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HISTOEY 



THE INDIAN NAVY. 



(1613—1863). 



BY 



CHARLES RATHBONE LOW, 

LIEUTENANT (LATE) INDIAN NAVY, 
Fellow of the Hoyal Geographical Society. 



AUTHOR OF 

THE LIFE OF F.M. SIR GEORGE POLLOCK, BART., G.C.B., G.C.S.I." 
" TALES OF OLD OCEAN," " THE LAND OF THE SUN," &C. 

IN TWO VOLUMES. 
VOL. II. 




LONDON: 
RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, 

NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 

Publishers fit ©rbinatg to J^cr fflajestg. 

1877. 






CONTENTS 



OF 



THE SECOND VOLUME 



CHAPTER I. (1831-1838.) 

The Chinese Difficulty of 1831 — Ship-building in Bombay Dockyard — Death of 
Commodore Sir John Hayes ; his Chai'acter and Career — Services of Captains 
Crawford and Cogan — Deaths of Commodores Wyndham and Elwon — Com- 
mittee on the State of Bombay Harbour — Proposed Abolition of the Service by 
Lord William Bentinck — Action between the ' Elphinstone ' and a Piratical 
Beni-Yas Squadron — Affairs in the Persian Gulf — Cruise of the ' Tigris ' in 
Torres Straits — The ' Benares ' and ' Nautilus ' at Mocha — Wreck of the 
'Nautilus' — The Euphrates Expedition — Colonel Chesney — The Preliminary 
Survey by Lieutenant Ormsby — Lieutenant Lynch's Mission to the Arab 
Tribes — The Descent of the Euphrates — Loss of the ' Tigris ' steamer — Ascent 
of the Euphrates by Lieutenant Campbell — Surveys in Mesopotamia by 
Lieutenants Lynch, Campbell, Felix Jones, Grounds, and Selby — New 
Steamers for the Service — Orders of the Court regarding the Proposed Trans- 
formation of the Indian Navy into a Steam Service — Retirement of Officers 
and other Changes in the personnel of the Service — Retirement of Sir Charles 
Malcolm and appointment of Captain Oliver, R.N., as Superintendent of the 
Indian Navy .....•..! 



CHAPTER II. (1828-1838.) 

Review of the Surveys made by the Indian Navy during the Administration of 
Sir Charles Malcolm — Surveys of the Red Sea by Captain Elwon and Com- 
mander Moresby ; of the Maldive Islands, by Commander Moresbv ; of the 
South-east Coast of Arabia, by Commander Haines and Lieutenant Sanders • 
of the Soomalie Coast and the Mouths of the Indus, by Lieutenant Carless— 
The Survey and Occupation of Socotra — Surveys of Commanders Lloyd and 
Fell on the Coromandel Coast — Travels of Lieutenants Whitelock, Wellsted, 
Barker, Wood, and Wyburd ..... (J8 



3571 85 



1 V CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER III. (1838-1845.) 

Additions to the Service — The Court of Directors on the Discipline of the 
Service — The Indian Navy and Sir F. Maitland — Occupation of Kharrack — 
Demonstration at Bushire — The Succession of Commodores in the Persian 
G-ulf — The Capture of Aden — Repulse of the Arabs in their repeated Attacks 
upon Aden, and Gallant Services of the Indian Navy — Increase of the Steam 
Marine — The War with China — Services of the ' Atalanta,' ' Sesostris,' 
'Auckland,' and 'Medusa' — Loss of the 'Memnon' — Augmentation of the 
Service — The Conquest of Scinde, and the Indus Steam Flotilla. . . 95 

CHAPTER IV. (1846-1849.) 

The ' Elphinstone' in New Zealand — Loss of the ' Cleopatra' — Increase of the 
Indian Navy in Ships and Officers, and Changes in its Constitution — Deaths of 
Captains Sanders, Pepper, Ross, and Carless — Death of Sir Robert Oliver — 
Review of his Character and Public Career — Surveys during the Administra- 
tion of Sir Robert Oliver — Temporary Appointment of Captain Hawkins as 
Superintendent — Services and Death of Lieutenant Christopher — The Indian 
Naval Brigade before Mooltan — Appointment of Commodore Lushiugton — 
Death of Captain Hawkins, and Notice of his Services . . . 185 

CHAPTER V. 

The Burmese War. 1852—1853. 

Despatch of the Indian Naval Squadron from Bombay — Arrival at Bombay 
of the newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief, Sir Henry J. Leeke — 
Capture of Rangoon and Bassein — Relief of Martaban — Expedition up the 
Irrawaddy — Indian Naval Commanders in Burmah — Operations at Prome — 
The Relief of Pegu — The ' Ferooz' Boats on the Sittang — Boat Expedition to 
Pantanno — Commander Rennie up the Duggah Creek and at Lamena — His 
Flank March to assist Sir John Cheape — The Indian Naval Flotilla on the 
Irrawaddy — Loss of the 'Moozuffur' and ' Medusa' . . . 238 

CHAPTER VI. (1854—1856.) 

Services of the ' Semiramis ' against Soloo Pirates — Launch of the ' Falkland,' 
' Assaye,' and 'Punjaub'— The Cyclone at Bombay of the 2nd of November, 
1854 — Anomalies in the condition of the Service — Exploring Expedition to the 
Soomali Country and Death of Lieutenant Stroyan — Affairs at Aden — The 
• Elphinstone' s' crew at Lahej— Transport of the 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers 
to Suez — Death of Captain Montriou -, his Character and Services — The ' Ferooz' 
at Calcutta — The ' Queen ' and ' Elphinstone' at Jiddah — Services of the 
Indian Navy during the years 1854-56 — Affairs in the Persian Gulf— Boat 
Action at El Kateef— British Relations with the Imaum of Muscat . 292 

CHAPTER VII. 
The Persian War. 1856—1857. 

The Casus Belli — The Declaration of War — Departure of the Expedition for the 
Persian Gulf — The Landing in Hallilah Bay — The Bombardment and Sur- 
render of Bushire — Suicide of General Stalker and Commodore Ethersey — 
The Bombardment and Capture of Mohamra — The Expedition to Ahwaz — 
Conclusion of the Persian War, and Government General Orders thereon — 
The Distribution of Honours ...... 336 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VIII. (1857—1858.) 

The ' Auckland ' iu China — The True Story of the Occupation of Perim by 
Lieutenant Templer in the 'Mahi' — The 'Lady Canning' at the Outbreak 
at Jiddah — Appointment of Captain G. G. Wellesley, C.B., R.N., in succession 
to Sir Henry Leeke — Conclusion of the Records of the Bombay Marine 
Battalion ......... 379 



CHAPTER IX. (1848—1863.) 

Surveys undertaken from the Death of Sir Robert Oliver to the Abolition of the 
Service : — Lieutenant Selby on the West Coast of India ; Surveys iu the Gulf 
of Canibay and on the Kattywar Coast by Lieutenants Grieve, Constable and 
Taylor ; of the Punjaub Rivers by Lieutenants Grounds and Stroyan ; of the 
Malacca Straits and Inland Waters of Pegu by Lieutenant Ward — Flying 
Survey of the Irrawaddy River by Commander Rennie and Lieutenant Heath- 
cote — Current Charts by Lieutenants Taylor and Heathcote — Survey of the 
Persian Gulf by Lieutenant Constable, assisted by Acting-Lieutenant Stiffe — 
Surveys of Commander Felix Jones in Mesopotamia — Lieutenant Carew 
and the Persian Gulf Telegraph Line — Surveys in Mesopotamia by Commander 
Selby and Lieutenants Collingwood and Bewsher — Lieutenant Taylor's Survey 
of the Malabar Coast — Lieutenant Dawes' Journey into Central Arabia, in 
company with Colonel Pelly — Services of Officers of the late Indian Navy 
during the Abyssinian War — Lieutenant Taylor's Memorandum on Marine 
Surveys, and his Appointment as Superintendent of Marine Surveys in 
India ......... 394- 



CHAPTER X. 
The Indian Mutiny, 1857—1859. 

Services of the Indian Navy during the Sepoy Mutiny — The Indian Navy 
Squadron at Calcutta— The Seizure of the King of Oude at Garden Reach — 
Formation of the Indian Naval Brigade and Appointment of Captain C. D. 
Campbell as Senior Officer — Services of No. 4 Detachment, under Lieutenant 
T. E. Lewis, at Dacca and in Upper Assam ; of Lieutenant W. H. W. Davies, 
against the Hill Tribe of Abors ; of Detachments Nos. 2, 7 and 10, under 
Lieutenant G. O'Brien Carew at Barrackpore, Jugdespore, and Alipore ; of No. 
1 Detachment, under Lieutenants Duval, Sweny, Warden and Hellard ; of 
No. 5 Detachment, under Lieutenant D. L. Duval, at Gya ; of No. 11 Detach- 
ment, under Lieutenants T. H. B. Barron and H. Cotegrave, at Moozufferpore 
and Mooteeharee ; of No. 9 Detachment, against the Coles, in Chota Nagpore, 
under Lieutenant A. T. Windus ; of No. 14 Detachment, at Chyabassa, under 
Acting-Lieutenant H. W. H. Burnes and Lieutenant W. H. W. Davies ; of 
No. 3 Detachment, at Buxar, under Commander Batt — How Acting-Master 
G. B. Chicken gained the Victoria Cross — Services of Detachments Nos. 8, 12 
and 13, at Jessore, Julpigoree, and Chuprah, under Lieutenants H. Jackson, 
R. G. Hurlock, and C. B. Templer — Occupation of the Andaman Islands, 
and Services of No. 6 Detachment, under Lieutenant C. B. Templer, Acting- 
Lieutenant F. Warden, and Lieutenant S. B. Hellard — Government re- 
cognition of the Services of the Indian Navy during the Sepoy Mutiny 429 



VL CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XL 
The Indian Mutiny, 1857—1859. 

Services of the Indian Navy during the Sepoy Mutiny in Western India — Trans- 
port of Troops by Lieutenants Chitty and Sweny during the South-West 
Monsoon on the Malabar Coast — Trooping by the other Ships of the Service — 
Mission of Captain Jenkins, C.B., to Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope — 
Bombay on the 13th of October, 1857 — Indian Naval Artillery Brigades at 
Bombay and Surat — Lieutenant Holt at Mooltan — Proclamation of the Queen's 
Sovereignty on the 1st November, 1858 — Operations against the Waghers 
— The Bombardment of Beyt and the Services of the Indian Naval Brigade at 
the Siege of Dwarka ....... 498 

CHAPTER XII. (1860-1863) 

Death of Captain S. B. Haines ; his Character and Services — The Indian Navy in 
the China War of 1860 — War Medals gained by the Indian Navy — Gallant 
Conduct of Lieutenant Cookson at the Kooria Mooria Islands — Movements of 
the Ships of the Indian Navy during 1861-62 — Reduction of the Indus 
Flotilla and Marine Battalion — The Government and the House of Commons 
on the Future of the Service — Departure of Commodore Wellesley and Ap- 
pointment of Captain Frushard — Reduction of the Indian Navy — Commander 
Adams and the Affair of H.M.S. 'Penguin' — Orders on the Abolition of the 
Service — The Hauling down of the Flag — Conclusion . . . 526 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 



CHAPTER I. 
1831—1838. 

The Chinese Difficulty of 1831 — Ship-building in Bombay Dockyard — Death of 
Commodore Sir John Hayes ; his Character and Career — Services of Captains 
Crawford and Cogan — Deaths of Commodores Wyndham and Elwon — Com- 
mittee on the State of Bombay Harbour — Proposed Abolition of the Service by 
Lord William Bentinck — Action between the ' Elphinstone ' and a Piratical 
Beni-Yas Squadron — Affairs in the Persian Gulf — Cruise of the ' Tigris ' in 
Torres Straits — The ' Benares ' and ' Nautilus ' at Mocha — Wreck of the 
'Nautilus' — The Euphrates Expedition — Colonel Chesney — The Preliminary 
Survey by Lieutenant Ormsby — Lieutenant Lynch' s Mission to the Arab 
Tribes — The Descent of the Euphrates — Loss of the 'Tigris' steamer — Ascent 
of the Euphrates by Lieutenant Campbell — Surveys in Mesopotamia by 
Lieutenants Lynch, Campbell, Eclix Jones, Grounds, and Selby — New 
Steamers for the Service — Orders of the Court regarding the Proposed Trans- 
formation of the Indian Navy into a Steam Service — Betirement of Officers 
and other Changes in the personnel of the Service — Retirement of Sir Charles 
Malcolm and appointment of Captain Oliver, B..N., as Superintendent of the 
Indian Navy. 

IN consequence of serious differences having arisen with the 
Chinese authorities at Canton, involving not only the 
forcible occupation of the British factory, and the demolition 
of a wall and quay, but the endangering of the lives of British 
merchants, Lord William Bentinck despatched Captain Fre- 
mantle, commanding H.M.S. ' Challenger,' accompanied by the 
Hon. Company's ship ' Clive,' Captain Harris, with a letter 
addressed to the Viceroy of Canton. The two ships arrived 
off Macao on the 4th of December, 183 L, and, on the 8th, the 
Select Committee of merchants at Canton, with whom Captain 
Fremantle communicated, sent a deputation to the Chinese 
Governor, to inquire when it would be convenient for him to 
grant an audience to Captain Fremantle for the purpose of 
receiving the Governor-General's letter of August 27, demand- 
ing reparation and protection for British interests. Governor 
Le refused personally to receive the letter, which, according to 

VOL. II. B 



2 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Chinese custom, he persisted in styling a "petition," but 
requested that it might be presented through the " hong," or 
native merchants, a proposal which Mr. Marjoribanks, President 
of the Select Committee, rejected with indigation. Ultimately 
Governor Le reluctantly consented to receive the letter through 
a mandarin of rank, stipulating that the British officers were to 
proceed from Macao to Canton in their boats, the ships-of-war 
remaining below the Bogue forts. 

Accordingly, on the 31st of December, at half-past ten a.m., 
boats from the ' Challenger ' and ' Clive,' and from the Com- 
pany's trading ships, arrived at the stairs of the Company's 
garden, all fully officered and manned. The captains were in 
attendance, and everything was arranged to give as much 
effect as possible to the ceremony. At a quarter before twelve, 
all took their places in the boats, which pulled out into the 
stream, and then proceeded to the southern gate. The boats 
formed two abreast, those of the 'Challenger' and 'Clive' 
taking the lead. When abreast the ' Dutch Folly,' they were 
met by a boat, on board of which was Mr. (the late Sir John F.) 
Davis, who joined the party in the ' Challenger's ' pinnace, and 
the procession proceeded. On approaching the place of meeting, 
the numberless native boats, the house-tops, and every available 
space, were found to be crowded with Chinese, who were, how- 
ever, kept in order by a strong body of native policemen : and 
the passage from the shore to the place where the Mandarin 
was seated, was lined with Chinese soldiers. On the arrival of 
the British party the marines landed, and then Captains Fre- 
mantle and Harris followed, with the other captains and the 
gentlemen of the factory. They proceeded to the inner pavilion, 
at the end of which were the two mandarins deputed to receive 
the letter, surrounded by several other mandarins, and the 
linguists in attendance. Captain Fremantle then advanced, 
and requested Dr. Morrison to inform the principal mandarin 
that he was the bearer of a letter from the Governor-General 
of India to the Viceroy of Canton ; and, in delivering it to him, 
he understood he delivered it to an officer of proper authority 
and rank, deputed by the Governor to receive the " public 
despatch." The mandarin signified an assent and received 
the letter, saluted Captain Fremantle, and the party retired, the 
marines presenting arms in the usual manner. The party then 
re-embarked, and returned in the same order as they came. 
A reply was transmitted through the " hong" merchants, for 
the acceptance of Captain Fremantle, but owing to the 
channel by which it was conveyed, and to its being addressed to 
no one, it was not received. Matters continued in this unsatis- 
factory state at Canton, and it was not until after the Chinese 
had received their first lesson of British power in 1840-42, 
that they were brought to a sense of their own impotence. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 6 

The 'dive' quitted Canton on the loth of February, 1832, for 
Bombay, but Mr. (the late Captain) Stephens, one of her mid- 
shipmen, was detached for service as draughtsman. 

As regards the internal economy of the Indian Navy, the 
Court of Directors, in August, 1831, made further changes in 
the uniform, assimilating it more to the pattern worn in the 
Royal Service.* 

In May of this year the Hon. Company's brig-of-war 
'Nautilus ' arrived at Bombay from Berbera, on the Soomali 
coast, having lost fifteen of her crew from cholera, contracted 
whilst visiting that port. She reported that this dire disease 
had made most dreadful ravages at Berbera, all the inhabitants 
of which had either died or lied. The plague also raged with 
fearful violence in Bagdad, Tabreez, and Bu shire, which the 
British Resident and merchants had quitted for Kharrack. At 
Tabreez it carried off thirty thousand persons in six months, 
and, in Bagdad, no less than fifty thousand, out of a total 
population of eighty thousand, fell victims to its ravages, at one 
time three thousand dying per day. 

On the 9th of April was founded the Bombay Geographical 
Society, aud Sir Charles Malcolm was elected its first President, 
a post he held until he left India in 1838, when he was succeeded 
by Captain Daniel Ross, Indian Navy. Sir Charles conducted 
the duties of the office with conspicuous success, and the 
Journal of the Society, which was affiliated to the parent 
institution in England, was replete with articles and memoirs, 
a large proportion of which were contributed by officers of the 

* The following were the Orders issued by the Court : — " Captains — Coat, 
superfine blue cloth, with black velvet lapells, cuffs, and collar. Nine buttons on 
each side, equi-distant, and three on each cuff. Pocket flaps to have three points 
and three buttons ; collar lapells and pocket flaps to be lined with white silk 
serge. Embroidery as formerly. Trovvsers, superfine blue cloth or kerseymere 
(worn over a short boot) with blackstraps. Waistcoat, white kerseymere, single- 
breasted, with nine buttons. Black silk neckcloth or stock. Cocked hat. 
Sword, sword belt, and knot the same as worn by the officers in Her Majesty's 
Navy, with the Company's crest on the handle. Lieutenants — The same as the 
Commanders, without embroidery on the coat. Round hat with gold loop. 
Surgeons — Coat, superfine blue cloth, with lapells to buttons closed up ; stand 
up collar, with a velvet band one inch wide round the same, and a double serpent 
ring of velvet on each side thereof. Lining, buttons, &c, same as the officers ; 
plain round hat. Pursers — Same as the surgeons, with a plain velvet collar to 
the coat — Assistant Surgeons — Same as Surgeons, but with velvet of only half 
an inch wide round the collar, and a single serpent ring on each side thereof ; no 
buttons to the pocket flaps. Midshipmen — Coat, single-breasted with nine 
buttons in front, none on -the cuffs or pocket flaps. Stand up collar, with a 
black velvet patch on each side ; to be lined with white worsted serge. To wear 
dirks. All the buttons to be of one pattern, viz., raised, with one anchor, and 
surmounted by the Company's crest. Officers in India, or when on duty in the 
summer months in England, are permitted to wear white jean or drill trowsers 
and waistcoats, with shoes and silk stockings in the evening. On board, jackets 
and caps may be worn as undress. Undress coats the same as full dressing, 
without the silk lining. Captain's undress coat only to be embroidered on the 
collar and cuffs." 

B 2 



4 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Indian Navy. At the time of the abolition of the Service, 
the Bombay Geographical Society numbered one hundred and 
two members. 

On the evening of the 1st of March, 1831, a fine eighty-four- 
gun ship, built by Nowrojee Jamsetjee, the Company's master 
builder, was launched in Bombay Dockyard, and christened by 
Lady Malcolm, the ' Calcutta;' she was a beautiful specimen 
of workmanship, and fastened on Sir R. Sepping's principle, 
and though nominally an eighty-four, she could carry ninety-six 
guus. The 'Calcutta' was the eighth* line-of-battle ship built 
for Her Majesty's Service in Bombay Dockyard, exclusive of 
others for the Imaum of Muscat by those famous Parsee ship- 
builders, Jamsetjee Bomanjee, Nowrojee and Cursetjee ; and 
Sir Charles Malcolm only stated a fact when he informed the 
multitude assembled at the launch of the 'Calcutta,' that the 
Company's dockyard had produced "some of the finest men-of- 
war he had ever in the course of his career met with." Among 
these was the ' Asia,' eighty-four guns, 2,889 tons, the largest 
ship hitherto built in India, which was the flagship of Sir 
Edward Codrington at the battle of Navarino; and of which 
Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm wrote to his brother, Sir 
Charles : — " Tell my old friend, Nowrojee, what a glorious part 
the 'Asia' sustained in the battle of Navarino, and how proud 
I am of his success as a builder." 

On the 3rd of July, 1831, Commodore Sir John Hayes, 
senior officer of the Indian Navy, and master-attendant at Cal- 
cutta, expired in his 64th year at the residence of Mr. Ross, on 
Killing's Island, in the Cocos group, in the Bay of Bengal, 
where he had been landed six days before from the Hon. Com- 

* The following is a list of ships and vessels constructed at Bombay for Her 
Majesty's Service 







Guns. Burden in 


ons. 


Floated out. 


Pitt . 


. Frigate 


86 872 




Jan. 17, 1805 


Salsette 


• i) 


36 885 




Mar. 24, 1807 


Miiulen 


. Ship 


74 1681 




June 19, 1810 


Cornwallis . 


,, 


74 1767 




May 2, 1813 


Victor 


• Brig 


18 384 




Oct. 29, 1814 


Sphyni 


. Brigantine 


12 239 




Jan. 25, 1815 


Wi'lk'sley . 


. Ship 


74 1745 




Feb. 24, 1815 


Zebra 


• Brig 


18 385 




Nov. 18, 1815 


Cameleon . 


. Brigantine 


12 239 




Jan. 16, 1816 


-Anipliitrite . 


. Frigate 


38 1064 




April 14, 1816 


Melville 


. Ship 


74 1767 




Feb. 11, 1817 


Ti'incomaleo 


. Frigate 


38 1065 




Oct. 19, 1817 


Malabar 


. Ship 


74 1715 




Dec. 28, 1818 


Seringapatara 


. Frigate 


38 1152 




Sept. 5, 1819 


Ganges 


. Ship 


84 2284 




Nov. 10, 1821 


Madagascar 


. Frigate 


46 1166 




Oct. 31, 1822 


Asia . 


. Ship 


84 2289 




Jan. 17, 1824 


On the 17th 


March, 1828, the 


' Bombay,' eighty - 


'our 


guns, but pierced to 


carry one hundred and twelve guns, was launched from the 


dock ; in 1829, the 


' Andromache,' 


frigate ; in 1831, 


the ' Calcutta,' eighty-four guns, mentioned 


above ; and in 1848, the 6ixteen-gun brigs ' Nerbudda 


and 


' Jumna.' 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 5 

pany's ship ' Coote,' in which he sailed for sea air to restore his 
shattered health. In him the Service lost its most distinguished 
officer since the time of James and Watson, and the Indian 
Government an able and upright servant. 

The Calcutta Government Gazette notified the sad event on 
the 11th of August, and the Press expressed the universal 
feeling of regret, while the shipping in the river Hooghly 
hoisted their colours half-mast, as a mark of respect to the 
gallant officer. Throughout his long and eventful career, Sir 
John Hayes never strove to reap any personal pecuniary benefit, 
but his public acts were inspired solely by the desire of doing 
his duty and promoting the interests of his masters ; of this 
single-mindedness we have a striking example in his permitting 
two captured Chinese junks, having on board cargoes valued at 
.£600,000, to go free, when, by retaining them, he might have 
compromised the interests of the Company, although his share 
of the booty as Commodore would have been upwards of 
£33,000. Shortly before his death, the gallant veteran received 
a sum of over £1,400 as prize-money, the notification* of 
which, probably, surprised no one more than himself, as a 
period of twenty- six years had elapsed since the capture for 
which it was awarded. 

The following "Minute of Council" was published by the 
Bombay Government on the occasion of the death of Sir John 
Hayes : 

" Bombay Castle, August 31st, 1831. 

"The Right Hon. the Governor in Council having received 
intelligence of the death, on the 3rd of July, of Commodore 
Sir John Hayes, Knight, of the Indian Navy, feels it to be due 
to the memory of that gallant and lamented officer, to record 
the high sense entertained by Government of his valuable 
public services, for a period of nearly fifty years. The late Sir 
John Hayes entered the Service, of which he was so distin- 
guished a member, in 1781, and was actively engaged in the 
principal naval operations which took place during the subse- 
quent twenty years on the Western coast of India, and in the 
Eastern seas. In 1809 he was appointed Master-Attendant at 

* The following was the official notice : — 

"Marine Board, Fort William, January 22, 1830. — Notice is hereby given, 
that individuals actually serving on board the Hon. Company's frigate ' Bombay,' 
Captain John Hayes, and armed ship ' Lord Castlereagh,' Captain George 
Robertson, in August, 1804, on the occasion of the capture of the Fort of Muckie, 
on the west coast of Sumatra, are entitled to receive prize money in the following 
proportions : — 

1st. Captains .... Rupees 1,4324 
2nd. Commissioned Officers . . „ 795 

3rd. Warrant Officers . . . „ 561 

4th. Petty Officers . . . „ 116 

5th. All other individuals . . „ 17 

"Individuals claiming on account of the ' Bombay,' are to apply to this Office, 
furnishing proof of identity." 



14 


10 


13 


4 


12 


2 


6 


2 


5 


4 



G HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Calcutta, by the Hon. Court of Directors, and in 1811, received 
a Commodore's commission for the Java Expedition, on which 
occasion he commanded a squadron of nine vessels of war ; and 
in the late Burmese war he was in command of the armed 
flotilla as a flag-officer, on the coast of Arracan. A sword was 
voted to Sir John Hayes in 1798, by the Court of Directors for 
his intrepid behaviour in an engagement with pirates in the 
Gulf of Cutch, when he was severely wounded, and he had 
repeatedly received the thanks of the Hon. Court and of suc- 
cessive Governments, in Bengal and Bombay. The thanks of 
Parliament for the gallant conduct of himself, officers, and 
men, during the Burmese war, and the honour of knighthood 
conferred on him by his Sovereign, further marks the estimation 
in which his services have been held. The Right Hon. the 
Governor in Council is sensible that any expression of his 
sentiments on the services and character of the late Commodore 
Sir John Hayes must be feeble, after the testimonials already 
cited; but in justice to an officer of such distinguished merit 
ami integrity, and as an example and encouragement to others, 
his Lordship in Council deemed it fit briefly to advert to these 
services and honours, and to offer his tribute of applause and 
of regret on this lamented occasion." The above testimony 
only does justice to the character of Sir John Hayes. The 
Indian Navy has produced, before and since, equally gallant 
seamen, but neither this nor any other public service often 
numbers within its ranks an officer so disinterested and single- 
minded that throughout his long career no one could cast a 
stone at him, or refer to a single incident in which a regard for 
the welfare of the public service was not the sole actuating 
principle of his conduct. 

We have, in the course of this work, introduced the services 
of Sir John Hayes, which form so brilliant a chapter in the 
history of the Indian Navy, but now that we have chronicled 
the closing scene of his life, we will give a brief resume of his 
meritorious public career: — Mr. Haves was appointed a volunteer 
in the Bombay Marine in December, 1781, when only thirteen 
years of age. In 1782-3, while midshipman of the 'Bombay,' 
he cut out two ships in Mangalore Roads, and was present 
assisting at the capture of Cundapore, Onore, Mangalore, and 
Merjee. From 1784 to 1788 he was employed as midshipman 
and lieutenant on board various cruisers at Bussorah, Calcutta, 
Canton, Prince of Wales' Island, and other places ; and was 
even employed occasionally on active land service, when the 
war broke out with Tippoo Sultan. In 1790-1, he was attached 
to the army under General Abercromby, and was present 
assisting at the capture of Carlie, Cannanore, and Biliapatam. 
After the close of the war, in 1793-4, he commanded two vessels, 
the ' Duke of Clarence' and the ' Duchess,' on a voyage of 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 7 

discovery, when he explored Van Diemen's Land and the 
Derwent River, the south-west side of New Caledonia, south- 
east and north coasts of New Guinea, the Molucca Islands, 
Timor, the whole north and south-east face of Java, from Cape 
Sandano westward, having passed through the Straits of 
Madura, and presented the 6rst instance of the progress of a 
British ship through that intricate channel. During this 
expedition he adopted such humane and judicious measures in 
reference to the intercourse of the expedition with the savage 
inhabitants of several of the places he explored, that not a 
single life on either side was ever compromised or lost in a 
quarrel. Personally gallant and fearless to the point of reck- 
lessness, Lieutenant Hayes abhorred anything like cruelty or 
oppression, and though the ships under his command were 
noted for discipline and efficiency, he had the utmost repugnance 
to flogging and rarely resorted to it. 

