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were not ablo to accomplish tlio design, the boats grounding and the Qaniva ts
being too far hauled upon the beach to attempt it with any possibility o f
success and wore obliged to return.
At tho same time the Meer had formed a scheme upon us which we are
sorry to inform you ho was too fortunate in. The Eaglo, Wolf and Storeship
being in want water, on tho 27!rh ordered them to Congo, as wo wore afraid if we
sent tho storeship to Bushire she would not be ablo to join us in a long time, we
gave tho necessary orders to the Commander not to land if they saw any people
upon the island, they therefore before they sent their casks on slioro examined
it closely and found no body upon it; but for fear of a surprize we ordered on
shore, one Subedar, and fifty Seapovs to cover the people employed in watering
with orders to them to embark every night at sun sot, which was duely
oomplied with. Yesterday Captains Nelson and Biggs wont on shore walked
all over it, and saw not the least appearance of people, but it seems in the
night tho Meer had sent over forty or fifty men in small boats who hid them­
selves in trenches in the sand; they this morning suffered the waterers,
and the guard of seapoys to land, and about an hour and half afterwards the
Enemy all at once rushed out from their place of concealment, which we are
sorry to inform you threw the Guard of Seapoys in confusion and most of them
threw their arms from them and run into the water—the few that stood to their
arms were all out to pieces, to the number of twelve and six wounded—
Mr Field having but few Lascars had sent four of his Europeans to fill his
casks, two of them were cut to pieces, and the other two are taken prisoners.
As soon as we observed their fire on shore we embarked all the troops,
into boats from the Revenge and Bombay Grab to their assistance, and the
Eagle and Wolf kept a constant fire upon the enemy, upon which they
embarked in some small boats which we imagine had landed them in the
night made the Bombay Grab, and Fancy Signal to endeavour to out them
off, before they reached Carrack, but there being little or no wind they were
not able to effect it.
We finding it unnecessary for the troops to land; all the people being
got on board but them that was killed ordered them to their respective ships.
By this Gentlemen you will see that we have a bold and daring enemy to do
with, who will take all manner of advantages, and whose troops are excellently
disciplined. He has since our first arrival here made many great improve-
ments in his fortifications, which greatly surprizes them that are judges of it,
and so far are his people from being disaffected to him that they seem quite
the contrary.
We had letters from the Gentlemen at Bushire this day; they inclosed
copy of a letter from Mr- 8kipp dated the 19*1 instant, by which he in a
manner tells us that the Caun will find some new excuse for not sending his
troops agreeable to his promises; if so we can only regret our Honorable
Employers state of affairs in this Gulph, as we have by no manner of means a
sufficient number to make the landing by ourselves especially as the heats are
now set in.
As the water is extremely bad at Congo and the Meer no more to be trusted,
we are obliged to dispatch the Fancy, Wolf and Storeship to Bushire for
water, firewood and the wounded Seapoys, the Eaglo we dispatch with the
Albion over Bussora bar to fill up her water and then to join us, if she does
not receive other orders from you, as we have ordered Captain W. Menlie
to send up his boat to acquaint you of his being in the river.

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