town and the destruction of all
their piratical craft as well as of every object of naval or military use which might
be found there; and similar measures were to be applied to Rams and other
^ty ports subordinate to Ras-al-Khaimah, and to places on the Persian coast of
which the piratical character might be established. The principal restrictions
imposed by the orders of Government were that the British troops should not,
unless in verv exceptional circumstances, be employed at any distance from the
places at which there were piratical vessels to be destroyed; and that, on the Persian
side, the utmost practicable consideration should be shown for the undisputed
nghts of His Persian Majesty. As regards the temporary administration of
Ras-al-Khaimah, which the Government as yet intended to transfer to the
Egyptians, it was at first ordered that Shaikh Sultan-bin-Saqar, who had recently
deserted the Saiyid ol Masqat in an attempt to capture the place, should not on
any account be placed in charge of the same; but this prohibition was early
rescinded, Sir W. Grant Keir being invested instead with discretionary power to
make the town over after capture to Sultan-bin-Saqar, or to any other chief whom
the people might elect, provided only that he was unconnected with the Wahhabis
and unlikely to become a patron of piracy.
The ships of war placed at the disposal of Sir W. Grant Keir were the
lollowing, some of which were assembled at Bombay while others were alreadv
in the Gulf; H.M.S. "Liverpool," 50 guns. Captain Collier; H.M.S. "Eden"
^^£ uns ' Curlew, 18 guns; and the H.E.I. Company's cruisers
i7 e i| n T. 0U £' ^ Ben J ares ' " Aurora '" " Nautilus," "Ariel" and "Vestal," of
15, 16 14, 14, 10, and 10 guns respectively. The transports for the conveyance
ot land troops and naval stores numbered 18; and the military portion of the
force con^sted of one company of European artillery,* His Majesty's 47th and
65th Regiments, the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Native Infantry the
nank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Native Infantry and of
the Marine Battalion, and half a company of Pioneers; in all 3,069 fighting men
ot whom 1,645 were Europeans and 1,424 were 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. .t The divisional staff
consisted of Major E. G. Stannus, Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain D Wilson
Assistant Quartermaster-General; and Captain G. F. Sadleir of the 47th Regiment'
nterpreter . the place of the last, as he was still absent on his mission, was taken
by,. Captain T. Perronet Thompson of H.M.'s 17th Light Dragoons.
Sir W. Grant Keir, having embarked in the " Liverpool" the division of
transport 8 carrying the European troops sailed from Bombay on the 3rd of Novem
ber 1819 and was followed by the remainder at an interval of a few davs; the
woe were under the convoy of men-of-war. The Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. remained active to
the last. At the end of October their vessels were reported to be cruising in large
numbers oft the coasts of Makran, Sind and Kathiawar; and the " Curlew " while
actually on her way to Bombay to join the fteet, had been attacked bv 15 large
Qasimi boats which she deleated in a five hours' battle, sinking three and'eapturin®
seven. While the fieet made straight for the appointed rendezvous off Oishm the
commander of the expedition proceeded in the " Liverpool " to confer with Saivid
Said at Masqat arriving there on the 13th of November; on the 21st he joined
the main body of the expedition at sea; and on the 24th, a gale then blowing all
but the rearmost ships were collected at an anchorage under the lee of r n'raV
Island. LdidK
<1 • ? UnS Were " a Mattering train of six 18-pounders, with some 10-inch mort'ir<; -mri
Scinch howitzers, and field pieces in proportion." (Regimental Records.) mortars and
t " The 65th Regiment embarked 750 rank and file on this exneditinn nnH
R'orrofThe 6 q 5?hTo d ot.) y ^ ^ SanCti0n 0f as riflemen." WgiStal
t See footnote page 463 ante.
Objects
of the
expedition.
Composition
of the naval
and military
forces.
The voyage,
3rd to 24th
November.