In 1797 he was selected to proceed on amission to the Hakim 
of Sonmeanee, to demand restitution of a British ship, and was 
furnished with an armed vessel, the ' Vigilant,' carrying six 
guns, and a small crew, in addition to his personal escort, con- 
sisting of seven artillerymen, two European seamen, and 
twenty-two Sepoys of the Marine Battalion. On the 13th of 
January, when close in with the Island of Beyt, at the entrance 
of the Gulf of Cutch, he was attacked by a squadron of 
Sanganian pirates, and the action which ensued was perhaps 
one of the most desperate ever recorded. Lieutenant Hayes 
had the lobe of his right ear shot away, his right cheek cut 
in two, and his upper jaw-bone shattered to pieces. This wound 
was inflicted by a jingal piece, fired close to his head, and was 
of a frightful character. His life was for a considerable period 
endangered by it, and his countenance to the last sufficiently 
indicated the seriousness of the injury.* 

Lieutenant Hayes was next employed on shore with Colonel 
Little's detachment until the reduction of Seringapatam in 
1799. Afterwards, in command of the ' Alert,' he landed on 

* The Court of Directors desired to present him with a sword in recognition 
of his gallantry and wonnds, but as at this time Lieutenant Hayes had a family 
of only three daughters, he requested that the gift might assume another form, 
and accordingly he received a magnificent silver cup, on which the following 
inscription was engraved : — " At the entrance of the Gulf of Cutch, the ' Vigilant' 
was attacked by a fleet of four sail of Sanganian pirates, each vessel double her 
size and force. This unequal and desperate conflict lasted four hours, three- 
fourths of which time the enemy's vessels were on board the ' Vigilant.' About 
the termination of this memorable contest, Lieutenant Hayes received a severe 
wound, having the lobe of his right ear shot away, his right cheek cut in two, 
and his upper jawbone shattered to pieces." Ten years after receiving this cup, 
Captain Hayes had a son born to him, an officer distinguished in the Army for 
his linguistic attainments and soldierly acquirements. This son, Captain 
Fletcher Hayes, was Military Secretary to the late lamented Sir Henry Lawrence, 
and died of his wounds in the Residency of Lucknow, during the ever-memorable 
siege. 



8 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the island of Kenery, mounting two hundred pieces of cannon, 
recovered a British vessel taken in there, and caused the pirate 
Rajah, Angria, to pay ,500 per cent, upon the cargo deficient 
through plunder. In 1800, while in command of the 'Fly,' 
cruising against the Malabar pirates, he captured and dismantled 
their principal battery on the heights of Vingorla. In 1801-2 
he was captain of the ' Swift,' of twenty guns, and chief of the 
Marine at the Moluccas, during which period he commanded the 
squadron which mainly contributed to the capture of Ternate, 
the chief seat of the Dutch Government in that quarter, and, 
in the ' Swift,' defeated and partly destroyed a fleet of forty 
sail of Magindanao pirate vessels, and thereby saved the 
Company's settlements on the Celebes. In 1803-5, he was 
captain of the ' Bombay' frigate, and commodore of a squadron, 
under a commission granted by Lord Wellesley, for the protec- 
tion of British shipping in the Bay of Bengal. During this 
period he recaptured the fort of Muckie, on the coast of Sumatra, 
and recovered the remaining part of the ordnance and stores, 
lost through the treachery of the Malay inhabitants. While 
in command of the Bengal squadron, no British merchant 
ship suffered by capture within the limits of his cruise or 
authority. 

In 1807, while in England, he was appointed by the Court 
of Directors, Deputy Master-Attendant at Calcutta, to succeed to 
the station of Master- Attendant on the death or resignation of 
the incumbent, without prejudice to his rank or standing in the 
Bombay Marine ; and, in 1809, he so succeeded to the situation 
of Master-Attendant. In 1811, he received a Commodore's 
commission of the first class from the Governor-General in 
Council, for the expedition to Java. On this occasion he com- 
manded a squadron of nine vessels of war, and all the other 
ships and vessels employed by the Company on the above 
service. On the 24th of December, 1816, by the death of 
Commodore Turner, he became Commodore and Senior Officer 
of the Bombay Marine.* 

His last actual service was during the Burmese war, when 
he commanded the armed flotilla, as a flag officer, on the coast 
of Arracan. His performance of the duty of Master-Attendant 
at Calcutta gave the greatest satisfaction, as appears from the 
testimonials of respect from the mercantile community. During 
the course of his lengthened service he received the highest 
marks of honourable consideration from successive Governments, 
particularly from the Marquis of Wellesley, Sir George Barlow, 
and Lord Minto; and George IV. conferred upon him the 
honour of knighthood, a distiction the more flattering as it was 
unsolicited and unexpected. 

* The dates of Sir John Hayes' commissions were : — Second-Lieutenant, 1787 j 
First-Lieutenant, 1792 ; Second-Captain, 1801 ; First-Captain, 1807. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 9 

In summing up the character of Sir John Hayes, we may 
employ the words used by the conqueror of Gibraltar, Sir 
George Rooke, who, when a friend, shortly before his death, 
expressed his surprise that an officer who had possessed so many 
opportunities of amassing a fortune, was living in comparative 
poverty, replied, " It is true that I leave little behind me, but 
what 1 have has been honestly earned ; it never cost a sailor a 
tear nor the nation a farthing." 

An unfortunate occurrence took place on the 1st of July, 
1831, owing to the Company's trading ship, 'Marquis of 
Camden,' not conforming to the strict quarantine regulations on 
entering Bombay harbour. When going to the eastward of 
the light vessel at the Sunken Rock, a shot was fired across her 
bows from the schooner ' Royal Tiger,' Lieutenant lgglesden, 
as a notice to her to heave-to until the pilot had boarded her. 
As the captain did not obey this summons, acting on his 
instructions, which required that if a vessel runs up as far as 
the Sunken Rock without heaving-to or anchoring, and does 
not attend to the first shot, she is to be fired into till she does, 
Lieutenant lgglesden tired again, when the discharge killed the 
chief mate. An indictment fur manslaughter was preferred 
against Mr. Campbell, who fired the gun, at the instance of the 
captain of the ' Marquis of Camden,' but the bill was thrown 
out by the grand jury. " Few events have taken place here," 
said the ' Bombay Courier,' " which have caused a greater variety 
of reports." 

On the occasion of the retirement from the Service of Captain 
Collinson, the Governor in Council issued a Government Order, 
dated the 17th of September, 1832, "expressing the high sense 
which he entertains of his long and valuable services in the 
Indian Navy, and especially of the zealous and judicious 
manner in which he has conducted the important duties of 
Commodore in the Gulf of Persia during the last three years." 
On the 24th of January, 1833, Sir Charles Malcolm, accom- 
panied by his wife and child, proceeded in the ' Elphinstone,' 
commanded by Captain Rose, to the Cape for the benefit of 
his health, and was absent for more than a year. During his 
absence Captain John Crawford, Master-Attendant, officiated 
as Superintendent, and President of the Board of Health, an 
office held by the former functionary. 

During Sir Charles Malcolm's absence the Master- Attendant 
was removed from the active list, and a Comptroller of the 
Dockyard established, Captain Cogan being appointed to the 
office. New regulations were issued by Captain Crawford, the 
Acting-Superintendent, for the more efficient control of the dock- 
yard and other establishments at Bombay, and, after they had 
been in operation for one year, under the superintendence of 
Commander Cogan, the Comptroller, that officer issued a report 



10 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

addressed to Sir Charles Malcolm, dated the 26th of December, 

1834, as to the great reductions that had been made, without 
sacrificing the efficiency of these establishments ; and he 
attributed the reductions in ship-building chiefly to the adoption 
of '" the system of contract, instead of the former system of 
daily mustered labours under an inefficient control." By this 
system, and the reduced price of timber and other materials 
required in ship building, amounting to no less than fifty per 
cent, since 182(5, it was calculated that an eighty-four gun ship, 
similar to the 'Calcutta,' could be built at a cost of .£21,02(5 
less than in England; and he adds, "it is universally admitted, 
that a Bombay teak-built ship is fifty per cent, superior to 
vessels built in Europe." He also stated that merchant ships 
could be constructed in Bombay dockyard, at a cost of £12 a 
ton. 

Several changes took place at this time, owing to the estab- 
lishment of the new Charter in 1833, by which the powers of the 
local government and the Superintendent were curtailed. The 
whole of the accounts in regard to pay and allowances 
came into the hands of the Military authorities, and officers 
were worried with numerous references, and with sheets of 
foolscap full of frivolous objections as to items of expendi- 
ture. 

The post of boat-officer was abolished, and the Court of 
Directors, continuing their share in the process of reorgani- 
sation, for which the Service appeared to afford all the 
authorities so ample a field, abolished the rank of master,* who 
were passed midshipmen, holding a warrant until they attained 
their lieutenancy in due course of seniority, and instituted the 
rank of mate. 

Captain John Crawford officiated as Superintendent until 
March, 1834, when he proceeded to England,f embarking in the 
'Tigris' for Cosseir. The Governor in Council, by General 
Order, dated the 5th of March, expressed his thanks to this able 

* At a later period this rank was re-established, and was conferred on midship- 
men and officers from the merchant service employed with acting rank in the 
Indus flotilla. By order of the Governor of Bombay, dated the 7th of August, 

1835, mates (or passed midshipmen) received an extra allowance of fifty rupees 
per mensem. Under date of the 11th of August, in the same year, Government 
sanctioned a revised scale of prize-money for the different ranks of the Service, 
— commodores receiving one-sixteenth of the whole ; commanding officers of any 
rank one-sixth ; lieutenants, surgeons, captains of marines, each fifty shares ; 
pursers, assistant-surgeons, chaplains, lieutenants of marines and mates, each 
forty shares; midshipmen, clerks, native and warrant officers, each thirty shares. 
There were six other classes of recijiients of prize-money, including European 
petty officers and seamen, and the eleventh or lowest class, being the 
unit, was entitled to one share. By order of the 10th of October, 1835, lieu- 
tenants received four rupees of batta per day, and midshipmen and warrant 
officers two rupees. 

f Captain Crawford died in England on November the 10th, 1843. He was 
only less distinguished as a surveyor than Captain Ross, and was worthy of being 
ranked with his brother officers, Captains M'Cluer and Court. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 11 

and talented officer, in the following terms — "His Lordship in 
Council has much pleasure on this occasion in recording the 
high sense he entertains of Captain Crawford's valuable services 
in the several situations, afloat and ashore, which during his 
long professional career he has filled, and especially the impor- 
tant situation of officiating Superintendent of the Indian Navy, 
the duties of which he has discharged since January, 1833, to 
the entire satisfaction of the Government." Commander Cogan, 
senior officer at the Presidency, and Comptroller of Dockyards, 
was appointed to officiate until the return of Sir Charles 
Malcolm, who resumed his duties a few weeks later. 

On the 25th of October, 1833, died at sea on board the 
' Clive,' Commodore Henry Wyndham, a distinguished officer, 
who had only been appointed to the command of the Persian 
Gulf squadron on the 9th of December, in the previous year. 
He was succeeded by Captain Thomas Elwon, who had been 
conducting the survey of the Red Sea since the year 1829. 
Commodore Elwon, an officer of high scientific attainments, did 
not long enjoy the perilous honour of commanding the Persian 
Gulf squadron, which has proved fatal to so many incumbents. 
He expired at Bassadore on the 17th of June, 1835, after a few 
days illness, in the forty-first year of his age. In him the 
Government lost an able and conscientious servant, and the 
Service one who, by his affability and kindness of disposition, 
had endeared himself to all equally in public and private life. 
At an early period of his Indian career Commodore Elwon had 
been obliged to proceed to England, owing to the effects of the 
climate, and resumed his duties in 1819. Ten years later he 
commenced the survey of the Red Sea, and had just completed 
his portion of it, extending from Jiddah to the Straits, when 
the death of Commodore Wyndham enabled the Govern- 
ment — which had more than once expressed its thanks and 
approval for the masterly manner in which he conducted the 
survey — to offer him what was in some respects regarded as 
"the blue riband" of the Service. Unhappily for himself, he 
turned a deaf ear to friendly councillors who warned him that 
a respite from the active duties of his profession and a visit to 
Europe, were essential for the maintenance of his health, and 
too soon he paid the penalty of a noble self-abnegation, by an 
early death in the service of his country. He was succeeded by 
Captain Pepper, commanding the sloop-of-war 'Amherst.' 

By orders of the Bombay Government, dated the 4th of 
February, 1833, the following classification of the vessels of the 
Indian Navy, was sanctioned :—' Amherst,' ' Coote,' and ' Clive' 
to be of the second class. 'Elphinstone,' 'Euphrates,' 'Tigris,' 
and ' Hugh Lindsay' steamer, to be of the third class. 
' Ternate,' ' Benares,' ' Palinurus,' and ' Nautilus,' to be of the 
fourth class. On the 7th of the same month, the Governor in 



12 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Council decreed the abolition of " the separate office of the 
auditor of Indian Navy accounts, and transferred its duties to 
the civil auditor." Accordingly Commander Houghton was 
nominated assistant to the civil auditor in the Marine depart- 
ment of the audit. The Service was thought at this time to be 
doomed, and the "Bombay Courier" of the 15th of June, 
1833, stated that " positive orders had been received for 
making extensive reductions from the 1st of July. The officers 
were to be invited to retire, the force was to be cut down 
to four ships and one steamer." In the face of such positive 
statements, it is a marvel that the discipline of the Service was 
maintained, and that all efficiency or esprit de corps had not 
disappeared. But it was not so, and the officers continued to 
discharge their duties with the Damocles sword of abolition 
suspended over their heads. 

In 1834, Lord William Bentinck, recurring to the pro- 
posals of the Report of the Finance Committee of 1829-30, 
strongly recommended the Court of Directors to abolish the 
Indian Navy, as he was of opinion the duties could be per- 
formed at less cost by a squadron of ships of the Royal Navy ; 
but, following the course adopted by Sir John Malcolm, the 
arguments put forth by the Governor-General were refuted iu 
an able minute by Lord Clare, the Governor of Bombay, a 
nobleman who strove to increase the efficiency of the Service, 
and was held in warm regard by its officers. The Supreme 
Government always entertained a certain jealousy of the Ser- 
vice, inasmuch as it was under the orders of the Governor of 
a minor Presidency: and Sir Charles Metcalfe, who agreed 
with the Governor-General in desiring its abolition on the 
score of expense — actually called it " a pet service," than 
which, surely, no appellation could be more inapplicable, for, 
by the recent retrenchments, many appointments of value had 
been abolished, or their emoluments curtailed. Thus, formerly, 
the Service had Commodores both at Bombay and Surat, and 
a Marine Board composed of its officers ; this Board had been 
abolished, while both the assistants to the Master-Attendant 
were of the uncovenanted service. The staff allowance of 200 
rupees to a Deputy Judge-Advocate-General was abolished in 
1832, and, a few years later, the Assistant Naval Auditorship, 
held by Commander Houghton, was, upon his proceeding to 
Europe, conferred upon a military officer. 

In 1823, we find that officers of the Service held the fol- 
lowing staff appointments at Bombay : — Master-Attendant, 
Assistant Master-Attendant, Commodore, Captain of Mazagon 
Dockyard, and Boatmaster ; also, Accountant to the Marine 
Board, and Marine Storekeeper. In addition to these, the follow- 
ing officers of the Service held shore appointments: — Captain 
J. Jeakes, Conservator of Forests in Canara; Captain G. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



13 



Walker, Commodore at Surat; Captain F. Salmond, Master 
Attendant at Bencoolen in Sumatra ; and Captain W. Bruce, 
Political Resident at Bushire ; also, First-Lieutenant D. An- 
derson, Master-Attendant at Mangalore ; First-Lieutenant 
G. Heme, at Kishm ; First-Lieutenant T. K. Tenell, at Telli- 
chery ; and First-Lieutenant C. F. Grice, at Quilon : First- 
Lieutenant Jas. J. Robinson was employed surveying the South 
Concan, and First-Lieutenant E. Searight was Assistant-Con- 
servator of Forests in Malabar. In addition to these, the 
following officers of the Bombay Marine held appointments at 
Calcutta : Captain John Hayes, Master-Attendant ; Com- 
mander W. Arrow, Assistant Master-Attendant (with an 
appointment, under date of the 12th of May, 1819, to succeed 
Captain Hayes when a vacancv should occur) ; Captain Daniel 
Ross, Marine Surveyor in India ; Captain W. Maxfield, First 
Assistant; First-Lieutenant John S. Criddle, Second Assistant; 
and Second-Lieutenant C. Bavilard, attached to the depart- 
ment. But, as successive augmentations took place in the 
Service and the sphere of its duties was enlarged, so, in an 
inverse ratio and contrary to the treatment received by their 
military brethren, the staff appointments, considered the prizes 
of the Service were, one by one, abolished, until the state 
of affairs was reached, animadverted upon by Captain 
Haines, in a memorial he presented to the Court of Directors 
in 1837. In this statement, which met with the consideration 
always displayed by the Hon. Court towards their Naval Service, 
we find that the reductions in the staff appointments since the 
year 1828, were as follow : — 



1828 
1 Commodore in Bombay at . 
1 Master-Attendant in Bombay at 
1 Boatmaster and Agent for Transports 
1 Captain of Mazagon Dock . 
1 Master- Attendant at Bengal, upwards of 
1 Commodore at Surat 
1 Agent for timber at Calicut . 
1 Assistant-Secretary to the Superintendent 

to the Marine Board 
1 Draughtsman 

1st Assistant to the Master- Attendant 
2nd „ „ „ . 

1 Assistant-Paymaster 
1 Deputy-Storekeeper 
1 Master-Attendant at Mangalore 

Total per Mensem 

1837 
1 Master-Attendant at Bombay 
1 Comptroller and Agent for Transports 
1 Senior Officer at Surat 
1 Commodore in the Persian Gulf 
1 President of Standing Committee of Survey 



and Secretary 



K.s. per 
Mensem. 
2,000 
2,500 
1,152 
1,102 
2,600 
1,500 
800 

662 
927 

822 
502 
449 
637 
462 

16,115 

Rs. per 
Mensem. 
1,250 
1,000 
1,396 
1,300 
647 



1-4 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Rs. per 
Mensem. 
1 Assistant Comptroller and Agent for Transports . . 500 

1 Assistant to the Superintendent .... 400 

1 Draughtsman ...... 390 

1 Persian Interpreter to Commodore .... 200 



Total per Mensem . . . 7,083 

Making a monthly difference of . . . 9,032 

Or a year's reduction amounting to . . . . 108,384 

And this retrenchment was effected in what Sir Charles Met- 
calfe denominated a " pet service." It would have puzzled that 
eminent statesman to have stated in what respect, and by 
whom, it was petted, and the officers certainly would gladly 
have dispensed with such a pignus amoris. 

For many years not a single vessel was added to the Service, 
which passed through one of the periodical crises which were 
continually menacing its existence, until, forty years later, the 
evil hour struck when the coup-de-grdce was given by Sir Charles 
AYood. A feeble effort was made to keep the Service from 
expiring from inanition, when, in 1834, a schooner of 157 tons, 
called the 'Mahi,'* was launched at Bombay, and the Court 
sanctioned the construction of two cutters, to replace two patta- 
mars condemned, which received the names of ' Margaret' and 
' Nerbudda.' The Court having, at length, resolved to con- 
tinue the Service, proceeded with that intention to effect its 
transformation into a Steam Marine. With this object they 
gave orders for the construction of two steamers, one in London 
and the other in Glasgow. 

In 1834 a Committee, presided over by an officer of the 
Indian Navy, was appointed for a singular though important 
inquiry. Vice-Aduiiral Sir John Gore, Commander-in-chief on 
the Indian station, being of opinion that Bombay harbour had 
seriously deteriorated since the dates of his first visits in 1789 and 
171)1, wrote lengthy letters to the local Government, dated the 
20th of December, 1833, and the Nth of January, 1834, draw- 
ing attention to certain facts, indicative, in his opinion, of this 
deterioration, and suggesting measures to arrest the progress of 
the evil, and also the construction of a basin from the Flagstaff 
Bastion to the southern extremity of the dockyard wall. The 
Governor in Council, accordingly, appointed a Committee of 
six members, presided over by Captain R. Cogan, and in- 

* The 'Mahi' and fie 'Nerbudda,' as also the old brig ' Taptee,' received 
their names from rivers which flow into the Gulf of Cambay. The proper name 
of the first-named stream is the Mahe. Mahe is also the name of the principal 
island of the Seychelle group, so called after M. Mahe de la Bourdonnais, the cele- 
brated Frenchman. The word Seychelle, it may be mentioned, is derived from 
M. Moreau de Seychelle, an officer of the French East India Company. The 
group consists of about a dozen small islands, of which the principal are Mahe, 
Praslin (named after a French Minister), and La Digue (called after a French 
ship) and several rocks and islets. There is also a French settlement on the 
Malabar Coast called Mahe. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 15 

eluding Captain Harris, for the purpose of reporting to 
Government on the facts adverted to by his Excellency, and on 
the measures suggested for their amelioration. The report of 
the Committee denied the statements of Sir John Gore as to 
the decreased depth of water in the harbour, adducing charts of 
1794 by M'Cluer, and 1813 by Captain Keys, as well as Captain 
Cogan's survey of 1829, and also soundings taken by the Com- 
mittee. They also proved that there was no diminution in the 
depth of water of the docks, the 'Asia,' eighty-four, having 
been floated out in 1824. drawing sixteen feet ten inches. Sir 
John Gore criticised the report of the Committee in a very 
long and heated letter, written at Port Louis, Mauritius, on the 
23rd of July, to which again Captain Cogan, as President of 
the Committee, replied at length on the 19th of September, 
conclusively refuting the Admiral's statements and deductions. 

Captain Cogan proceeded to Europe in June, 1835, being 
entrusted with a friendly mission from Seyyid Said, Imaum of 
Muscat, who desired to present to King William IV. his line-of- 
battle ship, ' Liverpool,' of seventy-four guns, which had been 
built at Bombay for his service in 1826. Captain Cogan pos- 
sessed an intimate knowledge of the people and territories 
belonging to the Imaum, who then also ruled over Zanzibar 
and was greatly instrumental in establishing and strengthening 
the intimate alliance which has so long existed with that great 
prince and his successors, including the present rulers of Zanzibar 
and Muscat. At the request of the Imaum, Captain Cogan took 
the 'Liverpool' to England, and, by command of William IV., 
navigated back to Zanzibar, assisted by officers and men of the 
Service, the 'Prince Regent,' one of the finest of the royal 
yachts, as a present from His Majesty to the Imaum. It was 
on the representations of Captain Cogan, who, while in England, 
gave the Geographical Society much valuable information 
relative to the peoples and territories nnder the rule of the 
Sultan of Muscat, that the Society nominated that prince one 
of its honorary members, and sent the diploma conferring that 
honour by Captain Cogan. The Right Hon. Sir Alexander 
Johnston, in his address to the Royal Geographical Society, 
referred in eulogistic terms to the great services of Captain 
Cogan, " particularly in establishing an intimate alliance 
between the Imaum of Muscat and Great Britain." 

In 1835 the Indian Navy squadron came into open collision 
with the Beni Yas,* a tribe of Arabs in the Persian Gulf, who 

* The following are some details regarding this tribe and their habitat, derived 
from the Reports of Lieutenants Hennell, Kemball, and Disbrowe, Assistant 
Political Residents at Bushire, which are of interest as detailing the sort of 
employment these restless Arab tribes afforded the cruisers of the Indian Navy. 
Abu Thubi, or Aboothabee, the capital of the Beni Yas, is a town and fort situated 
just below Ras Suffan, on an island formed by a backwater, which admits boats, 
but is fordable at one spot during low water. The anchorage of the town is 



1 6 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

who were only second to the Joasmi in point of numbers and 
importance. Already, in the years 1827 and 1833, the lawless 

unsafe ; vessels drawing fourteen feet of water, are obliged to lie a mile and 
a-half ofFthe shore, and are completely exposed to the violence of the north-westers. 
Abu Thubi is one of the most prosperous town on the coast, containing about 
20,000 souls, and, during the pearl-fishery, upwards of 600 boats visit the banks, 
each carrying from seven to fifteen men. The soil is arid, and unproductive, and 
the water brackish, all the good water being brought from Debaye, and sold at 
about one kerau or franc for two goat-skins. Abu Thubi is consequently 
dependent upon other places for its supplies of provisions, and is soon reduced to 
great distress by anything like an effective blockade. The original seat of the 
Beni Yas, which is divided into several families, like that of other Arabian tribes, 
was in Nejd, but on leaving that part of Arabia, the larger portion of the tribe 
being composed of Bedouins, resided in the interior, and tended their flocks and 
herds ; but some few individuals, reduced to poverty by the loss of their cattle, 
took up their abode on the shores of the Persian Gulf, on the line of coast 
between Debaye, about seven miles from Sharjah, and a short distance from the 
present site of the town of Abu Thubi. The first establishment took place about 
the year 1761. The intelligence of water having been found, quickly spread 
through the tribe ; and before two years had elapsed, the place had increased to 
four hundred houses. 

In 1795, after the usual Arab family feuds, during which the candidates for 
Chiefship frequently took one another's lives, Sheikh Shakboot assumed undis- 
puted possession of the chief authority in the tribe, and continued at its head 
until 1816, in which year, his eldest son, Mahomed bin Shakboot, succeeded in 
deposing him. Mahomed remained as Sheikh for two years, when his younger 
brother, Tahnoon, having received a baghalah, together with a considerable sum of 
money, from the Imaum, returned from Muscat to Abu Thubi, and, with the 
assistance of his father, and goodwill of the majority of the tribe, succeeded in 
expelling the usurper in 1818. For some time after this event both father and 
son acted together as heads of the tribe, but gradually the authority of Sheikh 
Tahnoon became superior. To this alteration in their respective relations, 
Shakboot appears to have submitted quietly, as he continued to reside in Abu 
Thubi and its neighbourhood, and was at all times employed by Tahnoon in 
negotiating affairs of importance. Mahomed bin Shakboot, his elder brother, 
with some difficulty, saved his life by flight, and taking refuge in Biddah, claimed 
the protection of Abdoolla bin Ahmed, the Chief of Bahrein. Until this period 
the Beni Yas had always been the close and iutimate allies of the Joasmis, but the 
connection formed by Sheikh Tahnoon with, the Imaum of Muscat, gradually 
weakened the friendship existing between the two tribes, until at length a total 
change ensued in their relations, and they became bitter enemies. In 1820, the Beni 
Yas tribes were admitted members of the General Treaty concluded by the British 
Government with the Maritime Arabs of the Persian Gulf, for the effectual sup- 
pression of piracy in that sea. Towards the end of 1823, Sheikh Tahnoon's brother, 
Mahomed bin Shakboot, having collected a body of the Monasir tribe, attacked 
and plundered Abu Thubi. The former immediately marched with 1,500 men to 
relieve the town, and after an action which lasted some hours, Mahomed was 
forced to retreat, having lost thirty-five men. In November, 1827, Sultan bin 
Suggur declared war against Tahnoon, on account of his continual aggressions. 
Among these was the seizure of several Shargah pearl boats by the Governor of 
Debaye, who, however, was compelled, by the prompt and efficient measures taken 
by the officer commanding the Company's vessel of war cruising on the pearl 
banks, to restore both the vessels and cargo. Agreeably to the arrangement pre- 
viously made with the Imaum, Sheikh Tahnoon joinedliis Highness with a large 
contingent in October, 1828, and accompanied the expedition against Bahrein, 
which ended in failure, owing, it is believed, to a secret understanding between 
the Beni Yas chief and the Sheikh of Bahrein. 
• Acts of piracy were committed by the Beni Yas tribe in July and September, 
1828, which resulted in a blockade of Abu Thubi, in the following year by the 
Joasmis. At length Sheikh Tahnoon gave refuge to some Joasmis who had 
plundered a boat belonging to an English subject, which resulted in the dispatch 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVST. 17 

acts of that portion of the Beni Yas, established at Abu Thubi, 
had demanded severe repressive measures on the part of the 
Hon. Company's cruisers, but they were now to receive a lesson 
which was not forgotten during the remaining thirty years of 
the existence of the Service. After the occurrence, of which 
we will now give a detailed account, the officers of the cruisers 
landing at Abu Thubi and other ports on this coast, were 

of the Company's ships to enforce reparation. Although the piracy was committed 
in May, 1832, it was not until early in the following year, owing to Sheikh 
Nassir's proceedings at Bushire urgently requiring the presence of the cruisers of 
the Gulf squadron, that the Resident's demand upon him for the delivery of the 
culprits, or the payment of 1,500 German crowns, was acceded to, by the 
adoption of the latter alternative. The satisfaction thus afforded, however, put 
it out of the power of the Sheikh of Sharjah to excuse any further delay in 
making good his share of the value of the property plundered ; and the Com- 
modore of the Gulf squadron accordingly called upon him to disburse the sum of 
2,000 German crowns. Owing to non-compliance, the vessels of war despatched 
on this duty found it necessary to destroy a batil belonging to Sharjah, lying near 
Ejman. In April, 1833, Sheikh Tahnoon's life was sacrificed to the ambition and 
jealousy of his two brothers, Khaleefa and Sultan, whom he had recalled from 
banishment at the earnest entreaty of their father. Discovered in plotting 
against their brother, Sheikh Khaleefa, having concealed a loaded pistol under bis 
clothes, shot Tahnoon in the side, when Sultan immediately despatched him with 
his dagger. 

