Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 165

SEPT.. 1919 j
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
161
Adventurers to the rich plunder offered by Eastern Trade. The fight was a fairly equal one, though the pirates were the more strongly manned. This will be found to be the case in almost all cases of fights with pirates, because it was necessary for them to make up by superiority of numbers what they lacked in discipline, seamanship and gunnery.
"This year [i.e., 1519] there was performed an exploit near Ceuta, inconsiderable with regard to the number of men, but great and illustrious because of the intrepidity with which it was executed. There were two pirates, inhabitants of India and brothers, who with a couple of large ships had for four years greatly infested the streights of Gibraltar and the neighbouring coasts of Africa. Gomez Sylvio Vasconcelo was at this time Governor of Ceuta. One of the pirates lay in ambush amongst the opposite islands, whilst the other kept out at sea, and gave notice to his brother, when there was occasion for his assistance. Vasconcelo, having received intelligence of this, immediately fitted out two small brigantines. One he gave to Andrew Vasconcelo and the other to Michael Sylvio, his two sons. Ceuta stards on a narrow ridge of land which runs out into the sea, so that the city has two harbours, one on the eastern and the other on the western side. The brigantines being fitted out in the western haven, the Governor ordered his sons to doable the point and try to surprize the enemy. Michael, the youngest, according to his instructions, was the first to make the attack. Both were fired with the utmost zeal to execute their father's orders, yet both deviated from his council. The younger sailed on in the utmost hurry and did not choose to wait till his brother came up; the elder, on the other hand, was far from making that expedition which the occasion required. Michael in the most undaunted manner set upon the enemy. They, being more numerous, their ship large, their commanders of no less experience than boldness, and all their men well skilled in sea-affairs, looked with contempt on the brigantine. There ensued a desperate engagement, but our people being at last filled with the utmost consternation, hid themselves in the hold. The Governor at this time rode along the coast with a party of horse to observe the fight, and when he saw Michael in such distress he called aloud and maue signals to his other son to make all haste to the assistance of his brother. But before Andrew could come up, Michael had driven the enemy from his vessel and disengaged her from the pirate. Having roused his men from their lurking holes, he reproached them for their cowardice, and at length inspired them with courage. He then made another attack on the enemy, and, the two ships having grappled each other, the fight was renewed with redoubled fury. The pilot of the brigantine was killed, and his son, together with another relation, suffered also the same fate. Pedro Vieira was likewise desperately wounded. Four of the enemy jumped upon the forecastle of the Portuguese vessel. Michael, however, catching hold of a spear, threw it amongst them with great force. Luckily it struck one of the pirate brothers in the throat and killed him instantly. The other three still remained, but Michael, taking up another spear, attacked and drove them overboard, and again disentangled himself from the enemy's ship. Then, running towards the stern to consult the pilot what was proper to be done, he found him and several others dead, and when he looked about for Vieira, a most horrible spectacle presented itself to his eyes. This unhappy man was lying in the utmost agony with his entrails hanging out of his belly. As he was a man of age and experience, Michael asked his advice in the present juncture. Go,' answered Vieira, 'drive those cowards from their holes who have
1 At this time ships carried Pilots into strange seas, either as having been there before, or as expert advisers to the Commander.
2 Probably the Master or Michael's Lieutenant.