'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎21] (40/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
21
6 Elphinstone' will return immediately for more of the prizes
captured by the pirates, not one half having yet been given
up.
a Had they boarded us, all must have been put to death, or
^ boiled in oil.' I am not surprised at their assurance, for it is
supposed that upwards (1 shall speak within bounds) of six
hundred men were in the vessels, and what could one hundred
and fifty do against them ? They said the evening before the
attack, that after they had taken us, the 6 Elphinstone' should
be manned by them, and turn pirate. The broadsides struck
them with terror. They pulled and sailed for their lives, as no
quarter would have been shown by either party. The Sheikh,
a young man of six-and-twenty, is severely wounded in two
places. Five of the pirate boats are still out, I suspect afraid
of returning to their town, thinking they may be murdered,
and they can be but sunk by us. I trust they will give up
quietly."*
# The following is the official report of the action by Captain Sawyer :—
" At daylight of the 16th of April, observed three buggalows, one batil, and
three buggarahs, to the N.W., standing S.W. Turned the hands out, and made
all possible sail to come up. At six a.m. got them broad off the lee bow, and
found we gained on them. Beat to action and prepared to engage. At seven
o'clock fired the larboard bow gun, and hoisted our colours. Discovered the
headmost buggalow Large trading vessel. to be completely crowded with men, and having in tow a
large one. She fired a gun, hoisted a flag, and dropped it three times, apparently
in contempt and defiance. The whole then closed, and formed, and we fired a shot,
which fell rather short. The leading baggalow immediately returned it, and the
shot was seen to take the water about midway. The whole then struck their
colours, and one of the buggarahs lowered her sail, and pulled towards us,
evidently with the intention of attracting our attention. On minutely observing
her, found she was full of men. There was now no doubt of this being the
piratical fleet belonging to Abu Thubi, and the Arab pilot confidently assured us
they were. On closing, he recognised the vessels, and declared the leading one to
contain the Sultan bin Shakboot. On finding we were gaining, he cast off the
tow, and they lowered the sails, and closed within pistol-shot, with the other boats
formed on their beam for battle. We immediately stood between them, having
just room to do so without touching, having the Sheikh's buggalow Large trading vessel. on the star
board, and the tow on the larboard side. In passing between them we poured
into each a broadside, round and grape, the guns nearly touching. The crew of
the Sheikh's vessel cheered, crying "Alia Akbar al Kaffir." Some were seen in
the act of throwing grapnels into us, but were immediately shot. About ninety
or a hundred men rushed towards the head, with their long spears, which touched
our quarter, for the purpose of boarding us, in which they failed, having met
with a most destructive fire from small arms. There must have been at least two
hundred men in this vessel, and they presented a most formidable phalanx, with
their towering spears. Very serious damage must have been sustained by these
vessels, as large splinters were seen flying in all directions. Immediately after
passing, about ninety men jumped overboard from the tow, and were picked up
by the Sheikh's vessel, who hoisted her sail, and stood to the northward, accom
panied by one of the batils, which afterwards parted. Endeavoured to close with
him, but he outsailed us. Shifted the bow gun to the bridle port, in the hope of
being able to cripple him, but without effect, the shot falling short. The
remainder of the boats hauled up for the abandoned buggalow Large trading vessel. , and stripped her
of her sail, and some other small articles, and then stood to the south-west. At
nine o'clock, observed the chase heaving overboard some articles which we could
not make out. The wind decreasing, plied his sweeps, by which he gained.