Kathiawad Pirates Kachchh Pirates Malabar Pirates S
Table 1: Seafaring Community Indulging in Plundering
Kathiawad Pirates Kachchh Pirates Malabar Pirates S. No. Community Place Occupation Community Place Occupation Community Place Occupation Saltwater Bharuch Malabar, Zamorin’s Fishermen 1. MACHHI & - - - KUNJALI Kotte & naval & Sailors Valsad Cochin soldiers
KHARWA Veraval, Saltwater KHARWA Mandvi Saltwater Alibag, Fishermen Diu Fishermen Byet, Fishermen Mangaon & 2. Rajput, Cambay, & Sailors Rajput, KHARVI Dwarka & & Sailors & Sailors Koli Surat, Lascar, Koli & Porbandar Lascar Mahad & Muslim Hansot ply-boat Muslim Freshwater All over Fishermen 3. BHOI - Fishermen - - - BHOI Malabar & Sailors & Sailors coast Byet, Diu, Saltwater Mahad Fishermen Dwarka, Fishermen 4. BHADELA BHADELA - Lascar GABIT and & Sailors Jaffrabad, & Sailors Ratnagiri Jamnagar Lascar Saltwater Byet, Fishermen, Halar Fishermen 5. VAGHER VAGHER Dwarka, Pirates & MAPPILA Kerala Seafarers Navanagar & Sailors Okhamandal Freebooter Lascar Nawanagar, Saltwater 6. SANGHAR Khambhaliya Fishermen SANGHAR - - MALABARI Malabar Sailors Porbandar. & Sailors
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Table 1: Seafaring Community Indulging in Plundering
Saltwater Bombay, Fishermen Fishermen, ANGRIAS Karwar, 7. MIANA Malia MIANA Vavaniya Sailors & Sailors Pirates (MARATHA) Gheria, Lascar Kolaba Saltwater 8. DHEBRA Surat Fishermen ------& Sailors Kolaba, Byet, Fishermen Fishermen Rahtad, Dwarka, and All over the Sailors & KOLI & 9. KOLI & Sailors KOLI Mangaon Porbandar coast Fishermen Sailors Lascar Bassein
& Cheul Diu, KOLI Fishermen 10. Bhavnagar, ------KHARWA & Sailors Talaja
KASBATI Gogha, Surat Fishermen 11. ------KHARWA & Bharuch & Sailors
Fishermen 12. MANEKS Okhamandal ------& Sailors Mangrol, KABAVA- Fishermen 13. Porbandar ------LIYA & Sailors & Veraval
Source: James Campbell , Hindu and Tribes of Gujarat, Vol. II, 1988 & C. A. Kincaid The Outlaws of Kathiawad and Other Studies, 1905
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean
Sr. Piracy Category Place Name of Ship Description Source No. Time Pirate Victim (in circa) 1. 1311 Malabar Pirate Quilon Not known Not known Ibn Battuta was Hussain, Mahdi, The Rehla of Ibn (Name not (Malabar) travelling from Quilon Battuta (India, Maldives Islands and known) to Fandarayna (Kollam) Ceylon), Baroda (1976), p. 192 but his ship was wrecked near Quilon and all the goods were plundered 2. 1344. Gujarati Pirate Returning Not known Indigenous Ibn Battuta’s Saletore, R.N., Indian Pirates: From (Name not towards encounters with the Earliest Times to the Present Day, known) Patan indigenous pirates who Delhi, 1978, p. 33 plundered vessels while returning to Fattan (Patan) 3. 1536 Ali Abrahem Cotta/Kotte Not known Not known Travel to Colombo and Obeyesekere, Donald, Outlines of (Malabar Pirate) plundered Cotta/Kotte Ceylon History, The Times of Ceylon, Colombo, 1911, p. 212 4. 1606 Malabar Pirate Not Known Not known Not known Malabar Pirate Saletore, R.N., Indian Pirates: From (Name not plundered 60 or more the Earliest Times to the Present Day, known) Portuguese ships Delhi, 1978, p. 170 5. 1607 Malabar Pirate Hormuz Not known Not known Malabar Pirate captured Saletore, R.N., Indian Pirates: From (Name not a ship which belonged the Earliest Times to the Present Day, known) to Hormuz Delhi, 1978, p. 170
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 6. 1635 William Cobbe Near the Roebuck Mahmudi & Two Junks Mahmudi Rawlinson, H.G., British Beginnings (English Pirate) mouth of Taufiqui of Diu & Taufiqui of in Western India 1579-1657, the Aden Mirza Mahmud a Surat Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1921, p. 101 (Red Sea) merchant were plundered by William Cobbe of Royal Navy near Aden 7. 1640 Malabar Pirate Not known Not known Hope The East India Rawlinson, H.G., British Beginnings (Name not Company’s ship Hope in Western India 1579-1657, the known) was plundered by the Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1921, p. 109 Malabar Pirate 8. 