We
Learnt From These Men That Sir Thomas Roe, The Lord Ambassador To The
Mogul, Was Gone For England In The Ann Royal, Having Left The Country
With Great Honour And Reputation To Himself, And Much Advantage Of The
Honourable Company.
Bodman, who was the cause of setting the Black Lion
on fire, was hanged on the 22d of May, and that same night we set sail.
[Footnote 266: This unexplained term probably means to make peace. - E.]
The 30th May, Sir Thomas Roe stood in with his fleet under the island,
while we held on our course for Masulipatam, having the Unicorn, Gift,
and Bee in our company. The 30th June we anchored in nine fathoms, about
two leagues from the coast of Coromandel, where we rode four days,
being hardly able to visit each other in all that time, owing to W.S.W.
winds, and a continual current setting to E.N.E. The surf also broke so
lofty on the beach, that we durst not attempt landing with any of our
boats. We were at length able to communicate together, when Mr Roberts,
the master of the Unicorn, gave us notice of a bay on this coast in the
latitude of 17 deg. N. about five leagues to the eastwards of Nassapore,
[Narsipore] where there was good riding during the westerly monsoon.
This was exactly what I wanted, having no hope to recover Masulipatam
against wind and current. We accordingly set sail on the 4th, in the
morning, and stood to the eastwards, the coast trending W.S.W. and
E.N.E. And having run about nine leagues by estimation, with the wind
and current, we found the land to turn away N. and N. by W.[267] giving
me hopes of a good road. At this point of land there cometh put a great
river,[268] by the stream of which there has been raised a reef or
shoal, extending half a mile into the sea from the point, and
occasioning a smoother road. Bringing that sand to bear S.S.W. there is
good and safe anchorage in six and a half fathoms, two miles from the
land. Two leagues north from this point, which, for distinction, I name
Cape Comfort, there issues forth another branch of the same river, by
which the headland is made an island, and off the mouth of this river
there is likewise a long spit of sand, which is dry at low water.
[Footnote 267: Obviously rounding Cape Godawery, in lat. 16 deg. 83' N.]
[Footnote 268: One of the two main branches forming the Delta of the
Godawery. - E.]
The 4th of July I sent the boat belonging to the Unicorn into the second
branch of the river, which we called Mullet Sound, to see if they could
discover any town where a guide might be procured, to conduct Robert
Pickering and William Clarke to Masulipatam, by whom we proposed sending
a letter to Mr Methwould. Our boat returned on the morning of the 6th,
reporting that a guide had been procured at a little village three
leagues up the river. They likewise brought aboard twenty hens, which
they had bought for two shillings. The 8th, the barge returned from
Captain Ball with seventy-one sheep and goats, and thirty-nine hens,
having left Captain Ball and others at a town called Narsapela, six
leagues up in the country. The 12th, Mr Methwould came from Masulipatam
in one of the country boats, and brought with him twenty hogs, two large
jars of arrack, six goats, and two baskets of bread. He also brought us
news of a Dutch ship richly laden, then in the port of Masulipatam, and
ready to depart for Holland.
In the evening of the 26th, I went in the barge to seek out some bar or
creek by which we might reach Coringa, the principal town in these parts
near the sea side. That same night, I got over the bar of Coringa, which
place I came to about two miles up the river, and was well received by
the principal persons of the place, who were very ready to trade with
us, and sent notice that same night of my arrival to the governor of
Vingeron. Next morning, having rowed about three miles up the main
river, and two miles up a little creek, we had sight of Vingeron, about
twelve miles off.[269] I now landed, and walked towards Vingeron; but,
before I reached it, the governor sent his horse for me, with all the
music the place afforded; and among these instruments there were two
great brass horns instead of trumpets. The governor received me very
kindly, but more kindly my present, which consisted of two pieces of
China velvet, and six pieces of China taffeta. Our compliments ended. I
took leave of him, when he caused me to be conveyed in his own palanquin
to a house near at hand, which he had appointed for my lodging.
[Footnote 269: The town of Rajahmundry exactly answers to these
circumstances, in reference to Coringa, and is in fact the head town of
the province in which Coringa is situated. - E.]
I returned on board the James on the 1st of August, when I learnt, to my
sorrow, that the shallop belonging to the Unicorn had been cast away
three days before, near Ponara, on which occasion Mr Harris was drowned,
together with two of the coxwain's crew, and a black; Captain Spaulding,
Mr Yard, and others, escaping with much difficulty. In the morning of
the 2d, the governor of Vingeron came aboard to see our ship, expecting
some great present; on which occasion I gave him a piece of China
damask, and four pieces of taffeta, which gave him more delight than the
sight of a thousand ships, and he departed when he found he got nothing
more by begging. The 23d I caused all the men to come on board,
intending to proceed for Masulipatam, and this evening we got on board
150 goats, to serve us for fresh provisions at sea.
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