Indian Antiquary Vol 49

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

Page 14

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1920
other 20 guns, with orders to take him wherever they met him. They imagined to find him in the Road, but he saved then the labour of coming so far and met them half way between here and Goa. He presently perceived what they were and pretended to run from them. The smallest ship, sailing best. followed him with all the sail they could make. The biggest ship lagged astern, and as soon as Kidd perceived he had got the least a good distance from the biggest, he tacked and made to him. When they came near, the Portuguese very valiantly fired into him as fast as they were able, but Kidd's hardy rogues soorr gave them enough of it and miserably mauled them before the great ship could come to their help, but as soon as she came near Kidd set his sails and run from them.93 The smallest ship was very much damaged and abundance of men wounded and killed, and so much Beybled that she was forced to make her way to Goa again.
The greatest ship came hither to convoy a small ship of theirs that wintered here belonging.to the Portuguese Company, and came to an anchor in the Road the 18th instant evening where they had soon information of an Arab ship that was in the River. They presently filled three boats full of soldiers and came into the River to destroy the Arab ship. About 3 in the morning began the fight in sight of our Factory. They took the Arabs unawares, most of the men being ashore, not above ten Arabs and fifteen Lascars on board and them all sleeping unprepared, but, instead of boarding her, they kept at a small distance firing their muskets and bocomortesses and flinging granadoes. The people aboard soon waked and began to make resistance, firing some great guns and small shot at them. This continued above two hours till by an accident, nobody knows how, the powder in one of the Portuguese biggest boats took fire, blew up and burnt most of their people, sunk their boat. Their own granadoes, muskets and bocomorterses all went off, wounded and killed several mon, upon which they forbore further attempt and was glad to withdraw. About 14 men were killed outright and as many more cruelly burnt. Upon this the country people were all up in arms, so that with one trouble following the heel of another all business has been hitherto impeded. I am &c., &c., THOMAS PATTLE." Extract of a letter from the Bombay Council to the Surat Council, dated 30 September 1697.
"Kidd carries a very different command from what other pirates used to do, his Commission having heretofore procured respect and awe, and this being added to his own strength, being a very lusty man, fighting with his men on any little occasion, often calling for his pistols and threatening any one that durst speak of anything contrary to his mind and to knock out their brains, causes them to dread him and with all are very desirous to put off their yoke."
Extract of a letter from the Bombay Council to the Surat Council, dated 14 April 1698.
"Kidd has taken the Quedah Merchant on which was laden, as is reported, & rich cargo of about 200000 rupees by the Armenians and a Moorman.”
[ India Office Records, Factory Records-Surat, Vol. 13.)
(To be continued.).
43 Kidd had 10 men wounded in this fight. State Trials, XIV, 166.
Agun with a mouth or open-mouthed face sculptured at the muzzle. Lat. bueca, It. bocca, Port. boos: hence, buocamortis, death.dealing face.-ED.