escaped foundering in a violent hurricane between Ceylon and Madras, and she sustained so much damage as to render her unfit for the voyage:– her masts went over the sides although not a stitch of canvas was set; her guns were obliged to be thrown overboard; and it was only by the greatest exertions that she could be kept afloat till the gale broke, she having at one time no less than 8 feet water in the hold: fortunately the dreadful tempest subsided as suddenly as it came on, after raging only a few hours. Lieutenant Dobbie, on this occasion, lost every thing he possessed but the cloathes on his back, by a sea pooping the ship and completely clearing his cabin[1]!
In consequence of this disaster, the Centurion proceeded from Madras to Bombay, for the purpose of being docked and new masted. On her arrival there, the Governor requested Vice-Admiral Rainier to send a force against the northern pirates on the Guzzurat coast, who had lately committed great depredations on the trade of that part of India. Captain James Giles Vashon, of the Fox frigate, was accordingly sent on that service, having under his orders the Teignmouth and Ternate brigs, each mounting 18 guns, anr one armed pattamar. The brigs belonged to the East India Company, but were manned from the Arrogant 74, and commanded, the former by the acting Captain of that ship, and the latter by Lieutenant Dobbie.
On the 26th Feb. 1803, this little armament arrived off Baite Island, the principal rendezvous of the pirates. During that and the following day Captain Vashon and the subject of this memoir employed themselves sounding to find a passage into the harbour. On the 28th, the brigs and pattamar sailed in, Lieutenant Dobbie leading, and anchored within 400 yards of the fort, which they soon silenced, together with three other small batteries. This service being performed, a landing was effected under the personal directions of Captain Vashon, who succeeded in burning twenty-two armed pattamars which had been hauled on shore. At high water the next day seven more vessels of the same description and one brig were also
- ↑ Vice-Admiral Rainier was then on shore at Madras.
