'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎132] (173/590)

132
HISTORY Ol 1 THE INDIAN NAVY.
Commodore James 200,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. if he would immediately
proceed against Dabul and some others of the enemy's forts, a
little to the southward of that place. But the south-west
monsoon, which, on this coast, sometimes sets in at the end of
April, was approaching, and the Commodore, having already
exceeded his orders, declined to comply with the request without
permission from Bombay; however, in order to obtain it as
expeditiously as possible, be sailed thither in the 4 Protector,'
but found the Governor and Council, notwithstanding the unex
pected successes of their arms, still animated by timid counsels,
and so solicitous for the fate of one of their bomb-ketches, a
heavy flat-bottomed boat, incapable of keeping the sea in
tempestuous weather, that they ordered him to bring back the
fleet into harbour without delay. On the llth, according to the
terms of the treaty. Commodore James punctually delivered the
forts of Severndroog to the Mahrattas, striking the English flag,
which he had hitherto caused to be hoisted in them; and, on
the 15th, set sail for Bombay, the Mahratta fleet at the same
tinle returning to Choul.
A Royal squadron, under the command of Admiral Watson,
arrived in Bombay in the November following, and, the fair season
having now returned, the Governor and the Peishwa renewed their
intention of attacking Angria, the Admiral readily consenting
to assist with the force under his command. It was deter
mined, if practicable, to strike at once at the root of Angria's
power by attacking Gheria,* the capital of his dominions, and
the principal harbour and arsenal of his Marine force; "but,"
says Orme, " it was long since any Englishman had seen this
place, that, trusting to the report of the Natives, they believed
it to be as strong as Gibraltar, and, like that, situated on a
mountain inaccessible from the sea."
Commodore James was taken into consultation as to the best
means to be adopted to reduce Gheria, and the Governor
appointed a Council, consisting of Captain Hough, Superin
tendent of the Marine, Admiral Watson, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Clive, who had just opportunely arrived from England with a
strong detachment of troops, to conclude all necessary arrange
ments and agreements.
* The famous fortress of Gheria is situated on a promontory of rocky land
about a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad, lying about a mile from the
entrance of a large harbour, which forms the mouth of a river descending from
the Balegat mountains. The promontory, on the sides contiguous to the water,
is of rock, about fifty feet high, on which are built the fortifications. These are a
double wall with round towers, the inward wall rising several feet above the out
ward. The neck of land by which the promontory joins the continent, is a narrow
sand, beyond which, where the ground begins to expand itself, is built a large
open town or jpettah. The river washes the north side of the town, and of tne
neck of land, w^here are the docks in which the grabs were built and repaired, and
from which they were launched into the river ; ten of them, amongst which was
that taken from the Company, were now lying in the river, all moored together,
almost opposite to the docks.—Orme's " History of India."