190 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
children rushed from their houses, ran to the farther 
side of the island, and embarked in boats, in hopes of 
reaching the main land in safety ; but the Swallow, of 
sixteen guns, intercepted their flight, and made the 
greater part of them prisoners. Some few escaped, 
though only to carry terror among their friends. 
The British commander now directed all his fire 
against Fort Goa, which was surrendered after a stub- 
born resistance ; but immediately upon suspension of 
the fire from the commodore’s ship, the governor 
crossed the strait, with a few chosen men, to the island 
of Severndroog, which had been entirely evacuated 
upon the blowing up of their second and chief maga- 
zine, that laid the town in ruins. 
Though the island had suffered extremely from the 
fire of the British ship and the blowing up of the ma- 
gazines, the natural defences were still remarkably 
strong, and the governor determined to hold out until 
he should receive succours, which he hourly expected. 
The commodore was now in possession of the three 
forts upon the main land, whilst the enemy retained 
only possession of that upon the island : against this 
latter the cannonading was continued, and a summons 
sent to the governor to surrender. He, however, re- 
fusing to capitulate, a number of seamen were land- 
ed, under cover of the fire from our ships and the 
batteries on shore, who, resolutely assaulting the gates 
with their axes, cut open the gate of the sallyport, 
and procured an entrance with very. little loss. 
Thus easily was possession obtained of a place 
which had bid defiance to all the governments of 
Europe and Asia for nearly half a century. The ships 
