GUNBOAT AND GUN-RUNNER

THE BUNDER ABBAS COMES UPON A LARGE ARAB DHOW IN THE VERY ACT OF LANDING GUNS. Page 105

Preface

For many years the fierce, unruly tribes beyond the north-west frontier of India have only been able to obtain rifles from the Arabian coast. Arab dhows bring them across the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, and caravans of camels convey them to their destination through the mountain passes of Baluchistan.

Ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Indian Marine, armed launches manned by officers and men lent from the Royal Navy, and ships' armed cutters cruise and patrol these waters from one year's end to another, overhauling dhows, landing men to search villages suspected of concealing arms, and ceaselessly striving to put a stop to this trade.

My story describes the conditions of service in one of these armed launches, and is based on actual occurrences which took place some ten years ago. Most of the incidents have been described to me by participators in them. The proof-sheets have also been revised by officers who have themselves taken part, during more recent years, in the suppression of "gun-running".

As a result, the story is, I trust, free from errors and improbabilities.

T. T. JEANS,

Surgeon Rear-Admiral, Royal Navy.

Contents

CHAP.

1. A Splendid Appointment

2. The Story of the "Twin Death"

3. Skipper of the "Bunder Abbas"

4. Adrift in a Dhow

5. My First Capture

6. The Edge of Civilization

7. The Battle of the Paraffin Can

8. Ugly Rumours

9. Trapping a Caravan

10. The Fight in the "Coffee-Cup"

11. The Cobra Bracelet Again

12. Mr. Scarlett Bares his Arm

13. Rounding up a Prodigal

14. We Deal with Jassim