Cruising near the Little Basses Reef on the Southern coast of Ceylon , the 34-gun privateer `` Bellone '' was sighted Hold by the 16-gun British brig HMS `` Rattlesnake '' , which began Process_start chasing Motion the larger French vessel .

Despite the uneven nature of the combat , `` Bellone '' unexpectedly resisted Defending the British attack Attack for another hour and 45 minutes , causing Causation more damage Damaging to `` Powerful '' than she received Receiving herself .