Indian Antiquary Vol 49

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

Page 69

APRIL, 1920 ]
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
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65
Whilst lying to off this port, there was seen flying a pendant similar to that which the vessel had we burnt, hoisted only half mast up.51 May it not reasonably be supposed a kind of mourning for either the ship or her commander, as she must be a very great loss to them, being by far the finest ship in their service, new and mounting guns of 18, 12, 9, and 6-pounders, which are said to have been taken from the Saint Anne, Portuguese ship.
Many enquiries made from the prisoners respecting the strength of the enemy's fleet, which they informed consisted of the following vessels, not including the ship destroyed before mentioned, vizt.
The Fattee Jung [Fateh Jang) ..
Dat Paul [Datu Pal] .. .. Narror Paul (Narhar Pal]
.. • Naddow Paul (Nadav Pal] ..
Rampersad (Ramparshâd] Ketch Greyspursaud (Guruparshad) Ketch Shoespursaud (Shivparshad] Ketch
.. .. .. ..
.. of 38 guns. .. 26 do. .. 26 do. .. 32 do.
.. ..
with two other ketches, whose names they did not know, belonging to Rutnagurry [Ratnagiri)."
They also said that on seeing the (Bombay) Grab come up with them, they had determined to board her but were stopt therefrom by the quick fire kept up from that vessel, which prevented them from keeping on deck. Their sepoys (Maratha soldiers) went down the Main (hatch or hold) and the lascars sheltered themselves in the Forehold, now and then stealing up to fire a gun or discharge a matchlock.
We learn likewise that on finding themselves so much overmatched; the Moratta Commander resolved if possible to run his vessel on shore, as he observed to his own people, when by them desired to strike, that he could not think of so doing, as he would by such an action incur the displeasure of his superior officer, who would decapitate him if ever hereturned to Gheriah.
The Head Subedar53 (the prisoners informed us) left the ship. How many accompanied him we cannot learn, but from the size of the boat concluded but few could have been so fortunate, from whence it may be concluded that the major part of the number have perished. [ India Office Records, Home Series, Miscellaneous, Vol. 120, pp. 5–14.)
(To be continued.)
61 The flag at half-mast replaced the black flag as a sign of mourning as early at least as 1700, but certain countries kept to the old custom much later.
52 The Marathas, like the European pirates, were always much more strongly manned than the English ships of war, and generally, when unable to escape, tried to board in order to use their advantage of superior numbers. The warships, on the other hand, with better disciplined crows almost invariably tried to sink or disable them and so force the pirates to surrender without coming to close quarters.
53 Sabahdår, the commander of the Marktha seepoys.