MOCHA. . 83 
i requested Captain Vashon would qMer Captain Keys to give 
Mr. Salt a passage, in order to deliver safely my dispatches to Mr. 
Duncan, and forward those for his Excellency the Governor Ge- 
neral. With this he complied, and I immediately began writing. 
A singular circumstance occurred that evening. The Italian 
renegado came to Mr. Pringle, and earnestly requested that he 
would try to induce the two last boys not to stay at the Dola's, as 
their situation would be wretched. This he would have never 
dared to do without the Dola's consent; and it.seems an additional 
proof of the ideal entertained, that religion had nothing to dowith 
their receiving deserters. These boys are too young to be of any 
use, and he would be glad not to pay them the four dollars each 
per month for doing nothing. The Dola seemed considerably 
alarmed that day: during our dinner all the guns on the batteries were 
shotted. A portion of liis fears may be attributed to the Fox's hav- 
ing moved this morning much closer to the northern fort. 
July 10. — One of Captain Yashon's Maltese marines deserted to 
the Dola. He was perfectly drunk, and refused to return with the 
officer. Captain Vashon applied to Mr. Pringle, as Resident, for his 
opinion respecting the effect it might have on the India Company's 
trade, if he should deem it eligible to support the dignity of the Bri- 
tish flag, by recurring to force to obtain the whole of the renegadocs. 
The reply was indefinite: that he thought after the ships were 
loaded it would be of little consequence, so far as the coffee trade 
went, as that only amounted to 1700 and odd bales per annum at 
an average of the last tgi years, and it might be procured elsewhere ; 
but that a very large import of India goods took place annually ; 
and how far that might be injured he could not venture to say. 
VOL 11. M 
