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we
anchored inside Roque's Point and
the Dragon boat with
intelligence
soon came
alongside
armed junks were
that three heavily
then at anchor
inside Cliff Island with a large rice junk they had captured off Zamzai two days previously.
Directing the Dragon boat to proceed to the N. end of Cliff Island, I weighed and proceeded round to the Southward and Leeward so as to
prevent
pirates from escaping. As
we approached,
we perceived the junks
anchored with their prize off a Village. They weighed and running into shallow bay clear of the houses,
soon
anchored in line of battle, hoisting
red flags.
I closed within them until
a fisherman pilot insisted we
should run on some rocks —
the water was
evidently shallow with a
tide race over it, I hove to, and firing
a shot
over them with the two
gigs, I expected no serious resistance, not knowing that the
red flag was their signal to engage.
As the boats approached they opened
such a fire of grape and case that seeing
I should probably lose half my men if I persisted
in boarding, I returned to the ship
(fortunately, without casualty), and engaged them from...