The Company's surveying vessels in 1826 received much attention from this 
Chief, who engaged in the games with which officers and men while on shore 
passed away their time. On one occasion an officer, seeing the Chief overhauling 
him in a foot race in which they had been matched, threw himself across the 
Sheikh's path, when Tahnoon fell headlong over his opponent. Like a gentle- 
man, however, he retained his temper and congratulated the officer on the 
successful ruse. While Tahnoon lived, the reduction of the tribe to submission 
promised much difficulty to the Wahabee chief: for the late Sheikh, savs 
Wellsted, retained in his pay four hundred men, well armed and equipped ; but 
the first act of the usui'pers was to tender allegiance and the payment of tribute 
to Toorkey bin Saood, the Wahabee leader, who intimated to the Joasmi chief 
that they were under his protection, and that he would permit no aggressions upon 
them. The oppressive and arbitrary conduct of the usurpers very soon disgusted 
the tribe, and a conspiracy was formed in August, ] 833, for their murder ; this, 
however, was discovered, but the discontent created by their proceedings induced 
two brandies of the Beni Yas, the Boo Felasa and Rumsha, consisting of about 
eight hundred persons, to proceed to Debaye, which, after a little hesitation and 
delay, was given up to them by the Beni Yas governor, when they summoned 
the rest, who were on the pearl banks, to join them there. Taking advantage of 
these dissensions, the Joasmi Sheikh, Sultan bin Suggur, on the 7th of September, 
proceeded to Abu Thubi with a combined force, consisting of seven hundred men 
of the Boo Felasa and Rumsha tribes in eighty boats, and five hundred and 
twenty of his own men in twenty-two boats, in the full conviction that the place 
would be taken without difficulty. The threatened attack, however, had the 
effect of settling the disputes between Sheikh Kaleef'a, Sultan, and the father 
Shakboot, and a force of three thousand five hundred men of the Beni Yas and 
Monasir tribes had been assembled in Abu Thubi. The invaders were taken by 
surprise and suffered a severe defeat, and Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur had a narrow 
escape from drowning. The Joasmi chief now blockaded Abu Thubi, but at 
length, after much plundering at sea and fighting on land, Sheikh Kaleefa sent 
his father, Shakboot, to Sharjah, who succeeded in concluding a peace with Sultan 
bin Suggur, one of the conditions being that the Boo Felasa, the branch of the 
Beni Yas residing in Debaye, should thenceforth be under the authority of the 
• I i -mis. At length, in the middle of 1834, the people of Abu Thubi committed 
acts of piracy which drew down upon them the severe chastisement detaded 
above. 

VOL. II. C 



18 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

received with tokens of respect by the lawless population, who, 
unlike their Joasmi neighbours, not having experienced the 
dire effects of British resentment, had grown aggressive, 
and made light of the remonstrances of the Political Agent at 
Bushire. 

In 1834 the Persian Gulf Squadron, which was kept at a 
strength of four or five cruisers, consisted of only the ' Amherst' 
and ' Elphinstone.' Taking advantage of this weakness, the 
people of Abu Thubi, under the leadership of a new and lawless 
chief, embarked on a course of open piracy ; and their first act was 
to attack a vessel from Muttra, and plunder her of property to 
the amount of one thousand dollars. The Sheikh of Abu 
Thubi, Khaleefa bin Shakboot, who had attained power by the 
true Bedouin method of murdering his brother, Tahnoon, 
failed to afford redress in compliance with the demands of the 
British Politieal Resident, until he was made aware, by the 
appearance of a vessel of war off his port, of the determination 
to enforce it. The predatory spirit which had from time to 
time evinced itself on the part of the different Arab tribes, by the 
occasional plunder of individual vessels, for which satisfaction 
and ample reparation had always, however, been exacted, now 
broke out into open and avowed piracy on the part of the Beni 
Yas, who attacked not only native vessels but likewise those 
under British colours. "They openly asserted to their cap- 
tives," says Lieutenant (now General Sir) Arnold Kemball, 
" that they were determined to leave off all trade, and com- 
mence piracy ; that their dwellings, constructed of sticks and 
cadjan mats, could be moved into the interior at will, and thus 
placed, with themselves, out of the power of the English. The 
extent of their success of course depending upon despatch, their 
fleets cruised for a length of time on the Persian coast, in the 
general track of the Gulf trade, committing the most daring 
depredations, attended with the greatest cruelty, involving in 
some cases the murder of the whole of the crews of the boats 
that fell into their hands. The most speedy and ample retribu- 
tion was therefore imperatively necessary to deter the other 
tribes from following the example, and thus rendering unsafe 
the commerce between this Gulf and the Indian seas." 

The Beni Yas chief equipped a fleet of powerful war vessels, 
which were sent to cruise down the centre of the Gulf in the 
track of the traders ; one squadron, which included three of 
the largest size, being baghalahs of 300 tons, each carrying 
over one hundred men, was despatched with the avowed object 
of encountering the Company's cruisers, which it was calculated 
they could overpower in detail. The piratical chief judged 
that his challenge to contest the supremacy of the waters of the 
Persian Gulf, which had been conceded to the British flag 
since the destruction of the Joasmi fleets and ports in 1811*, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 19 

would be taken up by the Company's cruisers ; but lie con- 
sidered that the squadron he had equipped with guns and 
every other appliances for war, and manned with the picked 
warriors of his tribe, would be able to destroy them, and the 
victory, he knew, would once more raise the hydra-head of 
piracy throughout the Gulf, under his leadership. Khaleefa 
bin Shakboot showed his astuteness in his surmise that the 
gauntlet he threw down would be eagerly taken up hj the 
British ships, but he made an egregious mistake when he 
counted on success attending his efforts to wrest from them 
the command of those inland waters. So certain was he of 
success, that he actually provided on board his ship cauldrons 
of hot oil, in which to throw the heads of unbelievers ! 

In April, 1835, on learning of these astounding proceedings, 
Commodore Elwon, commanding the Indian Navy squadron, 
directed the Hon. Company's sloop-of-war ' Elphinstone,' Cap- 
tain Sawyer commanding, to proceed to sea, and cruise off the 
Tombs near Bassadore, with orders to bring the pirates to 
action. That officer immediately sailed from Bassadore, and, on 
the evening of the 15th of April, after having twice chased some 
suspicious-looking craft sightward to windward, the pirate 
vessels sailing in close order. During the night the ' Elphin- 
stone ' worked up, and, at daybreak on the 16th, came up off 
the Island of Surdy, with the squadron of seven vessels in 
battle array. The men were ordered to quarters, and all the 
guns were double-shotted — first with round, and then with 
grape shot. As the enemy drew near, Captain Sawyer saw he 
had a desperate game to play, for, if once they could only 
grapple his vessel, they would pour hundreds of men upon his 
decks, and eighty British seamen, with about thirty or forty 
natives and marines could not hope long to maintain so unequal 
a conflict. "Now," said he to his men, "the first shot here is 
half the battle ; put a third round into the quarter-deck 
guns, and don't fire till I give the word of command." He 
then steered, with a light breeze, for the enemy, and, perceiving 
two of the largest vessels sufficiently apart to pass through, 
he said to the master, " Steer straight between them." When 
within a few yards, the Arabs leaped up on the bulwarks, two 
men with grappling irons, and the remainder with sword and 
spear. A young officer covered one of the men with the grap- 
pling iron, and another marksman took the second, and both 
fell dead with bullets through their breasts. In return came a 
shower of spears, and then was heard the clear, calm voice of 
the Captain, "Steady, Ready, Fire!" From eighteen 32- 
pounders there poured a storm of shot, scattering death and 
destruction around, and making the little ship quiver from 
stem to stern. The two vessels were riddled like sieves, and 
those of the Arabs not killed or wounded, sought death by 

c 2 



20 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

leaping overboard. For a passing second there was a dead 
silence, the concussion of the salvo having produced a calm. 
Then was heard a storm of shouts and groans from the Arabs, 
mingling with the exulting cheers of the British seamen, and 
above the din rose the word of command from the Captain : — 
"First division of boarders away." In a moment the men left 
their quarters, prepared to cope with some hundreds of despera- 
does whom the)' had seen swarming on the decks and bulwarks 
of the five remaining vessels. But the scene was now changed. 
The Arab crews, appalled by the dreadful lesson thus read to 
them, rapidly got out their sweeps, and pulled for their lives. 
Boats were lowered, and the Sheikh's baghalah, the largest of the 
squadron, was boarded, when it was found that one of the round 
shot had broken to pieces the cauldron of boiling oil specially 
prepared for the heads of the Christians, and scattered the con- 
tents around. In the cabin were discovered, paralysed with fear, 
and prostrate on the deck, a young Hindoo lady and her father, 
a merchant, whom the pirates had taken from a vessel the day 
before. 

For this gallant service Captain Sawyer* received thanks 
from the Bombay Government and from the British Envoy at 
the Court of Persia; his Highness the Imaum of Muscat also 
presented him with a handsome sword. 

The ' Elphinstone' returned to Bassadore to report proceed- 
ings, and, on the 19th, sailed for Abu Thubi, to join the 
'Amherst,' with which she fell in on the 21st, returning from 
that port. An officer of the 'Elphinstone' says in a letter to 
the Bombay papers: — "It came out that the 'Elphinstone' 
in her broadsides had killed one hundred and sixty men. The 
pirates at Abu Thubi, expressing their alarm and astonishment 
at the transaction, intimated that anything we wanted should be 
given up ; at the same time they brought some vessels out, which 
are now going off for safety to Bassadore. The ' Amherst' and 

* Captain Sawyer, who still survives, had distinguished himself on many occa- 
sions before this event. He joined the Service in February, 1812, and performed 
good service on the eastern coast of India, at Penang in the 'Thetis' and 
' Antelope ' under command of Captain Tanner, up the Persian Gulf, where he 
held temporary command of the brig ' Vestal ' in 1818, and at Berbera, on the 
Soomali coast, in 1827, when lie received the thanks of Sir Gordon Bremer, 
commanding Her Majesty's ship 'Tamar.' In June, 1829, he was appointed to 
command the new ten-gun brig ' Tigris,' and, in this vessel, as already men- 
tioned, in the early part of August, succeeded in effecting in nineteen days the 
direct passage from Bombay to the Persian Gulf, against the south-west monsoon, 
instead of the long and circuitous route known as the Southern Passage, which 
was described by Captain Tanner as " a feat of seamanship then known to have 
been often attempted, but never before accomplished by any navigator." For 
this service the Bombay Government, in a letter dated the 27th of June, 1830, 
expressed their thanks. In 1833, he was employed in the ' Tigris,' in company with 
another cruiser, enforcing a reimbursement from Sultan bin Suggur, the Joasmi 
chief, for an act of piracy committed by his people ; and for the success that 
rewarded his exertions, Captain Sawyer was warmly commended by Commodore 
Pepper. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 21 

' Elphinstone' will return immediately for more of the prizes 
captured by the pirates, not one half having yet been given 
up. 

"Had they boarded us, all must have been put to death, or 
' boiled in oil.' I am not surprised at their assurance, for it is 
supposed that upwards (1 shall speak within bounds) of six 
hundred men were in the vessels, and what could one hundred 
and fifty do against them? They said the evening before the 
attack, that after they had taken us, the ' Elphinstone' should 
be manned by them, and turn pirate. The broadsides struck 
them with terror. They pulled and sailed for their lives, as no 
quarter would have been shown by either party. The Sheikh, 
a young man of six-and-twenty, is severely wounded in two 
places. Five of the pirate boats are still out, I suspect afraid 
of returning to their town, thinking they may be murdered, 
and they can be but sunk by us. I trust they will give up 
quietly."* 

* The following is the official report of the action by Captain Sawyer : — 
"At daylight of the 16th of April, observed three buggalows, one batil, and 
three buggarahs, to the N.W., standing S.W. Turned the hands out, and made 
all possible sail to come up. At six a.m. got them broad off the lee bow, and 
found we gained on them. Beat to action and prepared to engage. At seven 
o'clock fired the larboard bow gun, and hoisted our colours. Discovered the 
headmost buggalow to be completely crowded with men, and having in tow a 
large one. She fired a gun, hoisted a Hag, and dropped it three times, apparently 
in contempt and defiance. The whole then closed, and formed, and we fired a shot, 
which fell rather short. The leading buggalow immediately returned it, and the 
shot was seen to take the water about midway. The whole then struck their 
colours, and one of the buggarahs lowered her sail, and pulled towards us, 
evidently with the intention of attracting our attention. On minutely observing 
her, found she was full of men. There was now no doubt of this being the 
piratical fleet belonging to Abu Thubi, and the Arab pilot confidently assured us 
they were. On closing, he recognised the vessels, and declared the leading one to 
contain the Sultan bin Shakboot. On finding we were gaining, he cast off the 
tow, and they lowered the sails, and closed within pistol-shot, with the other boats 
formed on their beam for battle. We immediately stood between them, having 
just room to do so without touching, having the Sheikh's buggalow on the star- 
board, and the tow on the larboard side. In passing between them we poured 
into each a broadside, round and grape, the guns nearly touching. The crew of 
the Sheikh's vessel cheered, crying " Alia Akbar al Kaffir." Some were seen in 
the act of throwing grapnels into us, but were immediately shot. About ninety 
or a hundred men rushed towards the head, with their long spears, which touched 
our quarter, for the purpose of boarding us, in which they failed, having met 
with a most destructive fire from small arms. There must have been at least two 
hundred men in this vessel, and they presented a most formidable phalanx, with 
their towering spears. Very serious damage must have been sustained by these 
vessels, as large splinters were seen flying in all directions. Immediately after 
passing, about ninety men jumped overboard from the tow, and were picked up 
by the Sheikh's vessel, who hoisted her sail, and stood to the northward, accom- 
panied by one of the batils, which afterwards parted. Endeavoured to close with 
him, but he outsailed us. Shifted the bow gun to the bridle port, in the hope of 
being able to cripple him, but without effect, the shot falling short. The 
remainder of the boats hauled up for the abandoned buggalow, and stripped her 
of her sail, and some other small articles, and then stood to the south-west. At 
nine o'clock, observed the chase heaving overboard some articles which we could 
not make out. The wind decreasing, plied his sweeps,' by which he gained. 



22 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

This exhibition of the determination and power to put down 
piracy had the best effect; and, says Lieutenant Kemball, 
" very materially facilitated compliance with the demands now 
made for the various vessels plundered by the Chief of Abu 
Thubi, to the total value of 24,597 German crowns." The 
British demands were complied with, and one brig, seven 
baghalahs, two batils, five baggarahs, and the greater part of 
the goods on board the British baghalah 'Deriah Dowlut,' were 
recovered, together with upwards of 10,000 German crowns in 
cash and property, besides an engagement for 1,600 more on 
the termination of the pearl fishery, towards the liquidation of 
the claims made for the cargoes of the vessels destroyed and 
plundered. All their captives were released, and the two pirate 
chiefs, Mahomed bin Suggur bin Zheab, and Mahomed bin 
Majid, who headed the outrages upon the British flag, surren- 
dered. The three principal Beni Yas vessels, concerned in the 
late piracies, were given up as pledges for the settlement of the 
balance due on account of the English baghalah. Add to this 
the seizure of their own batil at Muscat, with a valuable cargo, in 
compensation for the loss occasioned by the plunder of a 
baghalah belonging to that port, and the chastisement inflicted 
upon the piratical fleet, and it will be allowed that the repara- 
tion exacted was ample. The officers and men of the 

Lowered the two cutters, sent them a-head to tow, and got out the longest oars 
for sweeps, but without effect. We continued the chase until after sunset, when 
he rounded the eastern point of Polior, about live miles a-head of us. Having 
lost sight of her, and night coming on, deemed it advisable to give over the pur- 
suit in the present direction, and hauled up to the southward, in the expectation 
of meeting with her at daylight, which not doing, stood on for Abu Thubi, and 
about eight a.m. of the 17th, discovered the abandoned buggalow, and stood for 
her. At ten o'clock observed a raft, with men waving flags, about five miles to 
the eastward. Sent an officer to take possession of the buggalow, who found 
eight bodies on her deck, and committed them to the deep. Sent the pinnace to 
the raft, who found nine men on it, and brought them on board. On examining 
them, tbej stated they were part of the crew of the buggalow we had taken pos- 
session of, called the ' Nassir,' belonging to Congoon. Had been forty days from 
Mangalore, when she was captured by the fleet we found her with, near Koong, 
four or five days ago ; the crew consisted of forty originally — a few are supposed 
to have escaped, but the others and Nakhoda were put to death ; that the mode 
of intended attack was to board us in passing between the two buggalows, in 
different points, and that they were confident of success. They boasted of having 
large vessels of oil boiling for the purpose of dipping us in when taken. They 
had no idea of the effect of a broadside from 32-pounders, and were completely 
paralysed ; so much so, that they forgot to fire themselves, and immediately 
jumped overboard. Salim states that his party threw twenty-five bodies over- 
board, and that the same number were taken away wounded, 'ibis makes thirty- 
three killed in this boat alone, and it is highly gratifying to me to find that none 
of the survivors originally belonging to the vessel were hurt by us. Two of them 
had been cut and stabbed by the pirates, and two others injured in the contest 
with them. They abandoned the buggalow about four p.m., preferring the peril 
of a raft to again falling into the hands of the pirates, whom they expected to 
return. The other buggalow must have suffered much more, and it is a matter 
of deep regret that we could not get up with her. Salim states that it was the 
intention of the pirates, after taking the ' Nassir,' to proceed to Kas-ool-had for 
the purpose of committing more depredations." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 23 

' Elphinstone' received no salvage, or pecuniary emoluments, 
whereas had they been in the Royal Service they would have 
been entitled to one-third of the value of the captured vessels 
and property as prize money. 

The engagements entered into by Sheikh Shakboot, the 
father and accredited agent of the Beni Yas chief, for the 
gradual liquidation of the amount of the claims remaining 
unadjusted, were confirmed by his son, and subsequently 
strictly fulfilled. The surrendered pirate commanders were 
taken to Bombay in the ' Elphinstone,' and, on the 6th of 
December, 1835, Mahomed bin Suggur was tried in the Supreme 
Court, before Sir John Awdry, for piracy in seizing on the high 
seas, on the 25th of March, 1835, the baghalah ' Deriah Dowlut,' 
having on board one hundred and thirty-five souls, and plunder- 
ing her of goods to the value of 2,000 rupees. The chief was 
found guilty and condemned to death; but a point of law being 
raised, the sentence was subsequently commuted to transporta- 
tion for life. As Lieutenant Wellsted, of the Indian Navy, in 
referring to this punishment, remarks, in his Travels, " The 
first part of this affair was intelligible enough to the several 
tribes along the coast, for we had no repetition of such attempts, 
but the sentence, which was carried into effect, puzzled them 
sorely ; and, during my travels, I was repeately warned not to 
venture too near to, or within the territories of this tribe, as 
they had threatened to retaliate by boiling in oil the first 
European they could lay hands on." 

The other pirate chief, Mahomed bin Majid, against whom, 
unfortunately, no prosecution could be maintained, was returned 
to be handed over a prisoner to Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur, 
to whom was left the infliction of adequate punishment. 
The prisoner, however, effected his escape by swimming, 
unobserved, from the vessel in which he was being conveyed, 
and succeeded in reaching the shore, off Sharjah, distant about 
four miles. 

In the Report of the Finance Committee of 1829-30, already 
referred to, and in Lord William Bentinck's Minute of 1834, 
the efficiency of the Indian Navy, and the ability of the small 
cruisers to keep in check the piratical Arab tribes of the Persian 
Gulf, were called seriously in question ; but the action with 
the Beni Yas conclusively proved the fallacy of the accusation. 
The history of the Service, from the year 17i)7, when the 
Joasmis committed their first open act of aggression against 
the British flag, by making a sudden attack on the Company's 
cruiser ' Viper,' in Bushire, Roads, showed that even the small 
vessels of those clays were more than a match for a pirate of 
the largest size known in the Gulf, and the capture of the little 
schooner 'Sylph,' by a Joasmi squadron, was solely due to the 
instructions of the Bombay Government, by which the hands 



24 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of the commanding officer were tied, and he was deterred from 
firing a shot until an open act of aggression had heen committed 
by the enemy. These ill-judged measures necessitated the 
expeditions of 1809 and 1819, the expenses of which form such 
formidable items in the Finance Committee's Report. But the 
fatuous nature of this Report appears in the eighteenth 
paragraph, wherein it is recommended that protection should 
only be afforded to British trade, and that thus we should 
cease to maintain the police of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. 
Sir John Malcolm, than whom no man was equally conversant 
with this phase of the question, effectually disposed of so 
suicidal a proposal in his Minute. 

After this unexpected outbreak of the piratical proclivities 
which it was known lay dormant in the breasts of these truculent 
Arabs, the Persian Gulf squadron was strengthened, and 
it was deemed imperative that some limit should be imposed on 
the extent of the cruising grounds of their war vessels. Accord- 
ingly, in January, 1836, it was personally intimated to the Arab 
chiefs, by Captain Hennell, the Political Resident, who went 
the tour of the Gulf with the Commodore of the Indian Naval 
Squadron, that, under instructions from the Bombay Govern- 
ment, the excursions of their vessels must thenceforth be 
confined within a line drawn from Khor es Shem, or Elphinstone 
Inlet, near Cape Mussendum, to within ten miles south of the 
island of Bomosa, or Abu Musa, (lat. 25° 53' N., long. 55° 3' E.), 
and thence onward through the island of Seir Aboneid (lat. 25° 
15' N., long. 54° 14' E.) ; and Captain Hennell further informed 
them, that the commanders of the Company's ships-of-war had 
been instructed to seize any of their vessels, other than trading 
craft, carrying cargo found within the Persian side of this 
neutral ground. Upon this Sultan bin Suggur represented that 
he had sometimes occasion to send his war boats round Cape 
Mussendum to his possessions at Khor Fukaun : upon which he 
was informed that, previous to his doing so, he must obtain 
the sanction of the Commodore of the Gulf Squadron at 
Bassadore, who was instructed at the same time that it was 
desirable, if possible, that the observance of the prescribed 
limits should be enforced upon the Joasmi Sheikh, especially 
between the months of October and July, during the chief com- 
mercial intercourse between India and the Gulf. At the same 
time it was officially intimated to the Beni Yas that, as a 
punishment for their recent aggressions, the cruising ground of 
their war boats should be limited for a period to within sight of 
their own coast. 

Subsequently, upon the commission of some piratical acts by 
the sons of the Sheikh of Bahrein, whilst in rebellion against 
their father, the restricted line imposed upon the chiefs of the 
Maritime Arabs, was made applicable to Bahrein, by being ex- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 25 

tended from Hawlool (lat. 25° 40' N., long. 25° 25'£ E.) through 
the island of El Koran — the most southerly of the Biddulph 
group, (lat. 27° 39' N., long. 49° 50' E.)— to Ras el Zaur (lat, 
28° 44' N., long. 48° 25' E.), on the mainland ; to this measure 
the Uttoohee chief, Abdoola bin Ahmed, gave his assent in a 
letter dated the 26th of March, 183(5. Two months later, 
Sultan bin Suggur and Sheikh Shakboot, the father and repre- 
sentative of the Beni Yas chief, being at Bassadore, a cruiser 
was despatched to Debaye, to induce Obin bin Saeed, one of 
the Sheikhs of the place, to join the conference which the 
Resident had convoked for the establishment of a peace between 
the hostile tribes. This chief returned in the cruiser, and was 
immediately followed by the Sheikh of Ejinan, but notwith- 
standing all the arguments he could employ, Captain Hennell 
could only induce the chiefs to agree to a maritime truce for six 
months, which was duly signed by the contracting parties, who 
were given to understand that any infraction of its provisions 
would be treated as piracy. Owing to this truce, the season of 
the pearl fishery* passed over with unusual tranquillity, and it 
was renewed first for eight months, on the 13th of April, 1836, 
with undisguised satisfaction by the chiefs, and again on the 
15th of April of the following year. 

In 1838, on the Political Resident making the tour of the 
Persian Gulf in the Commodore's ship, Sheikh Sultan bin 
Suggur, the Joasmi chief, at one time considered the firebrand 
of the Gulf, was induced not only to express his earnest desire 
for a renewal of the truce, but added that it would afford him 
sincere pleasure if the suspension of hostilities could be changed 
to the establishment of a permanent peace upon the seas. This 
was going rather too fast to please the other chiefs, so the 
annual truce of eight months was extended for one of a year. 
In July, 1839, the ' Hugh Lindsay,' Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, 
embarked Captain Hennell on his tour round the piratical 
ports, and the chiefs came on board to pay their respects to 
the British representative, and sign the truce. Lieutenant 

* The pearl fishery yields to the chiefs of Bahrein a revenue of 100,000 
tomauns. The fishing boats number fourteen hundred sail, of which seven 
hundred are of large size, three hundred intermediate, and four hundred of small 
size. Besides the master, the larger are manned by fourteen divers and fourteen 
assistants, the intermediate by nine divers and nine assistants, and the small craft 
by seven divers and the same number of assistants. The master receives four 
portions, the divers two, and the assistants a settled pay of from five to six 
tomauns ; the crews borrow from the bankers at a rate of thirty or more per cent. 
The Governor of Bahrein provides an escort of seven war baghalahs, for which 
he levies a convoy duty of two tomauns yearly from each boat. So valuable 
is the fishery that the principal merchants of Shargah, in a private communication 
to the British Agent at that place, offered to guarantee to the Indian Government 
the sum of twenty dollars per annum for each boat if one of the Company's ships 
of war was deputed to guard them from aggression ; but of course the proposal 
was declined. For a full description of the pearl fisheries, see " Wellsted's 
Travels," vol. i., chap. 6, p. 114. 



26 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Campbell took the ' Hugh Lindsay,' which drew only eleven 
feet of water, close in to the beach at Ras-ul-Khymah, to the 
amazement and dismay of the inhabitants who had never before 
seen a steamer, while no ship of war had ever been able to lie 
within the sand banks off that place. Thence she proceeded to 
the other piratical ports and the small khors, or inlets, in 
Amalgavine, Sharjah, and other places, where the moral effect 
produced by her appearance had a most salutary influence.* 
The twelve months' truce was extended from year to year, and 
only on one occasion did the old spirit manifest itself. This 
was in April, 1840, when Sultan bin Suggur, immediately 
on the expiry of the term, attacked the Amalgavine chief by 
sea as well as by land, and was on the point of capturing the 
place when the timely appearance of a sloop-of-war with the 
Commodore and Resident on board, forced him to withdraw 
his naval force.f 

At length, with the consent of all parties, on the 1st of June, 
1843, the annual maritime truce was superseded by one for ten 
years, and finally, through the mediation of Captain Kemball, a 
few days before the expiration of this truce, a "Perpetual 
Maritime Treaty of Peace,"$ dated the 4th of May, 1853, was 
agreed to, and since that date, piracies in the Gulf have been 
of rare occurrence, though naturally with such truculent and 
combustible material as is inherent in the Arab character, slight 
cases of aggression, occasionally accompanied by bloodshed, 
have almost annually occurred upon the pearl banks, which it 
was customary for one of the smaller cruisers of the Indian Naval 
Squadron to visit during the season of the fisheries A close 
system of surveillance has always been maintained, and annually 
the chiefs were visited, and if no depredations had been com- 

* The 'Hugh Lindsay,' having landed Captain Hennell at Bushire, conveyed 
the Indian mails to Bussorah, where her arrival was very opportune in enabling 
her to vindicate the honour of the British Hag at Mohamrah, where the Persian 
Governor had refused to allow the shipment of coal from the Company's depot ; 
however, he was quickly brought to his senses by Lieutenant Campbell laying the 
' Hugh Lindsay ' alongside the walls of the fort up the Karoon, being the first 
steam war-vessel to go up that river. For his prompt action on this occasion, 
Lieutenant Campbell received the thanks of the Bombay Government, under 
date the 5th of September, 1839. 

t " Observations on the Past Policy of the British Government towards the 
Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf." By Lieutenant A. B. Kemball, Assistant 
Resident in the Persian Gulf. (Submitted to Government on the 18th of 
November, 1844). 

