[6] Four years after returning to England, Keigwin was given the command of a frigate. In 1690 he accompanied the expedition against the French in the West Indies, and fell at the head of his men in the assault of Basseterre, St. Christopher's.--_Dic. Nat. Bio_. [7] Hansard, 1754. [8] The first General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in Madras was dated the 22nd November, 1772. [9] The lari was the well-known hook money of the Persian Gulf. It was worth about sixpence. CHAPTER VI _EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY_ Sivajee's occupation of Kennery--A naval action--Minchin and Keigwin--Bombay threatened--The Seedee intervenes--Conajee Angria occupies Kennery--Boone sails with the expedition--Manuel de Castro--Futile proceedings--Force landed and repulsed--Second landing--Manuel de Castro's treachery--Gideon Russell--Bad behaviour of two captains--Defeat--Attack abandoned--The _St. George_--The _Phram_--Manuel de Castro punished--Bombay wall completed--Angria makes overtures for peace--Boone outwitted. The islet of Kennery, about ten miles from the mouth of the harbour, and three from the mainland, had long been a thorn in the side of Bombay trade. At the time of the first occupation of Bombay it was uninhabited. In 1679 it was suddenly occupied by Sivajee, who began to fortify it. The danger of this to Bombay was at once seen, and part of the garrison was sent in small vessels, afterwards reinforced by the _Revenge_, frigate, to intercept the communication between Kennery and the mainland. On the 18th October, the Mahratta fleet bore down and engaged. In half an hour the _Dove_, grab, hauled down its colours and was captured, and all the smaller vessels made sail for Bombay, leaving the _Revenge_, like its more famous namesake, alone amidst its foes. Fortunately, there were on board two sturdy Englishmen, Minchin, the Company's commodore, and Keigwin, the commander of the garrison. Undismayed by the odds against them, Minchin and Keigwin gallantly fought their ship; all attempts at boarding were repelled with loss, five of the Mahratta gallivats were sunk, and, at last, the whole Mahratta fleet took to flight, pursued by the _Revenge_, and sought refuge in the shallow waters at the mouth of the Negotna river. Two days later, they came out again, but found Keigwin and Minchin so ready to engage, that they desisted from the attempt to reach Kennery. In this way, for some time, a partial blockade of the Negotna river was maintained by the _Revenge_, which had been reinforced by the _Hunter_ frigate, and a number of small vessels from Bombay. In spite of all efforts, a few Mahratta vessels from time to time evaded the blockade, and kept Kennery supplied with provisions and arms. This unexpected opposition from a company of traders stirred Sivajee to settle the matter by an attack on Bombay, which was in no condition to make any resistance. He marched five