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diff --git a/old/11399-8.txt b/old/11399-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c49f49 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11399-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7808 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirates of Malabar, and An Englishwoman +in India Two Hundred Years Ago, by John Biddulph + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pirates of Malabar, and An Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago + +Author: John Biddulph + +Release Date: March 2, 2004 [EBook #11399] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF MALABAR *** + + + + +Produced by Allen Siddle and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE PIRATES OF MALABAR +AND +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO +HUNDRED YEARS AGO + + +[Illustration: MAHRATTA GRABS AND GALLIVATS ATTACKING AN ENGLISH SHIP.] + + +THE +PIRATES OF MALABAR +AND +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA +TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + +BY +COLONEL JOHN BIDDULPH + +1907 + + +PREFACE + +For most people, interest in the doings of our forefathers in India dates +from our wars with the French in the middle of the eighteenth century. +Before then their lives are generally supposed to have been spent in +monotonous trade dealings in pepper and calico, from which large profits +were earned for their masters in England, while their principal +excitements were derived from drinking and quarrelling among themselves. +Little account has been taken of the tremendous risks and difficulties +under which the trade was maintained, the losses that were suffered, and +the dangers that were run by the Company's servants from the moment they +left the English Channel. The privations and dangers of the voyage to +India were alone sufficient to deter all but the hardiest spirits, and +the debt we owe to those who, by painful effort, won a footing for our +Indian trade, is deserving of more recognition than it has received. +Scurvy, shortness of water, and mutinous crews were to be reckoned on in +every voyage; navigation was not a science but a matter of rule and thumb, +and shipwreck was frequent; while every coast was inhospitable. Thus, on +the 4th September, 1715, the _Nathaniel_, having sent a boat's crew on +shore near Aden, in search of water, the men allowed themselves to be +inveigled inland by treacherous natives, who fell upon them and murdered +twelve out of fourteen who had landed from the ship. Such an occurrence +now would be followed by a visit from a man-of-war to punish the +murderers. Two hundred years ago it was only an incident to set down in +the ship's log-book. But all such outrages and losses were small in +comparison with those to which traders were exposed at the hands of +pirates. + +It is difficult to realize, in these days, what a terrible scourge piracy +was to the Indian trade, two hundred years ago. From the moment of losing +sight of the Lizard till the day of casting anchor in the port of +destination an East India ship was never safe from attack, with the +chance of slavery or a cruel death to crew and passengers, in case of +capture. From Finisterre to Cape Verd the Moorish pirates made the seas +unsafe, sometimes venturing into the mouth of the Channel to make a +capture. Farther south, every watering-place on the African coast was +infested by the English and French pirates who had their headquarters in +the West Indies. From the Cape of Good Hope to the head of the Persian +Gulf, from Cape Comorin to Sumatra, every coast was beset by English, +French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Arab, Malay or other local pirates. In +the Bay of Bengal alone, piracy on a dangerous scale was practically +unknown. + +There was no peace on the ocean. The sea was a vast No Man's domain, +where every man might take his prey. Law and order stopped short at +low-water mark. The principle that traders might claim protection and +vengeance for their wrongs from their country, had not yet been +recognized, and they sailed the seas at their own risk. Before the close +of the seventeenth century the buccaneers had passed away, but their +depredations, in pursuit of what they called "free trade," were of a +different nature from those of the pirates who succeeded them. Buccaneer +exploits were confined to the Spanish main, where they ravaged and burnt +Spanish settlements on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, moving with large +forces by sea and land. According to Esquemeling, Morgan sailed on his +expedition against Panama with thirty-seven sail and two thousand +fighting men, besides mariners and boys. But the Spanish alone were the +objects of their attack. So long as Spain claimed a monopoly of South +American trade, it was the business of Spain alone to keep the marauders +away; other Governments were not disposed to assist her. Hardly had the +last of the buccaneers disappeared from the Western seas, when a more +lawless race of rovers appeared, extending their operations into the +Indian Ocean, acting generally in single ships, plundering vessels of +every nationality, though seldom attacking places on shore. + +Of these men, chiefly English, the most notorious were Teach, Every, Kidd, +Roberts, England, and Tew; but there were many others less known to fame, +who helped almost to extinguish trade between Europe, America, and the +East. Some idea of the enormous losses caused by them may be gathered +from the fact that Bartholomew Roberts alone was credited with the +destruction of four hundred trading vessels in three years. In a single +day he captured eleven vessels, English, French, and Portuguese, on the +African coast. + +War in Europe, and the financial exhaustion that ensued, rendered it +almost impossible for the maritime powers to put an effective check on +the pirates either in the East or the West. With peace their numbers +increased by the conversion of privateersmen into freebooters. Slaver, +privateers-man, and pirate were almost interchangeable terms. At a time +when every main road in England was beset by highwaymen, travellers by +sea were not likely to escape unmolested. But the chief cause of their +immunity lay in the fact that it was the business of nobody in particular +to act against them, while they were more or less made welcome in every +undefended port. They passed themselves off as merchantmen or slavers, +though their real character was well known, but they paid royally for +what they wanted; and, as gold, silver, and jewels were the principal +booty from which they made their 'dividend,' many a rich bale of spices +and merchandise went to purchase the good will of their friends on shore, +who, in return, supplied their wants, and gave them timely information of +rich prizes to be looked for, or armed ships to be avoided. They prided +themselves on being men of honour in the way of trade; enemies to deceit, +and only robbing in their own way. The Malabar coast was scandalized when +Kidd broke the rule, and tricked or bullied people out of supplies. +Officials high in authority winked at their doings from which they drew a +profit, and when armed squadrons were sent to look for them, the +commanders were not always averse to doing business with the freebooters. + +The greatest sufferers among European traders in India were the English; +for not only were the greater number of pirates of English blood, but +pirate captains of other nationalities often sailed under English colours. +The native officials, unable to distinguish the rogues from the honest +traders, held the East India Company's servants responsible for the +misdeeds of the piccaroons, from whom they suffered so grievously. Still, +whatever their nationality might chance to be, it is fair to say that the +generality of them were courageous rascals and splendid seamen, who, with +their large crews, handled their ships better than any merchantmen could +do. When a pirate ship was cast away on a desolate coast, they built +themselves another; the spirit of the sea was in their veins; whether +building and rigging a ship, or sailing and fighting her, they could do +everything that the most skilful seamen of the age could do. As was said +half a century later of La Bourdonnais, himself a true corsair in spirit, +their knowledge in mechanics rendered them capable of building a ship +from the keel; their skill in navigation, of conducting her to any part +of the globe; and their courage, of fighting against any equal force. +Their lives were a continual alternation between idleness and extreme +toil, riotous debauchery and great privation, prolonged monotony and days +of great excitement and adventure. At one moment they were revelling in +unlimited rum, and gambling for handfuls of gold and diamonds; at another, +half starving for food and reduced to a pint of water a day under a +tropical sun. Yet the attractions of the life were so great that men of +good position took to piracy. Thus, Major Stede Bonnet, of Barbados, +master of a plentiful fortune, and a gentleman of good reputation, fitted +out a sloop and went a-pirating, for which he was hanged, together with +twenty-two of his crew, in November, 1718. Even women, like Anne Bonny +and Mary Read, turned pirates and handled sword and pistol. Desperate, +reckless, and lawless, they were filled with the spirit of adventure, and +were the forerunners of the men that Hawke, Nelson, and Dundonald led to +victory. + +Long after they had disappeared from the seas the Indian trade continued +to be exposed to the ravages of native pirates, who were not finally +coerced into good behaviour till well into the nineteenth century. Of the +European pirates Kidd, the most ignoble of them all, is alone remembered, +while the name of Angria is only recalled in connection with the +destruction of Gheriah by Watson and Clive. The long half-century of +amateur warfare waged by Bombay against the Angrian power is dismissed in +a few words by our Indian historians, and the expeditions sent forth by +Boone against Angrian strongholds are passed over in silence. An account +of some of them is given in Clement Downing's curious little book "Indian +Wars," valuable as the relation of an eye-witness; but the work, +published in 1737, is inaccessible to the general reader, besides shewing +many omissions and inaccuracies. + +The early records of the East India Company have furnished the foundation +on which this neglected chapter of our Indian history has been compiled. +If the Company's servants appear at times in an unfavourable light, the +conditions of their service must be considered, while the low standard of +conduct prevailing in England two hundred years ago must not be forgotten. +They were traders, not administrators, and the charter under which the +Company traded was of very insecure duration. Twice the Crown broke faith +with them, and granted charters to rival associations. As the stability +of the Company became assured, the conduct of its servants improved. + +It is not intended in these pages to give an exhaustive account of all +the pirates who haunted the Indian seas, but to present some idea of the +perils that beset the Indian trade--perils that have so entirely passed +away that their existence is forgotten. + +Scattered among the monotonous records of the Company's trade are many +touches of human interest. Along with the details relating to sugar, +pepper, and shipping, personal matters affecting the Company's servants +are set down; treating of their quarrels, their debts, and, too often, of +their misconduct, as ordinary incidents in the general course of +administration. At times a bright light is turned on some individual, who +relapses into obscurity and is heard of no more, while the names of +others emerge again and again, like a coloured thread woven in the canvas; +showing how much romance there was in the lives of the early traders. One +such thread I have followed in the account of Mrs. Gyfford, from her +first arrival in India till her final disappearance in the Court of +Chancery, showing the vicissitudes and dangers to which an Englishwoman +in India was exposed two hundred years ago. + +To Mr. William Foster, of the India Office, I am especially indebted for +aid in directing my attention to old documents that would otherwise have +escaped notice, and who has generously placed at my disposal some of the +results of his own researches into the history of the Company in the +seventeenth century, as yet unpublished. + +My thanks are also due to Sir Ernest Robinson for permitting me to use +his picture of an engagement with Mahratta ships, as a frontispiece. + +J.B. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +RISE OF EUROPEAN PIRACY IN THE EAST + +Portuguese pirates--Vincente Sodre--Dutch pirates--Royal +filibustering--Endymion Porter's venture--The Courten Association--The +Indian Red Sea fleet--John Hand--Odium excited against the English in +Surat--The _Caesar_ attacked by French pirates--Danish depredations--West +Indian pirates--Ovington's narrative--Interlopers and permission +ships--Embargo placed on English trade--Rovers trapped at Mungrole--John +Steel--Every seizes the _Charles the Second_ and turns pirate--His letter +to English commanders--The Madagascar settlements--Libertatia--Fate of +Sawbridge--Capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_--Immense booty--Danger of the +English at Surat--Bombay threatened--Friendly behaviour of the Surat +Governor--Embargo on European trade--Every sails for America--His reputed +end--Great increase of piracy--Mutiny of the _Mocha_ and _Josiah_ +crews--Culliford in the _Resolution_--The _London_ seized by Imaum of +Muscat. + + +CHAPTER II + +CAPTAIN KIDD + +Measures to suppress piracy--The _Adventure_ fitted out--Warren's squadron +meets with Kidd--His suspicious behaviour--He threatens the +_Sidney_--Waylays the Red Sea fleet--Captures the _Mary_--Visits Carwar +and Calicut--His letter to the factory--Chased by Portuguese +men-of-war--Chases the _Sedgwick_--Chivers--Action between _Dorrill_ and +_Resolution_--Kidd captures the _Quedah Merchant_--Dilemma of European +traders at Surat--Their agreements with the authorities--Experience of +the _Benjamin_--News of Kidd's piracies reaches England--Despatch of +squadron under Warren--Littleton at Madagascar--Kidd sails for New +York--Arrested and tried--His defence and execution--Justice of his +sentence--His character--Diminution of piracy--Lowth in the _Loyal +Merchant_--Act for suppression of piracy--Captain Millar ... + + +CHAPTER III + +THE RISE OF CONAJEE ANGRIA + +Native piracy hereditary on the Malabar coast--Marco Polo's +account--Fryer's narrative--The Kempsant--Arab and Sanganian +pirates--Attack on the _President_--Loss of the _Josiah_--Attack on the +_Phoenix_--The _Thomas_ captured--Depredations of the Gulf +pirates--Directors' views--Conajee Angria--Attacks English +ships--Destroys the _Bombay_--Fortifies Kennery--Becomes +independent--Captures the Governor's yacht--Attacks the _Somers_ and +_Grantham_--Makes peace with Bombay--His navy--Great increase of +European and native piracy ... + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN ACTIVE GOVERNOR + +Arrival of Mr. Boone as Governor--He builds ships and improves defences of +Bombay--Desperate engagement of _Morning Star_ with Sanganians--Alexander +Hamilton--Expedition against Vingorla--Its failure--Hamilton made +Commodore--Expedition against Carwar--Landing force defeated--Successful +skirmish--Desertion of Goa recruits--Reinforcements--Landing force again +defeated--The Rajah makes peace--Hamilton resigns Commodoreship--A +noseless company--Angria recommences attacks--Abortive expedition against +Gheriah--Downing's account of it--Preparations to attack Kennery ... + + +CHAPTER V + +THE COMPANY'S SERVANTS + +The Company's civil servants--Their comparison with English who went to +America--Their miserable salaries--The Company's military +servants--Regarded with distrust--Shaxton's mutiny--Captain +Keigwin--Broken pledges and ill-treatment--Directors' vacillating +policy--Military grievances--Keigwin seizes the administration of +Bombay--His wise rule--Makes his submission to the Crown--Low status of +Company's military officers--Lord Egmont's speech--Factors and writers as +generals and colonels--Bad quality of the common soldiers--Their bad +treatment--Complaint against Midford--Directors' parsimony ... + + +CHAPTER VI + +EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY + +Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and +Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria occupies +Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de Castro--Futile +proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second landing--Manuel de Castro's +treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour of two captains--Defeat--Attack +abandoned--The _St. George_--The _Phram_--Manuel de Castro +punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria makes overtures for peace--Boone +outwitted ... + + +CHAPTER VII + +EXPEDITION AGAINST GHERIAH + +Trouble with the Portuguese--Madagascar pirates again--Loss of the +_Cassandra_--Captain Macrae's brave defence--The one-legged +pirate--Richard Lazenby--Expedition against Gheriah--Mr. Walter Brown--His +incompetency--Gordon's landing--Insubordination and drunkenness--Arrival +of the _Phram_--General attack--Failure--The Kempsant's alliance--Attack +on Deoghur--The Madagascar pirates, England and Taylor--Ignominious +flight--Fate of the _Phram_--Brown despatched south again--The pirates at +Cochin--They take flight to Madagascar--Their rage against Macrae and +England--England marooned--Taylor takes Goa ship--Rich prize--Governor +Macrae ... + + +CHAPTER VIII + +EXPEDITION AGAINST COLABA + +Measures taken in England against pirates--Woodes Rogers at the +Bahamas--Edward Teach--Challoner Ogle--Bartholomew Roberts +killed--Matthews sent to the East Indies--Naval officers' duels--Portuguese +alliance--Expedition against Colaba--Assault--Defeat--A split in the +alliance--Plot against Boone--His departure--Matthews' schemes--His +insulting behaviour--He quarrels with everybody--Goes to Madagascar--The +King of Ranter Bay--Matthews goes to Bengal ... + + +CHAPTER IX + +A TROUBLED YEAR IN BOMBAY + +Loss of the _Hunter_ galley--Quarrel with Portuguese--Alliance of +Portuguese with Angria--War with both--A double triumph--Portuguese make +peace--Angria cowed--Matthews reappears--Trouble caused by him--He +returns to England--Court-martialled--The last of Matthews ... + + +CHAPTER X + +TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF CONFLICT + +The case of Mr. Curgenven--Death of Conajee Angria--Quarrels of his +sons--Portuguese intervention--Sumbhajee Angria--Political +changes--Disaster to _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys--The _Ockham_ beats +off Angria's fleet--The Coolees--Loss of the _Derby_--Mahrattas expel +Portuguese from Salsette--Captain Inchbird--Mannajee Angria gives +trouble--Dutch squadron repulsed from Gheriah--Gallant action of the +_Harrington_--Sumbhajee attacks Colaba--English assist Mannajee--Loss +of the _Antelope_--Death of Sumbhajee Angria--Toolajee Angria--Capture +of the _Anson_--Toolajee takes the _Restoration_--Power of +Toolajee--Lisle's squadron--Building of the _Protector_ and +_Guardian_ ... + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE DOWNFALL OF ANGRIA + +Toolajee fights successful action with the Dutch--He tries to make peace +with Bombay--Alliance formed against him--Commodore William +James--Slackness of the Peishwa's fleet--Severndroog--James's gallant +attack--Fall of Severndroog--Council postpone attack on Gheriah--Clive +arrives from England--Projects of the Directors--Admiral +Watson--Preparations against Gheriah--The Council's instructions--Council +of war about prize-money--Double dealing of the Peishwa's +officers--Watson's hint--Ships engage Gheriah--Angrian fleet burnt--Fall +of Gheriah--Clive occupies the fort--The prize-money--Dispute between +Council and Poonah Durbar--Extinction of coast piracy--Severndroog +tower ... + + + + * * * * * + + + +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +MAHRATTA GRABS AND GALLIVATS ATTACKING AN ENGLISH SHIP. +MAP OF MALABAR COAST. + + + + * * * * * + + + +THE PIRATES OF MALABAR + + + +CHAPTER I + +_RISE OF EUROPEAN PIRACY IN THE EAST_ + +Portuguese pirates--Vincente Sodre--Dutch pirates--Royal +filibustering--Endymion Porter's venture--The Courten Association--The +Indian Red Sea fleet--John Hand--Odium excited against the English in +Surat--The _Caesar_ attacked by French pirates--Danish depredations--West +Indian pirates--Ovington's narrative--Interlopers and permission +ships--Embargo placed on English trade--Rovers trapped at Mungrole--John +Steel--Every seizes the _Charles the Second_ and turns pirate--His letter +to English commanders--The Madagascar settlements--Libertatia--Fate of +Sawbridge--Capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_--Immense booty--Danger of the +English at Surat--Bombay threatened--Friendly behaviour of the Surat +Governor--Embargo on European trade--Every sails for America--His reputed +end--Great increase of piracy--Mutiny of the _Mocha_ and _Josiah_ +crews--Culliford in the _Resolution_--The _London_ seized by Imaum of +Muscat. + + +From the first days of European enterprise in the East, the coasts of +India were regarded as a favourable field for filibusters, the earliest +we hear of being Vincente Sodre, a companion of Vasco da Gama in his +second voyage. Intercourse with heathens and idolaters was regulated +according to a different code of ethics from that applied to intercourse +with Christians. The authority of the Old Testament upheld slavery, and +Africans were regarded more as cattle than human beings; while Asiatics +were classed higher, but still as immeasurably inferior to Europeans. To +prey upon Mahommedan ships was simply to pursue in other waters the +chronic warfare carried on against Moors and Turks in the Mediterranean. +The same feelings that led the Spaniards to adopt the standard of the +Cross in their conquest of Mexico and Peru were present, though less +openly avowed, in the minds of the merchants and adventurers of all +classes and nationalities who flocked into the Indian seas in the +sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. With the decadence of buccaneering +and the growth of Indian trade, there was a corresponding increase of +piracy, and European traders ceased to enjoy immunity. + +In 1623 the depredations of the Dutch brought the English into disgrace. +Their warehouses at Surat were seized, and the president and factors were +placed in irons, in which condition they remained seven months. This +grievance was the greater, as it happened at the time that the cruel +torture and execution of Captain Towerson and his crew by the Dutch took +place at Amboyna. It was bad enough to be made responsible for the doings +of their own countrymen, but to be punished for the misdeeds of their +enemies was a bitter pill to swallow. In 1630, just as peace was being +concluded with France and Spain, Charles I., who was beginning his +experiment of absolute government, despatched the _Seahorse_, Captain +Quail, to the Red Sea to capture the ships and goods of Spanish subjects, +as well as of any other nations not in league and amity with England. +There were no Spaniards in the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean, but +international arrangements in Europe were not regarded when the equator +had been crossed. Quail captured a Malabar vessel, for which the Company's +servants at Surat were forced to pay full compensation. The _Seahorse_ +returned to England in 1633, but in view of the new field of enterprise +opened up, Endymion Porter, Gentleman of the King's bedchamber, embarked +on a piratical speculation, in partnership with two London merchants, +Bonnell and Kynaston, with a licence under the privy seal to visit any +part of the world and capture ships and goods of any state not in league +and amity with England. Two ships, the _Samaritan_ and _Roebuck_, were +fitted out with such secrecy that the East India Company were kept in +ignorance, and sailed in April, 1635, for the Red Sea, under Captain Cobb. + +The _Samaritan_ was wrecked in the Comoro Islands; but Cobb, continuing +his cruise with the _Roebuck_, captured two Mogul vessels at the mouth of +the Red Sea, from one of which he took a large sum of money and a +quantity of goods, though the vessel had a pass from the Surat factory. +Again the Company's servants at Surat were imprisoned, and not released +till they had paid full compensation. Some small satisfaction was +experienced when it became known that John Proud, master of the _Swan_, +one of the Company's ships, had encountered the _Roebuck_ in the Comoro +Islands, and had attacked the freebooter. He was unable to capture it, +but succeeded in procuring restitution of the captured goods; the +treasure, however, was carried off to London, where it must have seemed +as if the days of Drake and Hawkins had come again. + +The Company laid their grievance before the King, who expressed much +concern, promising to write to the Great Mogul and explain matters; so +the Company commenced an action against Bonnell and Kynaston in the +Admiralty Court. Porter was too highly placed to be struck at. Bonnell +evaded arrest and escaped to France, but Kynaston was arrested and lodged +in gaol; upon which Charles ordered his release on bail, saying he would +try the case himself at his leisure. + +But Porter's views went beyond a single piratical voyage. Hardly had Cobb +started on his cruise, when he entered into partnership with Sir William +Courten for an association to establish a separate trade to the East +Indies. A royal grant was obtained, and the King himself was credited +with a share to the nominal extent of £10,000. The grant was a flagrant +breach of faith, and was the inauguration of the system of interlopers +that in after years caused so much loss and trouble to the Company. Four +ships were equipped and sent out, and before long it became known that +two vessels from Surat and Diu had been plundered by Courten's ships, and +their crews tortured. Again the Company's servants at Surat were seized +and thrown into prison, where they were kept for two months, being only +released on payment of Rs.1,70,000, and on solemnly swearing to respect +Mogul ships. + +The Civil War brought these courtly piracies to an end, and the decay of +the Spanish power drew the more turbulent spirits of Europe and America +to the Spanish main, so that for a time there was a diminution of +European piracy in Indian waters. As buccaneering became more dangerous, +or less lucrative, adventurers of all nations again appeared in Eastern +waters, and the old trouble reappeared in an aggravated form. The Indian +Red Sea fleet offered an especially tempting booty to the rovers. Lobo, a +Jesuit priest, writing in the seventeenth century, tells us that so vast +was the commerce of Jeddah, and so great the value of the ships trading +to that place, that when, in India, it was wished to describe a thing of +inestimable price, it was customary to say, 'It is of more value than a +Jeddah ship.' Every year during the winter months, Indian traders, and +pilgrims for Mecca, found their way in single ships to the Red Sea. On +the setting in of the monsoon, they collected at Mocha, and made their +way back in a single body. All Indian trade with the Red Sea was paid for +in gold and silver, so that the returning ships offered many tempting +prizes to freebooters. + +In 1683 John Hand, master of the _Bristol_, interloper, cleared his ship +with papers made out for Lisbon and Brazil, and sailed for Madeira. There +he called his crew together, and told them he intended to take his ship +to the East Indies. Those who were unwilling were overawed, Hand being a +mighty 'pastionate' man. He appears to have been half pirate and half +trader; equally ready to attack other traders, or to trade himself in +spices and drugs. On the Sumatra coast, finding the natives unwilling to +do business with him, he went ashore with a pistol in his pocket to bring +the 'black dogs' to reason. The pistol went off in his pocket and +shattered his thigh, and that was the end of John Hand. + +In the same year, six men, of whom four were English and two Dutch, while +on passage in a native merchant's ship from the Persian Gulf to Surat, +seized the ship, killing the owner and his two wives. The lascars were +thrown overboard, six being retained to work the ship. Their cruise did +not last long. Making for Honore, they threw the six lascars overboard +when nearing the port. The men managed to get to land, and reaching +Honore, gave information of the would-be pirates to the local authorities, +who seized the ship, and soon disposed of the rogues. + +Three years later, two ships under English colours, mounting respectively +forty-four and twenty guns, were reported to have captured vessels in the +Red Sea, to the value of Rs.600,000. The Seedee of Jinjeera, who styled +himself the Mogul's Admiral, received a yearly subsidy of four lakhs for +convoying the fleet, a duty that he was quite unable to perform against +European desperadoes. Public opinion at Surat was at once excited against +the English, and further inflamed by the Dutch and French, who were only +too anxious to see a rival excluded from the trade. Sir John Child, to +pacify the Governor, offered to send a man-of-war to look for the pirates; +but the Dutch and French factors continued to 'spitt their venom' till +the Governor laughed in their faces and asked why they did not join in +sending vessels to look for the rogues, since the matter seemed to them +so serious. + +In the same season a gallant engagement was fought against pirates, +though not in Indian waters. The Company's ship _Caesar_, Captain Wright, +bound from England for Bombay, was chased off the coast of Gambia by five +ships, carrying each from twenty to thirty guns, under French colours. +Wright had no intention of yielding without a struggle, so put his ship +before the wind, to gain time for getting into fighting trim. The +_Caesar_ was carrying soldiers, and there were plenty of men to fight the +ship. The boats were cut away, the decks cleared, ammunition and arms +served out, three thousand pounds of bread which cumbered the gun-room +were thrown overboard, and the tops were filled with marksmen. As soon as +all was ready, the mainsail was furled, and the ship kept under easy sail. +Before long the two smaller ships came up, hoisted the red flag, and +began firing, one on the _Caesar's_ quarter and one astern. Soon the +three other ships, two of which Wright styled the Admiral and +Vice-Admiral, came up. The Admiral ranged up on the quarter and tried to +board, but was obliged to sheer off, with the loss of many men and a +bowsprit shot away. The Vice-Admiral tried to board at the bow, but with +no better success, losing a foreyard and mizzen-mast. For five hours the +engagement lasted, but the small-arm men in the _Caesar's_ tops fired so +well that the pirates could hardly serve their guns. The crew showed a +wonderful spirits cheering loudly at every successful shot, till the +discomfited pirates bore up, leaving the _Caesar_ to pursue her way to +Bombay, much knocked about as to hull, but having lost only one man +killed and eight wounded. + +In the following year came news to Surat of two vessels, under Danish +colours, that had stopped English ships and seized native ones between +Surat and Bombay. The _Phoenix_, a British man-of-war, was at Surat at +the time, so, together with the _Kent_, East Indiaman, it was despatched +to look after the marauders, taking with them also two small boys, sent +to represent the French and the Dutch. In due time Captain Tyrrell +returned, and reported that he had found a squadron of four vessels; that +after a two days' chase he had brought them to, when they turned out to +be two Danish ships, with two prizes they had taken. They showed him +their commission, authorizing them to make reprisals on the Mogul's +subjects for affronts offered to Danish traders; so he left them alone. A +few months later the Portuguese factory at Cong, in the Persian Gulf, was +plundered by an English pirate; another was heard of in the Red Sea, +while Philip Babington an Irish pirate, was cruising off Tellichery in +the _Charming Mary_. + +By 1689 a number of sea rovers from the West Indies had made their +appearance, and the factory at Fort St. George reported that the sea +trade was 'pestered with pirates.' The first comers had contented +themselves with plundering native ships. Now their operations were +extended to European vessels not of their own nationality. In time this +restriction ceased to be observed; they hoisted the red or black flag, +with or without the colours of the nationality they affected, and spared +no vessel they were strong enough to capture. + +The Armenian merchants were loud in their complaints. An Armenian ship, +bound from Goa to Madras, with twenty thousand pagodas on board, was +taken by a pirate ship of two hundred tons, carrying twenty-two guns and +a crew of sixty men. Another Armenian ship, with fifty thousand xeraphims, +was taken near Bombay, on its voyage from Goa to Surat. Besides those +that beset the Malabar coast, there were pirates in the Persian Gulf, at +the mouth of the Red Sea, and in the Mozambique Channel, while five +pirate vessels were cruising off Acheen. During the next ten years the +losses caused by the pirates were prodigious. + +Ovington mentions that at St. Helena (1689) they were told, by a slaver, +of three pirates, two English and the other Dutch, so richly laden with +booty that they could hardly navigate their ships, which had become +weather-beaten and unseaworthy from their long cruises off the Red Sea +mouth. Their worn-out canvas sails were replaced with double silk. + + "They were prodigal in the expences of their unjust gain, and + quenched their thirst with Europe liquor at any rate this Commander + (the slaver) would put upon it; and were so frank both in distributing + their goods, and guzzling down the noble wine, as if they were both + wearied with the possession of their rapine, and willing to stifle + all the melancholy reflections concerning it." + +Such an account was bound to fire the imagination of every seaman who +heard it. + +The number of pirates was increased by the interlopers, merchant +adventurers trading without a licence, who, like John Hand, when they +failed to get cargoes, plundered native ships. Their proceedings were +imitated by the permission ships, vessels that held the Company's licence +for a single voyage. Not seldom the crews of interlopers and permission +ships rose and seized the vessel against the will of their owners and +commanders and hoisted the Jolly Roger. Commissions were granted to the +East India Company's commanders to seize interlopers; but the interlopers, +as a rule, were remarkably well able to take care of themselves. As +pirates and interlopers alike sailed under English colours, the whole +odium fell on the English. In August, 1691, a ship belonging to the +wealthy merchant, Abdul Guffoor, was taken at the mouth of the Surat +river, with nine lakhs in hard cash on board. A guard was placed on the +factory at Surat, and an embargo laid on English trade. As the pirate had +shown the colours of several nationalities, the authorities were loth to +proceed to extremities. Fortunately for the English Company, a member of +the pirate crew was captured, and proved to be a Dane; so the embargo on +English trade was taken off. + +Though they plied their calling at sea, almost with impunity, the pirates +occasionally fell victims to Oriental treachery on shore. Thus, James +Gilliam, a rover, having put into Mungrole, on the Kattiawar coast, was +made welcome and much praised for the noble lavishness with which he paid +for supplies. Soon there came an invitation to a banquet, and Gilliam, +with some of his officers and crew, twenty in all, were received by the +representative of the Nawab of Junaghur with excessive ceremony. Much +polite curiosity was evinced about the noble strangers. "Why did they +always go armed? Were their muskets loaded? Would they discharge them to +show their host the European method?" The muskets were discharged, and +immediately the banquet was announced. "Delay to reload the muskets was +inexpedient. It would be time to recharge their weapons after the feast." +And then, when seated and defenceless, there was an irruption of armed +men, and Gilliam, with his followers, were seized and fettered. For a +year they lay at Junaghur, where two of them died. In vain Gilliam +contrived to send a letter to the Surat factory, asking that they might +be claimed as British subjects. President Harris knew that the least +interest shown in the fate of the rovers would be fatal to the interests +of the Company, and was relieved when he heard that they had been sent to +Aurungzeeb's camp; after which they are heard of no more. + +In the beginning of 1692, authority was given to the Company's commanders +to seize pirates and hold them till the King's pleasure was known, but +the measure was of small effect. The pirates were prime seamen, who +outsailed and outfought the Company's ships; while among the Company's +crews they had numerous sympathizers. The prizes to be gained were so +great and the risks so small, that the Company could hardly restrain +their own men from joining the sea rovers. Thus, in 1694, John Steel[1] +ran away with the long boat of the _Ruby_ frigate. Sixteen others who had +plotted to join him were detected in time, and clapped in irons. The +French and Dutch gave passes to all who applied for them, so Steel placed +himself under French protection, and for two years 'that rogue Steel' +finds frequent mention in the coast letters. Four years later Steel was +arrested in England. But though the directors had been supplied with many +accounts of his misdeeds, no sworn evidence could be produced against him, +so Steel escaped scot-free. + +All other pirates, however, were destined to be eclipsed in fame by Henry +Every, _alias_ Bridgman,[2] who now made his appearance in the Indian +seas. His exploits, the great wealth he amassed by piracy, and his +reputed marriage with a Mogul princess, continued to excite the public +mind long after he had disappeared from the scene. Several biographies of +him were written, one of them attributed to Defoe, all of them containing +great exaggerations; and a play, _The Successful Pirate_, was written in +his honour. His biographers generally give his name as John Avery, but it +was as is here given. According to the account of Van Broeck, a Dutchman, +who was detained on board his ship for a time, and was on good terms with +him, he was born at Plymouth, the son of a trading captain who had served +in the navy under Blake. Every himself served in the navy, in the +_Resolution_ and _Edgar_, before he got the command of a merchant ship, +in which he made several voyages to the West Indies. In May, 1694, he was +first mate of the _Charles the Second_, one of the small squadron of +English ships hired from Sir James Houblon, by the Spanish Government, to +act against French smugglers who were troubling their Peruvian trade.[3] + +The Spaniards were bad paymasters, and Houblon's squadron was detained at +Corunna three or four months, while the crews became more and more +discontented as their wages remained unpaid. As their sense of grievance +increased, a plot was formed among the most turbulent spirits to seize a +ship and turn rovers, under Every's command. On the night of the 30th May, +the captain of the _Charles the Second_ was made prisoner while in bed. A +boat-load of men sent from the _James_ to prevent the capture, joined the +mutineers; the cables were cut, and the ship ran out of harbour. The +captain and all who were unwilling to join were put into a boat, and the +_Charles_, renamed the _Fancy_, was headed south for the coast of Africa. +The only man detained against his will was the doctor, as he was a useful +man. + +Some months were spent on the Guinea coast, where some negroes were +captured, and five ships--three English and two Danish--were plundered +and burnt. Before the end of the year Every was east of the Cape, intent +on the Red Sea traders. The first intelligence of him that reached Bombay +was in May, 1695, when three outward-bound merchantmen reported that they +had seen him at Johanna. + + "Your Honor's ships going into that island gave him chase, but he was + too nimble for them by much, having taken down a great deale of his + upper works and made her exceeding snugg, which advantage being added + to her well sailing before, causes her to sail so hard now, that she + fears not who follows her. This ship will undoubtedly (go) into the + Red Sea, which will procure infinite clamours at Surat." + +Accompanying this report came the following characteristic letter from +Every:-- + +"February y'e 28th, 1695/4. + + "To all English. Commanders lett this Satisfye that I was Riding here + att this Instant in y'e Ship fancy man of Warr formerly the Charles + of y'e Spanish Expedition who departed from Croniae y'e 7th of May. + 94: Being and am now in A Ship of 46 guns 150 Men & bound to Seek our + fortunes I have Never as Yett Wronged any English or Dutch nor never + Intend whilst I am Commander. Wherefore as I Commonly Speake w'th all + Ships I Desire who ever Comes to y'e perusal of this to take this + Signall that if you or aney whome you may informe are desirous to + know w't wee are att a Distance then make your Antient Vp in a Ball + or Bundle and hoyst him att y'e Mizon Peek y'e Mizon Being furled I + shall answere w'th y'e same & Never Molest you: for my men are hungry + Stout and Resolute: & should they Exceed my Desire I cannott help my + selfe. + +as Yett +An Englishman's friend + +HENRY EVERY." + + "Here is 160 od french Armed men now att Mohilla who waits for + Opportunity of getting aney ship, take Care of your Selves."[4] + +According to Van Broeck, he was a man of good natural disposition, who +had been soured by the bad treatment he received at the hands of his +relations. The letter shows him to have been a man of some education, and +during his short but active career in the Indian seas he appears to have +attacked native ships only. The Company's records do not mention the loss +of a single English ship at Every's hands, a circumstance that no doubt +told heavily against the English in native opinion at Surat. + +The same ships that brought Every's letter to Sir John Gayer brought +intelligence of a well-known French pirate having got aground at Mohilla. +The three Company's ships watering at Johanna, heard of the occurrence, +and proceeded to the spot, burnt the French ship after taking out what +treasure was on board, and captured six of the Frenchmen, who were +brought to Bombay. Every's friendly warning about the '160 od French +armed men' evidently referred to the wrecked crew. + +The value of Perim, or Bab's Key, as it was then called by mariners, to +command the trade of the Red Sea, was at once perceived by Every, who +attempted to make a settlement there. After some unprofitable digging for +water, he abandoned the project, and established himself in Madagascar, +which had before this become known as a pirate resort. During the next +thirty years the only traders who dared show themselves on the Madagascar +coast were those who did business with the pirates, owing to the number +of pirate settlements that sprang up at different points; the best known +being at St. Mary's Island, St. Augustine's, Port Dauphin, and Charnock's +Point. They built themselves forts and established a reign of terror over +the surrounding country, sometimes taking a part in native quarrels, and +sometimes fighting among themselves; dubbing themselves kings, and living +in squalid dignity with large seraglios of native women. Captain Woodes +Rogers, who touched at Madagascar for slaves, sixteen years after Every's +time, described those he met as having been on the islands above +twenty-five years, with a motley crowd of children and grandchildren. + + "Having been so many years upon this Island, it may be imagined their + Cloaths had long been worn out, so that their Majesties were + extremely out at the Elbows: I cannot say they were ragged, since + they had no Cloaths, they had nothing to cover them but the Skins of + Beasts without any tanning, but with all the Hair on, nor a Shoe nor + Stocking, so they looked like the Pictures of Hercules in the Lion's + Skin; and being overgrown with Beard, and Hair upon their Bodies, + they appeared the most savage Figures that a Man's Imagination can + frame."[5] + +One remarkable settlement was founded in the north, near Diego Suarez, by +Misson, a Frenchman, and the most humane of pirates, with whom was allied +Tew, the English pirate. Misson's aim was to build a fortified town "that +they might have some place to call their own; and a receptacle, when age +and wounds had rendered them incapable of hardship, where they might +enjoy the fruits of their labour and go to their graves in peace." The +settlement was named Libertatia. Slavery was not permitted, and freed +slaves were encouraged to settle there. The harbour was strongly +fortified, as a Portuguese squadron that attacked them found to its cost. +A dock was made; crops were sown; a Lord Conservator was appointed for +three years, with a Parliament to make laws. The colony was still in its +infancy when it was surprised and destroyed by the natives, while Misson +was away on a cruise; and so Libertatia came to an end. Tew succeeded in +escaping to his sloop with a quantity of diamonds and gold in bars. On +Misson rejoining him, they determined to go to America. Misson's ship +foundered in a storm, while Tew made his way to Rhode Islands, and lived +there for a time unquestioned. But the fascinations of a rover's life +were too much for him. He fitted out a sloop and made again for the Red +Sea, and was killed in action there with a Mogul ship. + +From their Madagascar settlements the pirates scoured the east coast of +Africa, the Indian Ocean as far as Sumatra, the mouth of the Red Sea, +where the Mocha ships offered many rich prizes, the Malabar coast, and +the Gulf of Oman. From time to time, ships from New England and the West +Indies brought supplies and recruits, taking back those who were tired of +the life, and who wished to enjoy their booty. European prisoners were +seldom treated barbarously when there was no resistance, and the pirate +crews found many recruits among captured merchantmen. Their worst +cruelties were reserved for the native merchants of India who fell into +their hands. They believed all native traders to be possessed of jewels, +as was indeed often the case, and the cruellest tortures were inflicted +on them to make them surrender their valuables. One unhappy Englishman we +hear of, Captain Sawbridge, who was taken by pirates, while on a voyage +to Surat with a ship-load of Arab horses from Bombay. His complaints and +expostulations were so annoying to his captors that, after repeatedly +telling him to hold his tongue, they took a sail needle and twine and +sewed his lips together. They kept him thus several hours, with his hands +tied behind him, while they plundered his ship, which they afterwards set +on fire, burning her and the horses in her. Sawbridge and his people were +carried to Aden and set on shore, where he died soon after. + +Before long. Every made some notable captures. Off Aden he found five +pirate ships of English nationality, three of them from America, +commanded by May, Farrell, and Wake. In the Gulf of Aden he burned the +town of Mahet on the Somali coast because the people refused to trade +with him. In September, while cruising off Socotra with the _Fancy_, two +sloops, and a galley, he took the _Futteh Mahmood_ with a valuable cargo, +belonging to Abdool Quffoor, the wealthiest and most influential merchant +in Surat. A few days later he took off Sanjan, north of Bombay, a ship +belonging to the Emperor, called the _Gunj Suwaie_ (Exceeding Treasure). +This was the great capture that made Every famous. According to the +legend, there was a granddaughter of Aurungzeeb on board, whom Every +wedded by the help of a moollah, and carried off to Madagascar. But the +story is only the most sensational of the many romantic inventions that +have accumulated round Every's name. The native historian[6] who relates +the capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_, and who had friends on board, would +certainly not have refrained from mentioning such an event if it had +occurred; nor would the Mogul Emperor have failed to wreak vengeance on +the English for such an insult to his family. + +The _Gunj Suwaie_ was the largest ship belonging to the port of Surat. It +carried eighty guns and four hundred matchlocks, besides other warlike +implements, and was deemed so strong that it disdained the help of a +convoy. On this occasion it was returning from the Red Sea with the +result of the season's trading, amounting to fifty-two lakhs of rupees[7] +in silver and gold, and having on board a number of Mahommedan ladies +returning from pilgrimage to Mecca. In spite of the disparity of force, +Every bore down and engaged. The first gun fired by the _Gunj Suwaie_ +burst, killing three or four men and wounding others. The main mast was +badly damaged by Every's broadsides, and the _Fancy_ ran alongside and +boarded. This was the moment when a decent defence should have been made. +The sailor's cutlass was a poor match for the curved sword and shield, so +much so that the English were notorious in the East for their want of +boldness in sword-play. But Ibrahim Khan, the captain, was a coward, and +ran below at the sight of the white faces. His crew followed his example, +and the vessel was taken almost without resistance. + +So rich a prize was not to be relinquished without a very complete search. +For a whole week the _Gunj Suwaie_ was rummaged from stem to stern, while +the crew of the _Fancy_ indulged in a horrible orgy, excited beyond +measure by the immense booty that had fallen into their hands. Several of +the women threw themselves into the sea or slew themselves with daggers; +the last piece of silver was sought out and carried on board the _Fancy_, +the last jewel torn from the passengers and crew, and then the _Gunj +Suwaie_ was left to find its way to Surat as it best could. + +The vials of long-accumulated wrath were poured out on the English. +Instigated by Abdul Guffoor, the populace of Surat flew to arms to wreak +vengeance on the factory. The Governor, Itimad Khan, was well disposed to +the English, but popular excitement ran so high that he found it +difficult to protect them. Guards were placed on the factory to save it +from plunder. A mufti urged that the English should be put to death in +revenge for the death of so many true believers, and quoted an +appropriate text from the Koran. Soon came an order from Aurungzeeb +directing the Seedee to march on Bombay, and for all the English in Surat +and Broach to be made prisoners. President Annesley and the rest, +sixty-three in all, were placed in irons, and so remained eleven months. +To make matters worse, news arrived of Every having captured the +_Rampura_, a Cambay ship with a cargo valued at Rs.1,70,000. + + "It is strange," wrote Sir John Gayer, "to see how almost all the + merchants are incensed against our nation, reproaching the Governor + extremely for taking our part, and as strange to see that + notwithstanding all, he stems the stream against them more than well + could be imagined, considering his extreme timorous nature." + +The strangeness of the merchants' hostility is hardly apparent, but it is +not too much to say that Itimad Khan's friendly behaviour alone saved +English trade from extinction. The Dutch, always hostile in the East, +whatever might be the relations between Holland and England in Europe, +strove to improve the occasion by fomenting popular excitement, and tried +to get the English permanently excluded from the Indian trade. In the +words of Sir John Grayer, "they retained their Edomitish principles, and +rejoice to see Jacob laid low." But Itimad Khan knew that the pirates +were of all nationalities, and refused to hold the English alone +responsible. To propitiate the Governor, Sir John Gayer made over to him +the six French pirates taken at Mohilla, not without qualms at handing +over Christians to Mahommedan mercies. He fully expected that the +treasure taken out of the wreck would also be demanded of him; but Itimad +Khan was not an avaricious man, and no such demand was made. "His +contempt of money is not to be paralleled by any of the King's Umbraws or +Governors," Sir John wrote, a year later, when Itimad Khan was dead. To +forestall the Dutch with the Emperor, Gayer sent an agent offering to +convoy the Red Sea fleet for the future, in return for a yearly payment +of four lakhs a year. The offer was refused, but it served to place the +English in a more favourable light, and to procure the cancelling of +orders that had been given for attacking Bombay and Madras. Had it been +accepted, the Seedee would have been added to the number of the Company's +enemies. The Dutch, not to be outdone, offered to perform the same +service in return for a monopoly of trade in the Emperor's dominions. +This brought all other Europeans into line against the Dutch proposal, +and the intrigue was defeated. The embargo on all European trade at +Surat was maintained, while the Dutch, French, and English were directed +to scour the seas and destroy the pirates. It was further ordered that +Europeans on shore were not to carry arms or use palanquins, and their +ships were forbidden to hoist their national flags. The Dutch and French +hung back. They would not send a ship to sea without payment, except for +their own affairs. Sir John Gayer, more wisely, sent armed ships to +convoy the Mocha fleet, at the Company's charge, and so the storm passed +off. + +Meanwhile, Every, glutted with booty, made up his mind to retire[8] with +his enormous gains. According to Johnson, he gave the slip, at night, to +his consorts, sailed for Providence in the Bahamas, where his crew +dispersed, and thence made his way to England, just at the time a royal +proclamation offering £500 for his apprehension was published. The reward +was doubled by an offer of four thousand rupees from the Company; eight +rupees being the equivalent of a pound at that time. Several of his crew +also straggled home and were captured; but before he left the Indian +coast, twenty-five Frenchmen, fourteen Danes, and some English were put +ashore, fearing to show themselves in Europe or America. This fact would +seem to throw some doubt on the account of his having left his consorts +by stealth. + +On the 19th October, 1696, six of his crew were tried and sentenced at +the Old Bailey, and a true bill was found and an indictment framed +against Every himself, though he had not been apprehended. According to +Johnson,[9] Every changed his name and lived unostentatiously, while +trying to sell the jewels he had amassed. The merchant in whose hands he +had placed them, suspecting how they had been come by, threatened him. +Every fled to Ireland, leaving his jewels in the merchant's hands, and +finally died in Devonshire in extreme poverty. But the authority for this, +as for most of the popular accounts of Every, is extremely doubtful. That +he was cheated out of some of his ill-gotten gains is probable enough, +but it is in the highest degree improbable that he was known to be living +in poverty, and yet that the large reward offered for his apprehension +was not earned. What is alone certain is that he was never apprehended, +and that in a few months he carried off an amount of plunder such as +never before was taken out of the Indian seas by a single rover. For long +he was the hero of every seaport town in England and North America; +innumerable legends gathered round his name, and an immense impulse was +given to piracy. + +A few months after his departure, there were five pirate ships in the Red +Sea, under English colours; two more, each mounting fourteen guns, were +in the Persian Gulf, and another was cruising off Tellicherry. At +Madagascar others were coming in fast. The news of Every's great booty +had spread from port to port, and every restless spirit was intent on +seeking his fortune in this new Eldorado, as men nowadays flock to a new +goldfield. The Company's sailors were not proof against the temptation. +While on the way from Bombay to China the crew of the _Mocha_ frigate +mutinied, off the coast of Acheen, killed their captain, Edgecombe, and +set afloat in the pinnace twenty-seven officers and men who refused to +join them. The _Mocha_ was then renamed the _Defence_, and for the next +three years did an infinity of damage in the Indian Ocean. At the same +time, the crew of the _Josiah_ ketch from Bombay, while at anchor in the +Madras roads, took advantage of the commander being on shore to run away +with the ship. The whole thing had been planned between the two crews +before leaving Bombay; their intention being to meet off the coast of +Sumatra, and cruise in company. The piratical career of the _Josiah_ did +not last long. Making first for the Nicobars, the crew flocked on shore, +and were soon involved in quarrels with the natives; leaving on board +only two men, one of whom was James Cruffe, the armourer, who had been +forced to join them against his will. The other man was but a lukewarm +pirate, and Cruffe prevailed on him to join in an attempt to carry off +the ship. They cut the cable, and by great good fortune, without any +knowledge of navigation, succeeded in carrying the ship into Acheen. + +Stout's command of the _Defence_, once _Mocha_, quickly came to an end. +According to one account, he was put to death by his comrades, at the +Laccadives, for trying to desert them; according to another account, he +was slain by some Malays. His place was taken by Culliford, who had been +the leader of the mutineers of the _Josiah_. He changed the ship's name +to the _Resolution_, and proved himself one of the most daring rovers of +his day. + +The untrustworthiness of his crews placed Sir John Gayer in an awkward +dilemma. He had to report to the Directors that he dared not send ships +to convoy pilgrims lest the crews should mutiny; that a boat could not be +manned in Bombay harbour for fear of desertion, while, on shore, he had +not a soldier fit to be made a corporal. A powerful French squadron had +appeared on the coast, and the Surat President calculated that the +Company's recent losses on captured ships sailing from Surat amounted to +a million sterling. The losses of the native merchants were even more +serious; trade was almost at a standstill, while three more pirate ships +from New York appeared in the Gulf of Cambay, and captured country ships +to the value of four lakhs of rupees. Every letter along the coast at +this date speaks of the doings of the rovers: every ship coming into +harbour told of pirates, of chases and narrow escapes, and of reported +captures. + + "These pirates spare none but take all they meet, and take the Europe + men into their own ships, with such goods as they like, and sink the + ships, sending the lascars on rafts to find the shore." + +So bold were the marauders that they cruised in sight of Bombay harbour, +and careened their ships in sight of factories along the coast. + +To avenge their losses, the Muscat Arabs, in April, 1697, seized the +_London_, belonging to Mr. Affleck, a private merchant. The Arabs were +engaged in hostilities with the Portuguese at the time, and forced the +crew of the _London_ to fight for them. Those who were unwilling were +lashed to masts exposed to Portuguese fire, from which they did not +escape scatheless. In vain the commanders of two of the Company's vessels +assured the Imaum that the _London_ was not a pirate. + + "You have sent me a letter," he wrote, "about my people taking one of + your ships. It is true that I have done so, in return for one you + English took from me, so now we are even and have ship for ship; for + this one I will not surrender. If you wish to be friends, I am + willing to be so; if not, I will fight you and take all the ships I + can." + +One pirate ship was reported to have chased two Cong ships, capturing one +and forcing the other ashore, where it became a total wreck. "What +influence this may have on the Rt. Hon. Company's affairs, God alone +knows," wrote the Surat President, mournfully. Soon he was in better +spirits. The same pirates had landed and plundered Cong; but, allowing +themselves to be surprised, fifty-six of the crew had been set upon and +killed. + +With few exceptions, the English pirates came from the American colonies. +Every year, from New York, Boston, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, ships were +fitted out, nominally for the slave trade, though it was no secret that +they were intended for piracy in the Eastern seas. Whatever compunction +might be felt at attacking European ships, there was none about +plundering Asiatic merchants, where great booty was to be gained with +little risk. Sometimes the Governors were in league with the pirates, who +paid them to wink at their doings. Those who were more honest had +insufficient power to check the evil practices that were leniently, if +not favourably, regarded by the colonial community, while their time was +fully occupied in combating the factious opposition of the colonial +legislatures, and in protective measures against the French and Indians. +The English Government, absorbed in the French war, had no ships in the +Indian seas; but the straits to which English trade in the East had been +reduced, and the enormous losses caused by the pirates, at last forced +some measures to be adopted for coping with the evil that had assumed +such gigantic proportions. + + +[1] It appears likely that this was the John Steel mentioned by Drury as + his uncle in Bengal. There is very little doubt that much of Drury's + alleged slavery in Madagascar was spent among the pirates. + +[2] It would appear that he assumed the name of Every on taking to piracy. + +[3] Sir James Houblon was an Alderman of London, and a Governor of the + Bank of England at the time. + +[4] The letter appears to have been left by Every with the natives of + Johanna, who gave it to the merchant captains who brought it to + Bombay. + +[5] The quotation is taken from Johnson's History of the Pirates. In his + cruising voyage round the world Woodes Rogers did not touch at + Madagascar. On that occasion (1711) he met two ex-pirates at the Cape, + who had received pardons, and told him that the Madagascar + settlements had dwindled to sixty or seventy men, "most of them very + poor and despicable, even to the natives," and possessed of only one + ship and a sloop. But, he adds, "if care be not taken, after a peace, + to clear that island of them, and hinder others from joining them, it + may be a temptation for loose straggling fellows to resort thither, + and make it once more a troublesome nest of freebooters." + +[6] Elliot's History of India as told by its own historians. Muntakhabu-l + Lubab of Khafi Khan. + +[7] Equal to £534,000 at that day. + +[8] According to the statement of a lascar, taken in the _Futteh Mahmood_ + and carried to Madagascar, Every sailed for the Bahamas in the autumn + of 1695, so that his career in the Indian seas lasted only six months. + On reaching Providence, Every presented the Governor with forty + pieces of eight and four pieces of gold for allowing them to come and + go in safety. + +[9] Johnson's "General History of the Pyrates," 1724. + + + +CHAPTER II + +_CAPTAIN KIDD_ + +Measures to suppress piracy--The _Adventure_ fitted out--Warren's squadron +meets with Kidd--His suspicious behaviour--He threatens the +_Sidney_--Waylays the Red Sea fleet--Captures the _Mary_--Visits Carwar +and Calicut--His letter to the factory--Chased by Portuguese +men-of-war--Chases the _Sedgwick_--Chivers--Action between _Dorrill_ and +_Resolution_--Kidd captures the _Quedah Merchant_--Dilemma of European +traders at Surat--Their agreements with the authorities--Experience of the +_Benjamin_--News of Kidd's piracies reaches England--Despatch of squadron +under Warren--Littleton at Madagascar--Kidd sails for New York--Arrested +and tried--His defence and execution--Justice of his sentence--His +character--Diminution of piracy--Lowth in the _Loyal Merchant_--Act for +suppression of piracy--Captain Millar. + + +War with France was being actively prosecuted by land and sea. In 1695 +the nation was still smarting under reverses in the Low Countries and the +repulse of the Brest expedition. At sea the navy was holding its own, +though English commerce suffered terribly under the attacks of French +corsairs of Dunkirk and St. Malo. The Company applied for a ship to be +sent to the Indian seas to deal with the pirates; but Lord Orford, the +head of the Admiralty, refused to spare one. It was the fashion for +wealthy men to obtain letters of marque for privateering, and a syndicate +was formed, to which the Chancellor, Lord Somers, Lord Orford, Lord +Bellamont, and other Whig nobles were parties, to send out a privateer +against French commerce. For this purpose the _Adventure_ galley was +purchased and fitted out, and the command was given to William Kidd, who +was suggested to Lord Bellamont as a fit person for the task. Kidd was an +old privateers-man who had gained some reputation in the West Indies +during the war. Lord Bellamont had been appointed Governor of New York, +though he did not proceed there till two years later. The king had +charged him to use his utmost endeavours to put a check on the pirates +who sailed from New England, and nothing better occurred to him than to +obtain a commission for Kidd to act against the rovers. A general reward +of £50 was offered for the apprehension of each pirate, and £100 for +Every, increased in the following year to £500. + +In December, a commission under the Admiralty Seal was issued to Kidd, +authorizing him to proceed against French shipping. He was to keep a +journal of his proceedings, and any ship captured was to be carried into +the nearest port and legally adjudged by a competent court. If condemned, +he might dispose of it according to custom. Six weeks later, a second +commission under the Great Seal was granted him, in his capacity of a +private man of war, to apprehend all pirates, freebooters, and sea rovers, +the names of Thomas Too (? Tew), John Ireland, Thomas Wake, and William +Maze, or Mace, being specially mentioned. Again, he was enjoined to keep +an exact journal of his doings, and the pirate ships he captured were to +be proceeded against according to law, in the same manner as French +captures. A subsequent warrant was granted to the syndicate, who figure +in it as the Earl of Bellamont, Edmund Harrison, William Rowley, George +Watson, Thomas Reynolds, and Samuel Newton. Under these unpretentious +names were hidden Lords Orford and Somers, and other Whig nobles. They +were to account for all goods and valuables captured in the rovers' +possession: one-tenth was to be reserved for the Crown, the rest being +assigned to them to recoup their expenditure. + +The _Adventure_ carried thirty guns and rowed twenty-six or thirty oars. +In May, 1696, Kidd sailed from Plymouth for New York with a crew of about +seventy men. On the way he captured a small French vessel, which was +properly condemned, and the proceeds helped to complete the equipment of +the _Adventure_. In New York he filled up his crew to one hundred and +fifty-five men, and people shook their heads when they saw the men of +doubtful character that he enlisted. It was felt at the time that, either +his intentions were dishonest, or he was taking a crew that he would be +unable to control. The men were promised shares of what should be taken, +while Kidd himself was to have forty shares. Nothing was said as to the +share of the owners or the Crown. In September he sailed for the Cape. +There were plenty of pirates and French trading-ships close at hand on +the American coast, but he did not waste a day in looking for them. + +Within a few days of Kidd's leaving Plymouth, a royal squadron consisting +of the _Windsor_, _Tyger_, _Advice_, and _Vulture_, under Commodore +Warren, sailed from Sheerness to visit the harbours and watering-places, +used by East India ships, as far as the Cape, and clear them of pirates. +The squadron, with five East Indiamen under convoy, made its way slowly +along the African coast, losing many men from sickness. Two hundred +leagues west of the Cape they sighted a strange sail that seemed to wish +to avoid them. Warren gave chase and forced it to heave to. On being +signalled to come on board, the commander proved to be Kidd, in command +of the _Adventure_. Asked to account for himself, he told how he was +engaged to look for Every and destroy pirates, and showed his commission. +Apparently, this was the first that Warren had heard of him, but there +was no gainsaying the royal commission, so the usual hospitality was +shown him, and he was bidden to keep company as far as the Cape. Warren +had lost many men on the Guinea coast, and asked Kidd to spare him some. +No better opportunity could have been found for getting rid of +troublesome men, but Kidd declined to part with a single one. As Warren's +wine told on him, his true character showed itself. He boasted of the +feats he was going to do, and the wealth he would get, till Warren was +filled with disgust and suspicion. The _Adventure_ wanted a new mainsail. +Warren could not spare him one. No matter, he would take one from the +first ship he met; and he was finally sent back to the _Adventure_, +reeling drunk. For six days he sailed in company with the squadron. Then +a calm came on, and at night, making use of his oars, Kidd stole away, +and was nearly out of sight when the sun rose. + +On reaching the Cape, Warren could get no news of him, but to the +captains of the Company's ships he communicated his suspicions of Kidd. +Three of them, bound for Johanna in the Comoro Islands, the _Sidney_, the +_Madras Merchant_, and the _East India Merchant_, agreed to sail in +company for mutual protection. The _Sidney_, being the faster sailer, +reached Johanna in advance of her consorts, and found the _Adventure_ at +anchor in the roadstead. As the _Sidney_ came to anchor, Kidd sent a boat +to Captain Gyfford, ordering him to strike his colours, and threatening +to board him if he refused. Gyfford prepared to defend himself. Two days +later the _East India Merchant_ and the _Madras Merchant_ appeared, +making for the anchorage, and Kidd lowered his tone. He then invited the +three captains to come on board the _Adventure_, which they refused to do, +letting him plainly see that they distrusted him. + +Soon they had to warn him regarding his ill-treatment of the Johanna +people, for which they threatened to call him to account. This +unlooked-for attitude on the part of the three captains made Kidd uneasy; +and finding that they would not leave the anchorage till he had gone, he +made sail and departed. Some of the crew of the _Adventure_ had, however, +used suspicious language, saying they were looking for an East India ship. +When asked if they would attack a single one, they answered evasively, +while continuing to boast of the things they were going to do. These +early proceedings of Kidd effectually dispose of the plea that his +intentions were at first honest, and that he only yielded to the coercion +of his crew in taking to piracy, after reaching the Indian seas. The +truth is that Kidd was resolved on piracy from the first, and had little +difficulty in persuading the majority of the crew to join him. It can +hardly be doubted that the accounts of the great wealth acquired by Every +had turned his head. There were a number of men on board the _Adventure_ +who were unwillingly coerced into piracy, and who remained in a chronic +state of discontent, but Kidd was not one of them. Long before he had +made a single capture, it was reported in the ports of Western India that +Kidd was a pirate. + +From Johanna he shaped his coarse for Madagascar, but the pirates were +all away in search of prey; so he continued his cruise in the Mozambique +Channel and along the African coast. He is said to have met Indian ships +at this time without molesting them, which was afterwards cited to show +that his intentions were then honest. It is more likely that he was only +doubtful as to his own power, being unacquainted with the weakness of +Asiatics, and reserving himself for the rich prey offered by the Mocha +fleet. + +Cruising northwards, he landed at Mabber[1] on the Somali coast, and took +some corn from the natives by force--his first bit of filibustering. Then +making for Perim, he anchored to await the Mocha fleet. Three times he +sent a boat to look into Mocha harbour, and bring notice when the Indian +ships were ready to sail. As the fleet in scattered array emerged from +the straits, he singled out a large vessel and began firing at it. This +at once attracted the attention of the _Sceptre_ frigate that Sir John +Gayer had sent as a convoy, and Kidd took to his heels. + +If Every had been in his place, he would have followed the fleet across +the Indian Ocean, and have picked up a straggler or two, but the sight of +the _Sceptre_ and a Dutch man-of-war had been enough for Kidd, and he left +the pilgrim fleet alone. Without molesting them further, he made his way +eastward, and, on the 29th August, off Sanjan, north of Bombay, he took +the _Mary_ brigantine, a small native vessel from Surat. This was Kidd's +first capture on the high seas. Thomas Parker, the master of the _Mary_, +was forced on board the _Adventure_ to act as pilot, a Portuguese was +taken to act as interpreter, and the lascars of the _Mary_ beaten and +ill-treated. A week later he put into Carwar for provisions, flying +English colours; but his character was already known. The Sunda Rajah and +the factory stood on their guard while he was in harbour. Harvey, the +chief of the factory, demanded the surrender of Parker, but Kidd vowed he +knew nothing about him. Eight of his crew deserted, and told their story. +They had no desire for the piratical life into which they had been +trepanned, and reported that many more of the crew would leave him if they +could get the chance. While off Carwar he careened the _Adventure_ on a +small islet in the harbour, which was long known as Kidd's island. A month +later he was off Calicut, where his ever-recurring trouble about supplies +is shown in the following letter to the factory:-- + +"Adventure Gally, October y'e 4't, 1697. + +"S'r, + + "I can't but admire y't y'r People is so fearfull to come near us for + I have used all possible means to let them understand y't I am an + Englishman and a ff'rd not offering to molest any of their Cannoes so + think it convenient to write this y't you may understand whome I am + which (I) hope may end all Suspition. I come from England about 15 mos. + agone with y'e King's Commission to take all Pyrates in these seas, + and from Carwar came ab't a month agone, so do believe y't (you) have + heard whome I am before y't and all I come for here is wood and water + wh'h if you will be pleas'd to order me shall honestly satisfie for y'e + same or any thing that they'l bring off which is all from him who + will be very ready to serve you in what lyeth in my Power. + +"WILLIAM KIDD." + +They knew who he was only too well, so he sailed for the Laccadives, +whence news was soon received of his barbarous treatment of the natives, +and that he had killed his quartermaster.[2] The letter is characteristic +of Kidd's methods. From his first entrance into the Indian seas his +conduct had aroused suspicion. Owing to the large amount of coasting trade +and the frequent necessity of calling at many places for water, the news +of the sea spread from port to port with great rapidity. At the moment of +his writing this letter he had the master of the _Mary_ a prisoner under +hatches, and the factory chiefs of Carwar and Calicut were well aware of +it; but to the end he believed that he could throw dust in the eyes of the +Company's officials by making play with the royal commission. + +While he was on the coast, Kidd was chased by two Portuguese armed vessels, +a grab and a sloop. The grab was a poor sailer, and Kidd had no difficulty +in eluding it; but the sloop, a better sailer, allowed itself to be drawn +on in chase, till Kidd, shortening sail, was able to give it several +broadsides, which reduced it to a total wreck; after which he showed a +clean pair of heels. At Kidd's trial it was stated he had ten men wounded +in this business. + +In April (1698) the _Sedgwick_, arriving at Fort St. David, reported that +on its way from Anjengo it had been chased for three days and nights by +Kidd, but had been saved by a stiff breeze springing up. On its return +voyage the _Sedgwick_ was less fortunate, being captured off Cape Comorin +by Chivers, a Dutchman, in the _Soldado_, otherwise known as the +_Algerine_, of two hundred and fifty tons and carrying twenty-eight guns. +The cargo of the _Sedgwick_ not being to Chivers' liking, and being put +into good humour with sundry bowls of punch, he let the _Sedgwick_ go, +taking out of her only sails and cordage. + +The year 1698 saw the Company's trade almost extinguished owing to the +depredations of the sea rovers and the hostility aroused against Europeans. +Every letter brought accounts of the pirates and the losses occasioned by +them. In small squadrons they swept the coast from Madras to the mouths of +the Indus, and haunted the sea from Cape Comorin to the Straits of Malacca. +In July, the Company's ship _Dorrill_, bound for China, was attacked in +the Straits of Malacca by the _Resolution_, late _Mocha_, commanded by +Culliford, and, after a hot engagement of three hours, made the pirate +sheer off, with heavy losses on both sides. Bowen in the _Speedy Return_, +for the taking of which Green was, with doubtful justice, hanged, Chivers +in the _Soldado_, North in the _Pelican_, Halsey, Williams, White, and +many others of less fame, were plundering and burning everywhere with +impunity. Early in the year, Kidd captured the _Quedah Merchant_ a country +ship bound from Bengal to Surat, belonging to some Armenian merchants who +were on board. The captain was an Englishman named Wright; the gunner was +a Frenchman, and there were two Dutchmen. This was the best prize made by +Kidd, and yielded some £10,000 or £12,000, which was at once divided among +the crew of the _Adventure_, Kidd's forty shares being one-fourth of the +whole. Able seamen got one share; landsmen and servants a half-share only. +The Surat factory was filled with alarm, not without good reason. In vain +Sir John Gayer wrote to the Governor, and sent an agent to the Emperor to +disclaim responsibility. In August came an imperial order directing that +the English, French, and Dutch should be held responsible for all losses, +and that for the _Quedah Merchant_ alone the English should pay two lakhs +of rupees. Guards were placed on the factories; all communication with +them was forbidden; their Mahommedan servants left them, and their +creditors were made to give an account to the Governor of all debts owing +by Europeans. The Dutch and French tried to exonerate themselves by laying +all the blame on the English, but the Governor refused to make any +distinction, and called on the three nations to pay fourteen lakhs of +rupees as a compensation for the losses occasioned by piracy. Sir John +Gayer was a man of action. Like Macrae, to be mentioned later in these +pages, he had first brought himself into notice as a sea-captain, and as +Governor of Bombay had upheld the Company's interests for four years, in +circumstances of no ordinary difficulty. The time for some decided action +had arrived if the Company's trade was to continue. On receiving +intelligence of these occurrences, he appeared off Surat with three armed +ships, and sent word to the Governor that he would neither pay any portion +of the fourteen lakhs, nor give security. At the same time he intimated +that he was ready to furnish convoys for the Mocha ships, as he had +already done, and, in proof of good will in acting against the pirates, +pointed out that, now the war in Europe was at an end, a royal squadron +was on its way to the Indian seas to extirpate them. The European traders +on the west coast had always been so submissive to the Emperor's authority +that this unexpected display of vigour astonished the Governor: he +moderated his tone. The Dutch declared they would abandon the Surat trade +rather than pay; so the Governor consented to make no demand for past +losses, if the English would engage to make good all future losses by +piracy. This was also refused. Finally, the English, French, and Dutch +agreed to act in concert to suppress piracy, and signed bonds by which +they jointly engaged to make good all future losses. + +Onerous as these terms were, the agreement came not a moment too soon. The +news of it reached Aurungzeeb just in time to procure the reversal of an +order he had issued, putting a final stop to all European trade in his +dominions. He told the Surat Governor to settle the matter in his own way. +In pursuance of the agreement, the Dutch convoyed the Mecca pilgrims and +patrolled the entrance to the Red Sea, besides making a payment of +Rs.70,000 to the Governor; the English paid Rs.30,000 and patrolled the +South Indian seas; while the French made a similar payment and policed the +Persian Gulf. + +An experience of the _Benjamin_ yacht at this time showed that pirates +were not prone to wanton mischief, where there was no plunder to be gained. +In November, the yacht lay at Honore, taking in a cargo of pepper, when +the well-known pirate ships _Pelican_, _Soldado_, and _Resolution_ came +into harbour for provisions. Seeing the Bombay Governor's yacht, they +naturally concluded that some attempt would be made to prevent the natives +from supplying their wants. They at once sent word to the master of the +_Benjamin_ that they had no intention of molesting him, unless he hindered +them in getting provisions, in which case they would sink him. The master +of the yacht was only too glad to be left alone; the pirates got their +provisions, and, in recognition of his behaviour, presented him with a +recently captured Portuguese ship. Sir John Gayer, in much fear lest he +should be accused of being in league with the pirates, quickly made it +over to the Portuguese authorities. + +When the intelligence of Kidd's piracies reached England, there was a +storm of indignation in the country. Party feeling was running high and +with unusual violence. The majority in the House of Commons desired the +ruin of Somers and Orford while aiming at the King. The charge of abetment +in Kidd's misdeeds was too useful a weapon to be neglected, so it was +added to the list of accusations against them. It must be admitted that +the circumstances of the Lord Chancellor, the head of the Admiralty, and +other prominent men using their influence to forward a venture from which +they were to profit, under fictitious names, and that had created such a +scandal, demanded inquiry. It was hardly sufficient to say that they had +lost their money. Such an answer would justify any illegal enterprise in +the event of its failure. + +The French war had come to an end, so in January, 1699, a royal squadron +of four men-of-war, the _Anglesea_, _Harwich_, _Hastings_, and _Lizard_, +sailed from Portsmouth for Madagascar under Warren.[3] They carried with +them four royal commissioners and a proclamation offering a free pardon, +from which Every and Kidd were excepted, to all pirates who voluntarily +surrendered themselves before the end of April, 1699. The pardon related +only to acts of piracy committed east of the Cape of Good Hope, between +the African and Indian coasts. After calling at St. Augustine's bay, where +several pirates made their submission, the squadron reached Tellicherry in +November. As it came to its anchorage, Warren died, and was buried on +shore the following day. He was succeeded in the command by Littleton. In +the following May, Littleton was on the Madagascar coast, where he +remained till the end of the year before returning home. During the whole +time he was in communication with the pirates. His dealings with them +brought him into disrepute in shipping circles. Hamilton tells us that +"for _some valuable reasons_ he let them go again; and because they found a +difficulty in cleaning the bottoms of their large ships, he generously +assisted them with large blocks and tackle falls for careening them." +Possibly Hamilton's remark was due to the conduct of Captain White of the +_Hastings_, whose behaviour excited such suspicion that Littleton placed +him under arrest, fearing he would make his ship over to the pirates. +Littleton remained on the Madagascar coast for eight months without firing +a shot. When he first reached St. Mary's, the pirates greeted him with a +salute of nine guns, to which he responded with five, and he was in close +and daily communication with them. Whether any pirates made their +submission to him does not appear; but it is probable that his presence +strengthened the resolution to obtain pardon of those who had previously +engaged themselves to Warren; among them Culliford and Chivers. The fact +is that piracy was looked upon then more leniently than we should now +regard it. Plundering and ill-treating Asiatics was a venial offence, and +many a seaman after a cruise with the pirates returned to his calling on +board an honest merchantman, without being thought much the worse for it. + +Among all the naval officers sent to the Indian seas at that time, Warren +appears to have been the only one who really tried to protect the Company's +interests. Littleton quarrelled with Sir Nicholas Waite, and had +questionable dealings with the Madagascar pirates. Richards and Harland +quarrelled with Sir John Gayer, and crippled the Company's ships by +forcibly pressing their sailors to fill up their own crews; while Matthews +exceeded them all in outrageous behaviour, as will be recounted in its +place. + +After capturing the _Quedah Merchant_, Kidd shaped his course for +Madagascar, where he found Culliford in the _Resolution_, who at first +treated him with suspicion, hearing that he had a commission to capture +pirates. But Kidd soon reassured him over sundry cups of bombo, protesting +with many oaths that 'his soul should fry in hell' sooner than that he +should hurt a hair of one of Culliford's crew; and, as a proof of good +will, presented him with two guns and an anchor. Then, finding the +_Adventure_ had become unseaworthy, he abandoned her, and sailed for New +England in the _Quedah Merchant_. In June, 1799, he reached Boston. + +Before his arrival, he heard he had been proclaimed a pirate, so he +deputed a friend to approach Lord Bellamont on his behalf. The _Quedah +Merchant_ was disposed of, and his plunder placed in a safe place. By +assurance, and by a valuable present to Lady Bellamont, he thought he +could face matters out. Bellamont appears to have been puzzled at first +how to treat him. He was unwilling to believe all that was said. At the +end of three weeks he made up his mind and arrested Kidd. For eight months +he lay in Boston gaol, and was then sent to London for trial, remaining in +Newgate for more than a year. Eleven of his crew were also arrested, two +of them being admitted as King's witnesses. + +In the interval the storm against the Whig ministers had gathered strength, +and articles of impeachment against Somers, Orford, and others were being +prepared by the House of Commons. On the 27th March, 1701, Kidd was +brought to the House to be examined, but he said nothing to inculpate any +of the owners of the _Adventure_, so a resolution was passed that he +should be proceeded against according to law. + +On the 8th and 9th May he was brought up for trial at the Old Bailey. The +first indictment against him was for the murder of Moore, the gunner of +the _Adventure_. There had been a quarrel in which Moore accused Kidd of +having ruined them all, on which Kidd called him a 'lousy dog'; to which +Moore replied in a rage, that if he was a dog it was Kidd who had made him +one. At this Kidd hurled a bucket at him and fractured his skull. The jury +found him guilty. He was then tried, together with nine of his crew, for +the taking of the _Quedah Merchant_. His line of defence was that it was +sailing under a French pass, and therefore a lawful prize, but he evaded +actually saying so. He declared that Lord Bellamont had some French passes +of ships he had taken, but would not produce them. That Kidd had captured +some ships under French passes, and that the passes were in Bellamont's +hands, is extremely probable; but it is incredible that a French pass for +the _Quedah Merchant_ was in Bellamont's hands, and that he held it back. +He had been accused of complicity in Kidd's piracies, and threatened with +impeachment. Every consideration of private and political interest alike +prompted him to clear himself of the charge, and confound those who +accused the leading men of his party as well as himself. + +Kidd tried to get the witnesses, some of them favourable to him, to say +they had seen the French pass, but all they could say was that they had +heard him declare there was one. The adverse witnesses deposed that he had +feigned to believe that the French gunner of the _Quedah Merchant_ was the +captain, though they all knew he was not. When asked, "Captain Kidd, can +you make it appear there was a French pass aboard the _Quedah Merchant_?" +he replied, "My lord, these men say they heard several say so." One of the +Armenian owners was in court, but he did not examine him; nor could he say +why he had not had the ship properly condemned, like the French ship taken +between Plymouth and New York. His only reply was that he was not at the +sharing of the goods, and knew nothing of it. For his attack on the Mocha +fleet he offered no explanation. + +He was found guilty, and was then tried for the captures of a Moorish ship +(Parker's), a Moorish ketch, and a Portuguese ship. Culliford and two +others were next tried for taking a ship called the _Great Mahomet_. Three +of Kidd's crew were acquitted, the rest of the prisoners were found guilty, +and sentenced to be hanged. Culliford was respited, having made his +submission to Warren. Three of Kidd's crew had hard measure dealt to them. +They had made their submission under the King's proclamation, but not to +one of the commissioners appointed for the purpose, so their submission +went for nothing. On the 12th May, Kidd, with six of his crew and two of +Culliford's, was hanged at Execution Dock, the common place of execution +for pirates. + +It is impossible to follow Kidd's career, and to study his trial, without +coming to the conclusion that he deserved his fate. There is no sign that +he was sacrificed to political expediency. Directly the House of Commons +failed to bring home the responsibility for Kidd's piracies to the leaders +of the Whig party, he ceased to be of any importance for political +purposes. The charge of complicity with him was only one of ten charges +against Orford, one of fourteen against Somers. The court is said to have +dealt hardly with him, but courts of justice were not very tender to any +criminals in those days, and the jury did not hesitate to acquit three of +those tried with him. Criminals were not allowed the aid of counsel, +except on a point of law. Kidd did raise a legal point, and was allowed +the aid of a counsel to argue it. His intention was clear from the day he +left New York. The four pirates named in his commission were then on the +American coast; he made no effort to look for them, but steered at once +for the Cape. If he could not control his crew, he could have invoked +Warren's help; instead of which he stole away in the night. His threats to +the _Sidney_ at Johanna, his attack, after three weeks' waiting, on the +Mocha fleet, his detention of Parker, to say nothing of his dealings with +Culliford, can only be interpreted in one way. During his whole cruise he +never put into Surat, Bombay, or Goa, but cruised like any other pirate. + +The legend of his buried treasure has survived to our own day, owing to +the fact that he had buried some of his booty before putting himself in +Bellamont's hands; but the record of his trial shows that, beyond what was +obtained from the _Quedah Merchant_, his plunder consisted mostly of +merchandise. That some of his ill-gotten gains were recovered at the time +seems clear from an Act of Parliament passed in 1705, enabling the Crown +to "dispose of the effects of William Kidd, a notorious pirate, to the use +of Greenwich Hospital"; which institution received accordingly 6472-1. + +The scandal caused by Kidd's piratical doings under a commission from the +Crown, the political use made of it in Parliament, and the legend of a +vast hoard of buried treasure, have conferred on him a celebrity not +justified by his exploits. As he appears in the Company's records, he +showed none of the picturesque daredevilry that distinguished many of the +sea rovers whose names are less known. No desperate adventure or +hard-fought action stand to his credit. Wherever we get a glimpse of his +character it shows nothing but mean, calculating cunning; and to the end +he posed as the simple, innocent man who was shamefully misjudged. His +crew were always discontented and ready to desert. He had none of the +lavish open-handedness that made the fraternity welcome in so many ports. +Every, Teach, England, and a dozen others in his place, would have thrown +the commission to the winds, and sailed the seas under the red flag. Kidd's +ruling idea appears to have been that he could hoodwink the world as to +his doings under cover of his commission: so that when he heard of the +charges against him he believed he could disarm his accusers by sheer +impudence. At his trial he attempted to lay all the blame on his crew, and +vowed he was 'the innocentest person of them all,' and all the witnesses +were perjured. Whatever touch of misdirected heroism was to be found in +any pirate, it was certainly not to be found in Kidd. He was altogether a +contemptible rascal, and had no claims to be a popular hero. + +Though Littleton's squadron captured no pirate ships, its presence till +the autumn of 1700 had a salutary effect.[4] Some made their submission, +and the number who continued to ply their trade was greatly reduced. Many +of them were glad to leave a calling that had now become hazardous, in +which they had been unwillingly forced to join, while the renewal of the +war in Europe furnished a more legitimate outlet for the most turbulent +spirits, in the shape of privateering. + +North, after making his submission to Littleton, thought better of it, +seeing the date of grace had expired, and refused to leave Madagascar. +There he remained for several years, fighting and subduing the natives +round St. Mary's, till he was finally killed by them. His comrades +'continued the war' for seven years till they had completely subdued the +country round. + +On the 18th December, 1699, the _Loyal Merchant_, Captain Lowth, East +Indiaman, lying in Table Bay, saw a small vessel of sixty tons enter the +harbour under English colours. This proved to be the _Margaret_ of New +York. Lowth's suspicions being awakened, he sent for the captain and some +of the crew, who 'confessed the whole matter,' and were promptly put in +irons. The _Margaret_ was seized, in spite of Dutch protests. Two days +later came in the _Vine_, pink, from St. Mary's, with a number of +'passengers' on board. These were pirates on their way to New England, to +make their submission, among them Chivers and Culliford. Lowth would have +seized them also, but the Dutch interfered, and the behaviour of the Dutch +admiral became so threatening that Lowth cut short his stay and made sail +for Bombay, which he reached safely, taking with him the _Margaret_ and +eighteen prisoners. On reaching England, Culliford was tried and condemned, +but respited, as has already been mentioned. + +While Kidd lay in Newgate awaiting trial, an Act was passed for the more +effectual suppression of piracy. Experience had shown that it was useless +to issue proclamations against individuals, but that some new machinery +must be created to deal with the gigantic evil that threatened to become +chronic. Under a former Act, passed in the reign of Henry VIII., the Lord +High Admiral, or his Lieutenant, or his Commissary, had been empowered to +try pirates; but the procedure had long fallen into abeyance. It had been +found almost impossible to bring offenders in distant seas to justice, to +say nothing of the cost and trouble of bringing them to England for trial. +Now it was enacted that courts of seven persons might be formed for the +trial of pirates at any place at sea or upon land, in any of his Majesty's +islands, plantations, colonies, dominions, forts, or factories. It was +necessary that at least one of the seven should be the chief of an English +factory, the governor or a member of council in a plantation or colony, or +the commander of a King's ship. These courts had powers of capital +punishment, and also had power to treat all persons who gave assistance or +countenance to pirates as accessories, and liable to the same punishments +as pirates. The Act was to be in force for seven years only. In 1706 it +was renewed for seven years, and in 1714 again for five years. + +The amnesty granted to some pirates, the hanging of others,[5] and the new +Act of Parliament, caused a great abatement of the evil. The Madagascar +settlements still flourished, but for a time European trade was free from +attack. Littleton's squadron had gone home, and was replaced by two royal +ships, the _Severn_ and the _Scarborough_, which effected nothing against +the pirates, but served by their presence to keep them quiet. + +The _Severn_ and _Scarborough_ sailed from England in May, 1703, under +Commodore Richards, who died at Johanna in the following March. The +command was then taken by Captain Harland, who visited Madagascar and +Mauritius, where two men were arrested, who afterwards made their escape +at Mohilla. The two ships returned to England in October, 1705. + +Hamilton tells us how a + + "Scots ship commanded by one Millar did the public more service in + destroying them, than all the chargeable squadrons that have been sent + in quest of them; for, with a cargo of strong ale and brandy, which he + carried to sell them, in anno 1704, he killed above 500 of them by + carousing, although they took his ship and cargo as a present from him, + and his men entered, most of them into the society of the pirates." + + +[1] This was probably a village near Ras Mabber, about one hundred and + sixty-five miles south of Cape Guardafui. + +[2] In ships of this class the quartermaster was next in importance to the + captain or master. The incident refers to the death of Moore, the + gunner of the _Adventure_, who was killed by Kidd in a fit of anger + for saying that Kidd had ruined them all. The killing of Moore was one + of the indictments against Kidd at his trial. + +[3] Warren had returned from his first cruise in the autumn of 1697. + +[4] One small Arab vessel that rashly attacked the _Harwich_, mistaking it + for a merchant vessel, was disposed of with a broadside. + +[5] Twenty were condemned and hung in one batch, in June, 1700; one of the + _Mocha_ mutineers among them. This was probably Guillam, to whom Kidd + had given a passage to America from Madagascar, and was supposed to + have been the man who stabbed Captain Edgecombe. + + + +CHAPTER III + +_THE RISE OF CONAJEE ANGRIA_ + +Native piracy hereditary on the Malabar coast--Marco Polo's +account--Fryer's narrative--The Kempsant--Arab and Sanganian +pirates--Attack on the _President_--Loss of the _Josiah_--Attack on the + _Phoenix_--The _Thomas_ captured--Depredations of the Gulf +pirates--Directors' views--Conajee Angria--Attacks English ships--Destroys +the _Bombay_--Fortifies Kennery--Becomes independent--Captures the +Governor's yacht--Attacks the _Somers_ and _Grantham_--Makes peace with +Bombay--His navy--Great increase of European and native piracy. + + +Europeans were not the only offenders. The Delhi Emperor, who claimed +universal dominion on land, made no pretension to authority at sea. So +long as the Mocha fleet did not suffer, merchants were left to take care +of themselves. There was no policing of the sea, and every trader had to +rely on his own efforts for protection. The people of the Malabar coast +were left to pursue their hereditary vocation of piracy unmolested. The +Greek author of the "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea," who wrote in the +first century of our era, mentions the pirates infesting the coast between +Bombay and Goa. Two hundred years before Vasco da Gama had shown the way +to India by sea, Marco Polo had told Europe of the Malabar pirates. + + "And you must know that from this Kingdom of Melibar, and from, + another near it called Gozurat, there go forth every year more than a + hundred corsair vessels on cruize. These pirates take with them their + wives and children, and stay out the whole summer. Their method is to + join in fleets of 20 or 30 of these pirate vessels together, and then + they form what they call a sea cordon, that is, they drop off till + there is an interval of 5 or 6 miles between ship and ship, so that + they cover something like a hundred miles of sea, and no merchant ship + can escape them. For when any one corsair sights a vessel a signal is + made by fire or smoke, and then the whole of them make for this, and + seize the merchants and plunder them. After they have plundered they + let them go, saying, 'Go along with you and get more gain, and that + mayhap will fall to us also!' But now the merchants are aware of this, + and go so well manned and armed, and with such great ships, that they + don't fear the corsairs. Still mishaps do befal them at times."