'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎414] (445/582)

414
HISTORY OF THE JOASSAMEE PIRATES.
vessels themselves were additionally armed, one of them mount
ing twenty guns, manned with Arab crews, and sent from Ras-el-
Khyma to cruise in the Gulf, where they committed many success
ful piracies on maritime trade.
Had these been some of the East India Company's ships of war,
it is not improbable but that the affair would have been passed
over unnoticed, as was done in the case of the Viper; but belong
ing to Mr. Manesty, pecuniary interest urged what a regard to the
honour of the flag had not yet been sufficiently powerful even to
suggest. A strong remonstrance was made by Mr. Manesty to the
chief of the pirates in their own port, and threats held out of re
taliation, which, as they came from one clothed with official power,
were probably regarded as the sentiments of the Government itself,
though they are now believed to have been those of the ships'
owner alone, exerting himself to recover his lost property.
The Government, indeed, were not only indifferent to the in
sult shown their flag, and the injury done to commerce generally,
by the triumphs of these lawless plunderers, but an order was
issued by the President in Council, directing all the commanders
of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. , not on any consideration to attack or mo
lest these innocent natives of the Gulf, and threatening to visit
with the displeasure of the Government any among them who
might be found in any way to interrupt them or to provoke their
anger.
Within a year or two after this, an attack was made upon the
East India Company's cruiser, Fury, of six guns, commanded by
Lieutenant Gowan, when carrying dispatches from Bussorah to
Bombay. The attack was made by several boats in company, and
during a short calm; but the resistance made was determined and
effectual, and the boats were made to sheer off, with the loss of a
great number of men. On the arrival of the Fury at Bombay, the
commander waited on the governor in the usual way; but on re
porting the affair of the battle, instead of being applauded for his
spirited resistance, and his preservation of the dispatches under