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66 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.

harbour. At the end of August, Sevajee sent three hundred
soldiers and as many labourers, with arms and materials from
the main, to the island, and, inniiediatel}^ began to raise breast-
works at the landing places. The Bombay Council apprehended
the consequences of this occupation, and recollected a pretension
to the island. This, however, was denied by the Portuguese at
Bassein, who were equally alarmed, and now asserted an ancient
right of their own ; they having formerly attempted to settle
on Kenery, which they quitted on finding that the wells only
supplied salt water.
Owing to the cold fit of econora}^ the Bombay Government
were without any galivats, which are vessels constructed for
quick sailing, and, therefore, fitted three trading boats, which
they manned with forty Europeans of the garrison, with orders
to prevent the landing of any men from Sevajee's vessels, and to
summon his admiral to evacuate the island. But this oflScer,
contrasting the peremptoriness of the demand with the weakness
of the armament sent to enforce it, answered that he never
should quit his station until recalled by his master. After
cruising ten days about the island, hard weather drove the
trading vessels back to Bombay, whence they proceeded again to
the island, reinforced by the ' Revenge,' carrying sixteen guns.
The next day, which was the 19th of September, a lieutenant
commanding one of these small craft, who was induced to land
with his men, was treacherously killed, together with six other
P^uropeans, the rest being made prisoners, and the vessel being
hauled up on the shore. This took place, says Orme, " before
any assistance could be given by the other vessels working
against the wind and tide, which the enemy's boats, by their
construction and oars, were much better able to surmount ; and
for several nights following passed to and from the island
without being interrupted. The officers on the service imputed
their ineffectual watch to the fewness of their vessels, and the
whole of Sevajee's armada were assembling at Choul under the
command of his admiral, Dowlet Khan." Upon this the Govern-
ment of Bombay increased their force by hiring the vessels they
wanted, and, on the 6th of October, the fleet off Kenery consisted
of the 'Revenge,' as flagship, two grabs, and five armed
trading vessels, only eight sail in all. On board of these were
two hundred European soldiers, which amounted to two-thirds
of the garrison of Bombay, besides the seamen forming the
crews. On the l<)th of October Dowlet Khan's fleet anchored
close to the shore a little to the north of Choul, in sight of
Kenery, to which a number of his galivats passed over in the
ensuing night, and, on the next, returned to the main. At day-
break on the 18th their whole fleet bore down, firing from their
bows, and advancing so fast that the English vessels, at anchor
near the island, had scarcely time to get under weigh ; in less