186 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
which was to carry forty guns. In obedience to the 
determination of the Bombay government. Commodore 
James, then commander of the British marine force 
in India, sailed for the pirate’s retreat with only 
four ships, — the Protector of forty-four guns, the 
Swallow of sixteen, and two bomb-vessels, — being the 
whole force then available. 
The morning after the English Commodore had set 
sail, he fell in with seven of Angria’s grabs and eleven 
gallivats, and gave them chase. The day following he 
was joined by the Mahratta fleet, consisting likewise 
of seven grabs and eleven gallivats, which united with 
him against the common enemy. These, however, 
shortly quitted the commodore, and anchored in Com- 
mon) Bay, where their crews landed and trifled away 
thirty hours ; being prohibited by their religion from 
eating on board their ships, and being also enjoined a 
number of ablutions, and certain religious rites to be 
performed on shore. 
Next day, while the Mahratta crews were on land 
performing their customary devotions. Commodore 
James received intelligence that the enemy’s fleet was 
anchored in the harbour of Severndroog. After some 
delay, the English commander collected his dilatory 
allies, and proceeded forthwith to the pirate’s strong- 
hold. As soon as Angria’s admiral saw them ap- 
proaching in such force, he ordered that his ships 
should slip their cables and run out to sea, the 
gallivats towing the larger vessels. This gave them a 
manifest advantage over our ships, as there was al- 
most a dead calm, and they could consequently make 
but little way. The chase continued the whole 
