WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 105 



" Perhaps there are few coafts fo much broken into fmall 

 ** bays and harbours, and that at the fame time have fo ilraight 

 " a general outline. This multitude of fmall ports, uninter- 

 " rupted view along fhore, and elevated coafts, favourable to 

 " diftant vifion, have fitted this coaft for the feat of piracy ; and 

 " the alternate land and fea breezes that prevail during a great 

 " part of the year, oblige veflels to navigate very near the fliore. 

 " No wonder then that Pliny (liould notice them in his time as 

 " committing depredations on the Roman Eqft India trade ; and 

 " although a temporary check has been given them in the 

 " dsftruiftion of Angria's fleets, gcc. yet we may expert that 

 " they will continue the practice while commerce lafts. They 

 " are prote*51:ed by the fliallownefs of their ports, and the 

 " ftrength of the country within. As pirates, they have greater 

 " natural advantages than thofe of 5^/'/$'<^ry, who, being com- 

 " pelled to roam far from their coafts, have expenfive outfets; 

 " here the prizes come to their own doors, and the cruizers 

 " may lie fecure in port until the prey is difcovered." 



The velTels ufed by thefe pirates are of two kinds. Tiie Grabs. 

 larger are called Grabs : a few have three mafts, and carry 

 three hundred tons ; the leflef have only two mafts, and are of 

 the burden of a hundred and fifty tons. On the main deck, 

 under the fore-caftle, are mounted two cannoiis, nine or ten 

 pounders, pointing forwanls, and firing over the prow *, which 

 is conrtru6ted like that of a Mediterranean galley. The cannons 

 on the broadflde are from fix to nine pounders. 



* Orme, i. p. 409. 



Vol. I. P QaHl'vats 