[1] + + From the Persian Gulf to Cape Comorin the whole coast was beset by + native pirates, and, with the rise of the Mahratta power, the evil + increased. Petty chiefs sometimes levied blackmail by giving passports + to those who would pay for them, claiming the right to plunder all + ships that did not carry their passes; but often the formality was + dispensed with. Owing to the paucity of records of the early days, and + the more serious hostility of the Portuguese and Dutch, we hear little + of the losses sustained from native pirates, except when some ship + with a more valuable cargo than usual was captured. Fryer tells us how, + in his day, a rock off Mangalore was known as Sacrifice Island, "in + remembrance of a bloody butchery on some English by the pirate + Malabars." He further tells us how, in 1674, between Goa and Vingorla, + he took part in an attack on a pirate ship that they came on as it was + plundering a prize it had just taken, while the Dutch watched the + engagement from the shore. + + "We soon made him yield his prize to engage with us, which they did + briskly for two hours, striving to board us, casting stink-pots among + us, which broke without any execution, but so frightened our rowers, + that we were forced to be severe to restrain them. They plied their + chambers and small shot, and slung stones, flourishing their targets + and darting long lances. They were well manned in a boat ten times as + big as our barge, and at least sixty fighting men besides rowers. We + had none to manage our small gun," the gunner having deserted at Goa. + +However, the pirates were beaten off, and Fryer and his companions were +mightily praised by the Dutch. These pirates hailed probably from Vingorla, +where the Sawunt Waree chief, known in those days as the 'Kempsant,'[2] +carried on a brisk piratical trade. The name was a corruption of Khem +Sawunt, a common name of the Vingorla chiefs; the Portuguese changed it +into Quemar Santo, 'the saint burner,' on account of his sacrilegious +treatment of their churches. + +There were no more determined pirates than the Arabs of Muscat and the +Sanganians of Beyt and Dwarka, who, between them, intercepted the trade of +the Persian Gulf, while the Coolee rovers of Guzarat took their toll of +the plunder. In 1683 the Company's ship _President_ was attacked by the +Muscat Arabs with two ships and four grabs, and fought a gallant action. +The grabs[3] were generally two-masted ships, from one hundred and fifty +to three hundred tons burden, built to draw very little water, and +excellent sailers, especially in the light winds prevalent on the Western +coast. They had no bowsprit, but the main-deck was continued into a long +overhanging prow. The favourite mode of using them was for two or three of +them to run aboard their victim at the same time, and attack, sword in +hand, along the prow. Being built for fighting, and not for trade, they +could sail round the clumsy merchantmen that hailed from the Thames, and, +if pressed, could find safety in the shallow bays and mouths of rivers +along the coast. Three grabs grappled the _President_ at once, but the +boarders were beaten back, and all three were blown up and sunk, on which +the rest of the squadron made off. The _President_ was set on fire in +sixteen places, and lost eleven men killed and thirty-three wounded. + +In the following year the _Josiah_ ketch was attacked by the Sanganians +while at anchor, and in the heat of the engagement blew up. A few of the +crew saved themselves in a skiff, but the greater number perished, among +them the commander, Lieutenant Pitts, whose father was known in Bombay as +'the drunken lieutenant.' + +In September, 1685, the _Phoenix_, a British man-of-war that had been sent +for a two-years' cruise in Indian waters, was attacked by a Sanganian +vessel that mistook her for a merchantman. It was almost a calm, and +Captain Tyrrell hoisted out his boats to capture the Sanganian ship, but +they were beaten off, so he sunk her with a couple of broadsides. +Forty-one of the pirates were picked up, but many of them refused quarter, +and one hundred and seven were killed or drowned. The _Phoenix_ had three +men killed, one wounded, and two drowned. According to Hamilton, Sir George +Byng, the first lieutenant, was dangerously wounded; but the log of the +_Phoenix_ is silent on that point, though it gives the names of the +casualties. + +Three years later, the _Thomas_, Captain Lavender, was less fortunate. +Attacked by four Beyt ships, after a brave resistance, the _Thomas_ took +fire, and all on board perished. + +Their depredations were not confined to the sea. In 1697 some Beyt pirates +landed and plundered a village within sight of Broach. + +But the losses occasioned by native pirates were at first nearly lost +sight of in the more serious losses occasioned by European corsairs. + + "As for those Sanganians and those Mallabars and professed pirates," + wrote the Directors in 1699, "we see no cause why you should not wage + an offensive as well as a defensive war against them when they fall in + your way: but it is hardly worth the while to keep small vessels to + look after them, for they are poor rogues and nothing to be got of + them to answer any charge." + +In 1707, the year of Aurungzeeb's death, the pirates of the Persian Gulf +made a great haul of plunder. A squadron of them made their way to the Red +Sea, waylaid the Mocha fleet, and returned home laden with booty. In the +following year, a squadron of fourteen Arab ships from the Gulf, carrying +from thirty to fifty guns, and with seven thousand men on board, appeared +on the Malabar coast and surprised Honore, Mangalore, and Balasore(?); but +the people, having lately been plundered by the Seedee, were ready with +their arms, and beat them off with the loss of four or five hundred men. + + "The Arab insolencies are often in the thoughts of the Court," wrote + the London directors, "but the Court fears they shall not be able to + do anything effectually to check their growing strength during the + present war, which finds employment for all our naval force. Further, + the Court sympathizes with Madras on their severe losses by the + pirates, which puts a damp on the Company's trade, and affects their + revenues." + +Annoying as were the losses that were suffered from the chronic +depredations of the Arabs and Sanganians, they sank into insignificance +when compared with the troubles experienced on the rise to power of +Conajee (Kanhojee) Angria. The growth of the Mahratta power under Sivajee +had been accompanied by the formation of a formidable fleet which harried +the coast of the Concan, and against which the Seedee chief, the Emperor's +representative afloat, could hardly maintain himself. In 1698 Conajee +Angria succeeded to the command of the Mahratta navy, with the title of +Darya-Sáranga. In the name of the Satara chief he was master of the whole +coast from Bombay to Vingorla, with the exception of the Seedee's +territory. Defenceless towns as far south as Travancore were attacked and +plundered, while, at sea, vessels of native merchants were preyed upon. +For a time he seems not to have meddled with the Company's vessels; as the +size of his ships increased, he grew bolder, and, in 1702, his doings +began to excite apprehension. In that year he was addressed to release a +small trading vessel from Calicut with six Englishmen on board that had +been seized and carried into one of his harbours. What had roused his +anger against the English does not appear, but a month later we find him +sending word to Bombay that he would give the English cause to remember +the name of Conajee Angria, a threat that he carried out only too well. +Two years later we find him described as a 'Rebel Independent of the Rajah +Sivajee,' and Mr. Reynolds was deputed to find him and tell him that he +could not be permitted searching, molesting, or seizing vessels in Bombay +waters: to which he returned a defiant answer, that he had done many +benefits to the English, who had broken faith with him, and henceforth he +would seize their vessels wherever he could find them. In 1707 his ships +attacked the _Bombay_ frigate, which was blown up after a brief engagement, +and for the next half-century Angrian piracy was a scourge to the European +trade of the West coast. In 1710 Conajee Angria seized and fortified +Kennery, and his ships fought the _Godolphin_ for two days, within sight +of Bombay, but were finally beaten off. He had now grown so powerful that, +in 1711, the Directors were told he could take any ship except the largest +Europe ones; "along the coast from Surat to Dabul he takes all private +merchant vessels he meets." + +Owing to the minority and imprisonment of Sivajee's grandson, Sahoojee,[4] +the Mahrattas were torn by internal divisions, in which Conajee Angria +played his part. On the death of Aurungzeeb, Sahoojee regained his liberty, +and was seated on the guddee of Satara. Owing to his want of hardihood, +and weakness of character, the dissensions continued, and Sivajee's +kingdom seemed to be on the point of breaking up into a number of +independent chiefships. Among those aiming at independence was Conajee +Angria. In 1713, an army sent against him under the Peishwa, Bhyroo Punt, +was defeated, and Bhyroo Punt taken prisoner. It was reported that Conajee +was preparing to march on Satara. Ballajee Rao, who afterwards became +Peishwa, was placed at the head of such troops as could hastily be +collected together, and opened negotiations with Conajee. An accommodation +was arrived at, by which Conajee agreed to acknowledge allegiance to +Satara, in return for which he was confirmed in command of the fleet, with +the title of Surkheil, and granted twenty-six forts and fortified places +with their dependent villages.[5] The first result of this treaty was a +war with the Seedee, who had enjoyed some of the places in question for a +number of years. Conajee was supported by the Satara arms, and the Seedee +was forced to submit to the loss. To all intents and purposes, Conajee was +now an independent chief. He was the recognized master of a strip of +territory between the sea and the western ghauts, extending from Bombay +harbour to Vingorla, excluding the Seedee's territories, a tract, roughly +speaking, about two hundred and forty miles in length by forty miles in +breadth. With his harbours strongly fortified, while the western ghauts +made his territories difficult of access by land, he was in a position to +bid defiance to all enemies. Moreover, he was the recognized chief of the +hardy coast population of hereditary seamen, who to this day furnish the +best lascars to our Indian marine. + +Angria's exploits on land had not interfered with his interests at sea. In +November, 1712, he captured the Governor of Bombay's armed yacht, together +with the _Anne_ ketch from Carwar.[6] In the engagement, Mr. Chown, chief +of the Carwar factory, was killed, and his young wife, a widow for the +second time at the age of eighteen, became Angria's prisoner. A month +later, the _Somers_ and _Grantham_, East Indiamen, on their voyage from +England to Bombay, were attacked by a grab and a gallivat belonging to +Angria, off the coast north of Goa. Owing to there being a calm at the +time, the East Indiamen were unable to bring their guns to bear: "for +which reason and by y'e earnest intercession of y'e whole ship's company +to y'e captain" the boats of the _Somers_ and _Grantham_ were hoisted out, +and an attempt was made to board the pirates. The attack was beaten off +with the loss of four men killed and seventeen wounded; but the pirates +found the entertainment so little to their liking that they made off. + +On hearing of the capture of the Governor's yacht, the Portuguese wrote to +propose a joint attack on Angria. A few months before, he had captured the +greater part of a Portuguese 'armado,' and disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war +that was convoying it. Governor Aislabie declined the Portuguese offer, +but it had the effect of bringing Angria to terms. Thinking it politic to +make peace with the English, while his affairs with the Rajah of Satara +were still unsettled, he sent a messenger to Bombay, offering to deliver +up all vessels, goods, and captives taken from the Company, if an +Englishman of credit was sent to him to settle on terms of peace for the +future. Aislabie demanded that in future English ships should be free from +molestation; that no ships of any nation coming into Bombay should be +interfered with between Mahim and Kennery; that English merchants should +have liberty of trade in Angria's ports, on payment of the usual dues; and +that Angria should be responsible for any damage done in future by the +ships belonging to his Mahratta superiors. In return, the Governor engaged +to give passes only to ships belonging to merchants recognized by the +Company, and to allow Angria's people full trading facilities in Bombay, +on the usual dues being paid. To these terms Angria agreed, but failed to +get the Governor's consent to additional terms of an egregious nature; +that he should be supplied by the Company with powder and shot on payment; +that a place should be assigned to him to make powder in; that if pressed +by his enemies, he should be assisted by the Company; that merchant ships +should not be convoyed in or out of Bombay harbour. + +There remained the duty of sending him 'an Englishman of credit' to +'deliver him the articles.' The Council, 'knowing him to be a man of ill +principles,' thought it improper to order any man on such a risky service, +but Lieutenant Mackintosh, in consideration of a gratuity of one thousand +rupees, undertook to go, and departed for Colaba, with Rs.30,000 as +ransom for the European prisoners, the convention sealed with the Council's +seal, and ships to bring back the restored goods. + +And so for a time there was security from Angria's attacks, but, with his +hands free on the Satara side, and in a more secure position than ever, it +was not likely that the peace would be of long continuance. With a fleet +of armed vessels carrying thirty and forty guns apiece, with Kennery +island in his possession within sight of Bombay harbour, Angria and his +successors continued to be a menace to the existence of Bombay, while the +Angrian territory became the Alsatia of the Indian seas, where desperadoes +of all nationalities were made welcome. + +The next few years saw an enormous increase of piracy in the Indian seas. +Angria was practically secure in his fastnesses along the coast, and +plundered every ship not strong enough to defend itself. His finest +vessels were commanded by Europeans, generally Dutch. The signing of the +Peace of Utrecht brought a fresh swarm of European adventurers to reap the +harvest of the seas. The privateersmen, disregarding the peace, under +pretence of making war on France and Spain, plundered ships of all nations. +Conden,[7] White, England, Taylor, and many others, made Madagascar their +headquarters, and emulated the feats of Every and Kidd. The Beyt pirates +were as mischievous as ever, while the Muscat Arabs could muster, in 1715, +a ship of seventy-four guns, two of sixty, one of fifty, eighteen carrying +thirty-two to twelve guns each, and a host of smaller vessels carrying +never less than four guns. The Company was forced to rely on its own +exertions, as there was not a single King's ship in Indian waters. The few +armed vessels belonging to Bombay convoyed the more valuable vessels along +the coast. The larger ships, that made the ocean voyage between India and +Europe, sailed in company for mutual protection. + + +[1] Yule's "Marco Polo." + +[2] The 'Kempason' and 'King Kemshew' of Downing. + +[3] From the Arabic _ghorab_, 'a raven.' + +[4] Known in the English annals of the time as the Sow Rajah, and the + South Rajah. + +[5] The principal forts were Kennery, Colaba, Severndroog, Viziadroog or + Gheriah, Jyeghur, Deoghur, Manikdroog, Futtehghur, Oochitghur; and + Yeswuntdroog. + +[6] See page 264. + +[7] The name of this pirate is also given as Congdon and Condent. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_AN ACTIVE GOVERNOR_ + +Arrival of Mr. Boone as Governor--He builds ships and improves defences of +Bombay--Desperate engagement of _Morning Star_ with Sanganians--Alexander +Hamilton--Expedition against Vingorla--Its failure--Hamilton made +Commodore--Expedition against Carwar--Landing force defeated--Successful +skirmish--Desertion of Goa recruits--Reinforcements--Landing force again +defeated--The Rajah makes peace--Hamilton resigns Commodoreship--A +noseless company--Angria recommences attacks--Abortive expedition against +Gheriah--Downing's account of it--Preparations to attack Kennery. + + +On the 26th December, 1715, Bombay was _en fête_. The East Indiamen +_Stanhope_ and _Queen_ had arrived from England, bringing the new Governor, +Mr. Charles Boone, and three new councillors. His predecessor, Mr. +Aislabie, had sailed for England in October. At the landing-place the +new-comers were met by the late council and the principal inhabitants and +merchants of Bombay. Thirty-one pieces of ordnance greeted them with a +salvo, and, as they put foot on shore, three companies of soldiers saluted +them with three volleys of small arms. + +Boone was a man of very different stamp from his predecessors. The +quarrels, intrigues, and self-seeking that had been so disastrous a +feature during the tenure of office of Child, Waite, and Gayer were +abhorrent to him. He was a zealous servant of the Company, whose interests +he did his best to promote with the inadequate means at his disposal. In +coming up the coast he had touched at the places where the Company had +factories, and by the time of his arrival in Bombay he had fully realized +that the pirate question demanded serious treatment. + +Bombay was then an open town, only the factory being fortified. Soon after +receiving Bombay from the Crown, the Directors had ordered it to be +fortified, but had refused to employ skilled officers, because "we know +that it is natural to engineers to contrive curiosities that are very +expensive." The only protection to the town was such as was afforded by a +number of martello towers along the shore. Nineteen years before Boone's +time the Muscat Arabs had made a descent on Salsette, ravaging, burning, +and plundering as they pleased, killing the Portuguese priests and +carrying off fourteen hundred captives into slavery. Since then the +formidable power of Angria had arisen, but nothing had been done to +improve the defences of the settlement. Boone's first care was to trace +out an enclosing wall, the building of which was to be paid for by +contributions from the native merchants. + +At the same time he set to work to build fighting ships. Within a few +months of his arrival, the _Britannia_, eighteen guns, built at Carwar, +the _Fame_, sixteen guns, built at Surat, and the _Revenge_, sixteen guns, +built at Bombay, were flying the Company's flag. It was easier to build +ships than to get sailors to man them, in view of the miserable pay given +by the Company, and the attractions of service under native chiefs. Many +of the crews were foreigners, who were ready enough to take service with +Angria, if the inclination took them, and the bulk of the crews were +Indian lascars. A few months later, the _Victory_, twenty-four guns, was +launched, and two years after his arrival, Boone had at his disposal a +fine fleet consisting of nineteen frigates, grabs, ketches, gallivats, and +rowing galleys, carrying two hundred and twenty guns, besides a bomb +vessel and a fireship. With such a force much ought to have been +accomplished, but throughout his tenure of office Boone's efforts were +crippled by the incompetency and indiscipline of those on whom he depended +to carry out his designs: while the efficiency of the ships was diminished +by their employment to carry cargoes along the coast. + +In March, 1717, Bombay was stirred by the arrival of a private ship, the +_Morning Star_, which had escaped the Beyt pirates after a long and severe +encounter. The affair is described by Hamilton; but he modestly conceals +the fact that he was himself in command of the _Morning Star_, of which he +was chief owner. The ship was on its way from Gombroon to Surat, with a +valuable cargo, of which the pirates had intelligence; and two squadrons +were fitted out to waylay her. On the 20th March she was assailed by eight +pirate ships, the largest of which was of five hundred tons, three others +being of nearly three hundred tons each, and the rest galleys and shybars, +or half-galleys. Between them they carried about two thousand men. On +board the _Morning Star_ there were only six Europeans, a number of native +merchants, and about thirty-five or forty lascars, about half of whom were +trustworthy. The first attack was made by the largest of the pirate ships +alone, and was beaten off with loss to the assailants. In the fight, +Hamilton had his thigh pierced through with a lance. For the rest of that +day and the whole of the following no further attack was made; but the +pirates hung around planning another assault. On the 22nd it was delivered. +The two largest pirates ran the _Morning Star_ aboard, one on her bow and +one on her quarter, while three others poured their crews across the decks +of their comrades. For four hours a desperate combat ensued, the six +vessels being locked together. In the heat of the fight the native +merchants went on board the pirates to try and ransom themselves, and were +accompanied by half the lascars who deserted their commander; only the +Europeans and seventeen lascars remained to fight the ship. She caught +fire in three places, the poop and half-deck being burned through. The two +pirate ships likewise caught fire, which caused them to slacken their +efforts. In the confusion Hamilton managed to disengage his ship, and made +sail; the five pirate ships being so entangled together that they were +unable to pursue, and two of them so injured as to be in a sinking +condition. So Hamilton brought off his ship in safety, after as gallant a +feat of arms as was ever performed. Seven of his men were killed, and +about the same number wounded, and finding no surgeon in Surat, he came on +to Bombay. The native merchants who were carried off by the pirates were +made to pay a ransom of £6000, and brought back word that great slaughter +had been done on the pirates, while their Commodore lost his head, on +returning to Beyt, for allowing so rich a prize to escape. + +In April, Boone sent down the _Fame_ and the _Britannia_, under Commodore +Weekes, to attack Vingorla. They carried a company of sepoys under Stanton, +one of the Company's military officers. On the way they were joined by the +_Revenge_, and they also had with them ten or twelve gallivats. Weekes +appears to have been timid and incompetent, while the force was altogether +insufficient for the purpose. Several days were spent in trying to find a +landing-place, without success, on the rocky, surf-beaten shore, while the +fortress was bombarded from different points. A violent quarrel occurred +between Weekes and Stanton, and the expedition returned to Bombay. This +was the first, but not the most serious, of Boone's failures. It was +characteristic of all the warlike expeditions he sent out, that while he +was indefatigable in preparing armaments, all other details requisite to +success were left to chance. The Council resolved that Weekes was unfit to +be Commodore, and deposed him. To fill his place the veteran Alexander +Hamilton, whose recent defence of the _Morning Star_ had shown his +fighting capacity, was induced to relinquish his private trade, and made +Commander-in-Chief of all the Company's frigates on a salary of Rs.80 a +month. His ship, the _Morning Star_, was also hired by the Council. + +As soon as the monsoon was over, he was required to conduct an expedition +to relieve the Carwar factory, which was beleaguered by the Sunda Rajah. +The chief of the factory at this time was Mr. George Taylor. In the spring +of 1717, a Bombay merchant's ship carrying an English pass and flying +English colours had been seized by the Rajah, who imprisoned the crew. +Demands for their surrender were being made, when, in May, the _Elizabeth_, +belonging to Mr. Strutt, a private merchant at Surat, with £15,000 worth +of treasure on board, went ashore near Carwar. Before more than half the +treasure could be removed in safety to the factory, the Rajah sent down an +armed force to seize the ship as jetsam, imprisoned the captain and crew, +and laid siege to the factory. So Hamilton was sent down with a small +squadron and some troops. Fortunately the factory was exceptionally well +provisioned. On the 30th August, the _Morning Star_, with five gallivats +and a sloop, arrived off Carwar, and blockaded the harbour till the +arrival of Hamilton and the rest of the force on the 12th September. In +command of the land force was Midford, one of the Company's factors. On +the 13th, the troops were landed, under Midford and Stanton, in a heavy +surf which drove the gallivats[1] on shore and upset them, throwing the +whole party into the water. Midford, with some of his men, struggled on +shore, but Stanton was taken out of the water senseless.[2] In the midst +of this scene of confusion they were suddenly charged by the Rajah's +horsemen. Half drowned, undisciplined, and with their ammunition spoiled +by water, they could make only a feeble resistance. Midford and his +English Serjeant, Hill, were desperately wounded and made prisoners, +together with five Europeans and forty-seven topasses, while sixty men +were killed and two gallivats lost. The wretched topasses had their noses +cut off, five European heads were stuck up in derision before the factory, +while Midford and Hill were alternately cajoled and threatened to induce +them to take service with the Rajah. + +In consequence of this disaster, the factory sued for peace, but the +Rajah's terms were so humiliating that they were rejected, and it was +decided to await further reinforcements from Bombay; but two months +elapsed before their arrival. Meanwhile, a post of four hundred men was +established on shore to guard the water-supply required for daily use. +This gave rise to a skirmish, which put some heart into the invaders. +Early one morning the post was attacked by the enemy, who found, to their +surprise, that they had come under fire of the guns of some small vessels +Hamilton had anchored close inshore. After an hour's cannonade, they broke +and fled, pursued by the party on shore, who accounted for some two +hundred of them. Encouraged by this success, Stanton continued to harass +the Rajah by small night attacks, and by burning some of his villages, +while at sea they did him more damage by intercepting his ships laden with +salt and other necessaries, and especially three, bringing Arab horses +from Muscat; though the captors were much troubled in providing water and +provender for them. Meanwhile, the factory, which was five or six miles up +the river, on the north bank, continued to be invested, and in order to +prevent any communication with the squadron, a boom was laid across the +river, commanded by a battery on the south side. In spite of this, +communication was kept up through the Portuguese factory, and, more than +once, Lieutenant Forbes contrived to pass in and out in a rowing-boat, but +it was impossible to send in provisions. + +About this time we find Hamilton reporting to Bombay-- + + "The recruits from Goa had a skirmish at break of day, on 28[th] + September, with the enemy, wherein they behaved themselves bravely, + but that on an attempt to burn some villages afterwards, they advised + the enemy of it, and deserted with some arms and granadoes." + +At last the looked-for reinforcements arrived from Bombay, under Captain +Gordon, raising the whole strength of the expedition to 2250 men, +including seamen, and a landing in force was determined on. Two of the +prizes had been equipped as floating batteries, with shot-proof bulwarks, +and were laid ashore to engage the Rajah's batteries. At four o'clock in +the morning of the 16th November, 1250 men were put ashore, under Gordon, +without hindrance from the enemy, who were ready to take to flight before +such a force. Gordon's idea was to advance in a hollow square, which, in +spite of Hamilton's sneer at him as a 'freshwater land officer,' was a +good enough formation in the circumstances; but so much time was consumed +in getting the men into the required formation, owing to the inexperience +and want of discipline among both officers and men, that the enemy took +heart again and advanced to meet them. When the square at last moved +forward, with Gordon at their head, they were met with a hot fire, and +Gordon was a mark for every aim. Before long he fell, shot in the breast, +and Captain Smith, 'commonly called Old Woman,' on whom the command +devolved, at once gave the word to retreat. According to Hamilton, 'he +pulled off his red coat and vanished.' The Rajah's horsemen charged down, +sword in hand, on the disordered ranks; the men threw down their arms and +fled to the boats, leaving some two hundred and fifty of their number dead +on the field. Fortunately, the floating batteries covered the embarkation, +and prevented the enemy, who had suffered some loss, from gathering the +spoils of the fallen. Eighty seamen were sent on shore, and brought back +about two hundred muskets that had been thrown away in flight, most of +them loaded. Thus ingloriously ended the attempts at landing. + +The factory was by this time reduced to great straits for food, and this +fresh disaster made peace imperative; the Rajah, in spite of his success +so far, was anxious to come to an accommodation. The expense of +maintaining so many armed men threatened to ruin him; the sea blockade and +the detention of the horses were events on which he had not reckoned: and, +worse still, his northern borders were harried by the Sow Bajah, 'which +made him incline very much towards a peace:' so an agreement was quickly +arrived at, and, on the 29th November, peace was proclaimed on easy terms +for both parties. The expedition had cost the Company Rs.68,372 in hard +cash. The inability of the landing force to advance beyond range of the +ships' guns bears witness to their military incapacity. + +His short experience of six months under the Company had completely +disgusted Alexander Hamilton. Immediately on his return to Bombay he +resigned his post as Commander-in-Chief of their ships-of-war, and resumed +business as a private trader. His relations with the military officers +during the expedition appear to have been satisfactory, but against Taylor, +the head of the Carwar factory, he formulated a series of charges, +accusing him of having been the cause of the trouble with the Rajah, +through his indiscretion and bad faith. Taylor retaliated by accusing +Hamilton of not having taken proper measures to relieve the factory. The +Council investigated the charges, and contented themselves with cautioning +Taylor to behave better in future. + +The unfortunate topasses, who had had their noses cut off, were formed +into a company of marines, and had their pay augmented to Rs.5 a month.[3] +In this odd way the Bombay Marine Battalion appears to have had its origin. + +We get some idea of the Sunda Rajahs of the period in a letter from Carwar, +dated the 20th January, 1698. + + "He" (the Sunda Rajah) "is so excessive craving after money, that he + is about sacrificing twelve men and twelve women with child, to get + two pots of treasure which one of his magicians tells him lies buried + near his palace." + +While these events were taking place at Carwar, Boone found himself +involved in trouble with Angria. For some time after the treaty made by +Aislabie, Angria had respected Bombay trading ships, but of late he had +begun to show his teeth again. In the beginning of 1716 he had made prize +of a Company's boat in sight of the harbour, and of another belonging to a +private merchant. Four private ships from Mahim, valued at 30,000 +xeraphims, were also captured by him, and his ships trading to Bombay +refused to pay harbour dues. While Hamilton was engaged at Carwar, Angria's +fleet attacked and took the _Success_, East Indiaman, on its way from +Surat. With an impoverished exchequer, a force weakened and disorganized +by the Carwar adventure, and no ammunition in his magazine, Boone found +himself in no condition to take active measures for the present. + +In the vain hope of bringing Angria to reason, a letter of expostulation +was written, which met with a hostile response, quickly followed by the +capture of the _Otter_, a Bengal ship. A second letter of defiance was +received, so, on the 7th May, in spite of inadequate resources, the +Council resolved on striking a blow. An expedition against Gheriah was +determined on, and twenty gallivats were sent down, manned with sepoys, to +retake, if possible, the captured vessels, "if they were attacked, to +repel force by force, and if possible plunder his country." The official +record of the expedition is as follows:-- + + _4th June_.--Two gallivats returned having plundered a town in Angria's + country, and brought away sixteen prisoners. + + _9th June_.--Returned our gallivats, having by mismanagement of the + chief officer lost about fifty men and destroyed one town of Angria's. + +Downing, who was present, gives an account of the attack on Gheriah, +though he makes a mistake as to the date. As it is the only account we +have of what took place, it will be better to give it in his own words. + + "On the 10th of the same instant the President reviewed the land + forces on shore, and saw all things put in good and sufficient order. + Major Vane, chief engineer for the Company, had tried all the mortars + and coehorns, then fitted and stocked for the expedition. Mr. John + Minims was appointed chief engineer for the direction of these mortars + and coehorns, which did great service. We proceeded down the coast for + Gerey, which is not above twelve hours' sail from Bombay, where we + with all our navy soon arrived, and run boldly into the harbour. + Captain Berlew (Bellew?) Commodore, and ranged a line from the + eastermost part of the fortifications to the outer part of the harbour. + Keeping all our small galleys and galleywats on the off-side under + shelter. But they had strong fortifications on both sides; so that we + left our strongest ships in the harbour, to make a breach in the walls, + in order to storm the castle. The rocks were very high, and so + slippery that one could hardly stand without a staff, and consequently + not a place convenient to draw men up in any posture of defence. We + endeavoured to get the fireship in, but could not; for on the east + part of the fort they had a cove or creek, where they had laid up a + great part of their fleet, and had got a strong boom across the same; + so that we could not annoy them any otherwise than by throwing our + bombs and coehorns very thick into the garrison, which we did for a + considerable time, and were in hopes after the first and second day's + siege, that we should have drove them out of that strong castle, but + we soon found that the place was impregnable. For as we kept throwing + our shells as fast as we could in regular time, cooling our chambers + before we loaded again; after we had beat over two or three houses in + the castle, the shells fell on the rocks in the inside the castle, and + their weight and force of falling would break them without so much as + their blowing up.... As to storming the walls, they were so high that + our scaling ladders would not near reach the top of them...." + + "After the second day we landed all our forces, taking the opportunity + of the tide.... We got them all on shore, and marched up the country, + without molestation; only now and then the castle would let fly a shot + or two, which did us small damage. We attempted to march the army down + to their shipping, and to set them on fire; but when we came within a + mile of the place the land was all swampy, and so very muddy by the + spring tides flowing over that we could not proceed. On our retreat + they galled us very much by firing from the castle, we being obliged + to come near the castle walls to take our forces off again. Here the + gallant Captain Gordon was slightly wounded again.... I question + whether there were a hundred men in the castle during the time of the + siege...." + + "We drew off our forces on the 18th April, and went up to Bombay to + repair our frigates and take care of our wounded men, of whom we had a + considerable number." + +In no way discouraged by the failure, Boone at once set to work to prepare +for a fresh attack on Angria. This time it was determined that Kennery, +within sight of Bombay harbour, should be the object of attack, and all +through the monsoon preparations were made. + + +[1] Galleywats, or gallivats, were large rowing-boats with two masts, of + forty to seventy tons, and carrying four to eight guns. + +[2] In a letter, three years later, on the conduct of military officers, + it is stated that "Stanton was drunk the time he should have gone upon + action at Carwar." + +[3] Bombay Consultations, 22nd January, 1718. + + + +CHAPTER V + +_THE COMPANY'S SERVANTS_ + +The Company's civil servants--Their comparison with English who went to +America--Their miserable salaries--The Company's military servants-- +Regarded with distrust--Shaxton's mutiny--Captain Keigwin--Broken pledges +and ill-treatment--Directors' vacillating policy--Military grievances-- +Keigwin seizes the administration of Bombay--His wise rule--Makes his +submission to the Crown--Low status of Company's military officers--Lord +Egmont's speech--Factors and writers as generals and colonels--Bad quality +of the common soldiers--Their bad treatment--Complaint against Midford-- +Directors' parsimony. + + +It may be useful here to consider the difference in the men sent out, by +England, to the East and West Indies during the seventeenth and part of +the eighteenth centuries. To the West Indies went out representatives of +the landed gentry from every county in England. Charters were obtained +from the Crown, conferring estates, and sometimes whole islands, on men of +ancient families. Slaves were cheap, and sugar cultivation brought in +great wealth; the whole machinery of English life was reproduced in the +tropics--counties, parishes; sheriffs, rectories, tithes, an established +church, etc. The same causes that sent the Cavaliers to Virginia, sent a +smaller migration to the West Indies. At the Restoration, the men who had +conquered Jamaica for Cromwell were unwilling to return to England. +Monmouth's rebellion and the expulsion of the Stuarts produced a fresh +influx. But, whether Cavaliers or Roundheads or Jacobites, they came from +the landholding class in England. The evidence may still be read in old +West Indian graveyards, where the crumbling monuments show the carefully +engraved armorial bearings, and the inscriptions record the families and +homes in England from which those whom they commemorate had sprung. + +In the East Indies nothing of the kind was possible. The acquisition of +land for agriculture was out of the question. Trade was the only opening, +and that was monopolized by the Company. Except as a servant of the +Company, an Englishman had no legal status in the East. The chief profits +went to the shareholders in London. If at the end of twenty-five years or +so a Company's servant could return to England with a few thousands made +by private trade, he was a fortunate man. Private traders and a few of the +governors were alone able to make fortunes. The shaking of the pagoda tree +did not begin till after Plassey. The result was that the men who went to +India were of a totally different class from those who went to America and +the West Indies; they were young men from small trading families in London, +Greenwich, and Deptford, or from seaport towns like Bristol and Plymouth. +Among them were some restless and adventurous spirits who found life in +England too tame or too burdensome. For such men India was long regarded +as a useful outlet. "If you cannot devise expedients to send contributions, +or procure credit, all is lost, and I must go to the Indies," wrote +William the Third, in bitter humour, at a desperate crisis in his affairs. +Fryer tells us (1698) how the Company had entertained Bluecoat boys as +apprentices for seven years, after which time they were to be made writers, +if able to furnish the required security. The salaries they received from +the Company were only nominal. A Bombay pay-list of January, 1716, shows +us the official salaries at that time. The Governor received £300 per +annum. Next to him came eight merchants, who with him constituted the +Council, and received respectively, one £100, one £70, two £50, and four +£40 each. Below them came three senior factors at £30 each, three junior +factors at £15, and seven writers at £5.[1] The tale is completed by the +accountant and the chaplain, who received £100 each. A writer on entering +the service had to find security for £500, which was increased to £1000 +when he rose to be a factor. The unmarried servants of the Company were +lodged at the Company's expense; the married ones received a lodging +allowance, and a public table was maintained. In fact, the Company treated +them as if they were apprentices in a warehouse in St. Paul's Churchyard, +and, when the conditions of their service are taken into account, it is +not surprising that there was a considerable amount of dishonesty among +them. These conditions apart, they were neither worse nor better than the +men of their time. As the original Company gained stability by the +incorporation of its upstart rival established in 1698,[2] which put an +end to a condition of affairs that promised to be ruinous to both, and by +the grant of perpetuity issued in the year following incorporation, there +was a gradual improvement in the quality of their civil servants. Though +no increase in the salaries of junior officers took place for many years +afterwards, the greater facilities opened to them, for trade, attracted +better men into the service, among them some cadets of good family. + +Miserable as was the display of military incompetency at Carwar and on +subsequent occasions, it is hardly surprising when the condition of the +Company's soldiers is considered. The Company's policy was to keep +officers and men in a state of degrading subjection; to prevent the +officers from having any authority over their men, while pledges as to pay +were often broken. + +When the Company first received Bombay from the Crown, the royal troops in +the island were invited to remain in the Company's service on the same +rank and pay, on the condition that they might resign when they pleased--a +condition that made discipline impossible. The greater number of them +accepted the terms. Two years later, a company was sent out under Captain +Shaxton to fill vacancies. Shaxton was evidently a man of good abilities +and position; one who had been trained in the stern military school of the +civil wars. He was to be a factor in addition to his military command, and +if, after trial, his qualifications would admit of it, he was to hold the +office of Deputy Governor. The men were engaged for three years. + +By the time he had been two years in Bombay, Shaxton found that, under the +penurious rule of the Company, efficiency was impossible, while the two +European companies maintained for the defence of the island could only be +kept up to strength by filling the vacancies with natives. Four years +later,[3] a mutiny broke out, in which Shaxton supported the demands of +his men. They complained that a month's pay, promised to them on +engagement, was due to them, and claimed their discharge, as their time of +service had expired. President Aungier behaved with prudence and firmness. +He pacified the men by granting their demands, and brought the ringleaders +to trial by court-martial. Three of them were condemned to death, of whom +one, Corporal Fake, was shot, and the other two pardoned. Shaxton was then +brought to trial, found guilty of some of the charges, and sent to England +for punishment according to the King's pleasure. + +Two years later a troop of horse was formed, and sent out under Captain +Richard Keigwin, who was to command the garrison on a salary of £120 a +year. Keigwin was a man of good Cornish family, who had entered the King's +navy in 1665, and taken part in Monk's memorable four days' battle against +the Dutch in the following year. When St. Helena was recaptured from the +Dutch (1673), he had distinguished himself in command of the boats that +made the attack, and was left as Governor of the island till it was taken +over by the East India Company. As a reward for his services, the Company +made him their military commandant at Bombay. Two years later again, the +Company, in a fit of economy, reduced their military establishment to two +lieutenants, two ensigns, and one hundred and eighty-eight rank and file. +The troop of horse was disbanded, Keigwin was discharged from the service, +and thirty soldiers, who had been detached to Surat to defend the factory +against Sivajee, were refused any extra allowance, which caused much +discontent. Before long the Directors became alarmed at the defenceless +state of Bombay, and sent out Keigwin again with troops and artillery, to +have the chief military command and the third seat in Council. To meet the +expense, the other officers were made to suffer in rank and pay, and the +whole of the small force fell into a dangerous state of discontent. Among +other reductions in the pay of their military force, the Directors reduced +the rate of exchange, a measure that affected the men as well as the +officers; and, not content with making these changes prospective, insisted +that the officers should refund the surplus of what they had received. +Keigwin also had his personal grievance. He claimed subsistence money, +like the rest of the merchants and factors, the Company's table having +been abolished.[4] After much altercation, a grant was made to him, on the +condition that it would have to be refunded if disallowed by the Directors. +He was sick of the Company, with their greed and their selfish economies +at the expense of their servants, their broken pledges and stupid changes +of policy in military affairs, the intrigues of Sir John Child at Surat, +and the schemes of his brother, Sir Josiah Child, in England. Like many +other Englishmen, he considered the Company was an anomaly, dangerous to +the authority of the Crown, and his distrust was increased by the +mismanagement and corruption that existed among their servants in the East. + +On the 27th December, 1683, he seized Mr. Ward, the Deputy Governor, and +such of the Council as sided with him, assembled the troops, and issued a +proclamation declaring the Company's authority at an end, and that the +island was henceforth under the King's protection. By general consent he +was elected Governor, and at once proceeded to restore order. The troops +and inhabitants were called on to take an oath of allegiance to the King, +and to renounce their obedience to the Company, a demand that was +universally complied with. Officials were appointed, grievances were +redressed, and trade was encouraged, to be carried on without molestation +so long as Keigwin's authority was not challenged. Money arriving from +England was lodged in the fort, with a declaration that it would be +employed only in defence of the island, and letters were addressed by +Keigwin to the King and the Duke of York, stating his determination to +hold the island for the King till his Majesty's pleasure should be known, +together with the causes that had led to the revolt; one of them being the +necessity of preserving it from becoming a conquest to the native powers. + +Never had Bombay been so well governed as it was during the eleven months +of Keigwin's rule. The Seedee sent a friendly deputation to him. From the +Rajah of Satara he obtained confirmation of the articles agreed on by +Sivajee, a grant for the establishment of factories at Cuddalore and +Thevenapatam, an exemption from duties in the Carnatic, and the payment of +twelve thousand pagodas in compensation for losses sustained at different +places formerly plundered by the Mahrattas. There was no disorder or +bloodshed; the only thing of the kind that has been recorded being a wound +received by Keigwin himself in a quarrel at table. So great was the +enthusiasm for Keigwin, that when, first commissioners, and then Sir John +Child himself, came from Surat to try and re-establish the Company's +authority, it was with difficulty that the crews of their vessels could be +prevented from joining Keigwin and his adherents.[5] It was well for the +Company that he was a man of solid character and not an adventurer. On the +arrival of Sir Thomas Grantham from England in November, 1684, Keigwin +surrendered the island to him, as a King's officer, on condition of a free +pardon for himself and his associates, and proceeded to England.[6] The +Company's treasure was intact, and, except for the dangerous spirit +against the Company that had been aroused, Bombay was in a better state +than it had been at the time of the revolt. + +After this the Company decided to have nothing more to do with +professional soldiers. It was the time when the great feeling of hostility +to a standing army was growing up in England, under the mischievous +preaching of agitators, which reached its height thirteen years later. +They took into their service men of low origin, devoid of military +training, who would have no influence over their men, and who would submit +to any treatment. Boone, writing to the Directors in 1720, says-- + + "It is well known the Company's servants, in all the settlements I + have been in, seldom keep company with the military, especially the + Council. Now and then they may invite one to take a dinner, which is a + favour; but the men which he distinguishes are not company for your + second." + + +The social status of the Company's officers appears later, when an Act was +passed to extend the Mutiny Act to the East Indies and St. Helena, in +consequence of the Company's right to exercise martial law having been +questioned. In opposing the bill, the Earl of Egmont said-- + + "If I am rightly informed, there are some of the Company's officers of + a very low character. One of them was formerly a trumpeter at a raree + show in this country, and when he was discharged that honourable + service he listed himself in the Company's service as a common soldier, + and I suppose was made an officer by one of those governors for + trumpeting to him better than any other man could do it in the country. + Another, I am told, was a low sort of barber--one of our + shave-for-a-penny barbers--here in London. And another of + them was a butcher here, and when he is not upon duty I am + told he still exercises his trade there. Can we think that such + officers will not be despised by gentlemen who have the honour to + bear his Majesty's commission?" + +He based his opposition to the bill on the unfitness of the Company's +officers to exercise authority, and to the bad relations sure to arise +between them and the King's officers.[7] + +In quarters they were not allowed to give any orders to their men, or to +have any control over them, the most trivial matters being kept in the +hands of the merchants and factors. To such an extent was this carried, +that for fifty years afterwards no military officer was allowed to give +out the parole and countersign.[8] Their only duties were to command the +men when under arms. Commissions were granted and taken away by the +Council without reference to the Directors. + +Under such treatment there could be neither self-respect nor pride in +their profession. Of their general behaviour, we may gather some idea +from an entry concerning Lieutenant Parker at this time. He was arraigned +before the Council for drinking, brawling with his men, and frequenting +base houses, for which the Council deprived him of his commission; but as +he was 'an extraordinary person in disciplining (drilling) soldiers,' he +was appointed adjutant of the regiment till he should give a specimen of +improved behaviour. When there was fighting to be done, the command was +taken by factors and writers, who were given temporary commissions as +captains, colonels, etc. Midford, Brown, Cowan, and others we hear of in +command of troops, were only soldiers for the occasion. So far back as +1676 the Directors had enjoined on their civil servants to acquire a +knowledge of military discipline, that in the event of any sudden attack +they might bear arms. Clive was far from being the first of the Company's +servants to lay down the pen for the sword, but he was the first to do so +permanently. + +The inferior quality of the Company's officers through the first half of +the century is reflected in the fact that among the many who distinguished +themselves in the hard fighting that went on from 1751 to 1764, we find +only two who had not graduated in the King's service. These were Clive, +who entered the Company's service as a writer, and Preston, who was sent +to India as a civil engineer. Of the Company's purely military officers we +hear little or nothing. + +The men were worse than the officers. Instead of the sturdy agricultural +labourers and farmers' sons that filled the ranks of the King's regiments, +they were 'the refuse of the vilest employments in London,' as Orme +described them fifty years later; 'the worst of their kind,' according to +Clive. Of all nationalities, ages, and colours, badly armed, badly fed, +and badly paid, they were almost without discipline. The native chiefs +vied with each other in getting Europeans into their service, so that none +but the most wretched would stay to serve the Company. At the best they +were only factory guards, and maintained for purposes of escort and +display; and it was always the Company's practice to retain officers and +men in their service up to any age. On one occasion we find Boone writing +to the Directors that 'it would not do to disgust the men too much.' +Miserable as was their pay of sixteen laris[9] a month, we find them +complaining to the Council that Midford had kept back two laris a month +from each man. To which Midford replied that he never received nor took +any more profit from the soldiers than what other officers did, all +through the island of Bombay; with which answer the Council was apparently +satisfied. The real grievance of the men appears to have been that Midford, +not being a military officer, was not entitled to make the deduction. The +Directors were careful in enjoining that powder was not to be wasted at +exercise; "but sometimes the men must be used to firing, lest in time of +action they should start at the noise or the recoil of their arms." To +bring such officers and men into the field was to invite disaster. +Soldiers are not made by dressing men in uniform and putting muskets into +their hands. + +[Illustration: Map] + + +[1] According to the Company's instructions in 1675, writers were to + receive no salary at all for the first five years, and after that £10 + a year. In 1699 the Court of Directors settled the salaries of + merchants at £60, factors at £40, and writers at £20 per annum (Bruce); + but in 1716 the salaries were as above stated. + +[2] The London Company and the English East India Company were amalgamated + in 1708. + +[3] 1674. + +[4] It was afterwards re-established, and again abolished in Boone's time. + +[5] Bombay was subordinate to the Surat factory till 1685. + +[6] Four years after returning to England, Keigwin was given the command + of a frigate. In 1690 he accompanied the expedition against the French + in the West Indies, and fell at the head of his men in the assault of + Basseterre, St. Christopher's.--_Dic. Nat. Bio_. + +[7] Hansard, 1754. + +[8] The first General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in Madras was + dated the 22nd November, 1772. + +[9] The lari was the well-known hook money of the Persian Gulf. It was + worth about sixpence. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY_ + +Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and +Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria +occupies Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de +Castro--Futile proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second +landing--Manuel de Castro's treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour +of two captains--Defeat--Attack abandoned--The _St. George_--The +_Phram_--Manuel de Castro punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria +makes overtures for peace--Boone outwitted. + + +The islet of Kennery, about ten miles from the mouth of the harbour, and +three from the mainland, had long been a thorn in the side of Bombay trade. +At the time of the first occupation of Bombay it was uninhabited. In 1679 +it was suddenly occupied by Sivajee, who began to fortify it. The danger +of this to Bombay was at once seen, and part of the garrison was sent in +small vessels, afterwards reinforced by the _Revenge_, frigate, to +intercept the communication between Kennery and the mainland. On the 18th +October, the Mahratta fleet bore down and engaged. In half an hour the +_Dove_, grab, hauled down its colours and was captured, and all the +smaller vessels made sail for Bombay, leaving the _Revenge_, like its more +famous namesake, alone amidst its foes. Fortunately, there were on board +two sturdy Englishmen, Minchin, the Company's commodore, and Keigwin, the +commander of the garrison. Undismayed by the odds against them, Minchin +and Keigwin gallantly fought their ship; all attempts at boarding were +repelled with loss, five of the Mahratta gallivats were sunk, and, at last, +the whole Mahratta fleet took to flight, pursued by the _Revenge_, and +sought refuge in the shallow waters at the mouth of the Negotna river. Two +days later, they came out again, but found Keigwin and Minchin so ready to +engage, that they desisted from the attempt to reach Kennery. In this way, +for some time, a partial blockade of the Negotna river was maintained by +the _Revenge_, which had been reinforced by the _Hunter_ frigate, and a +number of small vessels from Bombay. In spite of all efforts, a few +Mahratta vessels from time to time evaded the blockade, and kept Kennery +supplied with provisions and arms. This unexpected opposition from a +company of traders stirred Sivajee to settle the matter by an attack on +Bombay, which was in no condition to make any resistance. He marched five +thousand men to Kalyan, and demanded permission, of the Portuguese, to +land at Thana and march on Bombay. The permission was refused, but the +Bombay Council were so alarmed lest the Portuguese should ultimately give +way, that they opened negotiations with Sivajee. Meanwhile, his seizure of +Kennery had alarmed the Seedee, who sent his fleet into Bombay harbour, +and offered his co-operation to the President, who accepted it with some +misgivings. Before long, it was discovered that the Seedee intended to +keep Kennery for himself, if he could capture it, which seemed to the +Council as bad as if it were in Sivajee's hands, so the English squadron +held aloof, while the struggle for Kennery continued between the Seedee +and the Mahrattas. Sivajee was too much occupied with other matters to +trouble about Bombay, and in March, 1680, a treaty of peace was made. His +struggle with the Seedee for the possession of Kennery went on, with +results that are not recorded; but eventually both parties appear to have +left the place to itself. In 1710, Conajee Angria seized the islet and +fortified it. + +By the end of October all was ready. The ships from England, with the +merchandise and money for the yearly investment, had arrived, and joined +in the expedition. In order to put an end to the quarrels among commanders +that had marked the failure of former expeditions, Boone resolved to take +the command himself; so, on the 1st November, he hoisted his flag on board +the _Addison_, East Indiaman, having with him Mr. Walter Brown and other +factors and writers. There was at this time in the service a renegade +Portuguese, one Manuel de Castro, who had been in Angria's service before +Boone had given him employment. He had been present at Hamilton's attack +on Carwar, when his misbehaviour had been such as to make all present +distrust him. By his boasts of his knowledge of Angria's harbours he had +gained the confidence of the Council, and had been appointed Commodore of +the Company's gallivats. But several of the English captains refused to +serve under him, protesting that they knew his character better than the +Governor did; so Boone contented himself by giving him command of only +five gallivats. On the 2nd, the squadron weighed anchor, and, on the +following day anchored off Kennery. It consisted of the _Addison_ and +_Dartmouth_, East Indiamen, the _Victoria_ frigate, the _Revenge_ and +_Defiance_ grabs, the _Fame_ galley, the _Hunter_ ketch, two bombketches, +and forty-eight gallivats. On the 6th they were joined by the _Morrice_, +and on the 12th by the _Stanhope_, East Indiamen. Directly after anchoring, +a futile bombardment was opened on the Kennery fort, but the distance was +so great that nothing was effected but waste of ammunition. The ships then +stood in closer, and opened fire again, while the _Dartmouth_ ran in and +fired several broadsides. While this was going on, the _Victory_ and +_Revenge_ were signalled to attack two grabs that were seen coming out of +the harbour; but, on fourteen gallivats coming out to assist the grabs, +they were recalled. The 4th was spent in preparations for a landing, and +the gallivats rowed round the island to choose a landing-place. It was +finally arranged that the soldiers and marines should land to windward, +while the sepoys, covered by the fire of grabs and gallivats, should land +at the opposite side of the Island, to leeward. But when the moment +arrived, next morning, the sepoys absolutely refused to land, in spite of +the severest measures.[1] The soldiers and marines, three hundred in +number, landed, but were beaten back with a loss of eighteen killed and +fifty wounded, "more by ye force of stones hoven from ye rocks than fier +arms." Some loss was occasioned by the bursting of a gun on board one of +the gallivats. Manuel de Castro, with his squadron of gallivats, had been +ordered to lie off the mouth of the harbour and prevent reinforcements +reaching Kennery. Notwithstanding, he allowed five of Angria's gallivats +to slip in with ammunition and provisions for the besieged, of which they +were believed to stand much in need. + +The 6th was occupied in making preparations for another attack, and +volunteers were called for from among the sailors, for which service they +were to receive forty rupees each, which, at the existing rate of exchange, +was reckoned equal to five pounds sterling. The loss of a leg or arm was +to be recompensed by a sum of £30 on return to England, and employment for +life under the Company. The married men were promised, if killed, that +their widows should receive £30, with £10 for each child. These offers +procured some forty volunteers, who were to be led by Gideon Russell, mate +of the _Morrice_. + +Early next morning the attacking party were put into the boats, to land +under cover of the fire of the _Britannia_, _Fame_ and _Revenge_; when it +was found that a strong current prevented disembarkation, and the boats +were forced to lie off under a heavy fire, until the tide changed. To make +matters worse, Manuel de Castro ran two of his gallivats ashore under the +guns of the castle, so that fifty or sixty men were killed or wounded +before a landing was effected. At ten o'clock the boats pulled for the +landing-place; but the tide was still running so strongly that they were +thrown into confusion, and many of the attacking party never landed at all. +The sepoys again refused to land. A small party of seamen, headed by +Gideon Russell, attacked the gateway under a shower of shot and stones, +and, before long, Russell fell, grievously wounded. He was carried back to +the _Morrice_, where he died next day. The seamen continued their attack +under Clement Downing, backed by Major Stanton, Captain Coxsidge, and the +soldiers. John Steele, the carpenter's mate of the _Morrice_, with his +broad axe hewed at the gate and nearly effected an entrance, when the +cowardice of two of Stanton's captains caused the attack to miscarry. One +of them threw down his sword, which was carried to Boone, who, on return +to Bombay, ordered him to be broke at the head of the garrison. The other, +somewhat more courageous, came boldly up to the gate and fired his pistol; +but the bullet rebounded and struck him on the nose; upon which he ordered +the drums to beat a retreat, and the soldiers got back to the boats, +leaving a small handful of seamen to prosecute the attack. These, in turn, +seeing the hopelessness of any further attempts, retreated to their boats, +and rowed off under a heavy fire, leaving many wounded to be massacred by +the enemy. It was the old story, repeated so often on these occasions; a +badly planned attack carried out half-heartedly by undisciplined men, +under one or two resolute leaders; as soon as the leaders were disabled, +the rest retreated with more or less loss. + +A desultory bombardment was continued for some days, and some shots were +fired against Colaba; but Kennery was now well provided with ammunition, +and could return two shots for every one fired by the Bombay squadron. On +the 11th, Angria sent a flag of truce to offer terms, which were rejected. +On the 14th, Boone returned to Bombay in the _Dartmouth_, seeing that +nothing more could be effected, and, on the 24th, the whole squadron made +sail for Bombay, after exhausting all their ammunition. Their return seems +to have been hastened by the appearance of Angria's fleet from Gheriah, +which had Bombay for a time at its mercy. + +The failure of the attack on Kennery, under his own eyes, taught Boone +that, without some assistance from England, he could hope to accomplish +little against Angria, whose ships now lay off the harbour, making it +difficult for trading vessels to go in or out. Three times the _Morrice_ +got under way, and three times had to return, before she could start on +her return voyage to Europe. In consequence of Boone's representations, +the Directors sent out the _St. George_, a sixty-gun ship, to act as a +guardship for the harbour. Her arrival only served to show the +incompetency of many of the Company's naval officers at that time. In +laying the ship on shore to scour its bottom after the voyage from England, +its back was broken, and the _St. George_ became a total wreck. + +Meanwhile, with an eye to a future campaign against Angria's strongholds, +Boone set to work to build a floating battery. The _Phram_, as it was +called, was designed with shot-proof sides to carry twelve 48-pdrs.; but, +as will appear before long, its fate was as ignominious as that of the _St. +George_. + +His own observation had convinced Boone of the treachery of Manuel de +Castro. On his return to Bombay, the renegade was put in irons, and +shipped off to St. Helena. There he was detected in fomenting a mutiny +among the convicts and slaves. He was deported, and before long made his +way back into Angria's service. + +Meanwhile, the wall round the town, the building of which had been one of +Boone's earliest projects, was nearing completion. It was built entirely, +or almost entirely, by contributions from the native merchants, and Boone +reported to the Directors that, when the whole space was built over, the +ground-rents would realize Rs.8890 a year for the Company's treasury. The +church also, the building of which had been started by Aislabie, was +finished about this time. The original chapel inside the factory was no +longer able to accommodate the increasing English population, besides +being in a ruinous condition. + +Like other chiefs along the coast, the Bombay authorities gave passes to +traders living under their protection, and in their warfare with Angria +they had adopted the practice of other chiefs, of not recognizing the +immunity of vessels that did not carry passes from themselves. We find at +this time the Kattiawar traders complaining of two ships having been +seized that held protective passes from Angria. In reply they were told +that they must have English passes. The Company was at war with Angria, +and his power was increased by those who paid him for protection. So, like +all neutrals, they had to suffer in a war with which they had no concern. + +Apprehensive of a fresh attack after the monsoon, Angria opened delusive +negotiations for a treaty of peace, through his feudal lord, Sahoojee. +Boone was regularly taken in, and announced with satisfaction, to the +Directors, that a treaty had been made, under which Angria contracted to +restore all ships and vessels he had taken, except the _Success_, which +was hopelessly decayed, for which he was to pay Rs.10,000, or to restore +goods to that amount. In lieu of captured cargoes he was to pay Rs.50,000, +or to give goods of equal value, and within two years he was to pay +Rs.10,000 more, for which payment Sahoojee undertook to be surety. Boone +reported that he had captured from Angria prizes to the value of Rs.9785, +which, together with the above payment, and a two-per-cent. war-tax on the +people of Bombay, would go some way to recoup the Company for their losses +and the cost of the expeditions. Altogether, the prospects of increased +trade were brighter, but, so long as Angria held Colaba, he considered +there could be no permanent peace. He was soon undeceived. As soon as +Angria saw that he was safe from attack for another season, he repudiated +the treaty, and by the beginning of the new year his piratical doings were +renewed. + + +[1] "Killed and wounded several of them, but all to no purpose."--_Log of + the Addison_. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST GHERIAH_ + +Trouble with the Portuguese--Madagascar pirates again--Loss of the +_Cassandra_--Captain Macrae's brave defence--The one-legged pirate--Richard +Lazenby--Expedition against Gheriah--Mr. Walter Brown--His +incompetency--Gordon's landing--Insubordination and drunkenness--Arrival +of the _Phram_--General attack--Failure--The Kempsant's alliance--Attack +on Deoghur--The Madagascar pirates, England and Taylor--Ignominious +flight--Fate of the _Phram_--Brown despatched south again--The pirates at +Cochin--They take flight to Madagascar--Their rage against Macrae and +England--England marooned--Taylor takes Goa ship--Rich prize--Governor +Macrae. + + +In addition to other embarrassments, Boone became involved, at this time, +in a quarrel with the Portuguese. The surrender of Bombay to the English +had, from the first, been extremely distasteful to the Goa authorities, +who understood the value of the place better than did the authorities in +Lisbon; and they had so interpreted the treaty that gave Bombay to the +English that, at the time of transfer, they had managed to retain +everything except the island of Bombay. The English had been obliged to +renounce all claim to Salsette and other dependencies of Bombay, or to +exclusive possession of the harbour, and to agree that the Portuguese +residents should be exempted from the payment of customs, and have full +liberty of trade with the Portuguese establishments in Salsette. This last +condition had been repudiated in England, but continued to be claimed by +the Portuguese, who harassed the position of the English by levying duties, +and impeding the passage of supplies, while they gave asylum to deserters +and runaways of all kinds. By the treaty, toleration for the exercise of +the Roman Catholic religion had been secured; and there had remained in +Bombay a large establishment of Franciscan friars, who made no efforts to +conceal their hostility to the Company's government. In addition to other +treacherous acts, Boone had to complain of the friars tampering with his +soldiers and slaves, and encouraging them to desert. In order to put an +end to the evil, he banished all the Portuguese friars, and installed in +their place an Italian bishop and some Italian Carmelite friars. This was +held by the Goa authorities to be an infringement of the rights of the +King of Portugal. In retaliation, all Roman Catholics in Bombay were +forbidden to recognize the authority of the Italian bishop and friars, and +the Portuguese General of the North was ordered to prohibit all +intercourse with Bombay, and to inflict the severest penalties on all +persons attempting to go there or to leave it. + + "Those who are captured shall be whipped and put in the galleys for + five years, and, if of noble birth, they shall pay the sum of one + thousand xeraphims in lieu of working in the galleys, and shall be + transported for five years to the fortress of Diu."[1] + +It seemed as if Boone was to have a Portuguese war added to his other +troubles. Fortunately, more moderate counsels prevailed, and, in September, +a conciliatory letter was written to Boone by the Viceroy, announcing his +approaching departure. A few days later, the new Viceroy, Francisco José +de Sampaio e Castro, arrived in Goa. While the quarrel was in progress, a +native ship from Surat, bound for Jeddah, was captured off Bassein by a +European pirate ship. This was probably England's ship, _Victory_, of +which we shall hear more directly. The ship and cargo, valued at twelve +lakhs, were carried off, and the passengers and crew put ashore at Malabar +Hill. + +A month later, Boone received intelligence of a serious loss to the +Company's trade from the Madagascar pirates. On the 7th August, the +_Greenwich_, Captain Kirby, and the _Cassandra_, Captain James Macrae, +bringing the usual yearly investment for Bombay and Surat, were in Johanna +roads, engaged in watering. At anchor, near them, was an Ostend ship that +had called for the same purpose. A few days before, they had received +intelligence that a French pirate, Oliver la Bouche,[2] had run on a reef +off Mayotta, and lost his ship, and was engaged in building a new one. +Thinking that the opportunity of catching the pirates at a disadvantage +should not be lost, Macrae and Kirby agreed to go in search of them and +attack them. They had just completed their arrangements when two strange +sails hove in sight. They proved to be the _Victory_, a French-built ship +of forty-six guns, commanded by the well-known pirate, Edward England, and +the _Fancy_, a Dutch-built ship of twenty-four guns, commanded by Taylor. +Macrae and Kirby prepared to give them a hot reception, the Ostend ship +promising to stand by them. So far were they from simply trying to make +their escape, that they looked forward to the handsome reward the Company +would give them for the capture of the pirates. From what followed it is +easy to see that Macrae's was the guiding spirit in this. Cables were cut, +and they stood out to sea, but, owing to the light baffling winds, made +little way. By next morning the pirates had closed, and bore down with a +black flag (skull and crossbones) at the main, a red flag at the fore, and +the cross of St. George at the ensign staff. The _Greenwich_ and the +Ostender, having a better wind than the _Cassandra_, had got some distance +away. In vain Macrae fired gun after gun at the _Greenwich_ to make Kirby +heave to. In a most dastardly way the captain of the _Greenwich_ pursued +his course, taking the Ostender with him, till he had got well to windward; +when, at a distance of two or three miles, he hove to and watched the fate +of the _Cassandra_. + +The _Cassandra_ was a new ship of 380 tons, on her first voyage. Macrae +was a thoroughly good seaman, with a fine crew that were attached to him, +and was resolved to fight his ship to the last. Early in the engagement he +gave the _Victory_ some shots between wind and water, which made England +keep off till he had stopped the leaks. Taylor got out the boats of the +_Fancy_ and tried to tow her alongside, to carry the _Cassandra_ by +boarding, but such good practice was made by the _Cassandra's_ marksmen +that the design was given up. At the end of three hours the _Victory_ had +repaired damages, and was closing again. Macrae had lost so many of his +crew, that, giving up all hope of assistance from Kirby, he determined to +run his ship ashore. The _Fancy_, which drew less water, followed with the +intention of boarding, but got aground within pistol-shot, with her bows +towards the _Cassandra's_ broadside, and the action recommenced hotter +than ever. There the two ships lay, both fast aground, pelting each other +furiously, till the crew of the _Fancy_, finding the _Cassandra's_ fire +too hot for them, left their guns and ran below. Had Kirby come to his +assistance at this moment, Macrae's triumph would have been assured; but +this was the moment chosen by Kirby to bear up and shape his course for +Bombay. England in the _Victory_, seeing that the _Greenwich_ might be +disregarded, sent three boats full of men to reinforce the _Fancy_; by +which time there had been so many killed and wounded on board the +_Cassandra_, that the crew, losing heart, refused to fight the ship any +longer. Thirteen had been killed and twenty-four wounded, among the latter +Macrae himself, who had been struck by a musket ball on the head; so, some +in the long boat and some by swimming reached the shore, leaving on board +three wounded men who could not be moved, and who were butchered by the +pirates. + +Not deeming it safe to linger on the coast, Macrae and his crew hastened +inland, reaching the town of the local chief, twenty-five miles off, the +following morning. Exhausted with fatigue and wounds, almost naked, they +were in a pitiable condition. The natives received them hospitably, +supplied their wants to the best of their ability, and refused to +surrender them to the pirates, who offered a reward for them. + +After the first rage of the pirates, at the heavy losses they had +sustained, had abated, and soothed, no doubt, by the capture of a fine new +ship with £75,000 on board in hard cash, Macrae ventured to open +communications with them. Several among them had sailed with him, and his +reputation for considerate treatment of his men was well known. With all +their faults, they were not all of them men to resent greatly, after their +first fury had cooled, the loss that had been suffered in fair fight; so +England gave him a promise of safety, and he ventured himself among them. +The _Cassandra_ and the _Fancy_ had been floated, and Macrae was +entertained on board his own ship with his own liquors and provisions. His +position was not without danger, as there were many brutal fellows among +the pirates. England, who had a reputation for good treatment of prisoners, +befriended him; but Taylor, whose influence was greatest among the most +brutal of the rovers, insisted he should be made an end of. In the midst +of the quarrel, a fierce-looking fellow with a wooden leg and his belt +full of pistols, intervened, asking with many oaths for Macrae, who +thought his last moment had come.[3] He was pleasantly surprised when the +ruffian took him by the hand, and swore with many oaths that he would make +mince-meat of the first man that hurt him; and protested, with more oaths, +that Macrae was an honest fellow, and he had formerly sailed with him. So +the dispute ended. Taylor was plied with punch till he was prevailed on to +consent that the _Fancy_, together with some of the _Cassandra's_ cargo, +should be given to Macrae, and before he could recover from his carouse, +Macrae had got safe to shore again. + +As soon as the pirates had left the coast, in the _Victory_ and the +_Cassandra_, Macrae set to work to patch up the much-battered _Fancy_, and +in a few days sailed for Bombay, with forty-one of his ship's company, +among whom were two passengers and twelve soldiers. After forty-eight days +of terrible sufferings almost naked, half starved, and reduced to a daily +pint of water each, they reached Bombay on the 26th October. It would have +been well for the Company if they had had more captains like Macrae. His +arrival brought much obloquy on Kirby, whose shameful desertion was now +made known. + +The pirates only detained one of the _Cassandra's_ crew--Richard Lazenby, +the carpenter's mate, whom they forced unwillingly to go with them. There +is still extant a curious account by Lazenby of his cruise with the +pirates. He tells of the cruel tortures inflicted on all captured natives; +how on the Malabar coast they had friends, especially among the Dutch at +Cochin, who bought their plunder, supplied them with provisions, and gave +them information of armed ships to be avoided, and rich prizes to be +intercepted. Those who wished to retire from the trade were given passages +to Europe with their ill-gotten gains, in French ships; and finally, after +witnessing the capture of the Portuguese Viceroy, to be related presently, +he was put ashore at Bourbon, whence, in time, he made his way to England. + +Since the renewal of war by Angria, at the beginning of the year, Boone +had resolved to strike another blow against Gheriah, and all through the +monsoon preparations had been made for action in September. Great things +were expected of the _Phram_, which was, however, not ready when the +expedition sailed. The direction of affairs was, on this occasion, +entrusted to Mr. Walter Brown, who was styled for the occasion "Admiral of +the Fleet, and Commander-in-Chief of all the forces." On the 13th +September anchor was weighed, and on the morning of the 19th they arrived +off Gheriah. At Dabul, where they had called in for news, they learned +that the _Phram_ and the _Chandos_ might soon be expected, but that there +was no prospect of Captain Johnson's machine being ready to take part in +the expedition. What Captain Johnson's machine was we do not learn, but +the intelligence 'mightily disconcerted the soldiery.' The squadron +consisted of the _London_, which acted as flagship, the _Victory_ frigate, +the _Revenge_ and _Defiance_ grabs, the _Hunter_ galley, two gallivats, a +bombketch, a fireship, and a number of fishing-boats for landing troops. +The troops for the expedition consisted of 350 soldiers and topasses and +80 chosen sepoys. Brown appears to have been thoroughly incompetent for +such a command, and the undertaking was destined to add one more to the +dismal list of failures. His first act was to make the _London_ exchange +useless shots with the fort at a mile distance. The following day, the +bombketch was ordered to run close in within pistol-shot, and bombard the +place at night. One shell and one carcass were fired, neither of which +went halfway, by reason of the mortars being so faultily constructed that +the chambers could not contain a sufficient charge of powder. 'This +misfortune set the people a-grumbling.' + +On the 21st, Brown held a consultation of his officers, and proposed to +land three hundred men, at night, a mile from the town, so as to surprise +it at daylight. The officers protested against the scheme; they justly +remarked that it would be folly to make such an attack before the arrival +of the whole force. The _Phram_ and the _Chandos_, with the platoons of +Europeans, were still to come. They represented that the garrison of the +fort alone was a thousand strong, to say nothing of the small walled town +which must be taken before the fort could be attacked. Such a proposal was +not likely to increase their confidence in Brown. Sickness had already set +in among the troops, and that evening Captain Jeremiah Easthope died of +fever. Brown was all for immediate action, without having any definite +plan. + +On the 22nd, Gordon was ordered to land with fifty men, and occupy a small +building on the top of a hill on the north side of the river. What he was +expected to do there does not appear. Soon, a number of boats full of men +were observed crossing from the fort to engage Gordon, so a reinforcement +of fifty men was sent to him. On reaching the hill, Gordon found that what +had been taken for a building consisted only of a natural pile of loose +stones, such as are to be frequently seen on the Deccan hills, and there +was nothing for it but to re-embark. He managed his retreat to the +landing-place in good order, followed by the enemy at musket-shot distance. +Several times he faced about, but the enemy always shrank from close +quarters. Nothing had been done to cover the place of embarkation, and it +was only after the strongest remonstrances from those on board that Brown +was prevailed on to order the _Revenge_ and the _Hunter_ to stand in and +cover the re-embarkation of Gordon's party. In spite of this precaution, a +lieutenant, a sergeant, a quartermaster of the _London_ and six men were +killed, and about twenty men wounded. It is difficult to imagine anything +feebler and more aimless than the whole proceeding. + +The next day the bombketch was again sent in to bombard the fort, with the +same result as before. The proceedings were enlivened by the punishment of +Sergeant Passmore, who was reported by Gordon for cowardly behaviour. He +was sent round the fleet to receive ten lashes alongside each ship. The +next three days were spent in idleness, awaiting the _Phram_, from which +so much was expected. On board ship there was no discipline, but plenty of +hard drinking. In order to make the men fight well, Brown's idea was to +supply them with unlimited rum: the officers kept pace with the men in +their libations, and what little discipline existed soon disappeared. +Orders were disobeyed, while drunkenness, violence, and insubordination +reigned unchecked. When remonstrances were addressed to Brown, he refused +to stop the supply of liquor, saying that the people must not be put out +of humour at this juncture, and they must drink as they pleased: all which +is duly recorded by Captain Upton of the _London_. The enemy meanwhile was +observed busily constructing new batteries, and boats full of armed men +were constantly crossing the river, but nothing was done to intercept them. + +At last, the _Chandos_, _Pelham_, and _Phram_ arrived, having spent ten +days in their voyage from Bombay. Nothing better occurred to Brown than to +send the _Phram_ at once to engage the fort. On opening fire, it was found +that her ports were so low and the gun-carriages so high, that her guns +could only be fired when depressed so as to strike the water twenty yards +off. So she was brought out again with one man mortally wounded, and the +officers and soldiers so mightily discouraged that they declared, unless +she could be made serviceable, it was useless to attempt anything further. +The ships' carpenters were set to work on the _Phram_, while the dejection +and drinking increased. Fifty men of the _Chandos_ who had not yet had an +opportunity of gauging Brown's incapacity, volunteered, for forty rupees a +head, to join a landing party; but not a single seaman in the squadron +would consent, 'upon any consideration whatsoever,' to go on board the +_Phram_, till an increased bounty secured the services of the _Chandos'_ +sailors. + +By the 29th all was ready for the grand attack. Two landing parties, one +of three hundred and forty soldiers under Captain Stanton, and the other +of two hundred and thirty-seven seamen under Captain Woodward, were held +in readiness, and soon after midday the fleet stood into the inner harbour, +with the exception of the _Phram_, which engaged the fort from the outer +harbour. Lieutenant Wise had been selected as a fit person to command and +point the _Phram's_ guns, which he did so badly that his shot mostly fell +in the inner harbour. The Mahrattas were quite ready for them, and all the +afternoon the cannonade went on, till sunset put an end to it. Five men on +board the _Phram_ were wounded, but it had engaged at too great a distance +to do or suffer much harm. Brown, in the _London_, had kept out of action, +and contented himself with sending six dozen of wine and arrack to the men +on board the _Phram_, together with orders to Stanton, who was on board, +to warp into the harbour at night and renew the action next morning. The +following day firing recommenced, and it was found necessary to displace +Lieutenant Wise, he being continually drunk, and to allow the sailors to +point their own guns. The closer range caused numerous casualties on board +the _Phram_. Among the soldiers, Mr. Tuladay and four men were killed, and +a great number wounded. The seamen also had several killed and wounded. +Many of the casualties were caused by the bursting of a gun on board the +_Phram_. The explosion fired the gun on the opposite side of the deck, +which was loaded with grape, and pointing over a boat full of topasses. +The flame from the gun ignited their cartridge boxes, and the poor +wretches were terribly scorched and injured. The fire of the ships in the +inner harbour was successful in destroying a number of Angria's ships that +had sought refuge in the river; one of five hundred tons, one of two +hundred tons, and ten smaller ones were set on fire and burnt. By +nightfall, all hands thought they had done enough, and told Stanton so, +and in spite of Brown's messages of expostulation, they took advantage of +a land breeze to come out. At midnight came Captain Woodward, of the +_Revenge_, to report, in a panic, to Brown that he had left his ship on +the rocks close to the fort, and that both vessel and crew were as good as +lost. Half an hour after, the _Revenge_ was seen coming out with the other +vessels. She had not been ashore at all, and the only conclusion was that +Woodward was frightened out of his senses; so he was put in irons for his +cowardice. + +Thus came to an end the grand attack, and nothing better was to be +expected. "I have continual disturbances in the ship dayly by the officers +excessive drinking, and noe manner of command carryed," wrote Captain +Upton, of the _London_. A few days later he records how Captain S. and +Mr. D.[4] fought with their fists in the roundhouse before Mr. Brown, who +took no notice of it. + +The next few days were spent in repairing damages. While thus employed, +messengers came from the Kempsant, offering to join hands with the English +in attacking Angria. A quarrel had arisen between the two chiefs, owing to +Angria having plundered some of the Kempsant's ships. But he stipulated +that Angria's fort at Deoghur, seven leagues to the south, should be first +attacked; so, on the 7th October, part of the fleet was sent down to +reconnoitre. + +On the 16th, fresh stores of arrack, water and provisions having been +received from Goa, Brown called a consultation of the officers on board +the _Addison_, and proposed another landing under the _Phrams_ guns. But +the officers were disheartened, undisciplined, and under no control. One +objection after another was raised, and the council of war came to an end +by other officers of the squadron, who had learned what was going on, +coming aboard, and conveying to Brown in no measured terms that they would +have nothing to do with it. One of them in a passion told Brown he was mad, +and did not know what he was about--which was true enough. The next day, a +foolish show of landing was made, and then Brown decided to abandon the +attempt and transfer his attack to Deoghur. + +Deoghur, or, as it was sometimes called, Tamana, was one of the ten +principal forts ceded to Angria in 1713. It commanded the small but good +harbour formed by the Tamana river. This was Angria's southernmost +stronghold. The name Tamana is still to be found at a small place ten +miles up the river. Here Brown brought his squadron on the 18th October. +The usual desultory and harmless bombardment followed; the _Phram_ and the +bombketch being equally inefficient. Then, when Brown suggested a landing +party to storm the place, the officers refused to second him, and so, with +some additional loss, the attack on Deoghur came to an end. Not a word is +said as to any assistance rendered by the Kempsant. At daybreak on the +21st, the whole squadron sailed northward, but the tale of Brown's +incompetency was not complete. + +A little before noon next morning four strange sails were seen in the +offing, which, before long, were made out to be the dreaded Madagascar +pirates, with the _Cassandra_, _Victory_, and two prizes they had just +taken. The sight of them struck Brown with terror, though a little +reflection would have shown him that the pirates would have little or no +inducement to attack armed ships carrying no valuable merchandise. He +directed his whole squadron to anchor off Gheriah, which must have +appeared puzzling to his late antagonists in that place. Hoping to evade +the pirate ships, anchor was weighed in the night, and the squadron sailed +northward, no order being preserved, and the fleet getting much scattered. + +As it happened, the pirates had mistaken them for Angria's fleet, and were +standing to the northward in search of prey, without any thought of +attacking them. Without any hostile intention on either side, the two +squadrons became intermingled. While it was still dark, the party on the +_London_ was startled by a cannon shot flying over them, and in the faint +morning light they saw a large ship on their quarter. On hailing to ask +her name, an answer came back that it was the _Victory_. Brown preferred +to believe that it was his own ship of that name; but his answering hail, +giving the name of the _London_, was replied to with a broadside, to which +a smart fire was returned by the _Revenge_ and the _Defiance_, that were +close astern. On both sides there was no willingness to fight. The pirates +were at first seized with consternation at discovering their mistake; they +had turned their prizes adrift after throwing their sails overboard, and, +with only three hundred men for their joint crews, forty of them negroes, +were not strong enough to engage the Bombay squadron. But England was a +man who preferred fighting to running, so putting a bold face on the +matter, the _Cassandra_ ran through the fleet, firing into the _Victory_, +the _Chandos_, and the _Phram_. The _Chandos_, which was towing the +_Phram_, at once cast it loose. The fleet scattered in all directions, +like a flock of sheep when a strange dog runs through it. Upton, of the +_London_, a chicken-hearted fellow, persuaded Brown that they ought not to +engage, as Boone had sent them to attack Gheriah, but had given them no +instructions about the Madagascar pirates. Brown seemingly did not want +much persuading, and crowded all sail to escape; at the same time striking +his flag to show that he did not intend fighting, which excited the +indignation of his own sailors and the derision of the pirates. He next +sent orders by a gallivat for the _Phram_ to be burned, and thus that +useless machine, from which so much had been expected; and that had cost +so much money and labour, came to an end. + +These foolish proceedings gave England the measure of his antagonists. +'Observing the indifferency of the fleet,' the best way of saving himself +was, he thought, to 'play the Bull-beggar' with them; so he set to work to +chase them northward. The superior sailing powers of the pirates enabled +them to do as they pleased. + +When they overtook the rearmost of the ships Brown had still got with him, +they backed their sails and fired into them till they had got well ahead +again. In this ignominious fashion the greater part of the fleet was +shuffled along for two days by the pirates, as a flock of sheep is driven +by a couple of sheep-dogs, till they at last found refuge in Goa. The +soldiers on board the _London_ improved the occasion by breaking into the +'Lazaretto' and getting drunk on the wine they found there. Part of the +fleet made for Carwar, and others found safety under the guns of Anjediva. +The pirates, having effected their purpose of driving them off, turned +south and took the _Elizabeth_ at anchor off Honore. + +Before long, an indignant letter from Boone ordered Brown to cruise +southward and engage the pirates at all hazards; so the unhappy Brown put +to sea again. The news of the capture of the _Elizabeth_ was enough for +him: on the third day he turned northward again and made for Bombay; to +make his peace with the exasperated Governor as he best could. It is not +difficult to imagine Boone's disgust at the failure of his schemes, and +the worthlessness of those he had to depend upon; but it must be admitted +that these desultory attacks, first on one place and then on another, were +not calculated to effect anything useful. Had he concentrated his efforts +on Kennery, he might have rendered the waters of Bombay more secure. + +Brown laid the blame of his failure on the disobedience of his officers, +which had been so flagrant as to conceal his own incapacity; so, on the +12th December, Boone again despatched him to search for the pirates, and +give protection to the country vessels bringing up pepper from the +southern factories. He took with him a fine squadron: the _Greenwich_, 42 +guns; the _Chandos_, 40 guns; the _Victory_, 26 guns; the _Britannia_, 24 +guns; the _Revenge_, 16 guns; and a fireship. The pusillanimous Upton was +left behind, and, next to himself in command of the expedition, but in +reality the moving spirit, he took the gallant Macrae. England and Taylor +had meanwhile been constrained to run down to the Laccadives, for want of +water and provisions. Not getting what they wanted, they had come +northward again to Cochin, where they were royally entertained by the +Dutch authorities. They were supplied with everything they required, +including a present, from the Governor, of a boat loaded with arrack, and +sixty bales of sugar, for all of which handsome payment was made, while +handfuls of duccatoons were thrown into the boat for the boatmen to +scramble for. A fine clock and gold watch, found in the _Cassandra_ when +captured, were sent as a present to the Governor's daughter, and formal +salutes were fired on both sides as they entered and left the harbour. No +wonder that they were made welcome along the coast. On leaving Cochin, +they took a small vessel from Tellicherry sailing under a Bombay pass. +From the master they learned that the Bombay squadron, with Macrae in +command, was cruising in search of them. They were roused to fury by this +news of Macrae's 'ingratitude,' and vied with each other in devising the +tortures to which they would subject him if he fell into their hands again, +while their anger was vented on England and all who had stood up for +Macrae after the capture of the _Cassandra_. Before long they were sighted +by Brown, who bore down on them and signalled them to heave to. This +behaviour, so different from their previous experiences, was little to +their liking. They made sail for the southwards, and, for two days, were +held in chase, till by superior sailing they lost their pursuers. + +Such an extraordinary change in the behaviour of the Bombay squadron +taught them that the Indian coast was no longer a safe place for honest +rovers. It was expedient to take themselves elsewhere: so sail was made +for Mauritius. Against Macrae their curses were loud and deep. A villain +they had treated so well as to give him a ship and other presents, and now +to be in arms against them! No fate was bad enough for such a man. They +had been cruelly deceived. To appease their wrath they turned upon England. +But for his foolish championship of Macrae, this would not have happened. +Taylor had been right all along. They would only follow him in future. In +their rage they first talked of hanging England, till more moderate +counsels prevailed, and it was decided to maroon him at Mauritius, which +was done. England and three others who had befriended Macrae were set on +shore, among them, no doubt, the one-legged pirate, and in due course of +time made their way over to St. Mary's.[5] + +At St. Mary's the command of the _Victory_ was made over to Oliver La +Bouche, or La Buze, whose efforts at shipbuilding had apparently not met +with success, and the two ships, in company, before long took what was +probably the richest prize that ever fell into pirate hands. The +ex-Viceroy of Goa, the Conde de Ericeira, had sailed for Lisbon, in +January, in the _Nostra Senhora de Cabo_, a seventy-gun ship, taking with +him a rich consignment of jewels for the Portuguese Government, and the +proceeds of his own private trading during the three years of his +viceroyalty. Off the Cape they encountered a heavy storm, which dismasted +the ship, forced them to throw many of their guns overboard, and obliged +them to put back to Bourbon to refit. Taylor and La Buze, learning the +helplessness of the Viceroy's ship, sailed into the anchorage under +English colours. A salute from the Viceroy's ship was answered with a +shotted broadside, and, in the confusion that ensued, the Portuguese ship +was boarded and carried almost without resistance. Seldom or never had +such a prize fallen into pirate hands so easily. The booty in diamonds and +money was in the shape most coveted by the rovers. The jewels alone were +estimated at over three million dollars. The hard cash was said to be five +hundred thousand crowns, and the Viceroy was forced to raise another two +thousand crowns as a personal ransom, which would have been higher, had he +not convinced them that part of the jewels and money on board was his own +property. + +Bourbon was a French possession, but the Governor, M. Desforges, was +obliged to observe _une grande circonspection_ in his dealings with the +pirates who came and went as they pleased. Bernardin de St. Pierre, who +visited Bourbon nearly fifty years later, repeats a tradition, how La Buze +sat at table between the Viceroy and the Governor, and in an access of +generosity remitted the Viceroy's ransom. He further tells us that La Buze +eventually settled down in the island, and was hung some years later. + +Taylor, continuing his cruise in the _Cassandra_, took a fine Ostend ship, +and carried her to St. Mary's. While most of the pirates were on shore, +the prisoners overpowered the few left to guard them, and carried off the +ship. We get a last glimpse of the _Cassandra_ in a private letter written +to the Directors in May, 1723, from Jamaica, in which it is stated that +the _Cassandra_ was lying at Portobello, while Taylor was engaged in +negotiating with the captain of an English man-of-war for a pardon. The +negotiations apparently fell through, as Taylor was eventually given a +commission by the Spaniards. The letter relates how the crew boasted that +they had, each man, twelve hundred pounds in gold and silver, besides a +great store of diamonds and many rich goods. Of the sharing of these +diamonds, Johnson tells a story how one man, being given for his share one +big diamond instead of a number of small ones, broke it up with a hammer, +so that he might have as many 'sparks' as the others. + +Macrae's defence of the _Cassandra_, and the boldness and ability he +displayed in his dealings with the pirates, brought him into prominent +notice. The son of a poor Ayrshire cottager, he had worked himself up, +from before the mast, to the command of a ship. Soon after his return to +England, the Directors appointed him to be their supervisor on the west +coast of Sumatra, and, before he sailed, a provisional commission was +given him to succeed to the Presidentship of Madras, on a vacancy +occurring. Eighteen months later, he took his seat as Governor at Fort St. +George. His six years of office were distinguished by his efforts to put +an end to many abuses that had grown up in the Company's affairs. He left +India with a fortune of £100,000, made by private trade, and settled down +near his birthplace, which he had not revisited since he left it as a boy. +He died in 1746. + +NOTE.--The account of England's cruise in the _Cassandra_, given in + Johnson's "History of the Pirates," is evidently taken from Lazenby's + narrative to the E.I.C. Directors. Macrae's account of the capture of + the _Cassandra_, given by Johnson, appears also to have been part of a + similar report to the Directors, but the report itself has disappeared. + Additional information is to be found in the logs of the _Greenwich_ + and _London_. + + +[1] Proclamation issued at Goa, 19th July, 1720 (Danvers). + +[2] This was Oliver Levasseur, otherwise La Buze of Calais, a noted French + pirate. By the English he was called La Bouche, and, in one ship's log, + Lepouse. On Woodes Rogers assuming the governorship of the Bahamas, La + Bouche and England sailed for Madagascar. + +[3] Stevenson, in "Treasure Island," evidently took his idea of John + Silver, the one-legged pirate, from this incident. "Now what a ship + was christened" (he makes him say) "so let her stay, I says. So it was + with the _Cassandra_ as brought us all home from Malabar, after + England took the Viceroy of the Indies.... First with England, then + with Flint; that's my story." + +[4] Probably Stanton and Drage. + +[5] In Lazenby's narrative, England is mentioned as Seegar, which was + probably his real name, England being only an _alias_. