Indian Antiquary Vol 48

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

Page 209

NOVELL, 1919]
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
205
thest intermission, and there men loading there great guns without board (as is the custome of these West India gunner pyrates) were cut of as fast as they appeared to doe there duty, and this was the reason they fired but few great gunns when they bore down upon us, for which we are beholden unto our small fire armes, and indeed all our men in general behaived themselves like Englishmen and shewed much courage and bravery. But ou small armes (we mean your Honours' disciplined shouldiers and there officers, whose example they soe well imitated, we cannot forbeare to mention in particular), who fired soe nimbley and with soe much skill and caution of placeing there shott to purpose that wee must acknowledge as there due and meritt a large share of the glory and honour of this days action.
"Wee now brought too to see if wee could save our Barge which wee toed asterne full of water, but finding it not worth our while sent her adrift after the rest of the boats, and then continued our course with an easie saile imag[in]eing nothing else but they would have the other bout with us, but they were all bussie upon the Carine, likeing [? licking] them whole 55 as well as they could.
Finding wee were to have noe more of it, wee now began to examine into the damage already sustained by [from] them and found, as hath already been hinted, all our boats lost, 3006 cwt. of bread hove overboard to cleare our gunroome gunns (and wee had been happy and they unfortunate could wee have plaied our whole guan deck tyre, but being soe deep wee dartent open never a port between lock save our sterne-chase, which however did us no small kindness) a great sbott through our boltsprit, four of our main shrowes cut and much of our running rigging, our sailes full of holes, a shott or two throughour hull and many sticking in our sides.
They were eager to strike our ancient [ensign] with there gunns seeing they could not otherwayes, and made severall shott for that purpose, but wee, knowing there customs, had ordered it to be seized. [fastened] 56 to the head of the staffe, mistrusting [suspecting] should they by any meanes strike our colours it might by encourageing them add to there advantage. Wee found but one man killed by name Jno. Stiffe, a shouldier, and eight wounded, a wonderfull deliverance. Wee conclude the day with offerings of thanks and prays to Him who had so miraculously preserved us in the midst of soe great danger. This being a moderate account of the days actions, wee have nothing else worth your Honours notice save assurances of our continuall care and circumspection for the discharge of that great trust reposed in us, and wee hope this plaine account will be a lasting testimony and demonstration of the fidelity of
Your Honours
Most faithfull and obedient Servants.
"This is a copy of what wee have sent home to the Company the 3rd day of the following December by a Dutch vessell, &o., &c."
[India Office Records, O. C. 5537.
(To be continued.)
55 Like a wounded wild beast licking its hurts.
58 A little later we find determined commanders nailing the colours to the staff or mast. See below No. XIII.