The Pirates of Malabar, and An Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago, page 79 by John Biddulph

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80

inst the French in the West Indies, and fell at the head of his men in the assault of Basseterre, St. Christopher's.--Dic. Nat. Bio.

[7] Hansard, 1754.

[8] The first General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in Madras was dated the 22nd November, 1772.

[9] The lari was the well-known hook money of the Persian Gulf. It was worth about sixpence.

CHAPTER VI

EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY

Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria occupies Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de Castro--Futile proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second landing--Manuel de Castro's treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour of two captains--Defeat--Attack abandoned--The St. George--The Phram--Manuel de Castro punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria makes overtures for peace--Boone outwitted.

The islet of Kennery, about ten miles from the mouth of the harbour, and three from the mainland, had long been a thorn in the side of Bombay trade. At the time of the first occupation of Bombay it was uninhabited. In 1679 it was suddenly occupied by Sivajee, who began to fortify it. The danger of this to Bombay was at once seen, and part of the garrison was sent in small vessels, afterwards reinforced by the Revenge, frigate, to intercept the communication between Kennery and the mainland. On the 18th October, the Mahratta fleet bore down and engaged. In half an hour the Dove, grab, hauled down its colours and was captured, and all the smaller vessels made sail for Bombay, leaving the Revenge, like its more famous namesake, alone amidst its foes. Fortunately, there were on board two sturdy Englishmen, Minchin, the Company's commodore, and Keigwin, the commander of the garrison. Undismayed by the odds against them, Minchin and Keigwin gallantly fought their ship; all attempts at bo

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