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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. C7 ;
than half-an-lionr one of the grabs, called the ' Dove,' was
surrounded and obliged to strike, and the other only avoided this
danger by keeping aloof, while the five trading vessels set sail
in retreat; so that the ' Revenge' was left alone in the midst of
the enemy. She was commanded by Captain Minohin, having
also on board Captain Keigwin, the commander of the garrison,
both men of conspicuous gallantry. After a determined and
desperate figlit they beat o3' the enemy's galivats that attempted
to board, and sunk five of them ; on which the whole fleet, fifty
vessels, fled before this single ship, and were pursued into
shoal water to the bar of Negotan. Several of their galivats,
with recruits and stores, succeeded in getting into Kenery during
the fight. Two days later the enemy's fleet came out again
from Negotan, but, when the English advanced to meet them,
returned into the river.
At this time five thousand of Sevajee's troops, in expectation
of better success from their fleet, came down from Rairee to
Gallian, and demanded, as once before, permission of the Portu-
guese Government at Bassein, to pass at Tannah, in order
to cross at Mahini into Bombay; but they were again refused.
Nevertheless, their continuance at Gallian created much
solicitude lest the Portuguese should change their mind, or they
should succeed in procuring boats and passing down from
Gallian in the night, while so large a portion of the garrison
was absent in the fleet. Notwithstanding the increase of the
English vessels watching Kenery, it still continued impossible
to prevent the enemy's boats from reaching it in the night
thus, twelve landed supplies on the 25th, and five a few nights
after ; and, although not so readily, all got away in safety.
Cannon were now mounted on the island, and fired at the
English vessels, but they inflicted little loss ; while several of
the enemy's galivats were driven on shore near Negotan, at
different times, by the Company's armed trading vessels. The
' Hunter,' which had come from Surat, and brouglit the
President's guard of thirty-six Europeans to reinforce l>ombay,
was now sent to reinforce the fleet, which then quitted their
station near Kenery. and anchored to block up the river, called
by Orme, Negotan ; but, as they could not do this effectually,
owing to its having two outlets, the Commodore proposed to
enter, burn the enemy's fleet, and ravage the country. The
Council at Bombay, however, and, still more, the Presidency at
Surat, were unwilling to risk provoking Sevajee's resentment.
The Mogul Government at Surat were as much alarmed as
either the English or Portuguese, at Sevajee's attempts to gain
the command of the sea: for, hitherto, they had only dreaded
him on shore. The Seedee, having obtained from the Govern-
ment at Surat the necessary supplies, for the first time without
mdge or
rri regret, proceeded to Bombay with his fieet of two
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