1683 Arab Pirate Persian Gulf Not known President Arab Pirate of Muscat Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Name not plundered President in Malabar and an Englishwoman in known) the Persian Gulf India Two Hundred Years Ago, London, 1907, pp. 72-73 9. 1684 Sanganian pirate Arabian Sea Not known Josiah Sangainian Pirate Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Ketch) attacked Josiah and Malabar and an Englishwoman in blew India Two Hundred Years Ago, London, 1907, pp.73-74 10. 1685 Sanganian Pirate Arabian Sea Not known Phoenix Sanganian Pirate Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Name not (British attacked Pheonix, an Malabar and an Englishwoman in known) Warship) English warship but India Two Hundred Years Ago, Phoenix fight back and London, 1907, p. 74 sunk pirate ship and killed 41 caught and 107 were killed
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 11. 1688 Byet Pirate Arms of Not known Thomas Byet Pirate attack Biddulph, John, The Pirates of Arabian Sea Thomas which was Malabar and an Englishwoman in sailing under English India Two Hundred Years Ago, captain Lavender. London, 1907, pp.74-75 He resisted against the Pirate but killed onboard 12. 1691 Dane pirates At the mouth Not known Not known Dane pirate plundered Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Name not of Tapti river ship of Abdul Ghaffor Malabar and an Englishwoman in known) at the mouth of Tapti India Two Hundred Years Ago, river London, 1907, p. 13 13. 1694 John Steel Not known Not Known Rugby John Steel an official of Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (English Pirate) (Frigate) the East India Company Malabar and an Englishwoman in had stolen a Frigate India Two Hundred Years Ago, ‘Ruby’ from the London, 1907, pp. 15-16 company. Later, he took the French protection 14. 1695 Henry Every Red Sea Not known Mughal Henry Every captured Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (English Pirate) ship Mughal ship along with Malabar and an Englishwoman in (name not young Mughal lady India Two Hundred Years Ago, known) (name not known) London, 1907, pp.15-16 15. 1696 Henry Every Near Aden Anno Not known Henry Every plundered Hamilton, Alexander, A New Account (English Pirate) a Bombay ship of the East Indies, 2nd edition, Vol.1, commanded by Saw New Delhi, 1995, pp. 42-43 bridge which was carrying Arabian horses from Aden to Surat
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 16. 1696 William Kidd Sanjan north Adventure Mary Mary, a small vessel of Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (English Pirate) of Bombay Galley Surat was plundered by Malabar and an Englishwoman in William Kidd near India Two Hundred Years Ago, Sanjan London, 1907, pp. 45-46 17. 1697 Muscat Arab Probably near Not known London Affleck, a English Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Name not Muscat merchant ship from Malabar and an Englishwoman in known) London was plundered India Two Hundred Years Ago, by Arab Pirates of London, 1907, pp. 35-36 Muscat 18. 1698 Dirk Chivers Cape of Soldado Sedgwick Sedgwick was sailing Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Dutch Pirate) Comorin also known from Ajengo Malabar and an Englishwoman in as Algerine (Thiruvananthapuram) India Two Hundred Years Ago, to St. David Fort London, 1907, p. 49. (Cuddalore, Chennai) was plundered by Dirk Chivers. 19. 1698 William Kidd Few Adventure Quedah Quedah Merchant Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (English Pirate) kilometers Galley Merchant belong to Indian Malabar and an Englishwoman in from Cochin merchants named India Two Hundred Years Ago, Corgi was sailing from London, 1907, pp. 49-51 Bengal to Surat along with Armenian merchants. It was sailed under Captain John Wright and plundered by William Kidd
