'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎351] (392/590)

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVYi
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resistance was offered, but the dhows were boarded and carried
off, though in attempting to get them out they were wrecked.
The Bahrein chief made a great clamour about this violation of
his neutrality, and the Abu Thubi Sheikh, whose property the
vessels really were, made a demand for restitution upon the
Bombay Government, which considered itself bound to pay the
damages, and also, we believe, blood money for the men killed.
The Bombay Government, having at length resolved to take
decisive measures for extinguishing piracy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
assembled a powerful armament at Bombay. The troops, which
numbered three thousand and sixty-nine fighting men, of whom
one thousand six hundred and forty-five were Europeans and
one thousand four hundred and twenty-four 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. , were
placed under the command of Major-General Sir William Grant
Keir,* and consisted of one company of artillery, H.MAs 47th
and 65th Regiments, 1st Battalion 2nd Regiment Native
Infantry, the flank companies of the 1st Battalion 3rd Native
Infantry and the Marine Battalion, and half a company of
pioneers. The following were the ships of war, some of which
were in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. :—H.M.S. ' Liverpool,' fifty guns,
Captain F. A. Collier, C.B., who arrived on the 25th of
September from Mauritius, to assume naval command of the
Expedition; and H.M. ships ' Eden,' twenty-six guns, Captain
Loch, and 4 Curlew,' eighteen guns. Captain Walpole—the latter
brig, which arrived only a few days before from the Persian
Gulf, having been attacked on her way down by fifteen large
Joasmi boats, which she succeeded in driving off after five
hours' fighting, during which she sank three and captured seven.
The Company's ships were:—the 6 Teignmouth,' sixteen guns.
Captain Hall, (senior officer); 4 Benares,' sixteen guns, Com
mander Arthur; ' Aurora,' fourteen guns, Commander Maillard;
'Nautilus,' fourteen guns. Lieutenant Faithful; 'Ariel,' ten
guns, Lieutenant Green way; and 4 Vestal' ten guns, Lieu
tenant Watson. Besides these cruisers, which actually partici
pated in the ensuing operations, the Hon. Company's ships
4 Ternate,' sixteen guns, 4 Mercury/ fourteen guns, and
'Psyche,' ten guns, were engaged cruising about the Gulf,
and, during the month of November, the former was sent to
Bushire to bring Mr. Bruce to Ras-ul-Khymah to confer with
the General, who was invested with supreme political au
thority.
The first division of troops, consisting of the artillery and
* The divisional staff consisted of Major E. Gr. Stannus, Assistant Adjutant-
Greneral; Captain D. Wilson, Assistant Quartermaster-General; and Captain
Gr. F. Sadleir, of the 47th Regiment, Interpreter. The force originally intended
for embarkation, included the flank companies of the 2nd Battalion 4th Native
Infantry, half a company of Pioneers, and one company of Artillery Lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. ,
which were countermanded, owing to the G-overnor-General having received a
communication from the piratical chiefs offering to give up hostages.
Hmal"' 1