Indian Antiquary Vol 49

SR No.: 032541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

Page 102

98
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
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[JUNE, 1020
the specified number, together with the longboat, were on shore at Coba during the whole of the action."
Extract from the Log of the Brig Pallas. August 2, 1820. "At 2 a.m. sent on shore the longboat with one Sencunnie and four hands. At 5-30 Captain Roberts repaired on shore in the jolly-boat. At 7 a.m. saw from off deck 20 large Prows standing towards the brig, fired & gun and made a signal for the boats. At 7-30 from hearing tom-toms beating and loud shouting on board the Prows together with their standing on directly for the brig, knew them to be Pirates. Loosed and set sail. At 7-45 came on board the jolly-boat with Captain Roberts, the Prows being then within gunshot. Endeavoured to slip the cable but found that we had not time to make a buoy fast, the Prows being almost alongside. Cut the cable at the 90 fathoms mark for the safety of the vessel as well as the crew on board, and made all possible sail with a light breeze from the S.E., when the headmost Prow hoisted a black flag at her mast head and one upon her larboard quarter, a white flag with a black dagger and skull. Fired the starboard broadside, loaded with round and canister into the headmost boats, who instantly returned the fire, which was kept up on both sides till 9-30, when a moderate breeze sprung up from the S.W. Set the starboard studding sails and, the breeze freshening, by 10 was out of gunshot.
At 10-15 breeze decreasing and at 10-30 calm, hauled in the studding sails and up courses, the Prows coming up very fast. Shifted 2 guns to the aftermost side ports and at 10-45 the Prows being again within gunshot opened their fire, the Brig not having steerage way. They kept under our stern and, from the constant fire they kept up, cut our sails and standing and running rigging very much. Shifted 2 guns aft to the stern mooring ports and fired upon the nearest Prows, who then pulled up on our quarter, when we kept up a constant fire with the stern guns, two aftermost guns and musketry, the Prows being then within half pistol shot.
At 11 the whole of the Prows having come up, surrounded us completely, when our fire commenced on both sides, which was returned by the whole of them and lasted till 1-30 p.m., when the boat having a black flag hoisted, struck her colours and pulled from us. A breeze springing up at the same time from the W.S.W., made all possible sail, when the whole of the boats, after discharging their guns at us, lowered their sails, ceased firing, and pulled inshore.
In hauling our wind to weather Pallas Isle,68 gave them our starboard broadside and sunk the boat that had formerly the black flag flying. Perceived that the remaining 19 Prows had pulled and anchored close inshore and blockaded the mouth of Coba River: deemed it expedient for the safety of the vessel to proceed to the first port upon the coast, wherec y of the H.N.M. (Dutch) cruizers might be lying, and knowing that gun-boat No. 17, Captain Kolfe, was then lying at Linga Leat, 69 bore up and made all possible sail for the above port....
....Fired 28 broadsides during the action and found expended two hundred pounds of powder, two hundred and sixty round shot and forty cannister ditto and thirty-four bags of musket balls, each bag containing twenty-six, and two hundred and forty-two ball oartridges."
(Calcutta Journal, 18 November 1820.) · Evidently intended for the name of one of the many islota in the neighbourhood.-Ed. "That is, of the lingi or point of Liat Island, between Banks and Billiton.