X This Treaty of Peace was signed by Sultan bin Suggur of Ras-ul-Khymah, 
Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of the Beni Yas, Saeed bin Butye, Chief of Debaye, 
Abdoolla bin Rashid, Chief of Amalgavine, and Humaid bin Rashid, Chief of 
Ejman ; it Mas also approved by the Governor-General of India in Council on 
the 24th of August, 1853. The first Article provides for " a complete cesssation 
of hostilities at sea for evermore ;" the second promises immediate punishment 
to the assailant and full redress to the party aggrieved ; and the third, that the 
signatories should abstain from retaliation, with an appeal " to the British Resi- 
dent or the Commodore at Bassadore." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 27 

mitted, they received, through the captains of the cruisers, 
presents from the Indian Government, such as mirrors, bales 
of red cloth, double-barrelled guns, cutlery, and other useful 
articles, thus showing that it was more to their advantage to 
lead quiet lives, than provoke chastisement by lawless acts. 

On the 6th of March, 1836, the 'Tigris,' Commander W. 
Igglesden, left Bombay for Torres Straits, in order to inquire 
into the fate of the survivors of the barque ' Charles Eaton,' 
which had been wrecked there, when all the crew and passen- 
gers, over forty in number, had been murdered and eaten by 
the savages, with the exception of five men who had reached 
Timor, and two who were still in the hands of the natives. 
Commander Igglesden's orders were to proceed first to Sydney, 
but, on Hearing Bass's Straits, it came on to blow so hard that 
he bore up for Hobart Town, where he arrived on the 27th of 
May. Here the officers experienced great kindness from 
Colonel Arthur, the Lieutenant-Governor, and the officers of 
Her Majesty's 21st Fusiliers, and, on the 7th of June, sailed 
for Sydney. Very bad weather was experienced on the voyage, 
which necessitated a stay of four weeks for repairs. At 
Sydney they learned that the Government had despatched the 
colonial schooner, ' Isabella,' to the scene of the wreck. The 
'Tigris' sailed, on the 10th of Julv, for Murray Island (hit. 
90° 53' S., long. 144° 17' E.), where they anchored on the 28th 
of July. Lieutenant Kempthorne, second-lieutenant of the 
'Tigris,' in an interesting paper, published in Vol. VIII. of the 
" Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society,"* says : — 
" No sooner was the anchor dropped than the inhabitants 
launched their boats, and immediately pulled off. In the space 
of a few minutes the ' Tigris' was completely surrounded by 
about forty naked savages of both sexes ; it was with the 
greatest difficulty we could prevent them climbing up the sides 
of the vessel, and, had not the precaution been taken of having 
the boarding netting up, the decks would have been swarmed." 
A few only were permitted on board, and a brisk barter of 
articles was quickly instituted. A party landed from the 
' Tigris,' and were well received by the natives, who were 
in puris naturalibus. The savages brought a letter from 
Captain Lewis, commanding the colonial schooner ' Isabella,' 
dated the 26th of June, to the effect that he had purchased 
from the Murray Islanders the two survivors of the ' Charles 
Eaton,' — John Ireland, an apprentice, aged ten, and Charles 
D'Oyley, a child of three, son of Captain D'Oyley of the 
Bengal Artillery, who, together with his wife, was a passenger 
from Calcutta to Sydney. The natives also, by signs, informed 

* Commander Igglesden also published a " Narrative of the late Cruise of the 
Hon. Company's brig-of-war 'Tigris,'" in Vol. I. of the " Transactions of the 
Bombay Geographical Society." 



28 HISTORY OF TIIE INDIAN NAVY. 

Captain Lewis that the crew of the 'Charles Eaton' were 
murdered and eaten by the inhabitants of an island about sixty 
lnik'S to the northward, called by them Boydan, or Boydaney, 
of the group called the Six Sisters, from whom the Murray 
Islanders had rescued these two lads, and treated them with 
great kindness. It was with the utmost difficulty Captain 
Lewis could induce the savages to give up their charges, and 
young D'Oyley cried most bitterly on parting from his pro- 
tectors, particularly the women, who, during the past two years 
had lavished their affections upon the fair-haired child. The 
only relic of the murdered crew that was discovered, was 
a gigantic figure of a man's head, adorned with no less than 
forty-two skulls, some terribly fractured, which were supposed 
to be the heads of the late crew of the barque and other 
Europeans. They were all conveyed to Sydney, where they 
received interment. 

The 'Tigris' sailed from Murray Island on the 29th of July, 
and anchored at Half-Way Island, about fifty miles distant, 
where a party of officers discovered, carved on a tree, the words 
"Dig under." In doing so, they found a bottle containing a 
letter from Captain Lewis, dated the 28th of July, detailing 
his proceedings. On the following day they sighted the 
'Isabella,' near the York Islands, and, after visiting her, landed 
at Double Island. The two vessels proceeded in company, and 
Commander Igglesden named a small islet, Grant Island, after 
the Governor of Bombay. Some officers landed at Wednesday 
Island, where the natives appeared very hostile, and at Booby 
Island, where records of passing ships were found in a 
bottle. 

On the 6th of August the ' Tigris' struck on a patch of 
coral rock, about one mile to the north of Cape Croker (not laid 
down in the charts), and was only saved from going to pieces 
by the strength of her teak timbers. The surf broke clean 
over the gunwale, and she lost her rudder, fore-foot, the whole 
of her false keel, and twenty feet of her main keel. On the 
following day, the ' Tigris ' was steered into Raffles Bay by her 
head and after-sails. In 1824 a settlement had been formed 
here (and also at Port Cockburn in Melville Island) by Sir 
Gordon Bremer, of H.M.S. 'Tamar,' which was abandoned in 
March. 1829, owing to the unhealthiness of the climate and the 
hostility of the natives. The only remains of the settlement 
were the debris of the fort and some railings. The 'Tigris,' 
after having fitted a temporary rudder, and repaired other 
damages, proceeded, on the 17th of August, to Coupang, in the 
island of Timor, and thence to Batavia and Bombay, where she 
cast anchor on the 7th of November. 

The impression created in 1820 by the successful bombard- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 29 

ment and capture of the strong forts of Mocha,* in which 
the Service took so prominent a part, was so deep and lasting 
that the representation of the commanders of the Company's 
ships always received the respectful attention of the contending 
factions in all the ports of the Red Sea. We will give a brief 
retrospect of the occasions on which matters portended trouble, 
but were adjusted by the British officers without having occa- 
sion to resort to hostile measures. 

In 1832, during the progress of the struggle between 
Mehemet Ali, the great Egyptian Viceroy, and the Porte, 
events adverse to the stability of the government of the former 
were occurring in Arabia. The army of Mehemet Ali at Mecca 
consisted of two divisions, one of which was commanded by 
Zetnan Agha, who having a dispute with Khourshed Bey, the 
Egyptian Governor of Hedjaz, raised the standard of revolt, 
and induced three officers, having similar grievances, to join 
him with their regiments. The most courageous of these, 
Mohammed Agha, surnamed Turki Bilmas,f a Georgian by 
birth, having treacherously taken Khourshed Bey prisoner, 
marched upon Mecca and Jiddah, which he occupied, and seized 
the Pasha's ships. The Sultan of Turkey confirmed him as 
Governor of the Hedjaz ; and Turki Bilmas, elated by his 
success, proceeded to Hodeida, which was blockaded by his 
squadron of six ships. After a brief resistance, the place sur- 
rendered on the 25th of September, 1832, when he marched to 
Zeebeed, and thence to Mocha, which fell to his arms by 
treachery, and thus the whole of the seaboard of Yemen came 
under the nominal suzerainty of the Porte. Turki Bilmas now 
wrote to the Sultan of Aden, demanding that stronghold ; the 
latter promised consent, but when he despatched a mission of 
forty persons to obtain possession of the place, on the 17th of 
February, 1833, they were treacherously attacked, and twenty- 
seven of them murdered. 

He also made an aggression on British trade, which afforded 
a practical refutation of the unwise proposal of the Finance 
Committee, appointed by Lord William Bentinck, that the 

* The connection of the Indian Navy with Mocha was not always of this hostile 
character, for a public work of considerable utility to the town was due to the 
scientific attainments of an officer of the Service in the last century. Mr. 
Abraham Parsons, who visited Mocha in 1778, gives a detailed account of the 
town, a: id describes the pier, situated "one hundred and fifty yards due west 
from the only gate by which goods and passengers can enter from the sea." This 
pier, which is built of stone, was constructed, he says, " by Captain Watson, late 
Superintendent of the Bombay Marine, about twenty years since." Captain 
Watson, it will be remembered, was the gallant and skilful officer who fell at the 
siege of Tanna, while in command of the expedition from Bombay directed against 
the island of Salsette. 

f Turki Bilmas, means " one who cannot speak Turkish." A full account 
of his proceedings and escape from Mocha on board the ' Benares,' may be 
found in the " Travels to the City of the Caliphs," by Lieutenant J. R. Well- 
sted, I.N. 



30 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

police of the Reus, hitherto maintained by the Indian Navy, 
should be abandoned. It had been the custom, ever since the 
time of the Mogul sovereigns, for a fleet of traders to leave 
Surat for Mocha and Jiddah, in the month of March, under the 
convoy of the Company's ships of war, and the same course 
had been pursued after we became possessed of Surat. Acting, 
however, on the 7th paragraph of the recommendations of the 
Finance Committee, no vessel of war was employed in 1833 to 
convoy the fleet of traders which carried the manufactures 
of Guzerat and Great Britain, to the average value of from 
12 to 25 lacs of rupees. The Surat fleet arrived at Mocha at 
the time Turki Bilmas had obtained possession of the town, 
and he immediately availed himself of the windfall by seizing 
the vessels and fleecing the merchants. On receipt of this news 
at Bombay, the 'Nautilus,' Lieutenant R. Lowe, was recalled 
from the Cutch Coast and despatched to Mocha. On her 
arrival here, on the 29th of May, prompt measures were 
taken by her commander, and the merchants were released and 
the fines repaid to them. But the detention caused them to 
lose the season ; their goods for Jiddah were transhipped into 
other vessels, and they lost, in addition to the interest on the 
capital, the profits of the voyage. Altogether, their loss was 
calculated at not less than ^40,000 or =£50,000 ; and for this 
they had to thank the Finance Committee, whose report bore 
this among its first fruits. Turki Bilmas, on Lieutenant 
Lowe's arrival, was at a place called Berk, about half way 
between Mocha and Jiddah, which he proposed to attack, with 
two ships, three brigs, and about twelve hundred men. At 
this time the 'Palinurus' lay at Jiddah to protect British 
interests, and everything wore a warlike aspect, guns, stores, 
and troops pouring into the city, while three ships were 
brought by the Egyptian Government, and several gunboats 
were being prepared to repel the redoubtable chief and his 
Bedouin allies. Hearing of the arrival of the 'Nautilus,' Turki 
Bilmas returned to Mocha on the 22nd of July, but he yielded 
to the determined front shown by the British commander. At 
one time " the state of things was such," says a writer, " that 
not one of the Surat merchants thought his life in safety for 
twenty-four hours, and it was apprehended that the slightest 
attempt on the part of the 'Nautilus' to bring the Governor 
to reason by force, would be the immediate signal for a general 
massacre of all British subjects, plunder of the town, and 
retreat inland, so the most that could be done was to protect 
the vessels in the harbour." When we remember the sanguinary 
events that occurred at Jiddah in 1857, when the British and 
French Consuls, and all Christians, were massacred, we may 
believe that the position of affairs was most critical, and that 



HISTORY OK THE INDIAN NAVY. 31 

Lieutenant Lowe deserved great credit for his display of 
mingled judgment and firmness. 

After his rebuff at Mocha, the star of Turki Bilmas began 
to wane, and he lost all his conquests as fast as he had gained 
them. Soon Mocha only remained to him, and Ahmed Pasha, 
who was sent by Mehemet Ali to recover his lost province, 
blockaded him by sea, while a force of twenty thousand 
Bedouins, of the Beui Asseer tribe, attacked Mocha by land. 
After a desperate resistance the great guerilla chief was reduced 
to extremities. At this time the Hon. Company's brig ' Tigris,' 
Commander Wells, and the surveying ship 'Benares,' Com- 
mander Moresby, were at Mocha ; and Turki Bilmas, who made 
a gallant defence with his small garrison of five hundred men, 
attempted to reach them with the remnant of his followers, now 
numbering only one hundred and twenty, in some undecked 
boats, destitute of either oars or sails. The wind was con- 
trary, and they drifted out to sea, and were on the point of 
sinking, when the boats from the Company's ships rescued 
them, the chief being himself saved by the cutter of the 
' Benares,' commanded by Lieutenant C. D. Campbell. Turki 
Bilmas was taken on board the ' Tigris,' which sailed with him 
to Bombay. During this affair, a man of the 'Benares' was 
killed by a stray round shot, for which an apology was made 
by the Arab leader, who gave his warriors three days to sack the 
city. 

Early in 1834 the ' Nautilus ' was wrecked at Macour, or 
Emerald Island, distant twenty-three miles in a north-westerly 
direction from St. John's Island, or Seberjet, in the Red Sea. 
The natives would not suffer the crew to land, and they took to 
the boats, in which they suffered great want and hardships, 
owing to the terrific heat. At length they got possession of a 
native vessel, in which they proceeded to Mocha ; a period of 
sixty-four days elapsed from the wreck of the ' Nautilus,' till 
their arrival at that port, during which a large number of men 
died of want and fatigue. Thence the officers and crew were 
taken to Bombay in the ' Benares,' Commander R. Moresby, 
and owing to the effects of climate and the crowded state of 
that ship, much further mortality took place among the 
survivors. 

In the year 1835 was commenced an important undertaking 
the ultimate issue of which may be fraught with great con- 
sequences to this country, and our Eastern possessions ; and as 
several officers of the Indian Navy bore prominent parts in the 
prosecution of the enterprise, it is necessary that we should give 
a brief resume of its operations. The undertaking we refer to 
is that historically known as the "Euphrates Expedition." 

Captain (the late General) Francis Rawdon Chesney, R.A., 



32 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

its projector, first turned his attention to the subject while in 
Egypt in 1829, when some queries by the late Mr. Peacock, 
Examiner of the India House, as to the relative merits of the 
Egyptian and Syrian routes to India, were referred to him. It 
should be mentioned, as showing the far-seeing sagacity of this 
energetic officer, that in an official report to Sir Robert Gordon, 
British Ambassador at Constantinople, dated from Jaffa, the 
2nd of October, 1830, Captain Chesney declared the feasibility 
of the Suez Canal, notwithstanding the errors propounded by 
Napoleon's engineers as to the supposed levels of the Mediter- 
ranean and Red Sea. 

Captain Chesney visited Palestine and Syria, the Haran and 
Decapolis, and journeyed through the Arabian desert from 
Damascus to El Kaiin ; from Anna he descended the Euphrates 
on a raft and by boat, and crossing the Persian Gulf, made his 
appearance at Bushire on the 5th of May, 1831. 

Meanwhile Lieutenant Henry Ormsby, of the Indian Navy, 
assisted by Mr. Elliot,* had been engaged for some time on a 
survey of the Lower Tigris, in which Major Taylor, the talented 
Resident at Bagdad, took a deep interest. Lieutenant Ormsby's 
romantic adventures among the Arabs are told by Wellsted, in 
his " Travels to the City of the Caliphs," and probably no man 
ever possessed a more intimate knowledge of these interesting 
races than did this extraordinary officer. He absented himself 
from the Service at the age of nineteen, and for three years 
dwelt among them in their tents, and was as one of themselves. 
Wellsted says of him: — '-The buoyancy of spirit with which 
every hardship encountered by my friend was surmounted ; his 
courage and zealous perseverance, where others, amidst pesti- 
lence and famine, would have shrunk back, and the facility 
with which he filled up the variety of characters it was neces- 
sary he should assume, are perhaps unequalled even amidst the 
performance of the host ot celebrated travellers to whom it has 
been the pride of Great Britain to have given birth." These 
wanderings were undertaken during the years 182(i-30, and the 
Bombay Government, as a punishment for absenting himself so 
long without leave, struck his name off the Indian Navy list. 

* Ihe career of this gentleman was in many respects a remarkable one, and as 
lie was associated with two officers of the Indian Navy, a brief notice in these 
pages is justly his due. Mr. Elliot, who was well known in the East as a great 
traveller and Orientalist, first went abroad in 1818, and entered the service of the 
Sultan of Turkey as a surgeon ; at Yorno he was taken prisoner by the Russians 
and sent to Siberia, where he remained in exile two years. After his release he 
travelled over many Eastern countries, and was one of the gentlemen who escaped 
from the Arabs in that fatal affair at Singar, when Lieutenant Bowater, I.N., 
and Mr. Taylor were killed. He was then attached to the Survey under Lieu- 
tenant Ormsby, I.N., and later was with Captain Chesney. On the conclusion 
of this undertaking the British Government employed him to conciliate the Arab 
tribes of Mesopotamia and obtain geographical information of the country, and in 
1837, while thus engaged, he died within three days' journey of Damascus. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 33 

His services to geographical science were, however, so consider- 
able, and his reports* of so great value, that he was reinstated 
in the Service, and the Royal Society honoured him by electing 
him a Fellow. Like his friend Wellsted, however, his life was 
brief as brilliant, though he was enabled in the China war of 
1840-42 to render important services to his country. 

Captain Chesney returned to the Shatt-ul-Arab from Bushire, 
and, proceeding up the Karoon, visited Sinister; and thence 
journeying through Persia and Asia Minor, arrived in England 
in 1832. He gave important evidence before the Steam Com- 
mittee of the House of Commons in 1834, in favour of the 
Euphrates route as opposed to the Egypt line ; and, on the 16th 
of April. 1833, was honoured with an interview by King Wil- 
liam IV., who took great interest in his project, and encouraged 
him to persevere. During the conversation, the Monarch, 
alluding to the serious apprehensions caused by the presence of 
the Russian fleet near Constantinople, as well as by the 
gradual advance of that power towards the Indus, which is 
apparently a bugbear of very great antiquity, expressed an 
opinion in favour of "adding a steam flotilla to the Indian 
Navy,"f which was to be stationed in Mesopotamian waters with 
the object of strengthening Persia and Turkey. 

The 12th, and concluding, Resolution of the Steam Com- 
mittee of the House of Commons, recommended a grant of 
.£20,000 for an experiment to be made for communicating with 
India by the Euphrates, with the least possible delay ; and, 
accordingly, Captain Chesney was nominated to organize an 
expedition, with Lieutenant Henry Blosse Lynch of the Indian 
Navy, as his second in command, the India House also con- 
tributing a further sum of £5,000. 

Lieutenant Lynch entered the Service in 1823, and was em- 
ployed in the Survey of the Persian Gulf. Having a classical taste, 
and a love for languages, neither the depressing climate nor the 
confined space in the miserable little brig, ' Psyche,' deterred him 
from applying himself closely to their study. On attaining his 
lieutenancy, he was appointed Arabic and Persian Interpreter 
to the Commodore of the Persian Gulf Squadron ; between the 
years 1830-32, while in command of the 'Enterprise' steamer, 
he was employed under instructions from Sir John Macdonald, 
British Envoy at Teheran, in examining the southern provinces 
of Persia, conducting negotiations with the Arab chiefs, and 
examining the means of communication between the Gulf and 

* Among other papers was a " Memoir on the Rivers of Mesopotamia," and 
" Narrative of a Journey across the Desert from Hit to Damascus." Accom- 
panied by his friend, Mr. Elliot, he quitted the Residency of Bagdad on the 2nd 
of April, 1831, and journeying thence to Hit, arrived at Damascus on the 27th of 
April. See his " Narrative of a Journey across the Syrian Desert," in Vol. II. of 
the " Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society." 

t Chesney's "Narrative of the Euphrates Expedition," 1868. 
VOL. II. D 



34 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the countries on either hand. Lieutenant Lynch then proceeded 
to England by the ' Nautilus,' and was one of the sufferers by 
the shipwreck of the old brig, which had for so many years borne 
with credit the flag of the Indian Navy ; on leaving his ship- 
mates he crossed the Nubian Desert, on the northern limit of 
Abyssinia, and proceeded down the Nile to Egypt, whence he 
returned to England. In consequence of his great local ex- 
perience and general ability, he was nominated second in com- 
mand of the Euphrates Expedition, under Chesney (who was 
given the local rank of Colonel), the other officers being his 
brother, Lieutenant R. B. Lynch, of the 21st Bengal Native 
Infantry ; Captain Estcourt, of the 43rd Regiment Light 
Infantry; Lieutenant Murphy, R.E., Lieutenant Cockburn, 
R.A. ; and the following officers of the Royal Navy: — Lieu- 
tenant R. Cleaveland, and Messrs. Charlewood, Eden, and Fitz- 
james.* There were also two medical men (Dr. Staunton and 
Dr. A. Staunton), and a number of skilled artizans carefully 
selected from the artillery and engineers. 

Lieutenant Lynch was sent in advance, and, by the time 
Colonel Chesney had arrived in Syria with the men and material 
of the Expedition, had made the necessary preparations for 
landing at Suedia, in the Bay of Antioch. At the outset, diffi- 
culties of a political character, owing to the avowed intention of 
Mehemet AH to stop the Expedition, appeared to threaten an 
advance into the interior, but Colonel Chesney expressed his 
determination to persevere at all hazards. Accordingly, with 
the assistance of the officers and men of H.M.'s ship ' Columbine/ 
the stores and two flat-bottomed steamers for the navigation of 
the Euphrates and Tigris, were landed, and, at length, Ibrahim 
Pasha, son of the Egyptian Viceroy, yielded an unwilling 
consent to the departure of the Expedition. Meantime Lieu- 
tenant Lynch had been sent on a mission to Aleppo, and, on 
his return, was sent to Bir, or Birejek, to ascertain which was 
the best of the three available lines for reaching the Lake of 
Antioch from the mouth of the Orontes, and also to make the 
necessary preparations for the arrival of the Expedition at that 
place, which was the intended station on the Upper Euphrates. 
Lieutenant Lynch selected a site on the bank of the river, 
about two-and-a-half miles below Bir, where he ascertained that 
slips could be constructed for the two river steamers. In the 
meantime, the other officers and men of the Expedition were 
busy surveying, and, by the 22nd of May, the ' Tigris' was set 
up and launched in readiness to ascend the Orontes, but, as it 
was found that she could not stem the current and convey the 
heavy material by water to Antioch, she was taken to pieces 

* Some of these officers rose to distinction, such as the late Major Estcourt, 
Adjutant-Geueral of the forces in the Crimea, and the late Captain Fitzjames, 
"who perished with Sir John Franklin. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 35 

again. The party was now divided into four sections for the 
transport of the materials, and, after encountering almost in- 
credible difficulties, Port William, on the Lake of Antioch, was 
reached, and preparations commenced to set up and float the 
steamers at that place, while depots of coal were formed at 
Deir and iinna on the Euphrates, to facilitate the descent and 
survey of that river. But it was necessary, as a prelude to 
action, to make the Arab Sheikhs understand that the visit was 
one, not of aggression, but of peace and mutual advantage, and 
Colonel Chesney, on recovering from a severe illness, selected 
Lieutenant Lynch to perform the difficult and delicate task, for 
which, by his diplomatic habit of mind and linguistic attain- 
ments, he was peculiarly well fitted. 

On the 1st of September,* that officer set out accompanied 
by his brother, the younger Staunton, and Mr. Elliot, who had 
escaped with his life when Lieutenant Bowater, I.N., and Mr. 
Taylor had been killed by the Arabs, and who had recently 
joined the party. Lieutenant Lynch proceeded in the first 
instance to Orfah, which he reached on the second day, " the 
weather during the day being intolerably hot, and the nights- 
intensely cold. From Orfah they proceeded to Haran, passing 
on the way the Well of Abraham, where they witnessed the 
cattle supplied with water out of the numerous troughs by the 
women, as in the days of the Patriarchs, " which did not fail," 
says Lieutenant Lynch, "to recall the beautiful descriptions of 
such scenes in Scripture." From Haran they proceeded to visit 
the Sheikh of the Guiess tribe, whose tents occupied both banks 
of the El Belik, and thence journeyed to the tribes whose 
habitat is around Racca, proceeding thence by the streams of 
the El Belik to the " Great River,"f as the Euphrates is called. 
After engaging in a skirmish^ with a raiding party of the Aniza, 
in which one of the English party was seriously wounded, 

* Colonel Chesney gives the date of departure of Lieutenant Lynch and his 
party as the 5th of September, but we have given the date which appears in 
Lieutenant Lynch's report on the result of his Mission, addressed to the com- 
mander of the Expedition. See Appendix V., p. 432, of Colonel Chesney's 
work. 

f Euphrates, says Sir Gore Ouseley, was styled " Great " by ancient authors ; 
and also emphatically "the River" in the Book of Joshua and other parts of the 
Bible. The etymology is unknown, though probably the root is the Hebrew word 
Erat or Perath. Eight hundred years ago, Eirdousi, author of the famous Persian 
epic, Shahnameh, or Book of Kings, relates the history of Queen Humai, and 
calls the river " Ab i Forat." 

X Colonel Chesney says : — " The belief had somehow prevailed among the 
Arabs that Lieutenant Lynch's mission was in reality sent by Mehemet Ali with 
sinister objects ; and they had caused a hostile feeling on the part of the Subha 
Arabs, a branch of the Aniza, who commenced their intended attack on their 
guests by wounding one of the party. The tact with which this serious affair 
was treated by Lieutenant Lynch, not only produced amicable relations with the 
tribe, but led to their rendering assistance to the Expedition ; Lieutenant Lynch, 
with this object in view, allowing the affair of blood to remain as an unsettled 
claim between the Arabs and ourselves." 

D 2 



36 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

Lieutenant Lynch reached Deir, which was in open hostility 
against the Porte, its walls and houses having been placed in a 
state of defence by Sheikh Suleiman, who received the English 
party with much kindness. They arrived in time to enable 
Lieutenant Lynch to stay the hand of the commander of 
Ibrahim Pasha's troops, who had captured a large neighbouring 
village belonging to the Sheikh, and having burnt it to the 
ground, was engaged in slaughtering the wretched inhabitants 
of both sexes and of all ages. " We were enabled," he says, 
" to negotiate successfully for our suppliant friends, and after a 
night spent amongst the Egyptian troops, we proceeded to 
Deir, where we were received by long trains of women and 
children, singing songs to greet us on our return." 

After accomplishing the great object of the mission in having 
arranged the depots of charcoal on the left bank of the river, 
and cultivated friendly relations with the Arabs on that side of 
the Euphrates, Lieutenant Lynch crossed the stream, and 
visited the various tribes on the right bank. On his return, 
and during his advance, he distributed specimens of English 
manufactures among the Arab chiefs, and, passing through 
Aleppo, brought thence those eminent German travellers, Dr. 
and Madame Heifer.* At length he arrived in safety at the 
encampment at Bir, as he says, " after a circuitous route of 
nine hundred miles, having much cause to be thankful for the 
success of our dash into savage life. Already had a report 
reached Colonel Chesney that our party had fallen victims to 
Arab treachery, and our return was hailed with universal joy." 

