'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎174r] (347/540)

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4. The report however to our great concern proved but too true, three of
the G alii vats sailed down the Gulph with the pyratical design^abovementioned, Admiral Hossei*
and under the 22nd June, off Oongoon, they made themselves masters of the
Britannia Captain Shaw, an English Snow from Bombay, laden with Sugar,
Iron, Spices etca. belonging to Mr. Shaw, and of a Country Ketch from Gogo,
under English Colours, laden with Cotton and Grutt, besides a Botella Ketch and
sundry boats from Muscat—or getting possession of them the Arabs endeavoured
to bring them up to Carrack, but a strong Northwester preventing them, they
carried the Vessels over to Bahreen, in the river of which they lay, until they
thought their way open to Bunderick they then left Bahreen and arrived
with their prizes at Bunderick the 27th July—the two Vessels are now there.
the Gogo one is lying in the river, but the Britannia stuck on the bar, and
before the tide lifted, a fresh wind came on, and has entirely ruined her not
above one half of the Britannia's Cargoe was carried to Bunderick the Arabs
having plundered and sold what they could of it on the Arab coast.
5. The news of the capture reached us the 9th July—We immediately
ordered the Resolution, Expedition and Dolphin down to Carrack and Bunde
rick, or to any other places where they might receive intelligence that the
Vessels were lying; which at this time it was said were both English property—
a letter was wrote by the Agent to Hossain Caun, demanding the release of
the Vessels with everything belonging to them, and Commodore Inn was
directed in case of refusal, not only to do his utmost to recover them, but to
take or destroy the Gallivats belonging to the pirates—But in case this was out
of his power, he was then directed to send the Expedition to Muscat in order to
give convoy fco such English Vessels for Bussora as might be lying there, and
to cruize himself off Carrack in the Resolution with the Dolphin, provided
the Vessels were at that Island, and he thought his doing so would be of any
Service in preventing their Cargoes being carried over to the Continent.
6. The Squadron sailed from hence the 12th July—it proceeded first to
C irrack, but finding no Vessels there. Commodore Inu sailed for Bunderick,
where he arrived the 14ith—he immediately sent on shore the Linguist with the
Agent's letter to Hossain Caun, and finding that he did not immediately
return, he sent the Expedition and Dolphin to Bushire to gain intelligence
relative to the Vessels; perceiving also that he could not get to the Gallivats or
to a Botella Ketch then in the river ; on the linguist's coming on board with
an unsatisfactory answer from Hossain Caun he returned to Bussora with
the Expedition and Dolphin.
7. Hossain Caun being at Carrack, the linguist on his arrival was carried
to his Vackeel, and from him to three of Carem Caun's people who were then at
Bunderick to take an account of the prizes: these demanded from the Linguist
the Agent's letter, and on his refusal to deliver it to any but Hossem Caun,
they threatened to take it by force ; they did not however think proper to put
their threats into execution—Hossain Caun the next morning arrived from
Carrack and received the letter—he at first talked of attacking the Expedition
and Dolphin had not the Resolution been with them, but in private with the
Linguist he spoke in a different manner ; he then threw the whole blame of
the late acts of Pyracy on Carem Caun, and desired the Linguist to assure the
.Agent, that for himself he wanted to be friends with the English, would enter
into an alliance, and if they would not to molest him, he said he would give them
up Carrack and remain under them there, throwing off all allegiance to Carim
Caun—these promises he repeated to the Linguist on a dispute happening