Sunday, April 7, 2024

Pattinars, Bombay. 1857

 



Figure 7. Pattinars, Bombay. 1857.

Bombay was a much smaller place in 1857 than it is today. Much of present day Bombay was under water in 1857.


striped ensigns in general and not necessarily those with an overall cross.
  • "Native powers in alliance with the Company were allowed to use the striped ensign"
  • "Extract from letter of Captain C.D. Campbell, late Indian Navy - The old Bombay Marine Flag, the Gridiron as it was called. There were a number of armed native Pattinars, under native commanders called ‘Bombay Grabs’ and these still flew the Company’s Ensign till all were got rid of some six years later."
  • "Extract from letter of Captain H. Dundas Taylor, late Indian Navy. - The Hon Company’s Ensign was hoisted on the Pattimars of war when I joined the service in 1841."

A depiction of Maratha grabs attacking an English ship in the early eighteenth century. Malabari seamen had used similar country craft in their raids on Portuguese shipping. Reproduced from John Biddulph, The Pirates of Malabar and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago (London, 1907), frontispiece.  

A depiction of Maratha grabs attacking an English ship in the early eighteenth century. Malabari seamen had used similar country craft in their raids on Portuguese shipping. Reproduced from John Biddulph, The Pirates of Malabar and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago (London, 1907), frontispiece.