Meantime all the officers and men of the Expedition had been 
hard at work, and, on the 2Cth of September, the 'Euphrates ' 
steamer was successfully launched sideways into the stream, 
the banks at the slip at Fort William being twenty-five feet 
high. At this point, the illness of Captain Estcourt necessi- 
tated a redistribution of the duties of the working and sur- 
veying parties, "the general superintendence having devolved 
upon Lieutenant Lynch, on his return from his mission to Deir." 
The work of transport was very heavy, one piece of the boiler of 
the 'Euphrates' requiring fifty men and one hundred oxen, 
and another thirty-six men and seventy-two oxen, to transport 
them to Bir. On this being completed, they commenced to set 
up the second steamer, called the ' Tigris.' On the 27th of 
February, the ' Tigris 's' boiler, drawn by one hundred and four 
oxen, with fifty-two native drivers, besides all the men of the 
Expedition to assist, entered Port William, and thus was com- 
pleted the work of transport. Meantime Lieutenant Lynch and 

* Dr. Heifer, while on a scientific mission for the Indian Government, was 
murdered at the Andaman Islands on the 31st of January, 1840, when his heroic 
wife shot the assassin dead with her pistol, an act worthy the niece of Field- 
Marshal Yon Eulow. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 37 

other officers were employed in surveying, and, upon the com- 
pletion of the two steamers, the officers and men were dis- 
tributed between them, as follow :— ' Euphrates,' Captain Est- 
court, in command ; Lieutenants R. F. Cleaveland, R.N., H. F. 
Murphy, R.E. ; Messrs. E. P. Charlewood, and J. Fitzjaraes, 
R.N. ; Mr. W. Ainsworth ; Messrs. C. Rassam, and Seyyid Ali 
(interpreters) ; Mr. Thomas Hurst (Engineer) ; and Dr. and 
Mrs. Heifer (passengers). ' Tigris,' Lieutenant Lynch, in 
command ; Mr. H. Eden, R.N. ; Lieutenant R. Cockburn, R.A. ; 
Dr. Staunton, R.A. ; Dr. A. Staunton ; Messrs. W. Elliot, and 
J. Sader (interpreters) ; Mr. A. Clegg (Engineer) ; and Lieu- 
tenant R. B. Lynch (passenger). The party of soldiers, 
seamen, and natives, was equally distributed between the two 
vessels. 

The 'Euphrates,' being first completed, commenced the de- 
scent and survey of the river, and, soon after, the 'Tigris' 
followed and joined her consort at Kara Bambuge, where the 
river Euphrates has a breadth of about 400 yards. Thence 
the ' Euphrates ' steamed the remaining nineteen miles to 
Beles, on the 19th of April, the 'Tigris' soon after joining 
her there with the flats and rafts. After a brief stay at Beles, 
where the engineers, Messrs. Clegg and Hurst, were discharged, 
their time of service having expired, the 'Tigris' steamed 
down the river on the 4th of May, and the 'Euphrates' fol- 
lowed on the 6th, having received on board a supply of pro- 
visions from Aleppo. Both steamers anchored a little below 
Jiaber Castle, near Thapsacus, where Alexander the Great 
crossed the Euphrates. Near to a place called El Edhen, the 
' Euphrates ' grounded, when the ' Tigris' was recalled to assist 
her in getting off. The descent was resumed on the 9th of 
May, as far as Racca. and Amran, a careful survey being taken 
of places of interest on both banks, including Thapsacus and 
Susa. Thence they proceeded, the 'Tigris' leading, between 
cliffs varying from 300 to 500 feet in height, to the ruins of 
Halebi, said to have been the summer residence of Zenobia, 
opposite which the steamers brought up. Here Colonel Chesney 
received despatches from Sir John Hobhouse, directing the 
return of the Euphrates Expedition ; he, however, resolved to 
keep the orders a secret, and continued the descent to Deir. 
On the 18th of May, the steamer arrived at the junction of the 
Euphrates and Khabur, the Araxes of Xenophon, where are the 
ruins supposed to be those of Carchemish, of Isaiah, and on the 
opposite bank, those of Calneh, of Genesis, with the ruined 
abutments of Trajan's Bridge between the two. The ' Tigris' 
being smaller than the ' Euphrates,' ascended the Khabur, but 
the water shoaling, had to return. Next morning the steamers 
proceeded as far as the town of Maden, near which is 
"Rehobothof the Ammonites," of Genesis, and having pur- 



38 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

chased a supply of wood, they proceeded on their course, 
intending to bring up at Anna for the night. But this day, the 
21st of May, was destined to be a fatal one to many brave 
hearts of the Euphrates Expedition. The following despatch, 
to Sir J. Hobhouse, written by Colonel Chesney, on the 28th 
of May, 1836, off Anna, gives the details of this sad 
catastrophe : — 

" It is with feelings of the deepest regret that I do myself 
the honour of informing you that the ' Tigris ' steamer was 
totally lost during a hurricane of indescribable violence, which, 
after the short struggle of about eight minutes, sent a fine 
vessel to the bottom in five fathoms water, and deprived 
His Majesty of fifteen valuable men, with five natives in 
addition. 

"My reports up to the 17th instant, at Deir, will have in- 
formed you that all was going on as successfully as the most 
sanguine could possibly desire; we found the Arabs well 
disposed, and quite ready to form depots for us of wood, 
charcoal, bitumen, and lignite coal, all met with in abundance 
and tried with complete success. In addition to these marked 
advantages, the survey has been carried 509 miles down ' the 
Great River,' which seemed in all respects favourable ; in short, 
all was continued prosperously up to the afternoon of the 21st 
instant, when it pleased God to send the calamitous event, of 
which it is my dut} r to give a feeble sketch. 

" A little after one p.m. on that melancholy day, the flat 
boats being a little ahead, and the ' Tigris' heading the 
' Euphrates,' a storm appeared, bringing with it, high up in the 
air, clouds of sand from the west-south-west quarter. At this 
moment we were passing over the rocks of Is-Geria (deeply 
covered), and, immediately after, we made the signal for the 
' Euphrates' to choose a berth and make fast, which was done 
more as a matter of precaution, on account of the difficulty of 
seeing our way through the sand than from apprehension that 
the squall would be so terrific. The 'Tigris' was immediately 
directed towards the bank, against which she struck without 
injury, but with so much violence as to recoil about eight yards, 
leaving two men on the bank who had jumped out to make 
fast ; the wind then suddenly veered round, drove her bow off, 
and thus rendered it quite impossible to secure the vessel to the 
bank, along which she was blown rapidly by the heavy gusts, 
her head falling off into the stream as she passed close by the 
'Euphrates,' which vessel had been backed opportunely to avoid 
the collision. The engines were working at full power, and 
every endeavour made to turn the vessel's bow to the bank ; 
one anchor was let go, but the heel of the vessel made it 
impossible to get the other out. She was then nearly broadside 
to the wind, with the engines almost powerless, and the waves, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 39 

rising to the height of four or five feet, forcing their way in at 
the windows. Lieutenant Cockburn, the Messrs. Staunton, 
and some of the men, made ineffectual attempts to keep out 
the water, for the fate of the vessel was already decided ; and 
the forepart of the deck being under water, Lieutenant Lynch 
came to report that the ' Tigris' was sinking, and the word was 
immediately passed for all to save themselves. At this very 
instant, a momentary gleam of light faintly showed the bank at 
the apparent distance of eight or ten yards ; and as there 
seemed every probability that the stern would touch it before 
she went down, Lieutenant Lynch encouraged the people to 
remain steady until they reached the land. All were on deck 
at this critical moment, some were clinging to the ropes of the 
awning, the paddle-boxes, and funnel, but the majority were 
close to the tiller, and all behaving with the most exemplary 
obedience, until the vessel went down all at once, and probably 
within half a minute after we had seen the bank for an instant. 
Lieutenant Lynch, who was at my elbow, dived out under the 
starboard ridge-rope at the moment when there was about four 
feet of water on the deck, and I had the good fortune to get 
clear in the same manner through the larboard side, without 
having seen anything whatever to guide me through the dark- 
ness worse than that of night. 

" When it cleared a little, I found around me Lieutenant 
Lynch, Mr. Eden (both greatly exhausted), Mr. Thomson, the 
Messrs. Staunton, and several of the men ; the hurricane was 
already abating fast, and as the distance from the vessel to the 
shore was very short, we indulged the hope that the rest of our 
brave companions had reached the bank lower down. For an 
instant I saw the keel of the ' Tigris' uppermost (near the 
stern) ; she went down bow foremost, and having struck the 
bottom in that position she probably turned round on the bow as 
a pivot, and thus showed part of her keel for an instant at the 
other extremity ; but her paddle-beams, floats, and parts of the 
sides were already broken up, and actually floated ashore — so 
speedy and terrific had been the work of destruction. From the 
moment of striking the bank until the ' Tigris' went down, it 
scarcely exceeded eight minutes, whilst the operation of sinking 
itself did not consume more than three minutes ; indeed, the 
gale was so very violent, that I doubt whether the most powerful 
vessel, such as a frigate, could have resisted, unless she was 
already secured to the bank ; and for this, in our case, there was 
little or no time, as it was barely possible, in the position of our 
consort, to make fast and save the vessel. I had little or 
rather no hope that the ' Euphrates' could have escaped ; but 
the intrepid skill of Lieutenant Cleaveland and Mr. Charlewood 
enabled them to get out two anchors in the very nick of time, 
and by the united means of two hawsers, and the engines 



40 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

working at full speed, the vessel maintained her position at the 
bank until the storm abated (as the enclosed letter from Captain 
Estcourt will explain more fully) and as it required all the power 
of a fifty-horse engine in the case of the 'Euphrates' to keep 
her hawsers from snapping, I infer that the twenty-horse of the 
'Tigris' would not have been sufficient to enable her to keep 
the position at the bank, even if the officers had succeeded in 
securing her alongside of it. 

"Lieutenant Lynch and Mr. Eden continued cool and 
collected until the last minute, nor were any efforts wanting 
that skill or presence of mind could suggest to save the vessel 
in the first instance, and the lives in the second, when the first 
had failed ; nor could anything be more exemplary than their 
conduct and that of all on board. Scarcely was a word spoken, 
not a murmur was heard ; and death was met with that 
exemplary degree of intrepidity and resignation which have 
been displayed by every individual throughout the arduous and 
trving service in which we have been engaged since January, 
1835." 

This terrible calamity cost the lives of two officers,* thirteen 
Europeans, and five Natives, but in no way clamped the deter- 
mination of the survivors to continue the survey and descent of the 
Euphrates until success was achieved, notwithstanding the loss 
of one steamer, with valuable instruments and stores, a large 
portion of the party, and all the money. The survivors of the 
' Tigris'f were sent to England from motives of economy, and 
the remainder of the Expedition continued the descent of the 
river in the 'Euphrates.' Passing by Hillah and the remains 
of Ancient Babylon, and past the Larnlum marshes, the steamer 
brought up off Koorna, at the junction of the Euphrates and 
Tigris, on the 18th of June, and, on the following day, 
reached Bussorah, forty-three miles distant. As there were no 

* Lieutenants R. B. Lynch, B.N. I., and R. Cockburn, R.A., one interpreter, 
one engineer, five men of the Royal Artillery, one of the Royal Sappers and 
Miners, five seamen, and five Natives. Lieutenant Cockburn had on that morning 
sought for leave to spend the day on board the ' Euphrates,' but failing to meet 
Lieutenant Lynch, his commanding officer, returned to his own vessel. He was 
a most active and indefatigable young officer. One of the survivors, Mr. Taylour 
Thomson, is now Charge d'Aff'aires and Consul-General in Chili. Mr. (now 
Captain) Henry Eden, R.N., still survives. A memorial to the officers and men 
who were drowned on board the ' Tigris,' on the 21st of May, 1836, has been 
erected at the British Vice-Consulate at Marghill, near Bussorah. 

+ The Bombay Government being desirous of raising the 'Tigris' and taking 
the 'Euphrates' to Bombay, Commodore Pepper, ihen commanding the Persian 
Gulf Squadron, detached Lieutenant Sharp, commanding the 'Tigris,' with his 
first-lieutenant, Griffith Jenkins, and thirty men, to take the necessary measures. 
The party proceeded to Bagdad, but, after consultation with Colonel Taylor, it 
was found that it would be impracticable to raise the 'Tigris,' of which no trace 
had at any time been discovered ; they were, however, about to carry out their 
instructions regarding the removal of the ' Euphrates,' when orders came to 
countermand them, as the Court of Directors had purchased her of the British 
Government, and intended that she should remain in Mesopotamia. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 41 

means of refitting here, Colonel Chesney steamed down the 
Shatt-ul-Arab, and crossed the head of the Persian Gulf to 
Bushire, where he found the Hon. Company's sloop of-war 
'Amherst,' and the Hon. Company's schooner ' Cyrene,' "from 
both of which," he says, " we were greeted by hearty cheers as 
we passed to our anchorage close to the Residency."* The 
necessary repairs were taken in hand, the Indian Navy giving 
every assistance, when the practicability of returning to the 
Shatt-ul-Arab for the purpose of continuing the survey, was 
seriously imperilled by the seamen claiming their discharge in 
accordance with the terms of their agreement. In this dilemma, 
Commodore Pepper, commanding the Persian Gulf squadron, 
issued orders that men might be permitted to volunteer into the 
' Euphrates/ and on Colonel Chesney proceeding on board the 
'Elphinstone,' every man expressed his readiness to join the 
Expedition. On the 25th of July the 'Euphrates' quitted 
Bushire in tow of the 'Elphinstone,' which left her at the 
mouth of the Shatt-ul-Arab, when she steamed up to the 
Residency at Margin II, where, shortly before, Lieutenant 
Murphy, R.E., had expired after a severe illness. 

_ Colonel Chesney now took the steamer up the Tigris to 
Bagdad, where she arrived on the 30th of August, 1836, and 
commenced his return voyage on the 5th of September. At 
Mohamrah, where he arrived in eleven days, he took on board 
the Indian mail from the 'Hugh Lindsay,' and reascended the 
Euphrates as far as the Lamlum marshes, whence, on the 30th 
of October, he despatched Mr. Fitzjames and two other gentle- 
men by the overland route to England with the mail. On 
the 8th of November, the ' Euphrates,' having broken down 

* In his Report to Sir John Hobhouse, drawn up while at Bushire, Colonel Ches- 
ney expresses his opinion that " every man w T ho has descended the river with his eyes 
open, must consider the Euphrates navigable throughout the year with proper- 
sized vessels, and also that there is an ample supply of fuel along the banks of 
different kinds," — coal, bitumen, and wood. In his opinion, the only difficult 
piece of navigation, owing to the narrow and sharp turnings, is at the Lamlum 
marshes, an extent of forty miles, and this may be overcome either by ascending 
the Tigris to Bagdad, and crossing thence to the Euphrates by a canal which 
should be constructed by cutting for about eighteen miles through the marshes, 
or by placing a vessel of small size expressly suited to the windings. The first 
■would increase the distance one hundred miles, the second is one of the easiest 
tasks, and the third is the one to which Colonel Chesney gives the preference. 
" In this view of the matter," he says, " one small vessel, with two rather larger 
and more powerful than the ' Tigris' was, would be required to open the river 
for a permanent line of mails, with speed, economy and safety." Colonel 
Chesney, having called upon his officers to give their written opinions, Lieutenant 
Lynch stated that the river is navigable from Bir to the sea at all seasons, and 
the supply of fuel depends on the continuance of friendly relations with the Arabs. 
Lieutenant Cleaveland did not doubt that steam vessels of a right construction 
could make rapid voyages up and down the Euphrates at any season, and calcu- 
lated that the communication from Bombay could be accomplished in forty-six 
days and out in forty-one, taking the lowest average. Messrs. Fitzjames and 
Charlewood were of opinion that at the lowest seasons the river could be navi- 
gated, or easily be made navigable. 



42 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

in the attempt to ascend the river, brought up at Mohamrah 
alongside.: the ' Hugh Lindsay,' Commander J. H. Rowband, on 
board of which the necessary repairs were effected ; and, as the 
funds voted by Parliament would cease to be available for the 
Expedition on the 31st of January, 1837, and his instructions 
directed him to place the steamer under the orders of the Bom- 
bay Government, Colonel Chesney surrendered the command 
to Major Estcourt, and proceeded to Bombay in the ' Hugh 
Lindsay,' which left Bushire on the 17th of November, and 
reached Bombay on the 1st of December. Lord Auckland 
having decided to postpone the opening of the overland route 
through Mesopotamia, and to abandon his intention of placing 
steamers on the Indus, Colonel Chesney, having nothing further 
to do, volunteered to proceed to England with important 
despatches relating to the outbreak at Mangalore, which the 
' Hugh Lindsay' was about to take to Bussorah, for despatch by 
dromedary dak to Aleppo. The ' Hugh Lindsay' sailed on the 
28th of April, and, on the 14th of May, was alongside the Hon. 
Company's brig 'Tigris' at Bussorah Creek. Here intelligence 
was received that the Directors proposed to send out some iron 
steamers to open a mail communication to Europe by the 
Euphrates. On the day after his arrival, Colonel Chesney 
commenced his long journey to England, and delivered his 
despatches at the Board of Control on the 8th of August. He 
was accompanied as far as Zobeir, in the desert near Bussorah, 
by Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, of the 'Hugh Lindsay,' "who," 
he says, " had rendered me the very material service of laying 
down the compass bearings to Damascus — viz., north-west by 
west-half- west — to aid me in directing my course by day, and 
had also ascertained that the stars Castor and Pollux would 
be above the horizon to serve as my unfailing guides by 
night," 

During Colonel Chesney's absence in India, Major Estcourt 
ascended the Karoon river to Ahwaz — the ancient Aginis — 
beyond which navigation was impossible ; returning to Mo- 
hamrah, the 'Euphrates' steamed up the Tigris to Bagdad, and, 
passing through the bridge of boats which spans the river at 
the historic capital of Haroun-al-Raschid, proceeded twenty 
miles up the stream, when an accident to the rudder neces- 
sitated her return. It was now the 3rd of January; and, as 
the period for making over the steamer to the Bombay Govern- 
ment had almost arrived, she was left in charge of Mr. Hector, 
a British merchant at Bagdad. The seamen borrowed from 
the Persian Gulf squadron were sent down the river, and 
Major Estcourt prepared to proceed overland to England with 
the remainder of the officers and men. At this time an order 
was received from the Bombay Government to continue the 
Expedition, but, as it was no longer effective in point of men, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 43 

Major Estcourt decided on carrying out the previous orders of 
the Home Government, and, accordingly, started on the 24th of 
January for Damascus and Beyrout, whence he and his party 
sailed for England. Colonel Chesney succeeded in obtaining 
promotion for the four Royal Navy officers who had served under 
his command ; Major Estcourt received a brevet lieutenant- 
colonelcy, and Mr. Taylour Thomson a diplomatic appoint- 
ment at Teheran ; but his second in command, Lieutenant 
Lynch, I.N., being a member of a seniority Service, received no 
reward for his services and exertions.* 

In 1838, Commander J. C.Hawkins, commanding the 'Clive,' 
proceeded up the River Euphrates in the steamer of the same 
name, with a portion of the crew of his ship, as far as Hit, five 
hundred miles from Bussorah. In a letter, dated " Hillah, 
24th of March, 1838." he says that the steamer passed the 
Lamluin marshes, a distance of three hundred and fifty miles, 
which she had accomplished in six days. " It was not without 
difficulty and hard labour," he adds, " we succeeded in passing 
the tortuous windings and frequent strong rushes and eddies of 
the river in these celebrated marshes." He left Hillah on the 
following day, and, on the 30th, reached Hit, thus "running 
upwards of five hundred miles against a rapid current, in some 
places very difficult, and only steaming twelve hours in the 
twenty-four." 

On Colonel Chesney's return to England, Lieutenant 
Lynch, who had remained in charge of the postal service 
across Syria, from Bagdad to Damascus, assumed command 
of the ' Euphrates' on the part of the Bombay Government, 
and succeeded in ascending the Tigris to a higher point than 
had ever yet been achieved ; this was to Root Abdullah, near 
Mosul, thereby proving the navigability of the river so far, 
during the freshes, by steam vessels. He also made the passage 
of the Seglowiyah canal,f between the Tigris and Euphrates 
near Bagdad, wmich was soon after destroyed by Ali Pasha. 

* Though Colonel Chesney, after much trouble, succeeded in obtaining promotion 
for those belonging to the Royal Services employed under him, and payment of 
their expenses, his own lie did not receive, and the brevet of lieutenant-colonel was 
conferred on him in 1838, four years later than the time recommended in Sir 
John Hobhouse's Minute. He received no recompense, either honorary or pecu- 
niary, from Government for his great services and untiring energy, but lived to 
refuse, as coming thirty years too late, the honours which would have been grate- 
fully received when he returned from the East ; indeed, he had much difficulty 
in recovering the sums actually expended by him in the production of his noble 
and comprehensive work recording his labours and researches, undertaken at 
the request of the Government. He died early in 1872, aged eighty-two 
years, honoured by all the scientific societies, but neglected by the British Go- 
vernment. 

f According to a Memorandum by the late Lieutenant B. Bewsher, I.N., there 
are seven canals of considerable size between the two rivers, about seven to fifteen 
yards broad and from six to ten feet deep in the high season. These canals all 
drain the Euphrates. Seleucia is also placed at the mouth of a canal which once 
connected the two rivers, and is the famous Nahar Malka of Pliny. 



44 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

He says,* " In travelling, during the autumn of 1837, along 
the whole course of the Tigris from its sources in the moun- 
tainous regions of Armenia to the city of Bagdad, I have 
bestowed much attention on the examination of the river, fixing 
its chief points by astronomical observations, and laying down 
others by a prismatic compass, checked, whenever it was pos- 
sible, by cross-bearings. Throughout a great part of my 
journey, the track led me over ruins, at one time amidst the 
remains of ancient palaces, at another over the ruins of modern 
huts; yet the river is ever a fine stream, and flows through a 
beautiful, fertile, and populous country. More pressing duty 
at the present moment does not admit of computing the greater 
part of my observations ; but the tract between Bagdad and 
Sammarrah, comprising Opis, the Median Wall, and Siparah on 
the Euphrates, as having reference to many interesting topics 
I have taken pains to examine with accuracy." On the 25th 
of July, 1839, Lieutenant Lynch transmitted from Bagdad 
to Sir John Cam Hobhouse, President of the Board of Control, 
under whose immediate orders he was serving, a map of the 
whole source of the Tigris, between Ctesiphon and Mosul, which 
was on the scale of twelve inches to a degree. He writes :— 
'"Chains of triangles connect Nineveh to Bagdad, Bagdad to 
Babylon, Babylon to Ctesiphon, Ctesiphon to Bagdad, and the 
mountains of Hamreed in two points, namely, where the Tigris 
bursts through them to the north and Diyalah to the north- 
eastward. Most of the principal points within the range of 
these are fixed either by an extension of the trigonometric 
chains or by latitudes and true bearings checked by longitudes : 
the great canals also have been touched by our work sufficiently 
to show us their direction and position. As we work, the field 
instead of being diminished appears to extend ; and I have 
been obliged to leave with regret the tracing of the splendid 
canals and rivers and the filling-in of the villages and ruins for 
more favourable times. This, however, will be my first object 
with the extension of our triangles along this river towards 
Bussorah, and a careful survey of that part of the Euphrates 
between the Saklawiyah Canal and the lower part of what was 
Babylonia, to show the heads of the canals that ran from it 
towards the Tigris, and once rendered it, what its ruins attest, 
a splendid garden." Lieutenant H. W. Grounds, who, with 
Lieutenant M. W. Lynch, assisted Lieutenant Lynch in his 
researches, also wrote an interesting paper on his exploration 
of the country between Bagdad and the Hamreed Hills.f 

* " Note on a part of the River Tigris, between Bagdad and Sammarrah." 
By Lieutenant H. Blosse Lynch, I.N. (Vol. IX. of the "Journal of the Royal 
Geographical Society") Accompanying the Memoir is an admirable map of the 
Tigris between Bagdad and Mosul, reduced from his map submitted to the Board 
of Control. 

f " Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society," vol. vi., p. 407. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 45 

The Court of Directors, anticipating important results from 
the navigation of the rivers of Mesopotamia, in 1839 despatched 
round the Cape three new iron vessels, manufactured by Messrs. 
Laird and McGregor, which were shipped in pieces in England 
on board the 'Urania' and, under the directions of Commander 
Lynch, were put together at Bussorah ; and thus, by the spring 
of the year 1840, four steamers bearing British colours were 
floating on the classic waters of Mesopotamia. These were the 
'Assyria,' Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, who volunteered for the 
duty and joined on the 6th of May, 1840; the ' Nitocris,' 
Lieutenant Felix Jones, who also joined from the Gulf 
Squadron ; the ' Nimrod,' Lieutenant H. W. Grounds ; and the 
' Euphrates,' Lieutenant Michael W. Lynch, also of the Service. 
On the 10th of July, Lieutenant H. B. Lynch proceeded to 
England on sick leave, when he was succeeded in the command 
by Lieutenant Campbell, an officer possessing scientific attain- 
ments of a higli order, who had already earned distinction as a 
surveyor. Great sickness now prevailed among the crews, 
and several men and two engineers died. From July to 
October the steamers were employed running mails between 
Bussorah and Bagdad. On the 11th of January, 1841, Lieu- 
tenant Campbell started with a party from Bagdad overland to 
Anna, to explore the Euphrates at its lowest state. From 
Anna the party descended the river in boats to Hillah, whence 
they returned to Bagdad by land, arriving there on the 3rd of 
February. During Lieutenant Campbell's absence, Lieutenant 
(the late Captain) W. S. Selby had joined the flotilla and 
taken the command of the ' Assyria,' Lieutenant M. Lynch's 
health having broken down, owing to the effects of hard work 
while assisting his brother in his survey of the upper waters of 
the Tigris. Lieutenant Lynch died at Diabekr on his way to 
England, one of several officers of the Service who have 
perished in the cause of science and civilisation. Leaving the 
'Euphrates' laid up at Bagdad, Lieutenant Campbell proceeded 
to Bussorah, surveying the Tigris to its junction with the 
Euphrates at Koorna, and also exploring the Hie and the Hud. 
On the 1st of April, 1841, he commenced the ascent of the 
Euphrates to Beles with the steamers 'Nitocris' and 'Nimrod,' 
an undertaking that had never before been attempted, though 
Commander Hawkins had succeeded in reaching as high as Hit. 
After surmounting difficulties of no ordinary nature, which con- 
stantly taxed his ingenuity and seamanlike skill, Lieutenant 
Campbell, assisted by Lieutenant Felix Jones, an officer 
highly distinguished both as a diplomatist and a sur- 
veyor, and Lieutenant H. W. Grounds, succeeded in reaching 
Anna on the 7th of May, and Beles on the 31st of May, 1841. 
The "Morning Chronicle," of the 10th of August of that year, 
announces that event as " the completion of an enterprise of 



48 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

much danger and difficulty, which had generally been looked 
upon as impracticable, and which in all probability nothing but 
British skill, intrepidity, and perseverance would have been 
able to accomplish." " The actual distance of the voyage up 
the river," continues the 'Chronicle' "was eleven hundred 
and thirty miles; the ascent occupied two hundred and seventy- 
three hours, or about nineteen and a half clays. The average 
rate of sailing was three miles and seven furlongs an hour. 
The Tigris and Euphrates have now been opened to vessels of 
considerable burden, and the ascent and descent of these noble 
streams may be made available for the purposes of commerce, 
as well as of civilisation ; although the success of this splendid 
experiment reflects honour on the British name alone, the 
advantages which may be derived from it will be shared with 
us by many nations, and, it is to be hoped, by the inhabi- 
tants of the once famous regions watered by the great rivers of 
Mesopotamia. The behaviour of the crews was most exem- 
plary, and not a single casualty occurred during the whole 
voyage." 

Of this ascent of the Euphrates, the Right Hon. H. A. 
Layard, who took a less sanguine view than Colonel Chesney of 
its navigability, says in his " Nineveh and Babylon" (chap. xxi. 
page 474), "The expedition under Colonel Chesney, and the 
subsequent ascent of the Euphrates, by far the most arduous 
undertaking connected with its navigation, but accomplished 
with great skill by Captain Campbell, of the East India Com- 
pany's Service, have proved that for ordinary purposes this river 
in its present condition is not navigable, even in the lower part 
of its course." 

The following is a copy of the letter of thanks Lieutenant 
Campbell received from the Secret Department of the Court of 
Directors : — 

" East India House, London, August 27, 1841. 