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 20. 1702 Kanhoji Angria Konkan Not known English Kanhoji had plundered Biddulph, John, The Pirates of Ship (Name an English trading Malabar and an Englishwoman in not known) vessel from Calicut India Two Hundred Years Ago, London, 1907, p. 77 21. 1707 Kanhoji Angria Konkan Not known Bombay Kanhoji attacked an Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Frigate) English frigate Malabar and an Englishwoman in Bombay and blown up India Two Hundred Years Ago, London, 1907, pp. 77-78 22. 1707 Indian Pirate Not known Not known Anno Pirate attacked Anno Hamilton, Alexander, A New Account (Name not ship and captured Capt. of the East Indies, 2nd edition, Vol.1, known) Murvel which was New Delhi, 1995, p. 63 sailing from Bengal to Persia 23. 1710 Kanhoji Angria Near Bombay Not known Dolphin Kanhoji attacked an Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Konkan Pirate) English ship Dolphin Malabar and an Englishwoman in after capturing Kennery India Two Hundred Years Ago, (Khanderi) London, 1907, p. 78 24. 1712 Kanhoji Angria Karwar Not known Anne Kanhoji captured an Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Konkan Pirate) (Karnataka) armed yacht of William Malabar and an Englishwoman in Aislable, a Governor of India Two Hundred Years Ago, Bombay & Anne ketch London, 1907, p. 80 from Karwar .Chief Thomas Chown of Karwar Factory was killed and kidnapped his wife
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 25. 1712 Kanhoji Angria North coast Grab & Somers & Somers & Grantham of Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Konkan Pirate) of Goa. Gallivat Grantham English (EIC ) was Malabar and an Englishwoman in attacked by Kanhoji India Two Hundred Years Ago, near north coast of Goa London, 1907, p. 80 while sailing from England to Bombay 26. 1716 Kanhoji Angria On the way Not known Success Kanhoji Angria, Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Konkan Pirate) to Surat (East captured Success, East Malabar and an Englishwoman in Indiaman) Indiaman on the way India Two Hundred Years Ago, from Surat London, 1907, p. 99 27. 1717 Bate Pirate Arabian Sea Not known Morning Bate Pirate chased Biddulph, John, The Pirates of Star Morning Star and Malabar and an Englishwoman in fought several days India Two Hundred Years Ago, while the ship was London, 1907, p. 88-89 sailing from Gombroon to Surat 28. 1717 Sunda Rajah Near the Not known Elizabeth Elizabeth Ship was Biddulph, John, The Pirates of coast of belongs to Strutt, a Malabar and an Englishwoman in Karwar private merchant of India Two Hundred Years Ago, Surat was plundered by London, 1907, p. 92 Sunda Rajah near Karwar 29. 1720 Madagascar Near Not known Greenwich, Madagascar Pirate Low, C.R., History of the Indian Navy Pirate Madagascar Cassandra attacked three ships (1613-1863), Vol. II, London, 1877, (Name not island & belongs to the East p. 102 known) Interlopers India Company (02) & Dutch East India Company (01) near Madagascar island
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean 30. 1720 Kanhoji Angria Near Gheria Not known Charlotte Kanhoji captured Biddulph, John, The Pirates of (Konkan Pirate) Charlotte which Malabar and an Englishwoman in belongs to Curgenven, a India Two Hundred Years private merchant of Ago, London, 1907, pp. 202-203 Madras and brought to Gheria while it was sailing from Surat to China 31. 1 735 Sambhaji Angria Near Not known Derby Sambhaji attacked Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Konkan Pirate) Suvarnadurg Derby was attacked and of Malabar and an Englishwoman captured and carried to in India Two Hundred Years Saverndroog while Ago, London, 1907, pp. 210-11 coming from England to Bombay 32. 1736 East India Not known King Name not King George attacked Biddulph, John, The Pirates Company’s George known Sambhaji big grab was of Malabar and an Englishwoman official (EIC) captured and took 120 in India Two Hundred Years prisoners. They also Ago, London, 1907, pp. 211-212 recovered a Surat ship captured by Sambhaji 33. 1744 Toolaji Angria - Not known Princess Princess Augusta was Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Konkan Pirate) Augusta captured by Toolaji and of Malabar and an Englishwoman taken to Gheria. It was in India Two Hundred Years sailing from Belcoolen Ago, London, 1907, p. 220 (Bengkulu, Indonesia). 34. 1746 Sambhaji Angria Near Kolaba Not known Salamdar Salamdar was captured Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Konkan Pirate) (Ketch) by Sambhaji near of Malabar and an Englishwoman Kolaba but before he in India Two Hundred Years could carried the Ketch Ago, London, 1907, pp. 219-220
