'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎241] (282/562)

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and tie engaged that each fliould have the fame' pay as the other. This
excufe however did not fatisfy the remaining Arahs, who rofe tumultuoufly,
and infifted on our refcuing their companions. We were obliged therefore
with arms to purfue the Chocarda's boat; who immediately on difcovering
that we were Frengees, or Franks, that is Europeans, difmiffed our people,
took his own again, and proceeded on very quietly.
We took the opportunity of waiting for the coming up of the Sandal, to
prefent our Trackers with two or three -ftinking Sahle-fijh. They inftantk
made a fire, and broiled them upon the coals : as foon as this was done,
they feparated themfelves, and divided the fifli into two diftinct lots ; each
party appointed a dire<5tor, and he, after having made the feveral portions
as equal as pofTible, ordered every man to take his Chare. When they had eaten
as much as they could, and drank plentifully of the water of the Euphrates,
they all feated themfelves on the ground in a circk, and joyouQy began to
clap their hands and fing. Prefently, one of them got up and danced for
awhile, then defired the favour of us to lend him a drawn fword, and hav
ing obtained one, he danced again, and dextroufly flourifhed it, whilft the
others clapped and fung. A fecond now joined him, with another fword,
and both together difplayed their adivity and addrefs. The entertainment
at length ended with a dance of fix, which was not much unlike our Eng-
iijh hayes. We appeared, as we really were, pleafed with their mirth.
When all was over, they drew nigh to us, kifled our lleeves, and afked
for a Buxie, or prefent: we tendered them a dram, which they rejeded
with vifible contempt j we then gave a Rupee among them, with which
they were much pleafed, and very thankful. W r e took this opportunity to
liint to them, that as we were fuch good mafters, and had given them fo
much viduals and money too, we expected that they would work well, and
.deferve our future favour, which they promifed very readily.
A little before eight this evening, the luggage"-boat joined us, and
our Chocarda and Mr. Hemet defired us, that for the next two or three
days, we would keep nearer to them, becaufe they looked upon this as
the moft dangerous part of the whole country, adding, that an hour or two
before, they had been vifited by about twenty armed Arabs, who tho* they
made no hoftile attempt, yet had a very fufpicious appearance. On this
intelligence we refolved that the luggage-boat fhould keep a head, and that
we would follow her clofely, keeping always a ftrifl guard, with our fwivel
guns loaded, matches lighted, fmall arms at hand, and in order; a regular
third watch was ordered alfo to be kept. Meffieurs Alms, Doidge, and Py*
were appointed commanding officers: Mr. Pigot, Jenkins, M-Intojh, and
other fervants, to watch •, I am excufed on account of my being indifpofed.
We underftood from Mr. Hemet, who fpake with the Chocarda before-men
tioned, pafling from Baghdad to BaJJora, that the Caravan would not fet
out from the firft of thefe places for Aleppo 'till the tenth day of the Ra-
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