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST COLABA_ + +Measures taken in England against pirates--Woodes Rogers at the +Bahamas--Edward Teach--Challoner Ogle--Bartholomew Roberts +killed--Matthews sent to the East Indies--Naval officers' +duels--Portuguese alliance--Expedition against Colaba--Assault--Defeat--A +split in the alliance--Plot against Boone--His departure--Matthews' +schemes--His insulting behaviour--He quarrels with everybody--Goes to +Madagascar--The King of Ranter Bay--Matthews goes to Bengal. + + +As long as their forces had been occupied with the French war and the +Highland rising, the English ministry had been powerless to check the +depredations of the pirates, which had become intolerable both in the East +and West Indies. Now Europe was at peace, and measures could be concerted +to put a stop to the evil. As usual, the Peace of Utrecht was followed by +an increase of piracy, through the privateersmen being thrown out of +employment. + +On the 5th September, 1717, a royal proclamation was published, offering a +free pardon, to all pirates on the American coast surrendering within one +year, for all piracies committed before the 5th January. As rewards for +the capture of pirate ships, to every captain £100, to other officers £40, +to petty officers £30, and to ordinary seamen £20 were to be paid on +conviction of the offenders. To pirates, a reward of £200 was offered for +the surrender of a pirate captain or commander before the 6th September, +1718. The effect of the proclamation, in conjunction with the measures +taken in the Bahamas, was very great. By the 1st July, 1719, to which date +the time of grace was extended, all but three or four of the most +desperate rovers had retired from business. But against the most audacious +of them more vigorous measures were necessary. + +It was of little use to hunt down pirates at sea, so long as their haunts +in the Bahamas and Madagascar were allowed to flourish, and, as the West +Indian rovers were the most mischievous to European trade, the Bahamas +were first taken in hand. + +During the war, the Bahamas had been twice taken and plundered by the +French and Spanish; all semblance of authority had disappeared, and it was +estimated that there were upwards of two thousand pirates in and about +Providence. In 1718, Captain Woodes Rogers leased the islands for +twenty-one years, from the proprietors, and received a commission as +Governor; he sailed, for Providence, with a naval force and powers to +offer an amnesty to all who submitted. Five or six well-known pirate +captains made their peace with the Government, and a number of their crews, +though some of them went back to their old trade before long. England, La +Buze, and others slipped away and made for Madagascar. A council was then +formed, consisting of six of the adventurers and six of the inhabitants +who had never been pirates themselves. This was followed by the submission +of others; some were hung, and order of a sort was re-established in the +Bahamas. + +The coasts of Virginia and North Carolina were at this time beset by a +number of pirates, the most notorious of whom was Edward Teach, _alias_ +Blackbeard, a Bristol man, who had begun his piratical career in the +spring of 1717; the most sinister figure in the annals of piracy. Pirate +captains were, as a rule, chosen by their crews, and if their conduct was +unsatisfactory to the rovers, they were deposed and sometimes put to death +or marooned; but Teach, as fearless as he was merciless, ruled his crew by +terror. As an instance of his savage humour, it is related that on one +occasion, in a drinking bout, he blew out the light and fired two pistols +among his companions, wounding Israel Hands, his sailing master, severely. +On being asked why he did it, he damned them, and said if he did not kill +one of them now and then, they would forget who he was. So impressed were +his crew with his wickedness, that they believed they carried the devil on +board, who appeared at intervals among them as one of the crew, but could +not be identified as belonging to the ship's company. Once he fought the +_Scarborough_, a man-of-war of thirty guns, and beat her off. He boldly +went ashore when he pleased, forcing the Governor of North Carolina to +marry him, and to supply him with medicines for his crew. With his face +covered with black hair, and a beard of extravagant length, fantastically +tied up in ribbons, he presented a wild and truculent figure that was the +terror of the coast. + +An extract of a journal he kept, found after his death, is given by +Johnson-- + + "Such a day, Rum all out:--Our company somewhat sober: A damn'd + confusion amongst us!--Rogues a plotting;--great talk of + separation.--So I look'd sharp for a Prize;--such a day took one, + with a great deal of Liquor on board, so kept the Company hot, damned + hot, then all things went well again." + +Eden, the Governor of North Carolina, was suspected of sharing in Teach's +plunder, and his conduct was so suspicious that it could only be set down +to dishonesty or to extreme pusillanimity; so, in their distress, the +North Carolina planters sought the assistance of the Governor of Virginia. +There were at this time two men-of-war, the _Pearl_ and the _Lime_, lying +in the James river, but their size was too great to permit of their +searching the creeks and inlets frequented by Teach; therefore, two small +sloops, without guns, were fitted out and placed under command of Maynard, +first lieutenant of the _Pearl_. At the same time a proclamation was +published in Virginia offering rewards for the apprehension of pirates, +with a special reward of £100 for Teach. Though the whole had been planned +with great secrecy. Teach received warnings from friends on shore, but +paid no attention to them, and Maynard surprised him at anchor in a small +inlet. + +Teach cut his cable and tried to stand out to sea, but ran aground. +Maynard anchored within half gunshot and set to work to lighten his sloops, +while Teach roared out curses and threats, to which Maynard replied that +he expected no quarter and would give none. Just as Maynard was ready to +attack, Teach got afloat and bore down on the sloops, giving them a +broadside that partially disabled one sloop, and killed or wounded twenty +men in Maynard's. Nothing discouraged, Maynard kept his men under cover +and ran the pirate aboard, and was at once attacked by Teach with fourteen +men. Teach and Maynard met hand to hand, and there was a desperate +encounter, Teach fighting like a ferocious animal at bay. Maynard's sword +broke, but he was saved by one of his men coming to his assistance, and +Teach at last fell dead on the deck of the sloop with twenty-five wounds. +The second sloop, meanwhile, had boarded and captured the pirate ship, and +Maynard sailed back to the James river with Teach's head at his bowsprit. +Fifteen of the pirates were taken alive, of whom thirteen were hung. + +A year after Teach's death there appeared on the American coast +Bartholomew Roberts, a Welshman from Haverfordwest, who, for over two +years, was the scourge of the American and African traders. It was said of +him that he was a sober man who drank tea constantly, which made him an +object of suspicion to his crew. His temperance did not prevent him from +being the most wantonly wicked pirate who sailed the seas. In a +Newfoundland harbour, on one occasion, he burned and sank twenty-one +vessels, destroyed the fisheries and stages, and wrought all the havoc he +could, out of pure wantonness. On another occasion, he captured a slaver +with eighty slaves on board, and burned it, slaves and all, because it +would cost too much time and trouble to unshackle the unfortunate wretches. +At the same time, he was a man of order and method. He drew up a set of +rules, to which his crew subscribed, in which, among other things, it was +laid down that no women should be allowed on board; dice and gambling were +prohibited; lights were put out at 8 o'clock; and musicians were exempt +from playing on Sundays. The chaplain of Cape Coast Castle having been +captured, he was pressed to join the pirates, being promised that nothing +would be required of him except to make punch and say prayers. On his +declining the office, all church property was restored to him "except +three prayer books and a bottle-screw." + +In pursuit of Roberts, the British Government despatched Captain Challoner +Ogle, with the _Swallow_ and _Weymouth_. Failing to find him in American +waters. Ogle steered for the African shore, and, on the 5th February, 1722, +when separated from the _Weymouth_, he came on the pirates at anchor off +Cape Lopez. Putting the _Swallow_ about, and handling his sails as if in +confusion and alarm, Ogle stood out to sea, pursued by the _Ranger_. When +well out of sight of land, the _Ranger_ was allowed to draw up, and the +pirate crew suddenly found themselves under the fire of a sixty-gun ship, +for which their own thirty-two guns were no match, and after a short +engagement the black flag was hauled down. On the 10th, Ogle stood in +again to engage the _Royal Fortune_, disposing his flags to make the +pirates believe his ship had been captured by the _Ranger_. Roberts fought +with desperation when he discovered the ruse. Dressed in rich crimson +damask, a scarlet feather in his hat, a gold chain with large diamond +cross round his neck, he made a resistance worthy of his reputation, +determined to blow up his ship rather than yield. At the main he hoisted a +black flag, on which were displayed a skeleton and a man with a flaming +sword; the jack was black, showing a man standing on two skulls, and St. +George's ensign was at the ensign staff. After a desperate encounter, +Roberts was slain by a grape-shot, and the _Royal Fortune_ carried by +boarding, the pirates resisting to the last. Out of two hundred and +seventy-six men captured in the two ships, fifty-two were executed, all of +them Englishmen. Ogle was knighted for his able and gallant conduct. + +The re-establishment of authority at the Bahamas had led to an increase in +the numbers of the Madagascar pirates; so Commodore Thomas Matthews was +despatched to the East Indies with a strong squadron, consisting of the +_Lyon_, 50 guns; _Salisbury_, 40 guns; _Exeter_, 50 guns; and _Shoreham_, +20 guns. The Company's ship _Grantham_ was also placed under his orders, +to act as a store-ship. In Byng's successful action with the Spanish, off +Cape Passaro (August, 1718), Matthews had commanded the _Kent_ with credit; +but with the exception of courage, he apparently failed to possess a +single quality for independent command. Irascible, domineering to his +subordinates, and insolent to all others he was brought in contact with, +he was entirely devoid of judgment or discretion. Twenty years later, when +he became better known, Walpole wrote of his 'brutal manners,' and Horace +Mann nicknamed him 'Il Furibondo.' There could not have been a worse +selection for the work in hand. + +The desire of the Directors was that the squadron should, before going to +Bombay, proceed to St. Augustine's Bay and St. Mary's. Thence, that a ship +should be detached to Bourbon, where it was supposed a new pirate +settlement was being formed; after which, they wished the squadron to +proceed to the mouth of the Red Sea, where pirates would in all +probability be found waiting for the Indian ships in July and August. But +Matthews had views of his own, and was not much concerned with the wishes +of the Directors, who had designs of opening up trade with Madagascar, and, +as a preliminary step, desired to see the pirate settlements rooted out. + +In February, 1721, the squadron sailed from Spithead, with orders to +rendezvous at St. Augustine's Bay. Soon after leaving the Channel, the +_Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ were dismasted in a storm, and were obliged to +put into Lisbon to repair damages. Matthews continued his voyage with the +_Lyon_ and the _Shoreham_ to St. Augustine's Bay. He found no pirate ships +there at the time, and good policy demanded that he should await the +_Salisbury_ and the _Exeter_. Instead of doing so, he continued his voyage +to Bombay, where he arrived on the 27th September. Before leaving, he +entrusted to the natives of St. Augustine's Bay a letter for Captain +Cockburn, of the _Salisbury_, in which a number of particulars were given +of the squadron. The proceeding was so ill-advised and so well calculated +to defeat the object of the squadron's coming into Indian waters, that it +was believed in the squadron that Matthews had done it purposely to put +the pirates on their guard. Whether this was his intention or not, it +serves to show the opinion held of him by those under his command. Soon +after Matthews' departure, Taylor and La Buze reached St. Augustine's Bay, +read the letter, and sailed at once for Fort Dauphin, in the south-eastern +end of Madagascar. The _Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ arrived soon afterwards, +and getting no news either of Matthews or the pirates, sailed for Bombay. +These proceedings were not of happy augury for the success of the +expedition. The pirates had information of the squadron being in the +Indian seas, and were doubtless kept henceforth informed, from time to +time, of its movements through their various sources of intelligence. +Taylor, satisfied with his gains, sailed for the West Indies and +surrendered to the Spaniards, who gave him a commission. + +Matthews' first act on dropping anchor, was to force the native vessels in +harbour, belonging to Bombay traders, to strike the English colours they +were in the habit of displaying, and he next embarked in a squabble with +the Governor as to who was to fire the first salute, a matter that was not +settled without many messages to and fro. The officers of the squadron, +taking their cue from Matthews, 'looked as much superior to us,' Downing +tells us, 'as the greatness of their ambition could possibly lead them. +There were daily duels fought by one or other of them, and challenges +perpetually sent round the island by the gentlemen of the navy.' The duels +seem mostly to have taken place among the naval officers, who must have +been a quarrelsome lot. On the voyage from England, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. +Sutherland, 'son of My Lord Sutherland,' had quarrelled, and Mitchell, +considering himself aggrieved, demanded his discharge on arrival at Bombay, +which was granted. He then sent a challenge to Sutherland, who wounded and +disabled him. But all duels were not so harmless. A few days afterwards, +Sutherland and Dalrymple, 'grandson of Sir David Dalrymple, His Majesty's +Advocate for Scotland,' both midshipmen, quarrelled over dice, and fought +a duel, without seconds, the following morning; when Dalrymple was run +through the body and killed on the spot--a fate that was apparently not +altogether undeserved. Sutherland was tried by court-martial, found guilty +of murder, and sentenced to death; but as it was necessary for the +death-warrant to be signed by the King, it was arranged to carry him a +prisoner to England. Touching at Barbadoes, he made his escape, and +remained there till a free pardon was granted him. Not long afterwards a +duel, arising out of a quarrel about a lady's health, was fought between +Stepney, the second lieutenant, and Berkeley, the third lieutenant of the +_Salisbury_, in which both were badly wounded. Stepney died a fortnight +after the duel, but, as the surgeon certified that he had not died of his +wound, Berkeley was not brought to a court-martial. + +Meanwhile, great preparations were being made for a fresh campaign against +Angria, and while these bickerings went on among the subordinates, the +Governor and Matthews were engaged in planning the attack. Long before +Matthews' arrival, negotiations had been opened between the Portuguese +Viceroy, Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro, and the Bombay Council, for a +joint attack on Colaba. Through the management of Mr. Robert Cowan, who +had been deputed, in March, to Goa, for the purpose, a treaty of mutual +co-operation had been drawn up, by which the Bombay Council undertook to +furnish two thousand men and five ships. The Portuguese authorities +undertook to furnish an equal force. The negotiation was not completed +till the beginning of September, and Cowan, in recognition of the ability +he had displayed, was given a seat in the Council. The combined forces +were to assemble at Chaul, then a Portuguese possession, and march +overland to attack Colaba. Forgetting the old adage about selling the skin +of the bear while the animal was still alive, it was further agreed that +Colaba, after capture, was to be the property of Portugal, while Gheriah +was to be handed over to the English. The arrival of Matthews' squadron +therefore brought a welcome addition to the Bombay armaments. + +A camp was formed for the expeditionary force; drilling was the order of +the day; Cowan was named general, and various commissions as colonels, +majors, and captains were granted to officers of the navy who volunteered +for land service. On the 30th October, a seven days' fast was ordered, to +secure the Divine blessing on the undertaking, and the chaplain was +directed to preach an appropriate sermon. + +On the 29th November, the expedition left Bombay, and anchored off Chaul, +where the Portuguese force had already assembled. The English force +consisted of 655 Europeans and topasses, a troop of 40 horsemen, and 1514 +sepoys. Matthews also contributed 200 seamen, of whom 50 were to serve the +guns. The artillery consisted of two 24-pounders, two 18-pounders, four +9-pounders, six small field guns, two mortars, and eight coehorns. The +Portuguese force consisted of 1000 Europeans, 160 horsemen, 350 volunteers, +and 2400 sepoys, with six 24-pounders, six 18-pounders, ten field pieces, +and eight mortars, commanded by the General of the North. The Viceroy was +also present. Such a force, combined with the men-of-war, was sufficient, +under proper direction, to have destroyed all Angria's strongholds along +the coast. + +Some delay was caused by the necessity of building a bridge over the +Ragocim river, and then the army advanced, to be quickly brought to a +standstill again till sufficient transport could be brought from Bombay. +On the 12th December, after marching round the head of the Alibagh river, +the army encamped close to Alibagh fort; while the men-of-war anchored in +the roads. During the march, a few of Angria's horsemen had been seen from +time to time. On one occasion, while the Viceroy, accompanied by Matthews, +Cowan, and other commanders, was riding to view the country, a horseman +approached them under cover of a cactus hedge, and threw his lance, +wounding Matthews in the thigh. Matthews vainly pursued him, beside +himself with rage at his wound and at his pistols missing fire. + +On the 13th, an assault was made on the fort, though the heavy guns had +not been landed. Outside the fort there were fifteen hundred horse and a +thousand foot sent by Sahoojee to Angria's assistance. The Portuguese were +to face them, while five hundred English soldiers and marines, led by +naval officers, were to force the gateway and scale the rampart. Common +sense demanded that Sahoojee's force outside the fort should be disposed +of, and the heavy guns that had been brought with so much labour from +Chaul should be mounted and used, before any attempt at an assault was +projected; but there was a woeful absence of ordinary capacity among the +commanders. At four in the afternoon, the little force under Brathwaite, +first lieutenant of the _Lyon_, who held the rank of colonel for the +occasion, advanced to the assault. The gateway was blocked, and could not +be forced; many of the scaling ladders were too short, and the affair +resolved itself into a struggle, by a small number who had gained the +rampart, to maintain themselves, while the rest remained exposed to the +fire from the walls. In the midst of it, Sahoojee's force advanced on the +Portuguese, who broke and fled in wild confusion, leaving the English, +force to their fate. The assaulting party, seeing their danger, drew off, +leaving many of their wounded behind them, the whole force gave ground, +and soon there was a wild rush for the camp, luckily not followed by the +Mahratta horsemen. Thirty-three had been killed and twenty-seven wounded; +among the latter, Lieutenant Bellamy of the navy, who had behaved with +great dash and bravery. Matthews' marines suffered heavily. Though wanting +in discipline, they displayed much courage. All the field guns and a great +deal of ammunition fell into the hands of the Mahrattas. The whole blame +was laid on the Portuguese, to whom treachery was imputed. Matthews, +always violent, flew at the General of the North and assaulted him,[1] and +treated the Viceroy not much better. A little more enterprise on the part +of the Mahrattas would have destroyed the whole force. The following day +some heavy guns were landed, and a four-gun battery was constructed. But +the Portuguese had had enough of it, and were determined to withdraw. + +From the beginning, there had been little cordiality between the +ill-matched allies. In the English camp, Cowan was devoid of military +experience or instinct, and commanded little confidence among men +habituated to defeat in their attacks on Angrian strongholds; while +Matthews, violent and overbearing, claimed a right to direct operations +that he knew nothing about. The Portuguese, on their side, proud in the +recollection of the great position they had once held on the Malabar coast, +and which, though now fast falling into decay, was still immeasurably +superior to that of the English merchants, were disgusted at the constant +drunkenness, quarrelling, and want of discipline among the English, and +incensed at the charge of treachery, for which there was no justification. +Feigning illness, the Viceroy betook himself to his ship. Angria saw his +opportunity of breaking up the alliance, and opened negotiations with him. +On the 17th, the Viceroy wrote to the English, proposing a suspension of +arms. With a bad grace they were obliged to consent, seeing in the +negotiation, which was against the compact that neither should treat +separately, farther confirmation of their suspicion of treachery. Angria +granted the Portuguese full reparation for injuries, and formed an +offensive and defensive alliance with them. The English were left to shift +for themselves. Full of wrath, they embarked at once, and sailed for +Bombay on the 28th. + +While the force was engaged at Colaba, the Malwans[2] strove to make a +diversion in Angria's favour by attacking English ships, under pretence +that they were Portuguese vessels; they being at war with Goa at the time. +The Sunda Rajah also attacked a private English ship, but was beaten off. +In the Gulf, the Bombay sloop _Prince_ took a Muscat ship of fourteen guns, +but after some days was obliged to relinquish its prize to a Muscat +squadron. + +It is impossible not to sympathize with Boone's disappointment at the +failure of this long-planned expedition, which he had looked forward to as +the crowning achievement of his presidentship. The time had come for him +to return to England. His successor, Mr. William. Phipps, had arrived from +Mocha, in August, and had taken the second seat in Council, while awaiting +Boone's departure. Boone's last year in Bombay was embittered by a +dangerous intrigue against him, headed by Parker and Braddyll, two of the +Council. Investigation showed that they had plotted to seize his person, +and had even uttered threats against his life. Being arrested and ordered +to leave Bombay, they fled to Goa. After a time, Braddyll made his way in +a small boat to Bombay, and sought protection on board the _Lyon_, which +was readily extended to him by Matthews. As Braddyll's name appears among +those present in Council in Bombay, in 1723, he must have succeeded in +making his peace with the Company. Under the Company's rule, in those days, +all but the worst offences were condoned, so long as they were not +directly aimed at the Company's trade. A plot against the Governor's +freedom might be pardoned, but, for assistance given to the Ostenders +there was no _locus poenitentiae_. + +On the 9th January, Boone embarked on board the _London_, after making +over the governorship to Mr. Phipps, followed by the good wishes of the +community. During his six years of office he had proved himself a faithful +and zealous servant of the Company: 'a gentleman of as much honour and +good sense as any that ever sat in that chair,' according to Hamilton. He +had found Bombay with a languishing trade and open to attack. Under his +fostering care, trade had improved, so that merchants from Bengal and +Madras had found it profitable to settle there. A good wall had been built +to guard the town against sudden raids, and a respectable naval force had +been created to keep piracy in check. He deserves remembrance as the first +Bombay Governor who tried to put down the coast pirates by active measures. +Though his expeditions against them had been uniformly unsuccessful, he +had taught Angria that the Company's trade could not be attacked with +impunity, and his ill-success was entirely due to the worthlessness of his +instruments. At his departure, salutes were fired from every gun ashore +and afloat, except from Matthews' squadron, which did not fire a gun. As +he sailed down the coast, accompanied by the _Victoria_ and _Revenge_, +loaded with stores for Carwar and Anjengo, he was attacked by Angria's +squadron, but beat them off. Off Anjediva he came on the Kempsant's grabs +plundering a ship, which he rescued. One of the grabs was taken and +another driven ashore; and so he was gratified with a small success over +his inveterate enemies, as he bid farewell to the Indian coast. + +As soon as Matthews had returned to Bombay, after the Alibagh fiasco, he +applied himself to what, to him, was the principal reason for his coming +to India, viz. private trade. For the Company's interests he did not care +a button; in fact, anything that injured the Company found an advocate in +him. As for the pirates, if they did not come in his way, he was not going +to trouble himself much about them. To enrich himself by starting a +private trade of his own, was his one object, and, with this end in view, +he sailed for Surat. With him he took Mrs. Braddyll and Mrs. Wyche, with +sundry chests of treasure, in spite of Phipps' remonstrances: the estates +of both having been attached by the Council. In Surat he tried to raise a +large sum for a venture in the China trade; but the arbitrary conduct of +the King's officers had raised so much distrust among the native merchants, +that he was unsuccessful. Within three weeks he was back again in Bombay, +and was at once involved in an angry correspondence with the Council. Not +confining himself to an acrimonious exchange of letters, he affixed at the +sea gate an insulting proclamation. Phipps ordered it to be removed, on +which Matthews wrote that, if it were not at once replaced, he would +publish it by beat of drum through Bombay, and, should any resistance be +offered, he would not leave a house standing in the place. In this dilemma +the Council consented to replace it, but, to save their dignity, added a +notice that it was licensed by the Secretary. It is difficult to see how +this improved the matter. However, Matthews sailed the next day for +Madagascar, so no doubt the proclamation did not long remain after his +departure. + +His absence from Bombay, though doubtless felt as a relief by Phipps and +the Council, was probably, before long, a cause of regret in the troubles +that shortly beset them: but for the moment we will follow his movements. +Not contented with his quarrels with the Council, Matthews was soon at +daggers drawn with his own captains. First he proposed to them to employ +their ships in trading, on condition that two-thirds of the profits were +to be his. The captains refused to have anything to do with the proposal. +He had already had a quarrel with Cockburn, his second in command, the +first of many that were to follow. Before leaving Bombay, a quarrel arose +between him and Sir Robert Johnson, of the _Exeter_. Johnson threw up his +command, and took passage for England in one of the Company's ships, which +was lost with all hands on the voyage. With Sir Robert Johnson, his son, a +lieutenant in the navy, perished. Brathwaite was appointed to the command +of the _Exeter_. It had already come to be widely known that anybody who +was in trouble with the Company would find countenance and protection from +Matthews. He told the Portuguese officials that the Company's vessels were +only traders, and therefore not entitled to a salute, gun for gun. This +matter of salutes was a very important one in Matthews' eyes. Every +trading ship, however small it might be, carried guns, and there was a +great deal of saluting. In acknowledging such salutes Matthews always +responded with three or four less guns than were given him. On one +occasion there is a record of his replying with one gun only.[3] Wherever +Matthews could find an opportunity for lowering the credit or hurting the +interests of the Company, he seized it. + +On reaching Carpenter's Bay in Mauritius, he found an impudent message +from the pirates, 'writ on Captain Carpenter's tomb with a piece of +charcoal,' to the effect that they had been expecting him and had gone to +Port Dauphin. The squadron next proceeded to Bourbon, where they sold some +casks of arrack and madeira to the French for a very good profit, and +thence proceeded to Charnock Point, St. Mary's Island, Madagascar. Here +they found the wrecks of several merchant ships that had been run ashore +by the pirates. Scattered on the beach were lying their cargoes, china +ware, rich drugs and spices, cloth, guns, and other articles, lying where +the pirates had cast them. Men waded knee-deep in pepper, cloves, and +cinnamon, such was the quantity. In shallow water were lying the remains +of a fine Jeddah ship that had been taken, with thirteen lakhs of treasure +on board, by a pirate named Conden, who commanded a ship called the +_Flying Dragon_. Matthews at once began to transfer the guns and such +commodities as were least damaged to his own ships. A flag of truce had +been first sent ashore to communicate with England and the other pirates, +but it was found that they had fled inland. A week later, a white man, +accompanied by a well-armed guard of natives, made his appearance. He told +them that he was a Jamaica man named John Plantain, that he had been a +pirate, but was tired of the trade, and had settled down on the spot. This +John Plantain was a man of some note in the piratical world. Every and +England had sailed with him, and treated him with much consideration and +some fear. He had made himself master of a considerable tract of country, +so that the pirates had given him the name of the King of Ranter Bay.[4] +He gave an invitation to Matthews to visit his castle, where he +entertained some of the officers of the squadron. Matthews' first idea was +to seize him, but finding that John Plantain had a good number of armed +natives with him, besides a Scotchman and a Dane, and that his castle had +plenty of guns mounted, he decided to trade with him instead. The pirates +made no secret of having taken part in the capture of the Goa Viceroy's +ship, and of a rich native vessel with eighteen lakhs of rupees on board. +So hats, shoes, stockings, wine, and arrack were made over to John +Plantain, for which he paid a good price in gold and diamonds. In spite of +his notions as to piracy, John Plantain showed himself an honester man +than Matthews. Having paid liberally for the things he had bought, he left +the hogsheads of wine and arrack on the beach under a small guard. As soon +as his back was turned, Matthews manned his boats, brought off all the +liquor he had been paid for, and some of the native guard as well. After +which notable achievement he sailed away for Bengal, consoling himself +with the thought that he was not like one of "those vile pirates, who, +after committing many evil actions, had settled down among a parcel of +heathens to indulge themselves in all sorts of vice."[5] + +After a fortnight at Charnock's Point, the squadron made its way round the +north of Madagascar to Manigaro (Manankara) Bay, whence they steered for +Johanna. As the Directors afterwards remarked, Matthews ought to have +divided his squadron, and searched both coasts of the great island; but +his heart was not in the quest for pirates; he was bent only on trade. +Sending the _Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ to cruise towards Socotra, he took +the _Lyon_ and _Shoreham_ to Bengal, and, in the beginning of August, he +was at anchor in the Hoogly, near Diamond Harbour. There he remained till +the end of October. There were no pirates in the Bay of Bengal, but the +sugar trade was very lucrative, and he wanted to invest in it. + +He was not long in Calcutta without coming to loggerheads with the Council +concerning Mrs. Gyfford, who, as Mrs. Chown, has already been mentioned in +these pages,[6] and whose third husband had perished in the Anjengo +massacre eighteen months before. In flying from Anjengo she had carried +off the factory books, together with all the money she could lay her hands +on. As the Company had large claims on Gyfford's estate, the Council was +bent on making her disgorge. Matthews espoused her quarrel, as he did that +of all who were in the Company's bad books, and, in defiance of the +Council, carried her off to Bombay, and eventually to England. + + +[1] 'Thrust his cane in his mouth.'--_Downing_. + +[2] Malwan was a small fortified harbour belonging to Kolapore, about + sixty miles north of Goa. The Malwans were noted pirates. + +[3] When Watson came to India, he returned salutes gun for gun. + +[4] Perhaps Autongil Bay. + +[5] This account of Matthews' visit to Madagascar rests to a great extent + on the narrative of Clement Downing, who held the rating of a + midshipman on board the _Salisbury_ at the time. It is confirmed by + the logs of the _Lyon_ and _Salisbury_. He makes no attempt to conceal + his opinion of Matthews' misdoings. He also gives the history of John + Plantain, who finally made his way to Gheriah, and took service with + Angria. + +[6] See p. 80. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_A TROUBLED YEAR IN BOMBAY_ + +Loss of the _Hunter_ galley--Quarrel with Portuguese--Alliance of +Portuguese with Angria--War with both--A double triumph--Portuguese make +peace--Angria cowed--Matthews reappears--Trouble caused by him--He +returns to England--Court-martialled--The last of Matthews. + + +The year succeeding Boone's departure was a stirring one in Bombay. On the +27th February, the _Eagle_ and _Hunter_ galleys, while off Bassein, +convoying a Surat ship, were attacked by four of Angria's grabs. After a +five-hours' engagement, during which the _Hunter_ made three attempts at +boarding, an unlucky shot ignited some loose powder, and the galley blew +up, every soul on board perishing. A similar explosion, though less +serious, took place on board the _Eagle_, which forced her to take refuge +in a shattered condition in Saragon harbour. Here the Portuguese showed +such unfriendliness, that the Council were obliged to send other galleys +to protect and bring the _Eagle_ away. + +Since the conclusion of the Portuguese treaty with Angria, an angry +correspondence had gone on between Goa and Bombay, and soon the old causes +of quarrel were revived. The chief of these was the levying of duties at +certain places. The General of the North, who had tried to force on a +quarrel a year before, smarting, doubtless, under the treatment he had +received from Matthews at the siege of Alibagh, began to levy duties on +provisions coming from Bombay to Portuguese territory. Phipps retaliated +by levying customs duties at Mahim, which the Portuguese had always +claimed to be free to both nations. The quarrel grew hot. The General of +the North forbade all communication with Bombay, and, on the 26th May, a +British gallivat was fired on at Mahim. The Council resolved to uphold +their rights, but were in a poor condition to do so. Meanwhile, it became +known that Angria's assistance was being invited by the Portuguese. On the +23rd June, a party from Bombay landed and destroyed the Portuguese fort at +Corlem, and shelled Bandara. Captain Loader, of the _Revenge_, without +orders, burned the undefended village on Elephanta, for which he was +suspended from his command; but at the end of a week he was reinstated. +Want of shipping for a time prevented any vigorous prosecution of +hostilities on the part of the Council. They were obliged to remain on the +defensive, while Portuguese galleys cruised off the island, making +occasional raids, killing a militiaman or two, and burning villages. Mahim, +Riva, and Darvi were all raided, but with small benefit to the assailants. +On the 28th August, at night, a Portuguese force landed and destroyed the +fort at Warlee, assisted by the treachery of a renegade Portuguese. On the +3rd and 4th September, two attempts to land at the Breach were repulsed, +and the Council were cheered by the arrival of the _Salisbury_ and +_Exeter_ from their Red Sea cruise. + +Cockburn, of the _Salisbury_, less churlish than Matthews, at once put two +pinnaces and seventy-six men at the Council's disposal. A small expedition +of eleven gallivats under Stanton was also fitted out, and a battery +erected by the Portuguese at Surey to hinder provisions coming into Bombay, +was captured. One man of the _Exeter_ was killed and another wounded. Just +then came news that Angria was fitting out an expedition of five thousand +men to attack Carwar, and the _Exeter_ sailed there to defend the factory. + +At the beginning of November, the tide turned. News having been received +that some of Angria's grabs were cruising off Warlee, the _Victoria_ and +_Revenge_, manned with crews from the _Salisbury_, were sent out. After a +hot engagement, Angria's commodore, a Dutchman, was killed, and his ship, +mounting sixteen guns, taken. + +On the same day that the captured ship was brought into Bombay, two other +captures entered the harbour. The Directors had sent out from England +three galleys, the _Bombay_, the _Bengal_, and the _Fort St. George_, +manned with sailors from the Thames. As they were proceeding up the coast +they found themselves dogged for two days by two strange grabs showing no +colours. Resolved to put an end to it, on the third day, on the 1st +November, off Cape Ramus, they shortened sail and called on the strangers +to show their colours. They proved to be Portuguese, and the English hails +were answered by threats and shouts of defiance. The _Bengal_ then fired a +shot across the bows of the leading grab, which was answered by a +broadside, killing the second mate and two seamen. The _Bombay_ closed in, +while the _Fort St. George_ turned its attention to the second grab. In +half an hour both of the Portuguese vessels struck their colours, and the +galleys continued their course for Bombay with their two prizes, each +carrying twenty guns. Such was the difference made by having British +seamen, instead of the miserable crews that had hitherto manned the +Company's ships. + +It was well for the Bombay Council that Matthews had been absent while +this was going on. For two months and a half he had remained at anchor in +the Hooghly. Early in December he reached Bombay, and at once recommenced +his quarrels with the Council and his captains. Cockburn, of the +_Salisbury_, was placed under arrest, presumably for the assistance he had +given to the Council. After a time he was transferred to the _Exeter_, and +ordered to proceed to England. + +In coming up the coast Matthews had touched at Goa, and informed the +Viceroy of his disapproval of the Company's actions, and that his squadron +would soon be leaving the Indian seas. But the Viceroy had had enough +fighting. The capture of his grabs had brought him to reason. He laid all +the blame for recent hostilities on the General of the North, and a +peaceful accommodation was come to with the Council, Matthews being +disregarded. + +In spite of Matthews' failure to destroy the Madagascar pirates, the +presence of his squadron in Indian waters impelled them to seek safety in +the West Indies, and henceforward they ceased to be dangerous to the +trade-ships of India. The Madagascar settlements lingered on till they +died a natural death. Angria, too, had been tamed by the slaying of his +commodore and the capture of his ships. For years the sea-borne trade of +Bombay had not been so little subject to molestation as it was for the +next three or four years. + + +Matthews had sent home two of his ships, remaining, himself, to do another +year's trading, during which he lost no opportunity of worrying and +insulting the Company's officers. Everybody at variance with the Council +found an advocate in him. A Parsee broker, named Bomanjee, was under +arrest for fraud; Matthews demanded his surrender. The Council placed +Bomanjee in close confinement in the fort, to prevent his being carried +off. Matthews promised Bomanjee's sons he would take one of them to +England, and undertook to make the Directors see things in a proper light. +Men charged with abominable crimes received countenance from him. He told +the Council that they were only traders, and had no power to punish +anybody. The Crown alone had power to punish. He (Matthews) represented +the Crown, and was answerable only to the King of England. One may picture +to one's self the satisfaction with which, at the end of the year, the +Council learned that Matthews was really going. + +In December, 1723, he set sail for England. During the two years he had +been in the Indian seas he had accomplished nothing he ought to have done, +and done almost everything he ought not to have done. He had been sent out +to suppress the pirates and to protect the Company's interests. He had not +captured a single pirate ship or rooted out a single pirate haunt. +Claiming, as a King's officer, to be exempt from the provisions of the +Company's charter, he had indulged in private trade, and had even had +dealings with the pirates. He had flouted the Company's authority wherever +it existed, and had encouraged others to resist it. Every person who had a +dispute with the Company received protection from him. He told the Goa +authorities that the Company's vessels were only traders, and therefore +not entitled to the salutes they had always received. He had refused to +give up the Company's sailors whom he encouraged to desert to his ship. He +forbade the Bombay traders to fly British colours, but allowed his own +trading friends to do so. He had gone trading to Bengal and Mocha, where +there were no pirates; two months and a half he had spent in the Hooghly; +three months and a half he had spent at Madras and St. David's for trade +purposes; and, when the quarrel between the Bombay authorities and the +Portuguese was going on, he gave out that he would send the Goa Viceroy a +petticoat, as an old woman, if he did not take every one of the Company's +ships. He had quarrelled with all his captains, and one of them, Sir +Robert Johnson, owed his death to him. At Surat he had found a discharged +servant of the Company, one Mr. Wyche, on whose departure the Governor had +laid an embargo till his accounts were cleared. Matthews took him and his +eleven chests of treasure on board his ship, in defiance of the Governor's +orders, and put him ashore at Calicut, whence he escaped to French +territory. From Surat also he carried to England the broker's son, +Rustumjee Nowrojee, to worry the Directors. He carried off Mrs. Gyfford, +and brought her to England in his ship. His last act on the coast was to +call at Anjengo, in order to obtain property she claimed there: but it is +probable that he also secured a cargo of pepper. + +It is small wonder that, on his arrival in England, in July, 1724, the +wrath of the Directors was kindled against him, and an account of his +misbehaviour was forwarded to the Secretary of State. The naval +authorities called on the Directors to produce their witnesses for the +charge of trading with the pirates. The difficulty of doing so was obvious, +as the witnesses were all under Matthews' command; so the charge was +dropped, and the Directors sued him in the Court of Exchequer for +infringing their charter by private trading. + +Meanwhile the naval authorities had their own account to settle with +Matthews; Captain Maine, of the _Shoreham_, having made various charges +against him. In the last week of December, 1724, he was brought to a +court-martial on board the _Sandwich_ in the Medway, and the finding of +the court was thus recorded:-- + + "The Court, having read the complaints of the Directors of the E.I. Co. + of several irregularities said to be committed by Captain Thomas + Matthews while Commander-in-Chief of a squadron of his Majesty's ships + sent to the East Indies, a Publication being made three several times, + if any Person or Persons were attending on behalf of the said + Directors, in order to prove the several matters therein contained, + and not any appearing, the Court proceeded on the complaints exhibited + by Captain Covil Maine, and having strictly examined into the several + particulars and matters therein contained and heard divers witnesses + upon oath, they are unanimously of opinion, that the said Captain + Matthews hath in all respects complied with his Instructions, except + that of receiving Merchandize on board before the late Act of + Parliament, Instituted an Act for the more effectual suppression of + Piracy, came to hand, but not afterwards; and it appearing to the + Court, that he had sent men irregularly to Merchant Ships, and finding + he falls under the 33rd Article of War, they have Resolved he be + Mulcted four Months' pay, and that the same be applied for the benefit + of the Chest of Chatham, and he is hereby mulcted accordingly." + +Six weeks later, the Directors obtained a decree against him in the Court +of Exchequer, for £13,676 17_s_. 6_d_., which, according to Act of +Parliament, was doubled as a penalty. + +In 1742, Matthews again found favour with an English Ministry. He was +appointed Minister at Turin and Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. +In February, 1744, he encountered a combined French and Spanish fleet off +Toulon. His behaviour to his subordinates had excited their ill-will to +such an extent that his second in command and many of the captains refused +to follow him. The allied fleet escaped with the loss of one ship only. +Both admirals and five captains were cashiered, and that is the last we +hear of Matthews. The remembrance of his behaviour long rankled in the +minds of the Directors, and twenty years elapsed before they could again +bring themselves to apply for the despatch of a royal squadron to the +Indian seas.[1] + + +[1] The squadron under Barnet, which was sent out in 1744, on the + declaration of war with France. + + + +CHAPTER X + +_TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF CONFLICT_ + +The case of Mr. Curgenven--Death of Conajee Angria--Quarrels of his +sons--Portuguese intervention--Sumbhajee Angria--Political +changes--Disaster to _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys--The _Ockham_ beats +off Angria's fleet--The Coolees--Loss of the _Derby_--Mahrattas expel +Portuguese from Salsette--Captain Inchbird--Mannajee Angria gives +trouble--Dutch squadron repulsed from Gheriah--Gallant action of the +_Harrington_--Sumbhajee attacks Colaba--English assist Mannajee--Loss +of the _Antelope_--Death of Sumbhajee Angria--Toolajee Angria--Capture +of the _Anson_--Toolajee takes the _Restoration_--Power of +Toolajee--Lisle's squadron--Building of the _Protector_ and _Guardian_. + + +As an instance of the miseries to which men were exposed by Angria's +piracies, may be mentioned the case of Mr. Curgenven, a private merchant +of Madras. Being bound on a trading voyage to China, he sailed from Surat +in August, 1720, in the _Charlotte_. Before he could get clear of the +coast, he was captured by Angria's fleet and carried into Gheriah. There +he remained for nearly ten years, during the whole of which time he was +made to wear fetters and work as a slave. In spite of the letters he was +able to send to Bombay, nothing appears to have been done to procure his +liberty. At last, on payment of a ransom, he was set free, and joined his +wife in England. But the fetters he had worn so long had injured one of +his legs, and amputation was necessary. As he was recovering from the +operation, an artery burst, and he died on the spot. + +With Boone's departure from India the attacks on the Angrian strongholds +came to an end. They were henceforth regarded as impregnable, and Boone's +successors contented themselves with checking the Angrian power at sea. + +In June, 1729, Conajee Angria died. He left two legitimate sons, Sakhajee +and Sumbhajee; three illegitimate sons, Toolajee, Mannajee, and Yessajee. +Sakhajee established himself at Colaba, while Sumbhajee Angria remained at +Severndroog, to carry on the predatory policy of their father. In March, +1734, Sakhajee died, and Mannajee and Yessajee were sent to hold Colaba +for Sumbhajee. Before long, Mannajee quarrelled with Sumbhajee and +Yessajee, and fled to Chaul. The Portuguese espoused his quarrel, and +furnished him with a force against Colaba, which was taken; Mannajee +gallantly leading the assault, sword in hand. He at once imprisoned +Yessajee, and put out his eyes. As soon as the Portuguese force was +withdrawn, Sumbhajee attacked Colaba. Mannajee invoked the aid of the +Peishwa, who compelled Sumbhajee to raise the siege, and received the +Angrian forts of Koolta and Rajmachee in return, while Mannajee proclaimed +his allegiance to the Peishwa, and henceforth was secure under his +protection. The Portuguese, incensed against Mannajee, who had broken his +promises to cede them certain districts in return for their assistance in +capturing Colaba, joined hands with Sumbhajee Angria against him. This +brought down upon them the hostility of the Mahratta court, who, after two +years' severe fighting, expelled them from Salsette and all their +possessions in the neighbourhood of Bombay, while the English looked on at +the contest waged at their doors with indifference. + +In order to strengthen themselves against the Dutch, the Portuguese had +ceded Bombay to the English, and then, by their bad faith in retaining +Salsette and Thana, they had opened a sore that never was healed. By +espousing the quarrel of Mannajee they had earned the enmity of Sumbhajee; +and by joining in Sumbhajee's quarrel against Mannajee they had brought +down on themselves the formidable power of the Peishwa. Before long, +Sumbhajee turned against them again, and they were left without a single +ally to struggle as they could. Their intervention in Angrian quarrels was +the final cause of the downfall of Portuguese power on the West coast. + +The old political landmarks were fast disappearing. Everywhere the Mogul +power was crumbling to pieces, and new principalities were being formed. +The Peishwa had shaken off his allegiance to Satara, and his armies were +making his authority felt all over Hindostan and the Deccan; while +Mahratta rule was being established in Guzerat by the Gaicowar. The Dutch +and French had ceased to make progress; the Portuguese power was on the +wane; the Seedee was losing territory under the attacks of Mannajee and +the Peishwa, while the Angrian power was divided. Meanwhile, the Company's +position on the West coast was steadily improving. European pirates had +ceased to haunt the Indian seas; Mannajee Angria found it necessary to +maintain good relations with the English, though occasional acts of +hostility showed that he was not to be trusted; while the Peishwa, whose +aims were directed inland, had no quarrel with them, and concluded a +treaty with Bombay. Trade was flourishing, though the piracies of +Sumbhajee Angria, in spite of his feud with Mannajee, caused losses from +time to time. The English ships, better manned and better found, no longer +contented themselves with repelling attacks, but boldly cruised in search +of Sumbhajee's vessels, capturing them or driving them to seek refuge in +their fortified harbours. + +To relate in detail all the encounters that took place would be tedious; +but some of them may be mentioned, in order to give an idea of the warfare +that went on for thirty years after Boone's relinquishment of office. + +In October, 1730, intelligence having been received of Angrian gallivats +cruising north of Bombay, some Bombay gallivats were sent out, and after a +smart action captured three of them, each carrying five guns. A month +later, the _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys were attacked off Colaba by four +grabs and fifteen gallivats. There was a calm at the time: the hostile +grabs were towed under the galleys' stern and opened a heavy fire. The +galleys were only able to reply with small arm fire, and suffered severely. +Several attempts to board were repelled, when an unlucky shot exploded two +barrels of musket cartridges on board the _Bengal_. The quarter-deck was +blown up, and, in the confusion, the enemy boarded and carried the ship. +The first lieutenant, although wounded, jumped overboard and swam to the +_Bombay_, which was also in evil plight. A similar explosion had occurred, +killing the captain, the first lieutenant, and many of the crew. At this +juncture came a welcome breeze, bringing up the _Victory_ grab, which had +witnessed the fight without being able to take part in it, and the +Angrians drew off. No less than eighty Europeans were lost to the Company +in this action. + +In January, 1732, the _Ockham_, East Indiaman, coming up the coast with a +light wind, was beset, off Dabul, by an Angrian squadron of five grabs and +three gallivats. At sunset they came within shot, and a little harmless +cannonading took place at long range, till dark. At one in the morning, +the moon having risen, they bore down again and attacked the _Ockham_ in +their favourite manner, astern. For some time the East Indiaman was +exposed to the fire of ten nine-pounders, to which it could only reply +with two stern-chasers. Captain Jobson, finding his rigging much cut up, +and seeing that the loss of a mast would probably entail the loss of his +ship, determined to entice them to close quarters, in the good breeze that +was springing up. The plan was explained to the crew, who were in good +heart, and encouraged by a promise of two months' pay. Every gun was +manned, while the fire of the two stern-chasers was allowed to slacken, as +if ammunition was running short. The bait took; the grabs drew up on the +_Ockham's_ quarter, with their crews cheering and sounding trumpets. At a +cable's distance the _Ockham_ suddenly tacked; and as she gathered way on +her new course, she was in the midst of the grabs, firing into them round +shot and grape, together with volleys of small arms. This unexpected +manoeuvre made the Angrians draw off, and the _Ockham_ resumed her course. +At daybreak, only four grabs were in chase, the fifth having evidently +suffered severe injuries. A stiff breeze had sprung up, and the crew were +eager for another bout, so the _Ockham_ tacked again, and stood for the +grabs. But they had had enough of it, and evaded coming to close quarters. +Their best chances of successes lay in calms and light airs. With an +antagonist like Jobson, in a good stiff wind, the odds were against them; +they had lost many men; so after hovering round for some hours they made +off to Severndroog. + +In 1734, the Coolee rovers, who infested the coast of Guzerat, gave much +trouble. Their stronghold was at Sultanpore, on the river Coorla, and +they enjoyed the protection of several wealthy persons who shared in their +plunder. A squadron under Captain Radford Nunn was sent against them, +which captured five armed vessels and burnt fourteen more. To save others +from capture they burnt about fifty more small sailing-boats themselves. +Six months later, ten more of their boats were burnt and two captured. +Under these blows they were quiet for a time. + +In December, 1735, a valuable ship fell into Sumbhajee Angria's hands, +owing to the bad behaviour of its captain. The _Derby_, East Indiaman, +bringing a great cargo of naval stores from England, and the usual +treasure for investment, was due to arrive in Bombay in November. The +captain, Anselme, was a schemer, and wished to remain in India for a year, +instead of returning to England at once, as had been arranged. Accordingly, +he lingered a month in Johanna, and shaped his course northward along the +African coast. Thence getting a fair wind which would have brought him +directly to Bombay, without running the risk of working along the Malabar +coast, he, instead, steered for the latitude of Goa, and thence crept +northwards, making as much delay as possible, so as not to reach Bombay +till January. On the 26th December, an Angrian squadron of five grabs and +four gallivats bore down on the _Derby_, off Severndroog, and engaged in +their favourite way of attacking a big ship, astern. There was little wind, +and the _Derby_ would neither stay nor wear. Only two guns could be +brought to bear at first; there were no guns mounted in the gun-room, and +no encouragement was given to the crew. Two years before, the Directors +had authorized the captains of outward-bound ships, when exposed to a +serious attack, to hoist two treasure chests on deck, for distribution, +after the engagement, to the ship's company, in order to encourage them in +making a good resistance. The captains of homeward-bound ships were +empowered to promise £2000 to their crews in the same circumstances. +Nothing of the kind was done by Anselme. The crew, discontented, fought +with little spirit; many of them refused to stand to their guns. The main +and mizzen masts were shot away, seven men, including the first mate, were +killed, five were dangerously, and a number more slightly, wounded. Still, +many of the officers and men were willing to continue the fight, but were +overruled by the captain, who insisted on surrender, and the _Derby_ with +115 prisoners, of whom two were ladies, was carried into Severndroog. + +No such loss had befallen the Company for many years. The much-needed +naval stores went to equip Angria's fleet, and the money for the season's +investment was lost. The whole Bombay trade was dislocated. Angria, +desirous of peace, opened negotiations. The Council, wishing to redeem the +prisoners, offered a six months' truce, and, after eleven months of +captivity the prisoners were sent to Bombay, with the exception of three +who took service with Angria. + +In December, 1736, the _King George_ and three other vessels captured a +large grab belonging to Sumbhajee Angria, together with 120 prisoners. A +Surat ship that had been taken was also recovered. + +The year 1738 was an anxious one in Bombay. The Mahrattas were occupied +with the siege of Bassein, which was defended with desperate valour by the +Portuguese. Sumbhajee's vessels were active on the coast, and Mannajee was +restless and untrustworthy. Commodore Bagwell, with four of the Company's +best ships, the _Victory, King George, Princess Caroline_, and +_Resolution_, was sent to cruise against Sumbhajee, while Captain Inchbird +was deputed on a friendly mission to Mannajee. On the 22nd December, +Bagwell sighted Sumbhajee's fleet of nine grabs and thirteen gallivats +coming out of Gheriah. He gave chase, and forced them to take refuge in +the mouth of the Rajapore River, where they anchored. Bagwell, ignorant of +the navigation, and with his crews badly afflicted with scurvy, boldly +bore down on them; on which they cut their cables and ran into the river. +Before they could get out of shot, he was able to pour in several +broadsides at close range, killing Angria's chief admiral, and inflicting +much damage. Fearing to lose some of his ships in the shoal water, he was +obliged to draw off, having had one midshipman killed. + +Mannajee at once took advantage of Sumbhajee's temporary discomfiture to +attack and capture Caranjah from the Portuguese. Then, elated at his +success, and in spite of his own professions of friendship, he seized +three unarmed Bombay trading ships and two belonging to Surat. To punish +him, Captain Inchbird was sent with a small squadron, and seized eight of +his fighting gallivats, together with a number of fishing-boats. +Negotiations were opened, broken off, and renewed, during which Mannajee +insolently hoisted his flag on the island of Elephanta. With the Mahratta +army close at hand in Salsette, the Bombay Council dared not push matters +to extremity; so, invoking the help of Chimnajee Appa, the Peishwa's +brother, they patched up a peace with Mannajee. At the same time, Bombay +succeeded in making a treaty of friendship with the Peishwa, which secured, +to the English, trading facilities in his dominions. + +While this was going on, a Dutch squadron of seven ships of war and seven +sloops attacked Gheriah, and were beaten off. A little later, Sumbhajee +took the _Jupiter_, a French ship of forty guns, with four hundred slaves +on board. To English, Dutch, French, and Portuguese alike, his fortresses +were impregnable. + +In January, 1740, a gallant action was fought by the _Harrington_, Captain +Jenkins. The _Harrington_ was returning from a voyage to China, and, in +coming up the coast, had joined company with the _Pulteney_, _Ceres_, and +_Halifax_. Between Tellicherry and Bombay they were attacked by fifteen +sail of Angria's fleet. Four grabs ran alongside the _Harrington_, but +were received with such a well-directed fire that they dropped astern. The +four Company's ships then formed line abreast, and were attacked from +astern by Angria's ships. The brunt of the fight fell on the _Harrington_. +Jenkins had trained his crew, and was prepared for this method of attack. +After five hours of heavy firing the Angrian ships drew off, showing +confusion and loss. At daylight the next morning they attacked again. The +_Ceres_ had fallen to leeward, and three grabs attacked her, while three +more bore down on the _Harrington_ to windward. Disregarding his own +attackers, Jenkins bore down on the assailants of the _Ceres_, and drove +them off; then, hauling his wind, he awaited the attack of the others. The +three leeward grabs were towed up within range, and for the next two or +three hours the _Harrington_ engaged all six, almost single-handed. The +wind had fallen; the _Ceres_ and _Halifax_ were out of gunshot; the +_Pulteney_ alone was able to give assistance at long range. So well served +were the _Harrington's_ guns that she inflicted more damage than she +received, and, by ten o'clock, four of the grabs gave up the contest and +were towed away to windward. The other two grabs continued the action for +some time, till they also were towed out of action. The two squadrons, +just out of gunshot of each other, consulted among themselves. Jenkins +found he had only seven rounds left for his big guns, and his consorts, +which were more lightly armed, were in little better plight to renew the +combat. Still, he put a good face on it, showing no unwillingness to +continue the fight; and, on a breeze springing up, the Angrians drew off, +leaving the East Indiamen to pursue their voyage. Only one man on board +the _Harrington_ was wounded, though the ship was much knocked about. +Jenkins was much commended for his skill and courage, and two years later +we find him acting as Commodore of the Company's fleet at Bombay. + +Three weeks later, Sumbhajee's fleet of five grabs and some gallivats +appeared off Bombay, and cruised off the mouth of the harbour, as if +inviting attack. Commodore Langworth, with the _Pulteney_, _Trial, +_Neptune's Prize_, a bombketch, and five of the largest gallivats, was +sent out. The Angrian fleet stood away to the southward, followed by +Langworth. The demonstration was a trick to draw off the Bombay fighting +ships. When they were well out of the way, Sumbhajee made a sudden attack +on Mannajee's territories with two thousand men and forty or fifty +gallivats. Sumbhajee had gained over a number of Mannajee's officers, and +Alibagh, Thull, and Sagurgurh fell into his hands at once. He attacked +Chaul, but was beaten off by the Portuguese, and then laid siege to Colaba. +Mannajee was at once reduced to great straits. Half his garrison were +untrustworthy, and his water supply was cut off. In his distress he +appealed to Bombay for assistance. Though the Council bore him little good +will, they recognized that it was better to maintain him in Colaba than to +allow Sumbhajee to establish himself there; so, in great haste, the +_Halifax_, a small country ship, the _Futteh Dowlet_ grab, the _Triumph_, +_Prahm_, and the _Robert_ galley were equipped and sent down, under +Captain Inchbird, arriving just in time to save the place. Water was +supplied to the garrison, and Bombardier Smith, together with gunner's +mate Watson, a mortar and plenty of ammunition were put into the fort. +Sumbhajee's batteries were much damaged by the shells from the mortar, his +camp was bombarded by Inchbird, and his gallivats forced to run for +Severndroog. This prompt action of the Bombay Council upset Sumbhajee's +plans. He addressed remonstrances to the Council, offering to restore the +_Anne_, which he had taken some months before. A week later, a Mahratta +force, from Salsette, under the Peishwa's son, Ballajee Bajee Rao, +appeared on the scene, attacked Sumbhajee's camp, destroyed some of his +batteries, killing a number of his men, and taking prisoner his +half-brother, Toolajee. + +In his distress, Sumbhajee tried to come to terms with Mannajee. Each +distrusted the other, and both were afraid of the Peishwa. At this +juncture the death of the Peishwa was announced. Ballajee Bajee Rao was +obliged to return to Satara, and Sumbhajee was allowed to retreat, after +making peace with the Mahrattas. The promptitude and energy with which the +English had come to the assistance of Mannajee raised them greatly in the +esteem of the new Peishwa, and strengthened the bonds of the alliance. + +Mannajee now found it expedient to make a solid peace with the English. +The new Peishwa had his hands full at Satara. The only power able to +afford him ready protection against Sumbhajee was the English, the value +of whose friendship he had lately experienced. So he sent agents to Bombay, +offering to pay a sum of Rs.7500, on restitution of the gallivats taken +from him by Inchbird the year before. On this basis a peace was made. + +At the same time, the Portuguese, whose power and resources were fast +diminishing, recognized the difficulty of retaining the isolated fortress +of Chaul. They offered it first to the Dutch and then to the English, but +the dangerous gift was refused by both. Finally they made it over to the +Peishwa by agreement.[1] + +While these things were going on, the _Antelope_, gallivat, fell a prey to +the Coolee rovers of Sultanpore. Through the treachery of the pilot it was +run ashore. The crew defended themselves gallantly, but in the course of +the action the ship blew up, and ten Europeans, two sepoys, and two +lascars were killed. + +In view of the losses he had sustained, Sumbhajee Angria now tried to +patch up a peace with Bombay. In order to test his sincerity, he was +required, as a preliminary step, to restore the English prisoners he held. +Just then he scored a success against the Portuguese, from whom he +captured two fine grabs and a convoy; so the negotiation came to a +standstill. But his fortunes were declining, his people were leaving his +service, while Mannajee, protected by the Peishwa and the English, was +increasing in power; so he again addressed the Bombay Governor, in a +letter beginning 'For thirty years we have been at war.' But it was soon +discovered that his object was to have his hands free to attack Mannajee, +and his overtures came to nothing. In May, 1743, he captured the Bombay +ketch _Salamander_, off Colaba, but before it could be carried off it was +rescued by some of Mannajee's ships from Chaul, and restored to Bombay. +Very shortly afterwards, Sumbhajee died, and was succeeded by his +half-brother, Toolajee. The reputation of the English in Bombay was now so +good, that a quarrel between Mannajee and the Peishwa was referred to them +for arbitration. + +The predatory policy of the Angrian family did not suffer in the hands of +Toolajee. Within a few weeks of Sumbhajee's death, his squadron fought a +prolonged action with the _Warwick_ and _Montagu_, East Indiamen, and +carried off five small vessels sailing under their convoy. Commodore Hough +in the _Restoration_, together with the _Bombay_ grab, was at once sent +down the coast, and found seven Angrian grabs with a number of gallivats, +which he forced to take shelter under the guns of Severndroog. A year +later, the _Princess Augusta_ from Bencoolen was captured by Toolajee, and +taken into Gheriah. After plundering it, Toolajee found it was too poor a +sailer to be of use to him, so he allowed the Bombay Council to redeem it +for Rs.8000. + +Meanwhile, war with France had broken out, and the capture of Madras by La +Bourdonnais dealt a severe blow to English prestige. The restless Mannajee +began stopping and plundering small native craft belonging to Bombay, with +the intention, no doubt, of flying at higher game in time. Reprisals were +at once ordered, and a vessel of Mannajee's was captured. This brought him +to reason, and the vessel was released on his signing a bond to make good +the losses he had caused. The loss of Madras was telling against the +English, everywhere. In Bengal the Mahrattas seized the Cossimbazaar +flotilla bound for Calcutta, valued at four lakhs of rupees. Mannajee +still continued to be troublesome, till the Seedee, taking advantage of +the situation, attacked and captured Thull, which kept him quiet for a +time. + +Considerable anxiety was caused in Bombay, at this time, by the appearance +of three French men-of-war cruising on the coast, with the evident +intention of waylaying the Company's ships from Europe. One of them was a +fifty-gun ship, and there was nothing in Bombay harbour to cope with her. +To meet the difficulty, a large number of fishing-boats were sent out, +each with an English sailor on board, to creep along the coast and warn +all incoming ships. In spite of these precautions, the _Anson_ missed the +boats sent to warn her, and was attacked by the French _Apollo_ and +_Anglesea_ within sight of the harbour. Captain Foulis defended himself +long enough to enable him to send off the dispatches and treasure he +carried, in his boats, before he was forced to surrender.[2] The Directors +bestowed on him a gratuity of £400 for his able conduct. + +Fortunately for Bombay, Toolajee Angria's energies were at this time +directed against Canara, where in two successive expeditions he sacked +Mangalore and Honore, carrying off a large booty. + +In October, 1749, Toolajee, who for some time had been giving little +trouble, inflicted a severe loss on the Bombay marine. The _Restoration_ +was the most efficient ship at the Council's disposal. It had been +commanded by Captain Hough, a bold and resolute man, who had done good +service in her, attacking Angria's ships and chasing them into their +fortified harbours. She carried seventy-five European seamen, sixteen +lascars, and thirty soldiers--unruly fellows who wanted a firm hand over +them. Hough had fallen ill, and the command was given to Captain Thomas +Leake, an irresolute man, not fitted to command such, a crew. They very +soon fell into disorder. While coming up the coast from Goa they were +attacked by Toolajee's fleet of five grabs, accompanied by a swarm of +gallivats. From noon till dark the _Restoration_ was surrounded and +cannonaded. Her guns were so badly served that they inflicted little or no +damage, while her own sails and rigging were badly cut about. During the +night, the action was fitfully continued, her ammunition being lavishly +and uselessly expended. Toolajee himself was present, and had a number of +European gunners with him. At noon the next day his grabs edged down again, +fell aboard the _Restoration_, and boarded. On this, the colours were +struck, Leake ran below, an example that was followed by his crew, and the +ship was taken. When they were released, some months afterwards, the +Council, after due inquiry, decided that Leake and his officers should not +serve the Company again till the Directors' pleasure was known. + +Meanwhile, the Coolees of Guzerat had become very troublesome. In 1749, +they captured a Bengal ship with Rs.60,000 in hard cash on board, and a +cargo of nearly equal value. Their depredations continuing, the Dutch +proposed joint action against them; so, in December, 1750, a joint Dutch +and English squadron forced the defences of the Coorla River, burnt and +captured twenty-three of their vessels, and reduced them to quietness for +a time. + +Toolajee had now become very powerful. From Cutch to Cochin his vessels +swept the coast in greater numbers than Conajee had ever shown, and +cruised defiantly off Bombay harbour. But for the presence of four King's +ships on the coast, Bombay trade would have suffered severely. When +Boscawen left Indian waters,[3] after receiving over Madras from the +French, he detached four ships, the _Vigilant_, Tartar_, _Ruby_, and +_Syren_, to cruise on the West coast, under Commodore Lisle. For two years, +the protection afforded by Lisle's squadron gave some security to the +Bombay coast trade. As the small sailing boats, in which the coast trade +was carried on, made their way under convoy of the King's ships, Angria's +squadrons hovered round to pick up stragglers, and several slight +encounters took place. The superior sailing powers of the Mahratta vessels +enabled them to keep out of range of the big guns, while they snatched +prizes within sight of the men-of-war. Thus, in February, 1750, three +small traders were snapped up, while under convoy of the _Ruby_, by an +Angrian squadron that hung on their tracks for four days, between Bombay +and Vingorla. In October, the _Tartar_, with twenty-six sail under convoy, +was followed for three days, between Bombay and Surat, by eleven Angrian +gallivats, and lost one of the number. Three weeks later, the _Syren's_ +convoy was attacked in the same waters by thirteen Angrian vessels, which +were beaten off without loss. In March, 1751, thirty-six trading vessels, +under convoy of the _Vigilant_ and _Ruby_, were attacked by six Angrian +vessels, which behaved with great boldness. Instead of devoting themselves +to the traders, they bore down on the _Ruby_, and opened fire at close +range, with great guns and small arms. Before long an Angrian grab was +seen to be on fire, and in a short time the after part blew up. Several +pieces of mast were blown on board the _Ruby_, tearing her sails and +wounding two men. The grab sunk, and her consorts made off. Hardly had +Lisle's squadron sailed for England[4] when the Council sustained a loss +in the _Swallow_ sloop, which was taken by Toolajee, together with a +convoy of rice-boats. + +The great benefit conferred on the coast trade by Lisle's squadron taught +the Directors the necessity of a change of policy. Hitherto their fighting +ships had been utilized to carry cargoes along the coast, a practice that +greatly hampered their action. They now determined on keeping ships for +fighting only; so they ordered the building of the _Protector_, a +forty-gun ship, and the _Guardian_, a sloop. The two new ships left +Sheerness in the winter of 1751, commanded by Captains Cheyne and James, +and the most stringent orders were sent with them that they were to carry +no cargoes, and were to be kept on the Malabar coast as long as Angria +should keep the sea. During the next three years, the _Protector_ and +_Guardian_ did much useful work, convoying the coasting trade, and +offering battle to Angria's ships whenever they met them. + + +[1] September, 1740. + +[2] 2nd September, 1747. + +[3] November, 1749. + +[4] November, 1751. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +_THE DOWNFALL OF ANGRIA_ + +Toolajee fights successful action with the Dutch--He tries to make peace +with Bombay--Alliance formed against him--Commodore William James-- +Slackness of the Peishwa's fleet--Severndroog--James's gallant attack-- +Fall of Severndroog--Council postpone attack on Gheriah--Clive arrives +from England--Projects of the Directors--Admiral Watson--Preparations +against Gheriah.--The Council's instructions--Council of war about +prize-money--Double dealing of the Peishwa's officers--Watson's +hint--Ships engage Gheriah--Angrian fleet burnt--Fall of Gheriah--Clive +occupies the fort--The prize-money--Dispute between Council and Poonah + Durbar--Extinction of coast piracy--Severndroog tower. + + +In the beginning of 1754, the Dutch suffered a severe loss at Toolajee's +hands. A vessel loaded with ammunition was taken, and two large ships were +blown up after a stiff fight, in which Toolajee had two three-masted grabs +sunk and a great number of men killed. Six months later, Toolajee sent an +agent to Bombay to propose terms of accommodation. They were terms to +which a conciliatory answer, at least, would have been returned in Conajee +Angria's time. The Council's reply betrays a consciousness of increased +strength. "Can you imagine that the English will ever submit to take +passes of any Indian nation? This they cannot do. We grant passes, but +would take none from anybody." Toolajee was told that if he was in earnest +in desiring peace, he should return the vessels he had taken, and send men +of figure and consequence to treat, instead of the obscure individual +through whom his overtures had come. In spite of this peremptory reply, +Toolajee continued to make half-hearted proposals for peace. The fact was +that he was now at open war with the Peishwa, who had made himself master +of the Concan, with the exception of the coastline. According to Orme, +Toolajee had cut off the noses of the agents sent by the Peishwa to demand +the tribute formerly paid to Satara. The Poonah Durbar were so incensed +against him that they were determined on his destruction, though without +the assistance of the English they had little expectation of success +against his coast fortresses. The Bombay Council was ready enough to join +in the undertaking, but was unwilling to take immediate action. This +unwillingness was apparently due to their desire to see order first +restored in Surat, where affairs had fallen into great disorder in the +general break-up of Mogul rule. + +The Mahratta Court at Poona had been close observers of the long war waged +in the Carnatic between the English and French. They had seen Madras taken, +only to be regained by diplomacy, and after the English had been foiled at +Pondicherry. They had witnessed the rise of French power under Dupleix; +rulers deposed and others set up, in the Deccan and the Carnatic, by +French arms; and then, when Mahomed Ali, the rightful ruler of the +Carnatic, was at his last gasp, they had seen his cause espoused by the +English, and one humiliation after another inflicted on French armies, +till at last the French were forced to recognize Mahomed Ali's title, +while a powerful English squadron and a King's regiment had been sent out +to make good the claim. The good relations established between the +Peishwa's government and Bombay by the treaty of 1739, had been +strengthened since the arrival of Mr. Richard Bourchier, as Governor, in +1750; the fighting in the Carnatic had raised the military reputation of +the English, while their support of Mahomed Ali, whom the Mahrattas styled +'their master,' had greatly increased the esteem in which they were held. + +When it was definitely known that hostilities between the English and +French were at an end, Ramajee Punt, the Sirsoobah of the Concan, was +dispatched to Bombay to concert measures against Toolajee. Mr. Bourchier +was urged to summon the King's ships from Madras to co-operate with the +Peishwa's forces. + +To await the arrival of Watson's squadron from Madras would have lost the +favourable season before the monsoon, so it was determined to fit out at +once what ships were in the harbour, and send them under Commodore William +James. Articles of agreement were drawn up, by which it was settled that +Severndroog, Anjanvel, and Jyeghur should be attacked by the Mahrattas, +while the English engaged to keep the sea, and prevent Toolajee's fleet +from throwing succours into the places attacked. A division of the spoils +between the victors was agreed on, by which the English were to receive +Bankote and Himmutghur, with five villages, in perpetual sovereignty. The +Peishwa's fleet was to be under James's orders, and he was instructed to +give all the assistance in his power, but not to lend any of his people, +except a few to point the guns. + +Very little is accurately known of James's career before his entry into +the East India Company's service. He was born in Pembrokeshire in humble +circumstances, and went to sea at an early age. According to one account, +he served in Hawke's ship, but, wherever his training was received, it had +made him a first-rate seaman. In 1747, he entered the Company's marine +service, being then about twenty-six years of age. + +In 1751, he sailed from England in command of the _Guardian_ sloop, one of +the two men-of-war built by the Directors for the protection of Bombay +trade. His services against the coast pirates, during the next two years, +procured his advancement to the post of Commodore at Bombay, and it was +soon remarked that the sailing of the _Protector_, on which his flag was +now hoisted, had greatly improved by the changes he had made. By his +capture of Severndroog, now to be related, he became famous. He played his +part at the capture of Gheriah, and, in the following year, when the news +of the disaster at Calcutta became known in Bombay, he was sent down in +the _Revenge_, with four hundred men, to join the force sent up from +Madras under Watson and Clive. Off Calicut he encountered the French ship +_Indien_, carrying twenty-four guns and over two hundred men, and captured +her. He afterwards joined the board of Directors, was created a baronet, +had a seat in Parliament, and, in time, became chairman of the Company. +Sterne, in the last year of his life, formed a close friendship with Mr. +and Mrs. James, and, a few days before he died, recommended his daughter +Lydia to their care. + +On the 22nd March, 1755, James sailed from Bombay in the _Protector_, +forty guns, having with him the _Swallow_, sixteen guns, the _Viper_ +bombketch, and the _Triumph_ prahm. The following day, he sighted an +Angrian squadron of seven grabs and eleven gallivats, which he chased for +a couple of hours without success. Two days later, he was joined off Chaul +by the Peishwa's fleet, consisting of seven grabs, two batellas, and about +forty gallivats. To James's annoyance, he found his allies in no hurry to +get on. Twice they insisted on landing, lingering for over three days in +one place. On the 29th, Severndroog was sighted, and Angria's fleet of +seven grabs and ten gallivats was observed coming out. The signal to chase +was made, but obeyed with little alacrity by the Peishwa's people, though +experience had shown that they could outsail the Bombay ships. James gave +chase with his little squadron, his Mahratta allies being left, by evening, +hull down, astern. The Angrians made prodigious exertions to escape, +hanging out turbans and clothing to catch every breath of air. All the +following day the ineffectual chase continued, the _Protector_ outsailing +its own consorts, and losing sight altogether of its Mahratta allies. +Finding it useless to persevere, James hauled his wind, and stood to the +northward for Severndroog, which he had left far behind in the chase. Here +he found Ramajee Punt, who had landed a few men, and entrenched himself at +about two miles from the nearest fort, with a single four-pounder gun. + +The harbour of Severndroog[1] is formed by a slight indentation in the +coast and a small rocky islet about a quarter of a mile from the mainland, +on which was the Severndroog fort, with walls fifty feet high, and, in +many places, parapets cut out of the solid rock; the whole armed with +about fifty guns. On the mainland, opposite to Severndroog, was another +fort. Fort Gova, armed with, about forty-four guns, while southwards of +Gova were two smaller forts on a small promontory, Futteh Droog and Kanak +Droog, armed with twenty guns each. + +James at once saw that the reduction of the different forts by the +Peishwa's troops would be a matter of months, even if he was able to keep +out succours from the sea, which the monsoon would render impossible; so, +in spite of the Council's orders, he resolved on taking matters into his +own hands. He had been brought up in a good school, and knew that, to +match a ship against a fort with success, it was necessary to get as close +as possible, and overpower it with weight of metal. After taking the +necessary soundings, on the 2nd April he stood in to four-fathom water, +taking with him the _Viper_ and _Triumph_, and bombarded Severndroog fort. +The Mahratta fleet gave no assistance, so the _Swallow_ was detached to +guard the southern entrance. All day long the cannonade continued, till a +heavy swell setting into the harbour, in the evening, obliged a cessation +of fire. The fort fired briskly in return, but did little damage; while +the Mahratta fleet lay off out of range, idle spectators of the conflict. +At night came Ramajee Punt on board the _Protector_, bringing with him a +deserter from the fort, who reported that the Governor had been killed and +a good deal of damage done. He told them that it was impossible to breach +the side on which the _Protector's_ fire was directed, as it was all solid +rock. + +In the morning, the _Protector_ weighed and ran in again, James placing +his ships between Severndroog and Gova. The flagship engaged Severndroog +so closely that, by the small arm fire of men in the tops, and by firing +two or three upper-deck guns at a time instead of in broadsides, the +Severndroog gunners were hardly able to return a shot. With her lower-deck +guns on the other side the _Protector_ cannonaded the mainland forts, +which also received the attention of the _Viper_ and _Triumph_. It would +be difficult to find a parallel to this instance of a single ship and two +bombketches successfully engaging four forts at once, that far outnumbered +them in guns; but so good were James's arrangements that neither his ships +nor his men suffered harm. Soon after midday a magazine exploded in +Severndroog; the conflagration spread, and, before long, men, women, and +children were seen taking to their boats, and escaping to the mainland. +Numbers of them were intercepted and taken by the _Swallow_ and the +Mahratta gallivats. The bombardment of the mainland forts was continued +till night, and resumed the following morning, till about ten o'clock, +when all three hauled down their colours. Thus, in forty-eight hours, did +James by his vigorous action reduce this Angrian stronghold that was +second only to Gheriah in strength. The Mahrattas were never slow at +seizing any advantage that had been won by others, as was shown a few +months later at Gheriah; but on this occasion they were so struck by +James's intrepidity that they refused to enter Gova without him. The +English flag was hoisted in all three forts, amid the cheers of the +English sailors. It was then found that, by mismanagement, the Governor of +Gova had been allowed to escape over to Severndroog, and gallantly +reoccupied it, with a small body of sepoys, hoping to hold out till +assistance could reach him from Dabul. So the _Protector's_ guns were set +to work again, and, under cover of their fire, a party of seamen was +landed, who hewed open the sally port with their axes and made themselves +masters of the fort. Thus, in a few hours, and without losing a single man, +had "the spirited resolution of Commodore James destroyed the timorous +prejudices which had for twenty years been entertained of the +impracticability of reducing any of Angria's fortified harbours." + +The whole success of the expedition had been due to James, and the +Peishwa's officers ungrudgingly acknowledged the fact, as well as the bad +behaviour of their own people. "I have learnt with particular satisfaction +that the fleet your Honor sent to the assistance of Ramajee Punt have by +their courage and conduct reduced Severndroog, the suddenness of which +transcends my expectations; and I allow myself incapable of sufficiently +commending their merit," wrote the Peishwa's Commander-in-Chief to +Bourchier. Ramajee Punt wrote in similar terms, and sent a dress of honour +to James. In their elation, the Peishwa's officers wished to complete the +destruction of Angria without delay. Bankote was surrendered to them +without firing a shot, and a demonstration was made against Rutnaghiri. +But the Council was cautious, and forbade James to risk his ships. The +Mahrattas offered him two lakhs of rupees if he would support them in +attacking Dabul, but he dared not exceed his orders again, and returned to +Bombay. The success of a second _coup-de-main_ could not be relied on, and +a repulse would have restored Toolajee's drooping spirits, and made future +success more difficult. The soldiers Bombay had lent to Madras were no +longer required, so James was sent there in the _Protector_, to bring them +back after the monsoon. + +In the end of October, an unexpected accession of force, from England, +reached Bombay. In the suspension of arms that had been concluded at +Madras between the English and French, Carnatic affairs alone were made +the subject of agreement. Bussy, with a French force, remained in the +Deccan, engaged in extending the Nizam's influence, a proceeding that was +viewed with alarm by the Peishwa. With the object of expelling the French +from the Deccan, the English Government sent out to Bombay a force of +seven hundred men, to act against Bussy, in concert with the Mahratta +Government. The command was to be taken by Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, the +Company's engineer-general at Madras. The Directors had also sent Clive to +Bombay to act as second in command to Scott. But Scott had died, in the +mean time, and the _Doddington_, East Indiaman, bringing the Directors' +instructions to the Bombay Council, had been wrecked near the Cape. Before +the middle of November, Watson's squadron arrived, in furtherance of the +Deccan project, together with James, in the _Protector_, bringing two +hundred and fifty-five Bombay soldiers from Madras. Clive, alone, knew of +the Directors' plan for the Deccan, and urged it on the Council. Ramajee +Punt was in Bombay urging them to complete the destruction of Angria, and +inviting them to take possession of Bankote;[2] so they decided to devote +themselves to Gheriah, on the grounds that the Deccan expedition would be +an infringement of the late agreement with the French. + +Seeing that nothing was to be done in the _Deccan_, Watson tendered the +services of his squadron to assist in the reduction of Gheriah, and Clive +offered to command the land forces. James was sent down in the _Protector_, +with the _Revenge_ and _Guardian_, with Sir William Hewitt, Watson's flag +lieutenant, to reconnoitre and take soundings. Nothing was known of +Gheriah. It was supposed to be as high, and as strong as Gibraltar. Like +that celebrated fortress, it stood on rocky ground at the end of a +promontory, connected with the mainland by a narrow neck of ground, at the +month of a small estuary. James found that it was less formidable than it +had been represented, and that large ships could go close in. To prevent +Toolajee's ships from escaping, the _Bridgewater_, _Kingsfisher_, and +_Revenge_ were sent to blockade the place till the expedition was ready to +start. + +On the 11th February, the whole force was assembled off Gheriah, a greater +armament than had yet ever left Bombay harbour. In addition to Watson's +squadron of six vessels, four of them line-of-battle ships, and displaying +the flags of two admirals, the Company's marine made a brave show of +eighteen ships, large and small, carrying two hundred and fourteen guns, +besides twenty fishing-boats to land troops with, each carrying a +swivel-gun in the bows. Between them they carried eight hundred European +and six hundred native troops. With Watson also went Captain Hough, +superintendent of the Company's marine, as representative of the Council. + +Part of the instructions given to Clive and Hough by the Council will bear +repeating. + + "It is probable that Toolajee Angria may offer to capitulate, and + possibly offer a sum of money; but you are to consider that this + fellow is not on a footing with any prince in the known world, he + being a pirate in whom no confidence can be put, not only taking, + burning, and destroying ships of all nations, but even the vessels + belonging to the natives, which have his own passes, and for which he + has annually collected large sums of money. Should he offer any sum of + money it must be a very great one that will pay us for the many rich + ships he has taken (which we can't enumerate), besides the innumerable + other smaller vessels; but we well remember the _Charlotte_ bound from + hence to China, belonging to Madras; the _William_ belonging to Bombay, + from Bengal; the _Severn_, a Bengal freight ship for Bussorah, value + nine or ten lakhs of rupees; the _Derby_ belonging to the Hon'ble + Company, with the Grab _Restoration_, value Rs.5,22,743-4-6; the sloop + _Pilot_ and the _Augusta_; also the _Dadaboy_ from Surat, _Rose_ from + Mangalore, Grab _Anne_ from Gombroon, _Benjimolly_ from the Malabar + coast, and _Futte Dowlat_ from Muscat." + +The Council were desirous of getting Toolajee into their own custody, +fearful that, if left in Mahratta hands, he would be set free before long, +and the work would have to be done over again. + +Before the expedition left Bombay, a council of war was held, to decide on +the division of spoils, between the sea and land forces. Such agreements +were common enough, on such occasions, in order to prevent subsequent +disputes and individual plundering. In settling the shares of the officers, +the council decided that Clive and Chalmers, who was next to Clive in +command of the troops, should have shares equal to that of two captains of +King's ships. To this Clive objected that, though as Lieutenant-Colonel, +his share would, according to custom, be equal to that of a naval captain, +on this occasion, as Commander-in-Chief of the troops, it should be +greater, and ought not to be less than that of Rear-Admiral Pocock. The +council of war refused to agree to this, as the naval officers, who formed +the majority, could not be brought to consent. Like Drake, who would +rather diminish his own portion than leave any of his people unsatisfied, +Watson undertook to 'give the Colonel such a part of his share as will +make it equal to Rear-Admiral Pocock's;' and this was duly entered in the +proceedings. + +In the division of spoils, no mention is made of their Mahratta allies. +They were left out of account altogether, and the reason is not far to +seek. Experience had shown that, in the coming military operations, the +Mahrattas would count for nothing. All the hard knocks would fall on the +English, and it was but fair that they should have the prize-money; the +Mahrattas would gain a substantial benefit in the possession of Gheriah, +which was to be made over to them after capture. + +The arrangements for the command of the troops showed that the lessons of +the last ten years of warfare against the French had borne fruit. The +command was left to those who made it their profession. Henceforth we hear +no more of factors and writers strutting about in uniform, calling +themselves colonels and captains for a few weeks, and then returning to +their ledgers. We have done with the Midfords and the Browns. Out of the +thirteen years he had served the Company, Clive had been a soldier for +eleven. He had definitely abandoned his civil position, and had embraced a +military career, and his merits had been recognized by the grant of a +Lieutenant-Colonel's commission from the King. The subordinate military +officers also had improved. The worst of them had been weeded out, and +many of them had learned their business under Lawrence in the Carnatic. +Though much unnecessary interference still went on in quarters, they were +left unfettered in the command of their men in the field. + +A few hours after leaving Bombay, the expedition was overtaken by +despatches from Bourchier, with intelligence that the Mahrattas were +treating with Toolajee. On reaching Gheriah, they found the Mahratta army +encamped against it, and Ramajee Punt himself came off to tell the +commanders that, with a little patience, the fort would surrender without +firing a shot, as Toolajee was already in their hands and ready to treat. +Alarmed at the great armament coming against him, and cowed by recent +reverses, Toolajee had come as a suppliant into the Mahratta camp to try +if, by finesse and chicanery, he might escape utter destruction, while, in +Gheriah, he had left his brother-in-law with orders to defend it to the +last. The Peishwa's officers, on their side, were anxious to get the place +into their hands without admitting the English to any share of the booty; +a design that was at once seen through by Hough and Watson. Ramajee +promised to bring Toolajee with him the following day, to show that he was +not treating separately. Instead of doing so, he sent some subordinate +officers, together with some of Toolajee's relations, with excuses, to +keep Watson in play, while a large bribe was offered to Hough to induce +him to persuade the Admiral to suspend operations. Watson, who had already +summoned the fort to surrender, let them know that he would not wait very +long. They were taken to view the ship with its tiers of heavy guns, and, +as a grim hint of what might be expected, he presented Toolajee's friends +with a thirty-two pound shot as they left the ship. + +At half-past one in the afternoon, the flag of truce having returned with +the Governor's refusal to surrender, signal was made to weigh, and the +whole fleet stood into the harbour in three divisions, led by the +_Kingsfisher_, sloop, and the _Bridgewater_. The inner line, nearest to +the fort was formed by the line-of-battle ships and the _Protector_: the +Company's grabs and bombketches, with the _Guardian_, formed the second +line, while the gallivats and small vessels formed a third, outer line. As +the _Kingsfisher_ came opposite the fort, a shot was fired at her. The +signal was made to engage, and as each ship reached its station it came to +an anchor, the inner line being within musket-shot of the fort. Across the +mouth of the river, Toolajee's grabs were drawn up, among them being the +_Restoration_, the capture of which, six years before, had caused so much +heart-burning in Bombay. As the heavy shot and shell came pouring in from +over one hundred and fifty guns at close range, the Gheriah defenders +manfully strove to repay the same with interest. But so terrific was the +fire brought to bear on them, that it was impossible for them to lay their +guns properly. In that February afternoon many a cruel outrage was +expiated under that hail of iron. After two hours' firing, a shell set the +_Restoration_ on fire; it spread to the grabs, and before long the Angrian +fleet,[3] that had been the terror of the coast for half a century, was in +a blaze. The boats were ordered out, and, as evening came on, Clive was +put on shore with the troops, and took up a position a mile and a half +from the fort. The Mahrattas joined him, and Toolajee, from whom the +Peishwa's people had extorted a promise to surrender the fort, found means +to send a letter into the place, warning his brother-in-law against +surrender to the English. In the fort all was terror and dismay, though +the Governor manfully did his duty. From the burning shipping the flames +spread to the bazaars and warehouses. All night the bombketches threw in +shells, while the conflagration continued. One square tower in the fort +burned with such violence as to resemble a fabric of red-hot iron in a +smithy. + +Early next morning, Watson sent in a flag of truce again, but surrender +was still refused, so the line-of-battle ships were warped in and +recommenced firing; while Clive, who had approached the fort, battered it +from the land side. At four in the afternoon a magazine in the fort blew +up, and a white flag was hoisted. An officer was sent on shore, but the +Governor still attempted to evade surrender. He consented to admit five or +six men into the fort to hoist English colours, but would not definitely +surrender possession till next day. So fire was reopened, and in twenty +minutes more the Angrian flag was hauled down for the last time, and the +last shred of Angrian independence had ceased to exist. + +Sixty men, under Captains Forbes and Buchanan, were marched up to hold the +gate for the night. A body of the Peishwa's troops tried to gain admission, +and offered the officers a bill on Bombay for a lakh of rupees to allow +them to pass in. The offer was rejected, but the Peishwa's officer still +continued to press in, till Forbes faced his men about, and, drawing his +sword, swore he would cut him down if he persisted. + +The following morning, the fort was taken possession of by Clive. The +success had been gained at the cost of about twenty men killed and wounded. + +Ramajee Punt at once made a formal demand for the fort to be given up to +him. Watson, in return, demanded that Toolajee should be made over into +English custody. Meanwhile, a hunt for the treasure secreted in different +places went on. "Every day hitherto has been productive of some new +discoveries of treasure, plate, and jewels, etc.," wrote Hough three days +later. Altogether about one hundred and thirty thousand pounds' worth of +gold, silver, and jewels were secured, and divided between the land and +sea forces. True to his promise, Watson sent Clive a thousand pounds to +make his share equal to Pocock's. Clive sent it back again. He was +satisfied with the acknowledgment of his claim, but would not take what +came out of Watson's private purse. "Thus did these two gallant officers +endeavour to outvie each other in mutual proofs of disinterestedness and +generosity," wrote Ives in his narrative. A thousand pounds was a larger +sum then than it would be now, and Clive was a poor man at the time, but +he was never greedy of money. The incident justifies his boast, long +afterwards, of his moderation when the treasures of Bengal were at his +mercy. It is allowable to suppose that it strengthened the mutual respect +of both, and facilitated their co-operation in Bengal, a year later. It +was a fortunate thing for England that Watson was not a man of Matthews' +stamp. + +The Europeans in Toolajee's service appear to have left him before the +attack began, as no mention is made of them; but ten Englishmen and three +Dutchmen were found in the place, in a state of slavery, and released. + +In delivering over Bankote, the Mahrattas had failed to give, with the +fort, the five villages according to agreement. The Council were desirous +of having Toolajee in their own keeping, so they refused to give over +Gheriah, and for some months a wrangle went on concerning the points in +dispute. The Council proposed that they should retain Gheriah and give up +Bankote. The Peishwa taunted the Council with breach of faith, and refused +to give up Toolajee. The squabble was at last settled by the Mahrattas +engaging to give ten villages near Bankote, and that Toolajee should not +receive any territory within forty miles of the sea. On these conditions +Gheriah was delivered over. Toolajee, instead of being given any territory, +was kept a prisoner for the rest of his life. Some years afterwards, his +sons made their escape, and sought refuge in Bombay. + +With the fall of Gheriah, the heavy cloud that had so long hung over +Bombay trade was dispelled. Thenceforward none but the smallest vessels +had anything to fear on the coast south of Bombay, though another +half-century elapsed before the Malwans were compelled to give up piracy. +The Sanganians continued to be troublesome, at times, till they too were +finally reduced to order in 1816, after more than one expedition had been +sent against them. Persian Gulf piracy continued to flourish till 1835, +when it was brought to an end by a happy combination of arms and diplomacy. + +On Shooter's Hill, adjoining Woolwich Common, the tower of Severndroog, +erected by James's widow to commemorate his great achievement, forms a +conspicuous landmark in the surrounding country. Here, in sight of the +spot where the bones of Kidd and his associates long hung in chains as a +terror to evil-doers, there still lingers a breath of that long struggle +against the Angrian pirates, and of its triumphant conclusion. + + "This far-seen monumental tow'r + Records the achievements of the brave, + And Angria's subjugated pow'r, + Who plundered on the Eastern wave." + +_"Walks through London," David Hughson_. + + +[1] Properly Suvarna Droog, 'the Golden Fortress.' + +[2] Bankote was made over on the 6th December, and the British flag + hoisted there on the 10th January, 1756. + +[3] Three three-masted ships carrying twenty guns each; nine two-masted, + carrying from twelve to sixteen guns; thirteen gallivats, carrying + from six to ten guns; thirty others unclassed; two on the stocks, + one of them pierced for forty guns. + + + + * * * * * + + + +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + +On the 9th March, 1709, the _Loyall Bliss_, East Indiaman, Captain Hudson, +left her anchorage in the Downs and sailed for Bengal. As passengers, she +carried Captain Gerrard Cooke, his wife, a son and two daughters, together +with a few soldiers. For many years Cooke had served the Company at Fort +William, as Gunner, an office that included the discharge of many +incongruous duties. After a stay in England, he was now returning to +Bengal, as engineer, with the rank of captain. The _Loyall Bliss_ was a +clumsy sailer, and made slow progress; so that August had come before she +left the Cape behind her. Contrary winds and bad weather still detained +her, and kept her westward of her course. By the middle of September, the +south-west monsoon, on which they depended to carry them up the bay, had +ceased to blow, so-- + + "our people being a great many Downe with the scurvy and our water + being short, wee called a Consultation of Officers it being too late + to pretend to get bengali the season being come that the N.E. Trade + wind being sett in and our people almost every man tainted with + distemper," it was determined to make for Carwar and "endever to gett + refresments there." + +On the 7th October, they came to anchor in the little bay formed by the +Carwar River. The next day, hearing of a French man-of-war being on the +coast, they procured a pilot and anchored again under the guns of the +Portuguese fort on the island of Angediva, where lay the bones of some +three hundred of the first royal troops ever sent to India. Twenty-six +soldiers were sent on shore, 'most of them not being able to stand.' The +chief of the Company's factory at Carwar at that time was Mr. John Harvey, +who entertained Captain Hudson and all the gentlemen and ladies on board +'in a splendid manner.' One may picture to one's self the pleasure with +which they escaped for a time from the ship and its scurvy-stricken crew. +To Mr. Harvey and the Company's officials they were welcome as bringing +the latest news from England. They were able to tell of Marlborough's +victory at Oudenarde, and the capture of Lille and Minorca, while Harvey +was able to tell them of Captain Kidd's visit to Carwar twelve years +before, and to show them where the freebooter had careened his ship. But +Mr. John Harvey found other matter of interest in his visitors. There were +few Englishwomen in India in those days, and the unexpected advent of a +fresh young English girl aroused his susceptibilities to such an extent +that he forgot to report to Bombay the arrival of the _Loyall Bliss_, for +which, he, in due time, received a reprimand. He quickly made known to +Captain Cooke that he had taken a very great liking to his eldest daughter. +Mistress Catherine Cooke, 'a most beautiful lady, not exceeding thirteen +or fourteen years of age.' Cooke was a poor man, and had left two more +daughters in England; so, as Mr. Harvey 'proffered to make great +Settlements provided the Father and Mother would consent to her marriage,' +Mistress Catherine Cooke, 'to oblige her parents,' consented also. There +was little time for delay, as the captain of the _Loyall Bliss_ was +impatient to be off. The Company's ship _Tankerville_ was on the coast, +bound southward, and it was desirable they should sail in company for +mutual protection. So, on the 22nd October, the _Loyall Bliss_ made sail +for Bengal, where she safely arrived in due time, leaving behind the young +bride at Carwar. + +To the lookers-on the marriage was repugnant, and can hardly have been a +happy one for the young girl, as Harvey was 'a deformed man and in years.' +He had been long on the coast, and by diligent trading had acquired a +little money; but he had other things to think of besides his private +trade, as we find recorded at the time that 'the Rajah of Carwar continues +ill-natured.' By the end of 1710, he made up his mind to resign the +Company's service, wind up his affairs, and go to England; so Mr. Robert +Mence was appointed to succeed him at Carwar, and, in April, 1711, Harvey +and his child-wife came to Bombay. But to wind up trading transactions of +many years' standing was necessarily a long business, and there was no +necessity for hurry, as no ship could leave for England till after the +monsoon. As always happened in those days, his own accounts were mixed up +with those of the Company, and would require laborious disentanglement. +Before leaving Carwar, he had leased to the Company his trading grab, the +_Salamander_, and had taken the precaution to pay himself out of the +Company's treasure chest at Carwar. Before long, there was an order to the +Carwar chief to recharge Mr. Harvey 402 Pagodas, 17 Jett, and 4 Pice he +had charged to the Company for the use of the _Salamander_, the account +having been liquidated in Bombay; from which it would appear that he had +been paid twice for his ship. The accounts of those days must have been +maddening affairs owing to the multiplicity of coinages. Pounds sterling, +Pagodas, Rupees, Fanams, Xeraphims, Laris, Juttals, Matte, Reis, Rials, +Cruzadoes, Sequins, Pice, Budgerooks, and Dollars of different values were +all brought into the official accounts. In 1718, the confusion was +increased by a tin coinage called Deccanees.