PIRATES OF THE PERSIAN GULF
We have seen throughout this volume that there have always been certain
geographical areas which have been favoured by pirates as their suitable
sphere for roving. Madagascar, Malabar, the north coast of Africa, the
West Indies—these and others have been the scene, not of one piratical
incident, but of scores.
The Persian Gulf is to this day not quite the peaceful corner of the
globe that undoubtedly some day it will become. It is still patrolled
by the Royal Navy for various reasons, including the prevention of
gun-running. Just how long the Persian Gulf has been navigated it would
be impossible to say: but there is every reason to suppose that if
the first kind of boat which ever floated was seen on the Tigris or
Euphrates, the first sea-going craft was observed in the Persian Gulf. At
any rate it is certain that the Arabians who occupy that peninsula which
separates the Red Sea from the Persian Gulf were in the early stages of
history the greatest navigators and seamen anywhere. Even right down
to the Middle Ages, for scientific navigation, with the aid of those
nautical instruments which were the forerunners of our modern sextant,
there were no mariners who could find their way across the trackless seas
so skilfully as these inhabitants of Arabia.
From time immemorial there have dwelt on the west side of the Persian
Gulf an Arabian tribe named the Joassamees, engaged in maritime pursuits
either in trading, or pearl-fishing, or as pilots to strange ships
entering the Gulf, or else acting as pirates. For it was obvious to them
that this last mentioned occupation held out much that was tempting.
So the Joassamees began in a small way, pillaging the coasting vessels
of the Gulf, and as they found their efforts in this respect were so
successful they aspired to bigger things. We are speaking now of that
fascinating period of the sailing ship which belongs to the end of the
eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries.
The reader will instantly call to mind those fine ships of the East
India Company, so smart and similar to the ships of the Royal Navy in
appearance, and so similar in discipline and actual build. Shortly before
the close of the eighteenth century the _Viper_, a 10-gun East Indiaman,
was lying at anchor in the Bushire Roads. (Bushire is a port on the east
or Persian side of the Gulf.) In the same harbour there were at anchor
also a few dhows. Up till now these pirates had never molested an English
ship: they had confined their attentions to native craft, so no efforts
had been made to deal with them.
Now the skippers of these dhows had applied to the Persian agent of the
East India Company for a supply of gunpowder and cannon shot to last
them out their cruise, and, as the agent had no suspicions whatever, he
gave them an order to the commanding officer on board for the desired
quantity. It happened that the _Viper’s_ captain was ashore, so the
order was produced to the officer in charge, the quantity mentioned was
handed over, and the dhows began to make sail. The _Viper’s_ crew were
breakfasting on deck, and the officers below, when, without any warning,
a couple of these dhows began to cannonade the _Viper_, and the crews
attempted to come aboard. No time was lost on the Indiaman, however, for
the officers rushed up on deck, called the crew to quarters, cut the
hempen cable, got sail on her so as to be ready for manœuvring, and a
regular engagement began between the _Viper_ and the four dhows which had
plenty of men and big guns. It was a determined onslaught, and Lieutenant
Carruthers, the commanding officer, was wounded in the lower part of the
body, but bravely kept on, until he was killed by a ball in the forehead.
The command now fell on Mr. Salter, midshipman, who continued the fight
not less courageously, and, after a keen encounter, drove the pirates
off and chased them out to sea. This gave them a severe lesson, so that
years passed by before another similar attempt was made on the British
flag. But in the year 1804 there was a renewed attempt, and the following
story, though a little involved, is of real interest. It begins with
the East India Company’s cruiser named _Fly_, and the scene is still
the Persian Gulf. At the time we are speaking of this ship was off the
island of Kenn when she had the bad fortune to be attacked by a French
privateer. In order, however, to prevent the enemy boarding her, she was
purposely run on to a shoal, and the Government dispatches which she
was carrying, together with some treasure, were thrown overboard in 2½
fathoms, cross-bearings having first been taken so that perhaps these
might be recovered at some future date. The passengers and crew were
taken to Bushire and set at liberty.
They then purchased a dhow by subscription, fitted her out and sailed
down the Gulf bound for Bombay. On their way they stopped near Kenn
Island to recover the dispatches and treasure. The former they managed to
get up again, and as there was no time to waste they left the treasure
and were hurrying on to their goal. But when they got to the south of
the Gulf they had even worse fortune, for they were attacked by a fleet
of Joassamee pirates and taken into the port of Ras-el-Khyma, which was
to these Arabian rovers what Algiers had been to the corsairs of the
Mediterranean. Here the English remained in the hope of being ransomed,
but no such opportunity occurred. Months went by, and at last they
determined to do what they could. They informed the pirate-chief of the
treasure which lay sunk in the Gulf, and assured him that having taken
good cross-bearings of the spot by the marks on shore the wealth could be
recovered if some of these Arabians, so accustomed to pearl-diving, would
assist them. The arrangement was that if the treasure was recovered the
English should regain their liberty.
