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in our absence, wo do not think your effeot9 will run tko least risque. We
have concealed from the poople however our intention of going as far as
■ Bombay, for whilst they wore ignorant when we shall return they will he more
on their guard. Your Honours may he assured wo have maturely considered
this stop, and that our regard to your interest, as well as to our own fortunes,
which on account Oulstauding debt9 etc. aro loft in a much more precarious
situation than your affairs, would prevent our adopting it without we wore
convinced of the absoluto necessity of it.”*

CXCVII.

To
The Honourable tbo Court of Directors for affairs of tbe Unitod Company of
Merchants of England trading tu the East Indies.
Honotjkable Gentlemen,
Latter from Agreeable to what wo wrote you under the 23rd April, we depended
T h°e from Bassora on that date, we are very sorry to acquaint yottr Honours that in
Iontr Mdh Gwen proceeding down the river, the Tygar which was ahead of the Drake about 3
•Sp* tobJanderikian or ^ m^es» was boarded by 4 of the Burderic Galliwats under the 26th and
notwithstanding the Drake’s utmost endeavours to overtake them, she was
towed off by them, and by another Gallivat which afterwards joined them they
had permitted the Tyger to pass them without any show of molestation.
Lieutenant 8cott who commanded her imagined therefore they were Muscat
Vessels, and was not convinced of his mistake untill the Gallivat9 people poured
in in great numbers upon hh decks. Lieutenant Scott finding this, that his
Lascars had all jumped overboard, and having only 11 Europeans to oppose
to the numbers which attacked him, be also jumped overboard and together
with 2 other Europeans and two Lascars belonging to the Tyger was taken up
by the Drake. Messeurs Beaumont and Green were taken with the Tyger.
To have proceeded to Bunderick with the hopes of retaking the Tyger
would have been fruitless as the Gallivats had got the start of the Drake of
several hours owing to her draft of water, not permitting her to pass the bar
untill the next morning, we were sensible also that it would have been equally
fruitless to proceed there to demand her restitution, and that of the two
Gentlemen, we therefore thought it best to prosecute our Voyage with the
utmost expedition, lest from the lateness of the Season tbe Drake should lose
her passage to Bombay.
The Swallow Sloop of War brought to Bussora under the 7th April 65
Bales of Piece Goods on freight from Surat, and as Sir John Olerke the Com­
mander would not on account the plague permittof any boats coming on board
to land them, he resolved to carry them back to India ; as we had at that time

• Io conformity with the above resolution the Agent in Council, consisting of the Gentlemen mentioned in
* 1. Ur. Moors. the margin,9 loft Bussora on tie same day, the four former
5. Mr. Ltwia. in tho Hon'ble Company’s Vessel " Drake, and the two
3. Mr. W. D. Lttoacbl. latter in the “Tiger The Drake arrived in the Bombay
4 Mr. 0. Abrthtn.
6. Mr. 0«»3moat. Harbour, on the 14th of the following month, when she
«. Mr. Green. was ordered to proceed to Butcher's Island to perform
quarantine; Messrs. Moore, I^wis, Lstouche, and Abraham accor dingfy remained on Butchcr’e Island until tbo
17th June when they were allowed to land in Bombay. , „ , , *
The “Tiger " however, having on board Messrs. Beaumont and Groon, was captured off the Islan
Ormos in tbe roriian Gulf on the 26th April, by some Bnndoriok Gallivats, and both of those Gentlemen were
taken prisoners to Shirauz, whore after being kept for some time, thov wero removed to Bushire ; Mr. re
was released on tbo 2nd September 1774, and reached Bussora on the 19th of tho same month. Mr. Bcaumoni
WM detuned a prisoner at Bushire until tbe 22ud April 1776, when ho was reloasod after u captivity oi nearly
two years. . ....
In conformity with instructions from Government Mr. Mooro loft Bombay on the 28th October 1773
ob his return to Bussora.