[1] The conversion of sums +from one coinage to another, many of them of unstable value, must have +been an everlasting trouble.[2] In August we find Harvey writing to the +Council to say that he had at Tellicherry a chest of pillar dollars +weighing 289 lbs. 3 ozs. 10 dwts., which he requests may be paid into the +Company's cash there, and in return a chest of dollars may be given him at +Bombay. + +His young wife doubtless assisted him in his complicated accounts, and +gained some knowledge of local trade. It must have been a wonderful +delight to her to escape from the dulness of Carwar and mix in the larger +society of Bombay, and she must have realized with sadness the mistake she +had made in marrying a deformed man old enough to be her grandfather, at +the solicitation of her parents. She made, at this time, two acquaintances +that were destined to have considerable influence on her future life. On +the 5th August, the _Godolphin_, twenty-one days from Mocha, approached +Bombay, but being unable to make the harbour before nightfall, anchored +outside; a proceeding that would appear, even to a landsman, absolutely +suicidal in the middle of the monsoon, but was probably due to fear of +pirates.[3] + +That night heavy weather came on, the ship's cable parted, and the +_Godolphin_ became a total wreck at the foot of Malabar Hill. Apparently, +all the Englishmen on board were saved, among them the second supercargo, +a young man named Thomas Chown, who lost all his possessions. There was +also in Bombay, at the time, a young factor, William Gyfford, who had come +to India, six years before, as a writer, at the age of seventeen. We shall +hear of both of them again. + +In October, came news of the death of Mr. Robert Mence at Carwar. 'Tho his +time there was so small wee find he had misapplyed 1700 and odd pagodas to +his own use,' the Bombay Council reported to the Directors in London. In +his place was appointed Mr. Miles Fleetwood, who was then in Bombay +awaiting a passage to the Persian Gulf where he had been appointed a +factor. With him returned to Carwar, Harvey and his wife, to adjust some +depending accounts with the country people there. + +We get an account of Carwar thirty years before this, from Alexander +Hamilton, which shows that there was plenty of sport near at hand for +those who were inclined for it, and it is interesting to find that the +Englishmen who now travel in search of big game had their predecessors in +those days-- + + "This Country is so famous for hunting, that two Gentlemen of + Distinction, viz: Mr. _Lembourg_ of the House of _Lembourg_ in + _Germany_, and Mr. _Goring_, a Son of my Lord _Goring's_ in _England_, + went _incognito_ in one of the _East India_ Company's Ships, for India. + They left Letters directed for their Relations, in the Hands of a + Friend of theirs, to be delivered two or three Months after their + Departure, so that Letters of Credit followed them by the next Year's + Shipping, with Orders from the _East India_ Company to the Chiefs of + the Factories, wherever they should happen to come, to treat them + according to their Quality. They spent three Years at _Carwar, viz:_ + from Anno 1678 to 1681, then being tired with that Sort of Pleasure, + they both took Passage on board a Company's Ship for _England_, but Mr. + _Goring_ died four days after the Ship's Departure from _Carwar_, and + lies buried on the Island of _St. Mary_, about four Leagues from the + Shore, off _Batacola_, and Mr. _Lembourg_ returned safe to _England_." + +Four months after his return to Carwar, Harvey died, leaving his girl-wife +a widow. She remained at Carwar, engaged in winding up the trading affairs +of her late husband, and asserting her claim to his estate, which had been +taken possession of by the Company's officials, according to custom. +According to the practice of the day, every merchant and factor had +private trading accounts which were mixed up with the Company's accounts, +so that on retirement they were not allowed to leave the country till the +Company's claims were settled. In case of death, their estates were taken +possession of for the same reason. Two months later, Mr. Thomas Chown, the +late supercargo of the _Godolphin_, was sent down to Carwar as a factor, +and, a few weeks after his arrival, he married the young widow. +Application was now made to the Council at Bombay for the effects of her +late husband to be made over to her, and orders were sent to Carwar for +the late Mr. Harvey's effects to be sold, and one-third of the estate to +be paid to Mrs. Chown, provided Harvey had died intestate. The Carwar +factory chief replied that the effects had realized 13,146 rupees 1 fanam +and 12 budgerooks; that Harvey had left a will dated the 8th April, 1708, +and that therefore nothing had been paid to Mrs. Chown. It was necessary +for Chown and his wife to go to Bombay and prosecute their claims in +person. The short voyage was destined to be an eventful one. + +On the 3rd November (1712), Chown and his wife left Carwar in the _Anne_ +ketch, having a cargo of pepper and wax on board, to urge their claim to +the late Mr. Harvey's estate. The coast swarmed with pirate craft, among +which those of Conajee Angria were the most numerous and the most +formidable. It was usual, therefore, for every cargo of any value to be +convoyed by an armed vessel. To protect the _Anne_, Governor Aislabie's +armed yacht had been sent down, and a small frigate, the _Defiance_,[4] +was also with them. The day after leaving Carwar they were swooped down +upon by four of Angria's ships, and a hot action ensued. The brunt of it +fell on the Governor's yacht, which had both masts shot away and was +forced to surrender. The ketch tried to escape back to Carwar, but was +laid aboard by two grabs, and had to surrender when she had expended most +of her ammunition. In the action, Chown had his arm torn off by a +cannon-shot, and expired in his wife's arms. So again, in little more than +three years from her first marriage, Mrs. Chown was left a widow when she +could hardly have been eighteen. The captured vessels and the prisoners +were carried off; the crews to Gheriah and the European prisoners to +Colaba. To make matters worse for the poor widow, she was expecting the +birth of an infant. + +Great was the excitement in Bombay when the news of Mrs. Chown's capture +arrived. The Governor was away at Surat, and all that could be done was to +address Angria; so a letter was written to him 'in English and Gentues,' +asking for the captives and all papers to be restored, and some medicine +was sent for the wounded. Just at this time also news was received of the +Indiaman _New George_ having been taken by the French near Don +Mascharenas.[5] Sir John Gayer, who was on board, finished his troubled +career in the East by being killed in the action. + +After keeping them a month in captivity Angria sent back his prisoners, +except the captains ransom. In acknowledgment of kindness shown to the +released prisoners by the Seedee, that chief was presented with a pair of +Musquetoons, a fowling-piece, and five yards of 'embost' cloth. But in the +Governor's absence the Council could do nothing about payment of ransom. +When he returned, negotiations went on through the European prisoners in +Colaba. Angria being sincerely anxious for peace with the English while he +was in arms against his own chief, terms were arranged, and Lieutenant +Mackintosh was despatched to Colaba with Rs.30,000 as ransom for the +Europeans, and the sealed convention. On the 22nd February (1713), he +returned, bringing with him Mrs. Chown and the other captives, the +captured goods, and the _Anne_ ketch, but the yacht was too badly damaged +to put to sea. According to Downing, Mrs. Chown was in such a state that +Mackintosh, 'was obliged to wrap his clothes about her to cover her +nakedness.' But her courage had never forsaken her; 'she most courageously +withstood all Angria's base usage, and endured his insults beyond +expectation.' Shortly afterwards she was delivered of a son. Out of her +first husband's estate one thousand rupees were granted her for present +necessities, with an allowance of one hundred xeraphims a month. + +Very shortly afterwards we find her being married for the third time, to +young William Gyfford, with the Governor's approval. According to the +statute law of Bombay, no marriage was binding, except it had the +Governor's consent; Hamilton tells us how on one occasion a factor, Mr. +Solomon Loyd, having married a young lady without the Governor's consent, +Sir John Gayer dissolved the marriage, and married the lady again to his +own son. In October, two years and a half after her first husband's death, +seven thousand four hundred and ninety-two rupees, being one-third of his +estate, were paid over to her. It is carefully recorded that neither of +her deceased husbands had left wills, though the existence of Harvey's +will had been very precisely recorded by the Council, fifteen months +before. Young Gyfford, who was then twenty-five, appears to have been a +favourite with the Governor, and had lately been given charge of the +Bombay Market. Eighteen months after his marriage, we find William Gyfford +appointed supercargo of the _Catherine_, trading to Mocha. The office was +a most desirable one for a young factor. It afforded him opportunities for +private trade at first hand, instead of through agents, that in the mind +of an adventurous young man quite outbalanced the perils of the sea. + +In spite of small salaries, a goodly appearance was made by the Company's +servants in public. At the public table, where they sat in order of +seniority, all dishes, plates, and drinking-cups were of pure silver or +fine china. English, Portuguese, and Indian cooks were employed, so that +every taste might be suited. Before and after meals silver basins were +taken round for each person to wash his hands. Arrack, Shiraz wine, and +'pale punch,' a compound of brandy, rose-water, lime-juice, and sugar, +were drunk, and, at times, we hear of Canary wine. In 1717, Boone +abolished the public table, and diet money was given in its place. Boone +reported to the Directors that, by the change, a saving of nearly +Rs.16,000 a year was effected, and the Company's servants better satisfied. +On festival days the Governor would invite the whole factory to a picnic +in some garden outside the city. On such an occasion, a procession was +formed, headed by the Governor and his lady, in palanquins. Two large +ensigns were carried before them, followed by a number of led horses in +gorgeous trappings of velvet and silver. Following the Governor came the +Captain of the Peons on horseback, with forty or fifty armed men on foot. +Next followed the members of the Council, the merchants, factors, and +writers, in order of seniority, in fine bullock coaches or riding on +horses, all maintained at the Company's expense. At the Dewallee festival +every servant of the Company, from the Governor to the youngest writer, +received a 'peshcush' from the brokers and bunyas, which to the younger +men were of much importance; as they depended on these gifts to procure +their annual supply of clothes. + +Of the country, away from the coast, they were profoundly ignorant. The +far-off King of 'Dilly' was little more than a name to them, and they were +more concerned in the doings of petty potentates with strange names, such +as the Zamorin, the Zammelook, the Kempsant, and the Sow Rajah, who have +long disappeared. They talked of the people as Gentoos, Moors, Mallwans, +Sanganians, Gennims, Warrels, Coulis, Patanners, etc., and the number of +political, racial, religious, and linguistic divisions presented to their +view must have been especially puzzling. Owing to the numerous languages +necessary to carry on trade on the Malabar coast, they were forced to +depend almost entirely on untrustworthy Portuguese interpreters. Their +difficulties in this respect are dwelt on by Hamilton-- + + "One great Misfortune that attends us _European_ Travellers in _India_ + is, the Want of Knowledge of their Languages, and they being so + numerous, that one intire Century would be too short a Time to learn + them all: I could not find one in Ten thousand that could speak + intelligible _English_, tho' along the Sea coast the _Portuguese_ have + left a Vestige of their Language, tho' much corrupted, yet it is the + Language that most _Europeans_ learn first, to qualify them for a + general Converse with one another, as well as with the different + Inhabitants of _India_." + +After two years' work, as supercargo, on different ships, Gyfford was sent +down to Anjengo as chief of the factory. Anjengo was at that time one of +the most important factories on the Malabar coast, though of comparatively +recent establishment. It was first frequented by the Portuguese, who, +after a time, were ousted by the Dutch. It belonged to the Rani of Attinga, +who owned a small principality extending along sixty miles of coast. In +1688,[6] Rani Ashure invited the English to form a trading settlement in +her dominions, and two were formed, at Vittoor (Returah) and Villanjuen +(Brinjone). But for some reason, she became dissatisfied with the English, +and the hostility of the Dutch, in spite of the alliance between the two +countries in Europe, caused great trouble. In November, 1693, John +Brabourne was sent to Attinga, where, by his successful diplomacy, the +sandy spit of Anjengo was granted to the English, as a site for a fort, +together with the monopoly of the pepper trade of Attinga. Soon, the Dutch +protests and intrigues aroused the Rani's suspicions. She ordered +Brabourne to stop his building. Finding him deaf to her orders, she first +tried to starve out the English by cutting off supplies, but as the sea +was open, the land blockade proved ineffectual. She then sent an armed +force against Brabourne, which was speedily put to flight, and terms of +peace were arranged. The fort was completed, and a most flourishing trade +in pepper and cotton cloth speedily grew up. Anjengo became the first port +of call for outward-bound ships. The Anjengo fortification appeared so +formidable to the Dutch, that they closed their factories at Cochin, +Quilon, and Cannanore.[7] About 1700, Rani Ashure died, and the little +principality fell into disorder. It was a tradition that only women should +reign, and Ashure's successor was unable to make her authority felt. The +Poolas, who governed the four districts into which the principality was +divided, intrigued for power against each other, and before long the Rani +became a puppet in the hands of Poola Venjamutta. In 1704, a new Governor, +Sir Nicholas Waite, was appointed to Bombay. For some reason he left +Brabourne without instructions or money for investment.[8] Their small +salaries and their private trading seem to have made the Company's +servants very independent. We constantly find them throwing up the service +and going away, without waiting for permission. Brabourne went off to +Madras, after delivering over the fort to Mr. Simon Cowse, who had long +resided there, apparently as a private merchant, and who proved, as times +went, a good servant to the Company. The Company's service in those days +was full of intrigue and personal quarrels. The merchant second in rank at +Anjengo, John Kyffin, intrigued against Cowse so successfully, that Cowse +was deposed, and Kyffin was made chief of the settlement. He appears to +have been a thoroughly unscrupulous man. To enrich himself in his private +pepper trade 'he stuck at nothing.' He took part in the local intrigues of +Attinga, from which his predecessors had held aloof, played into the hands +of Poola Venjamutta, quarrelled with the other local officials, and +behaved with great violence whenever there was the slightest hitch in his +trade. Kyffin's want of loyalty to the Company was still more clearly +shown by his friendly dealings with their rivals, a proceeding that was +strictly forbidden. + +In June, 1717, Kyffin made known to the Council at Bombay his wish to +retire, and William Gyfford was appointed to succeed him as soon as the +monsoon would permit. So, in due course of time, Gyfford and his wife went +to Anjengo; but, in spite of his resignation, Kyffin stuck to his office, +and evidently viewed Gyfford with unfriendly eyes. In the following April, +intelligence reached the Council at Bombay that Kyffin had had dealings +with the Ostenders, and had been 'very assisting' to them; so, a +peremptory order went down from Bombay, dismissing him from the Company's +service, if the report of his assisting the Ostenders was true. If the +report was not true, no change was to be made. A commission to Gyfford to +assume the chiefship was sent at the same time. Interlopers and Ostenders, +he was told, were not to receive even provisions or water. So Kyffin +departed, and Gyfford reigned at Anjengo in his stead. + +But the follies of Kyffin had roused a feeling against the English that +was not likely to be allayed by Gyfford, who exceeded Kyffin in dishonesty +and imprudence. He threw himself into the pepper trade, using the +Company's money for his own purposes, and joined hands with the Portuguese +interpreter, Ignatio Malheiros, who appears to have been a consummate +rogue. Before long, religious feeling was aroused by the interpreter +obtaining possession of some pagoda land in a money-lending transaction. +Gyfford also aroused resentment, by trying to cheat the native traders +over the price of pepper, by showing fictitious entries in the factory +books, and by the use of false weights. The only thing wanting for an +explosion was the alienation of the Mahommedan section, which, before long, +was produced by chance and by Gyfford's folly. It happened that some +Mahommedan traders came to the fort to transact business with Cowse, who +had resumed business as a private merchant; but he was not at leisure, so +they went to the interpreter's house, to sit down and wait. While there, +the interpreter's 'strumpet' threw some _hooli_ powder on one of the +merchants. Stung by the insult, the man drew his sword, wounded the woman, +and would have killed her, if he and his companions had not been disarmed. +Gyfford, when they were brought before him, allowed himself to be +influenced by the interpreter, and ordered them to be turned out of the +fort, after their swords had been insultingly broken over their heads. The +people of Attinga flew to arms, and threatened the fort. For some months +there were constant skirmishes. The English had no difficulty in defeating +all attacks, but, none the less, trade was brought to a standstill; so +Mr. Walter Brown was sent down from Bombay to put matters straight. Poola +Venjamutta, who had all the time kept himself in the background, was quite +ready to help an accommodation, as open force had proved useless. Things +having quieted down, Gyfford, 'flushed with the hopes of having Peace and +Pepper,' devoted himself to trade. He had at this time a brigantine called +the _Thomas_, commanded by his wife's brother, Thomas Cooke, doing his +private trade along the coast. The year 1720 passed quietly. Force having +proved unavailing, the Attinga people dissembled their anger, and waited +for an opportunity to revenge themselves. So well was the popular feeling +against the English concealed, that Cowse, with his long experience and +knowledge of the language, had no suspicions. + +There had been an old custom, since the establishment of the factory, of +giving presents yearly to the Rani, in the name of the Company; but for +some years the practice had fallen into abeyance. Gyfford, wishing to +ingratiate himself with the authorities, resolved on reviving the custom, +and to do so in the most ceremonious way, by going himself with the +presents for seven years. Accordingly, on the 11th April, 1721, +accompanied by all the merchants and factors, and taking all his best men, +about one hundred and twenty in number, and the same number of coolies, +Gyfford started for Attinga, four miles up the river. Here they were +received by an enormous crowd of people, who gave them a friendly +reception. The details of what followed are imperfectly recorded, and much +is left to conjecture, but Gyfford's foolish over-confidence is +sufficiently apparent. In spite of their brave display, his men carried no +ammunition. Poola Venjamutta was not to be seen. They were told he was +drunk, and they must wait till he was fit to receive them. He was +apparently playing a double part, but the blame for what followed was +afterwards laid on his rival, Poola Cadamon Pillay. Cowse's suspicions +were aroused, and he advised an immediate return to Anjengo, but Gyfford +refused to take the advice. He is said to have struck Cowse, and to have +threatened with imprisonment. The Rani also sent a message, advising a +return to Anjengo. It was getting late, and to extricate himself from the +crowd, Gyfford allowed the whole party to be inveigled into a small +enclosure. To show his goodwill to the crowd, he ordered his men to fire a +salvo, and then he found that the ammunition carried by the coolies had +been secured, and they were defenceless. In this hopeless position, he +managed to entrust a letter addressed to the storekeeper at Anjengo, to +the hands of a friendly native. It reached Anjengo at one o'clock next day, +and ran as follows:-- + + "Captain Sewell. We are treacherously dealt with here, therefore keep + a very good look-out of any designs on you. Have a good look to your + two Trankers,[9] We hope to be with you to-night. Take care and don't + frighten the women; we are in no great danger. Give the bearer a + Chequeen."[10] + +But none of the English were to see Anjengo again. That night, or the next +morning, a sudden attack was made, the crowd surged in on the soldiers, +overwhelmed them, and cut them to pieces. The principal English were +seized and reserved for a more cruel death. In the confusion, Cowse, who +was a favourite among the natives, managed to disguise himself, got +through the crowd, and sought to reach Anjengo by a little frequented path. +By bad luck he was overtaken by a Mahommedan merchant who owed him money. +Cowse offered to acquit him of the debt, but to no purpose. He was +mercilessly killed, and thus the debt was settled. 'Stone dead hath no +fellow,' as the chronicler of his death says. The rest of the English were +tortured to death, Gyfford and the interpreter being reserved for the +worst barbarities. Ignatio Malheiros was gradually dismembered, while +Gyfford had his tongue torn out, was nailed to a log of wood, and sent +floating down the river. + +It is easy to picture to one's self the consternation in Anjengo, that +12th April, when, soon after midday, Gyfford's hasty note was received, +and the same evening, when a score of wounded men (topasses) straggled in +to confirm the worst fears; 'all miserably wounded, some with 12 or 13 +cutts and arrows in their bodyes to a lower number, but none without any.' +Gyfford had taken away all the able men with him, leaving in the fort only +'the dregs,' old men, boys, and pensioners, less than forty in number. At +their head were Robert Sewell, who describes himself as Storekeeper, +Captain and Adjutant by order of Governor Boone; Lieutenant Peter +Lapthorne, Ensign Thomas Davis, and Gunner Samuel Ince. The first three of +them were absolutely useless, and Gunner Ince, whose name deserves to be +remembered, was the only one of the four who rose to the situation. His +first care was for the three English women, whose husbands had just been +killed. By good fortune there happened to be in the road a small country +ship that had brought a consignment of cowries from the Maldives. Mrs. +Gyfford, for the third time a widow, Mrs. Cowse with four children, and +Mrs. Burton with two, were hastily put on board, and sailed at once for +Madras. No mention appears of Mrs. Gyfford having any children with her, +but she carried off the factory records and papers, and what money she +could lay her hands on. She was no longer the confiding girl, who had +given herself to Governor Harvey eleven years before. She had learned +something of the world she lived in, and intended to take care of herself +as well as she could. She even tried to carry off Peter Lapthorne with her, +but Sewell intervened and prevented it. So giving him hasty directions to +act as her agent, she passed through the dangerous Anjengo surf and got on +board. A letter to her from Lapthorne, written a few weeks later, relates +that the only property he could find belonging to her were 'two wiggs and +a bolster and some ophium' in the warehouse. + +Having got rid of the white women, Sewell and his companions set to work +to hold the fort against the attack that was inevitable. From the old +records we get an idea of what the fort was like. As designed by Brabourne, +it covered a square of about sixty yards each way, but this did not +include the two Trankers, palisaded out-works, alluded to in Gyfford's +note. Ten years before, the attention of the Council at Bombay had been +drawn to the bad condition of the + + "Fort house, being no more then timber covered with palm leaves + (cajanns) so very dangerous taking fire," and the chief of the factory + was ordered to build "a small compact house of brick with a Hall, and + conveniencys for half a dozen Company's servants. And being advised + that for want of a necessary house in the Fort, they keep the Fort + gate open all night for the guard going out and in, which irregularity + may prove of so pernicious consequence as the loss of that garrison, + especially in a country where they are surrounded with such + treacherous people as the Natives and the Dutch," it was ordered that + a "necessary house over the Fort walls" should be built, and the gates + kept locked after 8 o'clock at night. + +How far these orders had been carried out does not appear; but the +Company's goods were still kept in a warehouse outside the walls: some of +the Company's servants also had houses outside, and the palm-leaf roofs +were still there. For garrison they only had about thirty-five boys and +pensioners, 'whereof not twenty fit to hold a firelock,' and, for want of +a sufficient garrison, it was necessary to withdraw from the Trankers, +which were thought to be so important for the safety of the place. +Desperate as was the outlook. Gunner Ince exerted himself like a man, +animating everybody by his example. By his exertions, seven hundred bags +of rice, with salt fish for a month, and the Company's treasure were got +in from the warehouse, and an urgent appeal was sent to Calicut. The +surgeon had been killed with Gyfford; they had no smith or carpenter or +tools, except a few hatchets, and the Attinga people swarming into Anjengo +burned and plundered the settlement, forcing a crowd of women and children +to take refuge in the small fort. Though no concerted attack was made at +first, the assailants tried with fire arrows to set fire to the palm-leaf +roofs, which had to be dismantled; and all through the siege, which lasted +six months, the sufferings of the garrison were increased by the burning +rays of a tropical sun or the torrential rains of the monsoon. + +On the 25th April, they were cheered by the arrival of two small English +ships from Cochin, where the intelligence of the disaster had reached; and +received a small reinforcement of seven men with a consignment of +provisions. A message of condolence also had come from the Rajah of Quilon, +who offered to receive the women and children, so one hundred and fifty +native women and children, widows and orphans of the slain, were sent off. +On the 1st May, an ensign and fifty-one men, collected by Mr. Adams from +Calicut and Tellicherry, joined the garrison, and gave some relief from +the constant sentry duty that was necessary. The enemy, meanwhile, had +contented themselves with harassing the garrison by firing long shots at +them; but it was rumoured that the Rajah of Travancore was sending troops, +and then they would have to sustain a serious attack. Gunner Ince, on whom +the whole weight of the defence rested, let it be known that in the last +extremity he would blow up the magazine. It is cheering to find that there +was at least one man who was prepared to do his duty. Sewell and Lapthorne +got drunk, and joined with the warehouseman, a Portuguese named Rodriguez, +in plundering the Company's warehouse and sending goods away to Quilon; +the soldiers followed the example, and plundered the rooms inside the fort, +while the late interpreter's family were allowed to send away, to Quilon, +effects to the value of one hundred thousand fanams, though it was known +that the Company had a claim on him for over two-thirds of the amount, on +account of money advanced to him. Davis was dying of a lingering illness, +to which he succumbed in the beginning of July. + +On the 24th June, a vigorous attack was made on the fort from three sides +at once. On one side the enemy had thrown up an entrenchment, and on the +river side they had effected a lodgment in Cowse's house, a substantial +building close to the wall of the fort. This would have soon made the fort +untenable, so a small party was sent to dislodge the occupants. At first +they were repulsed, but a second attempt was successful. Marching up to +the windows, 'where they were as thick as bees,' they threw hand grenades +into the house, which was hurriedly evacuated; numbers of the enemy +leaping into the river, where some of them were drowned. Ince then +bombarded them out of the entrenchment, and the attack came to an end. +Several of the garrison were wounded, but none killed; but what chiefly +mortified them was that the arms of the men slain with Gyfford were used +against them. After this the land blockade lingered on, but no very +serious attack seems to have been made. A second reinforcement of thirty +men was sent down by Adams from Calicut, and the Rani and Poola Venjamutta +sent 'refreshments,' and promised that the attacks of their rebellious +subjects should cease. The Rani also wrote to the Madras Council, and sent +a deputation of one hundred Brahmins to Tellicherry, to express her horror +of the barbarities committed by her people, and her willingness to join +the Company's forces in punishing the guilty. + +Intelligence of the disaster at Anjengo did not reach Bombay till the +beginning of July. The monsoon was in full force, and no assistance could +be sent till it was over. Men and supplies were gathered in from Carwar +and Surat, and, on the 17th October, Mr. Midford, with three hundred men, +reached Anjengo. His report on the state of affairs he found there makes +it a matter of surprise that the place had not fallen. The safety of the +fort had been entirely due to Gunner Ince. Sewell's behaviour was that of +a fool or a madman. Together with Lapthorne, he had set the example of +plundering the Company, and their men had done as much damage as the enemy. +Sewell, as storekeeper, had no books, and said he never had kept any. +Lapthorne had retained two months' pay, due to the men killed with Gyfford, +and asserted his right to it. Much of the Company's treasure was +unaccounted for, and Mrs. Gyfford had carried off the books. Midford sent +Sewell and Lapthorne under arrest to Bombay, where they were let off with +a scolding, and proceeded to restore order. The Rani and Venjamutta were +friendly, but told him he must take his own vengeance on the Nairs for +their inhuman action. So he commenced a series of raids into the +surrounding country, which reduced it to some sort of subjection. Soon +there came an order for most of his men to be sent back to Bombay, where +warlike measures against Angria were on foot. A cessation of arms was +patched up, and Midford installed himself as chief. + +He proved to be no honester than his predecessors. He monopolized the +pepper trade on his own private account, making himself advances out of +the Company's treasury. In less than a year he was dead, but before his +death Alexander Orme,[11] then a private merchant on the coast, was sent +to Anjengo as chief of the factory, at the special request of the Rani. +Before long, Orme had to report to the Council that there were due to the +Company, from Gyfford's estate, 559,421 fanams, and that 140,260 gold +fanams had disappeared during Midford's chiefship which could not be +accounted for. Midford had also drawn pay for twenty European soldiers who +did not exist. The Council ascribed Midford's misdeeds to his +'unaccountable stupidity,' and the Directors answered that 'the charges +against Mr. Midford are very grievous ones.' + +In September, 1722, the Council received from Orme a copy of the treaty he +had made with the Rani. The following were the chief provisions. The +ringleaders in the attack on Gyfford were to be punished and their estates +confiscated; all Christians living between Edawa and Brinjone were to be +brought under the Company's protection; the Rani was to reimburse the +Company for all expenses caused by the attack on Anjengo; the Company was +to have exclusive right to the pepper trade, and were empowered to build +factories in the Rani's dominions wherever they pleased; the Rani was to +return all arms taken in the late out-break, and to furnish timber to +rebuild the church that had been burned. The treaty was guaranteed by the +Rani's brother, the Rajah of Chinganatta. By the Directors it was received +with mixed feelings. + + "Last years Letters took some notice about the Affair at Anjengo, We + had not then the Account of the Treaty Mr. Orme made with the Queen of + Attinga and King of Chinganetty, We are sorry to find it included in + the Treaty, That We must supply Souldiers to carry on the War against + her rebellious Subjects for which she is to pay the Charge, and in the + Interim to pawn Lands for answering principal and Interest, because it + will certainly involve us in a trouble if We succeed, and more if We + dont, add to this, the variable temper and poverty of those people may + incline them to refuse to refund, and in time they may redemand and + force back their Lands, If the Articles are fully comply'd with they + seem to be for the Companys benefit, But We fear we shall have the + least Share of it, To what purpose is her Grant to Us of all the + Pepper in her Countrey, If Our unfaithful people there get all for + themselves and none for Us, as you Charge Mr. Midford with doing, We + dont want an Extent of Lands, if We could but (obtain) pepper cheap + and sufficient, And what benefit will it be to Us, to have the liberty + of building Factorys, which in Event is only a Liberty to lavish away + Our Money, and turning Quick Stock into dead, unless you could be + morally certain it would be worth while to get a small residence in + the King of Chengenattys Countrey, where it is said the Dutch make + great Investments of Peice Goods cheaper and better, than they used to + do at Negapatam, and therefore have deserted it, We consider further, + if such Goods as are proper for Our Europe Market were procurable, how + comes it We have had none hitherto, It is true We have had Cloth from + Anjengo good of the Sorts, but Invoiced so dear that We forbad sending + more unless to be purchased at the prices We limited, since then We + have heard no more about it, But we are told it is Traded in to Bombay + to some profit, What profit will the putting the Christians between + Edova and Brinjohn under Our Jurisdiction yeild to Us, and what + Security can you have that the King of Chenganattys Guarranteeship + will answer and give full satisfaction, These are what appear to Us + worthy your serious and deliberate consideration to be well thought of + before you come to a determination What Orders to give, We find by + your Consultations in January 1722/23 You had sent down Treasure to + Anjengo, to enable the Chief to levy Souldiers to revenge the Murder + of the English, since you could not spare Forces which as there + exprest is absolutely necessary, for else the Natives will have but + contemptible thoughts of the English, who will then loose their Esteem, + had We ever found a benefit by their Esteem, something might be said + for it, But in the present Case We fear We shall buy Our Esteem at too + dear a Rate, We should be extreamly glad to be mistaken and to find in + effect what your 120th Paragraph says in words, that you hope to make + it a Valuable Settlement."[12] + +We left Mrs. Gyfford flying from Anjengo in a small country ship, with two +other English women and six children. The misery that the three poor +widows must have endured for a month, crowded into a small country boat, +without preparation or ordinary comforts, at the hottest time of the year, +must have been extreme. On the 17th May, the fugitives landed at Madras. +The Council there granted them a compassionate allowance, of which Mrs. +Gyfford refused to avail herself. After a time she made her way to +Calcutta and joined her father's family, leaving, with an agent in Madras, +the Anjengo factory books, which, after repeated demands, were surrendered +to the Madras Council. From Madras to Calcutta she was pursued by the +demands of the Bombay Council. The books had been restored at Madras, and +the Bengal Government extracted Rs.7312 from her; but, in reply to further +demands, she would only answer that she was 'an unfortunate widow, +struggling with adversity, whose husband had met his death serving our +Honourable Masters,' and that it was shameful to demand money from her, +when she herself was owed large sums by the Company. She could only refer +them to her agents at Madras and Anjengo. Still, she was in a considerable +dilemma, as she could not get out of the country without a full settlement +of accounts, and, if resistance was carried too far, her father might be +made to suffer. + +At this juncture an unexpected way of escape presented itself. Twelve +months before this, Commodore Matthews had arrived in Bombay with a +squadron of the Royal Navy for the suppression of piracy. But Matthews was +more bent on enriching himself by trade than on harrying pirates; and, as +his own trading was inimical to the Company's interests and certain to set +the Company's servants against him, he had from the first assumed a +position of hostility to the Company. Every opportunity was seized of +damaging the Company's interests and lowering the Company's authority. All +who were in the Company's bad books found a patron and protector in +Matthews; so, when in September, 1722, the flagship appeared in the +Hooghly, Mrs. Gyfford was quick to grasp the opportunity, that presented +itself, of bidding defiance to her pursuers. She at once opened +communication with Matthews, and besought his protection. She was an +unfortunate widow who had lost two husbands by violent deaths in the +Company's service, and, now that she was unprotected, the Company was +trying to wring from her the little money she had brought away from +Anjengo, while she herself had large claims against the Company. This was +quite enough for Matthews. Here was a young and pretty woman with a good +sum of money, shamefully persecuted by the Company, to which he felt +nothing but hostility. At one stroke he could gratify his dislike of the +Company and succour a badly treated young woman, whose hard fate should +arouse sympathy in every generous mind; so the Bengal Council were told +that Mrs. Gyfford was now under the protection of the Crown, and was not +to be molested. + +In the hope of securing some portion of the money due to the Company, the +Council attached the brigantine _Thomas_, commanded by Mrs. Gyfford's +brother. A letter was at once forthcoming from Matthews to say that he had +purchased Mrs. Gyfford's interest in the vessel. Finding themselves thus +forestalled, the Council begged Matthews not to take her away from +Calcutta till she had furnished security for the Company's claim of +Rs.50,000, Matthews replied that he should take her to Bombay, where she +would answer anything that might be alleged against her. As soon as he had +completed his trading in Bengal, Mrs. Gyfford, with her effects, embarked +on board the _Lyon_, and so returned to Bombay. There, in January, 1723, +we find her living under Matthews' roof, much to the wrath of the Council +and the scandal of her former acquaintances. By this time, the Council had +received from Anjengo more precise details as to what was due to the +Company from Gyfford's estate. All the cowries, pepper, and cloth that +were said to belong to Gyfford had been bought with the Company's money, +and the Company's claim against his estate was nearly £9000. A stringent +order was sent to Mrs. Gyfford, forbidding her to leave Bombay till the +claim was settled. Matthews at once put her on board the _Lyon_ again, and +there she remained; not venturing to set foot on shore, lest the Council +should lay hands on her. + +By the end of the year, Matthews was ready to return to England. Intent to +the last on trade, he touched at Carwar, Tellicherry, and St. David's, and, +in Mrs. Gyfford's interests, a visit was also paid Anjengo, to try and +recover some of the property she claimed to have left there. She was not +going to be put off with Lapthorne's 'two wiggs and a bolster.' In July +(1724) the _Lyon_ reached Portsmouth, and was put out of commission. + +At first the Directors appear to have paid little attention to Mrs. +Gyfford, perhaps not thinking her worth powder and shot. Their principal +anger was directed against Matthews, against whom they obtained a decree +in the Court of Chancery for unlawful trading. But Mrs. Gyfford would not +keep silence. Perhaps she really believed in the justice of her claims. +She bombarded the Directors with petitions, till at last, two years after +her arrival in England, they tardily awoke to the fact that they +themselves had substantial claims against her. They offered to submit the +claims to arbitration, to which Mrs. Gyfford consented; but as she still +refrained from coming to close quarters, they filed a suit against her in +the Court of Chancery, nearly four years after her arrival in England. Mrs. +Gyfford promptly replied with a counter-suit, in which, among other things, +she claimed £10,000 for presents taken by Gyfford to the Rani of Attinga +on that fatal 11th April, seven years before. Four years later, she was +still deep in litigation, having quarrelled with her agent, Peter +Lapthorne, among others. It is to be hoped, for her sake, that Chancery +suits were cheaper than they are now. Here we may say good-bye to her. For +those who are curious in such matters, a search among the Chancery records +will probably reveal the result, but it is improbable that the Company +reaped any benefit from their action. And so she passes from the scene, a +curious example of the vicissitudes to which Englishwomen in India were +exposed, two hundred years ago. + + +[1] They were issued at the rate of sixty-five for a rupee; before long, + their value was reduced to seventy-two for a rupee, at which price + they were much in request, and the Governor reported that he expected + to coin sixteen tons of them yearly. + +[2] In October, 1713, the Bombay Council decided that the Xeraphims, being + much debased with copper and other alloy, their recognized value + should in future be half a rupee, or two Laris and forty reis. The + Xeraphim was a Goa coin, originally worth less than one and sixpence. + The name, according to Yule, was a corruption of the Arabic _ashrafi_. + +[3] The year before, the _Godolphin_ had escaped from an Angrian fleet, + after a two days' encounter within sight of Bombay. + +[4] The records are silent as to the _Defiance_, but it is mentioned by + Downing, who says that, instead of doing his duty, the captain made + the best of his way to Bombay. The story seems to be borne out by a + faded letter from the captain to the Directors, appealing against + dismissal from the service. + + +[5] The name is now given to the group of islands to which Bourbon and + Mauritius belong. At that time it generally applied to Bourbon, and + especially to St. Paul's Bay, which was a favourite place of call for + ships to water at. + +[6] According to some accounts, the first settlement was a few years + earlier, but the dates of the early travellers are very unreliable. + Hamilton says that a present was sent in 1685 to the Queen; "A + beautiful young English gentleman had the honour to present it to her + black Majesty; and as soon as the Queen saw him, she fell in love with + him, and next day made proposals of marriage to him, but he modestly + refused so great an honour however, to please her Majesty, he staid at + court a month or two and satisfied her so well that when he left her + court she made him some presents." + +[7] Bruce. + +[8] This is the reason given by Bruce for Brabourne leaving Anjengo, but + the death of Brabourne's wife, in 1704, probably had a good deal to do + with his leaving the place. Her tomb still exists. + +[9] Tranqueira (Port.), a palisade. + +[10] Meaning sequin: the origin of the modern Anglo-Indianism, chick.' + +[11] The father of Robert Orme, the historian, who was born at Anjengo. + +[12] Letter from Court of Directors to Bombay, 25th March, 1724. + + + +INDEX + +A + +Abdul Guffoor, his ship seized off Surat; + his ship, _Futteh Mahmood_, taken by Every; + incites the natives of Surat against the English. +Adams, Mr., sends relief to Anjengo. +_Addison_, the, East Indiaman, commanded by Boone, against Kennery; + consultation on board. +_Adventure_ galley, the, fitted out as a privateer; + commanded by Kidd; + size and defence of; + anchors off Johanna; + anchors at Perim; + flies English colours at Carwar; + sails to Calicut; + chased by two Portuguese vessels; + chases the _Sedgwick_; + her crew divide the spoil of the _Quedah Merchant_; + becomes unseaworthy; + her owners not inculpated by Kidd. +_Advice_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Affleck, Mr., owner of the _London_. +Aislabie, William, President of Bombay, his negotiations with Angria; + sails for England; + begins building the church at Bombay; + his armed yacht taken by Angria. +_Algerine_, the. + _See Soldado_, the. +Alibagh fort, unsuccessfully assaulted by the English and Portuguese; + taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +_Anglesea_ the, man-of-war. +_Anglesea_ the, French man-of-war, attacks the _Anson_; +Angria, Conajee (Kanhojee), pirate, rise of the power of; + succeeds to the command of the Mahratta navy; + styled Darya-S ranga; + destroys the _Bombay_ frigate; + fortifies Kennery; + attacks the _Godolphin_; + concludes a treaty with the Mahrattas; + becomes an independent chief; + captures the _Anne_ ketch; + his ships attack the _Somers_ and _Grantham_; + captures a Portuguese 'armado,'; + opens negotiations with the English; + articles of agreement delivered to, by Lieutenant Mackintosh; + his territory a refuge for desperadoes; + defies Governor Boone; + fruitless attack made on his fort at Gheriah; + offers terms to Governor Boone; + negotiates with the English through Sahoojee; + his ships burnt in Gheriah harbour; + makes a treaty with the Portuguese; + fits out an expedition against Carwar; + his commodore killed and ship taken; + his power weakened; + his treatment of Curgenven; + his death. +Angria, Mannajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + quarrels with Sumbhajee; + takes Colaba; + imprisons Yessajee; + his relations with the English; + captures Caranjah; + seizes Bombay ships; + Captain Inchbird sent to punish; + his territories attacked by Sumbhajee; + increase of power of. +Angria, Sakhajee, son of Conajee Angria; + establishes himself at Colaba; + dies. +Angria, Sumbhajee, son of Conajee Angria; + quarrels with Mannajee; + his gallivata captured; + captures the _Derby_; + opens negotiations with Bombay; + his fleet chased by Bagwell; + takes the _Jupiter_; + attacks Mannajee's territories; + his camp bombarded by Inchbird; + retreats from Colaba; + makes overtures of peace to Bombay; + captures the _Salamander_; + dies. +Angria, Toolajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + taken prisoner by Mahrattas; + succeeds Sumbhajee; + captures the _Princess Augusta_; + sacks Mangalore and Honore; + captures the _Restoration_; + captures trading boats; + chases the _Tartar_; + attacks the _Ruby_; + takes the _Swallow_; + proposes terms to the Bombay Council; + the English co-operate with the Peishwa against; + his fleet chased by James; + his fort at Severndroog bombarded; + the Council's orders as to terms of capitulation with; + leaves Gheriah and treats with the Mahrattas; + warns his brother-in-law against surrendering Gheriah; + his person demanded from the Mahrattas; + his fleet destroyed at Gheriah; + imprisoned for life by the Mahrattas; + escape of his sons from captivity. +Angria, Yessajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + imprisoned by Mannajee. +Anjediva, island, part of Brown's fleet finds refuge at; + Portuguese fort on. +Anjengo, the Dutch oust the Portuguese from; + English factory and fort at; + unrest at; + massacre of the English at; + state of the garrison at; + fort at, besieged; + the Company's goods at, plundered; + monopoly of pepper trade at, secured to the Company; + the Company's remarks on trade at. +_Anne_, the, grab, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Anne_, ketch, the, sails for Bombay; + how protected; + attacked and captured by Angrian ships; + recovered from Angria; + taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Annesley, Daniel, President of Surat, imprisoned +Anselme, Captain, commander of the _Derby_, purposely delays his ship; + surrenders the _Derby_ to Angria. +_Anson_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by French man-of-war. +_Antelope_, the, taken by the Coolee rovers. +_Apollo_, the, French man-of-war, attacks the _Anson_. +Arabs, the, of Muscat, pirates; + attack the Company's ship _President_; + ravage Salsette. +Armenian merchants, their complaints of pirates. +Armenian ships, plundered by pirates. +Ashure, Rani of Attinga, the English settle in her territory; + dies. +Attinga, monopoly of the pepper trade at, granted to the English; + internal divisions in; + massacre of the English from Anjengo at. +Attinga, Rani of, the, blockades the English at Anjengo; + makes peace with the English; + yearly presents to; + sends food to the besieged at Anjengo; + disclaims participation in the massacre of the English; + requests Orme to be chief at Anjengo; + to compensate for attack on Anjengo. + _See also s.v._ Ashure. +_Augusta_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Aungier, Gerald, President of; + Bombay, quells mutiny among the soldiers. +Aurungzeeb, Mogul Emperor; + his ship, _Gunj Suwaie_, taken by Every; + story of the capture of his granddaughter; + his order to imprison the English in Surat and Bombay; + holds the English responsible for loss of the _Quedah Merchant_; + reverses his order to stop European trade; + death of. + +B + +Babington, Philip, Irish pirate; + commands the _Charming Mary_. +Bab's Key + _See_ PERIM. +Bagwell, Commodore; + chases Sumbhajee Angria's fleet into Rajapore river. +Bahama Islands, the; + a haunt of pirates. +Ballajee Bajee Rao, the Peishwa's son; + attacks Sumbhajee Angria's camp; + his alliance with the English. +Ballajee Rao. + _See_ PEISHWA, THE. +Bandara, shelled by the English. +Bankote + to be made over to the English; + surrender of, to the Mahrattas; + surrender of, to the English. +Bassein + besieged by the Mahrattas. +Bellamont, Lady; + Kidd's present to. +Bellamont, Lord; + supports syndicate to send out a privateer against French commerce; + appointed Governor of New York; + obtains a commission for Kidd; + arrests Kidd; + said by Kidd to have French passes of captured ships; + accused of complicity in Kidd's piracies. +Bellamy, Lieutenant; + killed before Alibagh. +_Bengal_ galley, the; + engages Portuguese grabs; + attacked off Colaba and boarded by Angrian ships. +_Benjamin_ yacht, the; + unmolested by pirates. +_Benjimolly_ the; + taken by Toolajee Angria. +Berkeley, Lieutenant; + fights a duel with Lieutenant Stepney. +Berlew (? Bellew), Captain; + directs attack on Gheriah; + Beyt, pirates from. +Bhyroo Punt. + _See_ PEISHWA, THE. +Blackbeard. + _See_ TEACH, EDWARD. +Bomanjee, a Parsee broker; + arrest of, for fraud; + his cause espoused by Matthews. +Bombay, its defenceless position; + seized by Keigwin for the King; + surrendered to Grantham; + Boone builds a wall round; + conditions imposed by the Portuguese at the cession of; + increased reputation of the English at; + council-of-war held at; + freed from the pirates; + state kept up by the Company's servants at. +Bombay Council, conclude a six months' truce with Sumbhajee Angria; + send warning to merchantmen of French man-of-war; + their reply to Toolajee Angria's overtures; + co-operate with the Peishwa against Toolajee Angria; + terms of agreement between the Mahrattas and; + their instructions to Olive and Hough; + proceed against Mrs. Gyfford. +_Bombay_ frigate, the, destroyed by Angria's vessels. +_Bombay_ galley, the, engages Portuguese grabs; + attacked off Colaba by Angrian ships; + sent against the Angrian fleet. +Bombay Marine Battalion, formation of. +Bonnell and Kynaston, partners of Porter; + action brought against, by the East India Company. +Boone, Charles, President of Bombay; + his character and capacity; + fleet organized by; + failure of his attempt on Vingorla; + sends an expedition to Gheriah; + plans an attack on Kennery; + his opinion of the Company's military; + rejects Angria's terms; + builds the _Phram_, a floating battery; + builds a wall round Bombay; + his trouble with the Portuguese; + plans a second expedition against Gheriah; + orders Brown to engage the Madagascar pirates; + plans a fresh attack on Angria; + his disappointment at failure of the expedition against Colaba; + intrigues against; + embarks for England; + attacked on his homeward journey by Angria; + rescues a ship from the Kempsant's grabs; + succeeded by William Phipps; + abolishes the public table at Bombay. +Boscawen, Admiral, leaves four ships to protect the coast of India. +Bourbon, Isle of, the _Nostra Senhorade Cabo_ taken by pirates at; + governor of, compelled to countenance pirates; + Matthews trades at. +Bourchier, Richard, President of Bombay, strengthens alliance with + the Peishwa. +Bowen,--, pirate, commands the _Speedy Return_. +Brabourne, John, procures grant of Anjengo for the English; + completes the fort at Anjengo; + leaves Anjengo. +Braddyll, Mr., member of Bombay Council, intrigues against Boone; + is protected by Matthews. +Braddyll, Mrs., taken to Surat by Matthews. +Brathwaite, Lieutenant, of the _Lyon_ leads the assault on Alibagh; + made captain of the _Exeter_. +_Bridgewater_, the, blockades Gheriah. +Bridgman, Henry. + _See_ EVERY, HENRY. +Brinjone. + _See_ VILLANJUEN. +_Bristol_, the, taken to Sumatra on a piratical cruise. +_Britannia_, the, Company's armed ship, built at Carwar, by + Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + sent in search of pirates. +Brown, Walter, factor, commands Company's troops; + serves on the _Addison_ against Kennery; + commands the expedition against Gheriah; + cowardice and incompetency; + plans a night surprise on Gheriah; + abandons the attack on Gheriah and Deoghur; + his fleet chased by the pirates; + orders the _Phram_ to be burned; + sent in search of pirates; + chases the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_; + sent to Anjengo to accommodate matters. +Buchanan, Captain, holds Gheriah after its capture. +Burton, Mrs., escapes from Anjengo. +Byng; Sir George, First Lieutenant of the _Phoenix_. + +C + +_Caesar_, the, engages with pirates. +Calicut, Kidd's letter of protest to the factory at; + relief sent to Anjengo from. +Carolina, North, pirates off the coasts of; + governor of, intimidated by Teach; + planters at, seek assistance from Virginia. +Carpenter's Bay, Mauritius, message from the pirates found at. +Carwar, Kidd's visit to; + factory at, besieged by the Sunda Rajah; + part of Brown's fleet escapes to; + threatened by Angria's forces; + Captain Hudson entertained at; + Hamilton's account of. +_Cassandra_, the, Company's ship (later a Madagascar pirate ship), + her fight with pirates; + taken by England; + falls in with Brown's fleet; + chases the English fleet to Goa; + spoil from, presented to the daughter of the Governor of Cochin; + chased by Brown and Macrae; + with the _Victory_, takes the _Nostra Senhora de Cabo_; + takes an Ostend ship; + Macrae's defence of; + booty acquired by the crew of. +_Catherine_, the, trades to Mocha. +_Ceres_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Angrian pirates. +Chalmers, Lieut.-Colonel, commands troops at Gheriah. +_Chandos_, the, + employed in the attack on Gheriah; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + sent with Brown in search of pirates. +_Charles the Second_, the, + seized by Every and mutineers; + renamed the _Fancy_. +_Charlotte_, the, Madras ship, taken by Angria's fleet. +_Charming Mary_, the, a pirate ship. +Charnock's Point, St. Mary's Island, + a pirate settlement; + wrecks of merchant ships at; + Matthews takes booty at. +Chaul, + the rendezvous for the Colaba expedition; + Mannajee Angria escapes to; + attacked by Sumbhajee Angria; + made over to the Peishwa; + James joined by the Mahratta fleet at. +Cheyne, Captain, commands the _Protector_ +Child, Sir John, President of Surat + attempts to pacify the native governor; + compared with Governor Boone; + his intrigues at Surat; + endeavours to re-establish the Company's authority at Bombay. +Child, Sir Josiah. +Chimnajee Appa, the Peishwa's brother, + his aid invoked against Mannajee Angria. +Chinganatta, the Rajah of, guarantees the treaty at Anjengo. +Chivers, a Dutchman, + commands the _Soldado_ or _Algerine_; + captures and releases the _Sedgwick_; + promises submission to Warren. +Chown, Catherine (_née_ Cooke), + sails for Bombay on the _Anne_; + her second husband killed; + is captured by Angrian pirates; + taken prisoner to Colaba; + a ransom demanded for; + birth of her son; + marries William Gyfford. + _See also s.v._ COOKE, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE; HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Chown, Thomas, + supercargo of the _Godolphin_; + wrecked; + goes to Carwar as factor; + marries Catherine Harvey; + sails for Bombay to prosecute his wife's claims; + killed in action with Angria's fleet. +Clive, Robert (Lord); + commands land forces against Gheriah; + Bombay Council's instructions to; + dispute as to his share of spoil at Gheriah; + his capacity as a soldier. +Cobb, Captain, + commands the _Samaritan_ and _Roebuck_; + captures two Mogul vessels. +Cockburn, Captain, commander of the _Salisbury_, + Matthews' letter to; + Matthews quarrels with; + assists the Council at Bombay; + placed under arrest by Matthews; + transferred to the _Exeter_. +Coins, multiplicity of, at Bombay. +Colaba, + granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Lieutenant Mackintosh goes to, with articles of treaty; + fired on by the English; + English and Portuguese make an unsuccessful attack on; + appropriated by Sakhajee Angria; + taken by Mannajee Angria; + attacked by Sumbhajee Angria; + engagement between Angrian ships and Bombay gallivats off. +Conajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, CONAJEE. +Concan, the coast of, + harried by Sivajee's fleet; + the Peishwa becomes master of. +Conden (Congdon, Condent), pirate, + his headquarters, Madagascar; + commands the _Flying Dragon_. +Cong, plundered by pirates. +Cooke, Catherine, + daughter of Captain Cooke, gunner; + marries John Harvey. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE; HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Cooke, Captain Gerrard, + gunner at Fort William; + made engineer and captain; + father of Catherine Gyfford; + marries his daughter to Harvey. +Cooke, Thomas, Gyfford's brother-in-law, + commands the _Thomas_; + his ship attached by the Bengal Council. +Coolee rovers, the. +Coorla, River, defences of; + forced by the English and; + Dutch. +Corlem, Portuguese fort at, + destroyed by the English. +Courten, Sir William, + his attempt to establish a separate trade in the East Indies. +Cowan, Robert, factor, + commands Company's troops; + negotiates treaty between English and Portuguese at Goa; + his services recognized; + made a general in the expedition against Colaba; + his military incapacity. +Cowse, Mrs., escapes from Anjengo. +Cowse, Simon, + Anjengo left in charge of, by Brabourne; + deposed by Kyffin; + resumes business as private merchant; + his advice to Gyfford; + killed in escaping to Anjengo; + the enemy occupy his house at Anjengo. +Coxsidge, Captain, + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Cruffe, James, armourer, + recaptures the _Josiah_ ketch. +Cuddalore, establishment of a factory at. +Culliford, ----, mutineer and pirate, + succeeds Stent as commander of the _Defence_; + renames her the _Resolution_; + attacks the _Dorrill_, 50; + promises submission to Warren; + Kidd's dealings with; + trial, condemnation and respite of. +Curgenven, Mr., private merchant, + sails for China on the _Charlotte_; + captured by Angria's fleet; + a prisoner for ten years. + +D + +Dabul, the _Ockham_ attacked off, + by Angrian pirates; + the Mahrattas offer James a reward to attack. +_Dadaboy_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Dalrymple, Mr., killed in a duel with Mr. Sutherland. +Danes, the, their supposed piratical outrages; + implicated in the capture of Abdul Guffoor's ship. +_Dartmouth_, the, East Indiaman, + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Darya--S ranga. + _See_ ANGRIA, CONAJEE. +Davis, Thomas, besieged in Anjengo; + dies at Anjengo. +Deccanees, tin coins, value of. +_Defence_, the (formerly the _Mocha_ frigate, _q.v._), becomes a pirate; + renamed the _Resolution_. +_Defiance_ grab, the, present at the attacks on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + engages the _Victory_, pirate ship. +_Defiance_, the, frigate, attacked by Angria's ships. +_Derby_, the, Company's ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Deoghur (or Tamana), granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Angria's southernmost stronghold; + attack on, abandoned. +_Derby_, the, East Indiaman, taken by Sumbhajee Angria's ships. +Desforges, M., Governor of Bourbon. +Diego Suarez, pirate settlement of Libertatia at. +_Doddington_, the, East Indiaman, wrecked. +_Dorrill_, the, Company's ship, attacked by the _Resolution_. +_Dove_ the, Company's grab, captured by Mahratta fleet. +Downing, Clement, takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Dutch, the, torture and execute Captain Towerson; + obstruct the English at Surat; + protect pirates at the Cape; + entertain England and Taylor at Cochin; + unite with the English against Coolee rovers; + their disastrous engagement with Toolajee Angria; + their hostility to the English at Anjengo; + their investments in Chinganatta. +Dwarka, pirates at. + +E + +_Eagle_ galley, the, attacked by Angria's grabs; + takes refuge in Saragon harbour. +Easthope, Captain Jeremiah, dies of fever, before Gheriah. +East India Company, the, their servants at Surat imprisoned; + bring an action against Bonnell and Kynaston; + grant commissions to seize interlopers and pirates; + offer a reward for Every's apprehension; + untrustworthiness of their crews; + petition the Admiralty for a ship to deal with pirates; + their trade in India ruined by pirates; + character and pay of their servants; + incompetence of their military; + send out a guardship to Bombay; + their action with regard to Matthews; + build the _Guardian_ and _Protector_ for protection of coast trade; + complicated accounts of; + in India; + state kept up by their servants at Bombay; + their remarks on the treaty with the Rani of Attinga; + file a suit against Mrs. Gyfford. +_East India Merchant_, the, Company's ship. +Edawa. +Eden,--, Governor of North Carolina, suspected of complicity with Teach. +_Edgar_, the, Every serves in. +Edgecombe, Captain, commander of the _Mocha_ frigate; + his crew mutiny; + stabbed. +Egmont, Earl of, his estimation of the Company's military officers. +Elephanta, island, Portuguese village on, burned; + Mannajee Angria hoists his flag on. +_Elizabeth_, the, private ship, plundered by the Sunda Rajah; + taken by pirates off Honore. +England, Edward, pirate; + his headquarters, Madagascar; + commands the _Victory_; + his engagement with the _Cassandra_; + entertains Macrae on board the _Cassandra_; + engages Brown's fleet and chases it to Goa; + entertained at Cochin by the Dutch; + his crew incensed against Macrae; + marooned at Mauritius; + goes to St. Mary's. +English, the, in ill-odour at Surat; + blamed for piracy of other nations. + suffer for Every's seizure of the _Gunj Suwaie_. +Ericeira, Conde de, ex-Viceroy of Goa, his ship boarded by pirates; + forced to ransom himself. +Every, Henry, _alias_ Bridgman, his career as a pirate; + parentage of; + seizes the _Charles the Second_ and renames her; + his piratical outrages on the Guinea Coast; + his friendly warning to the English; + establishes himself at Madagascar; + takes the _Futteh Mahmood_; + takes the _Gunj Suwaie_; + his reported abduction of Aurungzeeb's granddaughter; + captures the _Rampura_; + retires to England; + reward for his apprehension offered; + his reported flight, to Ireland, and death in Devonshire; + compared with Kidd. +Every, John. + _See_ EVERY, HENRY. +Execution Dock, Kidd hanged at; +_Exeter_, the, King's ship, + sent out against pirates; + dismasted; + her captains; + takes part in the expedition against the Portuguese; + goes to the defence of Carwar. + +F + +Fake, Corporal, mutinies, and is shot. +_Fame_, the, Company's armed ship; + built at Surat by Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +_Fancy_, the pirate ship, + commanded by Taylor; + her engagement with the _Cassandra_; + given to Macrae. +_Fancy_, the (formerly the _Charles the Second, q.v.)_, pirate ship; + commanded by Every; + takes the _Futteh Mahmood_; + takes the _Gunj Suwaie_. +Farrell, Captain, pirate. +Fleetwood, Miles, succeeds Mence as chief at Carwar. +_Flying Dragon_, the, pirate ship. +Forbes, Lieutenant, communicates with the besieged in Carwar factory; + holds Gheriah after its capture. +_Fort St. George_, the, galley, engages Portuguese grabs. +Foulis, Captain, commander of the _Anson_; + his bravery against the French. +French, the, at Surat; + their men-of-war menace the Company's ships; + their defeat in the Carnatic; + take the _New George_; + East Indiaman. +_Futteh Dowlet_ grab, the; + sent by Bombay Council to assist Mannajee Angria; + taken by Toolajee Angria. +Futteh Droog, Angrian fort, bombarded by James. +Futtehghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. +_Futteh Mahmood_, the, taken by Every. + +G + +Gallivats, large rowing boats. +Gayer, Sir John, President of Surat, receives news of Every; + delivers French pirates to the Governor of Surat; + offers to convoy the Red Sea fleet; + harassed by untrustworthiness of English crews; + disclaims responsibility with regard to the _Quedah Merchant_; + hands over to the Portuguese their ship taken by pirates; + Harland and Richards quarrel with; + compared with Governor Boone; + killed in action on the _New George_; + annuls a marriage. +Gheriah or Viziadroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + account of attack on; + Angria's fleet from; + menaces Bombay; + second expedition against; + its fate settled; + attacked by a Dutch squadron; + capture of; + attacked by allied forces; + reported impregnability of; + blockaded by James; + division of spoil taken at; + European slaves at; + surrendered to the Mahrattas. +Gilliam, James, pirate, + seized and imprisoned at Mungrole; + sent to Aurungzeeb's camp. +Goa, proclamation issued from, to the Portuguese at Bombay; + Viceroys of. +_Godolphin_, the, attacked by Angria's ships_; + wrecked outside Bombay. +Gordon, Captain, takes reinforcements to Carwar; + is wounded; + his fruitless action at Gheriah. +Goring, Mr., his visit to Oarwar, + dies at sea. +Gova, fort, bombarded by James; + governor of; + escapes to Severndroog. +Grabs, two-masted ships, description of. +_Grantham_, the, East Indiaman, + attacked by Angria's ships; + placed under Matthews' orders against pirates. +Grantham, Sir Thomas; + Keigwin surrenders Bombay to. +Green,--, pirate, takes the _Speedy Return_; + hanged. +_Greenwich_, the, Company's ship, leaves the _Cassandra_ + in her contest with pirates; + sent in search of pirates. +_Guardian_, sloop, the, man-of-war, built to protect the Malabar coast; + commanded by James; + takes part in the combined attack on Gheriah. +Giuliam,--, pirate, hanged; +_Gunj Suwaie_ (Exceeding Treasure), the; + taken by Every. +Guzerat, coast of; + infested by Coolee rovers. +Gyfford, Captain, commander of the _Sidney_; + distrusts Kidd. +Gyfford; Catherine _(née_ Cooke), + a third of Harvey's estate paid to; + her third husband killed at Anjengo; + escapes from Anjengo; + carries off factory records from Anjengo; + appoints Lapthorne her agent; + lands at Madras; + goes to Calcutta; + declines to satisfy claims against her husband; + Matthews espouses her quarrel with the Bengal Council; + is carried off to Bombay by Matthews; + attempts to secure her effects at Anjengo; + is brought to England by Matthews; + petitions the Directors for redress; + files a suit against the Company; + quarrels with Lapthorne. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; COOKE, CATHERINE; + HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Gyfford, William, factor at Bombay, + marries Catherine Chown; + appointed supercargo of the _Catherine_; + chief of Anjengo factory; + his dishonesty; + insults Mahommedan traders; + his private trade; + goes to Attinga with presents for the Rani; + is inveigled into an ambush and tortured to death; + his estate a debtor to the Company. + +H + +_Halifax_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Angrian pirates. +_Halifax_, the, country ship, sent to assist Mannajee Angria. +Halsey,--, pirate. +Hamilton, Alexander, his defence of Littleton; + his account of the engagement + between the _Phoenix_ and a Sanganian pirate; + commands the _Morning Star_; + is attacked by pirates; + made commander-in-chief of the Company's frigates; + sent to relieve Carwar factory; + resigns his post as commander-in-chief; + brings charges against Taylor; + his account of Carwar. +Hand, John, master of the _Bristol_, interloper. +Hands, Israel, wounded by Teach. +Harland, Captain, quarrels with Sir John Gayer; + succeeds Richards as commander of the + _Severn_ and the _Scarborough_. +_Harrington_, the, Company's ship, engages pirate ships. +Harris, President at Surat, declines to interfere + to procure Gilliam's release. +Harvey, Catherine _(née_ Cooke), + goes to Bombay; + returns to Carwar; + asserts her claim, to Harvey's estate; + marries Thomas Chown; + sails for Bombay. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; + COOKE, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE. +Harvey, John, chief of Carwar factory, + demands the surrender of Parker by Kidd; + entertains Captain Hudson; + marries Catherine Cooke; + his deformity; + resigns the Company's service; + goes to Bombay to wind up his affairs; + returns to Carwar; + dies. +_Harwich_, the, man-of-war, under Warren, + attacked by a pirate vessel. +_Hastings_, the, man-of-war, under Warren, +Hewitt, Lieutenant, sent to reconnoitre at Gheriah. +Hill, Serjeant, wounded in the attack on Carwar. +Himmutghur, to be made over to the English. +Honore, seizure of a pirate ship at; + pirates provision their ships at; + attacked by Arab pirates; + sacked by Toolajee Angria, +Houblon, Sir James, his ships hired by the Spanish Government. +Hough, Commodore, drives Angrian grabs to Severndroog; + his ability, + present at the attack on Gheriah. +Hudson, Captain, commands the _Loyall Bliss_. +_Hunter_, the, reinforces the _Revenge_; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + attacked by Angria's grabs. + +I + +Ibrahim Khan, captain of the _Gunj Suwaie_, cowardice of. +Ince, Samuel, gunner, defends Anjengo; + is reinforced from Cochin; + his bravery. +Inchbird, Captain, sent on a mission to Mannajee Angria; + seizes Mannajee Angria's gallivats; + commands ships sent to the relief of Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +_Indien_, the, French ship, captured by Commodore James. +Interlopers, unlicensed merchant adventurers. +Ireland, John, pirate, commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Itimad Khan, Governor of Surat, protects the English; + character of. + +J + +_James_, the, one of Houblon's squadron; + her men join the mutineers on the _Charles the Second_. +James, Commodore William, commands the _Guardian_; + commands a squadron against Gheriah; + his early life; + his capacity; + captures the _Indien_; + his success at Severndroog; + director of the East India Company, baronet, and member of Parliament, + sent to Madras. +Jenkins, Captain of the _Harrington_, + his conflict with Angrian pirates; + his courage commended. +Jinjeera, the Seedee of, complains of English outrages. +Jobson, Captain, commander of the _Ockham_, beats off Angrian pirates. +Johnson, Sir Robert, captain of the _Exeter_, Matthews quarrels with; + perishes at sea; + Matthews answerable for the death of. +Jolly Roger, the, hoisted by mutinous ships. +José, Francisco de Sampaio e Castro, Viceroy of Goa; + unites with Boone in the expedition against Colaba; + treatment of, by Matthews; + comes to terms with the Council at Bombay. +_Josiah_ ketch, the, taken by her crew; + recaptured by Cruffe and carried to Acheen; + attacked by the Sanganians. +Junaghur, imprisonment of Gilliam and his followers at. +_Jupiter_, the, French ship, taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Jyeghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + the Mahrattas to attack. + +K + +Kanak Droog, Angrian fort, bombarded by James. +Keigwin, Captain Richard, sent to Bombay; + his troop disbanded; + again sent out to Bombay; + distrusts the Company; + takes possession of Bombay; + his good government, and popularity; + surrenders Bombay to Sir Thomas Grantham; + his death at St. Christopher's; + fights the Mahratta fleet in the _Revenge_. +Kempsant, the, the Sawunt Waree chief at Vingorla; + quarrels with Angria; + proposes an alliance with the English; + his attitude at the attack on Deoghur. +Kennery, occupied by Sivajee; + blockaded by the Company's ships; + seized and fortified by Conajee Angria; + granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + the Seedee and Mahrattas struggle for the possession of; + reinforced and provisioned by Angria; + Boone commands an expedition against; + failure of attack on. +_Kent_ the, East Indiaman, sent in search of Danish pirates; + commanded by Matthews in the action off Cape Passaro. +Kidd, William, account of his career; + commands the _Adventure_ galley; + commissions granted to, against pirates; + excites Warren's suspicion; + his piratical intentions discussed; + attacks the Mocha fleet; + takes the _Mary_ brigantine; + his cruelty to the natives of the Laccadives; + chases the _Sedgwick_; + captures the _Quedah Merchant_; + attitude of the English Government towards; + fraternizes with Culliford; + abandons the _Adventure_; + sails to Boston on the _Quedah Merchant_; + hides his plunder; + arrested by Lord Bellamont; + tried at the Old Bailey; + found guilty on several charges; + hanged; + a contemptible character. +Kidd's Island, why so named. +_King George_, the, Company's ship, captures an Angrian grab; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Kingsfisher_, the, sloop, blockades Gheriah. +Kirby, Captain, commander of the _Greenwich_; + his cowardice. +Koolta, fort, ceded to the Peishwa. +Kyffin, John, second at Anjengo, intrigues against Cowse; + chief at Anjengo; + his disloyalty to the Company; + dismissed the Company's service. +Kynaston and Bonnell, partners of Porter. + +L + +La Buze, Oliver (La Bouche, Levasseur), French pirate, loses his ship + off Mayotta; + made commander of the _Victory_; + tradition of his life at Bourbon, and his end; + at Madagascar; + escapes Matthews' squadron. +Lari, the (coin), value of. +Lavender, Captain, commander of the _Thomas_, perishes with his ship. +Langworth, Commodore, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +Lapthorne, Lieutenant Peter, besieged in Anjengo; + agent for Mrs. Gyfford's affairs; + his drunkenness and dishonesty; + sent under arrest; to Bombay. +Latenby, Richard, carpenter's mate of the _Cassandra_, + his account of his enforced cruise with the pirates. +Leake, Captain Thomas, succeeds Hough as Commodore of the _Restoration_; + his ship taken by Toolajee Angria; + his incapacity punished. +Lembourg, Mr., his visit to Carwar. +Levasseur (La Bouche), Oliver. + _See_ LA BUZE, OLIVER. +Libertatia, model pirate settlement; + history of. +_Lime_, the, man-of-war, sent in search of Teach. +Lisle, Commodore, his squadron protects Bombay coast trade; +Littleton, Commodore, succeeds Warren; + suspected of dealings with the pirates; + Hamilton's defence of; + quarrels with Sir Nicholas Waite; + effect of the presence of his squadron. +_Lizard_, the, man-of-war, under Warren. +Loader, Captain, of the _Revenge_, + burns a village in Elephanta. +_London_, the, seized by Muscat Arabs; + her crew forced to fight with the Portuguese; + acts as flagship in the attack on Gheriah; + fired on by the _Victory_; + pirate ship; + her crew break into the Lazaretto at Goa; + Boone sails for England in. +Lowth, Captain, of the _Loyal Merchant_; + seizes the _Margaret_; + prevented by the Dutch from seizing the _Vine_. +_Loyall Bliss_, the, East Indiaman, + her voyage to Bengal; + puts in at Carwar. +_Loyal Merchant_, the, takes the _Margaret_, a pirate ship. +Loyd, Solomon, his marriage annulled. +_Lyon_, the, King's ship, sent out against pirates; + taken by Matthews to Bengal; + Mrs. Gyfford sails to England on; + put out of commission. + +M + +Mace, William. + _See_ MAZE, WILLIAM. +Mackintosh, Lieutenant, goes to Colaba with articles of + treaty with Angria. +Macrae, Captain James, Commander of the _Cassandra_; + his ship attacked and taken by pirates off Madagascar; + escapes with his crew; + communicates with the pirates; + the _Fancy_ given to; + serves under Brown in the expedition in search of pirates; + chases the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_; + his parentage and character; + becomes Governor of Fort St. George. +Madagascar, a pirate resort. +Madras, capture of, by La Bourdonnais. +_Madras Merchant_, the, Company's ship, joins the _Sidney_ at Johanna. +Mahim, freedom of trade at, claimed by the Portuguese; + raided. +Mahomed Ali, his power re-established by the English. +Mahrattas, the, their fleet repulsed by Minchin and Keigwin; + rise of the power of; + besiege Bassein; + attack Sumbhajee Angria's camp; + seize a flotilla bound for Calcutta; + their respect for English arms; + articles of agreement between the English and; + their inefficiency as allies; + treat with Toolajee Angria; + encamp against Grheriah; + dispute with the English as to Toolajee Angria; + Gheriah delivered over to. +Maine, Captain Covil, of the _Shoreham_ brings charges against Matthews. +Malheiros, Ignatio, Portuguese interpreter at Anjengo; + insults Mahommedan traders; + seized by Attinga natives and tortured to death. +Malwans, the, pirates, attack English ships. +Mangalore, attacked by Arab pirates; + sacked by Toolajee Angria. +Manikdroog, granted to Conajee Angria, by treaty. +Mannajee Angria. + _See_ ANGELA, MANNAJEE. +Manuel de Castro, Portuguese renegade, + appointed commodore of the Company's gallivats; + distrusted by English captains; + permits Angria's gallivats to reinforce Kennery; + treachery of, punished; + foments a mutiny at St. Helena; + returns to Angria. +_Margaret_, the, of New York, pirate ship, seized by Captain Lowth. +_Mary_ brigantine, the, taken by Kidd off Sanjan; + her master imprisoned on the _Adventure_. +Matthews, Commodore Thomas, sent with a squadron + against Madagascar pirates; + his character; + suspected of complicity with pirates; + his quarrels in India; + takes part in the expedition against Angria; + his conduct at Alibagh; + his private trade; + his disloyalty to the Company; + espouses Mrs. Gyfford's cause; + effect of his squadron on Madagascar pirates; + the Directors bring an action against; + tried by court-martial for irregularities; + appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. +May, Captain, commander of a pirate ship, taken by Every,. +Maynard, Lieutenant of the _Pearl_, + commands sloops sent in search of Teach; + engages, and kills Teach. +Maze (or Mace), William, pirate, + commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Mecca, pilgrims from, taken in the _Gunj Suwaie_; + pilgrims to, protected by the Dutch. +Mence, Robert, succeeds Harvey as chief at Oarwar; + embezzles the Company's money; + dies at Oarwar. +Midford, Mr., factor, commands the land force sent to relieve Carwar; + commands Company's troops; + keeps back soldiers' pay; + his incapacity; + sent to the relief of Anjengo; + his punitive expeditions in Attinga; + becomes chief at Anjengo; + his dishonesty; + death of. +Minchin, Commodore, repels Mahratta ships. +Minims, John, appointed engineer for the attack on Gheriah. +Misson, French pirate, establishes the settlement of Libertatia; +is drowned on the way to America. +Mitchell, Mr., fights a duel with Mr. Sutherland. +Mocha fleet, the, Kidd's attack on.; + waylaid by Arab pirates. +_Mocha_ frigate, the, crew of, mutiny off Acheen; + renamed the _Defence_; + renamed the _Resolution_. +_Montagu_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Toolajee Angria's fleet. +Moore,----, gunner of the _Adventure_, murdered by Kidd. +_Morning Star_, the, private ship, commanded by Alexander Hamilton; + her encounter with pirates; + hired by the Council at Bombay; + sent to relieve Carwar. +_Morrice_, the, East Indiaman, takes part in the attack on Kennery; + in danger from Angria's fleet. +Mungrole, seizure of Gilliam at. +Muscat, Arabs of, seize the _London_ to avenge their losses. + +N + +Negotna, river, blockaded by English ships. +_Neptune's Prize_, the, bombketch, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +_New George_, the, East Indiaman, taken by the French. +North, ----, pirate, commands the _Pelican_; + recants his submission to Warren; + is killed by natives of St. Mary's. +_Nostra Senhora de Cabo_, the, Portuguese ship; + taken by the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_. +Nunn, Captain Radford, sent against the Coolee rovers. + +O + +_Ockham_, the, East Indiaman, + fierce engagement between Angrian pirates and. +Ogle, Captain Challoner, sent in pursuit of Roberts; + engages the _Ranger_ and _Royal Fortune_; + knighted for bravery against pirates. +Oochitghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. +Orford, Lord, head of the Admiralty, refuses a ship to repress pirates; + supports syndicate to send out a privateer against French commerce; + secretly interested in Kidd's mission; + impeachment against, prepared. +Orme, Alexander, becomes chief at Anjengo; + reports defalcations in accounts at Anjengo; + provisions in his treaty with the Rani. +Ostend ships. +Ostenders, the, Kyffin's dealings with; + peremptory orders regarding. +_Otter_, the, Bengal ship, taken by Angria's forces. + +P + +Parker, Lieutenant, deprived of his commission. +Parker, Mr., member of the Bombay Council, intrigues against Boone. +Parker, Thomas, master of the _Mary_, his ship captured by Kidd; + imprisoned on the _Adventure_. +Passmore, Sergeant, punished for cowardice. +_Pearl_, the, man-of-war, sent in search of Teach. +Peishwa, the, defeated by Conajee Angria's forces; + makes terms with Conajee Angria; + assists Mannajee Angria; + Angrian forts ceded to; + shakes off his allegiance to Satara; + concludes a treaty with Bombay; + death of; + Chaul resigned to the new, by the Portuguese; + his agents mutilated by Toolajee Angria; + invokes assistance of Bombay against Angria; + his friendly relations with Bombay; + his fleet takes part in the attack on Severndroog; + his troops take part in the attack on Gheriah. +_Pelham_, the, employed in the attack on Gheriah. +_Pelican_, the, pirate ship, gets provisions at Honore. +Perim, its value as a trading port. +Permission ships, imitate pirates. +Persian Gulf, piratical outrages in the. +Phipps, William, succeeds Boone as Governor of Bombay; + remonstrates against Matthews; + levies customs duties at Mahim; +_Phoenix_, the, man-of-war, goes in search of Danish pirates; + attacked by Sanganian pirates. +_Phram_, the, floating battery, designed by Boone; + employed against Gheriah; + her uselessness; + casualties on; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + her ultimate fate. +_Pilot_ sloop, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Pirates, earliest mention of, in India; + their efficiency as seamen; + extent of their raids from Madagascar; + in India, whence recruited; + their treatment of English prisoners; + their cruelty to native merchants; + commissions issued to Kidd for capture of; + Warren sent with a squadron against; + Royal Squadron sent from Europe to extirpate; + pardon offered to, for voluntary surrender of; + acts passed for repression of; + rewards for capture of; + execution of; + Matthews sent against; + cessation of danger from. +Pitts, Lieutenant, commander of the _Josiah_, perishes with his ship. +Plantain, John, ex-pirate, entertains Matthews. +Pocock, Hear-Admiral, his share in the spoil of Gheriah. +Poola Cadamon Pillay, blamed for the massacre at Anjengo. +Poolas, the, their intrigues in Attinga. +Poola Venjamutta, usurps power in Attinga; + intrigues with Kyffin; + treats with Walter Brown; + plays a double part; + sends food to the besieged at Anjengo; + friendly to the English. +Port Dauphin, a pirate settlement. +Porter, Endymion, licensed with Bonnell + and Kynaston to prey on ships of non-friendly nations; + his association with Sir William Courten. +Portuguese, the, the crew of the _London_ compelled to attack; + their 'armado' captured by Angria; + refuse to allow Sivajee to land at Thana; + friction with, at Bombay; + their co-operation secured against Angria; + attacked at Alibagh by Sahoojee's forces; + ill-feeling between the English and; + Angria opens negotiations with; + their General of the North insulted by Matthews; + two of their grabs captured by English galleys; + come to terms with the Council at Bombay; + espouse the cause of Mannajee Angria; + ally themselves with Sumbhajee Angria; + expelled from Salsette by the Mahrattas; + effect of their intervention in Angrian quarrels; + besieged at Bassein; + Caranjah taken from, by Mannajee Angria; + drive Sumbhajee Angria from Chaul; + resign Chaul to the Peishwa; + employed as interpreters. +_President_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Muscat Arabs. +_Prince_, the, Bombay sloop, takes a Muscat ship. +_Princess Augusta_, the, captured by Toolajee Angria; + redeemed. +_Princess Caroline_, the, Company's ship, sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Protector_, the, sloop, man-of-war, + built to protect the Malabar coast from Angrian pirates; + commanded by _James_; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog; + sent to Madras; + returns to Bombay; + takes part in the combined attack on Gheriah. +Proud, John, master of the _Swan_, attacks the _Roebuck_. +Providence Island, a pirate resort. +_Pulteney_, the Company's ship, + attacked by Angrian pirates; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. + +Q + +Quail, Captain, + commands the _Seahorse_. +_Quedah Merchant_, the, + country ship, captured by Kidd. +_Queen_, the, East Indiaman. +Quemar Santo, the saint burner. + _See_ KEMPSANT. +Quilon, the Rajah of, + succours the Anjengo garrison; + plundered goods from Anjengo sent to. + +R + +Rajmachee, fort, + ceded to the Peishwa. +Ramajee Punt, Sirsoobah of the Concan; + concerts measures against Toolajee Angria; + assists in the attack on Severndroog; + urges the English to complete Angria's destruction; + treats with Toolajee Angria; + promises to surrender Toolajee Angria; + his ill-faith with the English; + demands surrender of Gheriah to the Mahrattas. +_Rampura_, the, + captured by Every. +Ramus, Cape, + engagement between the English and Portuguese off. +_Ranger_, the, + pirate ship, taken by Ogle. +Red Sea, the, + a favourite resort of pirates. +_Resolution_, the, + (_alias_ the _Mocha_ and the _Defence, q.v._), + pirate ship commanded by Culliford; + attacks the _Dorrill_; + at Honore; + at Madagascar. +_Resolution_, the, + Company's ship, sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Resolution_, the, + King's ship, Every serves in. +_Restoration_, the, + sent against Angrian grabs; + taken by Toolajee Angria; + is opposed to the English at Gheriah. +Returah. + _See_ VITTOOR. +_Revenge_, the, + Company's grab, built at Bombay, by Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + sent to blockade Kennery; + engaged by the Mahratta fleet; + takes part in the attacks on Gheriah; + engages the _Victory_, pirate ship; + sent in search of pirates; + accompanies Boone in the _London_; + attacks Angria's grabs; + goes to the relief of Calcutta. +Reynolds, Mr., protests against Conajee Angria's actions. +Richards, Commodore, quarrels with Sir John Gayer; + commands the _Severn_ and _Scarborough_; + dies at Johanna. +_Robert_ galley, the, sent to assist Mannajee Angria. +Roberts, Bartholomew, pirate, scours the American coast; + his cruelty and strict rule; + Captain Ogle sent in search of; + slain on the _Royal Fortune_. +Rodriguez, a Portuguese, plunders the Company's warehouse at Anjengo. +_Roebuck_, the, fitted out by Porter, Bonnell, and Kynaston. +Rogers, Captain Woodes, + his description of the pirate settlers at Madagascar; + governor of the Bahamas. +_Rose_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Royal Fortune_, the, pirate ship, taken by Ogle. +_Ruby_, the, King's ship, placed under Lisle's command; + her convoy attacked by Angrian vessels. +_Ruby_ frigate, the, long-boat of, stolen by John Steel. +Russell, Gideon, mate of the _Morrice_, + leads volunteers in the attack on Kennery; + is wounded and dies. +Rustumjee Nowrojee, son of Bomanjee, taken to England by Matthews. +Rutnaghiri, Angrian stronghold, attacked by the Mahrattas. + +S + +Sacrifice Island, why so called. +Sagurgurh, taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Sahoojee, Sivajee's grandson, dissensions in his kingdom; + called the Sow Rajah by the English; + treats with Boone in Angria's behalf; + sends a force to Alibagh to assist Angria. +St. Augustine's, a pirate settlement. +_St. George_, the, sent out by the Company as a guard ship; + wrecked. +St. Mary's Island, a pirate settlement. +Sakhajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, SAKHAJEE. +_Salamander_, the, Bombay ketch, captured by Sumbhajee Angria; + rescued by Mannajee Angria. +_Salamander_, the, trading grab, leased to the Company by Harvey. +_Salisbury_, the, King's ship, sent + out under Matthews against pirates. +Selsette, attacked and plundered by Muscat Arabs; + the English renounce all claim on; + the Portuguese expelled from. +_Samaritan_, the, fitted out by Porter, Bonnell, and Kynaston, + wrecked. +_Sandwich_, the, Matthews court-martialled on. +Sanganiana, the, pirates, attack the _Josiah_; + attack the _Phoenix_; + reduced to order. +Satara, Sahoojee proclaimed at; + Conajee Angria's relations with; + the Rajah of, treats with Keigwin. +Sawbridge, Captain, seized by pirates. +_Scarborough_, the, man-of-war; + beaten off by Teach. +_Sceptre_, the, sent as a convoy for the Mocha fleet. +Scott, Lieutenant Colonel, the Company's chief engineer at Madras. +_Seahorse_, the, sent to the Red Sea. +_Sedgwick_, the, captured off Cape Comorin. +Seedee, the, ordered to march on Bombay and imprison the English; + plunders towns on the Malabar coast; + Conajee Angria makes war on; + sends a deputation to Keigwin; + offers to co-operate with the English; + loses territory; + captures Thull; + his kindness to English prisoners. +_Severn_, the, Bengal freight ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Severn_, the, man-of-war, effects nothing against the pirates. +Severndroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Sumbhajee Angria's headquarters; + attacked and taken by the English and Mahrattas, under James. +Severndroog, tower of, why erected. +Sewell, Robert, Gyfford's letter to; + storekeeper at Anjengo; + his drunkenness and dishonesty; + sent, under arrest, to Bombay. +Shaxton, Captain, commands the Company's military at Bombay; + tried for complicity with mutineers. +_Shoreham_, the, King's ship, sent out under Matthews against pirates. +_Sidney_, the, Company's ship, threatened by Kidd. +Sivajee, his fleet harries the Concan coast; + his agreement with the English; + occupies and fortifies Kennery; + plans an attack on Bombay; + concludes peace with the English. +Smith, Bombardier, sent to assist + Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +Smith, Captain, succeeds Gordon as commander + of the force sent to relieve Carwar; + his cowardice. +_Soldado_, the, or _Algerine_, the, pirate ship, commanded by Chivers. +_Somers_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Angria's ships. +Somers, Lord, secretly interested in Kidd's mission; + impeachment against, prepared. +_Speedy Return_, the, pirate ship, commanded by Bowen. +_Stanhope_, the, East Indiaman; + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Stanton, Major, commands sepoys sent to attack Vingorla; + quarrels with Weekes; + commands the land force sent to relieve Carwar; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + commands the landing party against Gheriah; + commands the expedition against the Portuguese. +Steel, John, deserts the Company's service and turns pirate; + arrest and release of. +Steele, John, Carpenter's mate of the _Morrice_, + his prowess before Kennery. +Stepney, Lieut, on the _Salisbury_, fights a duel with Lieut. Berkeley. +Stout, ----, mutineer, commands the _Defence_; + accounts of his end. +Strutt, Mr., private merchant, owner of the _Elizabeth_. +_Success_, the, East Indiaman, taken by Angria's fleet; + indemnity for. +Sultanpore, headquarters of the Coolee rovers. +Sumbhajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, SUMBHAJEE. +Sunda Rajah, the, refuses dealings with Kidd; + attacks English ships; + seizes the _Elizabeth_; + besieges Carwar factory; + comes to terms with the English; + cruelty of. +Surat, the Company's servants at, imprisoned; + populace of, influenced against the English; + trade at, crippled, owing to piracy; + fourteen lakhs of rupees demanded from Europeans at; + Europeans at, combine to suppress piracy; + disorders at. +Surey, Portuguese battery at, captured by Stanton. +Surkheil, title given to Conajee Angria. +Sutherland, Mr., fights duels with Mitchell and Dalrymple; + sentenced to death; + pardoned. +_Swallow_, the, King's ship, commanded by Captain Ogle; + engages pirate ships; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +_Swallow_, the, sloop, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Swan_, the, encounters the _Roebuck_. +_Syren_, the, protects the Bombay coast trade; + her convoy attacked by Angrian vessels. + +T + +Tamana. + _See_ DEOGHUR. +_Tankerville_, the, Company's ship, sails with the _Royall Bliss_. +_Tartar_, the, King's ship, protects the Bombay coast trade; + her convoy chased by Angrian vessels. +Taylor, ----, pirate, his headquarters at Madagascar; + commands the _Fancy_; + engages the _Cassandra_; + prevented from murdering Macrae; + resigns the _Fancy_ to Macrae; + commands the _Cassandra_; + takes the _Nostra Senhorade Calo_ and an Ostend ship; + negotiates for a pardon; + escapes Matthew's squadron; + surrenders to the Spaniards and obtains a commission. +Taylor, George, chief of the factory at Carwar; + charged with indiscretion by Hamilton; + cautioned by the Bombay Council. +Teach, Edward, pirate, _alias_ Blackbeard; + his fearlessness and cruelty; + reward offered for his capture; + killed in hand-to-hand encounter. +Tew (? Thomas Too), English pirate, allied with Misson; + escapes from Libertatia; + killed in action; + commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Thevenapatam, establishment of a factory at. +_Thomas_, the, attacked by four Beyt ships. +_Thomas_, the, brigantine, owned by Gyfford; + attached by the Bengal Council. +Thull, taken by Sumbhajee Angria; + captured by the Seedee. +Too, Thomas. + _See_ TEW, THOMAS. +Toolajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, TOOLAJEE. +Topasses, mutilated at Carwar; + nucleus of the Bombay Marine Battalion; + many, burned on the _Phram_ before Gheriah. +Towerson, Captain, torture and execution of. +_Trial_, the, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +_Triumph_, the, prahm sent to assist Mannajee Angria; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +Tuluday, Mr., soldier, killed on board the _Phram_. +_Tyger_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Tyrell, Captain, commander of the _Phoenix_; + sent in search of Danish pirates; + sinks a Sanganian pirate ship. + +U + +Upton, Captain, commander of the _London_; + his cowardice. +Utrecht, Peace of, effect of the, on piracy; + +V + +Van Broeck, his account of Every. +Vane, Major, chief engineer to the Company. +Venjamutta. + _See_ POOLA VENJAMUTTA. +Viceroys of Goa. + _See_ ERICEIRA; JOSÉ, FRANCISCO DE SAMPAIO. +_Victoria_, the, accompanies the _London_; + attacks Angria's grabs. +_Victory_, the, Company's armed ship, built by Boone's orders; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + sails in search of pirates; + comes to the relief of the crews of the _Bengal_ and _Bombay_ galleys; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Victory_, the, pirate ship, commanded by England; + engages the _Cassandra_; + mistaken for the Company's ship; + La Buze made commander of. +_Vigilant_, the, King's ship, protects the Bombay coast trade; + attacked by Angrian vessels. +Villanjuen (Brinjone), in Attinga, trading settlement at. +Vincente Sodre, an early pirate. +_Vine_ pink, the, pirate ship; + the Dutch prevent Captain Lowth from seizing. +Vingorla, pirates at. +_Viper_, the, bombketch, takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +Virginia, pirates off the coasts of; + governor of, sends ships in search of Teach. +Vittoor (Returah), in Attinga, trading settlement at. +Viziadroog. + _See_ GHERIAH. +_Vulture_, the, King's ship, under Warren. + +W + +Waite, Sir Nicholas, President of Surat; + compared with Governor Boone; + appointed Governor of Bombay. +Wake, Captain Thomas, commander of a pirate ship taken by Everyl + commission to Kidd, to apprehend. +Ward, Mr., Deputy Governor of Bombay, seized by Keigwin. +Warlee, fort at, destroyed by the Portuguese; + engagement with Angria's grabs off. +Warren, Commodore, commands a Royal squadron against the pirates; + suspects Kidd's intentions; + returns from his first cruise; + commands a squadron in 1699 to extirpate pirates; + reaches Tellicherry and dies. +_Warwick_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Toolajee Angria's fleet. +Watson, Admiral, + commands a squadron in the attack on Gheriah; + his generosity to Olive; + his reception of Toolajee's friends; + demands Toolajee Angria from the Mahrattas. +Watson, gunner's mate, sent to relieve Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +Weekes, Commodore, commands the + _Fame_ and the _Britannia_ against Vingorla; + quarrels with Stanton; + deposed. +West Indies, character of settlers. +_Weymouth_, the, King's ship, sent in pursuit of pirates. +White, ----, pirate, + his headquarters at Madagascar. +White, Captain, commander of the _Hastings_, arrested by Littleton. +_William_, the, Bombay ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Williams, ----, pirate. +_Windsor_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Wise, Lieutenant, directs the _Phram's_ guns; + drunkenness of. +Woodward, Captain, commands the landing-party at Gheriah; + commander of the _Revenge_; + his cowardice punished. +Wright, Captain, commands the _Caesar_, engages five pirate ships. +Wright, Captain of the _Quedan Merchant_. +Wyche, Mr., discharged the Company's service; + his escape connived at by Matthews. +Wyche, Mrs., taken to Surat by Matthews. + +X + +Xeraphims, value of. + +Y + +Yessajee Aligna + _See_ ANGRIA, YESSAJEE. +Yeswuntdroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirates of Malabar, and An +Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago, by John Biddulph + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF MALABAR *** + +***** This file should be named 11399-8.txt or 11399-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/3/9/11399/ + +Produced by Allen Siddle and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pirates of Malabar, and An Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago + +Author: John Biddulph + +Release Date: March 2, 2004 [EBook #11399] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF MALABAR *** + + + + +Produced by Allen Siddle and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE PIRATES OF MALABAR +AND +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO +HUNDRED YEARS AGO + + +[Illustration: MAHRATTA GRABS AND GALLIVATS ATTACKING AN ENGLISH SHIP.] + + +THE +PIRATES OF MALABAR +AND +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA +TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + +BY +COLONEL JOHN BIDDULPH + +1907 + + +PREFACE + +For most people, interest in the doings of our forefathers in India dates +from our wars with the French in the middle of the eighteenth century. +Before then their lives are generally supposed to have been spent in +monotonous trade dealings in pepper and calico, from which large profits +were earned for their masters in England, while their principal +excitements were derived from drinking and quarrelling among themselves. +Little account has been taken of the tremendous risks and difficulties +under which the trade was maintained, the losses that were suffered, and +the dangers that were run by the Company's servants from the moment they +left the English Channel. The privations and dangers of the voyage to +India were alone sufficient to deter all but the hardiest spirits, and +the debt we owe to those who, by painful effort, won a footing for our +Indian trade, is deserving of more recognition than it has received. +Scurvy, shortness of water, and mutinous crews were to be reckoned on in +every voyage; navigation was not a science but a matter of rule and thumb, +and shipwreck was frequent; while every coast was inhospitable. Thus, on +the 4th September, 1715, the _Nathaniel_, having sent a boat's crew on +shore near Aden, in search of water, the men allowed themselves to be +inveigled inland by treacherous natives, who fell upon them and murdered +twelve out of fourteen who had landed from the ship. Such an occurrence +now would be followed by a visit from a man-of-war to punish the +murderers. Two hundred years ago it was only an incident to set down in +the ship's log-book. But all such outrages and losses were small in +comparison with those to which traders were exposed at the hands of +pirates. + +It is difficult to realize, in these days, what a terrible scourge piracy +was to the Indian trade, two hundred years ago. From the moment of losing +sight of the Lizard till the day of casting anchor in the port of +destination an East India ship was never safe from attack, with the +chance of slavery or a cruel death to crew and passengers, in case of +capture. From Finisterre to Cape Verd the Moorish pirates made the seas +unsafe, sometimes venturing into the mouth of the Channel to make a +capture. Farther south, every watering-place on the African coast was +infested by the English and French pirates who had their headquarters in +the West Indies. From the Cape of Good Hope to the head of the Persian +Gulf, from Cape Comorin to Sumatra, every coast was beset by English, +French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Arab, Malay or other local pirates. In +the Bay of Bengal alone, piracy on a dangerous scale was practically +unknown. + +There was no peace on the ocean. The sea was a vast No Man's domain, +where every man might take his prey. Law and order stopped short at +low-water mark. The principle that traders might claim protection and +vengeance for their wrongs from their country, had not yet been +recognized, and they sailed the seas at their own risk. Before the close +of the seventeenth century the buccaneers had passed away, but their +depredations, in pursuit of what they called "free trade," were of a +different nature from those of the pirates who succeeded them. Buccaneer +exploits were confined to the Spanish main, where they ravaged and burnt +Spanish settlements on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, moving with large +forces by sea and land. According to Esquemeling, Morgan sailed on his +expedition against Panama with thirty-seven sail and two thousand +fighting men, besides mariners and boys. But the Spanish alone were the +objects of their attack. So long as Spain claimed a monopoly of South +American trade, it was the business of Spain alone to keep the marauders +away; other Governments were not disposed to assist her. Hardly had the +last of the buccaneers disappeared from the Western seas, when a more +lawless race of rovers appeared, extending their operations into the +Indian Ocean, acting generally in single ships, plundering vessels of +every nationality, though seldom attacking places on shore. + +Of these men, chiefly English, the most notorious were Teach, Every, Kidd, +Roberts, England, and Tew; but there were many others less known to fame, +who helped almost to extinguish trade between Europe, America, and the +East. Some idea of the enormous losses caused by them may be gathered +from the fact that Bartholomew Roberts alone was credited with the +destruction of four hundred trading vessels in three years. In a single +day he captured eleven vessels, English, French, and Portuguese, on the +African coast. + +War in Europe, and the financial exhaustion that ensued, rendered it +almost impossible for the maritime powers to put an effective check on +the pirates either in the East or the West. With peace their numbers +increased by the conversion of privateersmen into freebooters. Slaver, +privateers-man, and pirate were almost interchangeable terms. At a time +when every main road in England was beset by highwaymen, travellers by +sea were not likely to escape unmolested. But the chief cause of their +immunity lay in the fact that it was the business of nobody in particular +to act against them, while they were more or less made welcome in every +undefended port. They passed themselves off as merchantmen or slavers, +though their real character was well known, but they paid royally for +what they wanted; and, as gold, silver, and jewels were the principal +booty from which they made their 'dividend,' many a rich bale of spices +and merchandise went to purchase the good will of their friends on shore, +who, in return, supplied their wants, and gave them timely information of +rich prizes to be looked for, or armed ships to be avoided. They prided +themselves on being men of honour in the way of trade; enemies to deceit, +and only robbing in their own way. The Malabar coast was scandalized when +Kidd broke the rule, and tricked or bullied people out of supplies. +Officials high in authority winked at their doings from which they drew a +profit, and when armed squadrons were sent to look for them, the +commanders were not always averse to doing business with the freebooters. + +The greatest sufferers among European traders in India were the English; +for not only were the greater number of pirates of English blood, but +pirate captains of other nationalities often sailed under English colours. +The native officials, unable to distinguish the rogues from the honest +traders, held the East India Company's servants responsible for the +misdeeds of the piccaroons, from whom they suffered so grievously. Still, +whatever their nationality might chance to be, it is fair to say that the +generality of them were courageous rascals and splendid seamen, who, with +their large crews, handled their ships better than any merchantmen could +do. When a pirate ship was cast away on a desolate coast, they built +themselves another; the spirit of the sea was in their veins; whether +building and rigging a ship, or sailing and fighting her, they could do +everything that the most skilful seamen of the age could do. As was said +half a century later of La Bourdonnais, himself a true corsair in spirit, +their knowledge in mechanics rendered them capable of building a ship +from the keel; their skill in navigation, of conducting her to any part +of the globe; and their courage, of fighting against any equal force. +Their lives were a continual alternation between idleness and extreme +toil, riotous debauchery and great privation, prolonged monotony and days +of great excitement and adventure. At one moment they were revelling in +unlimited rum, and gambling for handfuls of gold and diamonds; at another, +half starving for food and reduced to a pint of water a day under a +tropical sun. Yet the attractions of the life were so great that men of +good position took to piracy. Thus, Major Stede Bonnet, of Barbados, +master of a plentiful fortune, and a gentleman of good reputation, fitted +out a sloop and went a-pirating, for which he was hanged, together with +twenty-two of his crew, in November, 1718. Even women, like Anne Bonny +and Mary Read, turned pirates and handled sword and pistol. Desperate, +reckless, and lawless, they were filled with the spirit of adventure, and +were the forerunners of the men that Hawke, Nelson, and Dundonald led to +victory. + +Long after they had disappeared from the seas the Indian trade continued +to be exposed to the ravages of native pirates, who were not finally +coerced into good behaviour till well into the nineteenth century. Of the +European pirates Kidd, the most ignoble of them all, is alone remembered, +while the name of Angria is only recalled in connection with the +destruction of Gheriah by Watson and Clive. The long half-century of +amateur warfare waged by Bombay against the Angrian power is dismissed in +a few words by our Indian historians, and the expeditions sent forth by +Boone against Angrian strongholds are passed over in silence. An account +of some of them is given in Clement Downing's curious little book "Indian +Wars," valuable as the relation of an eye-witness; but the work, +published in 1737, is inaccessible to the general reader, besides shewing +many omissions and inaccuracies. + +The early records of the East India Company have furnished the foundation +on which this neglected chapter of our Indian history has been compiled. +If the Company's servants appear at times in an unfavourable light, the +conditions of their service must be considered, while the low standard of +conduct prevailing in England two hundred years ago must not be forgotten. +They were traders, not administrators, and the charter under which the +Company traded was of very insecure duration. Twice the Crown broke faith +with them, and granted charters to rival associations. As the stability +of the Company became assured, the conduct of its servants improved. + +It is not intended in these pages to give an exhaustive account of all +the pirates who haunted the Indian seas, but to present some idea of the +perils that beset the Indian trade--perils that have so entirely passed +away that their existence is forgotten. + +Scattered among the monotonous records of the Company's trade are many +touches of human interest. Along with the details relating to sugar, +pepper, and shipping, personal matters affecting the Company's servants +are set down; treating of their quarrels, their debts, and, too often, of +their misconduct, as ordinary incidents in the general course of +administration. At times a bright light is turned on some individual, who +relapses into obscurity and is heard of no more, while the names of +others emerge again and again, like a coloured thread woven in the canvas; +showing how much romance there was in the lives of the early traders. One +such thread I have followed in the account of Mrs. Gyfford, from her +first arrival in India till her final disappearance in the Court of +Chancery, showing the vicissitudes and dangers to which an Englishwoman +in India was exposed two hundred years ago. + +To Mr. William Foster, of the India Office, I am especially indebted for +aid in directing my attention to old documents that would otherwise have +escaped notice, and who has generously placed at my disposal some of the +results of his own researches into the history of the Company in the +seventeenth century, as yet unpublished. + +My thanks are also due to Sir Ernest Robinson for permitting me to use +his picture of an engagement with Mahratta ships, as a frontispiece. + +J.B. