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806
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
DECEMBR, 1902.
by the Governor of Bassein who loaded them with Irons and threw them into Prison, that the Captain by bribing high, was released, but that he was left in that deplorable Situation that however he indneed hia Guard by a Bribe to take off his fetters - and hearing of the sailing of a small Vessel for the Andamans with an adventure of Provisions, he contrived to make his Escape in her, determined to give himself up as a Prisoner of War to the English Government and that on bis arriya! at Port Coruwallis he did not endeavour to conceal that he was a Frenchman, and tried as well as he could thro' the median or a vad Portugueze Interpreter to tell his Story as above relatedon the other hand the Gentlemen ut Port Cornwallis declare that he concealed his Name, Saying that be was an Italian, offering his Service in any Capacity that the Portugueze endeavoured to purchase twu Brass Guns; and Gun Powder from the Drued and offered money to the Europeans for any Plan of the Harbour, which they conceived could only be for Cimetere ; This gave them a Strong Suspicion of his Character, -- they therefore watched him narrowly and took every means to find out why he was which they soon did, and siso learning tire Circumstance of the French Vessels being at Bussein, they naturally conceived that he was come as a spy, with an intention of returning immediately to give information whether it was likely they could succeed in surprizing the place -- they cherefore very properly seized him and his Papers, and the Portugueze who appeared to be an Aocomplice and thinking that the information of a Privateer being fitting out at Bassein, of consequence for Government to be made atquainted with the Leeboard a very small and insecure Vessel was fitted out which Mr Leek the Chief Mate of the Druid with a Quarter Master of the same ship and five Lascara belongiag to the Settlement, navigated to Calcutta - In support of the justness of this opinion it is remarkable that the Leeboard was chased by this Grab, near the Cocos, which has an appearance buat she was Croizing there for the return of the small Pega Vessel with Cimetere after having mode his observations, on the other hand he declaros that this encounter was quite fortuitons, and that the Grab was then on her Voyage to the Mauritius, to Corroberate whicb'; there is amonget some letters taken from the Portuguize, one of which I subjoin a Copy) from 's Captain Tayler Commanding an English Ship at Bassein to Captain Turner, where it appears that the Grab was to sail for Mauritius early in February, - which was about the time the Leeboard and her fell in, - Cimetere also declares that she was only manned with seven Europeans and ten Lascara, was not armed and in every respect unfit to be employed on an enterprize of this nature and it also is to be observed that this letter dated so late as the 20th January, takes no notice of her being fitted out as a Privateer, which one would think was an intelligence, Captain Tayler woald have given. Bassein is not « Port either where a Vessel could be manned and equipped for the purposes of War: -- I think it is therefore most probable that the Vessel was really on her passage to the Mauritius
The small Pegu Vessel appears to be the property of a Mr Dawley an Englishman at Bassein whose instructions to the Master appears directing him to proceed to the Andamans and Nicobars, and from thance back to Pegu; & very common Voyage. The Master says she kails under English Colours, but as she can only have a Passport from the Pegu Government and is manned with Burmabs she must in fact be esteemed a Pegu Vessel,
As the Loeboard was built by Mr Blair of green wood and is now in a very bad state I do not think it would be safe at this Season to send her back to Port Cornwallis nor is her value near equivalent to the expence that it would occasion, I would therefore recommend that she should be delivered to the Master Attendant to be disposed of, if not wanted for any purposes of Government, Mr. Leek who undertook to conduct ber to Calcatta, and the Quarter Master of the Druid will expect and deserve some coinpensation from Government which probably the Master attendant will be beat able to fix.
Should the Governor General in Council think it proper to send back the Portnguize to his Vessel, and order her to be released, I beg leave to acquaint you that the Nautilus Brig will be ready to sail for the Andamane with Provisions and stores in a very few days; anu ww board of bet he may be sent.