So English and Arabian sailed to the spot, and anchored where the
cross-bearings indicated. The first divers who went down were so
successful that all the crew dived down to the bottom of the fifteen feet
in turns. And then came the great chance of escape. While practically all
these men were below the water on the floor of the sea, it seemed that
the real opportunity was at hand after all those months to get away. The
picture is not without humour—the prisoners above in the craft, while
the captors are left behind with no alternative but to swim ashore. But
the best laid schemes of mice and men often work out differently from
mere theory. The cable was cut, and either the splash of the rope in the
water, or some suspicious instinct in these primitive people betrayed
the plot, so the divers rushed up again to the surface and prevented the
consummation of the prisoners’ desires.
But for all that, the pirates kept their word. The treasure had been
recovered, so the prisoners were given their liberty. The promise was
kept _literally_ and no more. For being placed on the island of Kenn
there was no means of escaping from this limited freedom; and, further,
there was practically nothing to eat. The pirates came ashore at the
same time and put to death all the inhabitants, and the Englishmen,
thinking it might be their own turn next, took to hiding in the rocks
as best they might, going out under cover of night to steal a goat or
whatever food might fall into their hands. But when at last the pirates
had completed their bloody work they departed, leaving the Englishmen the
sole inhabitants.
It was clear to the latter that if they wished to keep alive, they too
must quit the island; but what were they to do for a boat? And here again
we have one of those instances which, in fiction, would be far-fetched.
When they were most in despair they had the good fortune to find a
wrecked boat on the beach which might be capable of being repaired.
Through the silent, deserted town the mariners searched until they were
able to bring down to the beach an adequate supply of timber for patching
up the boat and for making also a raft. In a few days both of these were
ready, and the party in two sections began to endeavour to cross to the
Persian shore. But one of the sections foundered and were never seen
again, while the other reached the mainland and then, following the line
of coast, obtaining food and water from the villages through which they
passed, they arrived at length after terrible privations at Bushire,
still having preserved their Government dispatches. Thence they proceeded
to Bombay, but out of the whole company there were only two that
survived, though the bag of dispatches was brought at last into safety.
In the following year two English brigs were also captured by these
pirates, while the former were sailing from Bombay to Bussorah, and the
crew taken to an Arabian port, whence they succeeded in escaping, though
the piracies now continued unabated. By the year 1808 these Joassamees
were becoming exceedingly strong and impudent. Their many successes had
made them more desperate than ever, and the time-honoured practice of
heaving the resisting captain overboard was, of course, resorted to.
One of the most daring attacks was that on the _Sylph_, an East India
Company’s cruiser of 60 tons, mounting 8 guns. She was bound from Bombay
to Persia, and when she had arrived in the Gulf she was attacked by a
fleet of these Arab dhows. The commander of the _Sylph_ was a Lieutenant
Graham. He, of course, observed these craft approaching him, but he had
been previously warned by the Bombay Government not to fire upon any of
these dhows until he had first been fired at.
Under the circumstances one would have thought that was a clear instance
when orders might have been disobeyed: for before he had even time to
hoist his colours to indicate his nationality, the dhows had thrown
themselves against the _Sylph_, poured in a shower of stones, wounded
many of the crew, and then leapt aboard and captured the vessel before
a single shot had been fired. Those whom they had not killed were now
slain with the sword, and the enemy being in sole possession made sail
and took the ship along triumphantly, their dhows bearing them company.
But before long the Commodore of the squadron hove in sight, cruising in
the frigate _Nereid_. Seeing the _Sylph_ with so many dhows alongside,
he correctly surmised that the East Indiaman had fallen a victim to the
pirates. So giving chase to this assorted fleet he soon came up to the
East Indiaman, and the Arabs having leapt again into their dhows, the
Commodore was able to regain the _Sylph_, though he was unable to capture
either dhow or Arab.
And then the East India Government began to realise that something ought
to be done to end these repeated attacks: so an expedition was sent from
Bombay consisting of a frigate and a 38-gun ship as well as eight East
India Company’s cruisers, four large transports and a bomb-ketch. These
at length arrived at Ras-el-Khyma, anchored before the town and landed
the troops. The Arabs assembled in crowds to attack the invaders, but the
trained troops were too great a match for them. The regular volleys and
the charge at the point of the bayonet caused very heavy losses to the
enemy. The place was burnt down, sixty of their dhows and boats as well
as an English ship which they had previously captured were also consumed
in flames, and the troops were allowed to plunder all that they found.
With very small loss to the invaders the whole place had been wiped out,
though it was thought that the treasures had been taken inland by the
pirates.
The expedition afterwards sailed to Linga, another of these pirate ports,
and burnt it to the ground. And after an exciting encounter yet another
port, named Luft, was also overcome. It happened on this wise. Because
the channel was very difficult and narrow, the ships had to be warped to
their anchorages. The troops were then landed, and it was hoped to have
been able to blow up the gate of the fortress with a howitzer specially
brought for such a purpose. The fortress’s walls were fourteen feet
thick, so it would have been a tough business to have razed them to the
ground. But the English were picked off by the enemy so disastrously
from the loopholes of the fortress that a general flight took place of
our men, and the howitzer was left behind. The troops lay hidden till
darkness came on, and were thus enabled to make for the beach, where they
embarked without further assault from the enemy. But as the dawn came,
judge of the surprise of the invaders when they saw a man on the top of
the fortress walls waving the Union Jack! The whole squadron marvelled
and rubbed their eyes in amazement. Who was it, and how had he remained
there alive, and what were the enemy doing? The answer was soon found.
