The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago by John Biddulph
page 133 of 246 (54%)
page 133 of 246 (54%)
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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, |
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