Page 46 - INDIANNAVYV1

14 HISTORY OB^ THE INDIAN NAVY.

At night a frigate, prepared as a fire ship, bore down on the
'Dragon,' which discovcM'ed her in time and sank her. I'^ighty
dead bodies floated to the shore ; of the English only two were
killed in the three fights. The four succeeding days passed
without action, in the repair of damages. Captain Best, not
doubting that the Portuguese would follow him, now re-
solved to try them in the open sea ; and, crossing the Gulf of
Cambay, anchored on the 9th at Madrasabad, which, at this
time, was invested by the Mogul army. From hence he con-
tinued cruising along the shores on each hand, in order to
learn the soundings, during which, having received several in-
vitations from the Mogul general, who sent guarantees of safe
conduct, Captain Best went ashore on the 21st, to his camp,
and was much pressed by him to assist in the siege with two
pieces of cannon ; this, however, he refused, notwithstanding
which presents were exchanged, and he was dismissed with
civility.
The next daj^ being the 22nd of November, the four Portu-
guese galleons again appeared, and at night anchored within gun-
shot. Early in the morning Captain Best stood towards them,
when they weighed and put before the wind ; both sides
opened fire, until, owing to their superior sailing qualities, the
Portuguese got out of range. The next morning, at sunrise,
Captain Best stood towards them again, and maintained the
fight until noon, when both sides retired. Best, then finding,
on examination, that both his ships had expended more than
half their store of ammunition, resolved to reserve the remain-
der for defence, and steered towards Damaun. The Portu-
guese followed, but did not venture near enough to renew
the fight.
On the 27th the two ships, no longer dogged by the Portu-
guese, anchored at Swally, and renewed the intercourse with
their factors at Surat, where the result of the recent fighting
had greatly raised the English reputation, even in the opinion
of their enemies.
The confirmation of the Articles* by Jehangire, which arrived
a few days after, were sent to Swally as a common letter of
business, but Captain Best, aware of the intended contempt
and its consequences, refused to receive it unless delivered with
* The principal clauses in this treaty were, " that the English should hare
fuU freedom of trade in his dominions, that their persons, while ashore, should
be protected from the Portuguese ; that their imports should pay only three and
a-half per cent, as customs ; that in cases of death no fees should be demanded,
and the goods of the deceased should be delivered up to the first English sliip
which miglit subsequently arrive ; that in cases of wrong, redress shoidd be
speedily obtained ; and that an English Ambassador should be received and per-
mitted to reside at the Mogul Court." According to Bruce, this important
treaty was finally delivered with much pomp to Captain Best at Swally, on the
Gth of February, 1613. Mill makes the date of the battle, November, 1611, and
of the treaty, 1612.