342 Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

reafons why they were left to the enemy were as wonderful; but it was plain, thatthe old way of fifhing in troubled waters was known at Bombay, and the officer wasnever called to account for his overfight.

Sedee Yacoup finding no oppofition, fent a party of men towards Mahim, to plunderfhe poor peafants, and to take that fort, which he thought, might be deferted as thereft had been, and was not in the leaft out in his conjecture, for the garrifon had em-barked in boats, and came by fea to Bombay, before they faw an enemy. The Sedeetaking poffeffion of Mazagun, hoifted his flag there, and made it his head quarters.

The following day fome of the enemy appeared on Mazagun hills, which grievedour general’s righteous foul to fee infidels come fo near him in an hoftile manner.He called a minion of his own, one Captain Pean, who was no better foldier than him-felf, and ordered him to take two companies, each containing about feventy men, andmarch to thofe hills, and drive the enemy out of his fight. He ordered one Monro,who had been a foldier at Tangier, to be his lieutenant. In Tangier he had receiveda wound in his heel, that fpoiled his running, and accordingly they marched in goodorder within fliot of the enemy, who ffiewed their heads above the furface of the hill,but did not offer to advance or expofe their bodies. Several gentlemen volunteerstook their arms, and accompanied the little army.

The lieutenant advifed the captain to march up the hill in platoons, to feparate theenemy’s forces. The captain took it as an affront to be advifed, told his lieutenant,that, when he had the command in his own hands, he might ufe it as he thought fit,but, as it was intrufted to him, he would ufe it according to his own mind, and foordered his men to fpread as much as they could, and when they faw the enemy openin the plain, to difcharge all at once amongft them, which, he faid would terrify them.Monro oppofed his fcheme, and told him of the danger he would bring himfelf andthem into, if the enemy ffiould attack them whilft their arms were reloading; butnothing could diffuade him from his project, and fo commanded his men to fire ashe had directed. The Sedee’s being ten to one in numbers, and better runners thanour men, and better acquainted with clofe fighting with fword and target, took holdof the opportunity, and advanced with all their fpeed, which the captain perceiving,betook himfelf to 'his heels, and was the foremoft man to the Portugueze church,where he took courage to look behind him, to fee what was become of his men. PoorMonro thinking to ftop the enemy’s career by a part of the wing that he commanded,found himfelf deferted by all, but 13 or 14 ftout fellows, who where foon furrounded■by the enemy, and cut to pieces.

Pean had not ftop at the Portugueze church, had he not found a party of 1 ©omen that lay there ready to fupport or receive him, as his cafe ffiould require. Hewas a fellow as well made for running as any I ever faw, and was fo much in thegeneral’s favour, that he had not fo much as a reprimand for his cowardice and inif-behaviour. This relation I had from a gentleman volunteer, who kept always nearthe captain while he could keep pace with him.

When the general left Surat , there where feveral gentlemen in it, fome in the Com-pany’s fervice, and fome private perfons, who were all imprifoned, and put in irons,except Mr. Boucher and his dependents, who were protected by his Phirmaund.Thofe imprifoned were fcurvily ufed, being obliged to pafs through the ftreets withirons about their necks, for fpedacles to pleafe the mob. Captain Johnfon and Cap-tain Yeaman, though particular merchants, were obliged to ad; their parts in thetragi-comedy, and continue prifoners, where Captain Johnfon died ; but Captain Yeamann-Qt his liberty at the end of the war, which was about the beginning of June 1690.to ' I will