This gallant gentleman was Lieutenant Hall who was in command of the
_Fury_, one of the ships nearest to the shore. During the darkness he
had put off from his ship, landed alone with a Union Jack and advanced
to the castle gate. Here he found the fortress had been for the most
part abandoned, but there were a few of the enemy still remaining. When
they saw the British officer these presumed that there were more of his
followers coming on, so they fled precipitately. All that the officer now
had to do was to take possession single-handed. It was a plucky, cool
act, and well worthy of remembrance.
The fleet got under way again, bombarded for several days another pirate
stronghold named Shenaz. A breach was made in the castle walls, and even
now a stubborn resistance was made, the Arabs fighting finely till the
last, but the town was overcome and left a mere ruin. And such was the
effect of this protracted expedition, that for some years following the
pirates were compelled to reverence the British flag whenever they were
tempted to attack our ships at sea. But as it was with Algiers, so with
these Arabian pirates. The respite did not continue long, and by the
year 1815 the Arabian dhows were infesting the entrance of the Red Sea.
Under their admiral, Ameer Ibrahim, a fleet of them, the following year,
captured near the Straits of Babelmandeb four British vessels richly
laden with cargo from Surat.
So again a British squadron had to be sent against them. This consisted
of H.M.S. _Challenger_ and the East India Company’s cruisers _Mercury_,
_Ariel_ and _Vestal_, which were dispatched to the port of Ras-el-Khyma,
where a demand was presented for the return of the four Surat ships
or, if not forthcoming, then the payment of four lacks of rupees,
coupled with the handing over of Ameer Ibrahim. This town stands on a
narrow tongue of sandy land, pointing to the north-east, presenting its
north-west edge to the open sea and its south-east edge to a creek which
ran up to the south-west and affords a safe harbour for small craft.
Round towers and isolated walls were seen, but no continuous wall. There
were about 10,000 inhabitants in the town, and the port boasted of 60
dhows manned by crews of from 80 to 300 men. In the present instance
they were assisted by another 40 dhows from other ports. In short, the
concentrated force amounted to about 100 dhows and 8000 fighting men.
After some fruitless negotiations, the signal was made to the British
squadron to get up anchors and stand in close to the shore. This was
followed by another signal to engage with the enemy, and the squadron
bore down nearly in line before the wind, under easy sail, till they
got near where four dhows were lying at anchor, the depth of the water
gradually shoaling till they found themselves in 2½ fathoms. At this
sounding the squadron anchored with springs on the cables, so that
each vessel lay with her broadside to the shore. Fire was now opened
against these four of the enemy’s craft, the latter seething with men,
brandishing their weapons in the air. At first some of our shells reached
the shore and buried themselves in the sand, others fell across the bows
of the Arab craft. On all the forts were seen the Arabs’ colours flying,
and crowds of armed men were visible on the beach. But, unhappily, the
whole of this bombardment availed nothing and a bloodless battle was
brought to an end.
[Illustration: ATTACKING A PIRATE STRONGHOLD
A breach was made in the wall by the British, but a stubborn resistance
was made, the Arabs fighting finely till the last, but the town was
overcome and left a mere ruin.]
In the year 1818, as these pirates had assumed such strength and daring
to the great menace of commercial shipping, another fleet had to be sent
against them. For the Arab dhows had not merely plundered ships at sea
but ravaged the sea-coast towns on islands as well as mainland. But the
British ships now dispatched intercepted them and drove them back into
the Gulf. In one day as many as seventeen dhows were being chased by one
of ours, but the wind just suited the Arabian craft so that they managed
to get away. And so we might continue. For years these pirates caused
grievous trouble, and for years they had to be dealt with. Perhaps the
time will come when the Persian Gulf will be as safe for navigation
as the English Channel is to-day, with regard to the elimination of
pirate craft. Matters have, thanks to the patrolling by the Royal Navy,
improved considerably: but that there is still danger is well-known,
and it would be foolish to ignore it. For we must remember that it is
a hard task to exterminate such an ancient profession as piracy, and
especially when the practice is carried on by such an historic race of
seamen as the Arabs. When any community has been accustomed for centuries
and centuries, either in the Persian Gulf or the Red Sea or the Arabian
Sea or the Indian Ocean, to gain their living by sea robbery; when they
have made such a careful study of the local navigation and the habits
of their potential victims,—it is no easy matter for these men suddenly
to relinquish their previous habits and to give up their hard-earned
knowledge. It would be just as easy for a Brixham or Lowestoft fisherman
to give up his vocation and take to farming or manufacture, as it has
been for the Arab slaver and pirate to become a law-abiding seaman.
But as so many of the notorious piratical seas in the past have been
cleansed beyond all expectation, so, doubtless, the time will come when
the last sea-robber has disappeared from both hemispheres and the pirate
has become as extinct as the dodo. But whether the story of the sea will
thereby be as interesting and exciting as in previous ages is quite
another matter.