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