'A General Sketch of the History of Persia' [‎431] (478/636)

BEITISH POLICY IN THE PEESIAN GULF. 431
November 1820; but a sudden and overwhelming
attack was made upon him, and his detachment was
totally destroyed, seven officers and 303 men being
left dead on the sandy plain.
In January 1821 Sir Lionel Smith, with 1,282
European and 1,718 native troops 5 sailed from
Bombay to avenge this disaster. They landed at Sur,
and the same night the Benu-bu-'Aly vigorously
attacked their camp, and were repulsed with much
difficulty. As soon as the English came in sight of
their town, the Arabs boldly attacked them with
swords, dashing on unchecked by a rolling fire of
musketry. At last they retired in good order, and the
old Shaikh surrendered, after having displayed great
gallantry, and proved himself an enemy worthy to cope
even with British valour.
In 1837 Lieutenant Wellsted, I. N., visited the
Benu-bu-'Aly tribe. He went boldly to the Shaikh's
tent, and proclaimed himself to be an Englishman.
The whole tribe immediately received him most cordi
ally, delighted at his confidence in thus throwing him
self amongst them. c We have fought,' said these
gallant children of the desert, ( and we should now be
friends.'
After the destruction of the pirates, it became
necessary for the English to maintain a naval force in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and the influence of England was
exercised:—1st, to suppress piracy and to extend
commerce ; 2nd, to maintain the status quo of the chiefs
on the shores of the Gulf; 3rd, to prevent war and
aggression on the sea; 4th, to exclude all foreign