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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 01
squadron stationed at Surat, in convoying the ships trading
with the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, and the ports on the
MaUibar coast ; these duties were most arduous and taxed their
limited resources to the utmost, but they were fulfilled with
ardour and success, and the Service gained the approval and
thanks of its masters. During the wars waged by this country
with European Powers—the Portuguese (before their separation
from Spain) the Dutch and the French—this Marino service
had often to struggle against superior maritime forces, but they
bore the flag of their country not without credit on many
occasions, and earned the respect alike of European rivals and
native enemies ; indeed, as we have shown, the grants of the
early privileges of the Company were mainly won by the prowess
of their seamen, who also stoutly defended their factories at
Surat against the aggressions of the Mahrattas, when the French
purchased exemption from their attacks. At the time of the
squabbles with rival companies and " interlopers," their ships
had been frequently employed in the less congenial task of
protecting the trade of the Company from loss, and seizing
"interloping" vessels,* and vrhen the depredations committed
b}'- the pirates assumed such alarming proportions, as seriously
to cripple the Company's trade, and to defy the utmost efforts
of a squadron of royal men-of-war to eradicate them, they
received King's commissions to seize and destroy these pests of
the sea.
Before entering upon a retrospect of the great struggle with
the pirate chief Angria, which forms so important a chaptv-r in
the " History of the Indian Navy," we will give an account,
derived from various sources, of the services of the ships of the
Bombay Marine in protecting the Company's factories on the
]\Ialabar coast.
That this was no nominal duty we may gather from Hamilton,
who was at Bombay at this time, and says in his " New Account
of the East Indies :"— " In the year 1715 the Arabian fleet con-
sisted of one ship of seventy-four guns, two of sixty, one of
fifty, and eighteen small ships from thirty-two to twelve guns
each, and some trankies or rowing vessels from four to eight
guns each, with which sea forces they kept all the sea coast
in awe, from Cape (Jomorin to the Red Sea."
The Court of Directors, being dissatisfied with the conduct of
the agents in charge of the Southern factories, ordered the
Bombay Government to send thither Mr. Stephen Strutt,
Deputy-Governor, with the necessary powers.f In his com-
mission, bearing date the 23rd of October, 1715, he is instructed
* Orme mentions, that in 1684, one of the Company's ships, on the arrival in
Bombay harbour of one of tliese " interlojiers," which attempted intercourse
with tlie shore, fired into her and drove lier out of the port.
t General letter, dated tho 27th of March, 171-i.