Storia do Mogor 338.15.3

338.15.3

In the month of September, 1704, there arrived at the said port (Surat) three ships from Mecca very richly freighted. In one of them was a personage held by King Aurangzeb to be a great saint. He had gone from India to Mecca to make his XL. IMÃRI, or Closed Elephant Litter. To face page 62. pilgrimage, and on the return voyage he and others were captured by the Dutch. Without ill-treating them, the captors sent a message to the governor of Surat calling on him to repay the money he had taken from them by force. On being paid, they would without fail restore the ships. If not, they must levy what had been taken from them, and they threatened to take other measures. The governor reported this to the court. The English and the Dutch who were prisoners in their houses, having first consulted together and come to a resolve, issued from prison with some arms. They killed the sentinels and guards, and making an effort, united and released the English general, who had been so long a prisoner. Full of heart, they went bravely marching on, killing all who came against them; and leaving by the gate on the river bank, they embarked in vessels which had arrived for the purpose during the night, through a signal they had given. After bombarding the city they set sail, disregarding the shots fired from the castle, and without receiving any damage they left the river, and going on board ship, they were free.