Page 522

An.1691

Pallacat^[1], and Ponticheri^[2].

meet 2 English Ships more, bound home from the Indies^[3]: for the War with the French having been proclaimed at Fort St. George^[4], a little before Cap- tain Heath came from thence, he was willing to have company home, if he could.

A little before this War was proclaimed, there was an Engagement in the Road of Fort St. George^[4] between some French Men of War, and some Dutch and English Ships at anchor in the Road: which, because there is such a plausible story made of it in Monsieur Duquefne's late Voyage to the East Indies^[3], I shall give a short account of, as I had it particu- larly related to me by the Gunners Mate of Capt. Heath's Ship, a very sensible Man, and several o- thers of his Men, who were in the Action. The Dutch have a Fort on the Coast of Coromandel^[5], called Pallacat^[1], about 20 leagues to the Northward of Fort St. George^[4]. Upon some occasion or other the Dutch sent some Ships thither to fetch away their effects, and transport them to Batavia^[6]. Acts of Hostility were already begun between the French and Dutch ; and the French had at this time a Squa- dron newly arrived in India^[7], and lying at Ponticheri^[2], a French Fort on the same Coast, Southward of Fort St. George^[4]. The Dutch in returning to Batavia^[6], were obliged to coast it along by Fort St. George^[4] and Ponticheri^[2], for the sake of the Wind: but when they came near this last, they saw the French Men of War lying at anchor there; and should they have proceeded along the shore, or stood out to Sea, expected to be pursued by them. They there- fore turn'd back again; for though their Ships were of a pretty good force, yet were they unfit for Fight, as having great Loads of Goods, and many Passengers, Women and Children, on board: so they put in at Fort St. George^[4], and desiring the Go- vernours Protection, had leave to anchor in the Road, and to send their Goods and useless People ashore.