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +RISE OF EUROPEAN PIRACY IN THE EAST + +Portuguese pirates--Vincente Sodre--Dutch pirates--Royal +filibustering--Endymion Porter's venture--The Courten Association--The +Indian Red Sea fleet--John Hand--Odium excited against the English in +Surat--The _Caesar_ attacked by French pirates--Danish depredations--West +Indian pirates--Ovington's narrative--Interlopers and permission +ships--Embargo placed on English trade--Rovers trapped at Mungrole--John +Steel--Every seizes the _Charles the Second_ and turns pirate--His letter +to English commanders--The Madagascar settlements--Libertatia--Fate of +Sawbridge--Capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_--Immense booty--Danger of the +English at Surat--Bombay threatened--Friendly behaviour of the Surat +Governor--Embargo on European trade--Every sails for America--His reputed +end--Great increase of piracy--Mutiny of the _Mocha_ and _Josiah_ +crews--Culliford in the _Resolution_--The _London_ seized by Imaum of +Muscat. + + +CHAPTER II + +CAPTAIN KIDD + +Measures to suppress piracy--The _Adventure_ fitted out--Warren's squadron +meets with Kidd--His suspicious behaviour--He threatens the +_Sidney_--Waylays the Red Sea fleet--Captures the _Mary_--Visits Carwar +and Calicut--His letter to the factory--Chased by Portuguese +men-of-war--Chases the _Sedgwick_--Chivers--Action between _Dorrill_ and +_Resolution_--Kidd captures the _Quedah Merchant_--Dilemma of European +traders at Surat--Their agreements with the authorities--Experience of +the _Benjamin_--News of Kidd's piracies reaches England--Despatch of +squadron under Warren--Littleton at Madagascar--Kidd sails for New +York--Arrested and tried--His defence and execution--Justice of his +sentence--His character--Diminution of piracy--Lowth in the _Loyal +Merchant_--Act for suppression of piracy--Captain Millar ... + + +CHAPTER III + +THE RISE OF CONAJEE ANGRIA + +Native piracy hereditary on the Malabar coast--Marco Polo's +account--Fryer's narrative--The Kempsant--Arab and Sanganian +pirates--Attack on the _President_--Loss of the _Josiah_--Attack on the +_Phoenix_--The _Thomas_ captured--Depredations of the Gulf +pirates--Directors' views--Conajee Angria--Attacks English +ships--Destroys the _Bombay_--Fortifies Kennery--Becomes +independent--Captures the Governor's yacht--Attacks the _Somers_ and +_Grantham_--Makes peace with Bombay--His navy--Great increase of +European and native piracy ... + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN ACTIVE GOVERNOR + +Arrival of Mr. Boone as Governor--He builds ships and improves defences of +Bombay--Desperate engagement of _Morning Star_ with Sanganians--Alexander +Hamilton--Expedition against Vingorla--Its failure--Hamilton made +Commodore--Expedition against Carwar--Landing force defeated--Successful +skirmish--Desertion of Goa recruits--Reinforcements--Landing force again +defeated--The Rajah makes peace--Hamilton resigns Commodoreship--A +noseless company--Angria recommences attacks--Abortive expedition against +Gheriah--Downing's account of it--Preparations to attack Kennery ... + + +CHAPTER V + +THE COMPANY'S SERVANTS + +The Company's civil servants--Their comparison with English who went to +America--Their miserable salaries--The Company's military +servants--Regarded with distrust--Shaxton's mutiny--Captain +Keigwin--Broken pledges and ill-treatment--Directors' vacillating +policy--Military grievances--Keigwin seizes the administration of +Bombay--His wise rule--Makes his submission to the Crown--Low status of +Company's military officers--Lord Egmont's speech--Factors and writers as +generals and colonels--Bad quality of the common soldiers--Their bad +treatment--Complaint against Midford--Directors' parsimony ... + + +CHAPTER VI + +EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY + +Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and +Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria occupies +Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de Castro--Futile +proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second landing--Manuel de Castro's +treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour of two captains--Defeat--Attack +abandoned--The _St. George_--The _Phram_--Manuel de Castro +punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria makes overtures for peace--Boone +outwitted ... + + +CHAPTER VII + +EXPEDITION AGAINST GHERIAH + +Trouble with the Portuguese--Madagascar pirates again--Loss of the +_Cassandra_--Captain Macrae's brave defence--The one-legged +pirate--Richard Lazenby--Expedition against Gheriah--Mr. Walter Brown--His +incompetency--Gordon's landing--Insubordination and drunkenness--Arrival +of the _Phram_--General attack--Failure--The Kempsant's alliance--Attack +on Deoghur--The Madagascar pirates, England and Taylor--Ignominious +flight--Fate of the _Phram_--Brown despatched south again--The pirates at +Cochin--They take flight to Madagascar--Their rage against Macrae and +England--England marooned--Taylor takes Goa ship--Rich prize--Governor +Macrae ... + + +CHAPTER VIII + +EXPEDITION AGAINST COLABA + +Measures taken in England against pirates--Woodes Rogers at the +Bahamas--Edward Teach--Challoner Ogle--Bartholomew Roberts +killed--Matthews sent to the East Indies--Naval officers' duels--Portuguese +alliance--Expedition against Colaba--Assault--Defeat--A split in the +alliance--Plot against Boone--His departure--Matthews' schemes--His +insulting behaviour--He quarrels with everybody--Goes to Madagascar--The +King of Ranter Bay--Matthews goes to Bengal ... + + +CHAPTER IX + +A TROUBLED YEAR IN BOMBAY + +Loss of the _Hunter_ galley--Quarrel with Portuguese--Alliance of +Portuguese with Angria--War with both--A double triumph--Portuguese make +peace--Angria cowed--Matthews reappears--Trouble caused by him--He +returns to England--Court-martialled--The last of Matthews ... + + +CHAPTER X + +TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF CONFLICT + +The case of Mr. Curgenven--Death of Conajee Angria--Quarrels of his +sons--Portuguese intervention--Sumbhajee Angria--Political +changes--Disaster to _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys--The _Ockham_ beats +off Angria's fleet--The Coolees--Loss of the _Derby_--Mahrattas expel +Portuguese from Salsette--Captain Inchbird--Mannajee Angria gives +trouble--Dutch squadron repulsed from Gheriah--Gallant action of the +_Harrington_--Sumbhajee attacks Colaba--English assist Mannajee--Loss +of the _Antelope_--Death of Sumbhajee Angria--Toolajee Angria--Capture +of the _Anson_--Toolajee takes the _Restoration_--Power of +Toolajee--Lisle's squadron--Building of the _Protector_ and +_Guardian_ ... + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE DOWNFALL OF ANGRIA + +Toolajee fights successful action with the Dutch--He tries to make peace +with Bombay--Alliance formed against him--Commodore William +James--Slackness of the Peishwa's fleet--Severndroog--James's gallant +attack--Fall of Severndroog--Council postpone attack on Gheriah--Clive +arrives from England--Projects of the Directors--Admiral +Watson--Preparations against Gheriah--The Council's instructions--Council +of war about prize-money--Double dealing of the Peishwa's +officers--Watson's hint--Ships engage Gheriah--Angrian fleet burnt--Fall +of Gheriah--Clive occupies the fort--The prize-money--Dispute between +Council and Poonah Durbar--Extinction of coast piracy--Severndroog +tower ... + + + + * * * * * + + + +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +MAHRATTA GRABS AND GALLIVATS ATTACKING AN ENGLISH SHIP. +MAP OF MALABAR COAST. + + + + * * * * * + + + +THE PIRATES OF MALABAR + + + +CHAPTER I + +_RISE OF EUROPEAN PIRACY IN THE EAST_ + +Portuguese pirates--Vincente Sodre--Dutch pirates--Royal +filibustering--Endymion Porter's venture--The Courten Association--The +Indian Red Sea fleet--John Hand--Odium excited against the English in +Surat--The _Caesar_ attacked by French pirates--Danish depredations--West +Indian pirates--Ovington's narrative--Interlopers and permission +ships--Embargo placed on English trade--Rovers trapped at Mungrole--John +Steel--Every seizes the _Charles the Second_ and turns pirate--His letter +to English commanders--The Madagascar settlements--Libertatia--Fate of +Sawbridge--Capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_--Immense booty--Danger of the +English at Surat--Bombay threatened--Friendly behaviour of the Surat +Governor--Embargo on European trade--Every sails for America--His reputed +end--Great increase of piracy--Mutiny of the _Mocha_ and _Josiah_ +crews--Culliford in the _Resolution_--The _London_ seized by Imaum of +Muscat. + + +From the first days of European enterprise in the East, the coasts of +India were regarded as a favourable field for filibusters, the earliest +we hear of being Vincente Sodre, a companion of Vasco da Gama in his +second voyage. Intercourse with heathens and idolaters was regulated +according to a different code of ethics from that applied to intercourse +with Christians. The authority of the Old Testament upheld slavery, and +Africans were regarded more as cattle than human beings; while Asiatics +were classed higher, but still as immeasurably inferior to Europeans. To +prey upon Mahommedan ships was simply to pursue in other waters the +chronic warfare carried on against Moors and Turks in the Mediterranean. +The same feelings that led the Spaniards to adopt the standard of the +Cross in their conquest of Mexico and Peru were present, though less +openly avowed, in the minds of the merchants and adventurers of all +classes and nationalities who flocked into the Indian seas in the +sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. With the decadence of buccaneering +and the growth of Indian trade, there was a corresponding increase of +piracy, and European traders ceased to enjoy immunity. + +In 1623 the depredations of the Dutch brought the English into disgrace. +Their warehouses at Surat were seized, and the president and factors were +placed in irons, in which condition they remained seven months. This +grievance was the greater, as it happened at the time that the cruel +torture and execution of Captain Towerson and his crew by the Dutch took +place at Amboyna. It was bad enough to be made responsible for the doings +of their own countrymen, but to be punished for the misdeeds of their +enemies was a bitter pill to swallow. In 1630, just as peace was being +concluded with France and Spain, Charles I., who was beginning his +experiment of absolute government, despatched the _Seahorse_, Captain +Quail, to the Red Sea to capture the ships and goods of Spanish subjects, +as well as of any other nations not in league and amity with England. +There were no Spaniards in the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean, but +international arrangements in Europe were not regarded when the equator +had been crossed. Quail captured a Malabar vessel, for which the Company's +servants at Surat were forced to pay full compensation. The _Seahorse_ +returned to England in 1633, but in view of the new field of enterprise +opened up, Endymion Porter, Gentleman of the King's bedchamber, embarked +on a piratical speculation, in partnership with two London merchants, +Bonnell and Kynaston, with a licence under the privy seal to visit any +part of the world and capture ships and goods of any state not in league +and amity with England. Two ships, the _Samaritan_ and _Roebuck_, were +fitted out with such secrecy that the East India Company were kept in +ignorance, and sailed in April, 1635, for the Red Sea, under Captain Cobb. + +The _Samaritan_ was wrecked in the Comoro Islands; but Cobb, continuing +his cruise with the _Roebuck_, captured two Mogul vessels at the mouth of +the Red Sea, from one of which he took a large sum of money and a +quantity of goods, though the vessel had a pass from the Surat factory. +Again the Company's servants at Surat were imprisoned, and not released +till they had paid full compensation. Some small satisfaction was +experienced when it became known that John Proud, master of the _Swan_, +one of the Company's ships, had encountered the _Roebuck_ in the Comoro +Islands, and had attacked the freebooter. He was unable to capture it, +but succeeded in procuring restitution of the captured goods; the +treasure, however, was carried off to London, where it must have seemed +as if the days of Drake and Hawkins had come again. + +The Company laid their grievance before the King, who expressed much +concern, promising to write to the Great Mogul and explain matters; so +the Company commenced an action against Bonnell and Kynaston in the +Admiralty Court. Porter was too highly placed to be struck at. Bonnell +evaded arrest and escaped to France, but Kynaston was arrested and lodged +in gaol; upon which Charles ordered his release on bail, saying he would +try the case himself at his leisure. + +But Porter's views went beyond a single piratical voyage. Hardly had Cobb +started on his cruise, when he entered into partnership with Sir William +Courten for an association to establish a separate trade to the East +Indies. A royal grant was obtained, and the King himself was credited +with a share to the nominal extent of L10,000. The grant was a flagrant +breach of faith, and was the inauguration of the system of interlopers +that in after years caused so much loss and trouble to the Company. Four +ships were equipped and sent out, and before long it became known that +two vessels from Surat and Diu had been plundered by Courten's ships, and +their crews tortured. Again the Company's servants at Surat were seized +and thrown into prison, where they were kept for two months, being only +released on payment of Rs.1,70,000, and on solemnly swearing to respect +Mogul ships. + +The Civil War brought these courtly piracies to an end, and the decay of +the Spanish power drew the more turbulent spirits of Europe and America +to the Spanish main, so that for a time there was a diminution of +European piracy in Indian waters. As buccaneering became more dangerous, +or less lucrative, adventurers of all nations again appeared in Eastern +waters, and the old trouble reappeared in an aggravated form. The Indian +Red Sea fleet offered an especially tempting booty to the rovers. Lobo, a +Jesuit priest, writing in the seventeenth century, tells us that so vast +was the commerce of Jeddah, and so great the value of the ships trading +to that place, that when, in India, it was wished to describe a thing of +inestimable price, it was customary to say, 'It is of more value than a +Jeddah ship.' Every year during the winter months, Indian traders, and +pilgrims for Mecca, found their way in single ships to the Red Sea. On +the setting in of the monsoon, they collected at Mocha, and made their +way back in a single body. All Indian trade with the Red Sea was paid for +in gold and silver, so that the returning ships offered many tempting +prizes to freebooters. + +In 1683 John Hand, master of the _Bristol_, interloper, cleared his ship +with papers made out for Lisbon and Brazil, and sailed for Madeira. There +he called his crew together, and told them he intended to take his ship +to the East Indies. Those who were unwilling were overawed, Hand being a +mighty 'pastionate' man. He appears to have been half pirate and half +trader; equally ready to attack other traders, or to trade himself in +spices and drugs. On the Sumatra coast, finding the natives unwilling to +do business with him, he went ashore with a pistol in his pocket to bring +the 'black dogs' to reason. The pistol went off in his pocket and +shattered his thigh, and that was the end of John Hand. + +In the same year, six men, of whom four were English and two Dutch, while +on passage in a native merchant's ship from the Persian Gulf to Surat, +seized the ship, killing the owner and his two wives. The lascars were +thrown overboard, six being retained to work the ship. Their cruise did +not last long. Making for Honore, they threw the six lascars overboard +when nearing the port. The men managed to get to land, and reaching +Honore, gave information of the would-be pirates to the local authorities, +who seized the ship, and soon disposed of the rogues. + +Three years later, two ships under English colours, mounting respectively +forty-four and twenty guns, were reported to have captured vessels in the +Red Sea, to the value of Rs.600,000. The Seedee of Jinjeera, who styled +himself the Mogul's Admiral, received a yearly subsidy of four lakhs for +convoying the fleet, a duty that he was quite unable to perform against +European desperadoes. Public opinion at Surat was at once excited against +the English, and further inflamed by the Dutch and French, who were only +too anxious to see a rival excluded from the trade. Sir John Child, to +pacify the Governor, offered to send a man-of-war to look for the pirates; +but the Dutch and French factors continued to 'spitt their venom' till +the Governor laughed in their faces and asked why they did not join in +sending vessels to look for the rogues, since the matter seemed to them +so serious. + +In the same season a gallant engagement was fought against pirates, +though not in Indian waters. The Company's ship _Caesar_, Captain Wright, +bound from England for Bombay, was chased off the coast of Gambia by five +ships, carrying each from twenty to thirty guns, under French colours. +Wright had no intention of yielding without a struggle, so put his ship +before the wind, to gain time for getting into fighting trim. The +_Caesar_ was carrying soldiers, and there were plenty of men to fight the +ship. The boats were cut away, the decks cleared, ammunition and arms +served out, three thousand pounds of bread which cumbered the gun-room +were thrown overboard, and the tops were filled with marksmen. As soon as +all was ready, the mainsail was furled, and the ship kept under easy sail. +Before long the two smaller ships came up, hoisted the red flag, and +began firing, one on the _Caesar's_ quarter and one astern. Soon the +three other ships, two of which Wright styled the Admiral and +Vice-Admiral, came up. The Admiral ranged up on the quarter and tried to +board, but was obliged to sheer off, with the loss of many men and a +bowsprit shot away. The Vice-Admiral tried to board at the bow, but with +no better success, losing a foreyard and mizzen-mast. For five hours the +engagement lasted, but the small-arm men in the _Caesar's_ tops fired so +well that the pirates could hardly serve their guns. The crew showed a +wonderful spirits cheering loudly at every successful shot, till the +discomfited pirates bore up, leaving the _Caesar_ to pursue her way to +Bombay, much knocked about as to hull, but having lost only one man +killed and eight wounded. + +In the following year came news to Surat of two vessels, under Danish +colours, that had stopped English ships and seized native ones between +Surat and Bombay. The _Phoenix_, a British man-of-war, was at Surat at +the time, so, together with the _Kent_, East Indiaman, it was despatched +to look after the marauders, taking with them also two small boys, sent +to represent the French and the Dutch. In due time Captain Tyrrell +returned, and reported that he had found a squadron of four vessels; that +after a two days' chase he had brought them to, when they turned out to +be two Danish ships, with two prizes they had taken. They showed him +their commission, authorizing them to make reprisals on the Mogul's +subjects for affronts offered to Danish traders; so he left them alone. A +few months later the Portuguese factory at Cong, in the Persian Gulf, was +plundered by an English pirate; another was heard of in the Red Sea, +while Philip Babington an Irish pirate, was cruising off Tellichery in +the _Charming Mary_. + +By 1689 a number of sea rovers from the West Indies had made their +appearance, and the factory at Fort St. George reported that the sea +trade was 'pestered with pirates.' The first comers had contented +themselves with plundering native ships. Now their operations were +extended to European vessels not of their own nationality. In time this +restriction ceased to be observed; they hoisted the red or black flag, +with or without the colours of the nationality they affected, and spared +no vessel they were strong enough to capture. + +The Armenian merchants were loud in their complaints. An Armenian ship, +bound from Goa to Madras, with twenty thousand pagodas on board, was +taken by a pirate ship of two hundred tons, carrying twenty-two guns and +a crew of sixty men. Another Armenian ship, with fifty thousand xeraphims, +was taken near Bombay, on its voyage from Goa to Surat. Besides those +that beset the Malabar coast, there were pirates in the Persian Gulf, at +the mouth of the Red Sea, and in the Mozambique Channel, while five +pirate vessels were cruising off Acheen. During the next ten years the +losses caused by the pirates were prodigious. + +Ovington mentions that at St. Helena (1689) they were told, by a slaver, +of three pirates, two English and the other Dutch, so richly laden with +booty that they could hardly navigate their ships, which had become +weather-beaten and unseaworthy from their long cruises off the Red Sea +mouth. Their worn-out canvas sails were replaced with double silk. + + "They were prodigal in the expences of their unjust gain, and + quenched their thirst with Europe liquor at any rate this Commander + (the slaver) would put upon it; and were so frank both in distributing + their goods, and guzzling down the noble wine, as if they were both + wearied with the possession of their rapine, and willing to stifle + all the melancholy reflections concerning it." + +Such an account was bound to fire the imagination of every seaman who +heard it. + +The number of pirates was increased by the interlopers, merchant +adventurers trading without a licence, who, like John Hand, when they +failed to get cargoes, plundered native ships. Their proceedings were +imitated by the permission ships, vessels that held the Company's licence +for a single voyage. Not seldom the crews of interlopers and permission +ships rose and seized the vessel against the will of their owners and +commanders and hoisted the Jolly Roger. Commissions were granted to the +East India Company's commanders to seize interlopers; but the interlopers, +as a rule, were remarkably well able to take care of themselves. As +pirates and interlopers alike sailed under English colours, the whole +odium fell on the English. In August, 1691, a ship belonging to the +wealthy merchant, Abdul Guffoor, was taken at the mouth of the Surat +river, with nine lakhs in hard cash on board. A guard was placed on the +factory at Surat, and an embargo laid on English trade. As the pirate had +shown the colours of several nationalities, the authorities were loth to +proceed to extremities. Fortunately for the English Company, a member of +the pirate crew was captured, and proved to be a Dane; so the embargo on +English trade was taken off. + +Though they plied their calling at sea, almost with impunity, the pirates +occasionally fell victims to Oriental treachery on shore. Thus, James +Gilliam, a rover, having put into Mungrole, on the Kattiawar coast, was +made welcome and much praised for the noble lavishness with which he paid +for supplies. Soon there came an invitation to a banquet, and Gilliam, +with some of his officers and crew, twenty in all, were received by the +representative of the Nawab of Junaghur with excessive ceremony. Much +polite curiosity was evinced about the noble strangers. "Why did they +always go armed? Were their muskets loaded? Would they discharge them to +show their host the European method?" The muskets were discharged, and +immediately the banquet was announced. "Delay to reload the muskets was +inexpedient. It would be time to recharge their weapons after the feast." +And then, when seated and defenceless, there was an irruption of armed +men, and Gilliam, with his followers, were seized and fettered. For a +year they lay at Junaghur, where two of them died. In vain Gilliam +contrived to send a letter to the Surat factory, asking that they might +be claimed as British subjects. President Harris knew that the least +interest shown in the fate of the rovers would be fatal to the interests +of the Company, and was relieved when he heard that they had been sent to +Aurungzeeb's camp; after which they are heard of no more. + +In the beginning of 1692, authority was given to the Company's commanders +to seize pirates and hold them till the King's pleasure was known, but +the measure was of small effect. The pirates were prime seamen, who +outsailed and outfought the Company's ships; while among the Company's +crews they had numerous sympathizers. The prizes to be gained were so +great and the risks so small, that the Company could hardly restrain +their own men from joining the sea rovers. Thus, in 1694, John Steel[1] +ran away with the long boat of the _Ruby_ frigate. Sixteen others who had +plotted to join him were detected in time, and clapped in irons. The +French and Dutch gave passes to all who applied for them, so Steel placed +himself under French protection, and for two years 'that rogue Steel' +finds frequent mention in the coast letters. Four years later Steel was +arrested in England. But though the directors had been supplied with many +accounts of his misdeeds, no sworn evidence could be produced against him, +so Steel escaped scot-free. + +All other pirates, however, were destined to be eclipsed in fame by Henry +Every, _alias_ Bridgman,[2] who now made his appearance in the Indian +seas. His exploits, the great wealth he amassed by piracy, and his +reputed marriage with a Mogul princess, continued to excite the public +mind long after he had disappeared from the scene. Several biographies of +him were written, one of them attributed to Defoe, all of them containing +great exaggerations; and a play, _The Successful Pirate_, was written in +his honour. His biographers generally give his name as John Avery, but it +was as is here given. According to the account of Van Broeck, a Dutchman, +who was detained on board his ship for a time, and was on good terms with +him, he was born at Plymouth, the son of a trading captain who had served +in the navy under Blake. Every himself served in the navy, in the +_Resolution_ and _Edgar_, before he got the command of a merchant ship, +in which he made several voyages to the West Indies. In May, 1694, he was +first mate of the _Charles the Second_, one of the small squadron of +English ships hired from Sir James Houblon, by the Spanish Government, to +act against French smugglers who were troubling their Peruvian trade.[3] + +The Spaniards were bad paymasters, and Houblon's squadron was detained at +Corunna three or four months, while the crews became more and more +discontented as their wages remained unpaid. As their sense of grievance +increased, a plot was formed among the most turbulent spirits to seize a +ship and turn rovers, under Every's command. On the night of the 30th May, +the captain of the _Charles the Second_ was made prisoner while in bed. A +boat-load of men sent from the _James_ to prevent the capture, joined the +mutineers; the cables were cut, and the ship ran out of harbour. The +captain and all who were unwilling to join were put into a boat, and the +_Charles_, renamed the _Fancy_, was headed south for the coast of Africa. +The only man detained against his will was the doctor, as he was a useful +man. + +Some months were spent on the Guinea coast, where some negroes were +captured, and five ships--three English and two Danish--were plundered +and burnt. Before the end of the year Every was east of the Cape, intent +on the Red Sea traders. The first intelligence of him that reached Bombay +was in May, 1695, when three outward-bound merchantmen reported that they +had seen him at Johanna. + + "Your Honor's ships going into that island gave him chase, but he was + too nimble for them by much, having taken down a great deale of his + upper works and made her exceeding snugg, which advantage being added + to her well sailing before, causes her to sail so hard now, that she + fears not who follows her. This ship will undoubtedly (go) into the + Red Sea, which will procure infinite clamours at Surat." + +Accompanying this report came the following characteristic letter from +Every:-- + +"February y'e 28th, 1695/4. + + "To all English. Commanders lett this Satisfye that I was Riding here + att this Instant in y'e Ship fancy man of Warr formerly the Charles + of y'e Spanish Expedition who departed from Croniae y'e 7th of May. + 94: Being and am now in A Ship of 46 guns 150 Men & bound to Seek our + fortunes I have Never as Yett Wronged any English or Dutch nor never + Intend whilst I am Commander. Wherefore as I Commonly Speake w'th all + Ships I Desire who ever Comes to y'e perusal of this to take this + Signall that if you or aney whome you may informe are desirous to + know w't wee are att a Distance then make your Antient Vp in a Ball + or Bundle and hoyst him att y'e Mizon Peek y'e Mizon Being furled I + shall answere w'th y'e same & Never Molest you: for my men are hungry + Stout and Resolute: & should they Exceed my Desire I cannott help my + selfe. + +as Yett +An Englishman's friend + +HENRY EVERY." + + "Here is 160 od french Armed men now att Mohilla who waits for + Opportunity of getting aney ship, take Care of your Selves."[4] + +According to Van Broeck, he was a man of good natural disposition, who +had been soured by the bad treatment he received at the hands of his +relations. The letter shows him to have been a man of some education, and +during his short but active career in the Indian seas he appears to have +attacked native ships only. The Company's records do not mention the loss +of a single English ship at Every's hands, a circumstance that no doubt +told heavily against the English in native opinion at Surat. + +The same ships that brought Every's letter to Sir John Gayer brought +intelligence of a well-known French pirate having got aground at Mohilla. +The three Company's ships watering at Johanna, heard of the occurrence, +and proceeded to the spot, burnt the French ship after taking out what +treasure was on board, and captured six of the Frenchmen, who were +brought to Bombay. Every's friendly warning about the '160 od French +armed men' evidently referred to the wrecked crew. + +The value of Perim, or Bab's Key, as it was then called by mariners, to +command the trade of the Red Sea, was at once perceived by Every, who +attempted to make a settlement there. After some unprofitable digging for +water, he abandoned the project, and established himself in Madagascar, +which had before this become known as a pirate resort. During the next +thirty years the only traders who dared show themselves on the Madagascar +coast were those who did business with the pirates, owing to the number +of pirate settlements that sprang up at different points; the best known +being at St. Mary's Island, St. Augustine's, Port Dauphin, and Charnock's +Point. They built themselves forts and established a reign of terror over +the surrounding country, sometimes taking a part in native quarrels, and +sometimes fighting among themselves; dubbing themselves kings, and living +in squalid dignity with large seraglios of native women. Captain Woodes +Rogers, who touched at Madagascar for slaves, sixteen years after Every's +time, described those he met as having been on the islands above +twenty-five years, with a motley crowd of children and grandchildren. + + "Having been so many years upon this Island, it may be imagined their + Cloaths had long been worn out, so that their Majesties were + extremely out at the Elbows: I cannot say they were ragged, since + they had no Cloaths, they had nothing to cover them but the Skins of + Beasts without any tanning, but with all the Hair on, nor a Shoe nor + Stocking, so they looked like the Pictures of Hercules in the Lion's + Skin; and being overgrown with Beard, and Hair upon their Bodies, + they appeared the most savage Figures that a Man's Imagination can + frame."[5] + +One remarkable settlement was founded in the north, near Diego Suarez, by +Misson, a Frenchman, and the most humane of pirates, with whom was allied +Tew, the English pirate. Misson's aim was to build a fortified town "that +they might have some place to call their own; and a receptacle, when age +and wounds had rendered them incapable of hardship, where they might +enjoy the fruits of their labour and go to their graves in peace." The +settlement was named Libertatia. Slavery was not permitted, and freed +slaves were encouraged to settle there. The harbour was strongly +fortified, as a Portuguese squadron that attacked them found to its cost. +A dock was made; crops were sown; a Lord Conservator was appointed for +three years, with a Parliament to make laws. The colony was still in its +infancy when it was surprised and destroyed by the natives, while Misson +was away on a cruise; and so Libertatia came to an end. Tew succeeded in +escaping to his sloop with a quantity of diamonds and gold in bars. On +Misson rejoining him, they determined to go to America. Misson's ship +foundered in a storm, while Tew made his way to Rhode Islands, and lived +there for a time unquestioned. But the fascinations of a rover's life +were too much for him. He fitted out a sloop and made again for the Red +Sea, and was killed in action there with a Mogul ship. + +From their Madagascar settlements the pirates scoured the east coast of +Africa, the Indian Ocean as far as Sumatra, the mouth of the Red Sea, +where the Mocha ships offered many rich prizes, the Malabar coast, and +the Gulf of Oman. From time to time, ships from New England and the West +Indies brought supplies and recruits, taking back those who were tired of +the life, and who wished to enjoy their booty. European prisoners were +seldom treated barbarously when there was no resistance, and the pirate +crews found many recruits among captured merchantmen. Their worst +cruelties were reserved for the native merchants of India who fell into +their hands. They believed all native traders to be possessed of jewels, +as was indeed often the case, and the cruellest tortures were inflicted +on them to make them surrender their valuables. One unhappy Englishman we +hear of, Captain Sawbridge, who was taken by pirates, while on a voyage +to Surat with a ship-load of Arab horses from Bombay. His complaints and +expostulations were so annoying to his captors that, after repeatedly +telling him to hold his tongue, they took a sail needle and twine and +sewed his lips together. They kept him thus several hours, with his hands +tied behind him, while they plundered his ship, which they afterwards set +on fire, burning her and the horses in her. Sawbridge and his people were +carried to Aden and set on shore, where he died soon after. + +Before long. Every made some notable captures. Off Aden he found five +pirate ships of English nationality, three of them from America, +commanded by May, Farrell, and Wake. In the Gulf of Aden he burned the +town of Mahet on the Somali coast because the people refused to trade +with him. In September, while cruising off Socotra with the _Fancy_, two +sloops, and a galley, he took the _Futteh Mahmood_ with a valuable cargo, +belonging to Abdool Quffoor, the wealthiest and most influential merchant +in Surat. A few days later he took off Sanjan, north of Bombay, a ship +belonging to the Emperor, called the _Gunj Suwaie_ (Exceeding Treasure). +This was the great capture that made Every famous. According to the +legend, there was a granddaughter of Aurungzeeb on board, whom Every +wedded by the help of a moollah, and carried off to Madagascar. But the +story is only the most sensational of the many romantic inventions that +have accumulated round Every's name. The native historian[6] who relates +the capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_, and who had friends on board, would +certainly not have refrained from mentioning such an event if it had +occurred; nor would the Mogul Emperor have failed to wreak vengeance on +the English for such an insult to his family. + +The _Gunj Suwaie_ was the largest ship belonging to the port of Surat. It +carried eighty guns and four hundred matchlocks, besides other warlike +implements, and was deemed so strong that it disdained the help of a +convoy. On this occasion it was returning from the Red Sea with the +result of the season's trading, amounting to fifty-two lakhs of rupees[7] +in silver and gold, and having on board a number of Mahommedan ladies +returning from pilgrimage to Mecca. In spite of the disparity of force, +Every bore down and engaged. The first gun fired by the _Gunj Suwaie_ +burst, killing three or four men and wounding others. The main mast was +badly damaged by Every's broadsides, and the _Fancy_ ran alongside and +boarded. This was the moment when a decent defence should have been made. +The sailor's cutlass was a poor match for the curved sword and shield, so +much so that the English were notorious in the East for their want of +boldness in sword-play. But Ibrahim Khan, the captain, was a coward, and +ran below at the sight of the white faces. His crew followed his example, +and the vessel was taken almost without resistance. + +So rich a prize was not to be relinquished without a very complete search. +For a whole week the _Gunj Suwaie_ was rummaged from stem to stern, while +the crew of the _Fancy_ indulged in a horrible orgy, excited beyond +measure by the immense booty that had fallen into their hands. Several of +the women threw themselves into the sea or slew themselves with daggers; +the last piece of silver was sought out and carried on board the _Fancy_, +the last jewel torn from the passengers and crew, and then the _Gunj +Suwaie_ was left to find its way to Surat as it best could. + +The vials of long-accumulated wrath were poured out on the English. +Instigated by Abdul Guffoor, the populace of Surat flew to arms to wreak +vengeance on the factory. The Governor, Itimad Khan, was well disposed to +the English, but popular excitement ran so high that he found it +difficult to protect them. Guards were placed on the factory to save it +from plunder. A mufti urged that the English should be put to death in +revenge for the death of so many true believers, and quoted an +appropriate text from the Koran. Soon came an order from Aurungzeeb +directing the Seedee to march on Bombay, and for all the English in Surat +and Broach to be made prisoners. President Annesley and the rest, +sixty-three in all, were placed in irons, and so remained eleven months. +To make matters worse, news arrived of Every having captured the +_Rampura_, a Cambay ship with a cargo valued at Rs.1,70,000. + + "It is strange," wrote Sir John Gayer, "to see how almost all the + merchants are incensed against our nation, reproaching the Governor + extremely for taking our part, and as strange to see that + notwithstanding all, he stems the stream against them more than well + could be imagined, considering his extreme timorous nature." + +The strangeness of the merchants' hostility is hardly apparent, but it is +not too much to say that Itimad Khan's friendly behaviour alone saved +English trade from extinction. The Dutch, always hostile in the East, +whatever might be the relations between Holland and England in Europe, +strove to improve the occasion by fomenting popular excitement, and tried +to get the English permanently excluded from the Indian trade. In the +words of Sir John Grayer, "they retained their Edomitish principles, and +rejoice to see Jacob laid low." But Itimad Khan knew that the pirates +were of all nationalities, and refused to hold the English alone +responsible. To propitiate the Governor, Sir John Gayer made over to him +the six French pirates taken at Mohilla, not without qualms at handing +over Christians to Mahommedan mercies. He fully expected that the +treasure taken out of the wreck would also be demanded of him; but Itimad +Khan was not an avaricious man, and no such demand was made. "His +contempt of money is not to be paralleled by any of the King's Umbraws or +Governors," Sir John wrote, a year later, when Itimad Khan was dead. To +forestall the Dutch with the Emperor, Gayer sent an agent offering to +convoy the Red Sea fleet for the future, in return for a yearly payment +of four lakhs a year. The offer was refused, but it served to place the +English in a more favourable light, and to procure the cancelling of +orders that had been given for attacking Bombay and Madras. Had it been +accepted, the Seedee would have been added to the number of the Company's +enemies. The Dutch, not to be outdone, offered to perform the same +service in return for a monopoly of trade in the Emperor's dominions. +This brought all other Europeans into line against the Dutch proposal, +and the intrigue was defeated. The embargo on all European trade at +Surat was maintained, while the Dutch, French, and English were directed +to scour the seas and destroy the pirates. It was further ordered that +Europeans on shore were not to carry arms or use palanquins, and their +ships were forbidden to hoist their national flags. The Dutch and French +hung back. They would not send a ship to sea without payment, except for +their own affairs. Sir John Gayer, more wisely, sent armed ships to +convoy the Mocha fleet, at the Company's charge, and so the storm passed +off. + +Meanwhile, Every, glutted with booty, made up his mind to retire[8] with +his enormous gains. According to Johnson, he gave the slip, at night, to +his consorts, sailed for Providence in the Bahamas, where his crew +dispersed, and thence made his way to England, just at the time a royal +proclamation offering L500 for his apprehension was published. The reward +was doubled by an offer of four thousand rupees from the Company; eight +rupees being the equivalent of a pound at that time. Several of his crew +also straggled home and were captured; but before he left the Indian +coast, twenty-five Frenchmen, fourteen Danes, and some English were put +ashore, fearing to show themselves in Europe or America. This fact would +seem to throw some doubt on the account of his having left his consorts +by stealth. + +On the 19th October, 1696, six of his crew were tried and sentenced at +the Old Bailey, and a true bill was found and an indictment framed +against Every himself, though he had not been apprehended. According to +Johnson,[9] Every changed his name and lived unostentatiously, while +trying to sell the jewels he had amassed. The merchant in whose hands he +had placed them, suspecting how they had been come by, threatened him. +Every fled to Ireland, leaving his jewels in the merchant's hands, and +finally died in Devonshire in extreme poverty. But the authority for this, +as for most of the popular accounts of Every, is extremely doubtful. That +he was cheated out of some of his ill-gotten gains is probable enough, +but it is in the highest degree improbable that he was known to be living +in poverty, and yet that the large reward offered for his apprehension +was not earned. What is alone certain is that he was never apprehended, +and that in a few months he carried off an amount of plunder such as +never before was taken out of the Indian seas by a single rover. For long +he was the hero of every seaport town in England and North America; +innumerable legends gathered round his name, and an immense impulse was +given to piracy. + +A few months after his departure, there were five pirate ships in the Red +Sea, under English colours; two more, each mounting fourteen guns, were +in the Persian Gulf, and another was cruising off Tellicherry. At +Madagascar others were coming in fast. The news of Every's great booty +had spread from port to port, and every restless spirit was intent on +seeking his fortune in this new Eldorado, as men nowadays flock to a new +goldfield. The Company's sailors were not proof against the temptation. +While on the way from Bombay to China the crew of the _Mocha_ frigate +mutinied, off the coast of Acheen, killed their captain, Edgecombe, and +set afloat in the pinnace twenty-seven officers and men who refused to +join them. The _Mocha_ was then renamed the _Defence_, and for the next +three years did an infinity of damage in the Indian Ocean. At the same +time, the crew of the _Josiah_ ketch from Bombay, while at anchor in the +Madras roads, took advantage of the commander being on shore to run away +with the ship. The whole thing had been planned between the two crews +before leaving Bombay; their intention being to meet off the coast of +Sumatra, and cruise in company. The piratical career of the _Josiah_ did +not last long. Making first for the Nicobars, the crew flocked on shore, +and were soon involved in quarrels with the natives; leaving on board +only two men, one of whom was James Cruffe, the armourer, who had been +forced to join them against his will. The other man was but a lukewarm +pirate, and Cruffe prevailed on him to join in an attempt to carry off +the ship. They cut the cable, and by great good fortune, without any +knowledge of navigation, succeeded in carrying the ship into Acheen. + +Stout's command of the _Defence_, once _Mocha_, quickly came to an end. +According to one account, he was put to death by his comrades, at the +Laccadives, for trying to desert them; according to another account, he +was slain by some Malays. His place was taken by Culliford, who had been +the leader of the mutineers of the _Josiah_. He changed the ship's name +to the _Resolution_, and proved himself one of the most daring rovers of +his day. + +The untrustworthiness of his crews placed Sir John Gayer in an awkward +dilemma. He had to report to the Directors that he dared not send ships +to convoy pilgrims lest the crews should mutiny; that a boat could not be +manned in Bombay harbour for fear of desertion, while, on shore, he had +not a soldier fit to be made a corporal. A powerful French squadron had +appeared on the coast, and the Surat President calculated that the +Company's recent losses on captured ships sailing from Surat amounted to +a million sterling. The losses of the native merchants were even more +serious; trade was almost at a standstill, while three more pirate ships +from New York appeared in the Gulf of Cambay, and captured country ships +to the value of four lakhs of rupees. Every letter along the coast at +this date speaks of the doings of the rovers: every ship coming into +harbour told of pirates, of chases and narrow escapes, and of reported +captures. + + "These pirates spare none but take all they meet, and take the Europe + men into their own ships, with such goods as they like, and sink the + ships, sending the lascars on rafts to find the shore." + +So bold were the marauders that they cruised in sight of Bombay harbour, +and careened their ships in sight of factories along the coast. + +To avenge their losses, the Muscat Arabs, in April, 1697, seized the +_London_, belonging to Mr. Affleck, a private merchant. The Arabs were +engaged in hostilities with the Portuguese at the time, and forced the +crew of the _London_ to fight for them. Those who were unwilling were +lashed to masts exposed to Portuguese fire, from which they did not +escape scatheless. In vain the commanders of two of the Company's vessels +assured the Imaum that the _London_ was not a pirate. + + "You have sent me a letter," he wrote, "about my people taking one of + your ships. It is true that I have done so, in return for one you + English took from me, so now we are even and have ship for ship; for + this one I will not surrender. If you wish to be friends, I am + willing to be so; if not, I will fight you and take all the ships I + can." + +One pirate ship was reported to have chased two Cong ships, capturing one +and forcing the other ashore, where it became a total wreck. "What +influence this may have on the Rt. Hon. Company's affairs, God alone +knows," wrote the Surat President, mournfully. Soon he was in better +spirits. The same pirates had landed and plundered Cong; but, allowing +themselves to be surprised, fifty-six of the crew had been set upon and +killed. + +With few exceptions, the English pirates came from the American colonies. +Every year, from New York, Boston, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, ships were +fitted out, nominally for the slave trade, though it was no secret that +they were intended for piracy in the Eastern seas. Whatever compunction +might be felt at attacking European ships, there was none about +plundering Asiatic merchants, where great booty was to be gained with +little risk. Sometimes the Governors were in league with the pirates, who +paid them to wink at their doings. Those who were more honest had +insufficient power to check the evil practices that were leniently, if +not favourably, regarded by the colonial community, while their time was +fully occupied in combating the factious opposition of the colonial +legislatures, and in protective measures against the French and Indians. +The English Government, absorbed in the French war, had no ships in the +Indian seas; but the straits to which English trade in the East had been +reduced, and the enormous losses caused by the pirates, at last forced +some measures to be adopted for coping with the evil that had assumed +such gigantic proportions. + + +[1] It appears likely that this was the John Steel mentioned by Drury as + his uncle in Bengal. There is very little doubt that much of Drury's + alleged slavery in Madagascar was spent among the pirates. + +[2] It would appear that he assumed the name of Every on taking to piracy. + +[3] Sir James Houblon was an Alderman of London, and a Governor of the + Bank of England at the time. + +[4] The letter appears to have been left by Every with the natives of + Johanna, who gave it to the merchant captains who brought it to + Bombay. + +[5] The quotation is taken from Johnson's History of the Pirates. In his + cruising voyage round the world Woodes Rogers did not touch at + Madagascar. On that occasion (1711) he met two ex-pirates at the Cape, + who had received pardons, and told him that the Madagascar + settlements had dwindled to sixty or seventy men, "most of them very + poor and despicable, even to the natives," and possessed of only one + ship and a sloop. But, he adds, "if care be not taken, after a peace, + to clear that island of them, and hinder others from joining them, it + may be a temptation for loose straggling fellows to resort thither, + and make it once more a troublesome nest of freebooters." + +[6] Elliot's History of India as told by its own historians. Muntakhabu-l + Lubab of Khafi Khan. + +[7] Equal to L534,000 at that day. + +[8] According to the statement of a lascar, taken in the _Futteh Mahmood_ + and carried to Madagascar, Every sailed for the Bahamas in the autumn + of 1695, so that his career in the Indian seas lasted only six months. + On reaching Providence, Every presented the Governor with forty + pieces of eight and four pieces of gold for allowing them to come and + go in safety. + +[9] Johnson's "General History of the Pyrates," 1724. + + + +CHAPTER II + +_CAPTAIN KIDD_ + +Measures to suppress piracy--The _Adventure_ fitted out--Warren's squadron +meets with Kidd--His suspicious behaviour--He threatens the +_Sidney_--Waylays the Red Sea fleet--Captures the _Mary_--Visits Carwar +and Calicut--His letter to the factory--Chased by Portuguese +men-of-war--Chases the _Sedgwick_--Chivers--Action between _Dorrill_ and +_Resolution_--Kidd captures the _Quedah Merchant_--Dilemma of European +traders at Surat--Their agreements with the authorities--Experience of the +_Benjamin_--News of Kidd's piracies reaches England--Despatch of squadron +under Warren--Littleton at Madagascar--Kidd sails for New York--Arrested +and tried--His defence and execution--Justice of his sentence--His +character--Diminution of piracy--Lowth in the _Loyal Merchant_--Act for +suppression of piracy--Captain Millar. + + +War with France was being actively prosecuted by land and sea. In 1695 +the nation was still smarting under reverses in the Low Countries and the +repulse of the Brest expedition. At sea the navy was holding its own, +though English commerce suffered terribly under the attacks of French +corsairs of Dunkirk and St. Malo. The Company applied for a ship to be +sent to the Indian seas to deal with the pirates; but Lord Orford, the +head of the Admiralty, refused to spare one. It was the fashion for +wealthy men to obtain letters of marque for privateering, and a syndicate +was formed, to which the Chancellor, Lord Somers, Lord Orford, Lord +Bellamont, and other Whig nobles were parties, to send out a privateer +against French commerce. For this purpose the _Adventure_ galley was +purchased and fitted out, and the command was given to William Kidd, who +was suggested to Lord Bellamont as a fit person for the task. Kidd was an +old privateers-man who had gained some reputation in the West Indies +during the war. Lord Bellamont had been appointed Governor of New York, +though he did not proceed there till two years later. The king had +charged him to use his utmost endeavours to put a check on the pirates +who sailed from New England, and nothing better occurred to him than to +obtain a commission for Kidd to act against the rovers. A general reward +of L50 was offered for the apprehension of each pirate, and L100 for +Every, increased in the following year to L500. + +In December, a commission under the Admiralty Seal was issued to Kidd, +authorizing him to proceed against French shipping. He was to keep a +journal of his proceedings, and any ship captured was to be carried into +the nearest port and legally adjudged by a competent court. If condemned, +he might dispose of it according to custom. Six weeks later, a second +commission under the Great Seal was granted him, in his capacity of a +private man of war, to apprehend all pirates, freebooters, and sea rovers, +the names of Thomas Too (? Tew), John Ireland, Thomas Wake, and William +Maze, or Mace, being specially mentioned. Again, he was enjoined to keep +an exact journal of his doings, and the pirate ships he captured were to +be proceeded against according to law, in the same manner as French +captures. A subsequent warrant was granted to the syndicate, who figure +in it as the Earl of Bellamont, Edmund Harrison, William Rowley, George +Watson, Thomas Reynolds, and Samuel Newton. Under these unpretentious +names were hidden Lords Orford and Somers, and other Whig nobles. They +were to account for all goods and valuables captured in the rovers' +possession: one-tenth was to be reserved for the Crown, the rest being +assigned to them to recoup their expenditure. + +The _Adventure_ carried thirty guns and rowed twenty-six or thirty oars. +In May, 1696, Kidd sailed from Plymouth for New York with a crew of about +seventy men. On the way he captured a small French vessel, which was +properly condemned, and the proceeds helped to complete the equipment of +the _Adventure_. In New York he filled up his crew to one hundred and +fifty-five men, and people shook their heads when they saw the men of +doubtful character that he enlisted. It was felt at the time that, either +his intentions were dishonest, or he was taking a crew that he would be +unable to control. The men were promised shares of what should be taken, +while Kidd himself was to have forty shares. Nothing was said as to the +share of the owners or the Crown. In September he sailed for the Cape. +There were plenty of pirates and French trading-ships close at hand on +the American coast, but he did not waste a day in looking for them. + +Within a few days of Kidd's leaving Plymouth, a royal squadron consisting +of the _Windsor_, _Tyger_, _Advice_, and _Vulture_, under Commodore +Warren, sailed from Sheerness to visit the harbours and watering-places, +used by East India ships, as far as the Cape, and clear them of pirates. +The squadron, with five East Indiamen under convoy, made its way slowly +along the African coast, losing many men from sickness. Two hundred +leagues west of the Cape they sighted a strange sail that seemed to wish +to avoid them. Warren gave chase and forced it to heave to. On being +signalled to come on board, the commander proved to be Kidd, in command +of the _Adventure_. Asked to account for himself, he told how he was +engaged to look for Every and destroy pirates, and showed his commission. +Apparently, this was the first that Warren had heard of him, but there +was no gainsaying the royal commission, so the usual hospitality was +shown him, and he was bidden to keep company as far as the Cape. Warren +had lost many men on the Guinea coast, and asked Kidd to spare him some. +No better opportunity could have been found for getting rid of +troublesome men, but Kidd declined to part with a single one. As Warren's +wine told on him, his true character showed itself. He boasted of the +feats he was going to do, and the wealth he would get, till Warren was +filled with disgust and suspicion. The _Adventure_ wanted a new mainsail. +Warren could not spare him one. No matter, he would take one from the +first ship he met; and he was finally sent back to the _Adventure_, +reeling drunk. For six days he sailed in company with the squadron. Then +a calm came on, and at night, making use of his oars, Kidd stole away, +and was nearly out of sight when the sun rose. + +On reaching the Cape, Warren could get no news of him, but to the +captains of the Company's ships he communicated his suspicions of Kidd. +Three of them, bound for Johanna in the Comoro Islands, the _Sidney_, the +_Madras Merchant_, and the _East India Merchant_, agreed to sail in +company for mutual protection. The _Sidney_, being the faster sailer, +reached Johanna in advance of her consorts, and found the _Adventure_ at +anchor in the roadstead. As the _Sidney_ came to anchor, Kidd sent a boat +to Captain Gyfford, ordering him to strike his colours, and threatening +to board him if he refused. Gyfford prepared to defend himself. Two days +later the _East India Merchant_ and the _Madras Merchant_ appeared, +making for the anchorage, and Kidd lowered his tone. He then invited the +three captains to come on board the _Adventure_, which they refused to do, +letting him plainly see that they distrusted him. + +Soon they had to warn him regarding his ill-treatment of the Johanna +people, for which they threatened to call him to account. This +unlooked-for attitude on the part of the three captains made Kidd uneasy; +and finding that they would not leave the anchorage till he had gone, he +made sail and departed. Some of the crew of the _Adventure_ had, however, +used suspicious language, saying they were looking for an East India ship. +When asked if they would attack a single one, they answered evasively, +while continuing to boast of the things they were going to do. These +early proceedings of Kidd effectually dispose of the plea that his +intentions were at first honest, and that he only yielded to the coercion +of his crew in taking to piracy, after reaching the Indian seas. The +truth is that Kidd was resolved on piracy from the first, and had little +difficulty in persuading the majority of the crew to join him. It can +hardly be doubted that the accounts of the great wealth acquired by Every +had turned his head. There were a number of men on board the _Adventure_ +who were unwillingly coerced into piracy, and who remained in a chronic +state of discontent, but Kidd was not one of them. Long before he had +made a single capture, it was reported in the ports of Western India that +Kidd was a pirate. + +From Johanna he shaped his coarse for Madagascar, but the pirates were +all away in search of prey; so he continued his cruise in the Mozambique +Channel and along the African coast. He is said to have met Indian ships +at this time without molesting them, which was afterwards cited to show +that his intentions were then honest. It is more likely that he was only +doubtful as to his own power, being unacquainted with the weakness of +Asiatics, and reserving himself for the rich prey offered by the Mocha +fleet. + +Cruising northwards, he landed at Mabber[1] on the Somali coast, and took +some corn from the natives by force--his first bit of filibustering. Then +making for Perim, he anchored to await the Mocha fleet. Three times he +sent a boat to look into Mocha harbour, and bring notice when the Indian +ships were ready to sail. As the fleet in scattered array emerged from +the straits, he singled out a large vessel and began firing at it. This +at once attracted the attention of the _Sceptre_ frigate that Sir John +Gayer had sent as a convoy, and Kidd took to his heels. + +If Every had been in his place, he would have followed the fleet across +the Indian Ocean, and have picked up a straggler or two, but the sight of +the _Sceptre_ and a Dutch man-of-war had been enough for Kidd, and he left +the pilgrim fleet alone. Without molesting them further, he made his way +eastward, and, on the 29th August, off Sanjan, north of Bombay, he took +the _Mary_ brigantine, a small native vessel from Surat. This was Kidd's +first capture on the high seas. Thomas Parker, the master of the _Mary_, +was forced on board the _Adventure_ to act as pilot, a Portuguese was +taken to act as interpreter, and the lascars of the _Mary_ beaten and +ill-treated. A week later he put into Carwar for provisions, flying +English colours; but his character was already known. The Sunda Rajah and +the factory stood on their guard while he was in harbour. Harvey, the +chief of the factory, demanded the surrender of Parker, but Kidd vowed he +knew nothing about him. Eight of his crew deserted, and told their story. +They had no desire for the piratical life into which they had been +trepanned, and reported that many more of the crew would leave him if they +could get the chance. While off Carwar he careened the _Adventure_ on a +small islet in the harbour, which was long known as Kidd's island. A month +later he was off Calicut, where his ever-recurring trouble about supplies +is shown in the following letter to the factory:-- + +"Adventure Gally, October y'e 4't, 1697. + +"S'r, + + "I can't but admire y't y'r People is so fearfull to come near us for + I have used all possible means to let them understand y't I am an + Englishman and a ff'rd not offering to molest any of their Cannoes so + think it convenient to write this y't you may understand whome I am + which (I) hope may end all Suspition. I come from England about 15 mos. + agone with y'e King's Commission to take all Pyrates in these seas, + and from Carwar came ab't a month agone, so do believe y't (you) have + heard whome I am before y't and all I come for here is wood and water + wh'h if you will be pleas'd to order me shall honestly satisfie for y'e + same or any thing that they'l bring off which is all from him who + will be very ready to serve you in what lyeth in my Power. + +"WILLIAM KIDD." + +They knew who he was only too well, so he sailed for the Laccadives, +whence news was soon received of his barbarous treatment of the natives, +and that he had killed his quartermaster.[2] The letter is characteristic +of Kidd's methods. From his first entrance into the Indian seas his +conduct had aroused suspicion. Owing to the large amount of coasting trade +and the frequent necessity of calling at many places for water, the news +of the sea spread from port to port with great rapidity. At the moment of +his writing this letter he had the master of the _Mary_ a prisoner under +hatches, and the factory chiefs of Carwar and Calicut were well aware of +it; but to the end he believed that he could throw dust in the eyes of the +Company's officials by making play with the royal commission. + +While he was on the coast, Kidd was chased by two Portuguese armed vessels, +a grab and a sloop. The grab was a poor sailer, and Kidd had no difficulty +in eluding it; but the sloop, a better sailer, allowed itself to be drawn +on in chase, till Kidd, shortening sail, was able to give it several +broadsides, which reduced it to a total wreck; after which he showed a +clean pair of heels. At Kidd's trial it was stated he had ten men wounded +in this business. + +In April (1698) the _Sedgwick_, arriving at Fort St. David, reported that +on its way from Anjengo it had been chased for three days and nights by +Kidd, but had been saved by a stiff breeze springing up. On its return +voyage the _Sedgwick_ was less fortunate, being captured off Cape Comorin +by Chivers, a Dutchman, in the _Soldado_, otherwise known as the +_Algerine_, of two hundred and fifty tons and carrying twenty-eight guns. +The cargo of the _Sedgwick_ not being to Chivers' liking, and being put +into good humour with sundry bowls of punch, he let the _Sedgwick_ go, +taking out of her only sails and cordage. + +The year 1698 saw the Company's trade almost extinguished owing to the +depredations of the sea rovers and the hostility aroused against Europeans. +Every letter brought accounts of the pirates and the losses occasioned by +them. In small squadrons they swept the coast from Madras to the mouths of +the Indus, and haunted the sea from Cape Comorin to the Straits of Malacca. +In July, the Company's ship _Dorrill_, bound for China, was attacked in +the Straits of Malacca by the _Resolution_, late _Mocha_, commanded by +Culliford, and, after a hot engagement of three hours, made the pirate +sheer off, with heavy losses on both sides. Bowen in the _Speedy Return_, +for the taking of which Green was, with doubtful justice, hanged, Chivers +in the _Soldado_, North in the _Pelican_, Halsey, Williams, White, and +many others of less fame, were plundering and burning everywhere with +impunity. Early in the year, Kidd captured the _Quedah Merchant_ a country +ship bound from Bengal to Surat, belonging to some Armenian merchants who +were on board. The captain was an Englishman named Wright; the gunner was +a Frenchman, and there were two Dutchmen. This was the best prize made by +Kidd, and yielded some L10,000 or L12,000, which was at once divided among +the crew of the _Adventure_, Kidd's forty shares being one-fourth of the +whole. Able seamen got one share; landsmen and servants a half-share only. +The Surat factory was filled with alarm, not without good reason. In vain +Sir John Gayer wrote to the Governor, and sent an agent to the Emperor to +disclaim responsibility. In August came an imperial order directing that +the English, French, and Dutch should be held responsible for all losses, +and that for the _Quedah Merchant_ alone the English should pay two lakhs +of rupees. Guards were placed on the factories; all communication with +them was forbidden; their Mahommedan servants left them, and their +creditors were made to give an account to the Governor of all debts owing +by Europeans. The Dutch and French tried to exonerate themselves by laying +all the blame on the English, but the Governor refused to make any +distinction, and called on the three nations to pay fourteen lakhs of +rupees as a compensation for the losses occasioned by piracy. Sir John +Gayer was a man of action. Like Macrae, to be mentioned later in these +pages, he had first brought himself into notice as a sea-captain, and as +Governor of Bombay had upheld the Company's interests for four years, in +circumstances of no ordinary difficulty. The time for some decided action +had arrived if the Company's trade was to continue. On receiving +intelligence of these occurrences, he appeared off Surat with three armed +ships, and sent word to the Governor that he would neither pay any portion +of the fourteen lakhs, nor give security. At the same time he intimated +that he was ready to furnish convoys for the Mocha ships, as he had +already done, and, in proof of good will in acting against the pirates, +pointed out that, now the war in Europe was at an end, a royal squadron +was on its way to the Indian seas to extirpate them. The European traders +on the west coast had always been so submissive to the Emperor's authority +that this unexpected display of vigour astonished the Governor: he +moderated his tone. The Dutch declared they would abandon the Surat trade +rather than pay; so the Governor consented to make no demand for past +losses, if the English would engage to make good all future losses by +piracy. This was also refused. Finally, the English, French, and Dutch +agreed to act in concert to suppress piracy, and signed bonds by which +they jointly engaged to make good all future losses. + +Onerous as these terms were, the agreement came not a moment too soon. The +news of it reached Aurungzeeb just in time to procure the reversal of an +order he had issued, putting a final stop to all European trade in his +dominions. He told the Surat Governor to settle the matter in his own way. +In pursuance of the agreement, the Dutch convoyed the Mecca pilgrims and +patrolled the entrance to the Red Sea, besides making a payment of +Rs.70,000 to the Governor; the English paid Rs.30,000 and patrolled the +South Indian seas; while the French made a similar payment and policed the +Persian Gulf. + +An experience of the _Benjamin_ yacht at this time showed that pirates +were not prone to wanton mischief, where there was no plunder to be gained. +In November, the yacht lay at Honore, taking in a cargo of pepper, when +the well-known pirate ships _Pelican_, _Soldado_, and _Resolution_ came +into harbour for provisions. Seeing the Bombay Governor's yacht, they +naturally concluded that some attempt would be made to prevent the natives +from supplying their wants. They at once sent word to the master of the +_Benjamin_ that they had no intention of molesting him, unless he hindered +them in getting provisions, in which case they would sink him. The master +of the yacht was only too glad to be left alone; the pirates got their +provisions, and, in recognition of his behaviour, presented him with a +recently captured Portuguese ship. Sir John Gayer, in much fear lest he +should be accused of being in league with the pirates, quickly made it +over to the Portuguese authorities. + +When the intelligence of Kidd's piracies reached England, there was a +storm of indignation in the country. Party feeling was running high and +with unusual violence. The majority in the House of Commons desired the +ruin of Somers and Orford while aiming at the King. The charge of abetment +in Kidd's misdeeds was too useful a weapon to be neglected, so it was +added to the list of accusations against them. It must be admitted that +the circumstances of the Lord Chancellor, the head of the Admiralty, and +other prominent men using their influence to forward a venture from which +they were to profit, under fictitious names, and that had created such a +scandal, demanded inquiry. It was hardly sufficient to say that they had +lost their money. Such an answer would justify any illegal enterprise in +the event of its failure. + +The French war had come to an end, so in January, 1699, a royal squadron +of four men-of-war, the _Anglesea_, _Harwich_, _Hastings_, and _Lizard_, +sailed from Portsmouth for Madagascar under Warren.[3] They carried with +them four royal commissioners and a proclamation offering a free pardon, +from which Every and Kidd were excepted, to all pirates who voluntarily +surrendered themselves before the end of April, 1699. The pardon related +only to acts of piracy committed east of the Cape of Good Hope, between +the African and Indian coasts. After calling at St. Augustine's bay, where +several pirates made their submission, the squadron reached Tellicherry in +November. As it came to its anchorage, Warren died, and was buried on +shore the following day. He was succeeded in the command by Littleton. In +the following May, Littleton was on the Madagascar coast, where he +remained till the end of the year before returning home. During the whole +time he was in communication with the pirates. His dealings with them +brought him into disrepute in shipping circles. Hamilton tells us that +"for _some valuable reasons_ he let them go again; and because they found a +difficulty in cleaning the bottoms of their large ships, he generously +assisted them with large blocks and tackle falls for careening them." +Possibly Hamilton's remark was due to the conduct of Captain White of the +_Hastings_, whose behaviour excited such suspicion that Littleton placed +him under arrest, fearing he would make his ship over to the pirates. +Littleton remained on the Madagascar coast for eight months without firing +a shot. When he first reached St. Mary's, the pirates greeted him with a +salute of nine guns, to which he responded with five, and he was in close +and daily communication with them. Whether any pirates made their +submission to him does not appear; but it is probable that his presence +strengthened the resolution to obtain pardon of those who had previously +engaged themselves to Warren; among them Culliford and Chivers. The fact +is that piracy was looked upon then more leniently than we should now +regard it. Plundering and ill-treating Asiatics was a venial offence, and +many a seaman after a cruise with the pirates returned to his calling on +board an honest merchantman, without being thought much the worse for it. + +Among all the naval officers sent to the Indian seas at that time, Warren +appears to have been the only one who really tried to protect the Company's +interests. Littleton quarrelled with Sir Nicholas Waite, and had +questionable dealings with the Madagascar pirates. Richards and Harland +quarrelled with Sir John Gayer, and crippled the Company's ships by +forcibly pressing their sailors to fill up their own crews; while Matthews +exceeded them all in outrageous behaviour, as will be recounted in its +place. + +After capturing the _Quedah Merchant_, Kidd shaped his course for +Madagascar, where he found Culliford in the _Resolution_, who at first +treated him with suspicion, hearing that he had a commission to capture +pirates. But Kidd soon reassured him over sundry cups of bombo, protesting +with many oaths that 'his soul should fry in hell' sooner than that he +should hurt a hair of one of Culliford's crew; and, as a proof of good +will, presented him with two guns and an anchor. Then, finding the +_Adventure_ had become unseaworthy, he abandoned her, and sailed for New +England in the _Quedah Merchant_. In June, 1799, he reached Boston. + +Before his arrival, he heard he had been proclaimed a pirate, so he +deputed a friend to approach Lord Bellamont on his behalf. The _Quedah +Merchant_ was disposed of, and his plunder placed in a safe place. By +assurance, and by a valuable present to Lady Bellamont, he thought he +could face matters out. Bellamont appears to have been puzzled at first +how to treat him. He was unwilling to believe all that was said. At the +end of three weeks he made up his mind and arrested Kidd. For eight months +he lay in Boston gaol, and was then sent to London for trial, remaining in +Newgate for more than a year. Eleven of his crew were also arrested, two +of them being admitted as King's witnesses. + +In the interval the storm against the Whig ministers had gathered strength, +and articles of impeachment against Somers, Orford, and others were being +prepared by the House of Commons. On the 27th March, 1701, Kidd was +brought to the House to be examined, but he said nothing to inculpate any +of the owners of the _Adventure_, so a resolution was passed that he +should be proceeded against according to law. + +On the 8th and 9th May he was brought up for trial at the Old Bailey. The +first indictment against him was for the murder of Moore, the gunner of +the _Adventure_. There had been a quarrel in which Moore accused Kidd of +having ruined them all, on which Kidd called him a 'lousy dog'; to which +Moore replied in a rage, that if he was a dog it was Kidd who had made him +one. At this Kidd hurled a bucket at him and fractured his skull. The jury +found him guilty. He was then tried, together with nine of his crew, for +the taking of the _Quedah Merchant_. His line of defence was that it was +sailing under a French pass, and therefore a lawful prize, but he evaded +actually saying so. He declared that Lord Bellamont had some French passes +of ships he had taken, but would not produce them. That Kidd had captured +some ships under French passes, and that the passes were in Bellamont's +hands, is extremely probable; but it is incredible that a French pass for +the _Quedah Merchant_ was in Bellamont's hands, and that he held it back. +He had been accused of complicity in Kidd's piracies, and threatened with +impeachment. Every consideration of private and political interest alike +prompted him to clear himself of the charge, and confound those who +accused the leading men of his party as well as himself. + +Kidd tried to get the witnesses, some of them favourable to him, to say +they had seen the French pass, but all they could say was that they had +heard him declare there was one. The adverse witnesses deposed that he had +feigned to believe that the French gunner of the _Quedah Merchant_ was the +captain, though they all knew he was not. When asked, "Captain Kidd, can +you make it appear there was a French pass aboard the _Quedah Merchant_?" +he replied, "My lord, these men say they heard several say so." One of the +Armenian owners was in court, but he did not examine him; nor could he say +why he had not had the ship properly condemned, like the French ship taken +between Plymouth and New York. His only reply was that he was not at the +sharing of the goods, and knew nothing of it. For his attack on the Mocha +fleet he offered no explanation. + +He was found guilty, and was then tried for the captures of a Moorish ship +(Parker's), a Moorish ketch, and a Portuguese ship. Culliford and two +others were next tried for taking a ship called the _Great Mahomet_. Three +of Kidd's crew were acquitted, the rest of the prisoners were found guilty, +and sentenced to be hanged. Culliford was respited, having made his +submission to Warren. Three of Kidd's crew had hard measure dealt to them. +They had made their submission under the King's proclamation, but not to +one of the commissioners appointed for the purpose, so their submission +went for nothing. On the 12th May, Kidd, with six of his crew and two of +Culliford's, was hanged at Execution Dock, the common place of execution +for pirates. + +It is impossible to follow Kidd's career, and to study his trial, without +coming to the conclusion that he deserved his fate. There is no sign that +he was sacrificed to political expediency. Directly the House of Commons +failed to bring home the responsibility for Kidd's piracies to the leaders +of the Whig party, he ceased to be of any importance for political +purposes. The charge of complicity with him was only one of ten charges +against Orford, one of fourteen against Somers. The court is said to have +dealt hardly with him, but courts of justice were not very tender to any +criminals in those days, and the jury did not hesitate to acquit three of +those tried with him. Criminals were not allowed the aid of counsel, +except on a point of law. Kidd did raise a legal point, and was allowed +the aid of a counsel to argue it. His intention was clear from the day he +left New York. The four pirates named in his commission were then on the +American coast; he made no effort to look for them, but steered at once +for the Cape. If he could not control his crew, he could have invoked +Warren's help; instead of which he stole away in the night. His threats to +the _Sidney_ at Johanna, his attack, after three weeks' waiting, on the +Mocha fleet, his detention of Parker, to say nothing of his dealings with +Culliford, can only be interpreted in one way. During his whole cruise he +never put into Surat, Bombay, or Goa, but cruised like any other pirate. + +The legend of his buried treasure has survived to our own day, owing to +the fact that he had buried some of his booty before putting himself in +Bellamont's hands; but the record of his trial shows that, beyond what was +obtained from the _Quedah Merchant_, his plunder consisted mostly of +merchandise. That some of his ill-gotten gains were recovered at the time +seems clear from an Act of Parliament passed in 1705, enabling the Crown +to "dispose of the effects of William Kidd, a notorious pirate, to the use +of Greenwich Hospital"; which institution received accordingly 6472-1. + +The scandal caused by Kidd's piratical doings under a commission from the +Crown, the political use made of it in Parliament, and the legend of a +vast hoard of buried treasure, have conferred on him a celebrity not +justified by his exploits. As he appears in the Company's records, he +showed none of the picturesque daredevilry that distinguished many of the +sea rovers whose names are less known. No desperate adventure or +hard-fought action stand to his credit. Wherever we get a glimpse of his +character it shows nothing but mean, calculating cunning; and to the end +he posed as the simple, innocent man who was shamefully misjudged. His +crew were always discontented and ready to desert. He had none of the +lavish open-handedness that made the fraternity welcome in so many ports. +Every, Teach, England, and a dozen others in his place, would have thrown +the commission to the winds, and sailed the seas under the red flag. Kidd's +ruling idea appears to have been that he could hoodwink the world as to +his doings under cover of his commission: so that when he heard of the +charges against him he believed he could disarm his accusers by sheer +impudence. At his trial he attempted to lay all the blame on his crew, and +vowed he was 'the innocentest person of them all,' and all the witnesses +were perjured. Whatever touch of misdirected heroism was to be found in +any pirate, it was certainly not to be found in Kidd. He was altogether a +contemptible rascal, and had no claims to be a popular hero. + +Though Littleton's squadron captured no pirate ships, its presence till +the autumn of 1700 had a salutary effect.[4] Some made their submission, +and the number who continued to ply their trade was greatly reduced. Many +of them were glad to leave a calling that had now become hazardous, in +which they had been unwillingly forced to join, while the renewal of the +war in Europe furnished a more legitimate outlet for the most turbulent +spirits, in the shape of privateering. + +North, after making his submission to Littleton, thought better of it, +seeing the date of grace had expired, and refused to leave Madagascar. +There he remained for several years, fighting and subduing the natives +round St. Mary's, till he was finally killed by them. His comrades +'continued the war' for seven years till they had completely subdued the +country round. + +On the 18th December, 1699, the _Loyal Merchant_, Captain Lowth, East +Indiaman, lying in Table Bay, saw a small vessel of sixty tons enter the +harbour under English colours. This proved to be the _Margaret_ of New +York. Lowth's suspicions being awakened, he sent for the captain and some +of the crew, who 'confessed the whole matter,' and were promptly put in +irons. The _Margaret_ was seized, in spite of Dutch protests. Two days +later came in the _Vine_, pink, from St. Mary's, with a number of +'passengers' on board. These were pirates on their way to New England, to +make their submission, among them Chivers and Culliford. Lowth would have +seized them also, but the Dutch interfered, and the behaviour of the Dutch +admiral became so threatening that Lowth cut short his stay and made sail +for Bombay, which he reached safely, taking with him the _Margaret_ and +eighteen prisoners. On reaching England, Culliford was tried and condemned, +but respited, as has already been mentioned. + +While Kidd lay in Newgate awaiting trial, an Act was passed for the more +effectual suppression of piracy. Experience had shown that it was useless +to issue proclamations against individuals, but that some new machinery +must be created to deal with the gigantic evil that threatened to become +chronic. Under a former Act, passed in the reign of Henry VIII., the Lord +High Admiral, or his Lieutenant, or his Commissary, had been empowered to +try pirates; but the procedure had long fallen into abeyance. It had been +found almost impossible to bring offenders in distant seas to justice, to +say nothing of the cost and trouble of bringing them to England for trial. +Now it was enacted that courts of seven persons might be formed for the +trial of pirates at any place at sea or upon land, in any of his Majesty's +islands, plantations, colonies, dominions, forts, or factories. It was +necessary that at least one of the seven should be the chief of an English +factory, the governor or a member of council in a plantation or colony, or +the commander of a King's ship. These courts had powers of capital +punishment, and also had power to treat all persons who gave assistance or +countenance to pirates as accessories, and liable to the same punishments +as pirates. The Act was to be in force for seven years only. In 1706 it +was renewed for seven years, and in 1714 again for five years. + +The amnesty granted to some pirates, the hanging of others,[5] and the new +Act of Parliament, caused a great abatement of the evil. The Madagascar +settlements still flourished, but for a time European trade was free from +attack. Littleton's squadron had gone home, and was replaced by two royal +ships, the _Severn_ and the _Scarborough_, which effected nothing against +the pirates, but served by their presence to keep them quiet. + +The _Severn_ and _Scarborough_ sailed from England in May, 1703, under +Commodore Richards, who died at Johanna in the following March. The +command was then taken by Captain Harland, who visited Madagascar and +Mauritius, where two men were arrested, who afterwards made their escape +at Mohilla. The two ships returned to England in October, 1705. + +Hamilton tells us how a + + "Scots ship commanded by one Millar did the public more service in + destroying them, than all the chargeable squadrons that have been sent + in quest of them; for, with a cargo of strong ale and brandy, which he + carried to sell them, in anno 1704, he killed above 500 of them by + carousing, although they took his ship and cargo as a present from him, + and his men entered, most of them into the society of the pirates." + + +[1] This was probably a village near Ras Mabber, about one hundred and + sixty-five miles south of Cape Guardafui. + +[2] In ships of this class the quartermaster was next in importance to the + captain or master. The incident refers to the death of Moore, the + gunner of the _Adventure_, who was killed by Kidd in a fit of anger + for saying that Kidd had ruined them all. The killing of Moore was one + of the indictments against Kidd at his trial. + +[3] Warren had returned from his first cruise in the autumn of 1697. + +[4] One small Arab vessel that rashly attacked the _Harwich_, mistaking it + for a merchant vessel, was disposed of with a broadside. + +[5] Twenty were condemned and hung in one batch, in June, 1700; one of the + _Mocha_ mutineers among them. This was probably Guillam, to whom Kidd + had given a passage to America from Madagascar, and was supposed to + have been the man who stabbed Captain Edgecombe. + + + +CHAPTER III + +_THE RISE OF CONAJEE ANGRIA_ + +Native piracy hereditary on the Malabar coast--Marco Polo's +account--Fryer's narrative--The Kempsant--Arab and Sanganian +pirates--Attack on the _President_--Loss of the _Josiah_--Attack on the + _Phoenix_--The _Thomas_ captured--Depredations of the Gulf +pirates--Directors' views--Conajee Angria--Attacks English ships--Destroys +the _Bombay_--Fortifies Kennery--Becomes independent--Captures the +Governor's yacht--Attacks the _Somers_ and _Grantham_--Makes peace with +Bombay--His navy--Great increase of European and native piracy. + + +Europeans were not the only offenders. The Delhi Emperor, who claimed +universal dominion on land, made no pretension to authority at sea. So +long as the Mocha fleet did not suffer, merchants were left to take care +of themselves. There was no policing of the sea, and every trader had to +rely on his own efforts for protection. The people of the Malabar coast +were left to pursue their hereditary vocation of piracy unmolested. The +Greek author of the "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea," who wrote in the +first century of our era, mentions the pirates infesting the coast between +Bombay and Goa. Two hundred years before Vasco da Gama had shown the way +to India by sea, Marco Polo had told Europe of the Malabar pirates. + + "And you must know that from this Kingdom of Melibar, and from, + another near it called Gozurat, there go forth every year more than a + hundred corsair vessels on cruize. These pirates take with them their + wives and children, and stay out the whole summer. Their method is to + join in fleets of 20 or 30 of these pirate vessels together, and then + they form what they call a sea cordon, that is, they drop off till + there is an interval of 5 or 6 miles between ship and ship, so that + they cover something like a hundred miles of sea, and no merchant ship + can escape them. For when any one corsair sights a vessel a signal is + made by fire or smoke, and then the whole of them make for this, and + seize the merchants and plunder them. After they have plundered they + let them go, saying, 'Go along with you and get more gain, and that + mayhap will fall to us also!' But now the merchants are aware of this, + and go so well manned and armed, and with such great ships, that they + don't fear the corsairs. Still mishaps do befal them at times."