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Table II: Piracy and Piratal Aggressions Pre- c. 1750 in Western Indian Ocean Mannaji Angria rescued the Ketch and hand over to the English (Bombay) 35. 1 749 Tulaji Angria Near Goa Not known Restoration Tulaji attacked Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Konkan Pirate) Restoration and of Malabar and an Englishwoman captured the ship along in India Two Hundred Years with its Captain Ago, London, 1907, pp. 222-223 Thomas Leake of Bombay Marine near Goa 36. 1749 Koli Pirate Not known Not known Bengal Ship Bengal ship carrying Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Gujarat) (Name not Rs. 60,000/- in cashed of Malabar and an Englishwoman known) and equal value of in India Two Hundred Years cargo was plundered by Ago, London, 1907, pp. 223-224 Koli Pirate of Gujarat who were refuge near Kurla river 37. 1750 Tulaji Angria Between Not known Ruby Rugby was convoying Biddulph, John, The Pirates (Konkan Pirate) Bombay and small traders vessels of Malabar and an Englishwoman Vingorla and it was attacked by in India Two Hundred Years (Vengurla, Angria between Ago, London, 1907, p. 225 Sinhadurg) Bombay and Vingorla
*Several other instances not provided in the table are referred in the text of Chapter II and footnotes in the section on Pirates and Piracy in East Africa (Swahili Coast) and Madagascar in pre-c.1750.
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Table II: Documentation of Piratal Aggressions during c. 1750- c.1850 in Western Indian Ocean
Sr. No. Piracy Category Place Name of Ship Description Source Time Pirate Victim (in circa) 1. 1771 Baria Koli Saurashtra Not Not Akherji, ruler of Gazetteer of Gujarat State: (Name not coast known known Bhavanagar was helping Bhavnagar District, known) the East India Company to Ahmedabad, 1969, p.64 suppress piracy in Saurashtra coast 2. 1790 Joasimi Pirates Near Not Beglerbeg Joasimi Pirate captured S.B., Miles, The Countries and (Name not Mussendom known English vessel Beglerbeg Tribes of Persian Gulf, Vol. II, known) near Mussendom which London, 1919, p.284 was sailing between Bengal and Bushire 3. 1797 Joasimi Pirates Near Kishm Not Bassein Bassein was sailing under S.B. Miles, The Countries and (Name not known Capt. Torin (EIC) to Basra Tribes of Persian Gulf, Vol. II, known) and it was captured near London, 1919, p.288 Kishm by 22 dhows Pirate and detained for two days and release 4. 1797 Joasimi Pirates Near Not Viper Joasimi Pirate attacked S.B., Miles, The Countries and (Name not Bushire known Viper near Bushire Tribes of Persian Gulf, Vol. II, known) harbour harbour. They killed Capt. London, 1919, p.288 Carruthers and crews. But
Nongmaithem Keshorjit Singh 232a Table II: Documentation of Piratal Aggressions during c. 1750- c.1850 in Western Indian Ocean the Viper was narrowly escaped 5. 1797 Sanganian Near Byet Not Vigilant John Hayes of Indian C.R. Low, History of the Pirate of Byet island known Navy who commanded Indian Navy (1613-1863), (Name not Vigilant vessel was Vol. II, London, 1877, p.7 known) attacked by Sanganian Pirate near Byet island and he got injured 6. 1801 Captain Selby Not known Not Koli boat Boat of Koli/ Pirates was Secret and Political Department (The East India known captured along with 28 Diary No. 105 of 1801, p.591 Company) Kolis by Captain Selby of the East India Company at Gomti 7. 