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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 95
the shore, that there was great difficulty in landing- in the teeth
of an enemy, who had ten times our numbers, so that the first
attempt at landing was unsuccessful by our men's neglect and
disobedience to the orders they had received, and about fourscore
of our bravest fellows were cut off, and some taken prisoners
;
but, about six weeks after, we had some revenge on the enemy
in an engagement on the side of a hill among thick bushes.
The enemy, being above our men, began their fire at break of
day, to beat our men from a spring of fresh water close to the sea
;
but our small vessels lying near the shore to cover about four
hundred men, that lay to guard the water, fired with so good
success, that, in an hour's time, they were obliged to run, and
leave near two hundred dead in the woods; and our men
;,
pursuing them in their flight, did some execution on them. We
were in daily expectation of more forces, and did not offer the
enemy battle, because of their numbers and our want of
experience, but we harassed the enemies in the night in burning
villages, for there was little to plunder ; and at sea we took some
vessels laden with salt going to the enemy, and three ships of
the Rajah coming from Arabia with horses, to the number (jf
one hundred and forty, which created us much trouble to find
provender and water for them. However, when our rein-
forcement came, we could muster, in our fleet, of seamen and
soldiers, two thousand two hundred and fifty men. The enemy
raised some batteries on the strand to hinder our landing, and we
took two of the prizes, and made them shot proof above water,
cind laid them ashore at high water to batter their batteries, and
keep the enemy at a distance with their great shot, till our men
were landed and drawn up. Each of our floating batteries were
covered with a frigate of twenty or twenty-four guns. When
all was ready, we landed one thousand two hundred and fifty
men without the least hindrance from the enemy, for they were
preparing to flee to the woods ; but our fresh-water land officers
were so long a drawing up of their men in a confounded iiollow
square, that the enemy took courage, and, with horse and foot,
came running towards our men, firing, and wounding some as
they marched in their ranks, which our Commandant seeing,
pulled off his red coat and vanished. Some other as valiant
captains as he took example and left their posts, and then the
soldiers followed, and threw down their arms. We lost in this
skirmish about two hinidred and fifty, but our floating batteries
would not permit the enemy to pursue far, nor durst they stay
to gather up our scattered arms, so about eighty sailors
went on the field of battle, and brought on board of
the Commodore about two hundred stand of arms, most of
them loaded. However, the enemy had some loss too, for we
found eleven horses dead, and saw maiiy fires along the foot of
the hills to burn their dead men in. The Kajah had, by this