[1] + + From the Persian Gulf to Cape Comorin the whole coast was beset by + native pirates, and, with the rise of the Mahratta power, the evil + increased. Petty chiefs sometimes levied blackmail by giving passports + to those who would pay for them, claiming the right to plunder all + ships that did not carry their passes; but often the formality was + dispensed with. Owing to the paucity of records of the early days, and + the more serious hostility of the Portuguese and Dutch, we hear little + of the losses sustained from native pirates, except when some ship + with a more valuable cargo than usual was captured. Fryer tells us how, + in his day, a rock off Mangalore was known as Sacrifice Island, "in + remembrance of a bloody butchery on some English by the pirate + Malabars." He further tells us how, in 1674, between Goa and Vingorla, + he took part in an attack on a pirate ship that they came on as it was + plundering a prize it had just taken, while the Dutch watched the + engagement from the shore. + + "We soon made him yield his prize to engage with us, which they did + briskly for two hours, striving to board us, casting stink-pots among + us, which broke without any execution, but so frightened our rowers, + that we were forced to be severe to restrain them. They plied their + chambers and small shot, and slung stones, flourishing their targets + and darting long lances. They were well manned in a boat ten times as + big as our barge, and at least sixty fighting men besides rowers. We + had none to manage our small gun," the gunner having deserted at Goa. + +However, the pirates were beaten off, and Fryer and his companions were +mightily praised by the Dutch. These pirates hailed probably from Vingorla, +where the Sawunt Waree chief, known in those days as the 'Kempsant,'[2] +carried on a brisk piratical trade. The name was a corruption of Khem +Sawunt, a common name of the Vingorla chiefs; the Portuguese changed it +into Quemar Santo, 'the saint burner,' on account of his sacrilegious +treatment of their churches. + +There were no more determined pirates than the Arabs of Muscat and the +Sanganians of Beyt and Dwarka, who, between them, intercepted the trade of +the Persian Gulf, while the Coolee rovers of Guzarat took their toll of +the plunder. In 1683 the Company's ship _President_ was attacked by the +Muscat Arabs with two ships and four grabs, and fought a gallant action. +The grabs[3] were generally two-masted ships, from one hundred and fifty +to three hundred tons burden, built to draw very little water, and +excellent sailers, especially in the light winds prevalent on the Western +coast. They had no bowsprit, but the main-deck was continued into a long +overhanging prow. The favourite mode of using them was for two or three of +them to run aboard their victim at the same time, and attack, sword in +hand, along the prow. Being built for fighting, and not for trade, they +could sail round the clumsy merchantmen that hailed from the Thames, and, +if pressed, could find safety in the shallow bays and mouths of rivers +along the coast. Three grabs grappled the _President_ at once, but the +boarders were beaten back, and all three were blown up and sunk, on which +the rest of the squadron made off. The _President_ was set on fire in +sixteen places, and lost eleven men killed and thirty-three wounded. + +In the following year the _Josiah_ ketch was attacked by the Sanganians +while at anchor, and in the heat of the engagement blew up. A few of the +crew saved themselves in a skiff, but the greater number perished, among +them the commander, Lieutenant Pitts, whose father was known in Bombay as +'the drunken lieutenant.' + +In September, 1685, the _Phoenix_, a British man-of-war that had been sent +for a two-years' cruise in Indian waters, was attacked by a Sanganian +vessel that mistook her for a merchantman. It was almost a calm, and +Captain Tyrrell hoisted out his boats to capture the Sanganian ship, but +they were beaten off, so he sunk her with a couple of broadsides. +Forty-one of the pirates were picked up, but many of them refused quarter, +and one hundred and seven were killed or drowned. The _Phoenix_ had three +men killed, one wounded, and two drowned. According to Hamilton, Sir George +Byng, the first lieutenant, was dangerously wounded; but the log of the +_Phoenix_ is silent on that point, though it gives the names of the +casualties. + +Three years later, the _Thomas_, Captain Lavender, was less fortunate. +Attacked by four Beyt ships, after a brave resistance, the _Thomas_ took +fire, and all on board perished. + +Their depredations were not confined to the sea. In 1697 some Beyt pirates +landed and plundered a village within sight of Broach. + +But the losses occasioned by native pirates were at first nearly lost +sight of in the more serious losses occasioned by European corsairs. + + "As for those Sanganians and those Mallabars and professed pirates," + wrote the Directors in 1699, "we see no cause why you should not wage + an offensive as well as a defensive war against them when they fall in + your way: but it is hardly worth the while to keep small vessels to + look after them, for they are poor rogues and nothing to be got of + them to answer any charge." + +In 1707, the year of Aurungzeeb's death, the pirates of the Persian Gulf +made a great haul of plunder. A squadron of them made their way to the Red +Sea, waylaid the Mocha fleet, and returned home laden with booty. In the +following year, a squadron of fourteen Arab ships from the Gulf, carrying +from thirty to fifty guns, and with seven thousand men on board, appeared +on the Malabar coast and surprised Honore, Mangalore, and Balasore(?); but +the people, having lately been plundered by the Seedee, were ready with +their arms, and beat them off with the loss of four or five hundred men. + + "The Arab insolencies are often in the thoughts of the Court," wrote + the London directors, "but the Court fears they shall not be able to + do anything effectually to check their growing strength during the + present war, which finds employment for all our naval force. Further, + the Court sympathizes with Madras on their severe losses by the + pirates, which puts a damp on the Company's trade, and affects their + revenues." + +Annoying as were the losses that were suffered from the chronic +depredations of the Arabs and Sanganians, they sank into insignificance +when compared with the troubles experienced on the rise to power of +Conajee (Kanhojee) Angria. The growth of the Mahratta power under Sivajee +had been accompanied by the formation of a formidable fleet which harried +the coast of the Concan, and against which the Seedee chief, the Emperor's +representative afloat, could hardly maintain himself. In 1698 Conajee +Angria succeeded to the command of the Mahratta navy, with the title of +Darya-Saranga. In the name of the Satara chief he was master of the whole +coast from Bombay to Vingorla, with the exception of the Seedee's +territory. Defenceless towns as far south as Travancore were attacked and +plundered, while, at sea, vessels of native merchants were preyed upon. +For a time he seems not to have meddled with the Company's vessels; as the +size of his ships increased, he grew bolder, and, in 1702, his doings +began to excite apprehension. In that year he was addressed to release a +small trading vessel from Calicut with six Englishmen on board that had +been seized and carried into one of his harbours. What had roused his +anger against the English does not appear, but a month later we find him +sending word to Bombay that he would give the English cause to remember +the name of Conajee Angria, a threat that he carried out only too well. +Two years later we find him described as a 'Rebel Independent of the Rajah +Sivajee,' and Mr. Reynolds was deputed to find him and tell him that he +could not be permitted searching, molesting, or seizing vessels in Bombay +waters: to which he returned a defiant answer, that he had done many +benefits to the English, who had broken faith with him, and henceforth he +would seize their vessels wherever he could find them. In 1707 his ships +attacked the _Bombay_ frigate, which was blown up after a brief engagement, +and for the next half-century Angrian piracy was a scourge to the European +trade of the West coast. In 1710 Conajee Angria seized and fortified +Kennery, and his ships fought the _Godolphin_ for two days, within sight +of Bombay, but were finally beaten off. He had now grown so powerful that, +in 1711, the Directors were told he could take any ship except the largest +Europe ones; "along the coast from Surat to Dabul he takes all private +merchant vessels he meets." + +Owing to the minority and imprisonment of Sivajee's grandson, Sahoojee,[4] +the Mahrattas were torn by internal divisions, in which Conajee Angria +played his part. On the death of Aurungzeeb, Sahoojee regained his liberty, +and was seated on the guddee of Satara. Owing to his want of hardihood, +and weakness of character, the dissensions continued, and Sivajee's +kingdom seemed to be on the point of breaking up into a number of +independent chiefships. Among those aiming at independence was Conajee +Angria. In 1713, an army sent against him under the Peishwa, Bhyroo Punt, +was defeated, and Bhyroo Punt taken prisoner. It was reported that Conajee +was preparing to march on Satara. Ballajee Rao, who afterwards became +Peishwa, was placed at the head of such troops as could hastily be +collected together, and opened negotiations with Conajee. An accommodation +was arrived at, by which Conajee agreed to acknowledge allegiance to +Satara, in return for which he was confirmed in command of the fleet, with +the title of Surkheil, and granted twenty-six forts and fortified places +with their dependent villages.[5] The first result of this treaty was a +war with the Seedee, who had enjoyed some of the places in question for a +number of years. Conajee was supported by the Satara arms, and the Seedee +was forced to submit to the loss. To all intents and purposes, Conajee was +now an independent chief. He was the recognized master of a strip of +territory between the sea and the western ghauts, extending from Bombay +harbour to Vingorla, excluding the Seedee's territories, a tract, roughly +speaking, about two hundred and forty miles in length by forty miles in +breadth. With his harbours strongly fortified, while the western ghauts +made his territories difficult of access by land, he was in a position to +bid defiance to all enemies. Moreover, he was the recognized chief of the +hardy coast population of hereditary seamen, who to this day furnish the +best lascars to our Indian marine. + +Angria's exploits on land had not interfered with his interests at sea. In +November, 1712, he captured the Governor of Bombay's armed yacht, together +with the _Anne_ ketch from Carwar.[6] In the engagement, Mr. Chown, chief +of the Carwar factory, was killed, and his young wife, a widow for the +second time at the age of eighteen, became Angria's prisoner. A month +later, the _Somers_ and _Grantham_, East Indiamen, on their voyage from +England to Bombay, were attacked by a grab and a gallivat belonging to +Angria, off the coast north of Goa. Owing to there being a calm at the +time, the East Indiamen were unable to bring their guns to bear: "for +which reason and by y'e earnest intercession of y'e whole ship's company +to y'e captain" the boats of the _Somers_ and _Grantham_ were hoisted out, +and an attempt was made to board the pirates. The attack was beaten off +with the loss of four men killed and seventeen wounded; but the pirates +found the entertainment so little to their liking that they made off. + +On hearing of the capture of the Governor's yacht, the Portuguese wrote to +propose a joint attack on Angria. A few months before, he had captured the +greater part of a Portuguese 'armado,' and disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war +that was convoying it. Governor Aislabie declined the Portuguese offer, +but it had the effect of bringing Angria to terms. Thinking it politic to +make peace with the English, while his affairs with the Rajah of Satara +were still unsettled, he sent a messenger to Bombay, offering to deliver +up all vessels, goods, and captives taken from the Company, if an +Englishman of credit was sent to him to settle on terms of peace for the +future. Aislabie demanded that in future English ships should be free from +molestation; that no ships of any nation coming into Bombay should be +interfered with between Mahim and Kennery; that English merchants should +have liberty of trade in Angria's ports, on payment of the usual dues; and +that Angria should be responsible for any damage done in future by the +ships belonging to his Mahratta superiors. In return, the Governor engaged +to give passes only to ships belonging to merchants recognized by the +Company, and to allow Angria's people full trading facilities in Bombay, +on the usual dues being paid. To these terms Angria agreed, but failed to +get the Governor's consent to additional terms of an egregious nature; +that he should be supplied by the Company with powder and shot on payment; +that a place should be assigned to him to make powder in; that if pressed +by his enemies, he should be assisted by the Company; that merchant ships +should not be convoyed in or out of Bombay harbour. + +There remained the duty of sending him 'an Englishman of credit' to +'deliver him the articles.' The Council, 'knowing him to be a man of ill +principles,' thought it improper to order any man on such a risky service, +but Lieutenant Mackintosh, in consideration of a gratuity of one thousand +rupees, undertook to go, and departed for Colaba, with Rs.30,000 as +ransom for the European prisoners, the convention sealed with the Council's +seal, and ships to bring back the restored goods. + +And so for a time there was security from Angria's attacks, but, with his +hands free on the Satara side, and in a more secure position than ever, it +was not likely that the peace would be of long continuance. With a fleet +of armed vessels carrying thirty and forty guns apiece, with Kennery +island in his possession within sight of Bombay harbour, Angria and his +successors continued to be a menace to the existence of Bombay, while the +Angrian territory became the Alsatia of the Indian seas, where desperadoes +of all nationalities were made welcome. + +The next few years saw an enormous increase of piracy in the Indian seas. +Angria was practically secure in his fastnesses along the coast, and +plundered every ship not strong enough to defend itself. His finest +vessels were commanded by Europeans, generally Dutch. The signing of the +Peace of Utrecht brought a fresh swarm of European adventurers to reap the +harvest of the seas. The privateersmen, disregarding the peace, under +pretence of making war on France and Spain, plundered ships of all nations. +Conden,[7] White, England, Taylor, and many others, made Madagascar their +headquarters, and emulated the feats of Every and Kidd. The Beyt pirates +were as mischievous as ever, while the Muscat Arabs could muster, in 1715, +a ship of seventy-four guns, two of sixty, one of fifty, eighteen carrying +thirty-two to twelve guns each, and a host of smaller vessels carrying +never less than four guns. The Company was forced to rely on its own +exertions, as there was not a single King's ship in Indian waters. The few +armed vessels belonging to Bombay convoyed the more valuable vessels along +the coast. The larger ships, that made the ocean voyage between India and +Europe, sailed in company for mutual protection. + + +[1] Yule's "Marco Polo." + +[2] The 'Kempason' and 'King Kemshew' of Downing. + +[3] From the Arabic _ghorab_, 'a raven.' + +[4] Known in the English annals of the time as the Sow Rajah, and the + South Rajah. + +[5] The principal forts were Kennery, Colaba, Severndroog, Viziadroog or + Gheriah, Jyeghur, Deoghur, Manikdroog, Futtehghur, Oochitghur; and + Yeswuntdroog. + +[6] See page 264. + +[7] The name of this pirate is also given as Congdon and Condent. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_AN ACTIVE GOVERNOR_ + +Arrival of Mr. Boone as Governor--He builds ships and improves defences of +Bombay--Desperate engagement of _Morning Star_ with Sanganians--Alexander +Hamilton--Expedition against Vingorla--Its failure--Hamilton made +Commodore--Expedition against Carwar--Landing force defeated--Successful +skirmish--Desertion of Goa recruits--Reinforcements--Landing force again +defeated--The Rajah makes peace--Hamilton resigns Commodoreship--A +noseless company--Angria recommences attacks--Abortive expedition against +Gheriah--Downing's account of it--Preparations to attack Kennery. + + +On the 26th December, 1715, Bombay was _en fete_. The East Indiamen +_Stanhope_ and _Queen_ had arrived from England, bringing the new Governor, +Mr. Charles Boone, and three new councillors. His predecessor, Mr. +Aislabie, had sailed for England in October. At the landing-place the +new-comers were met by the late council and the principal inhabitants and +merchants of Bombay. Thirty-one pieces of ordnance greeted them with a +salvo, and, as they put foot on shore, three companies of soldiers saluted +them with three volleys of small arms. + +Boone was a man of very different stamp from his predecessors. The +quarrels, intrigues, and self-seeking that had been so disastrous a +feature during the tenure of office of Child, Waite, and Gayer were +abhorrent to him. He was a zealous servant of the Company, whose interests +he did his best to promote with the inadequate means at his disposal. In +coming up the coast he had touched at the places where the Company had +factories, and by the time of his arrival in Bombay he had fully realized +that the pirate question demanded serious treatment. + +Bombay was then an open town, only the factory being fortified. Soon after +receiving Bombay from the Crown, the Directors had ordered it to be +fortified, but had refused to employ skilled officers, because "we know +that it is natural to engineers to contrive curiosities that are very +expensive." The only protection to the town was such as was afforded by a +number of martello towers along the shore. Nineteen years before Boone's +time the Muscat Arabs had made a descent on Salsette, ravaging, burning, +and plundering as they pleased, killing the Portuguese priests and +carrying off fourteen hundred captives into slavery. Since then the +formidable power of Angria had arisen, but nothing had been done to +improve the defences of the settlement. Boone's first care was to trace +out an enclosing wall, the building of which was to be paid for by +contributions from the native merchants. + +At the same time he set to work to build fighting ships. Within a few +months of his arrival, the _Britannia_, eighteen guns, built at Carwar, +the _Fame_, sixteen guns, built at Surat, and the _Revenge_, sixteen guns, +built at Bombay, were flying the Company's flag. It was easier to build +ships than to get sailors to man them, in view of the miserable pay given +by the Company, and the attractions of service under native chiefs. Many +of the crews were foreigners, who were ready enough to take service with +Angria, if the inclination took them, and the bulk of the crews were +Indian lascars. A few months later, the _Victory_, twenty-four guns, was +launched, and two years after his arrival, Boone had at his disposal a +fine fleet consisting of nineteen frigates, grabs, ketches, gallivats, and +rowing galleys, carrying two hundred and twenty guns, besides a bomb +vessel and a fireship. With such a force much ought to have been +accomplished, but throughout his tenure of office Boone's efforts were +crippled by the incompetency and indiscipline of those on whom he depended +to carry out his designs: while the efficiency of the ships was diminished +by their employment to carry cargoes along the coast. + +In March, 1717, Bombay was stirred by the arrival of a private ship, the +_Morning Star_, which had escaped the Beyt pirates after a long and severe +encounter. The affair is described by Hamilton; but he modestly conceals +the fact that he was himself in command of the _Morning Star_, of which he +was chief owner. The ship was on its way from Gombroon to Surat, with a +valuable cargo, of which the pirates had intelligence; and two squadrons +were fitted out to waylay her. On the 20th March she was assailed by eight +pirate ships, the largest of which was of five hundred tons, three others +being of nearly three hundred tons each, and the rest galleys and shybars, +or half-galleys. Between them they carried about two thousand men. On +board the _Morning Star_ there were only six Europeans, a number of native +merchants, and about thirty-five or forty lascars, about half of whom were +trustworthy. The first attack was made by the largest of the pirate ships +alone, and was beaten off with loss to the assailants. In the fight, +Hamilton had his thigh pierced through with a lance. For the rest of that +day and the whole of the following no further attack was made; but the +pirates hung around planning another assault. On the 22nd it was delivered. +The two largest pirates ran the _Morning Star_ aboard, one on her bow and +one on her quarter, while three others poured their crews across the decks +of their comrades. For four hours a desperate combat ensued, the six +vessels being locked together. In the heat of the fight the native +merchants went on board the pirates to try and ransom themselves, and were +accompanied by half the lascars who deserted their commander; only the +Europeans and seventeen lascars remained to fight the ship. She caught +fire in three places, the poop and half-deck being burned through. The two +pirate ships likewise caught fire, which caused them to slacken their +efforts. In the confusion Hamilton managed to disengage his ship, and made +sail; the five pirate ships being so entangled together that they were +unable to pursue, and two of them so injured as to be in a sinking +condition. So Hamilton brought off his ship in safety, after as gallant a +feat of arms as was ever performed. Seven of his men were killed, and +about the same number wounded, and finding no surgeon in Surat, he came on +to Bombay. The native merchants who were carried off by the pirates were +made to pay a ransom of L6000, and brought back word that great slaughter +had been done on the pirates, while their Commodore lost his head, on +returning to Beyt, for allowing so rich a prize to escape. + +In April, Boone sent down the _Fame_ and the _Britannia_, under Commodore +Weekes, to attack Vingorla. They carried a company of sepoys under Stanton, +one of the Company's military officers. On the way they were joined by the +_Revenge_, and they also had with them ten or twelve gallivats. Weekes +appears to have been timid and incompetent, while the force was altogether +insufficient for the purpose. Several days were spent in trying to find a +landing-place, without success, on the rocky, surf-beaten shore, while the +fortress was bombarded from different points. A violent quarrel occurred +between Weekes and Stanton, and the expedition returned to Bombay. This +was the first, but not the most serious, of Boone's failures. It was +characteristic of all the warlike expeditions he sent out, that while he +was indefatigable in preparing armaments, all other details requisite to +success were left to chance. The Council resolved that Weekes was unfit to +be Commodore, and deposed him. To fill his place the veteran Alexander +Hamilton, whose recent defence of the _Morning Star_ had shown his +fighting capacity, was induced to relinquish his private trade, and made +Commander-in-Chief of all the Company's frigates on a salary of Rs.80 a +month. His ship, the _Morning Star_, was also hired by the Council. + +As soon as the monsoon was over, he was required to conduct an expedition +to relieve the Carwar factory, which was beleaguered by the Sunda Rajah. +The chief of the factory at this time was Mr. George Taylor. In the spring +of 1717, a Bombay merchant's ship carrying an English pass and flying +English colours had been seized by the Rajah, who imprisoned the crew. +Demands for their surrender were being made, when, in May, the _Elizabeth_, +belonging to Mr. Strutt, a private merchant at Surat, with L15,000 worth +of treasure on board, went ashore near Carwar. Before more than half the +treasure could be removed in safety to the factory, the Rajah sent down an +armed force to seize the ship as jetsam, imprisoned the captain and crew, +and laid siege to the factory. So Hamilton was sent down with a small +squadron and some troops. Fortunately the factory was exceptionally well +provisioned. On the 30th August, the _Morning Star_, with five gallivats +and a sloop, arrived off Carwar, and blockaded the harbour till the +arrival of Hamilton and the rest of the force on the 12th September. In +command of the land force was Midford, one of the Company's factors. On +the 13th, the troops were landed, under Midford and Stanton, in a heavy +surf which drove the gallivats[1] on shore and upset them, throwing the +whole party into the water. Midford, with some of his men, struggled on +shore, but Stanton was taken out of the water senseless.[2] In the midst +of this scene of confusion they were suddenly charged by the Rajah's +horsemen. Half drowned, undisciplined, and with their ammunition spoiled +by water, they could make only a feeble resistance. Midford and his +English Serjeant, Hill, were desperately wounded and made prisoners, +together with five Europeans and forty-seven topasses, while sixty men +were killed and two gallivats lost. The wretched topasses had their noses +cut off, five European heads were stuck up in derision before the factory, +while Midford and Hill were alternately cajoled and threatened to induce +them to take service with the Rajah. + +In consequence of this disaster, the factory sued for peace, but the +Rajah's terms were so humiliating that they were rejected, and it was +decided to await further reinforcements from Bombay; but two months +elapsed before their arrival. Meanwhile, a post of four hundred men was +established on shore to guard the water-supply required for daily use. +This gave rise to a skirmish, which put some heart into the invaders. +Early one morning the post was attacked by the enemy, who found, to their +surprise, that they had come under fire of the guns of some small vessels +Hamilton had anchored close inshore. After an hour's cannonade, they broke +and fled, pursued by the party on shore, who accounted for some two +hundred of them. Encouraged by this success, Stanton continued to harass +the Rajah by small night attacks, and by burning some of his villages, +while at sea they did him more damage by intercepting his ships laden with +salt and other necessaries, and especially three, bringing Arab horses +from Muscat; though the captors were much troubled in providing water and +provender for them. Meanwhile, the factory, which was five or six miles up +the river, on the north bank, continued to be invested, and in order to +prevent any communication with the squadron, a boom was laid across the +river, commanded by a battery on the south side. In spite of this, +communication was kept up through the Portuguese factory, and, more than +once, Lieutenant Forbes contrived to pass in and out in a rowing-boat, but +it was impossible to send in provisions. + +About this time we find Hamilton reporting to Bombay-- + + "The recruits from Goa had a skirmish at break of day, on 28[th] + September, with the enemy, wherein they behaved themselves bravely, + but that on an attempt to burn some villages afterwards, they advised + the enemy of it, and deserted with some arms and granadoes." + +At last the looked-for reinforcements arrived from Bombay, under Captain +Gordon, raising the whole strength of the expedition to 2250 men, +including seamen, and a landing in force was determined on. Two of the +prizes had been equipped as floating batteries, with shot-proof bulwarks, +and were laid ashore to engage the Rajah's batteries. At four o'clock in +the morning of the 16th November, 1250 men were put ashore, under Gordon, +without hindrance from the enemy, who were ready to take to flight before +such a force. Gordon's idea was to advance in a hollow square, which, in +spite of Hamilton's sneer at him as a 'freshwater land officer,' was a +good enough formation in the circumstances; but so much time was consumed +in getting the men into the required formation, owing to the inexperience +and want of discipline among both officers and men, that the enemy took +heart again and advanced to meet them. When the square at last moved +forward, with Gordon at their head, they were met with a hot fire, and +Gordon was a mark for every aim. Before long he fell, shot in the breast, +and Captain Smith, 'commonly called Old Woman,' on whom the command +devolved, at once gave the word to retreat. According to Hamilton, 'he +pulled off his red coat and vanished.' The Rajah's horsemen charged down, +sword in hand, on the disordered ranks; the men threw down their arms and +fled to the boats, leaving some two hundred and fifty of their number dead +on the field. Fortunately, the floating batteries covered the embarkation, +and prevented the enemy, who had suffered some loss, from gathering the +spoils of the fallen. Eighty seamen were sent on shore, and brought back +about two hundred muskets that had been thrown away in flight, most of +them loaded. Thus ingloriously ended the attempts at landing. + +The factory was by this time reduced to great straits for food, and this +fresh disaster made peace imperative; the Rajah, in spite of his success +so far, was anxious to come to an accommodation. The expense of +maintaining so many armed men threatened to ruin him; the sea blockade and +the detention of the horses were events on which he had not reckoned: and, +worse still, his northern borders were harried by the Sow Bajah, 'which +made him incline very much towards a peace:' so an agreement was quickly +arrived at, and, on the 29th November, peace was proclaimed on easy terms +for both parties. The expedition had cost the Company Rs.68,372 in hard +cash. The inability of the landing force to advance beyond range of the +ships' guns bears witness to their military incapacity. + +His short experience of six months under the Company had completely +disgusted Alexander Hamilton. Immediately on his return to Bombay he +resigned his post as Commander-in-Chief of their ships-of-war, and resumed +business as a private trader. His relations with the military officers +during the expedition appear to have been satisfactory, but against Taylor, +the head of the Carwar factory, he formulated a series of charges, +accusing him of having been the cause of the trouble with the Rajah, +through his indiscretion and bad faith. Taylor retaliated by accusing +Hamilton of not having taken proper measures to relieve the factory. The +Council investigated the charges, and contented themselves with cautioning +Taylor to behave better in future. + +The unfortunate topasses, who had had their noses cut off, were formed +into a company of marines, and had their pay augmented to Rs.5 a month.[3] +In this odd way the Bombay Marine Battalion appears to have had its origin. + +We get some idea of the Sunda Rajahs of the period in a letter from Carwar, +dated the 20th January, 1698. + + "He" (the Sunda Rajah) "is so excessive craving after money, that he + is about sacrificing twelve men and twelve women with child, to get + two pots of treasure which one of his magicians tells him lies buried + near his palace." + +While these events were taking place at Carwar, Boone found himself +involved in trouble with Angria. For some time after the treaty made by +Aislabie, Angria had respected Bombay trading ships, but of late he had +begun to show his teeth again. In the beginning of 1716 he had made prize +of a Company's boat in sight of the harbour, and of another belonging to a +private merchant. Four private ships from Mahim, valued at 30,000 +xeraphims, were also captured by him, and his ships trading to Bombay +refused to pay harbour dues. While Hamilton was engaged at Carwar, Angria's +fleet attacked and took the _Success_, East Indiaman, on its way from +Surat. With an impoverished exchequer, a force weakened and disorganized +by the Carwar adventure, and no ammunition in his magazine, Boone found +himself in no condition to take active measures for the present. + +In the vain hope of bringing Angria to reason, a letter of expostulation +was written, which met with a hostile response, quickly followed by the +capture of the _Otter_, a Bengal ship. A second letter of defiance was +received, so, on the 7th May, in spite of inadequate resources, the +Council resolved on striking a blow. An expedition against Gheriah was +determined on, and twenty gallivats were sent down, manned with sepoys, to +retake, if possible, the captured vessels, "if they were attacked, to +repel force by force, and if possible plunder his country." The official +record of the expedition is as follows:-- + + _4th June_.--Two gallivats returned having plundered a town in Angria's + country, and brought away sixteen prisoners. + + _9th June_.--Returned our gallivats, having by mismanagement of the + chief officer lost about fifty men and destroyed one town of Angria's. + +Downing, who was present, gives an account of the attack on Gheriah, +though he makes a mistake as to the date. As it is the only account we +have of what took place, it will be better to give it in his own words. + + "On the 10th of the same instant the President reviewed the land + forces on shore, and saw all things put in good and sufficient order. + Major Vane, chief engineer for the Company, had tried all the mortars + and coehorns, then fitted and stocked for the expedition. Mr. John + Minims was appointed chief engineer for the direction of these mortars + and coehorns, which did great service. We proceeded down the coast for + Gerey, which is not above twelve hours' sail from Bombay, where we + with all our navy soon arrived, and run boldly into the harbour. + Captain Berlew (Bellew?) Commodore, and ranged a line from the + eastermost part of the fortifications to the outer part of the harbour. + Keeping all our small galleys and galleywats on the off-side under + shelter. But they had strong fortifications on both sides; so that we + left our strongest ships in the harbour, to make a breach in the walls, + in order to storm the castle. The rocks were very high, and so + slippery that one could hardly stand without a staff, and consequently + not a place convenient to draw men up in any posture of defence. We + endeavoured to get the fireship in, but could not; for on the east + part of the fort they had a cove or creek, where they had laid up a + great part of their fleet, and had got a strong boom across the same; + so that we could not annoy them any otherwise than by throwing our + bombs and coehorns very thick into the garrison, which we did for a + considerable time, and were in hopes after the first and second day's + siege, that we should have drove them out of that strong castle, but + we soon found that the place was impregnable. For as we kept throwing + our shells as fast as we could in regular time, cooling our chambers + before we loaded again; after we had beat over two or three houses in + the castle, the shells fell on the rocks in the inside the castle, and + their weight and force of falling would break them without so much as + their blowing up.... As to storming the walls, they were so high that + our scaling ladders would not near reach the top of them...." + + "After the second day we landed all our forces, taking the opportunity + of the tide.... We got them all on shore, and marched up the country, + without molestation; only now and then the castle would let fly a shot + or two, which did us small damage. We attempted to march the army down + to their shipping, and to set them on fire; but when we came within a + mile of the place the land was all swampy, and so very muddy by the + spring tides flowing over that we could not proceed. On our retreat + they galled us very much by firing from the castle, we being obliged + to come near the castle walls to take our forces off again. Here the + gallant Captain Gordon was slightly wounded again.... I question + whether there were a hundred men in the castle during the time of the + siege...." + + "We drew off our forces on the 18th April, and went up to Bombay to + repair our frigates and take care of our wounded men, of whom we had a + considerable number." + +In no way discouraged by the failure, Boone at once set to work to prepare +for a fresh attack on Angria. This time it was determined that Kennery, +within sight of Bombay harbour, should be the object of attack, and all +through the monsoon preparations were made. + + +[1] Galleywats, or gallivats, were large rowing-boats with two masts, of + forty to seventy tons, and carrying four to eight guns. + +[2] In a letter, three years later, on the conduct of military officers, + it is stated that "Stanton was drunk the time he should have gone upon + action at Carwar." + +[3] Bombay Consultations, 22nd January, 1718. + + + +CHAPTER V + +_THE COMPANY'S SERVANTS_ + +The Company's civil servants--Their comparison with English who went to +America--Their miserable salaries--The Company's military servants-- +Regarded with distrust--Shaxton's mutiny--Captain Keigwin--Broken pledges +and ill-treatment--Directors' vacillating policy--Military grievances-- +Keigwin seizes the administration of Bombay--His wise rule--Makes his +submission to the Crown--Low status of Company's military officers--Lord +Egmont's speech--Factors and writers as generals and colonels--Bad quality +of the common soldiers--Their bad treatment--Complaint against Midford-- +Directors' parsimony. + + +It may be useful here to consider the difference in the men sent out, by +England, to the East and West Indies during the seventeenth and part of +the eighteenth centuries. To the West Indies went out representatives of +the landed gentry from every county in England. Charters were obtained +from the Crown, conferring estates, and sometimes whole islands, on men of +ancient families. Slaves were cheap, and sugar cultivation brought in +great wealth; the whole machinery of English life was reproduced in the +tropics--counties, parishes; sheriffs, rectories, tithes, an established +church, etc. The same causes that sent the Cavaliers to Virginia, sent a +smaller migration to the West Indies. At the Restoration, the men who had +conquered Jamaica for Cromwell were unwilling to return to England. +Monmouth's rebellion and the expulsion of the Stuarts produced a fresh +influx. But, whether Cavaliers or Roundheads or Jacobites, they came from +the landholding class in England. The evidence may still be read in old +West Indian graveyards, where the crumbling monuments show the carefully +engraved armorial bearings, and the inscriptions record the families and +homes in England from which those whom they commemorate had sprung. + +In the East Indies nothing of the kind was possible. The acquisition of +land for agriculture was out of the question. Trade was the only opening, +and that was monopolized by the Company. Except as a servant of the +Company, an Englishman had no legal status in the East. The chief profits +went to the shareholders in London. If at the end of twenty-five years or +so a Company's servant could return to England with a few thousands made +by private trade, he was a fortunate man. Private traders and a few of the +governors were alone able to make fortunes. The shaking of the pagoda tree +did not begin till after Plassey. The result was that the men who went to +India were of a totally different class from those who went to America and +the West Indies; they were young men from small trading families in London, +Greenwich, and Deptford, or from seaport towns like Bristol and Plymouth. +Among them were some restless and adventurous spirits who found life in +England too tame or too burdensome. For such men India was long regarded +as a useful outlet. "If you cannot devise expedients to send contributions, +or procure credit, all is lost, and I must go to the Indies," wrote +William the Third, in bitter humour, at a desperate crisis in his affairs. +Fryer tells us (1698) how the Company had entertained Bluecoat boys as +apprentices for seven years, after which time they were to be made writers, +if able to furnish the required security. The salaries they received from +the Company were only nominal. A Bombay pay-list of January, 1716, shows +us the official salaries at that time. The Governor received L300 per +annum. Next to him came eight merchants, who with him constituted the +Council, and received respectively, one L100, one L70, two L50, and four +L40 each. Below them came three senior factors at L30 each, three junior +factors at L15, and seven writers at L5.[1] The tale is completed by the +accountant and the chaplain, who received L100 each. A writer on entering +the service had to find security for L500, which was increased to L1000 +when he rose to be a factor. The unmarried servants of the Company were +lodged at the Company's expense; the married ones received a lodging +allowance, and a public table was maintained. In fact, the Company treated +them as if they were apprentices in a warehouse in St. Paul's Churchyard, +and, when the conditions of their service are taken into account, it is +not surprising that there was a considerable amount of dishonesty among +them. These conditions apart, they were neither worse nor better than the +men of their time. As the original Company gained stability by the +incorporation of its upstart rival established in 1698,[2] which put an +end to a condition of affairs that promised to be ruinous to both, and by +the grant of perpetuity issued in the year following incorporation, there +was a gradual improvement in the quality of their civil servants. Though +no increase in the salaries of junior officers took place for many years +afterwards, the greater facilities opened to them, for trade, attracted +better men into the service, among them some cadets of good family. + +Miserable as was the display of military incompetency at Carwar and on +subsequent occasions, it is hardly surprising when the condition of the +Company's soldiers is considered. The Company's policy was to keep +officers and men in a state of degrading subjection; to prevent the +officers from having any authority over their men, while pledges as to pay +were often broken. + +When the Company first received Bombay from the Crown, the royal troops in +the island were invited to remain in the Company's service on the same +rank and pay, on the condition that they might resign when they pleased--a +condition that made discipline impossible. The greater number of them +accepted the terms. Two years later, a company was sent out under Captain +Shaxton to fill vacancies. Shaxton was evidently a man of good abilities +and position; one who had been trained in the stern military school of the +civil wars. He was to be a factor in addition to his military command, and +if, after trial, his qualifications would admit of it, he was to hold the +office of Deputy Governor. The men were engaged for three years. + +By the time he had been two years in Bombay, Shaxton found that, under the +penurious rule of the Company, efficiency was impossible, while the two +European companies maintained for the defence of the island could only be +kept up to strength by filling the vacancies with natives. Four years +later,[3] a mutiny broke out, in which Shaxton supported the demands of +his men. They complained that a month's pay, promised to them on +engagement, was due to them, and claimed their discharge, as their time of +service had expired. President Aungier behaved with prudence and firmness. +He pacified the men by granting their demands, and brought the ringleaders +to trial by court-martial. Three of them were condemned to death, of whom +one, Corporal Fake, was shot, and the other two pardoned. Shaxton was then +brought to trial, found guilty of some of the charges, and sent to England +for punishment according to the King's pleasure. + +Two years later a troop of horse was formed, and sent out under Captain +Richard Keigwin, who was to command the garrison on a salary of L120 a +year. Keigwin was a man of good Cornish family, who had entered the King's +navy in 1665, and taken part in Monk's memorable four days' battle against +the Dutch in the following year. When St. Helena was recaptured from the +Dutch (1673), he had distinguished himself in command of the boats that +made the attack, and was left as Governor of the island till it was taken +over by the East India Company. As a reward for his services, the Company +made him their military commandant at Bombay. Two years later again, the +Company, in a fit of economy, reduced their military establishment to two +lieutenants, two ensigns, and one hundred and eighty-eight rank and file. +The troop of horse was disbanded, Keigwin was discharged from the service, +and thirty soldiers, who had been detached to Surat to defend the factory +against Sivajee, were refused any extra allowance, which caused much +discontent. Before long the Directors became alarmed at the defenceless +state of Bombay, and sent out Keigwin again with troops and artillery, to +have the chief military command and the third seat in Council. To meet the +expense, the other officers were made to suffer in rank and pay, and the +whole of the small force fell into a dangerous state of discontent. Among +other reductions in the pay of their military force, the Directors reduced +the rate of exchange, a measure that affected the men as well as the +officers; and, not content with making these changes prospective, insisted +that the officers should refund the surplus of what they had received. +Keigwin also had his personal grievance. He claimed subsistence money, +like the rest of the merchants and factors, the Company's table having +been abolished.[4] After much altercation, a grant was made to him, on the +condition that it would have to be refunded if disallowed by the Directors. +He was sick of the Company, with their greed and their selfish economies +at the expense of their servants, their broken pledges and stupid changes +of policy in military affairs, the intrigues of Sir John Child at Surat, +and the schemes of his brother, Sir Josiah Child, in England. Like many +other Englishmen, he considered the Company was an anomaly, dangerous to +the authority of the Crown, and his distrust was increased by the +mismanagement and corruption that existed among their servants in the East. + +On the 27th December, 1683, he seized Mr. Ward, the Deputy Governor, and +such of the Council as sided with him, assembled the troops, and issued a +proclamation declaring the Company's authority at an end, and that the +island was henceforth under the King's protection. By general consent he +was elected Governor, and at once proceeded to restore order. The troops +and inhabitants were called on to take an oath of allegiance to the King, +and to renounce their obedience to the Company, a demand that was +universally complied with. Officials were appointed, grievances were +redressed, and trade was encouraged, to be carried on without molestation +so long as Keigwin's authority was not challenged. Money arriving from +England was lodged in the fort, with a declaration that it would be +employed only in defence of the island, and letters were addressed by +Keigwin to the King and the Duke of York, stating his determination to +hold the island for the King till his Majesty's pleasure should be known, +together with the causes that had led to the revolt; one of them being the +necessity of preserving it from becoming a conquest to the native powers. + +Never had Bombay been so well governed as it was during the eleven months +of Keigwin's rule. The Seedee sent a friendly deputation to him. From the +Rajah of Satara he obtained confirmation of the articles agreed on by +Sivajee, a grant for the establishment of factories at Cuddalore and +Thevenapatam, an exemption from duties in the Carnatic, and the payment of +twelve thousand pagodas in compensation for losses sustained at different +places formerly plundered by the Mahrattas. There was no disorder or +bloodshed; the only thing of the kind that has been recorded being a wound +received by Keigwin himself in a quarrel at table. So great was the +enthusiasm for Keigwin, that when, first commissioners, and then Sir John +Child himself, came from Surat to try and re-establish the Company's +authority, it was with difficulty that the crews of their vessels could be +prevented from joining Keigwin and his adherents.[5] It was well for the +Company that he was a man of solid character and not an adventurer. On the +arrival of Sir Thomas Grantham from England in November, 1684, Keigwin +surrendered the island to him, as a King's officer, on condition of a free +pardon for himself and his associates, and proceeded to England.[6] The +Company's treasure was intact, and, except for the dangerous spirit +against the Company that had been aroused, Bombay was in a better state +than it had been at the time of the revolt. + +After this the Company decided to have nothing more to do with +professional soldiers. It was the time when the great feeling of hostility +to a standing army was growing up in England, under the mischievous +preaching of agitators, which reached its height thirteen years later. +They took into their service men of low origin, devoid of military +training, who would have no influence over their men, and who would submit +to any treatment. Boone, writing to the Directors in 1720, says-- + + "It is well known the Company's servants, in all the settlements I + have been in, seldom keep company with the military, especially the + Council. Now and then they may invite one to take a dinner, which is a + favour; but the men which he distinguishes are not company for your + second." + + +The social status of the Company's officers appears later, when an Act was +passed to extend the Mutiny Act to the East Indies and St. Helena, in +consequence of the Company's right to exercise martial law having been +questioned. In opposing the bill, the Earl of Egmont said-- + + "If I am rightly informed, there are some of the Company's officers of + a very low character. One of them was formerly a trumpeter at a raree + show in this country, and when he was discharged that honourable + service he listed himself in the Company's service as a common soldier, + and I suppose was made an officer by one of those governors for + trumpeting to him better than any other man could do it in the country. + Another, I am told, was a low sort of barber--one of our + shave-for-a-penny barbers--here in London. And another of + them was a butcher here, and when he is not upon duty I am + told he still exercises his trade there. Can we think that such + officers will not be despised by gentlemen who have the honour to + bear his Majesty's commission?" + +He based his opposition to the bill on the unfitness of the Company's +officers to exercise authority, and to the bad relations sure to arise +between them and the King's officers.[7] + +In quarters they were not allowed to give any orders to their men, or to +have any control over them, the most trivial matters being kept in the +hands of the merchants and factors. To such an extent was this carried, +that for fifty years afterwards no military officer was allowed to give +out the parole and countersign.[8] Their only duties were to command the +men when under arms. Commissions were granted and taken away by the +Council without reference to the Directors. + +Under such treatment there could be neither self-respect nor pride in +their profession. Of their general behaviour, we may gather some idea +from an entry concerning Lieutenant Parker at this time. He was arraigned +before the Council for drinking, brawling with his men, and frequenting +base houses, for which the Council deprived him of his commission; but as +he was 'an extraordinary person in disciplining (drilling) soldiers,' he +was appointed adjutant of the regiment till he should give a specimen of +improved behaviour. When there was fighting to be done, the command was +taken by factors and writers, who were given temporary commissions as +captains, colonels, etc. Midford, Brown, Cowan, and others we hear of in +command of troops, were only soldiers for the occasion. So far back as +1676 the Directors had enjoined on their civil servants to acquire a +knowledge of military discipline, that in the event of any sudden attack +they might bear arms. Clive was far from being the first of the Company's +servants to lay down the pen for the sword, but he was the first to do so +permanently. + +The inferior quality of the Company's officers through the first half of +the century is reflected in the fact that among the many who distinguished +themselves in the hard fighting that went on from 1751 to 1764, we find +only two who had not graduated in the King's service. These were Clive, +who entered the Company's service as a writer, and Preston, who was sent +to India as a civil engineer. Of the Company's purely military officers we +hear little or nothing. + +The men were worse than the officers. Instead of the sturdy agricultural +labourers and farmers' sons that filled the ranks of the King's regiments, +they were 'the refuse of the vilest employments in London,' as Orme +described them fifty years later; 'the worst of their kind,' according to +Clive. Of all nationalities, ages, and colours, badly armed, badly fed, +and badly paid, they were almost without discipline. The native chiefs +vied with each other in getting Europeans into their service, so that none +but the most wretched would stay to serve the Company. At the best they +were only factory guards, and maintained for purposes of escort and +display; and it was always the Company's practice to retain officers and +men in their service up to any age. On one occasion we find Boone writing +to the Directors that 'it would not do to disgust the men too much.' +Miserable as was their pay of sixteen laris[9] a month, we find them +complaining to the Council that Midford had kept back two laris a month +from each man. To which Midford replied that he never received nor took +any more profit from the soldiers than what other officers did, all +through the island of Bombay; with which answer the Council was apparently +satisfied. The real grievance of the men appears to have been that Midford, +not being a military officer, was not entitled to make the deduction. The +Directors were careful in enjoining that powder was not to be wasted at +exercise; "but sometimes the men must be used to firing, lest in time of +action they should start at the noise or the recoil of their arms." To +bring such officers and men into the field was to invite disaster. +Soldiers are not made by dressing men in uniform and putting muskets into +their hands. + +[Illustration: Map] + + +[1] According to the Company's instructions in 1675, writers were to + receive no salary at all for the first five years, and after that L10 + a year. In 1699 the Court of Directors settled the salaries of + merchants at L60, factors at L40, and writers at L20 per annum (Bruce); + but in 1716 the salaries were as above stated. + +[2] The London Company and the English East India Company were amalgamated + in 1708. + +[3] 1674. + +[4] It was afterwards re-established, and again abolished in Boone's time. + +[5] Bombay was subordinate to the Surat factory till 1685. + +[6] Four years after returning to England, Keigwin was given the command + of a frigate. In 1690 he accompanied the expedition against the French + in the West Indies, and fell at the head of his men in the assault of + Basseterre, St. Christopher's.--_Dic. Nat. Bio_. + +[7] Hansard, 1754. + +[8] The first General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in Madras was + dated the 22nd November, 1772. + +[9] The lari was the well-known hook money of the Persian Gulf. It was + worth about sixpence. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY_ + +Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and +Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria +occupies Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de +Castro--Futile proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second +landing--Manuel de Castro's treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour +of two captains--Defeat--Attack abandoned--The _St. George_--The +_Phram_--Manuel de Castro punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria +makes overtures for peace--Boone outwitted. + + +The islet of Kennery, about ten miles from the mouth of the harbour, and +three from the mainland, had long been a thorn in the side of Bombay trade. +At the time of the first occupation of Bombay it was uninhabited. In 1679 +it was suddenly occupied by Sivajee, who began to fortify it. The danger +of this to Bombay was at once seen, and part of the garrison was sent in +small vessels, afterwards reinforced by the _Revenge_, frigate, to +intercept the communication between Kennery and the mainland. On the 18th +October, the Mahratta fleet bore down and engaged. In half an hour the +_Dove_, grab, hauled down its colours and was captured, and all the +smaller vessels made sail for Bombay, leaving the _Revenge_, like its more +famous namesake, alone amidst its foes. Fortunately, there were on board +two sturdy Englishmen, Minchin, the Company's commodore, and Keigwin, the +commander of the garrison. Undismayed by the odds against them, Minchin +and Keigwin gallantly fought their ship; all attempts at boarding were +repelled with loss, five of the Mahratta gallivats were sunk, and, at last, +the whole Mahratta fleet took to flight, pursued by the _Revenge_, and +sought refuge in the shallow waters at the mouth of the Negotna river. Two +days later, they came out again, but found Keigwin and Minchin so ready to +engage, that they desisted from the attempt to reach Kennery. In this way, +for some time, a partial blockade of the Negotna river was maintained by +the _Revenge_, which had been reinforced by the _Hunter_ frigate, and a +number of small vessels from Bombay. In spite of all efforts, a few +Mahratta vessels from time to time evaded the blockade, and kept Kennery +supplied with provisions and arms. This unexpected opposition from a +company of traders stirred Sivajee to settle the matter by an attack on +Bombay, which was in no condition to make any resistance. He marched five +thousand men to Kalyan, and demanded permission, of the Portuguese, to +land at Thana and march on Bombay. The permission was refused, but the +Bombay Council were so alarmed lest the Portuguese should ultimately give +way, that they opened negotiations with Sivajee. Meanwhile, his seizure of +Kennery had alarmed the Seedee, who sent his fleet into Bombay harbour, +and offered his co-operation to the President, who accepted it with some +misgivings. Before long, it was discovered that the Seedee intended to +keep Kennery for himself, if he could capture it, which seemed to the +Council as bad as if it were in Sivajee's hands, so the English squadron +held aloof, while the struggle for Kennery continued between the Seedee +and the Mahrattas. Sivajee was too much occupied with other matters to +trouble about Bombay, and in March, 1680, a treaty of peace was made. His +struggle with the Seedee for the possession of Kennery went on, with +results that are not recorded; but eventually both parties appear to have +left the place to itself. In 1710, Conajee Angria seized the islet and +fortified it. + +By the end of October all was ready. The ships from England, with the +merchandise and money for the yearly investment, had arrived, and joined +in the expedition. In order to put an end to the quarrels among commanders +that had marked the failure of former expeditions, Boone resolved to take +the command himself; so, on the 1st November, he hoisted his flag on board +the _Addison_, East Indiaman, having with him Mr. Walter Brown and other +factors and writers. There was at this time in the service a renegade +Portuguese, one Manuel de Castro, who had been in Angria's service before +Boone had given him employment. He had been present at Hamilton's attack +on Carwar, when his misbehaviour had been such as to make all present +distrust him. By his boasts of his knowledge of Angria's harbours he had +gained the confidence of the Council, and had been appointed Commodore of +the Company's gallivats. But several of the English captains refused to +serve under him, protesting that they knew his character better than the +Governor did; so Boone contented himself by giving him command of only +five gallivats. On the 2nd, the squadron weighed anchor, and, on the +following day anchored off Kennery. It consisted of the _Addison_ and +_Dartmouth_, East Indiamen, the _Victoria_ frigate, the _Revenge_ and +_Defiance_ grabs, the _Fame_ galley, the _Hunter_ ketch, two bombketches, +and forty-eight gallivats. On the 6th they were joined by the _Morrice_, +and on the 12th by the _Stanhope_, East Indiamen. Directly after anchoring, +a futile bombardment was opened on the Kennery fort, but the distance was +so great that nothing was effected but waste of ammunition. The ships then +stood in closer, and opened fire again, while the _Dartmouth_ ran in and +fired several broadsides. While this was going on, the _Victory_ and +_Revenge_ were signalled to attack two grabs that were seen coming out of +the harbour; but, on fourteen gallivats coming out to assist the grabs, +they were recalled. The 4th was spent in preparations for a landing, and +the gallivats rowed round the island to choose a landing-place. It was +finally arranged that the soldiers and marines should land to windward, +while the sepoys, covered by the fire of grabs and gallivats, should land +at the opposite side of the Island, to leeward. But when the moment +arrived, next morning, the sepoys absolutely refused to land, in spite of +the severest measures.[1] The soldiers and marines, three hundred in +number, landed, but were beaten back with a loss of eighteen killed and +fifty wounded, "more by ye force of stones hoven from ye rocks than fier +arms." Some loss was occasioned by the bursting of a gun on board one of +the gallivats. Manuel de Castro, with his squadron of gallivats, had been +ordered to lie off the mouth of the harbour and prevent reinforcements +reaching Kennery. Notwithstanding, he allowed five of Angria's gallivats +to slip in with ammunition and provisions for the besieged, of which they +were believed to stand much in need. + +The 6th was occupied in making preparations for another attack, and +volunteers were called for from among the sailors, for which service they +were to receive forty rupees each, which, at the existing rate of exchange, +was reckoned equal to five pounds sterling. The loss of a leg or arm was +to be recompensed by a sum of L30 on return to England, and employment for +life under the Company. The married men were promised, if killed, that +their widows should receive L30, with L10 for each child. These offers +procured some forty volunteers, who were to be led by Gideon Russell, mate +of the _Morrice_. + +Early next morning the attacking party were put into the boats, to land +under cover of the fire of the _Britannia_, _Fame_ and _Revenge_; when it +was found that a strong current prevented disembarkation, and the boats +were forced to lie off under a heavy fire, until the tide changed. To make +matters worse, Manuel de Castro ran two of his gallivats ashore under the +guns of the castle, so that fifty or sixty men were killed or wounded +before a landing was effected. At ten o'clock the boats pulled for the +landing-place; but the tide was still running so strongly that they were +thrown into confusion, and many of the attacking party never landed at all. +The sepoys again refused to land. A small party of seamen, headed by +Gideon Russell, attacked the gateway under a shower of shot and stones, +and, before long, Russell fell, grievously wounded. He was carried back to +the _Morrice_, where he died next day. The seamen continued their attack +under Clement Downing, backed by Major Stanton, Captain Coxsidge, and the +soldiers. John Steele, the carpenter's mate of the _Morrice_, with his +broad axe hewed at the gate and nearly effected an entrance, when the +cowardice of two of Stanton's captains caused the attack to miscarry. One +of them threw down his sword, which was carried to Boone, who, on return +to Bombay, ordered him to be broke at the head of the garrison. The other, +somewhat more courageous, came boldly up to the gate and fired his pistol; +but the bullet rebounded and struck him on the nose; upon which he ordered +the drums to beat a retreat, and the soldiers got back to the boats, +leaving a small handful of seamen to prosecute the attack. These, in turn, +seeing the hopelessness of any further attempts, retreated to their boats, +and rowed off under a heavy fire, leaving many wounded to be massacred by +the enemy. It was the old story, repeated so often on these occasions; a +badly planned attack carried out half-heartedly by undisciplined men, +under one or two resolute leaders; as soon as the leaders were disabled, +the rest retreated with more or less loss. + +A desultory bombardment was continued for some days, and some shots were +fired against Colaba; but Kennery was now well provided with ammunition, +and could return two shots for every one fired by the Bombay squadron. On +the 11th, Angria sent a flag of truce to offer terms, which were rejected. +On the 14th, Boone returned to Bombay in the _Dartmouth_, seeing that +nothing more could be effected, and, on the 24th, the whole squadron made +sail for Bombay, after exhausting all their ammunition. Their return seems +to have been hastened by the appearance of Angria's fleet from Gheriah, +which had Bombay for a time at its mercy. + +The failure of the attack on Kennery, under his own eyes, taught Boone +that, without some assistance from England, he could hope to accomplish +little against Angria, whose ships now lay off the harbour, making it +difficult for trading vessels to go in or out. Three times the _Morrice_ +got under way, and three times had to return, before she could start on +her return voyage to Europe. In consequence of Boone's representations, +the Directors sent out the _St. George_, a sixty-gun ship, to act as a +guardship for the harbour. Her arrival only served to show the +incompetency of many of the Company's naval officers at that time. In +laying the ship on shore to scour its bottom after the voyage from England, +its back was broken, and the _St. George_ became a total wreck. + +Meanwhile, with an eye to a future campaign against Angria's strongholds, +Boone set to work to build a floating battery. The _Phram_, as it was +called, was designed with shot-proof sides to carry twelve 48-pdrs.; but, +as will appear before long, its fate was as ignominious as that of the _St. +George_. + +His own observation had convinced Boone of the treachery of Manuel de +Castro. On his return to Bombay, the renegade was put in irons, and +shipped off to St. Helena. There he was detected in fomenting a mutiny +among the convicts and slaves. He was deported, and before long made his +way back into Angria's service. + +Meanwhile, the wall round the town, the building of which had been one of +Boone's earliest projects, was nearing completion. It was built entirely, +or almost entirely, by contributions from the native merchants, and Boone +reported to the Directors that, when the whole space was built over, the +ground-rents would realize Rs.8890 a year for the Company's treasury. The +church also, the building of which had been started by Aislabie, was +finished about this time. The original chapel inside the factory was no +longer able to accommodate the increasing English population, besides +being in a ruinous condition. + +Like other chiefs along the coast, the Bombay authorities gave passes to +traders living under their protection, and in their warfare with Angria +they had adopted the practice of other chiefs, of not recognizing the +immunity of vessels that did not carry passes from themselves. We find at +this time the Kattiawar traders complaining of two ships having been +seized that held protective passes from Angria. In reply they were told +that they must have English passes. The Company was at war with Angria, +and his power was increased by those who paid him for protection. So, like +all neutrals, they had to suffer in a war with which they had no concern. + +Apprehensive of a fresh attack after the monsoon, Angria opened delusive +negotiations for a treaty of peace, through his feudal lord, Sahoojee. +Boone was regularly taken in, and announced with satisfaction, to the +Directors, that a treaty had been made, under which Angria contracted to +restore all ships and vessels he had taken, except the _Success_, which +was hopelessly decayed, for which he was to pay Rs.10,000, or to restore +goods to that amount. In lieu of captured cargoes he was to pay Rs.50,000, +or to give goods of equal value, and within two years he was to pay +Rs.10,000 more, for which payment Sahoojee undertook to be surety. Boone +reported that he had captured from Angria prizes to the value of Rs.9785, +which, together with the above payment, and a two-per-cent. war-tax on the +people of Bombay, would go some way to recoup the Company for their losses +and the cost of the expeditions. Altogether, the prospects of increased +trade were brighter, but, so long as Angria held Colaba, he considered +there could be no permanent peace. He was soon undeceived. As soon as +Angria saw that he was safe from attack for another season, he repudiated +the treaty, and by the beginning of the new year his piratical doings were +renewed. + + +[1] "Killed and wounded several of them, but all to no purpose."--_Log of + the Addison_. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST GHERIAH_ + +Trouble with the Portuguese--Madagascar pirates again--Loss of the +_Cassandra_--Captain Macrae's brave defence--The one-legged pirate--Richard +Lazenby--Expedition against Gheriah--Mr. Walter Brown--His +incompetency--Gordon's landing--Insubordination and drunkenness--Arrival +of the _Phram_--General attack--Failure--The Kempsant's alliance--Attack +on Deoghur--The Madagascar pirates, England and Taylor--Ignominious +flight--Fate of the _Phram_--Brown despatched south again--The pirates at +Cochin--They take flight to Madagascar--Their rage against Macrae and +England--England marooned--Taylor takes Goa ship--Rich prize--Governor +Macrae. + + +In addition to other embarrassments, Boone became involved, at this time, +in a quarrel with the Portuguese. The surrender of Bombay to the English +had, from the first, been extremely distasteful to the Goa authorities, +who understood the value of the place better than did the authorities in +Lisbon; and they had so interpreted the treaty that gave Bombay to the +English that, at the time of transfer, they had managed to retain +everything except the island of Bombay. The English had been obliged to +renounce all claim to Salsette and other dependencies of Bombay, or to +exclusive possession of the harbour, and to agree that the Portuguese +residents should be exempted from the payment of customs, and have full +liberty of trade with the Portuguese establishments in Salsette. This last +condition had been repudiated in England, but continued to be claimed by +the Portuguese, who harassed the position of the English by levying duties, +and impeding the passage of supplies, while they gave asylum to deserters +and runaways of all kinds. By the treaty, toleration for the exercise of +the Roman Catholic religion had been secured; and there had remained in +Bombay a large establishment of Franciscan friars, who made no efforts to +conceal their hostility to the Company's government. In addition to other +treacherous acts, Boone had to complain of the friars tampering with his +soldiers and slaves, and encouraging them to desert. In order to put an +end to the evil, he banished all the Portuguese friars, and installed in +their place an Italian bishop and some Italian Carmelite friars. This was +held by the Goa authorities to be an infringement of the rights of the +King of Portugal. In retaliation, all Roman Catholics in Bombay were +forbidden to recognize the authority of the Italian bishop and friars, and +the Portuguese General of the North was ordered to prohibit all +intercourse with Bombay, and to inflict the severest penalties on all +persons attempting to go there or to leave it. + + "Those who are captured shall be whipped and put in the galleys for + five years, and, if of noble birth, they shall pay the sum of one + thousand xeraphims in lieu of working in the galleys, and shall be + transported for five years to the fortress of Diu."[1] + +It seemed as if Boone was to have a Portuguese war added to his other +troubles. Fortunately, more moderate counsels prevailed, and, in September, +a conciliatory letter was written to Boone by the Viceroy, announcing his +approaching departure. A few days later, the new Viceroy, Francisco Jose +de Sampaio e Castro, arrived in Goa. While the quarrel was in progress, a +native ship from Surat, bound for Jeddah, was captured off Bassein by a +European pirate ship. This was probably England's ship, _Victory_, of +which we shall hear more directly. The ship and cargo, valued at twelve +lakhs, were carried off, and the passengers and crew put ashore at Malabar +Hill. + +A month later, Boone received intelligence of a serious loss to the +Company's trade from the Madagascar pirates. On the 7th August, the +_Greenwich_, Captain Kirby, and the _Cassandra_, Captain James Macrae, +bringing the usual yearly investment for Bombay and Surat, were in Johanna +roads, engaged in watering. At anchor, near them, was an Ostend ship that +had called for the same purpose. A few days before, they had received +intelligence that a French pirate, Oliver la Bouche,[2] had run on a reef +off Mayotta, and lost his ship, and was engaged in building a new one. +Thinking that the opportunity of catching the pirates at a disadvantage +should not be lost, Macrae and Kirby agreed to go in search of them and +attack them. They had just completed their arrangements when two strange +sails hove in sight. They proved to be the _Victory_, a French-built ship +of forty-six guns, commanded by the well-known pirate, Edward England, and +the _Fancy_, a Dutch-built ship of twenty-four guns, commanded by Taylor. +Macrae and Kirby prepared to give them a hot reception, the Ostend ship +promising to stand by them. So far were they from simply trying to make +their escape, that they looked forward to the handsome reward the Company +would give them for the capture of the pirates. From what followed it is +easy to see that Macrae's was the guiding spirit in this. Cables were cut, +and they stood out to sea, but, owing to the light baffling winds, made +little way. By next morning the pirates had closed, and bore down with a +black flag (skull and crossbones) at the main, a red flag at the fore, and +the cross of St. George at the ensign staff. The _Greenwich_ and the +Ostender, having a better wind than the _Cassandra_, had got some distance +away. In vain Macrae fired gun after gun at the _Greenwich_ to make Kirby +heave to. In a most dastardly way the captain of the _Greenwich_ pursued +his course, taking the Ostender with him, till he had got well to windward; +when, at a distance of two or three miles, he hove to and watched the fate +of the _Cassandra_. + +The _Cassandra_ was a new ship of 380 tons, on her first voyage. Macrae +was a thoroughly good seaman, with a fine crew that were attached to him, +and was resolved to fight his ship to the last. Early in the engagement he +gave the _Victory_ some shots between wind and water, which made England +keep off till he had stopped the leaks. Taylor got out the boats of the +_Fancy_ and tried to tow her alongside, to carry the _Cassandra_ by +boarding, but such good practice was made by the _Cassandra's_ marksmen +that the design was given up. At the end of three hours the _Victory_ had +repaired damages, and was closing again. Macrae had lost so many of his +crew, that, giving up all hope of assistance from Kirby, he determined to +run his ship ashore. The _Fancy_, which drew less water, followed with the +intention of boarding, but got aground within pistol-shot, with her bows +towards the _Cassandra's_ broadside, and the action recommenced hotter +than ever. There the two ships lay, both fast aground, pelting each other +furiously, till the crew of the _Fancy_, finding the _Cassandra's_ fire +too hot for them, left their guns and ran below. Had Kirby come to his +assistance at this moment, Macrae's triumph would have been assured; but +this was the moment chosen by Kirby to bear up and shape his course for +Bombay. England in the _Victory_, seeing that the _Greenwich_ might be +disregarded, sent three boats full of men to reinforce the _Fancy_; by +which time there had been so many killed and wounded on board the +_Cassandra_, that the crew, losing heart, refused to fight the ship any +longer. Thirteen had been killed and twenty-four wounded, among the latter +Macrae himself, who had been struck by a musket ball on the head; so, some +in the long boat and some by swimming reached the shore, leaving on board +three wounded men who could not be moved, and who were butchered by the +pirates. + +Not deeming it safe to linger on the coast, Macrae and his crew hastened +inland, reaching the town of the local chief, twenty-five miles off, the +following morning. Exhausted with fatigue and wounds, almost naked, they +were in a pitiable condition. The natives received them hospitably, +supplied their wants to the best of their ability, and refused to +surrender them to the pirates, who offered a reward for them. + +After the first rage of the pirates, at the heavy losses they had +sustained, had abated, and soothed, no doubt, by the capture of a fine new +ship with L75,000 on board in hard cash, Macrae ventured to open +communications with them. Several among them had sailed with him, and his +reputation for considerate treatment of his men was well known. With all +their faults, they were not all of them men to resent greatly, after their +first fury had cooled, the loss that had been suffered in fair fight; so +England gave him a promise of safety, and he ventured himself among them. +The _Cassandra_ and the _Fancy_ had been floated, and Macrae was +entertained on board his own ship with his own liquors and provisions. His +position was not without danger, as there were many brutal fellows among +the pirates. England, who had a reputation for good treatment of prisoners, +befriended him; but Taylor, whose influence was greatest among the most +brutal of the rovers, insisted he should be made an end of. In the midst +of the quarrel, a fierce-looking fellow with a wooden leg and his belt +full of pistols, intervened, asking with many oaths for Macrae, who +thought his last moment had come.[3] He was pleasantly surprised when the +ruffian took him by the hand, and swore with many oaths that he would make +mince-meat of the first man that hurt him; and protested, with more oaths, +that Macrae was an honest fellow, and he had formerly sailed with him. So +the dispute ended. Taylor was plied with punch till he was prevailed on to +consent that the _Fancy_, together with some of the _Cassandra's_ cargo, +should be given to Macrae, and before he could recover from his carouse, +Macrae had got safe to shore again. + +As soon as the pirates had left the coast, in the _Victory_ and the +_Cassandra_, Macrae set to work to patch up the much-battered _Fancy_, and +in a few days sailed for Bombay, with forty-one of his ship's company, +among whom were two passengers and twelve soldiers. After forty-eight days +of terrible sufferings almost naked, half starved, and reduced to a daily +pint of water each, they reached Bombay on the 26th October. It would have +been well for the Company if they had had more captains like Macrae. His +arrival brought much obloquy on Kirby, whose shameful desertion was now +made known. + +The pirates only detained one of the _Cassandra's_ crew--Richard Lazenby, +the carpenter's mate, whom they forced unwillingly to go with them. There +is still extant a curious account by Lazenby of his cruise with the +pirates. He tells of the cruel tortures inflicted on all captured natives; +how on the Malabar coast they had friends, especially among the Dutch at +Cochin, who bought their plunder, supplied them with provisions, and gave +them information of armed ships to be avoided, and rich prizes to be +intercepted. Those who wished to retire from the trade were given passages +to Europe with their ill-gotten gains, in French ships; and finally, after +witnessing the capture of the Portuguese Viceroy, to be related presently, +he was put ashore at Bourbon, whence, in time, he made his way to England. + +Since the renewal of war by Angria, at the beginning of the year, Boone +had resolved to strike another blow against Gheriah, and all through the +monsoon preparations had been made for action in September. Great things +were expected of the _Phram_, which was, however, not ready when the +expedition sailed. The direction of affairs was, on this occasion, +entrusted to Mr. Walter Brown, who was styled for the occasion "Admiral of +the Fleet, and Commander-in-Chief of all the forces." On the 13th +September anchor was weighed, and on the morning of the 19th they arrived +off Gheriah. At Dabul, where they had called in for news, they learned +that the _Phram_ and the _Chandos_ might soon be expected, but that there +was no prospect of Captain Johnson's machine being ready to take part in +the expedition. What Captain Johnson's machine was we do not learn, but +the intelligence 'mightily disconcerted the soldiery.' The squadron +consisted of the _London_, which acted as flagship, the _Victory_ frigate, +the _Revenge_ and _Defiance_ grabs, the _Hunter_ galley, two gallivats, a +bombketch, a fireship, and a number of fishing-boats for landing troops. +The troops for the expedition consisted of 350 soldiers and topasses and +80 chosen sepoys. Brown appears to have been thoroughly incompetent for +such a command, and the undertaking was destined to add one more to the +dismal list of failures. His first act was to make the _London_ exchange +useless shots with the fort at a mile distance. The following day, the +bombketch was ordered to run close in within pistol-shot, and bombard the +place at night. One shell and one carcass were fired, neither of which +went halfway, by reason of the mortars being so faultily constructed that +the chambers could not contain a sufficient charge of powder. 'This +misfortune set the people a-grumbling.' + +On the 21st, Brown held a consultation of his officers, and proposed to +land three hundred men, at night, a mile from the town, so as to surprise +it at daylight. The officers protested against the scheme; they justly +remarked that it would be folly to make such an attack before the arrival +of the whole force. The _Phram_ and the _Chandos_, with the platoons of +Europeans, were still to come. They represented that the garrison of the +fort alone was a thousand strong, to say nothing of the small walled town +which must be taken before the fort could be attacked. Such a proposal was +not likely to increase their confidence in Brown. Sickness had already set +in among the troops, and that evening Captain Jeremiah Easthope died of +fever. Brown was all for immediate action, without having any definite +plan. + +On the 22nd, Gordon was ordered to land with fifty men, and occupy a small +building on the top of a hill on the north side of the river. What he was +expected to do there does not appear. Soon, a number of boats full of men +were observed crossing from the fort to engage Gordon, so a reinforcement +of fifty men was sent to him. On reaching the hill, Gordon found that what +had been taken for a building consisted only of a natural pile of loose +stones, such as are to be frequently seen on the Deccan hills, and there +was nothing for it but to re-embark. He managed his retreat to the +landing-place in good order, followed by the enemy at musket-shot distance. +Several times he faced about, but the enemy always shrank from close +quarters. Nothing had been done to cover the place of embarkation, and it +was only after the strongest remonstrances from those on board that Brown +was prevailed on to order the _Revenge_ and the _Hunter_ to stand in and +cover the re-embarkation of Gordon's party. In spite of this precaution, a +lieutenant, a sergeant, a quartermaster of the _London_ and six men were +killed, and about twenty men wounded. It is difficult to imagine anything +feebler and more aimless than the whole proceeding. + +The next day the bombketch was again sent in to bombard the fort, with the +same result as before. The proceedings were enlivened by the punishment of +Sergeant Passmore, who was reported by Gordon for cowardly behaviour. He +was sent round the fleet to receive ten lashes alongside each ship. The +next three days were spent in idleness, awaiting the _Phram_, from which +so much was expected. On board ship there was no discipline, but plenty of +hard drinking. In order to make the men fight well, Brown's idea was to +supply them with unlimited rum: the officers kept pace with the men in +their libations, and what little discipline existed soon disappeared. +Orders were disobeyed, while drunkenness, violence, and insubordination +reigned unchecked. When remonstrances were addressed to Brown, he refused +to stop the supply of liquor, saying that the people must not be put out +of humour at this juncture, and they must drink as they pleased: all which +is duly recorded by Captain Upton of the _London_. The enemy meanwhile was +observed busily constructing new batteries, and boats full of armed men +were constantly crossing the river, but nothing was done to intercept them. + +At last, the _Chandos_, _Pelham_, and _Phram_ arrived, having spent ten +days in their voyage from Bombay. Nothing better occurred to Brown than to +send the _Phram_ at once to engage the fort. On opening fire, it was found +that her ports were so low and the gun-carriages so high, that her guns +could only be fired when depressed so as to strike the water twenty yards +off. So she was brought out again with one man mortally wounded, and the +officers and soldiers so mightily discouraged that they declared, unless +she could be made serviceable, it was useless to attempt anything further. +The ships' carpenters were set to work on the _Phram_, while the dejection +and drinking increased. Fifty men of the _Chandos_ who had not yet had an +opportunity of gauging Brown's incapacity, volunteered, for forty rupees a +head, to join a landing party; but not a single seaman in the squadron +would consent, 'upon any consideration whatsoever,' to go on board the +_Phram_, till an increased bounty secured the services of the _Chandos'_ +sailors. + +By the 29th all was ready for the grand attack. Two landing parties, one +of three hundred and forty soldiers under Captain Stanton, and the other +of two hundred and thirty-seven seamen under Captain Woodward, were held +in readiness, and soon after midday the fleet stood into the inner harbour, +with the exception of the _Phram_, which engaged the fort from the outer +harbour. Lieutenant Wise had been selected as a fit person to command and +point the _Phram's_ guns, which he did so badly that his shot mostly fell +in the inner harbour. The Mahrattas were quite ready for them, and all the +afternoon the cannonade went on, till sunset put an end to it. Five men on +board the _Phram_ were wounded, but it had engaged at too great a distance +to do or suffer much harm. Brown, in the _London_, had kept out of action, +and contented himself with sending six dozen of wine and arrack to the men +on board the _Phram_, together with orders to Stanton, who was on board, +to warp into the harbour at night and renew the action next morning. The +following day firing recommenced, and it was found necessary to displace +Lieutenant Wise, he being continually drunk, and to allow the sailors to +point their own guns. The closer range caused numerous casualties on board +the _Phram_. Among the soldiers, Mr. Tuladay and four men were killed, and +a great number wounded. The seamen also had several killed and wounded. +Many of the casualties were caused by the bursting of a gun on board the +_Phram_. The explosion fired the gun on the opposite side of the deck, +which was loaded with grape, and pointing over a boat full of topasses. +The flame from the gun ignited their cartridge boxes, and the poor +wretches were terribly scorched and injured. The fire of the ships in the +inner harbour was successful in destroying a number of Angria's ships that +had sought refuge in the river; one of five hundred tons, one of two +hundred tons, and ten smaller ones were set on fire and burnt. By +nightfall, all hands thought they had done enough, and told Stanton so, +and in spite of Brown's messages of expostulation, they took advantage of +a land breeze to come out. At midnight came Captain Woodward, of the +_Revenge_, to report, in a panic, to Brown that he had left his ship on +the rocks close to the fort, and that both vessel and crew were as good as +lost. Half an hour after, the _Revenge_ was seen coming out with the other +vessels. She had not been ashore at all, and the only conclusion was that +Woodward was frightened out of his senses; so he was put in irons for his +cowardice. + +Thus came to an end the grand attack, and nothing better was to be +expected. "I have continual disturbances in the ship dayly by the officers +excessive drinking, and noe manner of command carryed," wrote Captain +Upton, of the _London_. A few days later he records how Captain S. and +Mr. D.[4] fought with their fists in the roundhouse before Mr. Brown, who +took no notice of it. + +The next few days were spent in repairing damages. While thus employed, +messengers came from the Kempsant, offering to join hands with the English +in attacking Angria. A quarrel had arisen between the two chiefs, owing to +Angria having plundered some of the Kempsant's ships. But he stipulated +that Angria's fort at Deoghur, seven leagues to the south, should be first +attacked; so, on the 7th October, part of the fleet was sent down to +reconnoitre. + +On the 16th, fresh stores of arrack, water and provisions having been +received from Goa, Brown called a consultation of the officers on board +the _Addison_, and proposed another landing under the _Phrams_ guns. But +the officers were disheartened, undisciplined, and under no control. One +objection after another was raised, and the council of war came to an end +by other officers of the squadron, who had learned what was going on, +coming aboard, and conveying to Brown in no measured terms that they would +have nothing to do with it. One of them in a passion told Brown he was mad, +and did not know what he was about--which was true enough. The next day, a +foolish show of landing was made, and then Brown decided to abandon the +attempt and transfer his attack to Deoghur. + +Deoghur, or, as it was sometimes called, Tamana, was one of the ten +principal forts ceded to Angria in 1713. It commanded the small but good +harbour formed by the Tamana river. This was Angria's southernmost +stronghold. The name Tamana is still to be found at a small place ten +miles up the river. Here Brown brought his squadron on the 18th October. +The usual desultory and harmless bombardment followed; the _Phram_ and the +bombketch being equally inefficient. Then, when Brown suggested a landing +party to storm the place, the officers refused to second him, and so, with +some additional loss, the attack on Deoghur came to an end. Not a word is +said as to any assistance rendered by the Kempsant. At daybreak on the +21st, the whole squadron sailed northward, but the tale of Brown's +incompetency was not complete. + +A little before noon next morning four strange sails were seen in the +offing, which, before long, were made out to be the dreaded Madagascar +pirates, with the _Cassandra_, _Victory_, and two prizes they had just +taken. The sight of them struck Brown with terror, though a little +reflection would have shown him that the pirates would have little or no +inducement to attack armed ships carrying no valuable merchandise. He +directed his whole squadron to anchor off Gheriah, which must have +appeared puzzling to his late antagonists in that place. Hoping to evade +the pirate ships, anchor was weighed in the night, and the squadron sailed +northward, no order being preserved, and the fleet getting much scattered. + +As it happened, the pirates had mistaken them for Angria's fleet, and were +standing to the northward in search of prey, without any thought of +attacking them. Without any hostile intention on either side, the two +squadrons became intermingled. While it was still dark, the party on the +_London_ was startled by a cannon shot flying over them, and in the faint +morning light they saw a large ship on their quarter. On hailing to ask +her name, an answer came back that it was the _Victory_. Brown preferred +to believe that it was his own ship of that name; but his answering hail, +giving the name of the _London_, was replied to with a broadside, to which +a smart fire was returned by the _Revenge_ and the _Defiance_, that were +close astern. On both sides there was no willingness to fight. The pirates +were at first seized with consternation at discovering their mistake; they +had turned their prizes adrift after throwing their sails overboard, and, +with only three hundred men for their joint crews, forty of them negroes, +were not strong enough to engage the Bombay squadron. But England was a +man who preferred fighting to running, so putting a bold face on the +matter, the _Cassandra_ ran through the fleet, firing into the _Victory_, +the _Chandos_, and the _Phram_. The _Chandos_, which was towing the +_Phram_, at once cast it loose. The fleet scattered in all directions, +like a flock of sheep when a strange dog runs through it. Upton, of the +_London_, a chicken-hearted fellow, persuaded Brown that they ought not to +engage, as Boone had sent them to attack Gheriah, but had given them no +instructions about the Madagascar pirates. Brown seemingly did not want +much persuading, and crowded all sail to escape; at the same time striking +his flag to show that he did not intend fighting, which excited the +indignation of his own sailors and the derision of the pirates. He next +sent orders by a gallivat for the _Phram_ to be burned, and thus that +useless machine, from which so much had been expected; and that had cost +so much money and labour, came to an end. + +These foolish proceedings gave England the measure of his antagonists. +'Observing the indifferency of the fleet,' the best way of saving himself +was, he thought, to 'play the Bull-beggar' with them; so he set to work to +chase them northward. The superior sailing powers of the pirates enabled +them to do as they pleased. + +When they overtook the rearmost of the ships Brown had still got with him, +they backed their sails and fired into them till they had got well ahead +again. In this ignominious fashion the greater part of the fleet was +shuffled along for two days by the pirates, as a flock of sheep is driven +by a couple of sheep-dogs, till they at last found refuge in Goa. The +soldiers on board the _London_ improved the occasion by breaking into the +'Lazaretto' and getting drunk on the wine they found there. Part of the +fleet made for Carwar, and others found safety under the guns of Anjediva. +The pirates, having effected their purpose of driving them off, turned +south and took the _Elizabeth_ at anchor off Honore. + +Before long, an indignant letter from Boone ordered Brown to cruise +southward and engage the pirates at all hazards; so the unhappy Brown put +to sea again. The news of the capture of the _Elizabeth_ was enough for +him: on the third day he turned northward again and made for Bombay; to +make his peace with the exasperated Governor as he best could. It is not +difficult to imagine Boone's disgust at the failure of his schemes, and +the worthlessness of those he had to depend upon; but it must be admitted +that these desultory attacks, first on one place and then on another, were +not calculated to effect anything useful. Had he concentrated his efforts +on Kennery, he might have rendered the waters of Bombay more secure. + +Brown laid the blame of his failure on the disobedience of his officers, +which had been so flagrant as to conceal his own incapacity; so, on the +12th December, Boone again despatched him to search for the pirates, and +give protection to the country vessels bringing up pepper from the +southern factories. He took with him a fine squadron: the _Greenwich_, 42 +guns; the _Chandos_, 40 guns; the _Victory_, 26 guns; the _Britannia_, 24 +guns; the _Revenge_, 16 guns; and a fireship. The pusillanimous Upton was +left behind, and, next to himself in command of the expedition, but in +reality the moving spirit, he took the gallant Macrae. England and Taylor +had meanwhile been constrained to run down to the Laccadives, for want of +water and provisions. Not getting what they wanted, they had come +northward again to Cochin, where they were royally entertained by the +Dutch authorities. They were supplied with everything they required, +including a present, from the Governor, of a boat loaded with arrack, and +sixty bales of sugar, for all of which handsome payment was made, while +handfuls of duccatoons were thrown into the boat for the boatmen to +scramble for. A fine clock and gold watch, found in the _Cassandra_ when +captured, were sent as a present to the Governor's daughter, and formal +salutes were fired on both sides as they entered and left the harbour. No +wonder that they were made welcome along the coast. On leaving Cochin, +they took a small vessel from Tellicherry sailing under a Bombay pass. +From the master they learned that the Bombay squadron, with Macrae in +command, was cruising in search of them. They were roused to fury by this +news of Macrae's 'ingratitude,' and vied with each other in devising the +tortures to which they would subject him if he fell into their hands again, +while their anger was vented on England and all who had stood up for +Macrae after the capture of the _Cassandra_. Before long they were sighted +by Brown, who bore down on them and signalled them to heave to. This +behaviour, so different from their previous experiences, was little to +their liking. They made sail for the southwards, and, for two days, were +held in chase, till by superior sailing they lost their pursuers. + +Such an extraordinary change in the behaviour of the Bombay squadron +taught them that the Indian coast was no longer a safe place for honest +rovers. It was expedient to take themselves elsewhere: so sail was made +for Mauritius. Against Macrae their curses were loud and deep. A villain +they had treated so well as to give him a ship and other presents, and now +to be in arms against them! No fate was bad enough for such a man. They +had been cruelly deceived. To appease their wrath they turned upon England. +But for his foolish championship of Macrae, this would not have happened. +Taylor had been right all along. They would only follow him in future. In +their rage they first talked of hanging England, till more moderate +counsels prevailed, and it was decided to maroon him at Mauritius, which +was done. England and three others who had befriended Macrae were set on +shore, among them, no doubt, the one-legged pirate, and in due course of +time made their way over to St. Mary's.[5] + +At St. Mary's the command of the _Victory_ was made over to Oliver La +Bouche, or La Buze, whose efforts at shipbuilding had apparently not met +with success, and the two ships, in company, before long took what was +probably the richest prize that ever fell into pirate hands. The +ex-Viceroy of Goa, the Conde de Ericeira, had sailed for Lisbon, in +January, in the _Nostra Senhora de Cabo_, a seventy-gun ship, taking with +him a rich consignment of jewels for the Portuguese Government, and the +proceeds of his own private trading during the three years of his +viceroyalty. Off the Cape they encountered a heavy storm, which dismasted +the ship, forced them to throw many of their guns overboard, and obliged +them to put back to Bourbon to refit. Taylor and La Buze, learning the +helplessness of the Viceroy's ship, sailed into the anchorage under +English colours. A salute from the Viceroy's ship was answered with a +shotted broadside, and, in the confusion that ensued, the Portuguese ship +was boarded and carried almost without resistance. Seldom or never had +such a prize fallen into pirate hands so easily. The booty in diamonds and +money was in the shape most coveted by the rovers. The jewels alone were +estimated at over three million dollars. The hard cash was said to be five +hundred thousand crowns, and the Viceroy was forced to raise another two +thousand crowns as a personal ransom, which would have been higher, had he +not convinced them that part of the jewels and money on board was his own +property. + +Bourbon was a French possession, but the Governor, M. Desforges, was +obliged to observe _une grande circonspection_ in his dealings with the +pirates who came and went as they pleased. Bernardin de St. Pierre, who +visited Bourbon nearly fifty years later, repeats a tradition, how La Buze +sat at table between the Viceroy and the Governor, and in an access of +generosity remitted the Viceroy's ransom. He further tells us that La Buze +eventually settled down in the island, and was hung some years later. + +Taylor, continuing his cruise in the _Cassandra_, took a fine Ostend ship, +and carried her to St. Mary's. While most of the pirates were on shore, +the prisoners overpowered the few left to guard them, and carried off the +ship. We get a last glimpse of the _Cassandra_ in a private letter written +to the Directors in May, 1723, from Jamaica, in which it is stated that +the _Cassandra_ was lying at Portobello, while Taylor was engaged in +negotiating with the captain of an English man-of-war for a pardon. The +negotiations apparently fell through, as Taylor was eventually given a +commission by the Spaniards. The letter relates how the crew boasted that +they had, each man, twelve hundred pounds in gold and silver, besides a +great store of diamonds and many rich goods. Of the sharing of these +diamonds, Johnson tells a story how one man, being given for his share one +big diamond instead of a number of small ones, broke it up with a hammer, +so that he might have as many 'sparks' as the others. + +Macrae's defence of the _Cassandra_, and the boldness and ability he +displayed in his dealings with the pirates, brought him into prominent +notice. The son of a poor Ayrshire cottager, he had worked himself up, +from before the mast, to the command of a ship. Soon after his return to +England, the Directors appointed him to be their supervisor on the west +coast of Sumatra, and, before he sailed, a provisional commission was +given him to succeed to the Presidentship of Madras, on a vacancy +occurring. Eighteen months later, he took his seat as Governor at Fort St. +George. His six years of office were distinguished by his efforts to put +an end to many abuses that had grown up in the Company's affairs. He left +India with a fortune of L100,000, made by private trade, and settled down +near his birthplace, which he had not revisited since he left it as a boy. +He died in 1746. + +NOTE.--The account of England's cruise in the _Cassandra_, given in + Johnson's "History of the Pirates," is evidently taken from Lazenby's + narrative to the E.I.C. Directors. Macrae's account of the capture of + the _Cassandra_, given by Johnson, appears also to have been part of a + similar report to the Directors, but the report itself has disappeared. + Additional information is to be found in the logs of the _Greenwich_ + and _London_. + + +[1] Proclamation issued at Goa, 19th July, 1720 (Danvers). + +[2] This was Oliver Levasseur, otherwise La Buze of Calais, a noted French + pirate. By the English he was called La Bouche, and, in one ship's log, + Lepouse. On Woodes Rogers assuming the governorship of the Bahamas, La + Bouche and England sailed for Madagascar. + +[3] Stevenson, in "Treasure Island," evidently took his idea of John + Silver, the one-legged pirate, from this incident. "Now what a ship + was christened" (he makes him say) "so let her stay, I says. So it was + with the _Cassandra_ as brought us all home from Malabar, after + England took the Viceroy of the Indies.... First with England, then + with Flint; that's my story." + +[4] Probably Stanton and Drage. + +[5] In Lazenby's narrative, England is mentioned as Seegar, which was + probably his real name, England being only an _alias_. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_EXPEDITION AGAINST COLABA_ + +Measures taken in England against pirates--Woodes Rogers at the +Bahamas--Edward Teach--Challoner Ogle--Bartholomew Roberts +killed--Matthews sent to the East Indies--Naval officers' +duels--Portuguese alliance--Expedition against Colaba--Assault--Defeat--A +split in the alliance--Plot against Boone--His departure--Matthews' +schemes--His insulting behaviour--He quarrels with everybody--Goes to +Madagascar--The King of Ranter Bay--Matthews goes to Bengal. + + +As long as their forces had been occupied with the French war and the +Highland rising, the English ministry had been powerless to check the +depredations of the pirates, which had become intolerable both in the East +and West Indies. Now Europe was at peace, and measures could be concerted +to put a stop to the evil. As usual, the Peace of Utrecht was followed by +an increase of piracy, through the privateersmen being thrown out of +employment. + +On the 5th September, 1717, a royal proclamation was published, offering a +free pardon, to all pirates on the American coast surrendering within one +year, for all piracies committed before the 5th January. As rewards for +the capture of pirate ships, to every captain L100, to other officers L40, +to petty officers L30, and to ordinary seamen L20 were to be paid on +conviction of the offenders. To pirates, a reward of L200 was offered for +the surrender of a pirate captain or commander before the 6th September, +1718. The effect of the proclamation, in conjunction with the measures +taken in the Bahamas, was very great. By the 1st July, 1719, to which date +the time of grace was extended, all but three or four of the most +desperate rovers had retired from business. But against the most audacious +of them more vigorous measures were necessary. + +It was of little use to hunt down pirates at sea, so long as their haunts +in the Bahamas and Madagascar were allowed to flourish, and, as the West +Indian rovers were the most mischievous to European trade, the Bahamas +were first taken in hand. + +During the war, the Bahamas had been twice taken and plundered by the +French and Spanish; all semblance of authority had disappeared, and it was +estimated that there were upwards of two thousand pirates in and about +Providence. In 1718, Captain Woodes Rogers leased the islands for +twenty-one years, from the proprietors, and received a commission as +Governor; he sailed, for Providence, with a naval force and powers to +offer an amnesty to all who submitted. Five or six well-known pirate +captains made their peace with the Government, and a number of their crews, +though some of them went back to their old trade before long. England, La +Buze, and others slipped away and made for Madagascar. A council was then +formed, consisting of six of the adventurers and six of the inhabitants +who had never been pirates themselves. This was followed by the submission +of others; some were hung, and order of a sort was re-established in the +Bahamas. + +The coasts of Virginia and North Carolina were at this time beset by a +number of pirates, the most notorious of whom was Edward Teach, _alias_ +Blackbeard, a Bristol man, who had begun his piratical career in the +spring of 1717; the most sinister figure in the annals of piracy. Pirate +captains were, as a rule, chosen by their crews, and if their conduct was +unsatisfactory to the rovers, they were deposed and sometimes put to death +or marooned; but Teach, as fearless as he was merciless, ruled his crew by +terror. As an instance of his savage humour, it is related that on one +occasion, in a drinking bout, he blew out the light and fired two pistols +among his companions, wounding Israel Hands, his sailing master, severely. +On being asked why he did it, he damned them, and said if he did not kill +one of them now and then, they would forget who he was. So impressed were +his crew with his wickedness, that they believed they carried the devil on +board, who appeared at intervals among them as one of the crew, but could +not be identified as belonging to the ship's company. Once he fought the +_Scarborough_, a man-of-war of thirty guns, and beat her off. He boldly +went ashore when he pleased, forcing the Governor of North Carolina to +marry him, and to supply him with medicines for his crew. With his face +covered with black hair, and a beard of extravagant length, fantastically +tied up in ribbons, he presented a wild and truculent figure that was the +terror of the coast. + +An extract of a journal he kept, found after his death, is given by +Johnson-- + + "Such a day, Rum all out:--Our company somewhat sober: A damn'd + confusion amongst us!--Rogues a plotting;--great talk of + separation.--So I look'd sharp for a Prize;--such a day took one, + with a great deal of Liquor on board, so kept the Company hot, damned + hot, then all things went well again." + +Eden, the Governor of North Carolina, was suspected of sharing in Teach's +plunder, and his conduct was so suspicious that it could only be set down +to dishonesty or to extreme pusillanimity; so, in their distress, the +North Carolina planters sought the assistance of the Governor of Virginia. +There were at this time two men-of-war, the _Pearl_ and the _Lime_, lying +in the James river, but their size was too great to permit of their +searching the creeks and inlets frequented by Teach; therefore, two small +sloops, without guns, were fitted out and placed under command of Maynard, +first lieutenant of the _Pearl_. At the same time a proclamation was +published in Virginia offering rewards for the apprehension of pirates, +with a special reward of L100 for Teach. Though the whole had been planned +with great secrecy. Teach received warnings from friends on shore, but +paid no attention to them, and Maynard surprised him at anchor in a small +inlet. + +Teach cut his cable and tried to stand out to sea, but ran aground. +Maynard anchored within half gunshot and set to work to lighten his sloops, +while Teach roared out curses and threats, to which Maynard replied that +he expected no quarter and would give none. Just as Maynard was ready to +attack, Teach got afloat and bore down on the sloops, giving them a +broadside that partially disabled one sloop, and killed or wounded twenty +men in Maynard's. Nothing discouraged, Maynard kept his men under cover +and ran the pirate aboard, and was at once attacked by Teach with fourteen +men. Teach and Maynard met hand to hand, and there was a desperate +encounter, Teach fighting like a ferocious animal at bay. Maynard's sword +broke, but he was saved by one of his men coming to his assistance, and +Teach at last fell dead on the deck of the sloop with twenty-five wounds. +The second sloop, meanwhile, had boarded and captured the pirate ship, and +Maynard sailed back to the James river with Teach's head at his bowsprit. +Fifteen of the pirates were taken alive, of whom thirteen were hung. + +A year after Teach's death there appeared on the American coast +Bartholomew Roberts, a Welshman from Haverfordwest, who, for over two +years, was the scourge of the American and African traders. It was said of +him that he was a sober man who drank tea constantly, which made him an +object of suspicion to his crew. His temperance did not prevent him from +being the most wantonly wicked pirate who sailed the seas. In a +Newfoundland harbour, on one occasion, he burned and sank twenty-one +vessels, destroyed the fisheries and stages, and wrought all the havoc he +could, out of pure wantonness. On another occasion, he captured a slaver +with eighty slaves on board, and burned it, slaves and all, because it +would cost too much time and trouble to unshackle the unfortunate wretches. +At the same time, he was a man of order and method. He drew up a set of +rules, to which his crew subscribed, in which, among other things, it was +laid down that no women should be allowed on board; dice and gambling were +prohibited; lights were put out at 8 o'clock; and musicians were exempt +from playing on Sundays. The chaplain of Cape Coast Castle having been +captured, he was pressed to join the pirates, being promised that nothing +would be required of him except to make punch and say prayers. On his +declining the office, all church property was restored to him "except +three prayer books and a bottle-screw." + +In pursuit of Roberts, the British Government despatched Captain Challoner +Ogle, with the _Swallow_ and _Weymouth_. Failing to find him in American +waters. Ogle steered for the African shore, and, on the 5th February, 1722, +when separated from the _Weymouth_, he came on the pirates at anchor off +Cape Lopez. Putting the _Swallow_ about, and handling his sails as if in +confusion and alarm, Ogle stood out to sea, pursued by the _Ranger_. When +well out of sight of land, the _Ranger_ was allowed to draw up, and the +pirate crew suddenly found themselves under the fire of a sixty-gun ship, +for which their own thirty-two guns were no match, and after a short +engagement the black flag was hauled down. On the 10th, Ogle stood in +again to engage the _Royal Fortune_, disposing his flags to make the +pirates believe his ship had been captured by the _Ranger_. Roberts fought +with desperation when he discovered the ruse. Dressed in rich crimson +damask, a scarlet feather in his hat, a gold chain with large diamond +cross round his neck, he made a resistance worthy of his reputation, +determined to blow up his ship rather than yield. At the main he hoisted a +black flag, on which were displayed a skeleton and a man with a flaming +sword; the jack was black, showing a man standing on two skulls, and St. +George's ensign was at the ensign staff. After a desperate encounter, +Roberts was slain by a grape-shot, and the _Royal Fortune_ carried by +boarding, the pirates resisting to the last. Out of two hundred and +seventy-six men captured in the two ships, fifty-two were executed, all of +them Englishmen. Ogle was knighted for his able and gallant conduct. + +The re-establishment of authority at the Bahamas had led to an increase in +the numbers of the Madagascar pirates; so Commodore Thomas Matthews was +despatched to the East Indies with a strong squadron, consisting of the +_Lyon_, 50 guns; _Salisbury_, 40 guns; _Exeter_, 50 guns; and _Shoreham_, +20 guns. The Company's ship _Grantham_ was also placed under his orders, +to act as a store-ship. In Byng's successful action with the Spanish, off +Cape Passaro (August, 1718), Matthews had commanded the _Kent_ with credit; +but with the exception of courage, he apparently failed to possess a +single quality for independent command. Irascible, domineering to his +subordinates, and insolent to all others he was brought in contact with, +he was entirely devoid of judgment or discretion. Twenty years later, when +he became better known, Walpole wrote of his 'brutal manners,' and Horace +Mann nicknamed him 'Il Furibondo.' There could not have been a worse +selection for the work in hand. + +The desire of the Directors was that the squadron should, before going to +Bombay, proceed to St. Augustine's Bay and St. Mary's. Thence, that a ship +should be detached to Bourbon, where it was supposed a new pirate +settlement was being formed; after which, they wished the squadron to +proceed to the mouth of the Red Sea, where pirates would in all +probability be found waiting for the Indian ships in July and August. But +Matthews had views of his own, and was not much concerned with the wishes +of the Directors, who had designs of opening up trade with Madagascar, and, +as a preliminary step, desired to see the pirate settlements rooted out. + +In February, 1721, the squadron sailed from Spithead, with orders to +rendezvous at St. Augustine's Bay. Soon after leaving the Channel, the +_Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ were dismasted in a storm, and were obliged to +put into Lisbon to repair damages. Matthews continued his voyage with the +_Lyon_ and the _Shoreham_ to St. Augustine's Bay. He found no pirate ships +there at the time, and good policy demanded that he should await the +_Salisbury_ and the _Exeter_. Instead of doing so, he continued his voyage +to Bombay, where he arrived on the 27th September. Before leaving, he +entrusted to the natives of St. Augustine's Bay a letter for Captain +Cockburn, of the _Salisbury_, in which a number of particulars were given +of the squadron. The proceeding was so ill-advised and so well calculated +to defeat the object of the squadron's coming into Indian waters, that it +was believed in the squadron that Matthews had done it purposely to put +the pirates on their guard. Whether this was his intention or not, it +serves to show the opinion held of him by those under his command. Soon +after Matthews' departure, Taylor and La Buze reached St. Augustine's Bay, +read the letter, and sailed at once for Fort Dauphin, in the south-eastern +end of Madagascar. The _Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ arrived soon afterwards, +and getting no news either of Matthews or the pirates, sailed for Bombay. +These proceedings were not of happy augury for the success of the +expedition. The pirates had information of the squadron being in the +Indian seas, and were doubtless kept henceforth informed, from time to +time, of its movements through their various sources of intelligence. +Taylor, satisfied with his gains, sailed for the West Indies and +surrendered to the Spaniards, who gave him a commission. + +Matthews' first act on dropping anchor, was to force the native vessels in +harbour, belonging to Bombay traders, to strike the English colours they +were in the habit of displaying, and he next embarked in a squabble with +the Governor as to who was to fire the first salute, a matter that was not +settled without many messages to and fro. The officers of the squadron, +taking their cue from Matthews, 'looked as much superior to us,' Downing +tells us, 'as the greatness of their ambition could possibly lead them. +There were daily duels fought by one or other of them, and challenges +perpetually sent round the island by the gentlemen of the navy.' The duels +seem mostly to have taken place among the naval officers, who must have +been a quarrelsome lot. On the voyage from England, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. +Sutherland, 'son of My Lord Sutherland,' had quarrelled, and Mitchell, +considering himself aggrieved, demanded his discharge on arrival at Bombay, +which was granted. He then sent a challenge to Sutherland, who wounded and +disabled him. But all duels were not so harmless. A few days afterwards, +Sutherland and Dalrymple, 'grandson of Sir David Dalrymple, His Majesty's +Advocate for Scotland,' both midshipmen, quarrelled over dice, and fought +a duel, without seconds, the following morning; when Dalrymple was run +through the body and killed on the spot--a fate that was apparently not +altogether undeserved. Sutherland was tried by court-martial, found guilty +of murder, and sentenced to death; but as it was necessary for the +death-warrant to be signed by the King, it was arranged to carry him a +prisoner to England. Touching at Barbadoes, he made his escape, and +remained there till a free pardon was granted him. Not long afterwards a +duel, arising out of a quarrel about a lady's health, was fought between +Stepney, the second lieutenant, and Berkeley, the third lieutenant of the +_Salisbury_, in which both were badly wounded. Stepney died a fortnight +after the duel, but, as the surgeon certified that he had not died of his +wound, Berkeley was not brought to a court-martial. + +Meanwhile, great preparations were being made for a fresh campaign against +Angria, and while these bickerings went on among the subordinates, the +Governor and Matthews were engaged in planning the attack. Long before +Matthews' arrival, negotiations had been opened between the Portuguese +Viceroy, Francisco Jose de Sampaio e Castro, and the Bombay Council, for a +joint attack on Colaba. Through the management of Mr. Robert Cowan, who +had been deputed, in March, to Goa, for the purpose, a treaty of mutual +co-operation had been drawn up, by which the Bombay Council undertook to +furnish two thousand men and five ships. The Portuguese authorities +undertook to furnish an equal force. The negotiation was not completed +till the beginning of September, and Cowan, in recognition of the ability +he had displayed, was given a seat in the Council. The combined forces +were to assemble at Chaul, then a Portuguese possession, and march +overland to attack Colaba. Forgetting the old adage about selling the skin +of the bear while the animal was still alive, it was further agreed that +Colaba, after capture, was to be the property of Portugal, while Gheriah +was to be handed over to the English. The arrival of Matthews' squadron +therefore brought a welcome addition to the Bombay armaments. + +A camp was formed for the expeditionary force; drilling was the order of +the day; Cowan was named general, and various commissions as colonels, +majors, and captains were granted to officers of the navy who volunteered +for land service. On the 30th October, a seven days' fast was ordered, to +secure the Divine blessing on the undertaking, and the chaplain was +directed to preach an appropriate sermon. + +On the 29th November, the expedition left Bombay, and anchored off Chaul, +where the Portuguese force had already assembled. The English force +consisted of 655 Europeans and topasses, a troop of 40 horsemen, and 1514 +sepoys. Matthews also contributed 200 seamen, of whom 50 were to serve the +guns. The artillery consisted of two 24-pounders, two 18-pounders, four +9-pounders, six small field guns, two mortars, and eight coehorns. The +Portuguese force consisted of 1000 Europeans, 160 horsemen, 350 volunteers, +and 2400 sepoys, with six 24-pounders, six 18-pounders, ten field pieces, +and eight mortars, commanded by the General of the North. The Viceroy was +also present. Such a force, combined with the men-of-war, was sufficient, +under proper direction, to have destroyed all Angria's strongholds along +the coast. + +Some delay was caused by the necessity of building a bridge over the +Ragocim river, and then the army advanced, to be quickly brought to a +standstill again till sufficient transport could be brought from Bombay. +On the 12th December, after marching round the head of the Alibagh river, +the army encamped close to Alibagh fort; while the men-of-war anchored in +the roads. During the march, a few of Angria's horsemen had been seen from +time to time. On one occasion, while the Viceroy, accompanied by Matthews, +Cowan, and other commanders, was riding to view the country, a horseman +approached them under cover of a cactus hedge, and threw his lance, +wounding Matthews in the thigh. Matthews vainly pursued him, beside +himself with rage at his wound and at his pistols missing fire. + +On the 13th, an assault was made on the fort, though the heavy guns had +not been landed. Outside the fort there were fifteen hundred horse and a +thousand foot sent by Sahoojee to Angria's assistance. The Portuguese were +to face them, while five hundred English soldiers and marines, led by +naval officers, were to force the gateway and scale the rampart. Common +sense demanded that Sahoojee's force outside the fort should be disposed +of, and the heavy guns that had been brought with so much labour from +Chaul should be mounted and used, before any attempt at an assault was +projected; but there was a woeful absence of ordinary capacity among the +commanders. At four in the afternoon, the little force under Brathwaite, +first lieutenant of the _Lyon_, who held the rank of colonel for the +occasion, advanced to the assault. The gateway was blocked, and could not +be forced; many of the scaling ladders were too short, and the affair +resolved itself into a struggle, by a small number who had gained the +rampart, to maintain themselves, while the rest remained exposed to the +fire from the walls. In the midst of it, Sahoojee's force advanced on the +Portuguese, who broke and fled in wild confusion, leaving the English, +force to their fate. The assaulting party, seeing their danger, drew off, +leaving many of their wounded behind them, the whole force gave ground, +and soon there was a wild rush for the camp, luckily not followed by the +Mahratta horsemen. Thirty-three had been killed and twenty-seven wounded; +among the latter, Lieutenant Bellamy of the navy, who had behaved with +great dash and bravery. Matthews' marines suffered heavily. Though wanting +in discipline, they displayed much courage. All the field guns and a great +deal of ammunition fell into the hands of the Mahrattas. The whole blame +was laid on the Portuguese, to whom treachery was imputed. Matthews, +always violent, flew at the General of the North and assaulted him,[1] and +treated the Viceroy not much better. A little more enterprise on the part +of the Mahrattas would have destroyed the whole force. The following day +some heavy guns were landed, and a four-gun battery was constructed. But +the Portuguese had had enough of it, and were determined to withdraw. + +From the beginning, there had been little cordiality between the +ill-matched allies. In the English camp, Cowan was devoid of military +experience or instinct, and commanded little confidence among men +habituated to defeat in their attacks on Angrian strongholds; while +Matthews, violent and overbearing, claimed a right to direct operations +that he knew nothing about. The Portuguese, on their side, proud in the +recollection of the great position they had once held on the Malabar coast, +and which, though now fast falling into decay, was still immeasurably +superior to that of the English merchants, were disgusted at the constant +drunkenness, quarrelling, and want of discipline among the English, and +incensed at the charge of treachery, for which there was no justification. +Feigning illness, the Viceroy betook himself to his ship. Angria saw his +opportunity of breaking up the alliance, and opened negotiations with him. +On the 17th, the Viceroy wrote to the English, proposing a suspension of +arms. With a bad grace they were obliged to consent, seeing in the +negotiation, which was against the compact that neither should treat +separately, farther confirmation of their suspicion of treachery. Angria +granted the Portuguese full reparation for injuries, and formed an +offensive and defensive alliance with them. The English were left to shift +for themselves. Full of wrath, they embarked at once, and sailed for +Bombay on the 28th. + +While the force was engaged at Colaba, the Malwans[2] strove to make a +diversion in Angria's favour by attacking English ships, under pretence +that they were Portuguese vessels; they being at war with Goa at the time. +The Sunda Rajah also attacked a private English ship, but was beaten off. +In the Gulf, the Bombay sloop _Prince_ took a Muscat ship of fourteen guns, +but after some days was obliged to relinquish its prize to a Muscat +squadron. + +It is impossible not to sympathize with Boone's disappointment at the +failure of this long-planned expedition, which he had looked forward to as +the crowning achievement of his presidentship. The time had come for him +to return to England. His successor, Mr. William. Phipps, had arrived from +Mocha, in August, and had taken the second seat in Council, while awaiting +Boone's departure. Boone's last year in Bombay was embittered by a +dangerous intrigue against him, headed by Parker and Braddyll, two of the +Council. Investigation showed that they had plotted to seize his person, +and had even uttered threats against his life. Being arrested and ordered +to leave Bombay, they fled to Goa. After a time, Braddyll made his way in +a small boat to Bombay, and sought protection on board the _Lyon_, which +was readily extended to him by Matthews. As Braddyll's name appears among +those present in Council in Bombay, in 1723, he must have succeeded in +making his peace with the Company. Under the Company's rule, in those days, +all but the worst offences were condoned, so long as they were not +directly aimed at the Company's trade. A plot against the Governor's +freedom might be pardoned, but, for assistance given to the Ostenders +there was no _locus poenitentiae_. + +On the 9th January, Boone embarked on board the _London_, after making +over the governorship to Mr. Phipps, followed by the good wishes of the +community. During his six years of office he had proved himself a faithful +and zealous servant of the Company: 'a gentleman of as much honour and +good sense as any that ever sat in that chair,' according to Hamilton. He +had found Bombay with a languishing trade and open to attack. Under his +fostering care, trade had improved, so that merchants from Bengal and +Madras had found it profitable to settle there. A good wall had been built +to guard the town against sudden raids, and a respectable naval force had +been created to keep piracy in check. He deserves remembrance as the first +Bombay Governor who tried to put down the coast pirates by active measures. +Though his expeditions against them had been uniformly unsuccessful, he +had taught Angria that the Company's trade could not be attacked with +impunity, and his ill-success was entirely due to the worthlessness of his +instruments. At his departure, salutes were fired from every gun ashore +and afloat, except from Matthews' squadron, which did not fire a gun. As +he sailed down the coast, accompanied by the _Victoria_ and _Revenge_, +loaded with stores for Carwar and Anjengo, he was attacked by Angria's +squadron, but beat them off. Off Anjediva he came on the Kempsant's grabs +plundering a ship, which he rescued. One of the grabs was taken and +another driven ashore; and so he was gratified with a small success over +his inveterate enemies, as he bid farewell to the Indian coast. + +As soon as Matthews had returned to Bombay, after the Alibagh fiasco, he +applied himself to what, to him, was the principal reason for his coming +to India, viz. private trade. For the Company's interests he did not care +a button; in fact, anything that injured the Company found an advocate in +him. As for the pirates, if they did not come in his way, he was not going +to trouble himself much about them. To enrich himself by starting a +private trade of his own, was his one object, and, with this end in view, +he sailed for Surat. With him he took Mrs. Braddyll and Mrs. Wyche, with +sundry chests of treasure, in spite of Phipps' remonstrances: the estates +of both having been attached by the Council. In Surat he tried to raise a +large sum for a venture in the China trade; but the arbitrary conduct of +the King's officers had raised so much distrust among the native merchants, +that he was unsuccessful. Within three weeks he was back again in Bombay, +and was at once involved in an angry correspondence with the Council. Not +confining himself to an acrimonious exchange of letters, he affixed at the +sea gate an insulting proclamation. Phipps ordered it to be removed, on +which Matthews wrote that, if it were not at once replaced, he would +publish it by beat of drum through Bombay, and, should any resistance be +offered, he would not leave a house standing in the place. In this dilemma +the Council consented to replace it, but, to save their dignity, added a +notice that it was licensed by the Secretary. It is difficult to see how +this improved the matter. However, Matthews sailed the next day for +Madagascar, so no doubt the proclamation did not long remain after his +departure. + +His absence from Bombay, though doubtless felt as a relief by Phipps and +the Council, was probably, before long, a cause of regret in the troubles +that shortly beset them: but for the moment we will follow his movements. +Not contented with his quarrels with the Council, Matthews was soon at +daggers drawn with his own captains. First he proposed to them to employ +their ships in trading, on condition that two-thirds of the profits were +to be his. The captains refused to have anything to do with the proposal. +He had already had a quarrel with Cockburn, his second in command, the +first of many that were to follow. Before leaving Bombay, a quarrel arose +between him and Sir Robert Johnson, of the _Exeter_. Johnson threw up his +command, and took passage for England in one of the Company's ships, which +was lost with all hands on the voyage. With Sir Robert Johnson, his son, a +lieutenant in the navy, perished. Brathwaite was appointed to the command +of the _Exeter_. It had already come to be widely known that anybody who +was in trouble with the Company would find countenance and protection from +Matthews. He told the Portuguese officials that the Company's vessels were +only traders, and therefore not entitled to a salute, gun for gun. This +matter of salutes was a very important one in Matthews' eyes. Every +trading ship, however small it might be, carried guns, and there was a +great deal of saluting. In acknowledging such salutes Matthews always +responded with three or four less guns than were given him. On one +occasion there is a record of his replying with one gun only.[3] Wherever +Matthews could find an opportunity for lowering the credit or hurting the +interests of the Company, he seized it. + +On reaching Carpenter's Bay in Mauritius, he found an impudent message +from the pirates, 'writ on Captain Carpenter's tomb with a piece of +charcoal,' to the effect that they had been expecting him and had gone to +Port Dauphin. The squadron next proceeded to Bourbon, where they sold some +casks of arrack and madeira to the French for a very good profit, and +thence proceeded to Charnock Point, St. Mary's Island, Madagascar. Here +they found the wrecks of several merchant ships that had been run ashore +by the pirates. Scattered on the beach were lying their cargoes, china +ware, rich drugs and spices, cloth, guns, and other articles, lying where +the pirates had cast them. Men waded knee-deep in pepper, cloves, and +cinnamon, such was the quantity. In shallow water were lying the remains +of a fine Jeddah ship that had been taken, with thirteen lakhs of treasure +on board, by a pirate named Conden, who commanded a ship called the +_Flying Dragon_. Matthews at once began to transfer the guns and such +commodities as were least damaged to his own ships. A flag of truce had +been first sent ashore to communicate with England and the other pirates, +but it was found that they had fled inland. A week later, a white man, +accompanied by a well-armed guard of natives, made his appearance. He told +them that he was a Jamaica man named John Plantain, that he had been a +pirate, but was tired of the trade, and had settled down on the spot. This +John Plantain was a man of some note in the piratical world. Every and +England had sailed with him, and treated him with much consideration and +some fear. He had made himself master of a considerable tract of country, +so that the pirates had given him the name of the King of Ranter Bay.[4] +He gave an invitation to Matthews to visit his castle, where he +entertained some of the officers of the squadron. Matthews' first idea was +to seize him, but finding that John Plantain had a good number of armed +natives with him, besides a Scotchman and a Dane, and that his castle had +plenty of guns mounted, he decided to trade with him instead. The pirates +made no secret of having taken part in the capture of the Goa Viceroy's +ship, and of a rich native vessel with eighteen lakhs of rupees on board. +So hats, shoes, stockings, wine, and arrack were made over to John +Plantain, for which he paid a good price in gold and diamonds. In spite of +his notions as to piracy, John Plantain showed himself an honester man +than Matthews. Having paid liberally for the things he had bought, he left +the hogsheads of wine and arrack on the beach under a small guard. As soon +as his back was turned, Matthews manned his boats, brought off all the +liquor he had been paid for, and some of the native guard as well. After +which notable achievement he sailed away for Bengal, consoling himself +with the thought that he was not like one of "those vile pirates, who, +after committing many evil actions, had settled down among a parcel of +heathens to indulge themselves in all sorts of vice."[5] + +After a fortnight at Charnock's Point, the squadron made its way round the +north of Madagascar to Manigaro (Manankara) Bay, whence they steered for +Johanna. As the Directors afterwards remarked, Matthews ought to have +divided his squadron, and searched both coasts of the great island; but +his heart was not in the quest for pirates; he was bent only on trade. +Sending the _Salisbury_ and _Exeter_ to cruise towards Socotra, he took +the _Lyon_ and _Shoreham_ to Bengal, and, in the beginning of August, he +was at anchor in the Hoogly, near Diamond Harbour. There he remained till +the end of October. There were no pirates in the Bay of Bengal, but the +sugar trade was very lucrative, and he wanted to invest in it. + +He was not long in Calcutta without coming to loggerheads with the Council +concerning Mrs. Gyfford, who, as Mrs. Chown, has already been mentioned in +these pages,[6] and whose third husband had perished in the Anjengo +massacre eighteen months before. In flying from Anjengo she had carried +off the factory books, together with all the money she could lay her hands +on. As the Company had large claims on Gyfford's estate, the Council was +bent on making her disgorge. Matthews espoused her quarrel, as he did that +of all who were in the Company's bad books, and, in defiance of the +Council, carried her off to Bombay, and eventually to England. + + +[1] 'Thrust his cane in his mouth.'--_Downing_. + +[2] Malwan was a small fortified harbour belonging to Kolapore, about + sixty miles north of Goa. The Malwans were noted pirates. + +[3] When Watson came to India, he returned salutes gun for gun. + +[4] Perhaps Autongil Bay. + +[5] This account of Matthews' visit to Madagascar rests to a great extent + on the narrative of Clement Downing, who held the rating of a + midshipman on board the _Salisbury_ at the time. It is confirmed by + the logs of the _Lyon_ and _Salisbury_. He makes no attempt to conceal + his opinion of Matthews' misdoings. He also gives the history of John + Plantain, who finally made his way to Gheriah, and took service with + Angria. + +[6] See p. 80. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_A TROUBLED YEAR IN BOMBAY_ + +Loss of the _Hunter_ galley--Quarrel with Portuguese--Alliance of +Portuguese with Angria--War with both--A double triumph--Portuguese make +peace--Angria cowed--Matthews reappears--Trouble caused by him--He +returns to England--Court-martialled--The last of Matthews. + + +The year succeeding Boone's departure was a stirring one in Bombay. On the +27th February, the _Eagle_ and _Hunter_ galleys, while off Bassein, +convoying a Surat ship, were attacked by four of Angria's grabs. After a +five-hours' engagement, during which the _Hunter_ made three attempts at +boarding, an unlucky shot ignited some loose powder, and the galley blew +up, every soul on board perishing. A similar explosion, though less +serious, took place on board the _Eagle_, which forced her to take refuge +in a shattered condition in Saragon harbour. Here the Portuguese showed +such unfriendliness, that the Council were obliged to send other galleys +to protect and bring the _Eagle_ away. + +Since the conclusion of the Portuguese treaty with Angria, an angry +correspondence had gone on between Goa and Bombay, and soon the old causes +of quarrel were revived. The chief of these was the levying of duties at +certain places. The General of the North, who had tried to force on a +quarrel a year before, smarting, doubtless, under the treatment he had +received from Matthews at the siege of Alibagh, began to levy duties on +provisions coming from Bombay to Portuguese territory. Phipps retaliated +by levying customs duties at Mahim, which the Portuguese had always +claimed to be free to both nations. The quarrel grew hot. The General of +the North forbade all communication with Bombay, and, on the 26th May, a +British gallivat was fired on at Mahim. The Council resolved to uphold +their rights, but were in a poor condition to do so. Meanwhile, it became +known that Angria's assistance was being invited by the Portuguese. On the +23rd June, a party from Bombay landed and destroyed the Portuguese fort at +Corlem, and shelled Bandara. Captain Loader, of the _Revenge_, without +orders, burned the undefended village on Elephanta, for which he was +suspended from his command; but at the end of a week he was reinstated. +Want of shipping for a time prevented any vigorous prosecution of +hostilities on the part of the Council. They were obliged to remain on the +defensive, while Portuguese galleys cruised off the island, making +occasional raids, killing a militiaman or two, and burning villages. Mahim, +Riva, and Darvi were all raided, but with small benefit to the assailants. +On the 28th August, at night, a Portuguese force landed and destroyed the +fort at Warlee, assisted by the treachery of a renegade Portuguese. On the +3rd and 4th September, two attempts to land at the Breach were repulsed, +and the Council were cheered by the arrival of the _Salisbury_ and +_Exeter_ from their Red Sea cruise. + +Cockburn, of the _Salisbury_, less churlish than Matthews, at once put two +pinnaces and seventy-six men at the Council's disposal. A small expedition +of eleven gallivats under Stanton was also fitted out, and a battery +erected by the Portuguese at Surey to hinder provisions coming into Bombay, +was captured. One man of the _Exeter_ was killed and another wounded. Just +then came news that Angria was fitting out an expedition of five thousand +men to attack Carwar, and the _Exeter_ sailed there to defend the factory. + +At the beginning of November, the tide turned. News having been received +that some of Angria's grabs were cruising off Warlee, the _Victoria_ and +_Revenge_, manned with crews from the _Salisbury_, were sent out. After a +hot engagement, Angria's commodore, a Dutchman, was killed, and his ship, +mounting sixteen guns, taken. + +On the same day that the captured ship was brought into Bombay, two other +captures entered the harbour. The Directors had sent out from England +three galleys, the _Bombay_, the _Bengal_, and the _Fort St. George_, +manned with sailors from the Thames. As they were proceeding up the coast +they found themselves dogged for two days by two strange grabs showing no +colours. Resolved to put an end to it, on the third day, on the 1st +November, off Cape Ramus, they shortened sail and called on the strangers +to show their colours. They proved to be Portuguese, and the English hails +were answered by threats and shouts of defiance. The _Bengal_ then fired a +shot across the bows of the leading grab, which was answered by a +broadside, killing the second mate and two seamen. The _Bombay_ closed in, +while the _Fort St. George_ turned its attention to the second grab. In +half an hour both of the Portuguese vessels struck their colours, and the +galleys continued their course for Bombay with their two prizes, each +carrying twenty guns. Such was the difference made by having British +seamen, instead of the miserable crews that had hitherto manned the +Company's ships. + +It was well for the Bombay Council that Matthews had been absent while +this was going on. For two months and a half he had remained at anchor in +the Hooghly. Early in December he reached Bombay, and at once recommenced +his quarrels with the Council and his captains. Cockburn, of the +_Salisbury_, was placed under arrest, presumably for the assistance he had +given to the Council. After a time he was transferred to the _Exeter_, and +ordered to proceed to England. + +In coming up the coast Matthews had touched at Goa, and informed the +Viceroy of his disapproval of the Company's actions, and that his squadron +would soon be leaving the Indian seas. But the Viceroy had had enough +fighting. The capture of his grabs had brought him to reason. He laid all +the blame for recent hostilities on the General of the North, and a +peaceful accommodation was come to with the Council, Matthews being +disregarded. + +In spite of Matthews' failure to destroy the Madagascar pirates, the +presence of his squadron in Indian waters impelled them to seek safety in +the West Indies, and henceforward they ceased to be dangerous to the +trade-ships of India. The Madagascar settlements lingered on till they +died a natural death. Angria, too, had been tamed by the slaying of his +commodore and the capture of his ships. For years the sea-borne trade of +Bombay had not been so little subject to molestation as it was for the +next three or four years. + + +Matthews had sent home two of his ships, remaining, himself, to do another +year's trading, during which he lost no opportunity of worrying and +insulting the Company's officers. Everybody at variance with the Council +found an advocate in him. A Parsee broker, named Bomanjee, was under +arrest for fraud; Matthews demanded his surrender. The Council placed +Bomanjee in close confinement in the fort, to prevent his being carried +off. Matthews promised Bomanjee's sons he would take one of them to +England, and undertook to make the Directors see things in a proper light. +Men charged with abominable crimes received countenance from him. He told +the Council that they were only traders, and had no power to punish +anybody. The Crown alone had power to punish. He (Matthews) represented +the Crown, and was answerable only to the King of England. One may picture +to one's self the satisfaction with which, at the end of the year, the +Council learned that Matthews was really going. + +In December, 1723, he set sail for England. During the two years he had +been in the Indian seas he had accomplished nothing he ought to have done, +and done almost everything he ought not to have done. He had been sent out +to suppress the pirates and to protect the Company's interests. He had not +captured a single pirate ship or rooted out a single pirate haunt. +Claiming, as a King's officer, to be exempt from the provisions of the +Company's charter, he had indulged in private trade, and had even had +dealings with the pirates. He had flouted the Company's authority wherever +it existed, and had encouraged others to resist it. Every person who had a +dispute with the Company received protection from him. He told the Goa +authorities that the Company's vessels were only traders, and therefore +not entitled to the salutes they had always received. He had refused to +give up the Company's sailors whom he encouraged to desert to his ship. He +forbade the Bombay traders to fly British colours, but allowed his own +trading friends to do so. He had gone trading to Bengal and Mocha, where +there were no pirates; two months and a half he had spent in the Hooghly; +three months and a half he had spent at Madras and St. David's for trade +purposes; and, when the quarrel between the Bombay authorities and the +Portuguese was going on, he gave out that he would send the Goa Viceroy a +petticoat, as an old woman, if he did not take every one of the Company's +ships. He had quarrelled with all his captains, and one of them, Sir +Robert Johnson, owed his death to him. At Surat he had found a discharged +servant of the Company, one Mr. Wyche, on whose departure the Governor had +laid an embargo till his accounts were cleared. Matthews took him and his +eleven chests of treasure on board his ship, in defiance of the Governor's +orders, and put him ashore at Calicut, whence he escaped to French +territory. From Surat also he carried to England the broker's son, +Rustumjee Nowrojee, to worry the Directors. He carried off Mrs. Gyfford, +and brought her to England in his ship. His last act on the coast was to +call at Anjengo, in order to obtain property she claimed there: but it is +probable that he also secured a cargo of pepper. + +It is small wonder that, on his arrival in England, in July, 1724, the +wrath of the Directors was kindled against him, and an account of his +misbehaviour was forwarded to the Secretary of State. The naval +authorities called on the Directors to produce their witnesses for the +charge of trading with the pirates. The difficulty of doing so was obvious, +as the witnesses were all under Matthews' command; so the charge was +dropped, and the Directors sued him in the Court of Exchequer for +infringing their charter by private trading. + +Meanwhile the naval authorities had their own account to settle with +Matthews; Captain Maine, of the _Shoreham_, having made various charges +against him. In the last week of December, 1724, he was brought to a +court-martial on board the _Sandwich_ in the Medway, and the finding of +the court was thus recorded:-- + + "The Court, having read the complaints of the Directors of the E.I. Co. + of several irregularities said to be committed by Captain Thomas + Matthews while Commander-in-Chief of a squadron of his Majesty's ships + sent to the East Indies, a Publication being made three several times, + if any Person or Persons were attending on behalf of the said + Directors, in order to prove the several matters therein contained, + and not any appearing, the Court proceeded on the complaints exhibited + by Captain Covil Maine, and having strictly examined into the several + particulars and matters therein contained and heard divers witnesses + upon oath, they are unanimously of opinion, that the said Captain + Matthews hath in all respects complied with his Instructions, except + that of receiving Merchandize on board before the late Act of + Parliament, Instituted an Act for the more effectual suppression of + Piracy, came to hand, but not afterwards; and it appearing to the + Court, that he had sent men irregularly to Merchant Ships, and finding + he falls under the 33rd Article of War, they have Resolved he be + Mulcted four Months' pay, and that the same be applied for the benefit + of the Chest of Chatham, and he is hereby mulcted accordingly." + +Six weeks later, the Directors obtained a decree against him in the Court +of Exchequer, for L13,676 17_s_. 6_d_., which, according to Act of +Parliament, was doubled as a penalty. + +In 1742, Matthews again found favour with an English Ministry. He was +appointed Minister at Turin and Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. +In February, 1744, he encountered a combined French and Spanish fleet off +Toulon. His behaviour to his subordinates had excited their ill-will to +such an extent that his second in command and many of the captains refused +to follow him. The allied fleet escaped with the loss of one ship only. +Both admirals and five captains were cashiered, and that is the last we +hear of Matthews. The remembrance of his behaviour long rankled in the +minds of the Directors, and twenty years elapsed before they could again +bring themselves to apply for the despatch of a royal squadron to the +Indian seas.[1] + + +[1] The squadron under Barnet, which was sent out in 1744, on the + declaration of war with France. + + + +CHAPTER X + +_TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF CONFLICT_ + +The case of Mr. Curgenven--Death of Conajee Angria--Quarrels of his +sons--Portuguese intervention--Sumbhajee Angria--Political +changes--Disaster to _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys--The _Ockham_ beats +off Angria's fleet--The Coolees--Loss of the _Derby_--Mahrattas expel +Portuguese from Salsette--Captain Inchbird--Mannajee Angria gives +trouble--Dutch squadron repulsed from Gheriah--Gallant action of the +_Harrington_--Sumbhajee attacks Colaba--English assist Mannajee--Loss +of the _Antelope_--Death of Sumbhajee Angria--Toolajee Angria--Capture +of the _Anson_--Toolajee takes the _Restoration_--Power of +Toolajee--Lisle's squadron--Building of the _Protector_ and _Guardian_. + + +As an instance of the miseries to which men were exposed by Angria's +piracies, may be mentioned the case of Mr. Curgenven, a private merchant +of Madras. Being bound on a trading voyage to China, he sailed from Surat +in August, 1720, in the _Charlotte_. Before he could get clear of the +coast, he was captured by Angria's fleet and carried into Gheriah. There +he remained for nearly ten years, during the whole of which time he was +made to wear fetters and work as a slave. In spite of the letters he was +able to send to Bombay, nothing appears to have been done to procure his +liberty. At last, on payment of a ransom, he was set free, and joined his +wife in England. But the fetters he had worn so long had injured one of +his legs, and amputation was necessary. As he was recovering from the +operation, an artery burst, and he died on the spot. + +With Boone's departure from India the attacks on the Angrian strongholds +came to an end. They were henceforth regarded as impregnable, and Boone's +successors contented themselves with checking the Angrian power at sea. + +In June, 1729, Conajee Angria died. He left two legitimate sons, Sakhajee +and Sumbhajee; three illegitimate sons, Toolajee, Mannajee, and Yessajee. +Sakhajee established himself at Colaba, while Sumbhajee Angria remained at +Severndroog, to carry on the predatory policy of their father. In March, +1734, Sakhajee died, and Mannajee and Yessajee were sent to hold Colaba +for Sumbhajee. Before long, Mannajee quarrelled with Sumbhajee and +Yessajee, and fled to Chaul. The Portuguese espoused his quarrel, and +furnished him with a force against Colaba, which was taken; Mannajee +gallantly leading the assault, sword in hand. He at once imprisoned +Yessajee, and put out his eyes. As soon as the Portuguese force was +withdrawn, Sumbhajee attacked Colaba. Mannajee invoked the aid of the +Peishwa, who compelled Sumbhajee to raise the siege, and received the +Angrian forts of Koolta and Rajmachee in return, while Mannajee proclaimed +his allegiance to the Peishwa, and henceforth was secure under his +protection. The Portuguese, incensed against Mannajee, who had broken his +promises to cede them certain districts in return for their assistance in +capturing Colaba, joined hands with Sumbhajee Angria against him. This +brought down upon them the hostility of the Mahratta court, who, after two +years' severe fighting, expelled them from Salsette and all their +possessions in the neighbourhood of Bombay, while the English looked on at +the contest waged at their doors with indifference. + +In order to strengthen themselves against the Dutch, the Portuguese had +ceded Bombay to the English, and then, by their bad faith in retaining +Salsette and Thana, they had opened a sore that never was healed. By +espousing the quarrel of Mannajee they had earned the enmity of Sumbhajee; +and by joining in Sumbhajee's quarrel against Mannajee they had brought +down on themselves the formidable power of the Peishwa. Before long, +Sumbhajee turned against them again, and they were left without a single +ally to struggle as they could. Their intervention in Angrian quarrels was +the final cause of the downfall of Portuguese power on the West coast. + +The old political landmarks were fast disappearing. Everywhere the Mogul +power was crumbling to pieces, and new principalities were being formed. +The Peishwa had shaken off his allegiance to Satara, and his armies were +making his authority felt all over Hindostan and the Deccan; while +Mahratta rule was being established in Guzerat by the Gaicowar. The Dutch +and French had ceased to make progress; the Portuguese power was on the +wane; the Seedee was losing territory under the attacks of Mannajee and +the Peishwa, while the Angrian power was divided. Meanwhile, the Company's +position on the West coast was steadily improving. European pirates had +ceased to haunt the Indian seas; Mannajee Angria found it necessary to +maintain good relations with the English, though occasional acts of +hostility showed that he was not to be trusted; while the Peishwa, whose +aims were directed inland, had no quarrel with them, and concluded a +treaty with Bombay. Trade was flourishing, though the piracies of +Sumbhajee Angria, in spite of his feud with Mannajee, caused losses from +time to time. The English ships, better manned and better found, no longer +contented themselves with repelling attacks, but boldly cruised in search +of Sumbhajee's vessels, capturing them or driving them to seek refuge in +their fortified harbours. + +To relate in detail all the encounters that took place would be tedious; +but some of them may be mentioned, in order to give an idea of the warfare +that went on for thirty years after Boone's relinquishment of office. + +In October, 1730, intelligence having been received of Angrian gallivats +cruising north of Bombay, some Bombay gallivats were sent out, and after a +smart action captured three of them, each carrying five guns. A month +later, the _Bombay_ and _Bengal_ galleys were attacked off Colaba by four +grabs and fifteen gallivats. There was a calm at the time: the hostile +grabs were towed under the galleys' stern and opened a heavy fire. The +galleys were only able to reply with small arm fire, and suffered severely. +Several attempts to board were repelled, when an unlucky shot exploded two +barrels of musket cartridges on board the _Bengal_. The quarter-deck was +blown up, and, in the confusion, the enemy boarded and carried the ship. +The first lieutenant, although wounded, jumped overboard and swam to the +_Bombay_, which was also in evil plight. A similar explosion had occurred, +killing the captain, the first lieutenant, and many of the crew. At this +juncture came a welcome breeze, bringing up the _Victory_ grab, which had +witnessed the fight without being able to take part in it, and the +Angrians drew off. No less than eighty Europeans were lost to the Company +in this action. + +In January, 1732, the _Ockham_, East Indiaman, coming up the coast with a +light wind, was beset, off Dabul, by an Angrian squadron of five grabs and +three gallivats. At sunset they came within shot, and a little harmless +cannonading took place at long range, till dark. At one in the morning, +the moon having risen, they bore down again and attacked the _Ockham_ in +their favourite manner, astern. For some time the East Indiaman was +exposed to the fire of ten nine-pounders, to which it could only reply +with two stern-chasers. Captain Jobson, finding his rigging much cut up, +and seeing that the loss of a mast would probably entail the loss of his +ship, determined to entice them to close quarters, in the good breeze that +was springing up. The plan was explained to the crew, who were in good +heart, and encouraged by a promise of two months' pay. Every gun was +manned, while the fire of the two stern-chasers was allowed to slacken, as +if ammunition was running short. The bait took; the grabs drew up on the +_Ockham's_ quarter, with their crews cheering and sounding trumpets. At a +cable's distance the _Ockham_ suddenly tacked; and as she gathered way on +her new course, she was in the midst of the grabs, firing into them round +shot and grape, together with volleys of small arms. This unexpected +manoeuvre made the Angrians draw off, and the _Ockham_ resumed her course. +At daybreak, only four grabs were in chase, the fifth having evidently +suffered severe injuries. A stiff breeze had sprung up, and the crew were +eager for another bout, so the _Ockham_ tacked again, and stood for the +grabs. But they had had enough of it, and evaded coming to close quarters. +Their best chances of successes lay in calms and light airs. With an +antagonist like Jobson, in a good stiff wind, the odds were against them; +they had lost many men; so after hovering round for some hours they made +off to Severndroog. + +In 1734, the Coolee rovers, who infested the coast of Guzerat, gave much +trouble. Their stronghold was at Sultanpore, on the river Coorla, and +they enjoyed the protection of several wealthy persons who shared in their +plunder. A squadron under Captain Radford Nunn was sent against them, +which captured five armed vessels and burnt fourteen more. To save others +from capture they burnt about fifty more small sailing-boats themselves. +Six months later, ten more of their boats were burnt and two captured. +Under these blows they were quiet for a time. + +In December, 1735, a valuable ship fell into Sumbhajee Angria's hands, +owing to the bad behaviour of its captain. The _Derby_, East Indiaman, +bringing a great cargo of naval stores from England, and the usual +treasure for investment, was due to arrive in Bombay in November. The +captain, Anselme, was a schemer, and wished to remain in India for a year, +instead of returning to England at once, as had been arranged. Accordingly, +he lingered a month in Johanna, and shaped his course northward along the +African coast. Thence getting a fair wind which would have brought him +directly to Bombay, without running the risk of working along the Malabar +coast, he, instead, steered for the latitude of Goa, and thence crept +northwards, making as much delay as possible, so as not to reach Bombay +till January. On the 26th December, an Angrian squadron of five grabs and +four gallivats bore down on the _Derby_, off Severndroog, and engaged in +their favourite way of attacking a big ship, astern. There was little wind, +and the _Derby_ would neither stay nor wear. Only two guns could be +brought to bear at first; there were no guns mounted in the gun-room, and +no encouragement was given to the crew. Two years before, the Directors +had authorized the captains of outward-bound ships, when exposed to a +serious attack, to hoist two treasure chests on deck, for distribution, +after the engagement, to the ship's company, in order to encourage them in +making a good resistance. The captains of homeward-bound ships were +empowered to promise L2000 to their crews in the same circumstances. +Nothing of the kind was done by Anselme. The crew, discontented, fought +with little spirit; many of them refused to stand to their guns. The main +and mizzen masts were shot away, seven men, including the first mate, were +killed, five were dangerously, and a number more slightly, wounded. Still, +many of the officers and men were willing to continue the fight, but were +overruled by the captain, who insisted on surrender, and the _Derby_ with +115 prisoners, of whom two were ladies, was carried into Severndroog. + +No such loss had befallen the Company for many years. The much-needed +naval stores went to equip Angria's fleet, and the money for the season's +investment was lost. The whole Bombay trade was dislocated. Angria, +desirous of peace, opened negotiations. The Council, wishing to redeem the +prisoners, offered a six months' truce, and, after eleven months of +captivity the prisoners were sent to Bombay, with the exception of three +who took service with Angria. + +In December, 1736, the _King George_ and three other vessels captured a +large grab belonging to Sumbhajee Angria, together with 120 prisoners. A +Surat ship that had been taken was also recovered. + +The year 1738 was an anxious one in Bombay. The Mahrattas were occupied +with the siege of Bassein, which was defended with desperate valour by the +Portuguese. Sumbhajee's vessels were active on the coast, and Mannajee was +restless and untrustworthy. Commodore Bagwell, with four of the Company's +best ships, the _Victory, King George, Princess Caroline_, and +_Resolution_, was sent to cruise against Sumbhajee, while Captain Inchbird +was deputed on a friendly mission to Mannajee. On the 22nd December, +Bagwell sighted Sumbhajee's fleet of nine grabs and thirteen gallivats +coming out of Gheriah. He gave chase, and forced them to take refuge in +the mouth of the Rajapore River, where they anchored. Bagwell, ignorant of +the navigation, and with his crews badly afflicted with scurvy, boldly +bore down on them; on which they cut their cables and ran into the river. +Before they could get out of shot, he was able to pour in several +broadsides at close range, killing Angria's chief admiral, and inflicting +much damage. Fearing to lose some of his ships in the shoal water, he was +obliged to draw off, having had one midshipman killed. + +Mannajee at once took advantage of Sumbhajee's temporary discomfiture to +attack and capture Caranjah from the Portuguese. Then, elated at his +success, and in spite of his own professions of friendship, he seized +three unarmed Bombay trading ships and two belonging to Surat. To punish +him, Captain Inchbird was sent with a small squadron, and seized eight of +his fighting gallivats, together with a number of fishing-boats. +Negotiations were opened, broken off, and renewed, during which Mannajee +insolently hoisted his flag on the island of Elephanta. With the Mahratta +army close at hand in Salsette, the Bombay Council dared not push matters +to extremity; so, invoking the help of Chimnajee Appa, the Peishwa's +brother, they patched up a peace with Mannajee. At the same time, Bombay +succeeded in making a treaty of friendship with the Peishwa, which secured, +to the English, trading facilities in his dominions. + +While this was going on, a Dutch squadron of seven ships of war and seven +sloops attacked Gheriah, and were beaten off. A little later, Sumbhajee +took the _Jupiter_, a French ship of forty guns, with four hundred slaves +on board. To English, Dutch, French, and Portuguese alike, his fortresses +were impregnable. + +In January, 1740, a gallant action was fought by the _Harrington_, Captain +Jenkins. The _Harrington_ was returning from a voyage to China, and, in +coming up the coast, had joined company with the _Pulteney_, _Ceres_, and +_Halifax_. Between Tellicherry and Bombay they were attacked by fifteen +sail of Angria's fleet. Four grabs ran alongside the _Harrington_, but +were received with such a well-directed fire that they dropped astern. The +four Company's ships then formed line abreast, and were attacked from +astern by Angria's ships. The brunt of the fight fell on the _Harrington_. +Jenkins had trained his crew, and was prepared for this method of attack. +After five hours of heavy firing the Angrian ships drew off, showing +confusion and loss. At daylight the next morning they attacked again. The +_Ceres_ had fallen to leeward, and three grabs attacked her, while three +more bore down on the _Harrington_ to windward. Disregarding his own +attackers, Jenkins bore down on the assailants of the _Ceres_, and drove +them off; then, hauling his wind, he awaited the attack of the others. The +three leeward grabs were towed up within range, and for the next two or +three hours the _Harrington_ engaged all six, almost single-handed. The +wind had fallen; the _Ceres_ and _Halifax_ were out of gunshot; the +_Pulteney_ alone was able to give assistance at long range. So well served +were the _Harrington's_ guns that she inflicted more damage than she +received, and, by ten o'clock, four of the grabs gave up the contest and +were towed away to windward. The other two grabs continued the action for +some time, till they also were towed out of action. The two squadrons, +just out of gunshot of each other, consulted among themselves. Jenkins +found he had only seven rounds left for his big guns, and his consorts, +which were more lightly armed, were in little better plight to renew the +combat. Still, he put a good face on it, showing no unwillingness to +continue the fight; and, on a breeze springing up, the Angrians drew off, +leaving the East Indiamen to pursue their voyage. Only one man on board +the _Harrington_ was wounded, though the ship was much knocked about. +Jenkins was much commended for his skill and courage, and two years later +we find him acting as Commodore of the Company's fleet at Bombay. + +Three weeks later, Sumbhajee's fleet of five grabs and some gallivats +appeared off Bombay, and cruised off the mouth of the harbour, as if +inviting attack. Commodore Langworth, with the _Pulteney_, _Trial, +_Neptune's Prize_, a bombketch, and five of the largest gallivats, was +sent out. The Angrian fleet stood away to the southward, followed by +Langworth. The demonstration was a trick to draw off the Bombay fighting +ships. When they were well out of the way, Sumbhajee made a sudden attack +on Mannajee's territories with two thousand men and forty or fifty +gallivats. Sumbhajee had gained over a number of Mannajee's officers, and +Alibagh, Thull, and Sagurgurh fell into his hands at once. He attacked +Chaul, but was beaten off by the Portuguese, and then laid siege to Colaba. +Mannajee was at once reduced to great straits. Half his garrison were +untrustworthy, and his water supply was cut off. In his distress he +appealed to Bombay for assistance. Though the Council bore him little good +will, they recognized that it was better to maintain him in Colaba than to +allow Sumbhajee to establish himself there; so, in great haste, the +_Halifax_, a small country ship, the _Futteh Dowlet_ grab, the _Triumph_, +_Prahm_, and the _Robert_ galley were equipped and sent down, under +Captain Inchbird, arriving just in time to save the place. Water was +supplied to the garrison, and Bombardier Smith, together with gunner's +mate Watson, a mortar and plenty of ammunition were put into the fort. +Sumbhajee's batteries were much damaged by the shells from the mortar, his +camp was bombarded by Inchbird, and his gallivats forced to run for +Severndroog. This prompt action of the Bombay Council upset Sumbhajee's +plans. He addressed remonstrances to the Council, offering to restore the +_Anne_, which he had taken some months before. A week later, a Mahratta +force, from Salsette, under the Peishwa's son, Ballajee Bajee Rao, +appeared on the scene, attacked Sumbhajee's camp, destroyed some of his +batteries, killing a number of his men, and taking prisoner his +half-brother, Toolajee. + +In his distress, Sumbhajee tried to come to terms with Mannajee. Each +distrusted the other, and both were afraid of the Peishwa. At this +juncture the death of the Peishwa was announced. Ballajee Bajee Rao was +obliged to return to Satara, and Sumbhajee was allowed to retreat, after +making peace with the Mahrattas. The promptitude and energy with which the +English had come to the assistance of Mannajee raised them greatly in the +esteem of the new Peishwa, and strengthened the bonds of the alliance. + +Mannajee now found it expedient to make a solid peace with the English. +The new Peishwa had his hands full at Satara. The only power able to +afford him ready protection against Sumbhajee was the English, the value +of whose friendship he had lately experienced. So he sent agents to Bombay, +offering to pay a sum of Rs.7500, on restitution of the gallivats taken +from him by Inchbird the year before. On this basis a peace was made. + +At the same time, the Portuguese, whose power and resources were fast +diminishing, recognized the difficulty of retaining the isolated fortress +of Chaul. They offered it first to the Dutch and then to the English, but +the dangerous gift was refused by both. Finally they made it over to the +Peishwa by agreement.[1] + +While these things were going on, the _Antelope_, gallivat, fell a prey to +the Coolee rovers of Sultanpore. Through the treachery of the pilot it was +run ashore. The crew defended themselves gallantly, but in the course of +the action the ship blew up, and ten Europeans, two sepoys, and two +lascars were killed. + +In view of the losses he had sustained, Sumbhajee Angria now tried to +patch up a peace with Bombay. In order to test his sincerity, he was +required, as a preliminary step, to restore the English prisoners he held. +Just then he scored a success against the Portuguese, from whom he +captured two fine grabs and a convoy; so the negotiation came to a +standstill. But his fortunes were declining, his people were leaving his +service, while Mannajee, protected by the Peishwa and the English, was +increasing in power; so he again addressed the Bombay Governor, in a +letter beginning 'For thirty years we have been at war.' But it was soon +discovered that his object was to have his hands free to attack Mannajee, +and his overtures came to nothing. In May, 1743, he captured the Bombay +ketch _Salamander_, off Colaba, but before it could be carried off it was +rescued by some of Mannajee's ships from Chaul, and restored to Bombay. +Very shortly afterwards, Sumbhajee died, and was succeeded by his +half-brother, Toolajee. The reputation of the English in Bombay was now so +good, that a quarrel between Mannajee and the Peishwa was referred to them +for arbitration. + +The predatory policy of the Angrian family did not suffer in the hands of +Toolajee. Within a few weeks of Sumbhajee's death, his squadron fought a +prolonged action with the _Warwick_ and _Montagu_, East Indiamen, and +carried off five small vessels sailing under their convoy. Commodore Hough +in the _Restoration_, together with the _Bombay_ grab, was at once sent +down the coast, and found seven Angrian grabs with a number of gallivats, +which he forced to take shelter under the guns of Severndroog. A year +later, the _Princess Augusta_ from Bencoolen was captured by Toolajee, and +taken into Gheriah. After plundering it, Toolajee found it was too poor a +sailer to be of use to him, so he allowed the Bombay Council to redeem it +for Rs.8000. + +Meanwhile, war with France had broken out, and the capture of Madras by La +Bourdonnais dealt a severe blow to English prestige. The restless Mannajee +began stopping and plundering small native craft belonging to Bombay, with +the intention, no doubt, of flying at higher game in time. Reprisals were +at once ordered, and a vessel of Mannajee's was captured. This brought him +to reason, and the vessel was released on his signing a bond to make good +the losses he had caused. The loss of Madras was telling against the +English, everywhere. In Bengal the Mahrattas seized the Cossimbazaar +flotilla bound for Calcutta, valued at four lakhs of rupees. Mannajee +still continued to be troublesome, till the Seedee, taking advantage of +the situation, attacked and captured Thull, which kept him quiet for a +time. + +Considerable anxiety was caused in Bombay, at this time, by the appearance +of three French men-of-war cruising on the coast, with the evident +intention of waylaying the Company's ships from Europe. One of them was a +fifty-gun ship, and there was nothing in Bombay harbour to cope with her. +To meet the difficulty, a large number of fishing-boats were sent out, +each with an English sailor on board, to creep along the coast and warn +all incoming ships. In spite of these precautions, the _Anson_ missed the +boats sent to warn her, and was attacked by the French _Apollo_ and +_Anglesea_ within sight of the harbour. Captain Foulis defended himself +long enough to enable him to send off the dispatches and treasure he +carried, in his boats, before he was forced to surrender.[2] The Directors +bestowed on him a gratuity of L400 for his able conduct. + +Fortunately for Bombay, Toolajee Angria's energies were at this time +directed against Canara, where in two successive expeditions he sacked +Mangalore and Honore, carrying off a large booty. + +In October, 1749, Toolajee, who for some time had been giving little +trouble, inflicted a severe loss on the Bombay marine. The _Restoration_ +was the most efficient ship at the Council's disposal. It had been +commanded by Captain Hough, a bold and resolute man, who had done good +service in her, attacking Angria's ships and chasing them into their +fortified harbours. She carried seventy-five European seamen, sixteen +lascars, and thirty soldiers--unruly fellows who wanted a firm hand over +them. Hough had fallen ill, and the command was given to Captain Thomas +Leake, an irresolute man, not fitted to command such, a crew. They very +soon fell into disorder. While coming up the coast from Goa they were +attacked by Toolajee's fleet of five grabs, accompanied by a swarm of +gallivats. From noon till dark the _Restoration_ was surrounded and +cannonaded. Her guns were so badly served that they inflicted little or no +damage, while her own sails and rigging were badly cut about. During the +night, the action was fitfully continued, her ammunition being lavishly +and uselessly expended. Toolajee himself was present, and had a number of +European gunners with him. At noon the next day his grabs edged down again, +fell aboard the _Restoration_, and boarded. On this, the colours were +struck, Leake ran below, an example that was followed by his crew, and the +ship was taken. When they were released, some months afterwards, the +Council, after due inquiry, decided that Leake and his officers should not +serve the Company again till the Directors' pleasure was known. + +Meanwhile, the Coolees of Guzerat had become very troublesome. In 1749, +they captured a Bengal ship with Rs.60,000 in hard cash on board, and a +cargo of nearly equal value. Their depredations continuing, the Dutch +proposed joint action against them; so, in December, 1750, a joint Dutch +and English squadron forced the defences of the Coorla River, burnt and +captured twenty-three of their vessels, and reduced them to quietness for +a time. + +Toolajee had now become very powerful. From Cutch to Cochin his vessels +swept the coast in greater numbers than Conajee had ever shown, and +cruised defiantly off Bombay harbour. But for the presence of four King's +ships on the coast, Bombay trade would have suffered severely. When +Boscawen left Indian waters,[3] after receiving over Madras from the +French, he detached four ships, the _Vigilant_, Tartar_, _Ruby_, and +_Syren_, to cruise on the West coast, under Commodore Lisle. For two years, +the protection afforded by Lisle's squadron gave some security to the +Bombay coast trade. As the small sailing boats, in which the coast trade +was carried on, made their way under convoy of the King's ships, Angria's +squadrons hovered round to pick up stragglers, and several slight +encounters took place. The superior sailing powers of the Mahratta vessels +enabled them to keep out of range of the big guns, while they snatched +prizes within sight of the men-of-war. Thus, in February, 1750, three +small traders were snapped up, while under convoy of the _Ruby_, by an +Angrian squadron that hung on their tracks for four days, between Bombay +and Vingorla. In October, the _Tartar_, with twenty-six sail under convoy, +was followed for three days, between Bombay and Surat, by eleven Angrian +gallivats, and lost one of the number. Three weeks later, the _Syren's_ +convoy was attacked in the same waters by thirteen Angrian vessels, which +were beaten off without loss. In March, 1751, thirty-six trading vessels, +under convoy of the _Vigilant_ and _Ruby_, were attacked by six Angrian +vessels, which behaved with great boldness. Instead of devoting themselves +to the traders, they bore down on the _Ruby_, and opened fire at close +range, with great guns and small arms. Before long an Angrian grab was +seen to be on fire, and in a short time the after part blew up. Several +pieces of mast were blown on board the _Ruby_, tearing her sails and +wounding two men. The grab sunk, and her consorts made off. Hardly had +Lisle's squadron sailed for England[4] when the Council sustained a loss +in the _Swallow_ sloop, which was taken by Toolajee, together with a +convoy of rice-boats. + +The great benefit conferred on the coast trade by Lisle's squadron taught +the Directors the necessity of a change of policy. Hitherto their fighting +ships had been utilized to carry cargoes along the coast, a practice that +greatly hampered their action. They now determined on keeping ships for +fighting only; so they ordered the building of the _Protector_, a +forty-gun ship, and the _Guardian_, a sloop. The two new ships left +Sheerness in the winter of 1751, commanded by Captains Cheyne and James, +and the most stringent orders were sent with them that they were to carry +no cargoes, and were to be kept on the Malabar coast as long as Angria +should keep the sea. During the next three years, the _Protector_ and +_Guardian_ did much useful work, convoying the coasting trade, and +offering battle to Angria's ships whenever they met them. + + +[1] September, 1740. + +[2] 2nd September, 1747. + +[3] November, 1749. + +[4] November, 1751. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +_THE DOWNFALL OF ANGRIA_ + +Toolajee fights successful action with the Dutch--He tries to make peace +with Bombay--Alliance formed against him--Commodore William James-- +Slackness of the Peishwa's fleet--Severndroog--James's gallant attack-- +Fall of Severndroog--Council postpone attack on Gheriah--Clive arrives +from England--Projects of the Directors--Admiral Watson--Preparations +against Gheriah.--The Council's instructions--Council of war about +prize-money--Double dealing of the Peishwa's officers--Watson's +hint--Ships engage Gheriah--Angrian fleet burnt--Fall of Gheriah--Clive +occupies the fort--The prize-money--Dispute between Council and Poonah + Durbar--Extinction of coast piracy--Severndroog tower. + + +In the beginning of 1754, the Dutch suffered a severe loss at Toolajee's +hands. A vessel loaded with ammunition was taken, and two large ships were +blown up after a stiff fight, in which Toolajee had two three-masted grabs +sunk and a great number of men killed. Six months later, Toolajee sent an +agent to Bombay to propose terms of accommodation. They were terms to +which a conciliatory answer, at least, would have been returned in Conajee +Angria's time. The Council's reply betrays a consciousness of increased +strength. "Can you imagine that the English will ever submit to take +passes of any Indian nation? This they cannot do. We grant passes, but +would take none from anybody." Toolajee was told that if he was in earnest +in desiring peace, he should return the vessels he had taken, and send men +of figure and consequence to treat, instead of the obscure individual +through whom his overtures had come. In spite of this peremptory reply, +Toolajee continued to make half-hearted proposals for peace. The fact was +that he was now at open war with the Peishwa, who had made himself master +of the Concan, with the exception of the coastline. According to Orme, +Toolajee had cut off the noses of the agents sent by the Peishwa to demand +the tribute formerly paid to Satara. The Poonah Durbar were so incensed +against him that they were determined on his destruction, though without +the assistance of the English they had little expectation of success +against his coast fortresses. The Bombay Council was ready enough to join +in the undertaking, but was unwilling to take immediate action. This +unwillingness was apparently due to their desire to see order first +restored in Surat, where affairs had fallen into great disorder in the +general break-up of Mogul rule. + +The Mahratta Court at Poona had been close observers of the long war waged +in the Carnatic between the English and French. They had seen Madras taken, +only to be regained by diplomacy, and after the English had been foiled at +Pondicherry. They had witnessed the rise of French power under Dupleix; +rulers deposed and others set up, in the Deccan and the Carnatic, by +French arms; and then, when Mahomed Ali, the rightful ruler of the +Carnatic, was at his last gasp, they had seen his cause espoused by the +English, and one humiliation after another inflicted on French armies, +till at last the French were forced to recognize Mahomed Ali's title, +while a powerful English squadron and a King's regiment had been sent out +to make good the claim. The good relations established between the +Peishwa's government and Bombay by the treaty of 1739, had been +strengthened since the arrival of Mr. Richard Bourchier, as Governor, in +1750; the fighting in the Carnatic had raised the military reputation of +the English, while their support of Mahomed Ali, whom the Mahrattas styled +'their master,' had greatly increased the esteem in which they were held. + +When it was definitely known that hostilities between the English and +French were at an end, Ramajee Punt, the Sirsoobah of the Concan, was +dispatched to Bombay to concert measures against Toolajee. Mr. Bourchier +was urged to summon the King's ships from Madras to co-operate with the +Peishwa's forces. + +To await the arrival of Watson's squadron from Madras would have lost the +favourable season before the monsoon, so it was determined to fit out at +once what ships were in the harbour, and send them under Commodore William +James. Articles of agreement were drawn up, by which it was settled that +Severndroog, Anjanvel, and Jyeghur should be attacked by the Mahrattas, +while the English engaged to keep the sea, and prevent Toolajee's fleet +from throwing succours into the places attacked. A division of the spoils +between the victors was agreed on, by which the English were to receive +Bankote and Himmutghur, with five villages, in perpetual sovereignty. The +Peishwa's fleet was to be under James's orders, and he was instructed to +give all the assistance in his power, but not to lend any of his people, +except a few to point the guns. + +Very little is accurately known of James's career before his entry into +the East India Company's service. He was born in Pembrokeshire in humble +circumstances, and went to sea at an early age. According to one account, +he served in Hawke's ship, but, wherever his training was received, it had +made him a first-rate seaman. In 1747, he entered the Company's marine +service, being then about twenty-six years of age. + +In 1751, he sailed from England in command of the _Guardian_ sloop, one of +the two men-of-war built by the Directors for the protection of Bombay +trade. His services against the coast pirates, during the next two years, +procured his advancement to the post of Commodore at Bombay, and it was +soon remarked that the sailing of the _Protector_, on which his flag was +now hoisted, had greatly improved by the changes he had made. By his +capture of Severndroog, now to be related, he became famous. He played his +part at the capture of Gheriah, and, in the following year, when the news +of the disaster at Calcutta became known in Bombay, he was sent down in +the _Revenge_, with four hundred men, to join the force sent up from +Madras under Watson and Clive. Off Calicut he encountered the French ship +_Indien_, carrying twenty-four guns and over two hundred men, and captured +her. He afterwards joined the board of Directors, was created a baronet, +had a seat in Parliament, and, in time, became chairman of the Company. +Sterne, in the last year of his life, formed a close friendship with Mr. +and Mrs. James, and, a few days before he died, recommended his daughter +Lydia to their care. + +On the 22nd March, 1755, James sailed from Bombay in the _Protector_, +forty guns, having with him the _Swallow_, sixteen guns, the _Viper_ +bombketch, and the _Triumph_ prahm. The following day, he sighted an +Angrian squadron of seven grabs and eleven gallivats, which he chased for +a couple of hours without success. Two days later, he was joined off Chaul +by the Peishwa's fleet, consisting of seven grabs, two batellas, and about +forty gallivats. To James's annoyance, he found his allies in no hurry to +get on. Twice they insisted on landing, lingering for over three days in +one place. On the 29th, Severndroog was sighted, and Angria's fleet of +seven grabs and ten gallivats was observed coming out. The signal to chase +was made, but obeyed with little alacrity by the Peishwa's people, though +experience had shown that they could outsail the Bombay ships. James gave +chase with his little squadron, his Mahratta allies being left, by evening, +hull down, astern. The Angrians made prodigious exertions to escape, +hanging out turbans and clothing to catch every breath of air. All the +following day the ineffectual chase continued, the _Protector_ outsailing +its own consorts, and losing sight altogether of its Mahratta allies. +Finding it useless to persevere, James hauled his wind, and stood to the +northward for Severndroog, which he had left far behind in the chase. Here +he found Ramajee Punt, who had landed a few men, and entrenched himself at +about two miles from the nearest fort, with a single four-pounder gun. + +The harbour of Severndroog[1] is formed by a slight indentation in the +coast and a small rocky islet about a quarter of a mile from the mainland, +on which was the Severndroog fort, with walls fifty feet high, and, in +many places, parapets cut out of the solid rock; the whole armed with +about fifty guns. On the mainland, opposite to Severndroog, was another +fort. Fort Gova, armed with, about forty-four guns, while southwards of +Gova were two smaller forts on a small promontory, Futteh Droog and Kanak +Droog, armed with twenty guns each. + +James at once saw that the reduction of the different forts by the +Peishwa's troops would be a matter of months, even if he was able to keep +out succours from the sea, which the monsoon would render impossible; so, +in spite of the Council's orders, he resolved on taking matters into his +own hands. He had been brought up in a good school, and knew that, to +match a ship against a fort with success, it was necessary to get as close +as possible, and overpower it with weight of metal. After taking the +necessary soundings, on the 2nd April he stood in to four-fathom water, +taking with him the _Viper_ and _Triumph_, and bombarded Severndroog fort. +The Mahratta fleet gave no assistance, so the _Swallow_ was detached to +guard the southern entrance. All day long the cannonade continued, till a +heavy swell setting into the harbour, in the evening, obliged a cessation +of fire. The fort fired briskly in return, but did little damage; while +the Mahratta fleet lay off out of range, idle spectators of the conflict. +At night came Ramajee Punt on board the _Protector_, bringing with him a +deserter from the fort, who reported that the Governor had been killed and +a good deal of damage done. He told them that it was impossible to breach +the side on which the _Protector's_ fire was directed, as it was all solid +rock. + +In the morning, the _Protector_ weighed and ran in again, James placing +his ships between Severndroog and Gova. The flagship engaged Severndroog +so closely that, by the small arm fire of men in the tops, and by firing +two or three upper-deck guns at a time instead of in broadsides, the +Severndroog gunners were hardly able to return a shot. With her lower-deck +guns on the other side the _Protector_ cannonaded the mainland forts, +which also received the attention of the _Viper_ and _Triumph_. It would +be difficult to find a parallel to this instance of a single ship and two +bombketches successfully engaging four forts at once, that far outnumbered +them in guns; but so good were James's arrangements that neither his ships +nor his men suffered harm. Soon after midday a magazine exploded in +Severndroog; the conflagration spread, and, before long, men, women, and +children were seen taking to their boats, and escaping to the mainland. +Numbers of them were intercepted and taken by the _Swallow_ and the +Mahratta gallivats. The bombardment of the mainland forts was continued +till night, and resumed the following morning, till about ten o'clock, +when all three hauled down their colours. Thus, in forty-eight hours, did +James by his vigorous action reduce this Angrian stronghold that was +second only to Gheriah in strength. The Mahrattas were never slow at +seizing any advantage that had been won by others, as was shown a few +months later at Gheriah; but on this occasion they were so struck by +James's intrepidity that they refused to enter Gova without him. The +English flag was hoisted in all three forts, amid the cheers of the +English sailors. It was then found that, by mismanagement, the Governor of +Gova had been allowed to escape over to Severndroog, and gallantly +reoccupied it, with a small body of sepoys, hoping to hold out till +assistance could reach him from Dabul. So the _Protector's_ guns were set +to work again, and, under cover of their fire, a party of seamen was +landed, who hewed open the sally port with their axes and made themselves +masters of the fort. Thus, in a few hours, and without losing a single man, +had "the spirited resolution of Commodore James destroyed the timorous +prejudices which had for twenty years been entertained of the +impracticability of reducing any of Angria's fortified harbours." + +The whole success of the expedition had been due to James, and the +Peishwa's officers ungrudgingly acknowledged the fact, as well as the bad +behaviour of their own people. "I have learnt with particular satisfaction +that the fleet your Honor sent to the assistance of Ramajee Punt have by +their courage and conduct reduced Severndroog, the suddenness of which +transcends my expectations; and I allow myself incapable of sufficiently +commending their merit," wrote the Peishwa's Commander-in-Chief to +Bourchier. Ramajee Punt wrote in similar terms, and sent a dress of honour +to James. In their elation, the Peishwa's officers wished to complete the +destruction of Angria without delay. Bankote was surrendered to them +without firing a shot, and a demonstration was made against Rutnaghiri. +But the Council was cautious, and forbade James to risk his ships. The +Mahrattas offered him two lakhs of rupees if he would support them in +attacking Dabul, but he dared not exceed his orders again, and returned to +Bombay. The success of a second _coup-de-main_ could not be relied on, and +a repulse would have restored Toolajee's drooping spirits, and made future +success more difficult. The soldiers Bombay had lent to Madras were no +longer required, so James was sent there in the _Protector_, to bring them +back after the monsoon. + +In the end of October, an unexpected accession of force, from England, +reached Bombay. In the suspension of arms that had been concluded at +Madras between the English and French, Carnatic affairs alone were made +the subject of agreement. Bussy, with a French force, remained in the +Deccan, engaged in extending the Nizam's influence, a proceeding that was +viewed with alarm by the Peishwa. With the object of expelling the French +from the Deccan, the English Government sent out to Bombay a force of +seven hundred men, to act against Bussy, in concert with the Mahratta +Government. The command was to be taken by Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, the +Company's engineer-general at Madras. The Directors had also sent Clive to +Bombay to act as second in command to Scott. But Scott had died, in the +mean time, and the _Doddington_, East Indiaman, bringing the Directors' +instructions to the Bombay Council, had been wrecked near the Cape. Before +the middle of November, Watson's squadron arrived, in furtherance of the +Deccan project, together with James, in the _Protector_, bringing two +hundred and fifty-five Bombay soldiers from Madras. Clive, alone, knew of +the Directors' plan for the Deccan, and urged it on the Council. Ramajee +Punt was in Bombay urging them to complete the destruction of Angria, and +inviting them to take possession of Bankote;[2] so they decided to devote +themselves to Gheriah, on the grounds that the Deccan expedition would be +an infringement of the late agreement with the French. + +Seeing that nothing was to be done in the _Deccan_, Watson tendered the +services of his squadron to assist in the reduction of Gheriah, and Clive +offered to command the land forces. James was sent down in the _Protector_, +with the _Revenge_ and _Guardian_, with Sir William Hewitt, Watson's flag +lieutenant, to reconnoitre and take soundings. Nothing was known of +Gheriah. It was supposed to be as high, and as strong as Gibraltar. Like +that celebrated fortress, it stood on rocky ground at the end of a +promontory, connected with the mainland by a narrow neck of ground, at the +month of a small estuary. James found that it was less formidable than it +had been represented, and that large ships could go close in. To prevent +Toolajee's ships from escaping, the _Bridgewater_, _Kingsfisher_, and +_Revenge_ were sent to blockade the place till the expedition was ready to +start. + +On the 11th February, the whole force was assembled off Gheriah, a greater +armament than had yet ever left Bombay harbour. In addition to Watson's +squadron of six vessels, four of them line-of-battle ships, and displaying +the flags of two admirals, the Company's marine made a brave show of +eighteen ships, large and small, carrying two hundred and fourteen guns, +besides twenty fishing-boats to land troops with, each carrying a +swivel-gun in the bows. Between them they carried eight hundred European +and six hundred native troops. With Watson also went Captain Hough, +superintendent of the Company's marine, as representative of the Council. + +Part of the instructions given to Clive and Hough by the Council will bear +repeating. + + "It is probable that Toolajee Angria may offer to capitulate, and + possibly offer a sum of money; but you are to consider that this + fellow is not on a footing with any prince in the known world, he + being a pirate in whom no confidence can be put, not only taking, + burning, and destroying ships of all nations, but even the vessels + belonging to the natives, which have his own passes, and for which he + has annually collected large sums of money. Should he offer any sum of + money it must be a very great one that will pay us for the many rich + ships he has taken (which we can't enumerate), besides the innumerable + other smaller vessels; but we well remember the _Charlotte_ bound from + hence to China, belonging to Madras; the _William_ belonging to Bombay, + from Bengal; the _Severn_, a Bengal freight ship for Bussorah, value + nine or ten lakhs of rupees; the _Derby_ belonging to the Hon'ble + Company, with the Grab _Restoration_, value Rs.5,22,743-4-6; the sloop + _Pilot_ and the _Augusta_; also the _Dadaboy_ from Surat, _Rose_ from + Mangalore, Grab _Anne_ from Gombroon, _Benjimolly_ from the Malabar + coast, and _Futte Dowlat_ from Muscat." + +The Council were desirous of getting Toolajee into their own custody, +fearful that, if left in Mahratta hands, he would be set free before long, +and the work would have to be done over again. + +Before the expedition left Bombay, a council of war was held, to decide on +the division of spoils, between the sea and land forces. Such agreements +were common enough, on such occasions, in order to prevent subsequent +disputes and individual plundering. In settling the shares of the officers, +the council decided that Clive and Chalmers, who was next to Clive in +command of the troops, should have shares equal to that of two captains of +King's ships. To this Clive objected that, though as Lieutenant-Colonel, +his share would, according to custom, be equal to that of a naval captain, +on this occasion, as Commander-in-Chief of the troops, it should be +greater, and ought not to be less than that of Rear-Admiral Pocock. The +council of war refused to agree to this, as the naval officers, who formed +the majority, could not be brought to consent. Like Drake, who would +rather diminish his own portion than leave any of his people unsatisfied, +Watson undertook to 'give the Colonel such a part of his share as will +make it equal to Rear-Admiral Pocock's;' and this was duly entered in the +proceedings. + +In the division of spoils, no mention is made of their Mahratta allies. +They were left out of account altogether, and the reason is not far to +seek. Experience had shown that, in the coming military operations, the +Mahrattas would count for nothing. All the hard knocks would fall on the +English, and it was but fair that they should have the prize-money; the +Mahrattas would gain a substantial benefit in the possession of Gheriah, +which was to be made over to them after capture. + +The arrangements for the command of the troops showed that the lessons of +the last ten years of warfare against the French had borne fruit. The +command was left to those who made it their profession. Henceforth we hear +no more of factors and writers strutting about in uniform, calling +themselves colonels and captains for a few weeks, and then returning to +their ledgers. We have done with the Midfords and the Browns. Out of the +thirteen years he had served the Company, Clive had been a soldier for +eleven. He had definitely abandoned his civil position, and had embraced a +military career, and his merits had been recognized by the grant of a +Lieutenant-Colonel's commission from the King. The subordinate military +officers also had improved. The worst of them had been weeded out, and +many of them had learned their business under Lawrence in the Carnatic. +Though much unnecessary interference still went on in quarters, they were +left unfettered in the command of their men in the field. + +A few hours after leaving Bombay, the expedition was overtaken by +despatches from Bourchier, with intelligence that the Mahrattas were +treating with Toolajee. On reaching Gheriah, they found the Mahratta army +encamped against it, and Ramajee Punt himself came off to tell the +commanders that, with a little patience, the fort would surrender without +firing a shot, as Toolajee was already in their hands and ready to treat. +Alarmed at the great armament coming against him, and cowed by recent +reverses, Toolajee had come as a suppliant into the Mahratta camp to try +if, by finesse and chicanery, he might escape utter destruction, while, in +Gheriah, he had left his brother-in-law with orders to defend it to the +last. The Peishwa's officers, on their side, were anxious to get the place +into their hands without admitting the English to any share of the booty; +a design that was at once seen through by Hough and Watson. Ramajee +promised to bring Toolajee with him the following day, to show that he was +not treating separately. Instead of doing so, he sent some subordinate +officers, together with some of Toolajee's relations, with excuses, to +keep Watson in play, while a large bribe was offered to Hough to induce +him to persuade the Admiral to suspend operations. Watson, who had already +summoned the fort to surrender, let them know that he would not wait very +long. They were taken to view the ship with its tiers of heavy guns, and, +as a grim hint of what might be expected, he presented Toolajee's friends +with a thirty-two pound shot as they left the ship. + +At half-past one in the afternoon, the flag of truce having returned with +the Governor's refusal to surrender, signal was made to weigh, and the +whole fleet stood into the harbour in three divisions, led by the +_Kingsfisher_, sloop, and the _Bridgewater_. The inner line, nearest to +the fort was formed by the line-of-battle ships and the _Protector_: the +Company's grabs and bombketches, with the _Guardian_, formed the second +line, while the gallivats and small vessels formed a third, outer line. As +the _Kingsfisher_ came opposite the fort, a shot was fired at her. The +signal was made to engage, and as each ship reached its station it came to +an anchor, the inner line being within musket-shot of the fort. Across the +mouth of the river, Toolajee's grabs were drawn up, among them being the +_Restoration_, the capture of which, six years before, had caused so much +heart-burning in Bombay. As the heavy shot and shell came pouring in from +over one hundred and fifty guns at close range, the Gheriah defenders +manfully strove to repay the same with interest. But so terrific was the +fire brought to bear on them, that it was impossible for them to lay their +guns properly. In that February afternoon many a cruel outrage was +expiated under that hail of iron. After two hours' firing, a shell set the +_Restoration_ on fire; it spread to the grabs, and before long the Angrian +fleet,[3] that had been the terror of the coast for half a century, was in +a blaze. The boats were ordered out, and, as evening came on, Clive was +put on shore with the troops, and took up a position a mile and a half +from the fort. The Mahrattas joined him, and Toolajee, from whom the +Peishwa's people had extorted a promise to surrender the fort, found means +to send a letter into the place, warning his brother-in-law against +surrender to the English. In the fort all was terror and dismay, though +the Governor manfully did his duty. From the burning shipping the flames +spread to the bazaars and warehouses. All night the bombketches threw in +shells, while the conflagration continued. One square tower in the fort +burned with such violence as to resemble a fabric of red-hot iron in a +smithy. + +Early next morning, Watson sent in a flag of truce again, but surrender +was still refused, so the line-of-battle ships were warped in and +recommenced firing; while Clive, who had approached the fort, battered it +from the land side. At four in the afternoon a magazine in the fort blew +up, and a white flag was hoisted. An officer was sent on shore, but the +Governor still attempted to evade surrender. He consented to admit five or +six men into the fort to hoist English colours, but would not definitely +surrender possession till next day. So fire was reopened, and in twenty +minutes more the Angrian flag was hauled down for the last time, and the +last shred of Angrian independence had ceased to exist. + +Sixty men, under Captains Forbes and Buchanan, were marched up to hold the +gate for the night. A body of the Peishwa's troops tried to gain admission, +and offered the officers a bill on Bombay for a lakh of rupees to allow +them to pass in. The offer was rejected, but the Peishwa's officer still +continued to press in, till Forbes faced his men about, and, drawing his +sword, swore he would cut him down if he persisted. + +The following morning, the fort was taken possession of by Clive. The +success had been gained at the cost of about twenty men killed and wounded. + +Ramajee Punt at once made a formal demand for the fort to be given up to +him. Watson, in return, demanded that Toolajee should be made over into +English custody. Meanwhile, a hunt for the treasure secreted in different +places went on. "Every day hitherto has been productive of some new +discoveries of treasure, plate, and jewels, etc.," wrote Hough three days +later. Altogether about one hundred and thirty thousand pounds' worth of +gold, silver, and jewels were secured, and divided between the land and +sea forces. True to his promise, Watson sent Clive a thousand pounds to +make his share equal to Pocock's. Clive sent it back again. He was +satisfied with the acknowledgment of his claim, but would not take what +came out of Watson's private purse. "Thus did these two gallant officers +endeavour to outvie each other in mutual proofs of disinterestedness and +generosity," wrote Ives in his narrative. A thousand pounds was a larger +sum then than it would be now, and Clive was a poor man at the time, but +he was never greedy of money. The incident justifies his boast, long +afterwards, of his moderation when the treasures of Bengal were at his +mercy. It is allowable to suppose that it strengthened the mutual respect +of both, and facilitated their co-operation in Bengal, a year later. It +was a fortunate thing for England that Watson was not a man of Matthews' +stamp. + +The Europeans in Toolajee's service appear to have left him before the +attack began, as no mention is made of them; but ten Englishmen and three +Dutchmen were found in the place, in a state of slavery, and released. + +In delivering over Bankote, the Mahrattas had failed to give, with the +fort, the five villages according to agreement. The Council were desirous +of having Toolajee in their own keeping, so they refused to give over +Gheriah, and for some months a wrangle went on concerning the points in +dispute. The Council proposed that they should retain Gheriah and give up +Bankote. The Peishwa taunted the Council with breach of faith, and refused +to give up Toolajee. The squabble was at last settled by the Mahrattas +engaging to give ten villages near Bankote, and that Toolajee should not +receive any territory within forty miles of the sea. On these conditions +Gheriah was delivered over. Toolajee, instead of being given any territory, +was kept a prisoner for the rest of his life. Some years afterwards, his +sons made their escape, and sought refuge in Bombay. + +With the fall of Gheriah, the heavy cloud that had so long hung over +Bombay trade was dispelled. Thenceforward none but the smallest vessels +had anything to fear on the coast south of Bombay, though another +half-century elapsed before the Malwans were compelled to give up piracy. +The Sanganians continued to be troublesome, at times, till they too were +finally reduced to order in 1816, after more than one expedition had been +sent against them. Persian Gulf piracy continued to flourish till 1835, +when it was brought to an end by a happy combination of arms and diplomacy. + +On Shooter's Hill, adjoining Woolwich Common, the tower of Severndroog, +erected by James's widow to commemorate his great achievement, forms a +conspicuous landmark in the surrounding country. Here, in sight of the +spot where the bones of Kidd and his associates long hung in chains as a +terror to evil-doers, there still lingers a breath of that long struggle +against the Angrian pirates, and of its triumphant conclusion. + + "This far-seen monumental tow'r + Records the achievements of the brave, + And Angria's subjugated pow'r, + Who plundered on the Eastern wave." + +_"Walks through London," David Hughson_. + + +[1] Properly Suvarna Droog, 'the Golden Fortress.' + +[2] Bankote was made over on the 6th December, and the British flag + hoisted there on the 10th January, 1756. + +[3] Three three-masted ships carrying twenty guns each; nine two-masted, + carrying from twelve to sixteen guns; thirteen gallivats, carrying + from six to ten guns; thirty others unclassed; two on the stocks, + one of them pierced for forty guns. + + + + * * * * * + + + +AN ENGLISHWOMAN IN INDIA TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO + +On the 9th March, 1709, the _Loyall Bliss_, East Indiaman, Captain Hudson, +left her anchorage in the Downs and sailed for Bengal. As passengers, she +carried Captain Gerrard Cooke, his wife, a son and two daughters, together +with a few soldiers. For many years Cooke had served the Company at Fort +William, as Gunner, an office that included the discharge of many +incongruous duties. After a stay in England, he was now returning to +Bengal, as engineer, with the rank of captain. The _Loyall Bliss_ was a +clumsy sailer, and made slow progress; so that August had come before she +left the Cape behind her. Contrary winds and bad weather still detained +her, and kept her westward of her course. By the middle of September, the +south-west monsoon, on which they depended to carry them up the bay, had +ceased to blow, so-- + + "our people being a great many Downe with the scurvy and our water + being short, wee called a Consultation of Officers it being too late + to pretend to get bengali the season being come that the N.E. Trade + wind being sett in and our people almost every man tainted with + distemper," it was determined to make for Carwar and "endever to gett + refresments there." + +On the 7th October, they came to anchor in the little bay formed by the +Carwar River. The next day, hearing of a French man-of-war being on the +coast, they procured a pilot and anchored again under the guns of the +Portuguese fort on the island of Angediva, where lay the bones of some +three hundred of the first royal troops ever sent to India. Twenty-six +soldiers were sent on shore, 'most of them not being able to stand.' The +chief of the Company's factory at Carwar at that time was Mr. John Harvey, +who entertained Captain Hudson and all the gentlemen and ladies on board +'in a splendid manner.' One may picture to one's self the pleasure with +which they escaped for a time from the ship and its scurvy-stricken crew. +To Mr. Harvey and the Company's officials they were welcome as bringing +the latest news from England. They were able to tell of Marlborough's +victory at Oudenarde, and the capture of Lille and Minorca, while Harvey +was able to tell them of Captain Kidd's visit to Carwar twelve years +before, and to show them where the freebooter had careened his ship. But +Mr. John Harvey found other matter of interest in his visitors. There were +few Englishwomen in India in those days, and the unexpected advent of a +fresh young English girl aroused his susceptibilities to such an extent +that he forgot to report to Bombay the arrival of the _Loyall Bliss_, for +which, he, in due time, received a reprimand. He quickly made known to +Captain Cooke that he had taken a very great liking to his eldest daughter. +Mistress Catherine Cooke, 'a most beautiful lady, not exceeding thirteen +or fourteen years of age.' Cooke was a poor man, and had left two more +daughters in England; so, as Mr. Harvey 'proffered to make great +Settlements provided the Father and Mother would consent to her marriage,' +Mistress Catherine Cooke, 'to oblige her parents,' consented also. There +was little time for delay, as the captain of the _Loyall Bliss_ was +impatient to be off. The Company's ship _Tankerville_ was on the coast, +bound southward, and it was desirable they should sail in company for +mutual protection. So, on the 22nd October, the _Loyall Bliss_ made sail +for Bengal, where she safely arrived in due time, leaving behind the young +bride at Carwar. + +To the lookers-on the marriage was repugnant, and can hardly have been a +happy one for the young girl, as Harvey was 'a deformed man and in years.' +He had been long on the coast, and by diligent trading had acquired a +little money; but he had other things to think of besides his private +trade, as we find recorded at the time that 'the Rajah of Carwar continues +ill-natured.' By the end of 1710, he made up his mind to resign the +Company's service, wind up his affairs, and go to England; so Mr. Robert +Mence was appointed to succeed him at Carwar, and, in April, 1711, Harvey +and his child-wife came to Bombay. But to wind up trading transactions of +many years' standing was necessarily a long business, and there was no +necessity for hurry, as no ship could leave for England till after the +monsoon. As always happened in those days, his own accounts were mixed up +with those of the Company, and would require laborious disentanglement. +Before leaving Carwar, he had leased to the Company his trading grab, the +_Salamander_, and had taken the precaution to pay himself out of the +Company's treasure chest at Carwar. Before long, there was an order to the +Carwar chief to recharge Mr. Harvey 402 Pagodas, 17 Jett, and 4 Pice he +had charged to the Company for the use of the _Salamander_, the account +having been liquidated in Bombay; from which it would appear that he had +been paid twice for his ship. The accounts of those days must have been +maddening affairs owing to the multiplicity of coinages. Pounds sterling, +Pagodas, Rupees, Fanams, Xeraphims, Laris, Juttals, Matte, Reis, Rials, +Cruzadoes, Sequins, Pice, Budgerooks, and Dollars of different values were +all brought into the official accounts. In 1718, the confusion was +increased by a tin coinage called Deccanees.