nado-Shells; all the small
Arms, with 50 new ones in Readiness. My Ship being too deep to get the
Gun-room Ports open, as the Gunner inform'd me, the Ship _sending_, and
the Sea washing above the Tops of the Ports; I got those Guns into the
Great Cabin; Quarter-Bills over the Guns; the Rewards and
Close-quarters, _&c._ at the Mizen-mast, Shot-lockers and Shot in their
proper Station; Pluggs for Shot-holes; and every thing that I could
think of: and gave particular Orders to my Gunner, Carpenter, and
Boatswain, to have every thing in their way, in Readiness, the two lower
Yards flung with the Top-chains. Not being easy in my Mind about these
Gun-room Stern-Ports, I sent Mr. _Rogers_, it being smooth Water, to
open one of the Gun-room Stern-Ports, to see, if we could, on Occasion,
get Guns out there, but he brought me Word it could not be done with
Safety, the Ship being so deep. A few Days before I made the Land, the
Winds used to vere and haul, that Offing in an Hour I could hardly up
from E. N. E. to S. E. but the Winds chiefly kept to the Northward. I
was very desirous to make the Land, not knowing how far the Southwest
Currents might set me to the Westward. At noon, being _Dec._ 12, I made
the Land of _Goa_, in the Latitude of 15 Degrees North. My Chief Mate
wanted me to go into _Goa_, but I was resolved not, but to make the best
of my Way for _Bombay_. The next Morning, having a fine Six-Knot-Gale,
about Nine o' Clock Mr. _Rogers_ told me, he saw _Gereah_, and desired
me to haul further off Shore, and said, if _Angria_ and his Grabbs
should see us in his River, he would send them out after us. I asked
him, if his Grabbs came out of Sight of Land. He told me they were
afraid to do that, fearing the _Bombay_ Vessels should get between them
and the Shore, and keep them out of their Ports. To prevent running into
Danger, I kept out of Sight of Land: I thought it better to do so, since
it would make but a few Days Difference in getting at _Bombay_; making
no Doubt I should get there the last of the Month, as doubtless we
should, if we had not met with our sad Misfortune.

When it was too late, I was acquainted by those taken in the _Severn_,
that Mr. _Rogers_ inform'd me wrong; for _Angria_ sometimes keeps the
Shore aboard, and sometimes goes directly out to Sea 60 Leagues off. It
was too late to reflect; neither could I blame myself, knowing I had
done every thing to the best of my Judgment: But had I been better
inform