1804 Pirates of Danoo Not Kudo Ben Kudo Ben, a bottella Secret and Political Department Gomti between known (Battella) belong to Aziz Allanahmah, Diary No. 157, 1804, p.1699 (It could be Bhavnagar merchant of Surat was Wagher and Bombay plundered by Gomti Pirates Pirates) which was sailing between Bhavnagar and Bombay 8. 1804 Koli Pirates of Between Not Ambah Ambah Pursad belongs to Secret and Political Department Tarrapore Umbergaon known Pursad Homajee Shapoorjee, a Diary No. 190, 23-30 (Name not and Bombay (Battella) Parsee merchant from September, 1804, pp.8124-25 known) Bombay and it was sailed by a Tindal Meethaw . The
Nongmaithem Keshorjit Singh 232a Table II: Documentation of Piratal Aggressions during c. 1750- c.1850 in Western Indian Ocean Byetlla was plundered by Koli Pirate of Tarrapore between Umbergam and Bombay 9. 1805 Okha Pirate Daman Not Surat- Surat-Salamut belongs to Secret and Political Department (It could be known Salamut Khan Mahomed Vazeer Diary, No.173 (13), 1-28 Wagher Pirate bhoy of Surat was sailing November, 1805, under Nakuda Vazeer pp.5814-5116 Issoaf. It was plundered near Daman while sailing between Surat & Zanzibar 10. 1809 Sind Pirates Bassein Scind Rooparal Sind Pirate plundered Political Department Diary (Name not (Gallivat) Gallivat Vanasee Pragjee a Bania No. 354 (6) 1810, pp.1830- known) (Shamatt of Surat near Bassein coast 1832 was tindal while sailing from Bombay of the to Surat Gallivat) 11. 1809 Positra Pirates Gulf of Not Not Pirates of Positra captured Political Department Diary No (It could be Kachchh known known three vessels from the 323, 3-15 March 1809, p.1914- Wagher Pirate) Gulf of Kachchh and 1915 carried to Positra 12. 1809 Nackwa Paana Gulf of Not Not Nackwa plundered a Political Department Dairy (Veraval) Cambay known known Merchant vessel in the No.327 (1) 1809, Probably Gulf of Cambay pp. 3846-51 & p. 384 near Veraval
Nongmaithem Keshorjit Singh 232a Table II: Documentation of Piratal Aggressions during c. 1750- c.1850 in Western Indian Ocean 13. 1810 Pirate of Coast of Not Not Battela of Appa Havildar, Political Department Diary No. Positra Konkan known known was plundered near the 357 (3) of 1810, pp. 2636- 40 (Asylum in coast of Konkan . He was Sind coast ) in service of the Resident at Baroda 14. 1810 Jeewa Nackwa Near Not Sallamutty Pattamar of Vumursee Political Department Diary of Bassein known (Pattamar) Pragya was plundered near No. 357 (3), 1810, pp.2741- Lakhpatnagar Bassein while proceeding 2742 toward Gogo 15. 1816 Ameer Ibrahim Near Mocha Not Not Four vessels were J.S. Buckingham, Travel in (Joasimi known known plundered by Ibrahim, Assyria, Media, and Persia, Pirate) chief of Joasimi Pirates Vol. II, London, 1830, near Mocha. The vessels pp. 247-248 were bound from Surat to Mocha 16. 1835 Joasimi Pirate Persian Gulf Not Durya Baghla Durya Dowlut was Foreign Department Political (Name not known Dowlut plundered in the Persian Consultation No. 14 of 23rd known) (Baghla) Gulf May, 1836, pp.1-2
17. 1836 Arab of Wadi Mahara port Not Bhowany Bhowany Purshaud Foreign Department Secret (Name not (Maratha known Purshaud belongs to Dhurumsee Consultation No.16 of 6th July, known) port) Luckmeedass of Bombay 1842, pp.1-3 was plundered by Mahara Arabs
Nongmaithem Keshorjit Singh 232a Table II: Documentation of Piratal Aggressions during c. 1750- c.1850 in Western Indian Ocean 18. 1837 Lagheghe Gulf of Not Deria Deria Doulut was a Foreign Department Political (Lahej) and the Aden known Doulut vessel of Nawab of Madras Consultation in Proceedings Abdalee which wrecked near Aden No.810, 16th Oct.1837, pp.9-11 (Abdali) Pirate and it was plundered by (Name not the chief of Aden known) 19. 1845 Pirates of Persian coast Not Karrak Two Carrack vessels were Foreign Department Political Khirrah at known /Carrack plundered by Pirate of Consultation, No. 41, 11 April Persian coast Khirrah in Persian Gulf 1846. pp.1-3 (Name not known)
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