" The President of the Board of Commissioners for the 
affairs of India having transmitted to us a copy of your letters 
of the 1st and 17th of June, and of the enclosure to the former 
letter, we have to express to you our congratulations on your 
achievement of the ascent of the Euphrates, and our satisfaction 
at the whole of your conduct whilst engaged on this service. 

" You will communicate to the officers and men our thanks for 
the ability and goodwill with which they performed their 
arduous duties. 

" We are, your loving friends, 

" (Signed) " George Legatt, 

" J. L. LUSHINGTON. 

"To Lieutenant C. H. Campbell, LIT., 

Commanding the Flotilla on the Euphrates." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 47 

After the obstructions and dangers experienced in Colonel 
Chesney's descent of the river, with a favouring current to 
assist him, it required courage, perseverance, and skill, to effect 
its successful ascent. For all these qualities, Lieutenant Camp- 
hell was eminently distinguished, while his knowledge of Arab 
character, his patience and equanimity, 'enabled him most 
effectually to conciliate the wild inhabitants of the banks of the 
Euphrates ; and thus it happened that the ascent of the " Great 
river," made against the first rush of the annual rise^'from the 
melting snow, was unattended by any serious accident or re- 
grettable occurrence, a circumstance the more remarkable as 
the ' Nitocris ' and ' Nimrod ' were armed with long iron 
9-pounder pivot guns, and carried two months' provisions and 
ammunition. The steamers remained at Beles until the 15th of 
September, 1841, and their presence acted as a diversion against 
Ibrahim Pasha in Eastern Syria, and in other respects exercised 
considerable influence during the war with Mehemet Ali. 
While here, Lieutenant Campbell sent Lieutenant Felix Jones 
across the Syrian Desert and Lebanon to Beyrout, where he 
communicated with the British fleet, whence he obtained stores. 
Having connected the river Euphrates and Mediterranean by 
chronometric measurements for longitude, Lieutenant Jones 
returned to Beles by another route, through Northern Syria. 
Lieutenant Campbell also visited Aleppo, Scanderoon, and the 
depot of stores left by Colonel Chesney at Bir ; he also surveyed 
the river between that place and Beles, and visited the various 
tribes on the banks. 

During the absence of Lieutenant Campbell at Beles, the 
remaining steamers, ' Euphrates ' and ' Assyria,' were placed 
under the command of Lieutenant W. B Selby, an enterprising 
officer who explored the river Karoon, the river of Dizful, the 
Kirkhah, the Hie, and the Bamisheer. He ascended the Karoon 
to Shuster, both by the main body of the river and by the Aub 
Gargar, or artificial canal ; he fully established the prac- 
ticability of the navigation of the Bamisheer, and proved the 
possibility of communicating by steam between the Euphrates 
and Tigris by the Hie. These were among the most important 
results of the Expedition, and should the advances of civilization 
in no distant future cover the rivers of Mesopotamia with 
steamers for commercial and other purposes, the extensive 
surveys and researches of Lieutenant Selby, and of that 
accomplished surveyor, Lieutenant Felix Jones, more par- 
ticularly in later years, will receive from posterity the acknow- 
ledgment that has been denied to them by their " Honourable 
Masters " and by the Government of the Queen. A writer in 
the " Bombay Times " of December, 1843, speaking of Lieu- 
tenant Selby's surveys at this period — and the passage was 
endorsed by the late Sir Roderick Murchison, in his address to 



48 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the Royal Geographical Society on the 27th of May, 1844 — 
says : — " Lieutenant Selby, by his courage, his perseverance, 
and his scientific knowledge, was admirably calculated for an 
expedition of this nature. He has connected by scientific 
observations the course of the Eulseus, the Choaspes, the 
Coprates, and the Pasitigris, with the range of mountains 
forming the great chain running to the east of Sinister, and 
with the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. He has proved the 
practicability of rivers, the course of which was hitherto almost 
unknown." " Such are the terms," said Sir Roderick Murchison 
in conclusion, "in which this important expedition is an- 
nounced, and they are certainly such as Lieutenant Selby's 
successful efforts eminently warrant." His career of usefulness 
was, however, temporarily cut short, and his life nearly ter- 
minated, by some severe wounds he received in an encounter 
with an overpowering force of Arabs of the El Meidan tribe, on 
the western bank of the river Tigris, below Bagdad, when he 
exhibited a reckless gallantry such as we read of in the pages 
of romances of the G. P. R. James type. The affair took place 
in the month of June, 1841, during the absence at Beles of 
Lieutenants Campbell, Jones, and Grounds, when Lieutenant 
Selb}^ was in temporary charge of the depots on the river 
Tigris ; and the wounds he received were of so severe a nature 
that Assistant-Surgeon Ross, of the British Residency at 
Bagdad, invalided him to England. 

On the 20th of August, 1841, Commander Lynch* reassumed 
the command of the Expedition at Beles, and, on the 1st of 
September, commenced the descent of the river, when, owing to 
the unfavourable time of the year, one of the steamers, the 
' Nimrod,' was sunk by a snag, on the 16th of February, 1843, 
but was raised after much difficulty. 

Meanwhile, between the 1st of September and the following 
April, Commander Lynch and his assistants utilized the time 
in continuing the survey of the river. He says in his ' ; Memoir, 
in three parts, of the River Euphrates :"f — " The survey of the 
river Euphrates was commenced in the month of October, 1841, 
in the steam vessels 'Nitocris' and ' Nimrod,' under the com- 
mand of Commander H. Blosse Lynch, assisted by Lieutenants 

* He attained the rank of commander on the 21st of February, and had 
already received the insignia of a " Knight of the Lion and Sun " from the Shall 
of Persia, an order of Chivalry instituted by his predecessor in 1800, in honour of 
an Englishman — Sir John Malcolm — who was twice " Elchee," or Envoy, at his 
Court. The Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company (Limited), who 
have placed a line of steamers between Bussorah and Bagdad, have recently 
commemorated the great services of Captain Lynch as one of the pioneers of 
steam navigation on those waters and the first surveyor of Mesopotamia, by 
naming a fine steamer, 220 feet in length and 600 tons burden, the ' Blosse Lynch' 
after him. 

t See "Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society," vol. vi. pp. 169-186, 
for the Memoir « Inch was communicated by Government. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 49 

Campbell, Jones, and Grounds, I.N. A series of chronometrical 
measurements connect the river at the light station below 
Beles with the Mediterranean at Sawediah and Alexandretta, 
and with the cities of Aleppo and Antioch. The chart shows 
the river in its lowest state, and is constructed from trigono- 
metrical measurements from a base line measured on the level 
plain between Beles and Jiaber.* The astronomical positions 
were determined by single and meridian altitudes of sun, moon, 
and stars, and lunar distances. The scale of the chart is one 
inch to a geographical mile taken at 2,025 yards. At Deir the 
trigonometrical survey of the river was given up for the season, 
the water having risen nearly two feet, and rising daily, 
rendering the examination of the shoals comparatively useless. 
Below Deir the operations of the survey were limited to fixing 
astronomically the principal points of latitude by meridian 
altitude of the sun, moon, and stars, longitude by chronometer 
and lunar distances from the sun and stars. True bearings 
deduced from observations of the sun's azimuth. The delinea- 
tion of the river was carried on in both vessels by dead 
reckoning. The soundings are of little value, as they remain 
constant only for the day or hour in which they are taken." 

It was not until the 29th of April, 1842, that the 'Nimrod,' 
having Commander Lynch and Lieutenant Campbell on board, 
arrived at Anna, when these officers hired two boats, and 
pushing on for Felugia, landed and rode thence to Bagdad. 
Upon their departure Lieutenants Jones and Grounds con- 
ducted the 'Nitocris' and 'Nimrod' down the river to the 
Persian Gulf, which was reached in the spring of 1842. 

The result of this descent of the Euphrates, so far as re- 
garded its navigability by steamers drawing even three or four 
feet of water, at all seasons of the year, was considered a 
failure; and the Court of Directors, who had already resolved 
upon withdrawing one or two of the steamers, determined upon 
abandoning the Expedition entirely. Accordingly, in June, 
1842, Lieutenant Campbell proceeded to Bushire with three of 
the vessels, and, in the following September, the ' Semiramis' 
arrived and took the steamers, with the officers and crews, to 
Bombay. Commander Lynch also returned to Bombay, Lieu- 
tenant Felix Jones remaining behind in the ' Nitocris ' to 
protect British interests at Bagdad, and continue the survey of 

* He says : — 

" The old castle of Jiaber, built on an isolated hill of the desert range of the 
left bank, is about eighteen miles below Beles, and forms a fine object over the 
valley. At a great distance both above and below, it is 369 feet above the level 
of the river, and was formerly just over the stream, which has now left it, and is 
1,000 yards distant. The ruins are of the Saracenic age, bnt there are evidences 
of much older building in the brickwork of the foundations, and I am led to 
suppose that Jiaber has been an important military station long prior to the age 
its present ruins would appear to indicate ; it is now entirely deserted, but has 
been occupied within the last sixty years." 

VOL. II. E 



50 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the country between the two great rivers. This closes the 
record of the Euphrates Expedition,* though officers of the 
Indian Navy, borne on the books of the armed steamer ' Comet,' 
which worthily upheld the British name, were employed in 
surveying these classic lands up to the date of the abolition of 
the Service, when the " Surveyor of Mesopotamia " and his 
assistants ceased to be drawn from its ranks. During this 
period of upwards of a quarter of a century these accomplished 
surveyors and draughtsmen still further exalted the reputation 
of the Service, by their patient and assiduous labours in map- 
ping out and exploring these "cradle lands." 

In 1836 the ' Atalanta ' steam sloop of 617 tons and 210 horse- 
power, armed with four heavy guns, was launched at London, 
and sailed from Falmouth on the 29th of December, for 
Bombay. The 'Atalanta ' made Teneriffe in eight days, having 
encountered terrific weather, during which she carried away the 
paddle-boxes, and jib-boom, and arrived at the Gape in thirty- 
five days from England, and at Bombay on the 13th of April, 
having made the passage in one hundred and six days.f Her 
arrival was most opportune, for the Government had just 

* The results of the Expedition may be briefly summarised as follows : — 
(1) The descent of the river Euphrates from Bir to Bussorah by Colonel Chesney, 
during which the ' Tigris ' was lost. (2) The navigation of the river Karoon 
from Mohamrah to Ahwaz, ' by the steamer 'Euphrates' under Major Estcourt . 
(3) The ascent of the river Tigris as far as Bagdad and twenty miles higher up 
by Colonel Chesney. (4) The ascent of the Tigris to Koot Abdullah, near 
Mosul, by Captain Lynch. (5) The passage of the Seglowiyah canal by the same 
officer. (6) The ascent of the Hud by Lieutenant Campbell. (7) The ascent of 
the Euphrates from Bussorah to Beles by Lieutenant Campbell. (8) The 
passage of the Hie by Lieutenant Selby. (9) The ascent of the Kirkhah by the 
same officer. (10) The ascent of the Karoon from Mohamrah to Ahwaz, and 
subsequently from Mohamrah to Shuster ; also of the Aub G;irgar, or artificial 
canal, and of the river of Dizful, by the same officer. (11) The navigation of 
the Bamit-heer from Mohamrah to the sea by the same officer. (12) The descent 
of the Euphrates from Beles to Bussorah, partly by Captain Lynch, and partly 
by Lieutenants Jones and Grounds. Speaking generally, it may be said that the 
chief result of the expedition was that the Tigris was proved to be navigable all 
the year round as far as Bagdad, and during the freshes, as far as Mosul for 
steamers of very light draught ; but that the Euphrates was not navigable 
throughout its course at all periods of the year by vessels of the draught of these 
steamers. 

f The following are the dates of her arrival and departure from the various 
stations for taking in coal : — Arrived at Teneriffe, Jan. 6 ; left, Jan. 11. Arrived 
at Mayo, Jan. 15 ; left, Jan. 21. Arrived at Fernando Po, Jan. 31 ; left, Feb. 5. 
Arrived at Cape of Good Hope, Feb. 19 ; left, Feb. 28. Arrived at Mauritius, 
March 16 ; left, March 26. Arrived at Cochin, April 7 ; left, April 9. Arrived 
at Bombay, April 13. Being a period of seventy, or rather sixty-eight com- 
plete days at sea, during the whole of which the vessel was under steam, aided 
occasionally by her sails. Her average consumption of coals did not exceed fifteen 
ton3 per day, while that of the 'Hugh Lindsay' was nearly seventeen; besides 
severe weather in the Bay of Biscay, a three days' gale of wind was encountered 
between the Cape and the Mauritius, so that the performance was considered as 
very satisfactory. The detention of thirty-six days at the several ports was 
entirely occupied in taking in coal. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 51 

received intelligence of the outbreak of a formidable insurrection 
in the Canara country, and an attack on Mangalore by an 
insurgent force of five thousand Goorgs and Moplahs, who, 
however, were driven off. Immediately on receipt of this news 
at Bombay, Her Majesty's ship ' Winchester ' proceeded to 
Vingorla and embarked two hundred of the Queen's Royals and 
four hundred of the Company's troops ; the ' Hugh Lindsay ' 
took on board two hundred of the 6th Regiment, and a com- 
pany of Artillery, with 9-pounders ; and the ' Atalanta ' em- 
barked the 23rd Native Infantry. The two former left Bombay 
on the loth of April and reached Mangalore in fifty-seven 
hours, and the 'Atalanta' followed on the following day and 
anchored in the roads in fifty hours. On their arrival it was 
found that the place had been relieved by troops from Canna- 
nore. but a large field force was required for ulterior operations, 
and a squadron of vessels of the Indian Navy was employed on 
the coast, Commander Lowe being agent for transports, with 
Lieutenant Robinson as his assistant. 

The second steam-ship despatched from England for service 
in the Indian Navy, was the ' Berenice,' built at Glasgow, of 
756 tons burden and 220 horse-power, and carrying a battery of 
four 68-pounders, or, to speak more correctly, 8-inch guns 
throwing hollow 56-lb. shot. On the 22nd of February, 
1837, the Court of Directors gave a grand banquet to Captain 
George Grant,* who was nominated to the command, and his 
officers, at which were present a distinguished company, in- 
cluding Lord Clare, and Admirals Sir Charles Adam and Sir 
Pulteney Malcolm. The 'Berenice' left Falmouth at eleven 
p.m. on the 16th of March, touched at Santa Cruz (Teneriffe), 
Mayo (Cape de Verd Islands), Fernando Po, Cape of Good 
Hope, and Port Louis (Mauritius). The run of upwards of 
twelve thousand miles was made at an average rate of eight 
miles an hour, and the 'Berenice' anchored at Bombay on the 
14th of June. Captain Grantf reported that she was an ex- 
cellent sea boat, and stood well up under canvas in heavy 
weather ; also that on her arrival at Bombay she was in as 
efficient a state as when she left Falmouth, and could be got 
ready for sea in a few hours. The 'Berenice' made a quicker 
passage by five days, under steam, than the 'Atalanta,' and by 
eighteen days on the whole voyage, she having been eighty- 
eight daysj on the passage, including twenty-four days' de- 

* Captain Grant was the same officer who had done such good service on the 
Guzerat coast between the years 1812-20. 

t Soon after his arrival at Bombay, Captain Grant's health failed, and on the 
11th August he was granted furlough to Europe, and retired on the Senior List 
with a pension of £800 a-year, which he enjoyed until his death in the year 
1874. 

X The following are details of the voyage of the ' Berenice' : — Falmouth to 
Santa Cruz, seven and a-half days ; Santa Cruz to Mayo, four day« nine hours • 

e'2 



52 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tention at the various ports, and the ' Atalanta ' one hundred 
and six days, including thirty-six days' detention. 

The 'Berenice,' 'Atalanta,' and 'Hugh Lindsay,' were 
employed during the year 1837 in the transport of mails and 
passengers between Suez and Bombay, from which date the 
communication was regularly maintained. In 1838 it was 
recorded as an extraordinary feat that English intelligence of 
the 7th of March was received, per the ' Atalanta,' in forty-one 
days at Bombay, and fifty-four at Calcutta. 

The third steamer built in England for the Indian Navy was 
the ' Semiramis,' of 720 tons and 300 horse-power, which 
made her trial trip from Purfleet to the Nore on the 21st 
of October, 1837, under command of Captain George Barnes 
Bracks, who was accompanied by the Court of Directors, and 
Captain Oliver, R.N., the newly nominated successor of Sir 
Charles Malcolm as Superintendent of the Indian Navy. Sir 
James Carnac, the Chairman of the Court, stated in the course 
of his speech at the customary dinner, that Captain Bracks had 
been selected for the command on account of long and valuable 
service, as well as his scientific attainments, and he mentioned 
"his elaborate and valuable surveys, charts of which had long been 
published for the public benefit." Sir James associated with the 
toast, Captain Lawrence, the " father of the Indian Navy" (who 
was present) and Captain Houghton. He observed, he had had 
much intercourse of late with officers of the Indian Navy, and 
had found them " second to none in intelligence, talent, and 
scientific knowledge." He then proposed the health of Captain 
Bracks, and the Indian Navy. Captain Bracks, in returning 
thanks, "ascribed his pursuit of, and the knowledge he had of, 
steam affairs, to the encouragement he had met with from Mr. 
Loch, the Director, the kindness of the Chairman, and others in 
the Direction. Though he had no enemies of his country to 
contend with, yet there was an enemy to steam navigation in 
India he was ready to meet, and he would stake his professional 
reputation he would conquer, with the steamers possessed by 
the Company; he meant that bugbear of Bombay imagination, 
the south-west monsoon." 

The ' Semiramis' arrived at Bombay in April, 1838, with her 
boilers in a bad state, and her engines in want of repairs. 
However, she was urgently required to transport troops to the 
Persian Gulf, and, accordingly, Captain Bracks proceeded 
thither towards the end of May, 1838. On his return lie under- 
took to do battle against the south-west monsoon, which he had 
described as " the bugbear of Bombay imagination." That a 

Mavo to Fernando Po, fourteen days two hours ; Fernando Po to Table Bay, 
fourteen days three hours ; Table Bay to Port Louis, twelve days two and a-lialf 
hours ; Port Louis to Bombay, thirteen days and a-half hour. Greatest run in 
one day 252 miles. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 53 

passage could be made with a sufficiently powerful steamer has 
long siuce been proved, and the steam frigates of the Indian 
Navy, and the ships of all steam companies trading in the East, 
think no more of crossing the Arabian Sea in the south-west, 
than in the north-east, monsoon : but Captain Brucks, a hardy- 
seaman of the old school, in whose vocabulary "impossible" 
was an unknown term, miscalculated the power of the engines 
of his ship to force her through the mountainous sea and high 
wind that prevails between the months of June and September. 
Having patched up the boilers of the ' Semiramis,' he quitted 
Bombay, with the mails for Suez, on the 15th of July, and, for 
eight days, strove his utmost to fulfil his pledge to take his 
ship to the Red Sea. But all was in vain, and, after splitting 
his fore and aft sails and shipping " blue seas," which threatened 
to put out the fires, or swamp the ship, he felt himself 
reluctantly compelled to adopt the advice of his officers, and 
bore up for Bombay, where he arrived on the 26th of July. 
The ' Semiramis' started with 399 tons of coal, and, on the 
23rd, when she turned back, had made less than six hundred 
miles, or about half the distance, while she had in her bunkers 
only 152 tons, instead of 183, the computed quantity, and the 
state of her boilers would not admit a greater pressure than 
3£ lbs. 

Thursday, the 15th of June, 1837, will long be memorable in 
the annals of Bombay for the occurrence of a hurricane, described 
as " the severest within the memory of man." The wind was 
at its height about ten a.m., when it veered round to S.S.E., 
with heavy rain, and all the vessels in the harbour, numbering 
some fifty sail, drove from their moorings and fouled each 
other, or were driven ashore ; so great was the destruction that 
only about half a dozen escaped without injury. The Hon. 
Company's receiving ship 'Hastings' was blown against the 
old Bunder head opposite the dock pier, and, at one time, had 
seven feet of water in her hold. Nothing saved her from 
becoming a total wreck but her marvellous strength, and an 
eye-witness wrote : — " Some idea may be formed of the manner 
in which she laboured, from her having destroyed a large 
portion of the old Bunder pier, to which she is so near that one 
might step with ease upon her deck from the shore. The 
steamers 'Hugh Lindsay,' Lieutenant Campbell,* and 'Bere- 
nice,' Captain Grant, which latter had just arrived from 
England, were driven against each other, and were greatly 
shattered, and the brig ' Aurora' was seriously damaged. 
Among the merchant ships the havoc was much greater, while 

* Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, who was in charge of the 'Hugh Lindsay' at 
the time, received a letter of commendation for his conduct on this trying 
occasion from Sir Charles Malcolm, who said, " Your personal conduct was 
such as to merit the greatest praise both for courage and coolness." 



54 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

on shore upwards of four hundred native houses were destroyed, 
roofs of houses torn off, trees blown down, and buggies 
capsized." An officer on board the ' Buckingham shire,' which 
lay, at this time, in the harbour, sends us an extract from that 
ship's log. from which we take the following passage : — "Counted 
sixteen ships on shore from Alazagon to the new Bunder 
(Apollo pier) and one near the gun-carriage manufactory at 
Colaba, making a total of seventeen." 

In September, 1837, Captain R. Cogan proceeded to England 
on retirement, and, in the following December, Commanders 
Rose and Igglesden also finally quitted India. Captain Cogan 
had only sailed from Portsmouth on the 25th of October in the 
previous year, in command of the royal yacht, ' Prince Regent,' 
which King George IV. had presented to the Imaum of Muscat. 
Lord Elphinstone, the newly appointed Governor of Madras, 
proceeded to India in the ' Prince Regent' which touched at 
Rio and the Cape, and anchored at Madras on the 5th of March, 
1837, when his lordship landed. Captain Cogan then proceeded 
to Bombay, where he arrived on the 8th of April, and thence 
sailed for Zanzibar, where he delivered the King's present to 
the Imaum, who received him as an old and valued friend, and 
sent him to Bombay, with his officers and crew, in his Highness' 
frigate ' Piedmontese.' Captain Cogan reached Bombay on the 
24th of June, and, having fulfilled the mission of his Sovereign, 
took a final leave of the Service in the September following. 

In 1837, a select Committee* of the House of Commons, 

* Lieutenants Waghorn and Wellsted were examined before tins Committee 
regarding the question of the most suitable coal depots, and, while the former 
stated that " Mocha is the best place that can be found in the Red Sea, and the 
only depot required," and " the place for everything," Lieutenant Wellsted 
gave his opinion, " most decidedly," that " Mocha cannot be made a station, 
for during nine months of the year the southerly winds blow with such violence 
that you can only communicate with the shore at intervals, and it is an open 
roadstead." Again, in opposition to Waghorn, who declared that the harbour 
in Camaran Island, about thirty miles to the northward of Hodeida, is "good 
for nothing," and " altogether useless," having a bar across the entrance 
all round, Wellsted said, that "the best station between Socotra and 
Suez is Camaran, which is a good harbour, is partially susceptible of cultivation, 
and that there is not any difficulty in the navigation into the harbour, the width 
of the channel being a mile and a half." Loth these officers spoke from 
actual observation and experience, Waghorn, as he stated, having been at 
Camaran "dozens of times," and Wellsted having been professionally employed 
for three years in surveying the Red Sea ; it is certain, however, that there is an 
excellent harbour in Camaran Island, where shelter from all winds is found, and 
though the entrance is narrowed to less than four cables, this is of no account to 
a steamer. Their opinion exemplifies the dictum as to doctors disagreeing. 
Speaking of the relative merits of the various ports for coal depots, Lieutenant 
Wellsted said in his evidence, " that he had surveyed the island of Socotra in 
1834 : that it has two harbours, one available in the north-east monsoon, and one 
in the south-west, but there is no single harbour sheltered in all seasons. The 
water in these bays is perfectly smooth, they are easy of access for any sized 
Teasel, with no danger in the vicinity. Good fresh water is obtainable there. 
The detachment of troops left the island in consequence of the insalubrity of tho 
station they occupied ; the mountains over the station, seven miles from the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 55 

appointed to inquire into the best means of establishing steam 
communication with India, assembled under the presidency of 
Lord William Bentinck, the late Governor-General, and much 
interesting and important evidence was adduced from the 
examination of experts, including many officers of the Indian 
Navy. Lord William Bentinck was himself the last witness 
examined, and proposed that the Indian Navy, which, he stated, 
cost .£100,000 per annum, should consist of five steamers, 
allotting three to the packet service and two to the general 
service; and he reiterated his opinion that the whole should be 
placed under the Admiralty, and the Royal Navy should 
undertake the duties hitherto performed by the Company's 
Service. 

On the 25th of August, 1837, the ' Berenice' left with the 
first mail on the monthly system, but broke her shaft and put 
back ; the ' Atalanta,' which had conveyed one to the Persian 
Gulf, proceeded to Suez in the following month, and from that 
date, except during the prevalence of the south-west monsoon, the 
mail service was regularly maintained. But this boon was given 
to the public well-nigh at the cost of the efficiency of the Indian 
Navy as a war marine. In taking this step the Court showed 
the cloven hoof of a commercial corporation, from the exigencies 
of which the legislation of 1833 had freed them ; had they 
consulted only the best interests of the Service, they would have 

beach, are as healthy as England. The coals could be put in hulks. In the 
passage from Bombay to Mocha, in the south-west monsoon, sailing vessels never 
attempt to go straight across, but run down to the south of the Line, and get the 
south-east trade, and shape their course to the westward by the Seychelles, run 
into about the longitude of Socotra, and then go due north for Cape Gardafui ; 
the average voyage would be about forty days. Our steamers go across the 
Arabian Sea, from Bombay to Muscat, at all seasons, and the average passage is 
twenty-one days during the south-west monsoon ; there is more importance 
attached to that monsoon than it deserves. There would be no difficulty in a 
steamer like the ' Berenice ' passing during the south-west monsoon from Bombay 
to Socotra. Quitting Bombay, she should be put on her starboard tack, set sails, 
and run down to latitude 8° or 9° north, thence steam to the westward into 52° 
longitude, and then shape the course for Cape Gardafui. At some period of the 
monsoon, about two months, it would be practicable to go direct from Bombav to 
Socotra. Macullah is the best place for a depot that can be selected in the north- 
east monsoon, in the south-west it cannot be approached. Aden would answer 
very well for a depot in both monsoons, having two harbours. In the south- 
west monsoon you cannot look to the Arabian coast for coals ; with a depot at 
Socotra, none will be needed on the Arabian coast outside the Straits of 
Babelmandel. There is no difficulty in a steamer, of power like the 'Berenice,' 
going through the Straits up to Suez at any season of the year." 

Mr. Peacock, of the India House, who had been examined before the Steam 
Committee of 1834, was of opinion " that Camaran Island is a very much better 
station than Mocha, which will not do for these steamers, because no vessel 
drawing more than ten and a-half feet of water can go into the inner anchorage, 
and the water is exposed to a great, swell. The 'Atalanta' draws sixteen feet. 
r J he best depot between Suez and India is the island of Perim, in the Straits of 
Babelmandel ; the next the island of Camaran ; his opinion was not favourable 
to Socotra, and he did not see that we want it. Mocha is decidedly bad." 

