Page 189 - Gulf Precis (I-A)_Neat

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of settling there again would be totally destroyed, and we ourselves should
completely accomplish what the Dutch have been hitherto so strenuously building a defenai-
endeavouriug at in order to engross tho trade of that Port intirely to them- 0 0U10’
selves, which will certainly be the case provided wo arc not before hand with
them in building a dofenccable houso for the Hon’ble Company’s Servants
that may be appointed to reside there.
In rogard to Shaik fladjar at Cougoon, many of the Freighters as well as Wood’s objection
tho Commander and officers of tho Pastcrenia signed an agreement with him peditio^asriMt*1"
to sharo oqually all that might be saved, so that what he has done bears in CongU11,
6ome degree an appearance of Justice, though I can’t say that this is my
Chiefost objection; but the village lies so straggling, and being extended along
the Coast among Date Gardens as far in length as between Menelham’s
Point and Mallabar Hill, our Cannonading it from the ships can give the
inhabitants but very little annoyance, it also ly’s so near the mountains, that
in case of landing, the Arabs can easily secure all their valurable Effects in
less than half an hour’s time, and after destroying a number of innocent
People at the hazard of lossing many of our own, we should be obliged to
return without any profitable satisfaction, leaving the Arabs so exasperated
against us as to prove of very unhappy consequence to those of our nation who
hereafter may chance to fall into their hands, these are the Considerations
that have prevented me from commencing Hostilities against the Arabs of
Bunderreok and Congoon, and I have no more to say on this head, than to
hope they may meet with your W ® &c_* aijprobation.
I intended to have dispatched both these vessels the 8*i instant in com- Expulsion of tho
pany with the Dragon, and it is with great ooncorn that I now relate to your^^g.*1011*3*11’
W° &o± the unfortunate occasion of my detaining them here so long;
The 6‘* instant between 10 and 11 at night Meer Manna sent a guard of
Arab Soldiers under Shaik Channon to turn me and all the Europeans off shore
immediately, who insisted very abruptly on our leaving the place in less than
half an hour, without giving any other reasons than that the Meer suspected
us to be his Enemies, and although Mr. George Purnell who spoke the Arab
Language assisted me in persuading them we were Friends, yet they would not
bo prevailed on to let us remain uutill morning. I then offered Shaik Channon
Forty Rupees if he would send for Hodjee Hossain Saffary the Meambashy of
the Tribe a sedate well disposed man but he assured me the Meer’s orders were
so positive that he and all the Soldiers that came with him run a very great
hazard in Parleying with us so long and if we did not depart directly he must
oblige us to do it by foroe, whereupon he ordered his People to surround
the Gateway, their matches being ready lighted and then he asked again in a
peremptory manner whether we would go or not, when it was thought
imprudent to argue with them any longer and we went off directly on board
the Dragon, leaving every thing behind us but the cloaths on our backs, as
soon as we were gone they disarmed the Topasses, took possession of my effects
and carryed off 27 Carraboys of Wine, threatening to kill my servant Mahomet
if he did not discover my Treasure, after midnight the Meer sent another
officer named Bossbooz Zachley, who opened my great Cloaths Chest with the
Key of the Gate, he also broke the look of my writing Desk from whence he
stole a Bag containing 700 Rupees in silver, and besides all my stock of Barley,
Hay, Firewood, Charcoal, &ci, he Carried away three months’ provision that
2578 F. D.