The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 245 pages of information about The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago.

The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 245 pages of information about The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago.

In January, 1740, a gallant action was fought by the Harrington, Captain Jenkins.  The Harrington was returning from a voyage to China, and, in coming up the coast, had joined company with the Pulteney, Ceres, and Halifax.  Between Tellicherry and Bombay they were attacked by fifteen sail of Angria’s fleet.  Four grabs ran alongside the Harrington, but were received with such a well-directed fire that they dropped astern.  The four Company’s ships then formed line abreast, and were attacked from astern by Angria’s ships.  The brunt of the fight fell on the Harrington.  Jenkins had trained his crew, and was prepared for this method of attack.  After five hours of heavy firing the Angrian ships drew off, showing confusion and loss.  At daylight the next morning they attacked again.  The Ceres had fallen to leeward, and three grabs attacked her, while three more bore down on the Harrington to windward.  Disregarding his own attackers, Jenkins bore down on the assailants of the Ceres, and drove them off; then, hauling his wind, he awaited the attack of the others.  The three leeward grabs were towed up within range, and for the next two or three hours the Harrington engaged all six, almost single-handed.  The wind had fallen; the Ceres and Halifax were out of gunshot; the Pulteney alone was able to give assistance at long range.  So well served were the Harrington’s guns that she inflicted more damage than she received, and, by ten o’clock, four of the grabs gave up the contest and were towed away to windward.  The other two grabs continued the action for some time, till they also were towed out of action.  The two squadrons, just out of gunshot of each other, consulted among themselves.  Jenkins found he had only seven rounds left for his big guns, and his consorts, which were more lightly armed, were in little better plight to renew the combat.  Still, he put a good face on it, showing no unwillingness to continue the fight; and, on a breeze springing up, the Angrians drew off, leaving the East Indiamen to pursue their voyage.  Only one man on board the Harrington was wounded, though the ship was much knocked about.  Jenkins was much commended for his skill and courage, and two years later we find him acting as Commodore of the Company’s fleet at Bombay.

Three weeks later, Sumbhajee’s fleet of five grabs and some gallivats appeared off Bombay, and cruised off the mouth of the harbour, as if inviting attack.  Commodore Langworth, with the Pulteney, Trial, Neptune’s Prize_, a bombketch, and five of the largest gallivats, was sent out.  The Angrian fleet stood away to the southward, followed by Langworth.  The demonstration was a trick to draw off the Bombay fighting ships.  When they were well out of the way, Sumbhajee made a sudden attack on Mannajee’s territories with two thousand men and forty or fifty gallivats.  Sumbhajee had gained

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The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.