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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 87

discretion, we should have no quarters. I had two of my seamen
that shot as well with a fuzee as any ever I saw ; for I have
seen them at sea, for diversion, knock down a single sea-fowl
with a singjle bullet, as they were flying round our ship. I
ordered one to knock down the herald, which he instantly did,
by a bullet through his head. Another came presently after,
with the same threatenings, and met with the same treatment.
The next that came I ordered his horse to be shot in the
head, to try if we could take his rider, that we might learn
somewhat of the enemy's strength. The horse was killed as
soon as he appeared, and some of onr horse got the rider, and
hewed him down, instead of bringing him to us. Our guard of
horse continually kept in the rear, but seeing what we had done
in the front, took courage, and getting in amongst the bushes,
met with some that had a design to attack our flank, and soon
defeated them, which put the robbers in such fear, that they
betook themselves to flight, and our horse pursuing put many to
the sword, so when they returned from the pursuit, we went on
in our journey, and travelling four miles, came to a mud wall
fort, called Dungbarn, a proper English name for such a forti-
fication. It is built midway between Tatta and Larribundar,
to secure the caffllla from being set upon in the night, who all
lodge within it, men and beasts promiscuously, which makes it
so nasty, that the English appellation is rightly bestowed on it.
There are about twenty little cottages built close to it, who
breed fowls, goats and sheep, to sell to passengers. And these
are all the houses to be seen in the way between Tatta and
Larribundar. The news of a victory that I had over three
Sanganian pirates at sea, on my voyage from ]\Ialabar to
Larribundar, had reached Tatta, before the second skirmish by
land, so that when I came to Tatta, we were received with
acclamations from the populace, and the better sort visited us,
with presents of sweetmeats and fruits, ascribing the safe
arrival of the caffilla wholly to our courage and conduct."'
During the latter years of the 17th, and early portion of the
18th. centuries, so great was the insecurity of the island ofBom bay,
which was constantly menaced with invasion by the Seedees and
Mahrattas, that the Governor was obliged to withttraw seamen
Cfrora the Company's trading ships to man the little fleet of the
Bombay Marine, M'hich now formed the chief security of the
island. Indeed, at this time, the safety of the infant settlement
was threatened, not only by the Indian Powers, but by the
Portuguese, who were obstructing the transport of provisions
required by the garrison and inhabitants, and giving secret
assistance to the Mahrattas, at the very time when the Mogul's
army had taken several of the Hindoo forts, and was besieging
Singhur, within five days' march of I^ombay. On one occasion
a Portuguese ship was firing guns ott' the harbour of Bombay,