Indian Antiquary Vol 48

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

Page 189

OCTOBER, 1919 ]
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
185
20th day of October (1684) designed for Suratt. Upon the 28th day wee were sett upon by two Sanganyan pyratts, the one a shipp, the other a very large grabb, 36 which wee engaged for about foure houres, but at length, wee having destroyed many of them, they left our shipp. wee sustaining noe damage but the loss of one Englishman.27 But it pleased God that a very sad accident happened, for our powder took fyre and the Quarter-Deck was blown up, which falling downe, part of it broake Mr. Pettit's head and bruised his right shoulder very much and had undoubtedly prest him to death, but that the timber was supported by a great gunn, by which Mr. Pettit stood, as also he was most lamentably burnt with the powder on the left side of his face and neck and left legg and foot, which was a great torment to him, but with much adoo bee gott out with seaven more Englishmen, myself being one. Butt the shipp falling on fyre and having noe hopes to quench itt, wee betook ourselves to our boates. But the Mate, one Mr. Samuel Harris, gott into the Pinnis with three more Englishmen and most unworthily rann away with her and left us, by reason of which wee were forst to gett into the long boate, which had neither saile nor oares, by reason of which wee became a prey to the Enemye, who, seeing our distress, turned head upon us and took us prisoners; and as soone as wee came aboard of them they stript Mr. Pettit of his uper garment onely, which was a great favour, none else experiencing the same, after which hee was put asterne of their grabb in our boate, where wee continued about three houres, at the end of which time they took Mr. Pettit and myself aboard, leaving the other two in the boate, towing astearne all night with nothing for their covering but their shirts and those almost burnt off their backes, by means of which, it being very could in the night and their burnes almost intollerable, the one dyed the next day, the other two dayes after.
For Mr. Pettit's entertainment, it was as followeth : As soone as wee entered wee were put downe into their cookroome where wee were forst to sett almost one upon another, there being seaven lassoarrs with us, and could take noe rest. In the morning wee understood the pyratts held a consultation what to do with us, and at length itt was determined that Mr. Pettit, myself and two Christian lasscarrs should bee put into the pro [? prow or native boat so called) and there to have our throats cutt and so heaved overboard. Accordingly wee were put there. Over the head the sea which came washing us (sic), which was much troublesome to Mr. Pettit's legg. Here wee continued about three houres, but Mr. Pettit, being very uneasy, sent for one of the officers and desired a better place and hee would reward him with five rupees, which as soone as they found there was money coming they granted, which I believe was one cause of our preservation, for after that wee understood they examined the Moore lasscarre very strictly what itt was, and by two Banyans who was with us they understood the certainty of what hee (Mr. Pettit ] was; 80 from thence wee were removed into their Kernoe [ 1 canoe or boat] upon dack among their sailes, where wee bad not continued but & very short time when the soulders upon deck began to bee outrageous and were about to cut us in pieces, but the officers stopt them, upon which Mr. Pettit proffered five rupees more for another place to lye in, which they granted likewise and removed us to the Quarter-Deck, where we had a Topgallant saile allowed us for a bed and covering ; but the next morning the Pylate of the shipp would not suffer us to continue there any longer, upon which Mr. Pettit promised him fifty rupees more for & good lodging where hee might be settled, which they granted also, but did not perform to expectacon, for wee were put down into their hold upon the rock stones which was all
* Mahr. gurab, from Ar. ghorab, a galley. See Yule, Habeon-Jobson, ..v. Grab.-ED. of He does not include those killed when the ship was blown up after the pirates had been ropulsed.