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MAY, 1926)
NOTES ON PIRACY IN EASTERN WATERS
95
391. On the 27th August 1691 all the English in Surat were placed in confinement by the Mughal Governor, owing to the capture of another (see para. 366 above) of Abdu'l Ghafür's ships (cargo valued at Rs. 9,00,000. Madras Cons., 18th Nov. 1691) on its return from Mocha to Surat, by pirates who had shown English, French and Dutch colours ; but it was believed that they were Danes and in November the English at Surat were released. This supposition was. I am afraid, incorrect. A certain Captain Adam Baldridge, who had killed & man in Jamaica and thought it best to absent himself for a while (Home Misc., XXXVI., p. 346) had settled in Madagascar, at St. Mary's, in January of this year and established a little fort as a centre of trade with the natives, slavers and pirates (Deposition, 5th May 1699 at New York before Lord Bellamont. Col. Off. Records, 5-1042, No. 30, ii; 384 ; 323 (2) No. 90). Ho tells us that on the 13th October there arrived at St. Mary's Captain George Raynor (Bachelor's Delight of Jamaica, 180 tons, 14 guns, 70 or 80 men), who had taken in the Red Sea a Moor ship go rich that each man received £1,100 as his share. Raynor returned to Carolina and paid the owners of the Bachelor's Delight £3,000 for the damage done to the vessel during his cruise.
392. Nor was Raynor the only English pirate in the Indian Seas in 1691, for in this year the English Chief at Calicut received the following two letters -
(1) "Sir, Though unknowne to each other, I presume to write to you, being country.
men, to lett you know that we designe to cleane our shipp att your Haven, and gett a little wood and water, as alsoe some provisions for refreshing our men, which wee designe honestly to pay for, likewise one hundred weight of chunam. I suppose I neede not acquaint you what wee are. You may easily conceive, as alsoe by the bearer who can more at large informe. Wee designe no harme to any of our country. It is the troublesomeness of the tymes74 att home that occasions us to come out on this Account. If you please to come on board of our shipp I then can with more freedom discourse then now either tyme or volume will admitt off. And upon the word of a souldier there shall not be anything offerred but what shall be civill, and you safe putt on shoare. Being all that offers from
Your unknowne friend. Oct. the 29th 1691." (Ind. Off. 0.0., 5775). (2) "Sir, I wrote to you by one of your white people that I designed to wood and water
and cleane our shipp and what other necessarys your place can afford for money. I now send this by the Master of the shipp, whom I intended to had kept till such tyme I had received your answer that I may know whither I may expect it or not, otherwise I must take itt. Send us a hogshead of Rack and Sugar equi volent, as also Dammar (resin) and Brimstone. Your speedy answer is desired by him who
is unknowne to continue your friend” (Ind. Off. 0. C., 5776). It is to be noticed that the writer of these letters thinks that the fact of his being a pirate may be overlooked on the ground that he intends no injury to his own countrymen and is prepared to pay cash for what he might take forcibly without payment. Another proof of the presence of Anglo-American pirates in these waters in 1691 is that in 1692 fifteen pirates arrived in Pennsylvania from the Red Sea and shared £1,000 per man. Two of them, George Paris and William Orr, are described as Masters and so, presumably, had been in command of piratical vessels. (Cal., S.P. Col. 1696, No. 149, x).
393. The freedom of movement granted to the pirates in America appears suspicious, but it must be remembered that it was very difficult for even honest Colonial Governors to distinguish between pirates and genuine traders. Not only were there Interlopers and Pri. vateers, but there were also at this time the Permission ships which were allowed by the
74 In the English Records there are a few references to cases of piracy by ships cruiling under commissions from King James II granted after he had fled from England. Possibly one of themfound ite way to India.