Sir John Hobhouse, President of the Board of Control, spoke of the proposal 



5G HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

invited tenders for the conveyance of the mails from mercantile 
firms, and maintained a small and efficient navy for war 
purposes only. By maintaining regular ships-of-war, and also 
armed steamers for passenger traffic, and making the officers 
interchangeable, they impaired the efficiency of both officers and 
ships, and it was pitiable to see smart lieutenants — brought up 
in the only school in which practical seamen can be trained, the 
smart ships and brigs which had hitherto formed the pride of 
the Service — striving to cleanse the smoke-begrimed decks and 
rigging of their ships, and to make their crews serviceable. But 
their efforts were vain, for passengers crowded the decks and 
interfered with the working of the guns at quarters, while their 
requirements as to luggage sadly tried the tempers of the 
officers.* Such midshipmen as had passed their examinations, 
were ordered to serve in these steamers as lieutenants — but 
without the rank and pay — so that the Service generally suffered 
from the demoralising effects of lax discipline, and interruption 
of those drills below and aloft which are necessary to maintain 
officers and men in a state of efficiency in a war marine. We 
shall presently see what bitter fruit this unsound and short- 
then under consideration of the Court, to convert the Indian Navy into a steam 
flotilla for navigating the Indus and other rivers. He stated, that " it having 
heen estimated that the expense of a monthly communication between Bombay 
and Suez by four steamers of 200 horse-power, would not exceed £88,000 per 
annum, on the 2nd of June a despatch was sent out to the Indian Government, 
stating the arrangement which the Court had made with His Majesty's 
Government, and desiring that it might take effect forthwith ; adding, that with 
that view, the Court would direct the Bombay Government to send the ' Hugh 
Lindsay ' to Mocha, for the purpose of her being regularly employed in conveying 
the mails between that place and Suez, and to despatch the ' Atalanta ' and 
' Berenice ' in alternate months to Mocha. The Court further expressed their 
intention in the despatch, to adopt measures for providing a fourth steamer ; that 
they would immediately contract for coals for consignment to Mocha and 
Bombay, and that they intended to try the plan of supplying Suez with coals via 
Alexandria. The Governor-General also recommended, with a view to the larger 
plan of communication with the three Presidencies, to send the 'Atalanta' or 
' Berenice ' round from Calcutta to Madras, thence to Ceylon, and thence to 
Socotra, and up the Red Sea to Suez, to ascertain practically what objections 
there may be to that route." Captain Brucks, shortly before proceeding to India 
in command of the ' Semiramis,' also gave evidence, in which he stated that it 
was quite practicable to make the south-west passage from Bombay to Socotra. 
though not advisable, because the vessels would be greatly strained. He was 
prepared to make the passage in a vessel of sufficient power — say of between 750 
and 800 tons. Captain Brucks expressed a favourable opinion regarding Socotra 
as a coaling station, and preferred Perim to Camaran, though only one station 
woidd be necessary between Bombay and Suez. He advocated the employment 
of steam-vessels as ships-of-war, though a small squadron of sailing vessels would 
also be necessary. The veteran statesman, the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, 
also gave evidence as to the urgent necessity of establishing constant and regular 
steam communication between England and India. 

* In 1838, lieutenants serving in steamers were granted two rupees a day batta, 
but this boon, which was but a small set-off for all the additional labour and 
discomfort they had to undergo, was cancelled a few years later. In this year 
also the allowances to captains of steamers from passage-money of passengers, were 
reduced from 400 to 300 rupees. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 57 

sighted policy bore, and the reader will then learn that the 
Court of Directors, which ordered this course, took no blame to 
itself for the evil results, which a little knowledge of naval 
affairs, or consideration for the esprit de corps to be found in all 
militar}^ services, would have obviated. 

In the early part of the year 1837,* the Service was again 
believed to be almost in articulo mortis, and a state of uncer- 
tainty prevailed, which had a most detrimental effect on its 
discipline. It had long been known that the Court of Directors 
were undecided as to its future, and the general belief was that 
it would be either abolished, or converted, according to Lord 
William Bentinck's plan, into a steam-packet service. A 
scheme was sent from Bombay for remodelling the Service, 
which betrayed incompetence in its conception ; for it was pro- 
posed, while greatly reducing the personnel, to make it into a 
steam service with vessels of between 250 and 500 tons, 
which were to undertake duties that a very small knowledge 
of steam navigation showed could only be performed by ships 

* Among important General Orders relating to the Indian Navy, issued by the 
Governor in Council duriug the year 1837, was the following, regulating the 
appointment of medical officers to the Service, under date March 7, 1837 : — 

" All assistant-surgeons who have served not less than one or more than four 
years, shall be eligible for duty in the Indian Navy. Such assistant-surgeons 
shall be called on to serve in the Indian Navy according to their standing, com- 
mencing with the juniors. The period of service in the Navy is not to exceed two 
years, unless at the desire of the party ; but an assistant- surgeon completing four 
years' service while attached to the Indian Navy, should be relieved as soon after 
as possible provided he wishes it, and shall have served one year on board a 
cruiser." 

Under date the 30th of November, the pay of assistant-surgeons was fixed at 
306 rupees per mensem while afloat, and 206 while on shore, exclusive of house- 
rent. 

Under date the 3rd of April, 1837, the following rules were published 
respecting the engagement of passages on board the ' Hugh Lindsay,' or other 
Government steam-vessel : — 

" Three lists, one for each Presidency, shall be kept in the office of the Superin- 
tendent Indian Navy, in which the names of all persons applying for a passage 
shall be registered, one third portion of the available accommodation being 
allowed for each list ; any person desirous of engaging a passage is required to 
deposit in the hands of the paymaster, at the Presidency, one-third of the amount 
of the regulated passage-money, and on the production at the office of the Super- 
intendent of the Indian Navy, of a certificate of his having done so, his name will 
be registered on the list for the Presidency to which he may belong. The 
applicants will stand in their respective Registers, according to the order in 
which they pay their deposits, those who stand first will be allowed priority of 
choice of accommodation ; the order in which the first in each list shall have 
priority of choice, shall be decided by lot. Should any of the three lists not be 
full by the tenth day previous to that fixed for the departure of the vessel, the 
deficiency shall be made up from either of the other lists, if there are supernu- 
merary applicants therein, or alternately from both, should there be supernu- 
meraries in two of the lists. The paymaster of the Presidency is authorized to 
receive deposits from persons desirous of eventually securing passage at any period 
in anticipation, even though the arrangements for the despatch of the vessel may 
not have been officially announced." 

On the 11th of August, 1836, some important Orders were issued by Govern- 
ment for the regulation of the Pay Department of the Indian Navy. 



58 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of greater size and horse-power. The officers of the Indian 
Navy became acquainted with this plan, and, as the sugges- 
tions were said to include a reduction in the pensions of the 
officers who were to be turned adrift, a large number memo- 
rialised the Court. To these Memorials the following reply 
was received from England, and published by the Govern- 
ment : — 

" Marine Department, Bombay Castle, Nov. 21, 1838. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council is pleased to publish, 
for information, the following extract, paragraphs 1st and 2nd 
of the Court's letter, dated the 18th day of June last. Letter 
from, dated the 16th of October, 1837. — Forwarding Memorial 
from Commander W. Rose, respecting the effect upon the 
officers of the Indian Navy of its conversion into a steam 
service, stagnation of their promotion, suggesting the option of 
retirement, &c. ; and Letter from, dated the 28th of February, 
1838 — forwarding Memorials to the same purport from twenty- 
five officers of Indian Navy : viz., Commander J. II. Rowband ; 
Lieutenants H. Warry, P. Powell, T. G. Carless, R. Ethersev, 
F. D. Winn, G. B. Kempthorne, F. Whitelock, T. W. Dent, 
S. H. Buckler, W. Jardine, A. Offer, J. Sheppard, J. P. Porter, 
and H. C. Boulderson ; Midshipmen A. E. Ball, C. Hewitt, 
A. M. Grieve, W. B. Selby, D. Scott, A. H. Gardner, C. H. 
Berthon, J. S. Grieve, A. Whitburn, and J. Roberts. 

" 1. — The Memorialists appear to have been betrayed by the 
vague announcements of the public press into the belief that 
the measures in progress with regard to the Indian Navy, not 
only detrimentally affected their interest, but virtually con- 
cerned the character of the Service to which they belonged ; 
and, making every allowance for men whose anxious feeling 
had been aroused by the unsettled and apparently insecure state 
of the Service for some time past, we are not unwilling to view 
the conduct of the Memorialists with indulgence, on the ground 
of their former services, although we cannot but characterize 
their mode of proceeding as most unmilitary. 

" 2. — With regard to the Memorialists themselves, we do not 
feel it necessary to enter upon their merits further than to 
observe that, in the option of retirement from the Company's 
Service offered by our despatch in this department, dated the 
9th of May last, a remedy has already been provided by us for 
the chief causes of complaint." 

At length, the Court having arrived at a determination 
regarding the future of the Indian Navy, in 1838 the following 
Order was published at Bombay : — 

" The Superintendent publishes, for the general information 
of the Service, the following extracts from the letters of the 
Hon. Court of Directors, under dates the 28th of February and 
the 9th of May last, relative to the substituting steam for sail- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 59 

ing vessels in the Indian Navy: — ' The conveyance of mails for 
packet service being provided for, the remaining purposes for 
which the Indian Navy would be required for are, against an 
enemy in case of war, for the transport of troops, stores, and 
treasure, the protection of the trade from piracy, and for sur- 
veying ; and as we have no doubt that all these objects would 
be attained more effectually by steam than by sailing vessels, 
it is our intention to effect the arrangement with the least pos- 
sible delay, and, as a first step towards it, we have resolved to 
build two suitable steam vessels of war. We shall hereafter 
take into consideration the alterations which may be necessary 
in the establishment of officers, consequent on the substitution 
of steam vessels for sailing vessels in the Indian Navy ; in the 
meanwhile, we think it desirable that an opportunity should be 
afforded to the officers, if possible, of obtaining information and 
experience upon the subject of steam navigation and marine 
engines, which will, in the altered state of the Service to which 
they belong, be expected of them, in addition to the ordinary 
acquirements of a Naval officer, and you have our authority to 
make such arrangements as may appear to you calculated to 
encourage and facilitate the attainment of the desired qualifi- 
cation. 

" The establishment of our steamers employed as vessels of 
war must, of course, differ in grade as well as in number from 
the establishment of our steamers employed as packets, and the 
same difference exists in the Royal Navy. The accommodation 
for the officers in the packets cannot, consistently with the pur- 
poses of such vessels, be as convenient as they are in vessels of 
war; but, so long as the officers employed are members of the 
same Service, and have relative rank, according to seniority, in 
the Indian Navy, there can be no distinction between the com- 
mander and officers of a war vessel and of a packet, except that 
which naturally arises from the date of respective commissions; 
but, in order to remove any ground of complaint on that head, 
we direct that the command of the steam vessels, when em- 
ployed as packets, be restricted to lieutenants, unless an officer 
holding the rank of commander shall be desirous of such com- 
mand, due regard to be had in cases of seniority, when com- 
bined with efficiency. We, however, positively interdict the 
employment of mates of merchantmen, or any other than 
commissioned or warrant officers of the Indian Navy, in any 
situation of command or responsibility on board any of our 
vessels, except in the engine room. 

" In the event of any of the officers being desirous of quitting 
the Indian Navy, in consequence of the altered condition of that 
Service, we have resolved to permit them to retire from it, upon 
the following scale of pensions ; provided, however, that the 
total number of the officers who maybe desirous of availing 



60 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

themselves of this permission do not exceed one-third of the 
present strength of the Indian Navy, and that preference be 
given to the senior grades, viz. : — 

" To the captains, =£3(50 per annum, the amount of the 
retired pay fixed for that rank by the regulations, without pre- 
judice, however, to succession to the pensions of the Senior list 
as vacancies occur therein. To commanders, £360 per annum, 
the present retiring pay of captain, but without further pro- 
spect. To lieutenants, who have actually served fifteen years 
in India, £290 per annum, the present retired pay of com- 
mander, but without further prospects. To lieutenants, who 
have not actually served fifteen years, .£190 per annum, being 
the retiring pay of lieutenant after twenty-two years' service, 
without further prospects. The offer of retirement is to be 
made to each captain, commander, and lieutenant, who must 
signify his determination thereon within three calendar months 
from the receipt of such offer. You will forthwith promulgate 
this arrangement, but you are not to make any promotions on 
the vacancies occasioned by its operation, until you shall have 
received our further instructions." 

In accordance with the terms of the Court's retirement 
scheme, the following Government Order was published : — 

"Bombay Castle, April 4, 1839. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council is pleased to announce, 
that the future establishment of the Indian Navy has been 
fixed by the Hon. the Court of Directors, as follows, viz. : — 
Four captains, eight commanders, forty lieutenants, and forty- 
eight midshipmen. The privilege of retiring from the Service 
on the terms specified below, is conferred on thirty-four officers, 
holding the rank of captain, commander, and lieutenant ; the 
preference being given to the seniors of the Service." (Here 
follow the terms of retirement specified in the Court's letter.) 

A large number of officers availed themselves of the Court's 
offer, as to retiring on the pension of the rank next above that 
to which they had attained, and the following notification was 
published by the Bombay Government : — 

" Bombay Castle, July 1, 1839. 

" The following is a list of the officers of the Indian Navy 
who retire from the Company's service, under orders of the 
Hon. the Court of Directors, dated the 9th of May, 1838, 
published in General Orders, under date of the 4th of April 
last : — 

" Captains : G. Grant, R. Cogan, E. W. Harris, J. Sawyer, 
W. Rose. Commanders : J. H. Wilson, W. Denton, J. Hough- 
ton, R. Lloyd, J. H. Rowband. C. Wells, T. E Rogers. Lieu- 
tenants : H. Warry, P. L. Powell, C. Sharp, G. Boscawen, 
J. R. Wellsted, F. D. Winn, J. L. Pruen, R. D. Swan, J. Wood, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NATY. »)1 

F. Whitelock, J. J. Bowring, J. F. Prentice, J. Buckle, C. F. 
Warden, T. W. Dent, S. II. Buckler, J. Sheppard. 

" Such of the officers above named as are still performing 
duty in the Indian Navy will be relieved as soon as arrange- 
ments for that purpose can be made, and their retirement will 
be considered as taking effect from the date of their relief, when 
promotions will be made to fill the vacancies." 

These retirements created a flow of promotion, and during 
the year 1839, the following cadets, called " Volunteers," joined 
the Service : — Messrs. C. Eden, H. N. Garrett, A. Foulerton, 

G. N. Adams, A. Timbrell, H. 0. Cook, F. Pratt, J. H. Dis- 
browe, J. Tronson, R. Ritherdon, M. B. Worslev, H. Batt, 
A. J. Smith, H. Ralph, F. W. Hopkins, A. M. Melvin, Miles 
Patrick, R. A. Stradling, C. G. Constable, C. N. Nixon, T. S. H. 
Twynam, D. R. Dakers, J. G. Fullton, W. L. King, F. W. 
Nott, H. A. Fraser, B. H. Crane, E. G. Reynolds, N. F. Hunt, 
R. Barker, E. Peevor, W. H. Marston, T. C. Barker, J. Thomas, 
J. Soady, H. W. Etheridge, E. Bode, A. W. Chitty, E. Giles, 
and C. A. Sandeman. Within a few years, Messrs. Eden, 
Ralph, Garrett, and Soady were drowned at sea ; many others 
died in the Service, or were invalided, from effects of climate ; 
and of forty officers only the following fourteen survived to be 
pensioned off on the abolition of the Service within twenty -four 
years, when their average ages could not have exceeded forty 
years, viz. : — Messrs. Foulerton, Adams, Tronson, Worsley, 
Batt, Hopkins, Stradling, Constable, Twynam, Fraser, Peevor, 
Etheridge, Chitty, and Giles. 

As concerned the paragraph of the Court's letter relating to 
the command of the steam packets, the Superintendent pub- 
lished an order, dated the 9th of November, 1838, notifying the 
directions of the Governor in Council, that lieutenants should 
be appointed to the command of the steam packets, " unless a 
commander shall specially apply for the appointment." " This 
arrangement," continued the order, "to be accompanied by 
placing passed midshipmen in charge of watches." Such mid- 
shipmen were to receive two rupees a da} T , in addition to their 
pay, and midshipmen who had not passed their examination 
were to receive an addition of twenty rupees a month. 

In consequence of the partial transformation of the Indian 
Navy into a steam Service, it was necessary that a suitable staff 
of engineers should be appointed, and, accordingly, by an Order 
of the Governor in Council, elated the 21st of November, 1838, 
regulations were issued relative to the appointment and allow- 
ances of this class of officers.* In March, 1839, eleven en- 

* The following is the Order referred to above : — 

" Regulations as to the appointment, allowances, &c, of engineers in the East 
India Company's Naval Service. All engineers are to be appointed by warrant, 
in the same manner, and under the same regulations as the warrant officers of 



02 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

gineers arrived from England for the service of the steamers of 
the Indian Navy. 

The steam department was first established in the Dock- 
yard, under the superintendence of Major McGilivray and 
Captain (now Lieutenant-General) H. B. Turner, Bombay 
Engineers, assisted by Mr. D. McLaren. Captain Turner de- 
signed and constructed the steam factory, and, under his super- 
intendence, the iron vessels 'Ariadne' and 'Medusa,' sent out 
from England for the China War, and others for the pur- 
pose of opening up the navigation of the Indus, were put 
together, and the earlier steamers employed in commencing 
and maintaining the communication between Bombay and 

the Indian Navy. Engineers are to be distributed into three classes, with the 
denomination of First Class engineers, Second Class engineers, Third Class engi- 
neers. The classes are to rank relatively in that Order, and the engineers to rank 
with each other according to seniority on the official list of their class. They are 
tii have rank on board ship relatively with boatswains, gunners, and carpenters. 
No person will be deemed eligible for an appointment as engineer in the East 
India Company's Naval Service, or for promotion to the higher classes, until he 
shall have passed an examination before a competent engineer, or some other 
officer to be appointed for that purpose ; or until he shall have produced a certi- 
ficate to the same effect from a respectable and competent engineer, as to his 
qualification for such class, as hereafter stated, viz. : — 

" Qualification for First or Chief Engineer. — No person will be considered 
qualified to hold the warrant of a First Class engineer who is not able to keep 
accounts, and to make notes in the log, of every particular of the working of the 
engines and boilers. He must be thoroughly acquainted with the principles upon 
which the machine works in all its parts, and capable of setting right any delects 
which may arise in the engines or boilers, and also to adjust the length of the 
various rods and motions, slide-valves, and eccentrics. He must have been at 
sea as an engineer, and be capable of working, starting, and stopping the engines, 
&c., and able to make rough sketches, correct in proportion, of any part of the 
machinery. He must be able and willing to exert himself practically as a work- 
man upon occasion, either in driving, packing, or repairing the engines. He 
must be willing to instruct in his art such lads, European and Native, as the 
Court or the Indian Government may place under him as apprentices, receiving as 
a premium with each 1*. per diem, for so long as such apprentices shall remain 
under instruction, upon production of a certificate from the commanding officer 
under whom such engineer may be serving, that the apprentices have been duly 
instructed. 

" Qualification for Second Class Engineer. — He must be equal in education to 
the first engineer, and but little inferior in mechanical acquirements, with the 
exception of the nicer points of adjustment of slides, &c., and his improvement in 
all such points of knowledge will be the road to his succession to the post of first 
engineer. 

" Qualification for Third Class Engineer. — He must not be inferior in educa- 
tion to second or first engineers, and will be selected either from the senior class 
of apprentices, or appointed direct into the Service from a factory. He must be 
accui-tomed to engine work, and acquainted with the principles of the engine, 
with the names of its parts, their several uses and effects in procuring motion ; 
and, if found qualified, he will be eligible for promotion to the higher grades, as 
vacancies occur. 

"Enployment of Engineers on Shore. — An engineer of either class may be 
required to perform duties on shore, or to make repairs of machinery in the Mint, 
or in any factory, or on board other steam vessels than that to which he is 
attached. 

" Pay of Engineers. — First Class engineers, for the first three years, £200 ; from 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 63 

Suez, were built. In the year 1843, the steam factory was 
formally handed over to the charge of Mr. Ardaseer Cur- 
setjee, who had been sent oat two years before by the Court 
of Directors as Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery, 
with Mr. McLaren as his assistant, Captain Turner returning to 
his duties as Mint Master and Dockyard Engineer. In 1857 
Mr. Ardaseer Cursetjee retired on a pension of 400 rupees per 
mensem, after having served in the builders' and engineers' 
department for nearly thirty-six years. Mr. McLaren was 
appointed to succeed him as Chief Engineer and Inspector of 
Machinery, Mr. J. Mackinlay being nominated Assistant. They 
carried on the duties of the steam department till February, 
1862, when Mr. McLaren retired through ill-health, on a pension 
equal to one-third of his salary. Mr. Mackinlay was then 
appointed head of the department, and remained as such until 

the fourth to the seventh year inclusive, £250 ; from the end of the seventh year, 
£300. Second ditto, for the first three years, £150 ; from the fourth to the 
seventh year inclusive, £175 ; from the end of the seventh year, £200. Third 
ditto, for the first three years, £100 ; from the fourth to the seventh year inclu- 
sive, £125 ; from the end of the seventh year, £150. With an additional allow- 
ance of 2*. 6d. a day for such period as the steam is up, or the engines working, 
or while employed repairing machinery in any factory, mint, or workshop ashore, 
or on board any other steamer than that to which he is attached, or while em- 
ployed in fitting the engines to any steam vessel. The chief engineer to be 
allowed Is. a day for each apprentice placed under his tuition, during the period 
such lads are taught by him, on production of a certificate from the commandiug 
officer of the steam vessel. Pay is not to commence till the parties have arrived 
in India. 

" Outfit and Passage Money. — Engineers of all the three classes will be pro- 
vided with a passage to India at the expense of the East India Company at the 
commencement of their engagement ; and on their quitting India, at the ter- 
mination of their service, they will have a free passage home, provided their con- 
duct has been satisfactory to the Government, of which a certificate must be pro- 
duced ; excepting in the case of any engineer who may give up his employment 
hefore he shall have completed a period of five years' service, or who may have 
heen dismissed the Service. The following allowances will be made for an outfit, 
viz. : — First Class engineers, £50 ; Second Class engineers, £35 ; Third Class 
engineers, £20. 

" Allotment of Family Money. — Engineers of either class may allot any 
portion, not exceeding half of their salaries, for the benefit of their families in 
England. 

" Furlough. — An engineer of either class, after five years' actual service in 
India as such, may be allowed a furlough, or leave of absence, not exceeding two 
years on the whole, on account of his private affairs, receiving, during such leave 
of absence, an allowance equal to one-third of his salary. An engineer who is 
compelled to come to England upon medical certificate, although he may not 
have served five years, will be granted an allowance of one-third of his salary 
during such certified sickness, provided that his sickness do not occasion a longer 
absence from India than two years in the whole ; hut the medical certificate must 
he renewed every three months during such absence. 

" Pension. — After ten years' actual service in India, the following pensions will 
be granted to such engineers as shall have conducted themselves to the satisfac- 
tion of the Government abroad, and shall produce to the Court a certificate to 
that effect, viz. : — A First Class engineer, 2s. 6d. per day ; a Second Class engi- 
neer, 2s. ditto ; a Third Class engineer, Is. 6d. ditto. 



64 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the abolition of the Service, Mr. C. Bannerman being his 
assistant.* The duties of the department were to keep the 
vessels of the Indian Navy in efficient order, place machinery 
from England into vessels built in the dockyard, make boilers 
for the different ships, to replace those worn out, and put 
together the iron river steamers sent from England in sections. 
In 1841, the number of European engineers, boiler makers, 
and others employed afloat and on shore, was about one hun- 
dred and fifty, and between four and five hundred Native 
artificers ; but these numbers increased yearly, especially the 
Native portion. The steam factory was also a training school 
for engineer apprentices, and others, and did good service in 
training up skilled labour for all the Presidencies of India, as 
well as for the Mercantile Steam marine, for mills, dockyards, 
and railway companies. 

Not the least important change in the transformation of the 
Service, now in progress, was the retirement in July, 1838, of 
Sir Charles Malcolm from the post of Superintendent, which he 
had held for a period of ten years, and the appointment, as his 
successor, on a reduced salary of .£2,500 a year, with house 
allowance, of Captain Robert Oliver, R.N. Sir Charles Malcolm 
attained the rank of rear-admiral in 1837, and when the Court 
of Directors decided upon their new scheme for the conversion 
of the Indian Navy into a steam marine, irrespective of con- 
siderations arising from his rank, it became necessary that an 
officer should be appointed who possessed special knowledge of 
the new motive power which was destined to revolutionise the 
navies and mercantile marines of the world. Sir Charles 
Malcolm accordingly retired on a pension of £200 a year, and 
was succeeded by Captain Oliver, who was an officer of the old 
school, a first-rate seaman, and zealous in his public duties, but 
somewhat rough and deficient in tact or temper. Thus it hap- 
pened that, though he was a good " steam-officer" — a rare quali- 
fication in those days— and had commanded more than one 
of His Majesty's steamers, the selection was not a very wise 
one for the responsible and difficult post of Superintendent, 
particularly in this period of transition and uncertainty. 

The following estimate of the public character of Sir Charles 
Malcolm is by an old and distinguished officer of the Indian 
Navy, who served throughout his administration, on whose 
judgment and impartiality we can place strict reliance : — "In 

* The following is tlie length of service of the heads of the Steam Depart- 
ment : — 

Mr. Ardaseer Cursetjee (retired in 1857), Builders' Department, nineteen 
years ; Steam Branch, seventeen years ; total, thirty-six years. 

Mr. McLaren (retired in 1862), twenty-four years. 

Mr. Mackinlay (retired in 1871), twenty-two years (and eight years in Bombay 
Marine alter the abolition of the Service). 

Mr. Bannerman (retired in 1867 j, twenty-two years (and four years in Bombay 
Marine. ) 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 65 

his earnest desire to raise the tone of the young officers Sir 
Charles Malcolm stopped their being allowed ship's grog, and 
substituted wine, which he procured from a firm — ' Sholton and 
Malcolm ' — on favourable terms, and also got the officers the 
privilege of obtaining outfit and uniform at prime cost from 
England, through the Army Clothing Department. These 
were well meant acts, but raised the first cry of jobbery against 
him, which was the chief reproach he ever had to his name ; 
and though it was a slander, yet he showed weakness in taking 
the part of the firm he had patronized, when they evidently did 
try to screw out of the officers a profit by supplying inferior 
articles ; and it ended by a great row, and his giving up the 
pet scheme under the advice of Government. He was a fine, 
gentlemanly, kind man, and was certainly the greatest friend we 
ever had; his rule was just and mild, but dignified; the 
transition of the old to the new style of things was wisely and 
gradually done, and with much tact and discrimination. He 
also fostered and established the scientific branch of the Service 
on a sound footing; infusing a tone of zeal and enthusiasm 
that had the happiest effect, and was able to work wonders by 
his personal and kindly influence. Latterly he fell into bad 
health, and had less cordial support from Government. He 
showed weakness in his administration from failing powers, 
and was superseded when it was decided to introduce steam 
into the Service more generally." 

The contrast between the character of the first Superinten- 
dent and that of the second, was very marked. Captain Oliver 
was a seaman of the Ben bow school, caring little for dress 
and those amenities in his intercourse with the officers of the 
Service, which go so far to smooth the rough path of daily 
official routine. Having at heart the welfare of the Service, 
the blunt and outspoken expressions to which he gave utterance, 
when excited, offended those who had served under his courteous 
predecessor. But those best qualified to judge, from an in- 
timate knowledge of the man, assert that, disguised under a 
rough exterior, he was possessed of a kind heart, while as to 
his honourable sentiments there could be no doubt. He was less 
imbued with a love of scientific research than was for the ad- 
vantage and reputation of a Service, which had ever been the 
nursery of scientific talent, but then those only were to blame 
who placed over such men as Ross, Moresby, and Haines, an 
officer their inferior in every acquirement necessary for the 
occupant of such a post, save seamanship, and a knowledge of 
steam. Captain Oliver conducted the duties of Commander-in- 
chief of the Indian Navy to the best of his ability and to the 
satisfaction of Government ; he was, unquestionably, a con- 
scientious and zealous servant, and, though the efficiency of 
the Service was sacrificed to the exercise of a misplaced economy, 

VOL. II. f 



66 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

which it was his especial mission to promote, yet he practised 
in his own office what he inculcated upon his subordinates, and 
never spared himself or grudged time or labour in the public 
service. He was doubtless animated by a sincere desire to 
improve the Service, and though a bluntness of manner, which at 
times degenerated into positive rudeness, gave offence to some 
of the senior officers, this was probably more his misfortune 
than his fault, and it must be placed to his credit that he strove, 
and not unsuccessfully during the early years of his adminis- 
tration, to lead the young officers to look up to him and trust 
him as their friend. 

Captain Oliver, who succeeded Sir Charles Malcolm on a re- 
duction of more than one third his salary, entered upon his 
duties in July, 1838, but his predecessor did not leave India 
until the 2nd of January, 1839, when he embarked, with his 
family, in the ' Atalanta,' and proceeded to Cosseir, where, by 
orders of the 21st of May, 1838, all the Company's steamers 
were directed to touch. 

