FORT GERIAH. 
1 93 
ing and repairing, Commodore James was despatched 
with a small fleet to sound the depths of the water at 
the entrance of the harbour of Fort Geriah, the capital 
of Angria’s dominions. This service he performed; 
and having reconnoitred the fort, returned to Bom- 
bay with so favourable an account of the practica- 
bility of an attack, that this was finally determined 
on. Meanwhile Admiral Watson despatched a fri- 
gate and sloop, and several of the Company’s armed 
vessels, with orders to cruise off Fort Geriah. These 
were shortly after joined by Commodore James in 
the Protector, accompanied by the Guardian frigate. 
He remained on this station about a fortnight, until 
the admiral arrived and joined the two squadrons, 
on the 11th of February 1806. 
Upon the arrival of the English fleet, Angria became 
alarmed : he had never for a moment imagined that 
so large a force could be collected against him. See- 
ing, therefore, the formidable array which they pre- 
sented, when united with the ships and armed vessels 
which had preceded them, he was so overcome by his 
apprehensions, that, with a pusillanimity hitherto sup- 
posed to have been foreign to his nature, he instantly 
abandoned the fort. This precipitation destroyed the 
confidence of his adherents. The Mahrattas, hoping 
to take advantage of his terrors, — for he had made 
overtures of peace to them apart from their allies, — 
sought to possess themselves of his wealth before the 
British admiral should be apprised of the real posture 
of affairs. Seizing the promising opportunity while 
Angria was labouring under anxious perturbation of 
mind, they insisted upon his sending an order to 
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