[1] The conversion of sums +from one coinage to another, many of them of unstable value, must have +been an everlasting trouble.[2] In August we find Harvey writing to the +Council to say that he had at Tellicherry a chest of pillar dollars +weighing 289 lbs. 3 ozs. 10 dwts., which he requests may be paid into the +Company's cash there, and in return a chest of dollars may be given him at +Bombay. + +His young wife doubtless assisted him in his complicated accounts, and +gained some knowledge of local trade. It must have been a wonderful +delight to her to escape from the dulness of Carwar and mix in the larger +society of Bombay, and she must have realized with sadness the mistake she +had made in marrying a deformed man old enough to be her grandfather, at +the solicitation of her parents. She made, at this time, two acquaintances +that were destined to have considerable influence on her future life. On +the 5th August, the _Godolphin_, twenty-one days from Mocha, approached +Bombay, but being unable to make the harbour before nightfall, anchored +outside; a proceeding that would appear, even to a landsman, absolutely +suicidal in the middle of the monsoon, but was probably due to fear of +pirates.[3] + +That night heavy weather came on, the ship's cable parted, and the +_Godolphin_ became a total wreck at the foot of Malabar Hill. Apparently, +all the Englishmen on board were saved, among them the second supercargo, +a young man named Thomas Chown, who lost all his possessions. There was +also in Bombay, at the time, a young factor, William Gyfford, who had come +to India, six years before, as a writer, at the age of seventeen. We shall +hear of both of them again. + +In October, came news of the death of Mr. Robert Mence at Carwar. 'Tho his +time there was so small wee find he had misapplyed 1700 and odd pagodas to +his own use,' the Bombay Council reported to the Directors in London. In +his place was appointed Mr. Miles Fleetwood, who was then in Bombay +awaiting a passage to the Persian Gulf where he had been appointed a +factor. With him returned to Carwar, Harvey and his wife, to adjust some +depending accounts with the country people there. + +We get an account of Carwar thirty years before this, from Alexander +Hamilton, which shows that there was plenty of sport near at hand for +those who were inclined for it, and it is interesting to find that the +Englishmen who now travel in search of big game had their predecessors in +those days-- + + "This Country is so famous for hunting, that two Gentlemen of + Distinction, viz: Mr. _Lembourg_ of the House of _Lembourg_ in + _Germany_, and Mr. _Goring_, a Son of my Lord _Goring's_ in _England_, + went _incognito_ in one of the _East India_ Company's Ships, for India. + They left Letters directed for their Relations, in the Hands of a + Friend of theirs, to be delivered two or three Months after their + Departure, so that Letters of Credit followed them by the next Year's + Shipping, with Orders from the _East India_ Company to the Chiefs of + the Factories, wherever they should happen to come, to treat them + according to their Quality. They spent three Years at _Carwar, viz:_ + from Anno 1678 to 1681, then being tired with that Sort of Pleasure, + they both took Passage on board a Company's Ship for _England_, but Mr. + _Goring_ died four days after the Ship's Departure from _Carwar_, and + lies buried on the Island of _St. Mary_, about four Leagues from the + Shore, off _Batacola_, and Mr. _Lembourg_ returned safe to _England_." + +Four months after his return to Carwar, Harvey died, leaving his girl-wife +a widow. She remained at Carwar, engaged in winding up the trading affairs +of her late husband, and asserting her claim to his estate, which had been +taken possession of by the Company's officials, according to custom. +According to the practice of the day, every merchant and factor had +private trading accounts which were mixed up with the Company's accounts, +so that on retirement they were not allowed to leave the country till the +Company's claims were settled. In case of death, their estates were taken +possession of for the same reason. Two months later, Mr. Thomas Chown, the +late supercargo of the _Godolphin_, was sent down to Carwar as a factor, +and, a few weeks after his arrival, he married the young widow. +Application was now made to the Council at Bombay for the effects of her +late husband to be made over to her, and orders were sent to Carwar for +the late Mr. Harvey's effects to be sold, and one-third of the estate to +be paid to Mrs. Chown, provided Harvey had died intestate. The Carwar +factory chief replied that the effects had realized 13,146 rupees 1 fanam +and 12 budgerooks; that Harvey had left a will dated the 8th April, 1708, +and that therefore nothing had been paid to Mrs. Chown. It was necessary +for Chown and his wife to go to Bombay and prosecute their claims in +person. The short voyage was destined to be an eventful one. + +On the 3rd November (1712), Chown and his wife left Carwar in the _Anne_ +ketch, having a cargo of pepper and wax on board, to urge their claim to +the late Mr. Harvey's estate. The coast swarmed with pirate craft, among +which those of Conajee Angria were the most numerous and the most +formidable. It was usual, therefore, for every cargo of any value to be +convoyed by an armed vessel. To protect the _Anne_, Governor Aislabie's +armed yacht had been sent down, and a small frigate, the _Defiance_,[4] +was also with them. The day after leaving Carwar they were swooped down +upon by four of Angria's ships, and a hot action ensued. The brunt of it +fell on the Governor's yacht, which had both masts shot away and was +forced to surrender. The ketch tried to escape back to Carwar, but was +laid aboard by two grabs, and had to surrender when she had expended most +of her ammunition. In the action, Chown had his arm torn off by a +cannon-shot, and expired in his wife's arms. So again, in little more than +three years from her first marriage, Mrs. Chown was left a widow when she +could hardly have been eighteen. The captured vessels and the prisoners +were carried off; the crews to Gheriah and the European prisoners to +Colaba. To make matters worse for the poor widow, she was expecting the +birth of an infant. + +Great was the excitement in Bombay when the news of Mrs. Chown's capture +arrived. The Governor was away at Surat, and all that could be done was to +address Angria; so a letter was written to him 'in English and Gentues,' +asking for the captives and all papers to be restored, and some medicine +was sent for the wounded. Just at this time also news was received of the +Indiaman _New George_ having been taken by the French near Don +Mascharenas.[5] Sir John Gayer, who was on board, finished his troubled +career in the East by being killed in the action. + +After keeping them a month in captivity Angria sent back his prisoners, +except the captains ransom. In acknowledgment of kindness shown to the +released prisoners by the Seedee, that chief was presented with a pair of +Musquetoons, a fowling-piece, and five yards of 'embost' cloth. But in the +Governor's absence the Council could do nothing about payment of ransom. +When he returned, negotiations went on through the European prisoners in +Colaba. Angria being sincerely anxious for peace with the English while he +was in arms against his own chief, terms were arranged, and Lieutenant +Mackintosh was despatched to Colaba with Rs.30,000 as ransom for the +Europeans, and the sealed convention. On the 22nd February (1713), he +returned, bringing with him Mrs. Chown and the other captives, the +captured goods, and the _Anne_ ketch, but the yacht was too badly damaged +to put to sea. According to Downing, Mrs. Chown was in such a state that +Mackintosh, 'was obliged to wrap his clothes about her to cover her +nakedness.' But her courage had never forsaken her; 'she most courageously +withstood all Angria's base usage, and endured his insults beyond +expectation.' Shortly afterwards she was delivered of a son. Out of her +first husband's estate one thousand rupees were granted her for present +necessities, with an allowance of one hundred xeraphims a month. + +Very shortly afterwards we find her being married for the third time, to +young William Gyfford, with the Governor's approval. According to the +statute law of Bombay, no marriage was binding, except it had the +Governor's consent; Hamilton tells us how on one occasion a factor, Mr. +Solomon Loyd, having married a young lady without the Governor's consent, +Sir John Gayer dissolved the marriage, and married the lady again to his +own son. In October, two years and a half after her first husband's death, +seven thousand four hundred and ninety-two rupees, being one-third of his +estate, were paid over to her. It is carefully recorded that neither of +her deceased husbands had left wills, though the existence of Harvey's +will had been very precisely recorded by the Council, fifteen months +before. Young Gyfford, who was then twenty-five, appears to have been a +favourite with the Governor, and had lately been given charge of the +Bombay Market. Eighteen months after his marriage, we find William Gyfford +appointed supercargo of the _Catherine_, trading to Mocha. The office was +a most desirable one for a young factor. It afforded him opportunities for +private trade at first hand, instead of through agents, that in the mind +of an adventurous young man quite outbalanced the perils of the sea. + +In spite of small salaries, a goodly appearance was made by the Company's +servants in public. At the public table, where they sat in order of +seniority, all dishes, plates, and drinking-cups were of pure silver or +fine china. English, Portuguese, and Indian cooks were employed, so that +every taste might be suited. Before and after meals silver basins were +taken round for each person to wash his hands. Arrack, Shiraz wine, and +'pale punch,' a compound of brandy, rose-water, lime-juice, and sugar, +were drunk, and, at times, we hear of Canary wine. In 1717, Boone +abolished the public table, and diet money was given in its place. Boone +reported to the Directors that, by the change, a saving of nearly +Rs.16,000 a year was effected, and the Company's servants better satisfied. +On festival days the Governor would invite the whole factory to a picnic +in some garden outside the city. On such an occasion, a procession was +formed, headed by the Governor and his lady, in palanquins. Two large +ensigns were carried before them, followed by a number of led horses in +gorgeous trappings of velvet and silver. Following the Governor came the +Captain of the Peons on horseback, with forty or fifty armed men on foot. +Next followed the members of the Council, the merchants, factors, and +writers, in order of seniority, in fine bullock coaches or riding on +horses, all maintained at the Company's expense. At the Dewallee festival +every servant of the Company, from the Governor to the youngest writer, +received a 'peshcush' from the brokers and bunyas, which to the younger +men were of much importance; as they depended on these gifts to procure +their annual supply of clothes. + +Of the country, away from the coast, they were profoundly ignorant. The +far-off King of 'Dilly' was little more than a name to them, and they were +more concerned in the doings of petty potentates with strange names, such +as the Zamorin, the Zammelook, the Kempsant, and the Sow Rajah, who have +long disappeared. They talked of the people as Gentoos, Moors, Mallwans, +Sanganians, Gennims, Warrels, Coulis, Patanners, etc., and the number of +political, racial, religious, and linguistic divisions presented to their +view must have been especially puzzling. Owing to the numerous languages +necessary to carry on trade on the Malabar coast, they were forced to +depend almost entirely on untrustworthy Portuguese interpreters. Their +difficulties in this respect are dwelt on by Hamilton-- + + "One great Misfortune that attends us _European_ Travellers in _India_ + is, the Want of Knowledge of their Languages, and they being so + numerous, that one intire Century would be too short a Time to learn + them all: I could not find one in Ten thousand that could speak + intelligible _English_, tho' along the Sea coast the _Portuguese_ have + left a Vestige of their Language, tho' much corrupted, yet it is the + Language that most _Europeans_ learn first, to qualify them for a + general Converse with one another, as well as with the different + Inhabitants of _India_." + +After two years' work, as supercargo, on different ships, Gyfford was sent +down to Anjengo as chief of the factory. Anjengo was at that time one of +the most important factories on the Malabar coast, though of comparatively +recent establishment. It was first frequented by the Portuguese, who, +after a time, were ousted by the Dutch. It belonged to the Rani of Attinga, +who owned a small principality extending along sixty miles of coast. In +1688,[6] Rani Ashure invited the English to form a trading settlement in +her dominions, and two were formed, at Vittoor (Returah) and Villanjuen +(Brinjone). But for some reason, she became dissatisfied with the English, +and the hostility of the Dutch, in spite of the alliance between the two +countries in Europe, caused great trouble. In November, 1693, John +Brabourne was sent to Attinga, where, by his successful diplomacy, the +sandy spit of Anjengo was granted to the English, as a site for a fort, +together with the monopoly of the pepper trade of Attinga. Soon, the Dutch +protests and intrigues aroused the Rani's suspicions. She ordered +Brabourne to stop his building. Finding him deaf to her orders, she first +tried to starve out the English by cutting off supplies, but as the sea +was open, the land blockade proved ineffectual. She then sent an armed +force against Brabourne, which was speedily put to flight, and terms of +peace were arranged. The fort was completed, and a most flourishing trade +in pepper and cotton cloth speedily grew up. Anjengo became the first port +of call for outward-bound ships. The Anjengo fortification appeared so +formidable to the Dutch, that they closed their factories at Cochin, +Quilon, and Cannanore.[7] About 1700, Rani Ashure died, and the little +principality fell into disorder. It was a tradition that only women should +reign, and Ashure's successor was unable to make her authority felt. The +Poolas, who governed the four districts into which the principality was +divided, intrigued for power against each other, and before long the Rani +became a puppet in the hands of Poola Venjamutta. In 1704, a new Governor, +Sir Nicholas Waite, was appointed to Bombay. For some reason he left +Brabourne without instructions or money for investment.[8] Their small +salaries and their private trading seem to have made the Company's +servants very independent. We constantly find them throwing up the service +and going away, without waiting for permission. Brabourne went off to +Madras, after delivering over the fort to Mr. Simon Cowse, who had long +resided there, apparently as a private merchant, and who proved, as times +went, a good servant to the Company. The Company's service in those days +was full of intrigue and personal quarrels. The merchant second in rank at +Anjengo, John Kyffin, intrigued against Cowse so successfully, that Cowse +was deposed, and Kyffin was made chief of the settlement. He appears to +have been a thoroughly unscrupulous man. To enrich himself in his private +pepper trade 'he stuck at nothing.' He took part in the local intrigues of +Attinga, from which his predecessors had held aloof, played into the hands +of Poola Venjamutta, quarrelled with the other local officials, and +behaved with great violence whenever there was the slightest hitch in his +trade. Kyffin's want of loyalty to the Company was still more clearly +shown by his friendly dealings with their rivals, a proceeding that was +strictly forbidden. + +In June, 1717, Kyffin made known to the Council at Bombay his wish to +retire, and William Gyfford was appointed to succeed him as soon as the +monsoon would permit. So, in due course of time, Gyfford and his wife went +to Anjengo; but, in spite of his resignation, Kyffin stuck to his office, +and evidently viewed Gyfford with unfriendly eyes. In the following April, +intelligence reached the Council at Bombay that Kyffin had had dealings +with the Ostenders, and had been 'very assisting' to them; so, a +peremptory order went down from Bombay, dismissing him from the Company's +service, if the report of his assisting the Ostenders was true. If the +report was not true, no change was to be made. A commission to Gyfford to +assume the chiefship was sent at the same time. Interlopers and Ostenders, +he was told, were not to receive even provisions or water. So Kyffin +departed, and Gyfford reigned at Anjengo in his stead. + +But the follies of Kyffin had roused a feeling against the English that +was not likely to be allayed by Gyfford, who exceeded Kyffin in dishonesty +and imprudence. He threw himself into the pepper trade, using the +Company's money for his own purposes, and joined hands with the Portuguese +interpreter, Ignatio Malheiros, who appears to have been a consummate +rogue. Before long, religious feeling was aroused by the interpreter +obtaining possession of some pagoda land in a money-lending transaction. +Gyfford also aroused resentment, by trying to cheat the native traders +over the price of pepper, by showing fictitious entries in the factory +books, and by the use of false weights. The only thing wanting for an +explosion was the alienation of the Mahommedan section, which, before long, +was produced by chance and by Gyfford's folly. It happened that some +Mahommedan traders came to the fort to transact business with Cowse, who +had resumed business as a private merchant; but he was not at leisure, so +they went to the interpreter's house, to sit down and wait. While there, +the interpreter's 'strumpet' threw some _hooli_ powder on one of the +merchants. Stung by the insult, the man drew his sword, wounded the woman, +and would have killed her, if he and his companions had not been disarmed. +Gyfford, when they were brought before him, allowed himself to be +influenced by the interpreter, and ordered them to be turned out of the +fort, after their swords had been insultingly broken over their heads. The +people of Attinga flew to arms, and threatened the fort. For some months +there were constant skirmishes. The English had no difficulty in defeating +all attacks, but, none the less, trade was brought to a standstill; so +Mr. Walter Brown was sent down from Bombay to put matters straight. Poola +Venjamutta, who had all the time kept himself in the background, was quite +ready to help an accommodation, as open force had proved useless. Things +having quieted down, Gyfford, 'flushed with the hopes of having Peace and +Pepper,' devoted himself to trade. He had at this time a brigantine called +the _Thomas_, commanded by his wife's brother, Thomas Cooke, doing his +private trade along the coast. The year 1720 passed quietly. Force having +proved unavailing, the Attinga people dissembled their anger, and waited +for an opportunity to revenge themselves. So well was the popular feeling +against the English concealed, that Cowse, with his long experience and +knowledge of the language, had no suspicions. + +There had been an old custom, since the establishment of the factory, of +giving presents yearly to the Rani, in the name of the Company; but for +some years the practice had fallen into abeyance. Gyfford, wishing to +ingratiate himself with the authorities, resolved on reviving the custom, +and to do so in the most ceremonious way, by going himself with the +presents for seven years. Accordingly, on the 11th April, 1721, +accompanied by all the merchants and factors, and taking all his best men, +about one hundred and twenty in number, and the same number of coolies, +Gyfford started for Attinga, four miles up the river. Here they were +received by an enormous crowd of people, who gave them a friendly +reception. The details of what followed are imperfectly recorded, and much +is left to conjecture, but Gyfford's foolish over-confidence is +sufficiently apparent. In spite of their brave display, his men carried no +ammunition. Poola Venjamutta was not to be seen. They were told he was +drunk, and they must wait till he was fit to receive them. He was +apparently playing a double part, but the blame for what followed was +afterwards laid on his rival, Poola Cadamon Pillay. Cowse's suspicions +were aroused, and he advised an immediate return to Anjengo, but Gyfford +refused to take the advice. He is said to have struck Cowse, and to have +threatened with imprisonment. The Rani also sent a message, advising a +return to Anjengo. It was getting late, and to extricate himself from the +crowd, Gyfford allowed the whole party to be inveigled into a small +enclosure. To show his goodwill to the crowd, he ordered his men to fire a +salvo, and then he found that the ammunition carried by the coolies had +been secured, and they were defenceless. In this hopeless position, he +managed to entrust a letter addressed to the storekeeper at Anjengo, to +the hands of a friendly native. It reached Anjengo at one o'clock next day, +and ran as follows:-- + + "Captain Sewell. We are treacherously dealt with here, therefore keep + a very good look-out of any designs on you. Have a good look to your + two Trankers,[9] We hope to be with you to-night. Take care and don't + frighten the women; we are in no great danger. Give the bearer a + Chequeen."[10] + +But none of the English were to see Anjengo again. That night, or the next +morning, a sudden attack was made, the crowd surged in on the soldiers, +overwhelmed them, and cut them to pieces. The principal English were +seized and reserved for a more cruel death. In the confusion, Cowse, who +was a favourite among the natives, managed to disguise himself, got +through the crowd, and sought to reach Anjengo by a little frequented path. +By bad luck he was overtaken by a Mahommedan merchant who owed him money. +Cowse offered to acquit him of the debt, but to no purpose. He was +mercilessly killed, and thus the debt was settled. 'Stone dead hath no +fellow,' as the chronicler of his death says. The rest of the English were +tortured to death, Gyfford and the interpreter being reserved for the +worst barbarities. Ignatio Malheiros was gradually dismembered, while +Gyfford had his tongue torn out, was nailed to a log of wood, and sent +floating down the river. + +It is easy to picture to one's self the consternation in Anjengo, that +12th April, when, soon after midday, Gyfford's hasty note was received, +and the same evening, when a score of wounded men (topasses) straggled in +to confirm the worst fears; 'all miserably wounded, some with 12 or 13 +cutts and arrows in their bodyes to a lower number, but none without any.' +Gyfford had taken away all the able men with him, leaving in the fort only +'the dregs,' old men, boys, and pensioners, less than forty in number. At +their head were Robert Sewell, who describes himself as Storekeeper, +Captain and Adjutant by order of Governor Boone; Lieutenant Peter +Lapthorne, Ensign Thomas Davis, and Gunner Samuel Ince. The first three of +them were absolutely useless, and Gunner Ince, whose name deserves to be +remembered, was the only one of the four who rose to the situation. His +first care was for the three English women, whose husbands had just been +killed. By good fortune there happened to be in the road a small country +ship that had brought a consignment of cowries from the Maldives. Mrs. +Gyfford, for the third time a widow, Mrs. Cowse with four children, and +Mrs. Burton with two, were hastily put on board, and sailed at once for +Madras. No mention appears of Mrs. Gyfford having any children with her, +but she carried off the factory records and papers, and what money she +could lay her hands on. She was no longer the confiding girl, who had +given herself to Governor Harvey eleven years before. She had learned +something of the world she lived in, and intended to take care of herself +as well as she could. She even tried to carry off Peter Lapthorne with her, +but Sewell intervened and prevented it. So giving him hasty directions to +act as her agent, she passed through the dangerous Anjengo surf and got on +board. A letter to her from Lapthorne, written a few weeks later, relates +that the only property he could find belonging to her were 'two wiggs and +a bolster and some ophium' in the warehouse. + +Having got rid of the white women, Sewell and his companions set to work +to hold the fort against the attack that was inevitable. From the old +records we get an idea of what the fort was like. As designed by Brabourne, +it covered a square of about sixty yards each way, but this did not +include the two Trankers, palisaded out-works, alluded to in Gyfford's +note. Ten years before, the attention of the Council at Bombay had been +drawn to the bad condition of the + + "Fort house, being no more then timber covered with palm leaves + (cajanns) so very dangerous taking fire," and the chief of the factory + was ordered to build "a small compact house of brick with a Hall, and + conveniencys for half a dozen Company's servants. And being advised + that for want of a necessary house in the Fort, they keep the Fort + gate open all night for the guard going out and in, which irregularity + may prove of so pernicious consequence as the loss of that garrison, + especially in a country where they are surrounded with such + treacherous people as the Natives and the Dutch," it was ordered that + a "necessary house over the Fort walls" should be built, and the gates + kept locked after 8 o'clock at night. + +How far these orders had been carried out does not appear; but the +Company's goods were still kept in a warehouse outside the walls: some of +the Company's servants also had houses outside, and the palm-leaf roofs +were still there. For garrison they only had about thirty-five boys and +pensioners, 'whereof not twenty fit to hold a firelock,' and, for want of +a sufficient garrison, it was necessary to withdraw from the Trankers, +which were thought to be so important for the safety of the place. +Desperate as was the outlook. Gunner Ince exerted himself like a man, +animating everybody by his example. By his exertions, seven hundred bags +of rice, with salt fish for a month, and the Company's treasure were got +in from the warehouse, and an urgent appeal was sent to Calicut. The +surgeon had been killed with Gyfford; they had no smith or carpenter or +tools, except a few hatchets, and the Attinga people swarming into Anjengo +burned and plundered the settlement, forcing a crowd of women and children +to take refuge in the small fort. Though no concerted attack was made at +first, the assailants tried with fire arrows to set fire to the palm-leaf +roofs, which had to be dismantled; and all through the siege, which lasted +six months, the sufferings of the garrison were increased by the burning +rays of a tropical sun or the torrential rains of the monsoon. + +On the 25th April, they were cheered by the arrival of two small English +ships from Cochin, where the intelligence of the disaster had reached; and +received a small reinforcement of seven men with a consignment of +provisions. A message of condolence also had come from the Rajah of Quilon, +who offered to receive the women and children, so one hundred and fifty +native women and children, widows and orphans of the slain, were sent off. +On the 1st May, an ensign and fifty-one men, collected by Mr. Adams from +Calicut and Tellicherry, joined the garrison, and gave some relief from +the constant sentry duty that was necessary. The enemy, meanwhile, had +contented themselves with harassing the garrison by firing long shots at +them; but it was rumoured that the Rajah of Travancore was sending troops, +and then they would have to sustain a serious attack. Gunner Ince, on whom +the whole weight of the defence rested, let it be known that in the last +extremity he would blow up the magazine. It is cheering to find that there +was at least one man who was prepared to do his duty. Sewell and Lapthorne +got drunk, and joined with the warehouseman, a Portuguese named Rodriguez, +in plundering the Company's warehouse and sending goods away to Quilon; +the soldiers followed the example, and plundered the rooms inside the fort, +while the late interpreter's family were allowed to send away, to Quilon, +effects to the value of one hundred thousand fanams, though it was known +that the Company had a claim on him for over two-thirds of the amount, on +account of money advanced to him. Davis was dying of a lingering illness, +to which he succumbed in the beginning of July. + +On the 24th June, a vigorous attack was made on the fort from three sides +at once. On one side the enemy had thrown up an entrenchment, and on the +river side they had effected a lodgment in Cowse's house, a substantial +building close to the wall of the fort. This would have soon made the fort +untenable, so a small party was sent to dislodge the occupants. At first +they were repulsed, but a second attempt was successful. Marching up to +the windows, 'where they were as thick as bees,' they threw hand grenades +into the house, which was hurriedly evacuated; numbers of the enemy +leaping into the river, where some of them were drowned. Ince then +bombarded them out of the entrenchment, and the attack came to an end. +Several of the garrison were wounded, but none killed; but what chiefly +mortified them was that the arms of the men slain with Gyfford were used +against them. After this the land blockade lingered on, but no very +serious attack seems to have been made. A second reinforcement of thirty +men was sent down by Adams from Calicut, and the Rani and Poola Venjamutta +sent 'refreshments,' and promised that the attacks of their rebellious +subjects should cease. The Rani also wrote to the Madras Council, and sent +a deputation of one hundred Brahmins to Tellicherry, to express her horror +of the barbarities committed by her people, and her willingness to join +the Company's forces in punishing the guilty. + +Intelligence of the disaster at Anjengo did not reach Bombay till the +beginning of July. The monsoon was in full force, and no assistance could +be sent till it was over. Men and supplies were gathered in from Carwar +and Surat, and, on the 17th October, Mr. Midford, with three hundred men, +reached Anjengo. His report on the state of affairs he found there makes +it a matter of surprise that the place had not fallen. The safety of the +fort had been entirely due to Gunner Ince. Sewell's behaviour was that of +a fool or a madman. Together with Lapthorne, he had set the example of +plundering the Company, and their men had done as much damage as the enemy. +Sewell, as storekeeper, had no books, and said he never had kept any. +Lapthorne had retained two months' pay, due to the men killed with Gyfford, +and asserted his right to it. Much of the Company's treasure was +unaccounted for, and Mrs. Gyfford had carried off the books. Midford sent +Sewell and Lapthorne under arrest to Bombay, where they were let off with +a scolding, and proceeded to restore order. The Rani and Venjamutta were +friendly, but told him he must take his own vengeance on the Nairs for +their inhuman action. So he commenced a series of raids into the +surrounding country, which reduced it to some sort of subjection. Soon +there came an order for most of his men to be sent back to Bombay, where +warlike measures against Angria were on foot. A cessation of arms was +patched up, and Midford installed himself as chief. + +He proved to be no honester than his predecessors. He monopolized the +pepper trade on his own private account, making himself advances out of +the Company's treasury. In less than a year he was dead, but before his +death Alexander Orme,[11] then a private merchant on the coast, was sent +to Anjengo as chief of the factory, at the special request of the Rani. +Before long, Orme had to report to the Council that there were due to the +Company, from Gyfford's estate, 559,421 fanams, and that 140,260 gold +fanams had disappeared during Midford's chiefship which could not be +accounted for. Midford had also drawn pay for twenty European soldiers who +did not exist. The Council ascribed Midford's misdeeds to his +'unaccountable stupidity,' and the Directors answered that 'the charges +against Mr. Midford are very grievous ones.' + +In September, 1722, the Council received from Orme a copy of the treaty he +had made with the Rani. The following were the chief provisions. The +ringleaders in the attack on Gyfford were to be punished and their estates +confiscated; all Christians living between Edawa and Brinjone were to be +brought under the Company's protection; the Rani was to reimburse the +Company for all expenses caused by the attack on Anjengo; the Company was +to have exclusive right to the pepper trade, and were empowered to build +factories in the Rani's dominions wherever they pleased; the Rani was to +return all arms taken in the late out-break, and to furnish timber to +rebuild the church that had been burned. The treaty was guaranteed by the +Rani's brother, the Rajah of Chinganatta. By the Directors it was received +with mixed feelings. + + "Last years Letters took some notice about the Affair at Anjengo, We + had not then the Account of the Treaty Mr. Orme made with the Queen of + Attinga and King of Chinganetty, We are sorry to find it included in + the Treaty, That We must supply Souldiers to carry on the War against + her rebellious Subjects for which she is to pay the Charge, and in the + Interim to pawn Lands for answering principal and Interest, because it + will certainly involve us in a trouble if We succeed, and more if We + dont, add to this, the variable temper and poverty of those people may + incline them to refuse to refund, and in time they may redemand and + force back their Lands, If the Articles are fully comply'd with they + seem to be for the Companys benefit, But We fear we shall have the + least Share of it, To what purpose is her Grant to Us of all the + Pepper in her Countrey, If Our unfaithful people there get all for + themselves and none for Us, as you Charge Mr. Midford with doing, We + dont want an Extent of Lands, if We could but (obtain) pepper cheap + and sufficient, And what benefit will it be to Us, to have the liberty + of building Factorys, which in Event is only a Liberty to lavish away + Our Money, and turning Quick Stock into dead, unless you could be + morally certain it would be worth while to get a small residence in + the King of Chengenattys Countrey, where it is said the Dutch make + great Investments of Peice Goods cheaper and better, than they used to + do at Negapatam, and therefore have deserted it, We consider further, + if such Goods as are proper for Our Europe Market were procurable, how + comes it We have had none hitherto, It is true We have had Cloth from + Anjengo good of the Sorts, but Invoiced so dear that We forbad sending + more unless to be purchased at the prices We limited, since then We + have heard no more about it, But we are told it is Traded in to Bombay + to some profit, What profit will the putting the Christians between + Edova and Brinjohn under Our Jurisdiction yeild to Us, and what + Security can you have that the King of Chenganattys Guarranteeship + will answer and give full satisfaction, These are what appear to Us + worthy your serious and deliberate consideration to be well thought of + before you come to a determination What Orders to give, We find by + your Consultations in January 1722/23 You had sent down Treasure to + Anjengo, to enable the Chief to levy Souldiers to revenge the Murder + of the English, since you could not spare Forces which as there + exprest is absolutely necessary, for else the Natives will have but + contemptible thoughts of the English, who will then loose their Esteem, + had We ever found a benefit by their Esteem, something might be said + for it, But in the present Case We fear We shall buy Our Esteem at too + dear a Rate, We should be extreamly glad to be mistaken and to find in + effect what your 120th Paragraph says in words, that you hope to make + it a Valuable Settlement."[12] + +We left Mrs. Gyfford flying from Anjengo in a small country ship, with two +other English women and six children. The misery that the three poor +widows must have endured for a month, crowded into a small country boat, +without preparation or ordinary comforts, at the hottest time of the year, +must have been extreme. On the 17th May, the fugitives landed at Madras. +The Council there granted them a compassionate allowance, of which Mrs. +Gyfford refused to avail herself. After a time she made her way to +Calcutta and joined her father's family, leaving, with an agent in Madras, +the Anjengo factory books, which, after repeated demands, were surrendered +to the Madras Council. From Madras to Calcutta she was pursued by the +demands of the Bombay Council. The books had been restored at Madras, and +the Bengal Government extracted Rs.7312 from her; but, in reply to further +demands, she would only answer that she was 'an unfortunate widow, +struggling with adversity, whose husband had met his death serving our +Honourable Masters,' and that it was shameful to demand money from her, +when she herself was owed large sums by the Company. She could only refer +them to her agents at Madras and Anjengo. Still, she was in a considerable +dilemma, as she could not get out of the country without a full settlement +of accounts, and, if resistance was carried too far, her father might be +made to suffer. + +At this juncture an unexpected way of escape presented itself. Twelve +months before this, Commodore Matthews had arrived in Bombay with a +squadron of the Royal Navy for the suppression of piracy. But Matthews was +more bent on enriching himself by trade than on harrying pirates; and, as +his own trading was inimical to the Company's interests and certain to set +the Company's servants against him, he had from the first assumed a +position of hostility to the Company. Every opportunity was seized of +damaging the Company's interests and lowering the Company's authority. All +who were in the Company's bad books found a patron and protector in +Matthews; so, when in September, 1722, the flagship appeared in the +Hooghly, Mrs. Gyfford was quick to grasp the opportunity, that presented +itself, of bidding defiance to her pursuers. She at once opened +communication with Matthews, and besought his protection. She was an +unfortunate widow who had lost two husbands by violent deaths in the +Company's service, and, now that she was unprotected, the Company was +trying to wring from her the little money she had brought away from +Anjengo, while she herself had large claims against the Company. This was +quite enough for Matthews. Here was a young and pretty woman with a good +sum of money, shamefully persecuted by the Company, to which he felt +nothing but hostility. At one stroke he could gratify his dislike of the +Company and succour a badly treated young woman, whose hard fate should +arouse sympathy in every generous mind; so the Bengal Council were told +that Mrs. Gyfford was now under the protection of the Crown, and was not +to be molested. + +In the hope of securing some portion of the money due to the Company, the +Council attached the brigantine _Thomas_, commanded by Mrs. Gyfford's +brother. A letter was at once forthcoming from Matthews to say that he had +purchased Mrs. Gyfford's interest in the vessel. Finding themselves thus +forestalled, the Council begged Matthews not to take her away from +Calcutta till she had furnished security for the Company's claim of +Rs.50,000, Matthews replied that he should take her to Bombay, where she +would answer anything that might be alleged against her. As soon as he had +completed his trading in Bengal, Mrs. Gyfford, with her effects, embarked +on board the _Lyon_, and so returned to Bombay. There, in January, 1723, +we find her living under Matthews' roof, much to the wrath of the Council +and the scandal of her former acquaintances. By this time, the Council had +received from Anjengo more precise details as to what was due to the +Company from Gyfford's estate. All the cowries, pepper, and cloth that +were said to belong to Gyfford had been bought with the Company's money, +and the Company's claim against his estate was nearly L9000. A stringent +order was sent to Mrs. Gyfford, forbidding her to leave Bombay till the +claim was settled. Matthews at once put her on board the _Lyon_ again, and +there she remained; not venturing to set foot on shore, lest the Council +should lay hands on her. + +By the end of the year, Matthews was ready to return to England. Intent to +the last on trade, he touched at Carwar, Tellicherry, and St. David's, and, +in Mrs. Gyfford's interests, a visit was also paid Anjengo, to try and +recover some of the property she claimed to have left there. She was not +going to be put off with Lapthorne's 'two wiggs and a bolster.' In July +(1724) the _Lyon_ reached Portsmouth, and was put out of commission. + +At first the Directors appear to have paid little attention to Mrs. +Gyfford, perhaps not thinking her worth powder and shot. Their principal +anger was directed against Matthews, against whom they obtained a decree +in the Court of Chancery for unlawful trading. But Mrs. Gyfford would not +keep silence. Perhaps she really believed in the justice of her claims. +She bombarded the Directors with petitions, till at last, two years after +her arrival in England, they tardily awoke to the fact that they +themselves had substantial claims against her. They offered to submit the +claims to arbitration, to which Mrs. Gyfford consented; but as she still +refrained from coming to close quarters, they filed a suit against her in +the Court of Chancery, nearly four years after her arrival in England. Mrs. +Gyfford promptly replied with a counter-suit, in which, among other things, +she claimed L10,000 for presents taken by Gyfford to the Rani of Attinga +on that fatal 11th April, seven years before. Four years later, she was +still deep in litigation, having quarrelled with her agent, Peter +Lapthorne, among others. It is to be hoped, for her sake, that Chancery +suits were cheaper than they are now. Here we may say good-bye to her. For +those who are curious in such matters, a search among the Chancery records +will probably reveal the result, but it is improbable that the Company +reaped any benefit from their action. And so she passes from the scene, a +curious example of the vicissitudes to which Englishwomen in India were +exposed, two hundred years ago. + + +[1] They were issued at the rate of sixty-five for a rupee; before long, + their value was reduced to seventy-two for a rupee, at which price + they were much in request, and the Governor reported that he expected + to coin sixteen tons of them yearly. + +[2] In October, 1713, the Bombay Council decided that the Xeraphims, being + much debased with copper and other alloy, their recognized value + should in future be half a rupee, or two Laris and forty reis. The + Xeraphim was a Goa coin, originally worth less than one and sixpence. + The name, according to Yule, was a corruption of the Arabic _ashrafi_. + +[3] The year before, the _Godolphin_ had escaped from an Angrian fleet, + after a two days' encounter within sight of Bombay. + +[4] The records are silent as to the _Defiance_, but it is mentioned by + Downing, who says that, instead of doing his duty, the captain made + the best of his way to Bombay. The story seems to be borne out by a + faded letter from the captain to the Directors, appealing against + dismissal from the service. + + +[5] The name is now given to the group of islands to which Bourbon and + Mauritius belong. At that time it generally applied to Bourbon, and + especially to St. Paul's Bay, which was a favourite place of call for + ships to water at. + +[6] According to some accounts, the first settlement was a few years + earlier, but the dates of the early travellers are very unreliable. + Hamilton says that a present was sent in 1685 to the Queen; "A + beautiful young English gentleman had the honour to present it to her + black Majesty; and as soon as the Queen saw him, she fell in love with + him, and next day made proposals of marriage to him, but he modestly + refused so great an honour however, to please her Majesty, he staid at + court a month or two and satisfied her so well that when he left her + court she made him some presents." + +[7] Bruce. + +[8] This is the reason given by Bruce for Brabourne leaving Anjengo, but + the death of Brabourne's wife, in 1704, probably had a good deal to do + with his leaving the place. Her tomb still exists. + +[9] Tranqueira (Port.), a palisade. + +[10] Meaning sequin: the origin of the modern Anglo-Indianism, chick.' + +[11] The father of Robert Orme, the historian, who was born at Anjengo. + +[12] Letter from Court of Directors to Bombay, 25th March, 1724. + + + +INDEX + +A + +Abdul Guffoor, his ship seized off Surat; + his ship, _Futteh Mahmood_, taken by Every; + incites the natives of Surat against the English. +Adams, Mr., sends relief to Anjengo. +_Addison_, the, East Indiaman, commanded by Boone, against Kennery; + consultation on board. +_Adventure_ galley, the, fitted out as a privateer; + commanded by Kidd; + size and defence of; + anchors off Johanna; + anchors at Perim; + flies English colours at Carwar; + sails to Calicut; + chased by two Portuguese vessels; + chases the _Sedgwick_; + her crew divide the spoil of the _Quedah Merchant_; + becomes unseaworthy; + her owners not inculpated by Kidd. +_Advice_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Affleck, Mr., owner of the _London_. +Aislabie, William, President of Bombay, his negotiations with Angria; + sails for England; + begins building the church at Bombay; + his armed yacht taken by Angria. +_Algerine_, the. + _See Soldado_, the. +Alibagh fort, unsuccessfully assaulted by the English and Portuguese; + taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +_Anglesea_ the, man-of-war. +_Anglesea_ the, French man-of-war, attacks the _Anson_; +Angria, Conajee (Kanhojee), pirate, rise of the power of; + succeeds to the command of the Mahratta navy; + styled Darya-S ranga; + destroys the _Bombay_ frigate; + fortifies Kennery; + attacks the _Godolphin_; + concludes a treaty with the Mahrattas; + becomes an independent chief; + captures the _Anne_ ketch; + his ships attack the _Somers_ and _Grantham_; + captures a Portuguese 'armado,'; + opens negotiations with the English; + articles of agreement delivered to, by Lieutenant Mackintosh; + his territory a refuge for desperadoes; + defies Governor Boone; + fruitless attack made on his fort at Gheriah; + offers terms to Governor Boone; + negotiates with the English through Sahoojee; + his ships burnt in Gheriah harbour; + makes a treaty with the Portuguese; + fits out an expedition against Carwar; + his commodore killed and ship taken; + his power weakened; + his treatment of Curgenven; + his death. +Angria, Mannajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + quarrels with Sumbhajee; + takes Colaba; + imprisons Yessajee; + his relations with the English; + captures Caranjah; + seizes Bombay ships; + Captain Inchbird sent to punish; + his territories attacked by Sumbhajee; + increase of power of. +Angria, Sakhajee, son of Conajee Angria; + establishes himself at Colaba; + dies. +Angria, Sumbhajee, son of Conajee Angria; + quarrels with Mannajee; + his gallivata captured; + captures the _Derby_; + opens negotiations with Bombay; + his fleet chased by Bagwell; + takes the _Jupiter_; + attacks Mannajee's territories; + his camp bombarded by Inchbird; + retreats from Colaba; + makes overtures of peace to Bombay; + captures the _Salamander_; + dies. +Angria, Toolajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + taken prisoner by Mahrattas; + succeeds Sumbhajee; + captures the _Princess Augusta_; + sacks Mangalore and Honore; + captures the _Restoration_; + captures trading boats; + chases the _Tartar_; + attacks the _Ruby_; + takes the _Swallow_; + proposes terms to the Bombay Council; + the English co-operate with the Peishwa against; + his fleet chased by James; + his fort at Severndroog bombarded; + the Council's orders as to terms of capitulation with; + leaves Gheriah and treats with the Mahrattas; + warns his brother-in-law against surrendering Gheriah; + his person demanded from the Mahrattas; + his fleet destroyed at Gheriah; + imprisoned for life by the Mahrattas; + escape of his sons from captivity. +Angria, Yessajee, illegitimate son of Conajee Angria; + imprisoned by Mannajee. +Anjediva, island, part of Brown's fleet finds refuge at; + Portuguese fort on. +Anjengo, the Dutch oust the Portuguese from; + English factory and fort at; + unrest at; + massacre of the English at; + state of the garrison at; + fort at, besieged; + the Company's goods at, plundered; + monopoly of pepper trade at, secured to the Company; + the Company's remarks on trade at. +_Anne_, the, grab, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Anne_, ketch, the, sails for Bombay; + how protected; + attacked and captured by Angrian ships; + recovered from Angria; + taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Annesley, Daniel, President of Surat, imprisoned +Anselme, Captain, commander of the _Derby_, purposely delays his ship; + surrenders the _Derby_ to Angria. +_Anson_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by French man-of-war. +_Antelope_, the, taken by the Coolee rovers. +_Apollo_, the, French man-of-war, attacks the _Anson_. +Arabs, the, of Muscat, pirates; + attack the Company's ship _President_; + ravage Salsette. +Armenian merchants, their complaints of pirates. +Armenian ships, plundered by pirates. +Ashure, Rani of Attinga, the English settle in her territory; + dies. +Attinga, monopoly of the pepper trade at, granted to the English; + internal divisions in; + massacre of the English from Anjengo at. +Attinga, Rani of, the, blockades the English at Anjengo; + makes peace with the English; + yearly presents to; + sends food to the besieged at Anjengo; + disclaims participation in the massacre of the English; + requests Orme to be chief at Anjengo; + to compensate for attack on Anjengo. + _See also s.v._ Ashure. +_Augusta_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Aungier, Gerald, President of; + Bombay, quells mutiny among the soldiers. +Aurungzeeb, Mogul Emperor; + his ship, _Gunj Suwaie_, taken by Every; + story of the capture of his granddaughter; + his order to imprison the English in Surat and Bombay; + holds the English responsible for loss of the _Quedah Merchant_; + reverses his order to stop European trade; + death of. + +B + +Babington, Philip, Irish pirate; + commands the _Charming Mary_. +Bab's Key + _See_ PERIM. +Bagwell, Commodore; + chases Sumbhajee Angria's fleet into Rajapore river. +Bahama Islands, the; + a haunt of pirates. +Ballajee Bajee Rao, the Peishwa's son; + attacks Sumbhajee Angria's camp; + his alliance with the English. +Ballajee Rao. + _See_ PEISHWA, THE. +Bandara, shelled by the English. +Bankote + to be made over to the English; + surrender of, to the Mahrattas; + surrender of, to the English. +Bassein + besieged by the Mahrattas. +Bellamont, Lady; + Kidd's present to. +Bellamont, Lord; + supports syndicate to send out a privateer against French commerce; + appointed Governor of New York; + obtains a commission for Kidd; + arrests Kidd; + said by Kidd to have French passes of captured ships; + accused of complicity in Kidd's piracies. +Bellamy, Lieutenant; + killed before Alibagh. +_Bengal_ galley, the; + engages Portuguese grabs; + attacked off Colaba and boarded by Angrian ships. +_Benjamin_ yacht, the; + unmolested by pirates. +_Benjimolly_ the; + taken by Toolajee Angria. +Berkeley, Lieutenant; + fights a duel with Lieutenant Stepney. +Berlew (? Bellew), Captain; + directs attack on Gheriah; + Beyt, pirates from. +Bhyroo Punt. + _See_ PEISHWA, THE. +Blackbeard. + _See_ TEACH, EDWARD. +Bomanjee, a Parsee broker; + arrest of, for fraud; + his cause espoused by Matthews. +Bombay, its defenceless position; + seized by Keigwin for the King; + surrendered to Grantham; + Boone builds a wall round; + conditions imposed by the Portuguese at the cession of; + increased reputation of the English at; + council-of-war held at; + freed from the pirates; + state kept up by the Company's servants at. +Bombay Council, conclude a six months' truce with Sumbhajee Angria; + send warning to merchantmen of French man-of-war; + their reply to Toolajee Angria's overtures; + co-operate with the Peishwa against Toolajee Angria; + terms of agreement between the Mahrattas and; + their instructions to Olive and Hough; + proceed against Mrs. Gyfford. +_Bombay_ frigate, the, destroyed by Angria's vessels. +_Bombay_ galley, the, engages Portuguese grabs; + attacked off Colaba by Angrian ships; + sent against the Angrian fleet. +Bombay Marine Battalion, formation of. +Bonnell and Kynaston, partners of Porter; + action brought against, by the East India Company. +Boone, Charles, President of Bombay; + his character and capacity; + fleet organized by; + failure of his attempt on Vingorla; + sends an expedition to Gheriah; + plans an attack on Kennery; + his opinion of the Company's military; + rejects Angria's terms; + builds the _Phram_, a floating battery; + builds a wall round Bombay; + his trouble with the Portuguese; + plans a second expedition against Gheriah; + orders Brown to engage the Madagascar pirates; + plans a fresh attack on Angria; + his disappointment at failure of the expedition against Colaba; + intrigues against; + embarks for England; + attacked on his homeward journey by Angria; + rescues a ship from the Kempsant's grabs; + succeeded by William Phipps; + abolishes the public table at Bombay. +Boscawen, Admiral, leaves four ships to protect the coast of India. +Bourbon, Isle of, the _Nostra Senhorade Cabo_ taken by pirates at; + governor of, compelled to countenance pirates; + Matthews trades at. +Bourchier, Richard, President of Bombay, strengthens alliance with + the Peishwa. +Bowen,--, pirate, commands the _Speedy Return_. +Brabourne, John, procures grant of Anjengo for the English; + completes the fort at Anjengo; + leaves Anjengo. +Braddyll, Mr., member of Bombay Council, intrigues against Boone; + is protected by Matthews. +Braddyll, Mrs., taken to Surat by Matthews. +Brathwaite, Lieutenant, of the _Lyon_ leads the assault on Alibagh; + made captain of the _Exeter_. +_Bridgewater_, the, blockades Gheriah. +Bridgman, Henry. + _See_ EVERY, HENRY. +Brinjone. + _See_ VILLANJUEN. +_Bristol_, the, taken to Sumatra on a piratical cruise. +_Britannia_, the, Company's armed ship, built at Carwar, by + Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + sent in search of pirates. +Brown, Walter, factor, commands Company's troops; + serves on the _Addison_ against Kennery; + commands the expedition against Gheriah; + cowardice and incompetency; + plans a night surprise on Gheriah; + abandons the attack on Gheriah and Deoghur; + his fleet chased by the pirates; + orders the _Phram_ to be burned; + sent in search of pirates; + chases the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_; + sent to Anjengo to accommodate matters. +Buchanan, Captain, holds Gheriah after its capture. +Burton, Mrs., escapes from Anjengo. +Byng; Sir George, First Lieutenant of the _Phoenix_. + +C + +_Caesar_, the, engages with pirates. +Calicut, Kidd's letter of protest to the factory at; + relief sent to Anjengo from. +Carolina, North, pirates off the coasts of; + governor of, intimidated by Teach; + planters at, seek assistance from Virginia. +Carpenter's Bay, Mauritius, message from the pirates found at. +Carwar, Kidd's visit to; + factory at, besieged by the Sunda Rajah; + part of Brown's fleet escapes to; + threatened by Angria's forces; + Captain Hudson entertained at; + Hamilton's account of. +_Cassandra_, the, Company's ship (later a Madagascar pirate ship), + her fight with pirates; + taken by England; + falls in with Brown's fleet; + chases the English fleet to Goa; + spoil from, presented to the daughter of the Governor of Cochin; + chased by Brown and Macrae; + with the _Victory_, takes the _Nostra Senhora de Cabo_; + takes an Ostend ship; + Macrae's defence of; + booty acquired by the crew of. +_Catherine_, the, trades to Mocha. +_Ceres_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Angrian pirates. +Chalmers, Lieut.-Colonel, commands troops at Gheriah. +_Chandos_, the, + employed in the attack on Gheriah; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + sent with Brown in search of pirates. +_Charles the Second_, the, + seized by Every and mutineers; + renamed the _Fancy_. +_Charlotte_, the, Madras ship, taken by Angria's fleet. +_Charming Mary_, the, a pirate ship. +Charnock's Point, St. Mary's Island, + a pirate settlement; + wrecks of merchant ships at; + Matthews takes booty at. +Chaul, + the rendezvous for the Colaba expedition; + Mannajee Angria escapes to; + attacked by Sumbhajee Angria; + made over to the Peishwa; + James joined by the Mahratta fleet at. +Cheyne, Captain, commands the _Protector_ +Child, Sir John, President of Surat + attempts to pacify the native governor; + compared with Governor Boone; + his intrigues at Surat; + endeavours to re-establish the Company's authority at Bombay. +Child, Sir Josiah. +Chimnajee Appa, the Peishwa's brother, + his aid invoked against Mannajee Angria. +Chinganatta, the Rajah of, guarantees the treaty at Anjengo. +Chivers, a Dutchman, + commands the _Soldado_ or _Algerine_; + captures and releases the _Sedgwick_; + promises submission to Warren. +Chown, Catherine (_nee_ Cooke), + sails for Bombay on the _Anne_; + her second husband killed; + is captured by Angrian pirates; + taken prisoner to Colaba; + a ransom demanded for; + birth of her son; + marries William Gyfford. + _See also s.v._ COOKE, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE; HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Chown, Thomas, + supercargo of the _Godolphin_; + wrecked; + goes to Carwar as factor; + marries Catherine Harvey; + sails for Bombay to prosecute his wife's claims; + killed in action with Angria's fleet. +Clive, Robert (Lord); + commands land forces against Gheriah; + Bombay Council's instructions to; + dispute as to his share of spoil at Gheriah; + his capacity as a soldier. +Cobb, Captain, + commands the _Samaritan_ and _Roebuck_; + captures two Mogul vessels. +Cockburn, Captain, commander of the _Salisbury_, + Matthews' letter to; + Matthews quarrels with; + assists the Council at Bombay; + placed under arrest by Matthews; + transferred to the _Exeter_. +Coins, multiplicity of, at Bombay. +Colaba, + granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Lieutenant Mackintosh goes to, with articles of treaty; + fired on by the English; + English and Portuguese make an unsuccessful attack on; + appropriated by Sakhajee Angria; + taken by Mannajee Angria; + attacked by Sumbhajee Angria; + engagement between Angrian ships and Bombay gallivats off. +Conajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, CONAJEE. +Concan, the coast of, + harried by Sivajee's fleet; + the Peishwa becomes master of. +Conden (Congdon, Condent), pirate, + his headquarters, Madagascar; + commands the _Flying Dragon_. +Cong, plundered by pirates. +Cooke, Catherine, + daughter of Captain Cooke, gunner; + marries John Harvey. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE; HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Cooke, Captain Gerrard, + gunner at Fort William; + made engineer and captain; + father of Catherine Gyfford; + marries his daughter to Harvey. +Cooke, Thomas, Gyfford's brother-in-law, + commands the _Thomas_; + his ship attached by the Bengal Council. +Coolee rovers, the. +Coorla, River, defences of; + forced by the English and; + Dutch. +Corlem, Portuguese fort at, + destroyed by the English. +Courten, Sir William, + his attempt to establish a separate trade in the East Indies. +Cowan, Robert, factor, + commands Company's troops; + negotiates treaty between English and Portuguese at Goa; + his services recognized; + made a general in the expedition against Colaba; + his military incapacity. +Cowse, Mrs., escapes from Anjengo. +Cowse, Simon, + Anjengo left in charge of, by Brabourne; + deposed by Kyffin; + resumes business as private merchant; + his advice to Gyfford; + killed in escaping to Anjengo; + the enemy occupy his house at Anjengo. +Coxsidge, Captain, + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Cruffe, James, armourer, + recaptures the _Josiah_ ketch. +Cuddalore, establishment of a factory at. +Culliford, ----, mutineer and pirate, + succeeds Stent as commander of the _Defence_; + renames her the _Resolution_; + attacks the _Dorrill_, 50; + promises submission to Warren; + Kidd's dealings with; + trial, condemnation and respite of. +Curgenven, Mr., private merchant, + sails for China on the _Charlotte_; + captured by Angria's fleet; + a prisoner for ten years. + +D + +Dabul, the _Ockham_ attacked off, + by Angrian pirates; + the Mahrattas offer James a reward to attack. +_Dadaboy_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Dalrymple, Mr., killed in a duel with Mr. Sutherland. +Danes, the, their supposed piratical outrages; + implicated in the capture of Abdul Guffoor's ship. +_Dartmouth_, the, East Indiaman, + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Darya--S ranga. + _See_ ANGRIA, CONAJEE. +Davis, Thomas, besieged in Anjengo; + dies at Anjengo. +Deccanees, tin coins, value of. +_Defence_, the (formerly the _Mocha_ frigate, _q.v._), becomes a pirate; + renamed the _Resolution_. +_Defiance_ grab, the, present at the attacks on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + engages the _Victory_, pirate ship. +_Defiance_, the, frigate, attacked by Angria's ships. +_Derby_, the, Company's ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Deoghur (or Tamana), granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Angria's southernmost stronghold; + attack on, abandoned. +_Derby_, the, East Indiaman, taken by Sumbhajee Angria's ships. +Desforges, M., Governor of Bourbon. +Diego Suarez, pirate settlement of Libertatia at. +_Doddington_, the, East Indiaman, wrecked. +_Dorrill_, the, Company's ship, attacked by the _Resolution_. +_Dove_ the, Company's grab, captured by Mahratta fleet. +Downing, Clement, takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Dutch, the, torture and execute Captain Towerson; + obstruct the English at Surat; + protect pirates at the Cape; + entertain England and Taylor at Cochin; + unite with the English against Coolee rovers; + their disastrous engagement with Toolajee Angria; + their hostility to the English at Anjengo; + their investments in Chinganatta. +Dwarka, pirates at. + +E + +_Eagle_ galley, the, attacked by Angria's grabs; + takes refuge in Saragon harbour. +Easthope, Captain Jeremiah, dies of fever, before Gheriah. +East India Company, the, their servants at Surat imprisoned; + bring an action against Bonnell and Kynaston; + grant commissions to seize interlopers and pirates; + offer a reward for Every's apprehension; + untrustworthiness of their crews; + petition the Admiralty for a ship to deal with pirates; + their trade in India ruined by pirates; + character and pay of their servants; + incompetence of their military; + send out a guardship to Bombay; + their action with regard to Matthews; + build the _Guardian_ and _Protector_ for protection of coast trade; + complicated accounts of; + in India; + state kept up by their servants at Bombay; + their remarks on the treaty with the Rani of Attinga; + file a suit against Mrs. Gyfford. +_East India Merchant_, the, Company's ship. +Edawa. +Eden,--, Governor of North Carolina, suspected of complicity with Teach. +_Edgar_, the, Every serves in. +Edgecombe, Captain, commander of the _Mocha_ frigate; + his crew mutiny; + stabbed. +Egmont, Earl of, his estimation of the Company's military officers. +Elephanta, island, Portuguese village on, burned; + Mannajee Angria hoists his flag on. +_Elizabeth_, the, private ship, plundered by the Sunda Rajah; + taken by pirates off Honore. +England, Edward, pirate; + his headquarters, Madagascar; + commands the _Victory_; + his engagement with the _Cassandra_; + entertains Macrae on board the _Cassandra_; + engages Brown's fleet and chases it to Goa; + entertained at Cochin by the Dutch; + his crew incensed against Macrae; + marooned at Mauritius; + goes to St. Mary's. +English, the, in ill-odour at Surat; + blamed for piracy of other nations. + suffer for Every's seizure of the _Gunj Suwaie_. +Ericeira, Conde de, ex-Viceroy of Goa, his ship boarded by pirates; + forced to ransom himself. +Every, Henry, _alias_ Bridgman, his career as a pirate; + parentage of; + seizes the _Charles the Second_ and renames her; + his piratical outrages on the Guinea Coast; + his friendly warning to the English; + establishes himself at Madagascar; + takes the _Futteh Mahmood_; + takes the _Gunj Suwaie_; + his reported abduction of Aurungzeeb's granddaughter; + captures the _Rampura_; + retires to England; + reward for his apprehension offered; + his reported flight, to Ireland, and death in Devonshire; + compared with Kidd. +Every, John. + _See_ EVERY, HENRY. +Execution Dock, Kidd hanged at; +_Exeter_, the, King's ship, + sent out against pirates; + dismasted; + her captains; + takes part in the expedition against the Portuguese; + goes to the defence of Carwar. + +F + +Fake, Corporal, mutinies, and is shot. +_Fame_, the, Company's armed ship; + built at Surat by Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +_Fancy_, the pirate ship, + commanded by Taylor; + her engagement with the _Cassandra_; + given to Macrae. +_Fancy_, the (formerly the _Charles the Second, q.v.)_, pirate ship; + commanded by Every; + takes the _Futteh Mahmood_; + takes the _Gunj Suwaie_. +Farrell, Captain, pirate. +Fleetwood, Miles, succeeds Mence as chief at Carwar. +_Flying Dragon_, the, pirate ship. +Forbes, Lieutenant, communicates with the besieged in Carwar factory; + holds Gheriah after its capture. +_Fort St. George_, the, galley, engages Portuguese grabs. +Foulis, Captain, commander of the _Anson_; + his bravery against the French. +French, the, at Surat; + their men-of-war menace the Company's ships; + their defeat in the Carnatic; + take the _New George_; + East Indiaman. +_Futteh Dowlet_ grab, the; + sent by Bombay Council to assist Mannajee Angria; + taken by Toolajee Angria. +Futteh Droog, Angrian fort, bombarded by James. +Futtehghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. +_Futteh Mahmood_, the, taken by Every. + +G + +Gallivats, large rowing boats. +Gayer, Sir John, President of Surat, receives news of Every; + delivers French pirates to the Governor of Surat; + offers to convoy the Red Sea fleet; + harassed by untrustworthiness of English crews; + disclaims responsibility with regard to the _Quedah Merchant_; + hands over to the Portuguese their ship taken by pirates; + Harland and Richards quarrel with; + compared with Governor Boone; + killed in action on the _New George_; + annuls a marriage. +Gheriah or Viziadroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + account of attack on; + Angria's fleet from; + menaces Bombay; + second expedition against; + its fate settled; + attacked by a Dutch squadron; + capture of; + attacked by allied forces; + reported impregnability of; + blockaded by James; + division of spoil taken at; + European slaves at; + surrendered to the Mahrattas. +Gilliam, James, pirate, + seized and imprisoned at Mungrole; + sent to Aurungzeeb's camp. +Goa, proclamation issued from, to the Portuguese at Bombay; + Viceroys of. +_Godolphin_, the, attacked by Angria's ships_; + wrecked outside Bombay. +Gordon, Captain, takes reinforcements to Carwar; + is wounded; + his fruitless action at Gheriah. +Goring, Mr., his visit to Oarwar, + dies at sea. +Gova, fort, bombarded by James; + governor of; + escapes to Severndroog. +Grabs, two-masted ships, description of. +_Grantham_, the, East Indiaman, + attacked by Angria's ships; + placed under Matthews' orders against pirates. +Grantham, Sir Thomas; + Keigwin surrenders Bombay to. +Green,--, pirate, takes the _Speedy Return_; + hanged. +_Greenwich_, the, Company's ship, leaves the _Cassandra_ + in her contest with pirates; + sent in search of pirates. +_Guardian_, sloop, the, man-of-war, built to protect the Malabar coast; + commanded by James; + takes part in the combined attack on Gheriah. +Giuliam,--, pirate, hanged; +_Gunj Suwaie_ (Exceeding Treasure), the; + taken by Every. +Guzerat, coast of; + infested by Coolee rovers. +Gyfford, Captain, commander of the _Sidney_; + distrusts Kidd. +Gyfford; Catherine _(nee_ Cooke), + a third of Harvey's estate paid to; + her third husband killed at Anjengo; + escapes from Anjengo; + carries off factory records from Anjengo; + appoints Lapthorne her agent; + lands at Madras; + goes to Calcutta; + declines to satisfy claims against her husband; + Matthews espouses her quarrel with the Bengal Council; + is carried off to Bombay by Matthews; + attempts to secure her effects at Anjengo; + is brought to England by Matthews; + petitions the Directors for redress; + files a suit against the Company; + quarrels with Lapthorne. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; COOKE, CATHERINE; + HARVEY, CATHERINE. +Gyfford, William, factor at Bombay, + marries Catherine Chown; + appointed supercargo of the _Catherine_; + chief of Anjengo factory; + his dishonesty; + insults Mahommedan traders; + his private trade; + goes to Attinga with presents for the Rani; + is inveigled into an ambush and tortured to death; + his estate a debtor to the Company. + +H + +_Halifax_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Angrian pirates. +_Halifax_, the, country ship, sent to assist Mannajee Angria. +Halsey,--, pirate. +Hamilton, Alexander, his defence of Littleton; + his account of the engagement + between the _Phoenix_ and a Sanganian pirate; + commands the _Morning Star_; + is attacked by pirates; + made commander-in-chief of the Company's frigates; + sent to relieve Carwar factory; + resigns his post as commander-in-chief; + brings charges against Taylor; + his account of Carwar. +Hand, John, master of the _Bristol_, interloper. +Hands, Israel, wounded by Teach. +Harland, Captain, quarrels with Sir John Gayer; + succeeds Richards as commander of the + _Severn_ and the _Scarborough_. +_Harrington_, the, Company's ship, engages pirate ships. +Harris, President at Surat, declines to interfere + to procure Gilliam's release. +Harvey, Catherine _(nee_ Cooke), + goes to Bombay; + returns to Carwar; + asserts her claim, to Harvey's estate; + marries Thomas Chown; + sails for Bombay. + _See also s.v._ CHOWN, CATHERINE; + COOKE, CATHERINE; GYFFORD, CATHERINE. +Harvey, John, chief of Carwar factory, + demands the surrender of Parker by Kidd; + entertains Captain Hudson; + marries Catherine Cooke; + his deformity; + resigns the Company's service; + goes to Bombay to wind up his affairs; + returns to Carwar; + dies. +_Harwich_, the, man-of-war, under Warren, + attacked by a pirate vessel. +_Hastings_, the, man-of-war, under Warren, +Hewitt, Lieutenant, sent to reconnoitre at Gheriah. +Hill, Serjeant, wounded in the attack on Carwar. +Himmutghur, to be made over to the English. +Honore, seizure of a pirate ship at; + pirates provision their ships at; + attacked by Arab pirates; + sacked by Toolajee Angria, +Houblon, Sir James, his ships hired by the Spanish Government. +Hough, Commodore, drives Angrian grabs to Severndroog; + his ability, + present at the attack on Gheriah. +Hudson, Captain, commands the _Loyall Bliss_. +_Hunter_, the, reinforces the _Revenge_; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + attacked by Angria's grabs. + +I + +Ibrahim Khan, captain of the _Gunj Suwaie_, cowardice of. +Ince, Samuel, gunner, defends Anjengo; + is reinforced from Cochin; + his bravery. +Inchbird, Captain, sent on a mission to Mannajee Angria; + seizes Mannajee Angria's gallivats; + commands ships sent to the relief of Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +_Indien_, the, French ship, captured by Commodore James. +Interlopers, unlicensed merchant adventurers. +Ireland, John, pirate, commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Itimad Khan, Governor of Surat, protects the English; + character of. + +J + +_James_, the, one of Houblon's squadron; + her men join the mutineers on the _Charles the Second_. +James, Commodore William, commands the _Guardian_; + commands a squadron against Gheriah; + his early life; + his capacity; + captures the _Indien_; + his success at Severndroog; + director of the East India Company, baronet, and member of Parliament, + sent to Madras. +Jenkins, Captain of the _Harrington_, + his conflict with Angrian pirates; + his courage commended. +Jinjeera, the Seedee of, complains of English outrages. +Jobson, Captain, commander of the _Ockham_, beats off Angrian pirates. +Johnson, Sir Robert, captain of the _Exeter_, Matthews quarrels with; + perishes at sea; + Matthews answerable for the death of. +Jolly Roger, the, hoisted by mutinous ships. +Jose, Francisco de Sampaio e Castro, Viceroy of Goa; + unites with Boone in the expedition against Colaba; + treatment of, by Matthews; + comes to terms with the Council at Bombay. +_Josiah_ ketch, the, taken by her crew; + recaptured by Cruffe and carried to Acheen; + attacked by the Sanganians. +Junaghur, imprisonment of Gilliam and his followers at. +_Jupiter_, the, French ship, taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Jyeghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + the Mahrattas to attack. + +K + +Kanak Droog, Angrian fort, bombarded by James. +Keigwin, Captain Richard, sent to Bombay; + his troop disbanded; + again sent out to Bombay; + distrusts the Company; + takes possession of Bombay; + his good government, and popularity; + surrenders Bombay to Sir Thomas Grantham; + his death at St. Christopher's; + fights the Mahratta fleet in the _Revenge_. +Kempsant, the, the Sawunt Waree chief at Vingorla; + quarrels with Angria; + proposes an alliance with the English; + his attitude at the attack on Deoghur. +Kennery, occupied by Sivajee; + blockaded by the Company's ships; + seized and fortified by Conajee Angria; + granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + the Seedee and Mahrattas struggle for the possession of; + reinforced and provisioned by Angria; + Boone commands an expedition against; + failure of attack on. +_Kent_ the, East Indiaman, sent in search of Danish pirates; + commanded by Matthews in the action off Cape Passaro. +Kidd, William, account of his career; + commands the _Adventure_ galley; + commissions granted to, against pirates; + excites Warren's suspicion; + his piratical intentions discussed; + attacks the Mocha fleet; + takes the _Mary_ brigantine; + his cruelty to the natives of the Laccadives; + chases the _Sedgwick_; + captures the _Quedah Merchant_; + attitude of the English Government towards; + fraternizes with Culliford; + abandons the _Adventure_; + sails to Boston on the _Quedah Merchant_; + hides his plunder; + arrested by Lord Bellamont; + tried at the Old Bailey; + found guilty on several charges; + hanged; + a contemptible character. +Kidd's Island, why so named. +_King George_, the, Company's ship, captures an Angrian grab; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Kingsfisher_, the, sloop, blockades Gheriah. +Kirby, Captain, commander of the _Greenwich_; + his cowardice. +Koolta, fort, ceded to the Peishwa. +Kyffin, John, second at Anjengo, intrigues against Cowse; + chief at Anjengo; + his disloyalty to the Company; + dismissed the Company's service. +Kynaston and Bonnell, partners of Porter. + +L + +La Buze, Oliver (La Bouche, Levasseur), French pirate, loses his ship + off Mayotta; + made commander of the _Victory_; + tradition of his life at Bourbon, and his end; + at Madagascar; + escapes Matthews' squadron. +Lari, the (coin), value of. +Lavender, Captain, commander of the _Thomas_, perishes with his ship. +Langworth, Commodore, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +Lapthorne, Lieutenant Peter, besieged in Anjengo; + agent for Mrs. Gyfford's affairs; + his drunkenness and dishonesty; + sent under arrest; to Bombay. +Latenby, Richard, carpenter's mate of the _Cassandra_, + his account of his enforced cruise with the pirates. +Leake, Captain Thomas, succeeds Hough as Commodore of the _Restoration_; + his ship taken by Toolajee Angria; + his incapacity punished. +Lembourg, Mr., his visit to Carwar. +Levasseur (La Bouche), Oliver. + _See_ LA BUZE, OLIVER. +Libertatia, model pirate settlement; + history of. +_Lime_, the, man-of-war, sent in search of Teach. +Lisle, Commodore, his squadron protects Bombay coast trade; +Littleton, Commodore, succeeds Warren; + suspected of dealings with the pirates; + Hamilton's defence of; + quarrels with Sir Nicholas Waite; + effect of the presence of his squadron. +_Lizard_, the, man-of-war, under Warren. +Loader, Captain, of the _Revenge_, + burns a village in Elephanta. +_London_, the, seized by Muscat Arabs; + her crew forced to fight with the Portuguese; + acts as flagship in the attack on Gheriah; + fired on by the _Victory_; + pirate ship; + her crew break into the Lazaretto at Goa; + Boone sails for England in. +Lowth, Captain, of the _Loyal Merchant_; + seizes the _Margaret_; + prevented by the Dutch from seizing the _Vine_. +_Loyall Bliss_, the, East Indiaman, + her voyage to Bengal; + puts in at Carwar. +_Loyal Merchant_, the, takes the _Margaret_, a pirate ship. +Loyd, Solomon, his marriage annulled. +_Lyon_, the, King's ship, sent out against pirates; + taken by Matthews to Bengal; + Mrs. Gyfford sails to England on; + put out of commission. + +M + +Mace, William. + _See_ MAZE, WILLIAM. +Mackintosh, Lieutenant, goes to Colaba with articles of + treaty with Angria. +Macrae, Captain James, Commander of the _Cassandra_; + his ship attacked and taken by pirates off Madagascar; + escapes with his crew; + communicates with the pirates; + the _Fancy_ given to; + serves under Brown in the expedition in search of pirates; + chases the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_; + his parentage and character; + becomes Governor of Fort St. George. +Madagascar, a pirate resort. +Madras, capture of, by La Bourdonnais. +_Madras Merchant_, the, Company's ship, joins the _Sidney_ at Johanna. +Mahim, freedom of trade at, claimed by the Portuguese; + raided. +Mahomed Ali, his power re-established by the English. +Mahrattas, the, their fleet repulsed by Minchin and Keigwin; + rise of the power of; + besiege Bassein; + attack Sumbhajee Angria's camp; + seize a flotilla bound for Calcutta; + their respect for English arms; + articles of agreement between the English and; + their inefficiency as allies; + treat with Toolajee Angria; + encamp against Grheriah; + dispute with the English as to Toolajee Angria; + Gheriah delivered over to. +Maine, Captain Covil, of the _Shoreham_ brings charges against Matthews. +Malheiros, Ignatio, Portuguese interpreter at Anjengo; + insults Mahommedan traders; + seized by Attinga natives and tortured to death. +Malwans, the, pirates, attack English ships. +Mangalore, attacked by Arab pirates; + sacked by Toolajee Angria. +Manikdroog, granted to Conajee Angria, by treaty. +Mannajee Angria. + _See_ ANGELA, MANNAJEE. +Manuel de Castro, Portuguese renegade, + appointed commodore of the Company's gallivats; + distrusted by English captains; + permits Angria's gallivats to reinforce Kennery; + treachery of, punished; + foments a mutiny at St. Helena; + returns to Angria. +_Margaret_, the, of New York, pirate ship, seized by Captain Lowth. +_Mary_ brigantine, the, taken by Kidd off Sanjan; + her master imprisoned on the _Adventure_. +Matthews, Commodore Thomas, sent with a squadron + against Madagascar pirates; + his character; + suspected of complicity with pirates; + his quarrels in India; + takes part in the expedition against Angria; + his conduct at Alibagh; + his private trade; + his disloyalty to the Company; + espouses Mrs. Gyfford's cause; + effect of his squadron on Madagascar pirates; + the Directors bring an action against; + tried by court-martial for irregularities; + appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. +May, Captain, commander of a pirate ship, taken by Every,. +Maynard, Lieutenant of the _Pearl_, + commands sloops sent in search of Teach; + engages, and kills Teach. +Maze (or Mace), William, pirate, + commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Mecca, pilgrims from, taken in the _Gunj Suwaie_; + pilgrims to, protected by the Dutch. +Mence, Robert, succeeds Harvey as chief at Oarwar; + embezzles the Company's money; + dies at Oarwar. +Midford, Mr., factor, commands the land force sent to relieve Carwar; + commands Company's troops; + keeps back soldiers' pay; + his incapacity; + sent to the relief of Anjengo; + his punitive expeditions in Attinga; + becomes chief at Anjengo; + his dishonesty; + death of. +Minchin, Commodore, repels Mahratta ships. +Minims, John, appointed engineer for the attack on Gheriah. +Misson, French pirate, establishes the settlement of Libertatia; +is drowned on the way to America. +Mitchell, Mr., fights a duel with Mr. Sutherland. +Mocha fleet, the, Kidd's attack on.; + waylaid by Arab pirates. +_Mocha_ frigate, the, crew of, mutiny off Acheen; + renamed the _Defence_; + renamed the _Resolution_. +_Montagu_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Toolajee Angria's fleet. +Moore,----, gunner of the _Adventure_, murdered by Kidd. +_Morning Star_, the, private ship, commanded by Alexander Hamilton; + her encounter with pirates; + hired by the Council at Bombay; + sent to relieve Carwar. +_Morrice_, the, East Indiaman, takes part in the attack on Kennery; + in danger from Angria's fleet. +Mungrole, seizure of Gilliam at. +Muscat, Arabs of, seize the _London_ to avenge their losses. + +N + +Negotna, river, blockaded by English ships. +_Neptune's Prize_, the, bombketch, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +_New George_, the, East Indiaman, taken by the French. +North, ----, pirate, commands the _Pelican_; + recants his submission to Warren; + is killed by natives of St. Mary's. +_Nostra Senhora de Cabo_, the, Portuguese ship; + taken by the _Cassandra_ and _Victory_. +Nunn, Captain Radford, sent against the Coolee rovers. + +O + +_Ockham_, the, East Indiaman, + fierce engagement between Angrian pirates and. +Ogle, Captain Challoner, sent in pursuit of Roberts; + engages the _Ranger_ and _Royal Fortune_; + knighted for bravery against pirates. +Oochitghur, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. +Orford, Lord, head of the Admiralty, refuses a ship to repress pirates; + supports syndicate to send out a privateer against French commerce; + secretly interested in Kidd's mission; + impeachment against, prepared. +Orme, Alexander, becomes chief at Anjengo; + reports defalcations in accounts at Anjengo; + provisions in his treaty with the Rani. +Ostend ships. +Ostenders, the, Kyffin's dealings with; + peremptory orders regarding. +_Otter_, the, Bengal ship, taken by Angria's forces. + +P + +Parker, Lieutenant, deprived of his commission. +Parker, Mr., member of the Bombay Council, intrigues against Boone. +Parker, Thomas, master of the _Mary_, his ship captured by Kidd; + imprisoned on the _Adventure_. +Passmore, Sergeant, punished for cowardice. +_Pearl_, the, man-of-war, sent in search of Teach. +Peishwa, the, defeated by Conajee Angria's forces; + makes terms with Conajee Angria; + assists Mannajee Angria; + Angrian forts ceded to; + shakes off his allegiance to Satara; + concludes a treaty with Bombay; + death of; + Chaul resigned to the new, by the Portuguese; + his agents mutilated by Toolajee Angria; + invokes assistance of Bombay against Angria; + his friendly relations with Bombay; + his fleet takes part in the attack on Severndroog; + his troops take part in the attack on Gheriah. +_Pelham_, the, employed in the attack on Gheriah. +_Pelican_, the, pirate ship, gets provisions at Honore. +Perim, its value as a trading port. +Permission ships, imitate pirates. +Persian Gulf, piratical outrages in the. +Phipps, William, succeeds Boone as Governor of Bombay; + remonstrates against Matthews; + levies customs duties at Mahim; +_Phoenix_, the, man-of-war, goes in search of Danish pirates; + attacked by Sanganian pirates. +_Phram_, the, floating battery, designed by Boone; + employed against Gheriah; + her uselessness; + casualties on; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + her ultimate fate. +_Pilot_ sloop, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Pirates, earliest mention of, in India; + their efficiency as seamen; + extent of their raids from Madagascar; + in India, whence recruited; + their treatment of English prisoners; + their cruelty to native merchants; + commissions issued to Kidd for capture of; + Warren sent with a squadron against; + Royal Squadron sent from Europe to extirpate; + pardon offered to, for voluntary surrender of; + acts passed for repression of; + rewards for capture of; + execution of; + Matthews sent against; + cessation of danger from. +Pitts, Lieutenant, commander of the _Josiah_, perishes with his ship. +Plantain, John, ex-pirate, entertains Matthews. +Pocock, Hear-Admiral, his share in the spoil of Gheriah. +Poola Cadamon Pillay, blamed for the massacre at Anjengo. +Poolas, the, their intrigues in Attinga. +Poola Venjamutta, usurps power in Attinga; + intrigues with Kyffin; + treats with Walter Brown; + plays a double part; + sends food to the besieged at Anjengo; + friendly to the English. +Port Dauphin, a pirate settlement. +Porter, Endymion, licensed with Bonnell + and Kynaston to prey on ships of non-friendly nations; + his association with Sir William Courten. +Portuguese, the, the crew of the _London_ compelled to attack; + their 'armado' captured by Angria; + refuse to allow Sivajee to land at Thana; + friction with, at Bombay; + their co-operation secured against Angria; + attacked at Alibagh by Sahoojee's forces; + ill-feeling between the English and; + Angria opens negotiations with; + their General of the North insulted by Matthews; + two of their grabs captured by English galleys; + come to terms with the Council at Bombay; + espouse the cause of Mannajee Angria; + ally themselves with Sumbhajee Angria; + expelled from Salsette by the Mahrattas; + effect of their intervention in Angrian quarrels; + besieged at Bassein; + Caranjah taken from, by Mannajee Angria; + drive Sumbhajee Angria from Chaul; + resign Chaul to the Peishwa; + employed as interpreters. +_President_, the, Company's ship, attacked by Muscat Arabs. +_Prince_, the, Bombay sloop, takes a Muscat ship. +_Princess Augusta_, the, captured by Toolajee Angria; + redeemed. +_Princess Caroline_, the, Company's ship, sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Protector_, the, sloop, man-of-war, + built to protect the Malabar coast from Angrian pirates; + commanded by _James_; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog; + sent to Madras; + returns to Bombay; + takes part in the combined attack on Gheriah. +Proud, John, master of the _Swan_, attacks the _Roebuck_. +Providence Island, a pirate resort. +_Pulteney_, the Company's ship, + attacked by Angrian pirates; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. + +Q + +Quail, Captain, + commands the _Seahorse_. +_Quedah Merchant_, the, + country ship, captured by Kidd. +_Queen_, the, East Indiaman. +Quemar Santo, the saint burner. + _See_ KEMPSANT. +Quilon, the Rajah of, + succours the Anjengo garrison; + plundered goods from Anjengo sent to. + +R + +Rajmachee, fort, + ceded to the Peishwa. +Ramajee Punt, Sirsoobah of the Concan; + concerts measures against Toolajee Angria; + assists in the attack on Severndroog; + urges the English to complete Angria's destruction; + treats with Toolajee Angria; + promises to surrender Toolajee Angria; + his ill-faith with the English; + demands surrender of Gheriah to the Mahrattas. +_Rampura_, the, + captured by Every. +Ramus, Cape, + engagement between the English and Portuguese off. +_Ranger_, the, + pirate ship, taken by Ogle. +Red Sea, the, + a favourite resort of pirates. +_Resolution_, the, + (_alias_ the _Mocha_ and the _Defence, q.v._), + pirate ship commanded by Culliford; + attacks the _Dorrill_; + at Honore; + at Madagascar. +_Resolution_, the, + Company's ship, sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Resolution_, the, + King's ship, Every serves in. +_Restoration_, the, + sent against Angrian grabs; + taken by Toolajee Angria; + is opposed to the English at Gheriah. +Returah. + _See_ VITTOOR. +_Revenge_, the, + Company's grab, built at Bombay, by Boone's orders; + sent to attack Vingorla; + sent to blockade Kennery; + engaged by the Mahratta fleet; + takes part in the attacks on Gheriah; + engages the _Victory_, pirate ship; + sent in search of pirates; + accompanies Boone in the _London_; + attacks Angria's grabs; + goes to the relief of Calcutta. +Reynolds, Mr., protests against Conajee Angria's actions. +Richards, Commodore, quarrels with Sir John Gayer; + commands the _Severn_ and _Scarborough_; + dies at Johanna. +_Robert_ galley, the, sent to assist Mannajee Angria. +Roberts, Bartholomew, pirate, scours the American coast; + his cruelty and strict rule; + Captain Ogle sent in search of; + slain on the _Royal Fortune_. +Rodriguez, a Portuguese, plunders the Company's warehouse at Anjengo. +_Roebuck_, the, fitted out by Porter, Bonnell, and Kynaston. +Rogers, Captain Woodes, + his description of the pirate settlers at Madagascar; + governor of the Bahamas. +_Rose_, the, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Royal Fortune_, the, pirate ship, taken by Ogle. +_Ruby_, the, King's ship, placed under Lisle's command; + her convoy attacked by Angrian vessels. +_Ruby_ frigate, the, long-boat of, stolen by John Steel. +Russell, Gideon, mate of the _Morrice_, + leads volunteers in the attack on Kennery; + is wounded and dies. +Rustumjee Nowrojee, son of Bomanjee, taken to England by Matthews. +Rutnaghiri, Angrian stronghold, attacked by the Mahrattas. + +S + +Sacrifice Island, why so called. +Sagurgurh, taken by Sumbhajee Angria. +Sahoojee, Sivajee's grandson, dissensions in his kingdom; + called the Sow Rajah by the English; + treats with Boone in Angria's behalf; + sends a force to Alibagh to assist Angria. +St. Augustine's, a pirate settlement. +_St. George_, the, sent out by the Company as a guard ship; + wrecked. +St. Mary's Island, a pirate settlement. +Sakhajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, SAKHAJEE. +_Salamander_, the, Bombay ketch, captured by Sumbhajee Angria; + rescued by Mannajee Angria. +_Salamander_, the, trading grab, leased to the Company by Harvey. +_Salisbury_, the, King's ship, sent + out under Matthews against pirates. +Selsette, attacked and plundered by Muscat Arabs; + the English renounce all claim on; + the Portuguese expelled from. +_Samaritan_, the, fitted out by Porter, Bonnell, and Kynaston, + wrecked. +_Sandwich_, the, Matthews court-martialled on. +Sanganiana, the, pirates, attack the _Josiah_; + attack the _Phoenix_; + reduced to order. +Satara, Sahoojee proclaimed at; + Conajee Angria's relations with; + the Rajah of, treats with Keigwin. +Sawbridge, Captain, seized by pirates. +_Scarborough_, the, man-of-war; + beaten off by Teach. +_Sceptre_, the, sent as a convoy for the Mocha fleet. +Scott, Lieutenant Colonel, the Company's chief engineer at Madras. +_Seahorse_, the, sent to the Red Sea. +_Sedgwick_, the, captured off Cape Comorin. +Seedee, the, ordered to march on Bombay and imprison the English; + plunders towns on the Malabar coast; + Conajee Angria makes war on; + sends a deputation to Keigwin; + offers to co-operate with the English; + loses territory; + captures Thull; + his kindness to English prisoners. +_Severn_, the, Bengal freight ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Severn_, the, man-of-war, effects nothing against the pirates. +Severndroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty; + Sumbhajee Angria's headquarters; + attacked and taken by the English and Mahrattas, under James. +Severndroog, tower of, why erected. +Sewell, Robert, Gyfford's letter to; + storekeeper at Anjengo; + his drunkenness and dishonesty; + sent, under arrest, to Bombay. +Shaxton, Captain, commands the Company's military at Bombay; + tried for complicity with mutineers. +_Shoreham_, the, King's ship, sent out under Matthews against pirates. +_Sidney_, the, Company's ship, threatened by Kidd. +Sivajee, his fleet harries the Concan coast; + his agreement with the English; + occupies and fortifies Kennery; + plans an attack on Bombay; + concludes peace with the English. +Smith, Bombardier, sent to assist + Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +Smith, Captain, succeeds Gordon as commander + of the force sent to relieve Carwar; + his cowardice. +_Soldado_, the, or _Algerine_, the, pirate ship, commanded by Chivers. +_Somers_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Angria's ships. +Somers, Lord, secretly interested in Kidd's mission; + impeachment against, prepared. +_Speedy Return_, the, pirate ship, commanded by Bowen. +_Stanhope_, the, East Indiaman; + takes part in the attack on Kennery. +Stanton, Major, commands sepoys sent to attack Vingorla; + quarrels with Weekes; + commands the land force sent to relieve Carwar; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + commands the landing party against Gheriah; + commands the expedition against the Portuguese. +Steel, John, deserts the Company's service and turns pirate; + arrest and release of. +Steele, John, Carpenter's mate of the _Morrice_, + his prowess before Kennery. +Stepney, Lieut, on the _Salisbury_, fights a duel with Lieut. Berkeley. +Stout, ----, mutineer, commands the _Defence_; + accounts of his end. +Strutt, Mr., private merchant, owner of the _Elizabeth_. +_Success_, the, East Indiaman, taken by Angria's fleet; + indemnity for. +Sultanpore, headquarters of the Coolee rovers. +Sumbhajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, SUMBHAJEE. +Sunda Rajah, the, refuses dealings with Kidd; + attacks English ships; + seizes the _Elizabeth_; + besieges Carwar factory; + comes to terms with the English; + cruelty of. +Surat, the Company's servants at, imprisoned; + populace of, influenced against the English; + trade at, crippled, owing to piracy; + fourteen lakhs of rupees demanded from Europeans at; + Europeans at, combine to suppress piracy; + disorders at. +Surey, Portuguese battery at, captured by Stanton. +Surkheil, title given to Conajee Angria. +Sutherland, Mr., fights duels with Mitchell and Dalrymple; + sentenced to death; + pardoned. +_Swallow_, the, King's ship, commanded by Captain Ogle; + engages pirate ships; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +_Swallow_, the, sloop, taken by Toolajee Angria. +_Swan_, the, encounters the _Roebuck_. +_Syren_, the, protects the Bombay coast trade; + her convoy attacked by Angrian vessels. + +T + +Tamana. + _See_ DEOGHUR. +_Tankerville_, the, Company's ship, sails with the _Royall Bliss_. +_Tartar_, the, King's ship, protects the Bombay coast trade; + her convoy chased by Angrian vessels. +Taylor, ----, pirate, his headquarters at Madagascar; + commands the _Fancy_; + engages the _Cassandra_; + prevented from murdering Macrae; + resigns the _Fancy_ to Macrae; + commands the _Cassandra_; + takes the _Nostra Senhorade Calo_ and an Ostend ship; + negotiates for a pardon; + escapes Matthew's squadron; + surrenders to the Spaniards and obtains a commission. +Taylor, George, chief of the factory at Carwar; + charged with indiscretion by Hamilton; + cautioned by the Bombay Council. +Teach, Edward, pirate, _alias_ Blackbeard; + his fearlessness and cruelty; + reward offered for his capture; + killed in hand-to-hand encounter. +Tew (? Thomas Too), English pirate, allied with Misson; + escapes from Libertatia; + killed in action; + commission to Kidd to apprehend. +Thevenapatam, establishment of a factory at. +_Thomas_, the, attacked by four Beyt ships. +_Thomas_, the, brigantine, owned by Gyfford; + attached by the Bengal Council. +Thull, taken by Sumbhajee Angria; + captured by the Seedee. +Too, Thomas. + _See_ TEW, THOMAS. +Toolajee Angria. + _See_ ANGRIA, TOOLAJEE. +Topasses, mutilated at Carwar; + nucleus of the Bombay Marine Battalion; + many, burned on the _Phram_ before Gheriah. +Towerson, Captain, torture and execution of. +_Trial_, the, sent against Sumbhajee Angria's fleet. +_Triumph_, the, prahm sent to assist Mannajee Angria; + takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +Tuluday, Mr., soldier, killed on board the _Phram_. +_Tyger_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Tyrell, Captain, commander of the _Phoenix_; + sent in search of Danish pirates; + sinks a Sanganian pirate ship. + +U + +Upton, Captain, commander of the _London_; + his cowardice. +Utrecht, Peace of, effect of the, on piracy; + +V + +Van Broeck, his account of Every. +Vane, Major, chief engineer to the Company. +Venjamutta. + _See_ POOLA VENJAMUTTA. +Viceroys of Goa. + _See_ ERICEIRA; JOSE, FRANCISCO DE SAMPAIO. +_Victoria_, the, accompanies the _London_; + attacks Angria's grabs. +_Victory_, the, Company's armed ship, built by Boone's orders; + takes part in the attack on Kennery; + present at Gheriah; + fired on by the _Cassandra_; + sails in search of pirates; + comes to the relief of the crews of the _Bengal_ and _Bombay_ galleys; + sent against Sumbhajee Angria. +_Victory_, the, pirate ship, commanded by England; + engages the _Cassandra_; + mistaken for the Company's ship; + La Buze made commander of. +_Vigilant_, the, King's ship, protects the Bombay coast trade; + attacked by Angrian vessels. +Villanjuen (Brinjone), in Attinga, trading settlement at. +Vincente Sodre, an early pirate. +_Vine_ pink, the, pirate ship; + the Dutch prevent Captain Lowth from seizing. +Vingorla, pirates at. +_Viper_, the, bombketch, takes part in the attack on Severndroog. +Virginia, pirates off the coasts of; + governor of, sends ships in search of Teach. +Vittoor (Returah), in Attinga, trading settlement at. +Viziadroog. + _See_ GHERIAH. +_Vulture_, the, King's ship, under Warren. + +W + +Waite, Sir Nicholas, President of Surat; + compared with Governor Boone; + appointed Governor of Bombay. +Wake, Captain Thomas, commander of a pirate ship taken by Everyl + commission to Kidd, to apprehend. +Ward, Mr., Deputy Governor of Bombay, seized by Keigwin. +Warlee, fort at, destroyed by the Portuguese; + engagement with Angria's grabs off. +Warren, Commodore, commands a Royal squadron against the pirates; + suspects Kidd's intentions; + returns from his first cruise; + commands a squadron in 1699 to extirpate pirates; + reaches Tellicherry and dies. +_Warwick_, the, East Indiaman, attacked by Toolajee Angria's fleet. +Watson, Admiral, + commands a squadron in the attack on Gheriah; + his generosity to Olive; + his reception of Toolajee's friends; + demands Toolajee Angria from the Mahrattas. +Watson, gunner's mate, sent to relieve Mannajee Angria at Colaba. +Weekes, Commodore, commands the + _Fame_ and the _Britannia_ against Vingorla; + quarrels with Stanton; + deposed. +West Indies, character of settlers. +_Weymouth_, the, King's ship, sent in pursuit of pirates. +White, ----, pirate, + his headquarters at Madagascar. +White, Captain, commander of the _Hastings_, arrested by Littleton. +_William_, the, Bombay ship, taken by Toolajee Angria. +Williams, ----, pirate. +_Windsor_, the, King's ship, under Warren. +Wise, Lieutenant, directs the _Phram's_ guns; + drunkenness of. +Woodward, Captain, commands the landing-party at Gheriah; + commander of the _Revenge_; + his cowardice punished. +Wright, Captain, commands the _Caesar_, engages five pirate ships. +Wright, Captain of the _Quedan Merchant_. +Wyche, Mr., discharged the Company's service; + his escape connived at by Matthews. +Wyche, Mrs., taken to Surat by Matthews. + +X + +Xeraphims, value of. + +Y + +Yessajee Aligna + _See_ ANGRIA, YESSAJEE. +Yeswuntdroog, granted to Conajee Angria by treaty. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirates of Malabar, and An +Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago, by John Biddulph + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF MALABAR *** + +***** This file should be named 11399.txt or 11399.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/3/9/11399/ + +Produced by Allen Siddle and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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