The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago by John Biddulph
page 163 of 246 (66%)
page 163 of 246 (66%)
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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 |
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