The following Government Order was issued on the retire- 
ment of Sir Charles Malcolm, and the assumption of office by 
his successor : — " Bombay Castle, July 2, 1838. Captain Robert 
Oliver, R.N., who has been appointed by the Hon. the Court of 
Directors to the office of Superintendent of the Indian Navy, 
having arrived at this Presidency by the Hon. Company's 
steamer 'Berenice,' will take upon himself the duties of Super- 
intendent of the Indian Navy from this date accordingly. The 
Right Hon. the Governor in Council requests Rear-Admiral Sir 
C. Malcolm will accept his cordial thanks on the occasion of his 
quitting the important office of Superintendent of the Indian 
Navy, in which he has, for the last ten years, faithfully and 
zealously watched over and advanced the interests of the 
honourable and scientific corps under his command, and ably 
assisted Government in his station. During this period he has 
been eminently successful in elevating the character of the 
Service, and in encouraging and promoting the scientific objects 
in which its enterprising officers have been engaged. Geography 
and navigation have received many interesting and valuable 
additions in the surveys and researches carried on during his 
superintendence, in which much is attributable to his judicious 
instructions and suggestions. In the introduction and establish- 
ment of steam navigation to the Red Sea, Sir Charles Malcolm's 
exertions have been conspicuous. The Governor in Council is 
pleased to direct that such honours be continued to Rear-Admiral 
Sir Charles Malcolm during his residence here as he has hitherto 
received." 

On resigning his charge of the Indian Navy, Sir Charles 
Malcolm issued the following farewell Order to the Service : — 
" I cannot take my final leave of the Indian Navy, over which 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 67 

I have presided for something more than ten years, without ex- 
pressing my heartfelt satisfaction with the general conduct of 
the officers who have served under my command ; to them it 
will be a source of gratification to know that their talents and 
zeal have been in so many instances so honourably noticed by 
the Government. The splendid surveys which have been 
finished and are now in progress, of Western India, the Sea of 
Arabia, and the Persian Gulf, &c, to which have been added 
the most valuable remarks on navigation together with excellent 
memoirs on all countries they have visited in the course of 
their surveys, have raised their reputation in that scientific and 
useful branch, equal with that of any Service in the world. 

" I now take my leave of the Service with my warmest wishes 
for its prosperity, and I here beg leave to offer to the officers 
my most sincere thanks for the zeal with which they have aided 
me in carrying into effect the orders of Government, and shall 
conclude with expressing my sincere belief that they only re- 
quire a larger field for their talents and energy in general 
service to prove themselves equal to the most arduous duties of 
their profession." 

No long time elapsed before the Service proved that Sir 
Charles Malcolm had solid grouuds for the " belief" expressed 
in the above Order, and, during the quarter of a century be- 
tween the retirement of Sir Charles and the abolition of the 
Indian Navy, a period of almost continuous active service in 
China, New Zealand, and Burmah, at Mooltan, and through- 
out the Indian Mutiny, the officers, in the words of Sir Charles 
Malcolm, " proved themselves equal to the most arduous duties 
of their profession." 



F 2 



CHAPTER II. 
1828-1838. 

Review of the Surveys made by the Indian Navy during the Administration of 
Sir Charles Malcolm — Surveys of the Red Sea by Captain Elwon and Com- 
mander Moresby ; of the Maldive Islands, by Commander Moresby ; of the 
South-east Coast of Arabia, by Commander Haines and Lieutenant Sanders ; 
of the Soomalie Coast and the Mouths of the Indus, by Lieutenant Carless — 
The Survey and Occupation of Socotra — Surveys of Commanders Lloyd and 
Fell on the Coromandel Coast — Travels of Lieutenants Whitelock, Wellsted, 
Barker, Wood, and Wyburd. 

THE chief glory of the administration of Sir Charles Malcolm 
is derived from the care with which he fostered, and the 
energy with which he advanced, the surveys of the Indian 
Navy. In this he displayed his chief qualification to be 
considered the enlightened leader of a Service which has been 
unsurpassed as the nursery of an accomplished race of surveyors 
and draughtsmen. We will now detail the surveys completed 
by the officers of the Indian Navy during the ten years of Sir 
Charles Malcolm's tenure of office. 

In 1828 Lieutenant Cogan commenced the survey of the 
coast near Bombay. In the following year he made a survey 
of Bombay harbour, and, assisted by Lieutenant Peters, com- 
pleted by the year 1832, a survey of the coast between the 
latitude of the island and the mouth of Bancoot river, which 
was published in a chart of two sheets.* 

When steam navigation between Bombay and Suez was 
determined upon, the Bombay Government directed a survey of 
the Red Sea, which had not been examined since Captain 
Court, having as his assistants, Messrs. Crawford and Hurst, 
proceeded thither with Lord Valentia in 1804-6, in the 
' Panther,' in company with the ' Assaye,' tender, under 
Lieutenant Maxfield. In those days the Red Sea was indeed 

* Reference has already been made to Captain Cogan's chart, of 1829, of 
Bombay Harbour, in the account of the proceedings of the Committee over which 
he presided, to inquire into the allegations of Sir John Gore, the Naval Com- 
mander-in-chief in India, as to the deterioration of the harbour. In 1794 
Captain M'Cluer made a chart of the port, and a second was constructed from 
Captain Keys' survey of 1813. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 69 

"a silent highway," for save when "a country ship" from Surat 
arrived at Mocha, a British sail was never seen within its 
narrow confines, and the only vessels, besides the pilgrim ships 
to Jiddah, were the native craft, less numerous than in the days 
of Ptolemy and Arrian, when the Mare Erytliroeum was a 
mysterious ocean, embracing the seas from Suez to Galle. How 
changed is the scene now. The British flag here, as everywhere, 
holds its proud pre-eminence in peace and in war, while the 
largest ships of the proudest navies in the world bear the flags 
of all nations over its bosom to the extremities of the globe ; 
ironclad men-of-war and peaceful merchantmen may be daily 
seen threading their way through the Straits of Babelmandeb, 
the " Gate of Tears," past the little island of Perim, once again 
in our possession, and Aden, the " Gibraltar of the East," 
acquired by the prowess of the Navy, whose officers had now 
commenced the survey which, as in many other instances, 
was but the prelude to conquest. 

We learn from the " Transactions of the Bombay Geogra- 
phical Society" that, in February, 1829, Commander Robert 
Moresby, (brother of the late Admiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax 
Moresby) who had been engaged during the preceding year in 
surveying the Laccadive Islands, was despatched from Bombay 
in the ' Thetis,' ten gun-brig, to make a preliminary examination 
of the Red Sea, according to his instructions, " to ascertain the 
different bearings of prominent headlands and the soundings in 
approaching the ports which may be chosen for the depots of 
fuel, and generally to determine the best course at all seasons 
for steamers proceeding from Suez." The ' Thetis' took under 
escort from Bombay the brig ' Owen Glendower,' with coals, 
which were deposited at the depots and used by the ' Hugh 
Lindsay' on her first voyage. The 'Thetis' arrived at Bombay 
on the 21st of March, 1830, the day after that steamer had left 
for Suez, and, soon after his return, Commander Robert Moresby 
was appointed to the ' Palinurus' to conduct the survey of the 
northern half of the Red Sea from Suez to Jiddah, and Captain 
Elwon to the old ' Benares,' of fourteen guns, now converted 
into a surveying ship, to take up the southern half from Jiddah 
to the Straits of Babelmandeb, the points of departure being 
Khor Shenab, or Mishmish, an extensive inlet on the coast of 
Nubia, in lat. 21° 21' N. 

The assistants of these two accomplished officers were men 
of rare scientific attainments, and it is a subject of wonderment 
that from the ranks of so small a Service — which had already 
supplied for the Persian Gulf survey, Captains Maughan, Guy, 
and Brucks, and Lieutenants Haines, Kempthorne, Cogan, 
Ethersey, Whitelock, and Lynch — the Superintendent was able 
to select a second staff of equally accomplished marine surveyors 
and draughtsmen. The following; were the officers of the 'Benares' 



70 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

and 'Palinurus,' who took part in the survey of the Red Sea, which 
extended over a period of between four and five years, but they 
did not all serve throughout that time, as sickness and death 
necessitated reliefs, which were effected on the return of the ships, 
during the monsoon, to Bombay. ' Benares' : — Captain Thomas 
Elwon, Lieutenants H. N. Pinching, (Assistant Surveyor), 
F. D. W. Winn ; Midshipmen* F. T. Powell, J. A. Young, 
C. D. Campbell, J. G. Johnston, R. Riddell, W. Christopher, 
W. C. Barker, and A. Macdonald. 'Palinurus': — Commander 
Robert Moresby ; Lieutenants Thomas Eales Rogers, (Assistant 
Surveyor) T. G. Carless, J. R. Wellsted, (who relieved Lieu- 
tenant Rogers after the first year), and J. P. Sanders (acting as 
master) ; Midshipmen R. Harrison, R. Walker, J. Sheppard, 
J. W. Young, Felix Jones, and, at a later date, J. S. Grieve, 
C. J. Cruttenden, J. Rennie, and A. Ford. 

The 'Palinurus' first sailed for the Red Sea on the 11th of 
September, 1829, and the 'Benares' on the 11th of October 
following.t Besides executing the portion originally allotted 
to him, Commander Moresby had to complete the southern half 
in consequence of Captain Elwon being called away, early in 
1833, to take up a command as commodore of the Persian Gulf, 
where he died at Bassadore from the effects of climate in June, 
1835. 

Lieutenant Wellsted,J during the progress of the survey, 

* Midshipmen, Powell, Young, and Campbell, served as Acting-Lieutenants 
during a portion of the survey. 

t Markham says of this survey : — " No expense was spared in fitting out the 
expedition, and all the surveying appliances of the day were provided, besides 
ample supplies of well found boats and tenders. The latter Mere native craft 
with Arab crews. The sea was then practically unknown, and great dangers and 
privations were inseparable from such a service. The first base was measured by 
a chain at Suez by Captain Moresby in 1830, and the survey was steadily 
continued without other interruptions than was necessary to refit the ships and 
crews, to its completion, in 1834, by a system of triangulation down either shore. 
The work was verified by frequent bases, by almost daily azimuths, by latitudes, 
by the sun and stars observed on shore with artificial horizons, and by chrono- 
metric differences. The original charts were drawn on a scale of an inch to a 
mile; but in places where the complicated nature of the channels required 
greater nicety, scales as high as ten inches were employed. The original drawings 
were mostly by Felix Jones. The noble resolution of all the officers was, that 
the Red Sea Survey should be as perfect as labour and skill could make it, and it 
has served well to guide thousand of steamers up and down one of the most 
important and at the same time one of the most intricate routes in the world." 
The charts were as follow : — Northern part of the Red Sea, Commander Moresby 
and Lieutenant Carless, 1833 (two sheets) ; southern part of the Red Sea, Captain 
Elwon, Lieutenant Pinching, and Commander Moresby, 1834 (two sheets) ; 
harbours in the north part of the Red Sea, Commander Moresby, &c, 1833 ; 
harbours in the south part of the Red Sea, Captain Elwon, Commander Haines 
and Lieutenant Pinching, 1837. Also sailing directions for Red >^ea, Captain 
Elwon and Commander Moresby, 1841. 

X Lieutenant Wellsted contributed to the pages of the Journal of the Royal 
Geographical Society : — " Notes on Brace's Charts of the Coast of the Red Sea, 
compared with the positions of the recent Surveys," vol. v. p. 286 ; " Observa- 
tions on the Coast of Arabia between Ras Mohammed and Jiddah," vol. vi. 
p. 51. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 71 

visited the peninsula of Sinai, and, in company with Lieutenant 
Carless, traversed the desert between Cosseir and Thebes. He 
did much, by his "Travels in Arabia," to familiarise the British 
public with the shores of the Red Sea, particularly with the 
proceedings of the survey in the Gulfs of Suez and Akaba, and 
Lieutenant Carless also furnished a memoir on the latter gulf, 
''drawn up," as he says, " from notes taken during the survey 
by Commander Moresby in 1833.* 

The survey of the Red Sea, which had occupied Commander 
Moresby four years and seven months, and Captain El won a 
considerable portion of that time, was at length completed in 
the month of April, 1834. The charts were compiled at Bombay, 
the reducing of the southern half being performed by Acting- 
Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, of the ' Benares,' and of the northern 
half by Acting-Lieutenant Felix Jones, of the ' Palinurus.' 
On completing their respective tasks these officers re-ex- 
amined the work, which was then sent to be copied at the office 
of tne draughtsman, Commander Houghton, and, after final 
examination by him and Lieutenant Carless, was sent home 
for engraving. Jt was received by the Court of Directors 
with great satisfaction, and the magnificent chart (in two sheets) 
was exhibited for its excellence, at the recent Loan Collection 
of Scientific Instruments at South Kensington. Besides the 
geographical papers written by Wellsted and Carless, Captain 
Elwon kept a very complete journal during the progress of the 
survey, containing a great mass of nautical, meteorological, 
statistical, and topographical information, which was deposited 
with the Bombay Geographical Society, and has supplied its 
volumes with valuable materials. 

But the survey was not completed without the sacrifice of 
valuable lives. Lieutenant Pinching, a highly gifted officer, who 
had been formerly engaged in the Persian Gulf survey, fell a 
victim to his zeal in the cause of science, and Lieutenant J. R. 
Wellsted, describing in Vol. II. of his " City of the Caliphs," 
a journey made, in March, 1834, from Aden to Lahadj, 
mentions having come across the gravef of this young officer. 
He says : — " I turned aside from the caravan to visit the grave of 
a brother officer, who had a few weeks before been buried here ; a 
heap of stones, to protect the corpse from wild beasts, was the 
only token to mark the spot where our gallant companion was 
laid. Lieutenant Pinching, of the 'Benares,' fell a victim in 
the prime of life, deservedly regretted, to his zeal for the 
furtherance of the objects of the Expedition." Besides Lieu- 
tenant Pinching and a large number of men, who died from 

* See " Memoir on the Gulf of Akaba and the Head of the Red Sea," vol. i. 
" Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society." In 18 18 Captain Barker, 
I.N., made a re-survey of the Gulf of Suez. 

t A neat tomb has been erected over the remains of this officer in the cemetery 
of Aden Back Bay, 



72 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

fever and dysentery caused by exposure, Mr. Hutchinson, 
captain's clerk, expired at sea. 

The following is an account of the proceedings of the 
'Benares,' derived from the journal of one of the officers: — 
"11th of October, 1829, sailed for the Red Sea. Reached 
Jiddah in November; laid there awaiting authority from Turkish 
Government. Surveying the harbour and environs. January, 
1830. Lieutenant Waghorn arrived from England with 
despatches (first overland mail) also Mr. Taylor, merchant, 
from Liverpool on same object. Natives of Jiddah very insolent. 
Lieutenant Winn and Mr. Midshipman Campbell despatched in 
native buggalow to fix latitudes on Arabian coast as far as 
Mocha, while the ' Benares' went to the western coast to survey. 
June, the buggalow rejoined the 'Benares' at Jiddah, and the 
survey was continued until April, 1831, when the ' Benares' 
returned to Bombay in a very shattered state from having teen 
aground forty-two times on coral rocks ; experienced a heavy 
gale off Bombay for three days, hove to, very leaky, pimps 
constantly going. 4th of June, arrived in Bombay, went into 
dock to refit, Midshipman Johnston left, and Midshipmen 
Barker and Macdonald joined. September, sailed for Red 
Sea, Lieutenant Pinching and Midshipman Barker left to bring 
cutter ' Erin' from Bombay. On reaching Mocha, Lieutenant 
Young, Mr. Campbell, and a boat's crew, were left behind to 
await ' Erin,' which arrived about the 28th of September. The 
survey actively continued, the ' Erin,' tender, being employed 
under Lieutenant Young, on detached duty, on coast of Abys- 
sinia, Annesley Bay, Massowah, &c, till January, 1833, when 
we met ' Palinurus' at Jiddah, and she was ordered to return 
to Bombay. Commander Moresby took command of ' Benares,' 
and Captain Elwon went to Bombay in 'Palinurus,' to be Com- 
modore in Persian Gulf. Mr. Campbell was employed at this 
time reducing the survey chart to Mercator's projection, 
which took three months' hard work, for which he received 
a complimentary certificate from Captain Elwon, with a repeater 
watch and handsome bible. This year the 'Benares' was 
ordered to Berbera, in company with ' Tigris,' to exact recom- 
pense for outrages committed on British vessels. January, 
1834, returned to Mocha.* Met the 'Coote' at Jiddah. 
Lieutenant Winn left on sick certificate, when Mr. Campbell, 
senior midshipman, was made acting-lieutenant.t 

•' April, 1834.— Finally left the Red Sea for Bombay. Officers 
and crews very sickly, with a large number of crew of the Hon. 

* It was during this visit to Mocha that the Benares was concerned in the 
Turkee Bilmas affair, already narrated, when that chief and the remnant of his 
followers were rescued from a miserable death by the boats of the ' Benares.' 

t Acting-Lieutenants not being allowed at Bombay, on the return of the 
' Benares,' Mr. Campbell was reduced to mate, with a complimentary Squadron 
Order from Sir Charles Malcolm on his services. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 73 

Company's brig 'Nautilus,' wrecked on west coast. Small-pox 
broke out on board, and very great sickness prevailed ; of all 
the officers, Lieutenants Young and Campbell, and Mr. Christo- 
pher, were alone able to do duty. The cases were: — Commander 
Moresby, fever ; Lieutenant Pinching, died ; Lieutenant Powell, 
small-pox ; Midshipmen Barker, Riddell, and Manners (of 
the 'Nautilus') fever; Jones, dysentery; and Captain's Clerk 
Hutchinson, died. Forty of the crew on sick-list, with fever 
and dysentery. May : reached Bombay, and went into dock." 

On the return of the 'Palinurus' to Bombay, early in 1883, 
the examination of Hadramaut, or the southern coast of Arabia, 
was commenced, the Government being desirous of establishing 
coal depots at Macullah and the island of Socotra for the line 
of steamers from Bombay to Suez. So little of the coast of 
Hadramaut was known, that there was an inaccuracy of eighty- 
five miles in the latitude of Macullah, and there were other 
errors in the topography of the Kooria Mooria group. The charge 
of the survey was entrusted to Commander Haines, whose 
officers were Lieutenants T. G. Carless, J. R. Wellsted, and J. P. 
Sanders ; Midshipmen F. Jones, J. S. Grieve, C. J. Cruttenden, 
J. Rennie, and A. Ford. Commander Haines quitted Bombay 
in the 'Palinurus,' in October, 1833, and, after running up the 
Gulf with despatches, about the middle of November reached 
his ground off Cape Isolette, called also Ras Madraka and Ras 
el Jezirat, in 57° 51' East longitude. He had finished about 
one hundred miles of the coast in about a month's time, when, 
in pursuance of fresh orders, he proceeded to Kisseen, in order 
to obtain permission to survey Socotra from the principal chiefs 
of the Moharah tribe, to whom the island owed nominal alle- 
giance. Commander Haines anchored at Kisseen on the 28th 
of December, and, on the 31st, had a conference with two 
young chiefs, Ahmed Ibn Said and Abdullah Ibn Affick, who 
gave him full powers to do all he thought necessary, and also a 
firman, directed to the chiefs, to show him every civility. The 
' Palinurus' sailed from Kisseen on the 4th of January, 1834, 
and, on the 9th, arrived at Tamarida, the chief town of the 
island. On the following day, Commander Haines commenced 
a trigonometrical survey, which he continued without intermis- 
sion until the 14th of March, when he returned to Tamarida, 
having made the circuit of the island. So accurate was the 
survey that on the whole measurement of the circumference, 
1974 miles, he was only 186 yards out. It was a laborious 
task, on account of the weather and baffling winds, and the 
short period occupied in its execution, Commander Haines 
being anxious to fulfil the wishes of the Directors, 
who requested that the plan of the island might be 
sent home by the first steamer. He and his officers worked 
incessantly, Sundays not excepted, and Commander Haines 



74 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

did justice in his report to their self-denying zeal. Meanwhile, 
Lieutenant Wellsted, the assistant-surveyor, accompanied by 
Mr. Midshipman Cruttenden, who was familiar with Arabic, 
travelled through the interior,* for the purpose of acquir- 
ing information concerning the island and its inhabitants; 
and these notes Wellsted published in his "Travels," and also 
in the Journals of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (Vol. IV.) and 
Royal Geographical Society (Vol. V.), with a map, for which 
he received the thanks of those learned Societies. The latter 
memoir was highly commended by the press; and one paper, after 
expressing its " high admiration of the diligence and talent 
shown by Lieutenant Wellsted," says, "the Memoir does credit 
both to the author himself and to the Service to which he 
belongs, and ought to contribute somewhat to the preservation 
of that local establishment from the annihilation with which, 
we believe, in the course of economical reform it has been 
threatened." 

When Commander Haines had completed the survey of half 
the island of Socotra, he received a letter from one of the Sultans, 
requesting him to discontinue the work, and join him at 
Kisseen, to hold another conference ; but Commander Haines, 
who was familiar with the Arab character for intrigue, paid no 
attention to this request. He continued the survey to its com- 
pletion, and a Chart of the island and coasts was published by 
orders of the Government. Commander Haines now returned 
to Bombay, and, in October, was again despatched to Kisseen 
in the ' Palinurus,' with instructions "to negotiate with the 
chiefs, who held the sovereignty of Socotra, for the purchase of 
that island ; you will also," continue the instructions, "receive 
for the above purpose 10,000 German crowns; but the Governor- 
General of India in Council trusts that you will be enabled to 
buy this island for a much smaller sum, and the less money you 
pay the more credit you will derive. Your personal knowledge 
of these chiefs and their character will enable you to negotiate 
with advantage to them." Commander Haines was also given 
a draft of the treaty he was to negotiate, and was directed to 
proceed, on its completion, to Socotra, for the purpose of taking 
" formal possession in the name of the Hon. East India Com- 
pany." He was further informed that in all probability, on his 
arrival at Socotra, he would find British troops in possession, 
when he was to make over charge to the officer in command. 

But an unexpected difficulty arose, and Commander Haines 
found that the eldest of the chiefs would not part with his inheri- 
tance, though he owned it was almost worthless as a source of 
revenue. " The English," he said, " might come and take the 

* In the following year, during our occupation of Socotra, Lieutenant Ormsby, 
first of the ' Tigris,' and Dr. Hulton, traversed a great part of the mountain region, 
and added to the stock of information gathered by Lieutenant Wellsted. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 10 

island, but he would never soil it," Meantime the Bombay 
Government, expecting no difficulties of this kind, had des- 
patched an expedition, consisting of the ' Tigris,' Commander 
Robert Lowe, ' Shannon,' Lieutenant Warry, and an armed patta- 
mar having on board a detachment of Native Infantry, and a 
party of Native Artillery and Sappers, under the command of Capt. 
R. A. Bayly.* The troops were landed at Tamarida, notwith- 
standing the threats and remonstrances of the chief, and here 
they remained for several months. In April, 1835, the 'Coote,' 
eighteen guns, Captain Rose, relieved the ' Tigris' at Socotra. 
between which and Bombay the ' Shannon' kept up a regular 
communication, and, in the same month, the ' Hugh Lindsay' 
touched at Tamarida with the Indian mail, which had been 
despatched to Alexandria, in the steamer 'African,' from Fal- 
mouth, on the 4th of March, and arrived at Bombay on the 
2nd of May. 

From the commencement of the enterprise the occupation of 
Socotra was disastrous. Owing to the heavy surf running at 
the time of disembarkation, one of the boats of the ' Tigris' was 
swamped, and some men were drowned.f Lieutenant Jenkins 
and Midshipmen Gordon and Mackenzieof the ' Tigris,' command- 
ing the boats, did all in their power to save life ; and the late 
Sir De Lacy Evans, in animadverting on the folly of the enter- 
prise in the House of Commons, stated that, " had it not been 
for the gallant conduct of one very young officer (Mr. Mac- 
kenzie), who saved several lives, it would have ended more 
disastrously." Scarcely were the troops located on the low land 

* Captain (now (Lieutenant-General) R. A. Bayly, a veteran officer of the 
Bombay Army, writes to us, under date of the 5th of April, 1877, of his reminis- 
cences of the Indian Navy in 1820, and during the occupation of the island of 
Socotra. He says: — "I had the pleasure and profit of being intimately ac- 
quainted with the Indian Navy, both at Deristan and Kishm, where I was located 
for nearly a year in 1820 and 1821 ; and afterwards in 1834 and 1835, when in 
command of the first detachment that occupied the island of Socotra, to which we 
were conveyed by Captain Robert Lowe, in command of the ' Tigris,' who was 
obliging enough to give me a passage in his ship from Bombay to the islaud, 
where I remained nearly a year. Captain Lowe was afterwards relieved by 
Captain Rose of the sloop-of-war ' Coote.' To Captain Haines of the 
Survey, who was also at Tamarida, I was eminently indebted for the expeditious 
manner in which all our stores and provisions were disembarked. He was cer- 
tainly a smart and excellent officer, as also those under him, Sanders, Wellsted, 
Cruttenden, &c. The officers of the 'Tigris' included Ormsby, Jenkins, and 
Others. The names of other excellent officers I recall with many pleasing 
associations, especially Commodore Collinson, in command of the ' Mercury' at 
Kishm, in 1820-21, who was hospitable enough to give many of us who were sick, 
cruises and trips to Bunder Abbas, Ormuz, Larrack ; and when a brother officer 
and mpelf were obliged to leave Kishm very sick indeed, Captain Maughan, of 
the survey ship ' Discovery,' gave us a passage to Bombay. His officers were 
Cogan, Rogers (who turned out of his cabin for me), and Houghton." 

t The following incident, related by an officer, affords an instance of the 
instinctive obedience of the soldier : — A Sepoy, unable to swim, and struggling 
in the water, seized him round the waist ; but upon his ordering him to let go his 
hold, he complied instantly, without a word, and upon the officer turning round 
to get a proper grip of the drowning man, he found he had disappeared. 



76 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

selected for the cantonments, than fever decimated the small 
force. The surgeon, one officer, and several men died. Lieu- 
tenant Ormsby, first of the ' Tigris,' became delirious ; Mr. 
Mackenzie went home sick ; and Mr. Midshipman Shum was 
insane for months from fever, and had to resign the Service. Mr. 
Mackenzie writes to us, " Ere the island was abandoned, scarce 
a man could be found with strength sufficient to dig a grave for 
his companion. At one time every man, save the doctor, was 
prostrate with fever, and he eventually died. Several officers 
had their health permanently ruined, and few survived to tell 
the tale of the Socotra expedition." The detachment of troops 
was withdrawn in April, 1835, and all idea of continuing 
Socotra as a coaling station was abandoned. Had the Govern- 
ment followed the advice of the naval officers who had surveyed 
the island, and occupied the highlands adjacent to Tamarida, 
this loss of life might have been avoided.* 

As soon as Commander Robert Moresby had completed the 
survey of the Red Sea, he was ordered to examine the Maldivef 
Islands, and, accordingly, sailed in the old ' Benares,' which was 
patched up for the duty, accompanied by the 'Royal Tiger,' 
commanded by his assistant surveyor, Lieutenant F. T. 
Powell,} and a large decked boat, called the Maldiva, with 
Mr. R. Riddell, midshipman, in command. The surveying staff 
consisted, besides these officers, of Lieutenants George Robin- 
son, and James A. Young (brother of the late Captain John W. 

* It is well known the Indian Government have lately come to terms with 
the chiefs claiming Socotra, and the chance of its falling into the hands of a 
foreign power by sale has been obviated. 

f The Maldives were noticed so far back as the ninth century by two Moham- 
medan travellers who visited China, and again, in the fourteenth century, they 
were explored by the dervish, Ibn Eatuta. The prodigious chain of islets 
known as the Laccadive, Maldive, and Chagos Archipelagos, extend for nearly 
1,500 miles from about the latitude of Mangalore to far beyond the Equator, and 
are known by the Arabs as the " Eleven thousand islands." The characteristic 
physical feature of this immense chain of submarine volcanoes is the Atoll, 
or circular group of islets extending around a basin of deep water ; the 
islands representing the rim, and the basin the hollow of the crater. The 
Chagos group, it would appear, were discovered by the Portuguese. Davis 
passed through them in 1598, the ' Stranger ' traversed them in 1719, the 
' Grantham ' in 1728, and many English vessels in 1740, 1760, and 1780. 
Previous to the year 1740, says a writer, the French had explored and surveyed 
the Chagos, and they came into British possession with the Mauritius in 1810. 
The group lies in a space of 135 miles north and south, and Diego Garcia is 
the principal island. 

J There were three officers of the name of Powell at this time in the Service, 
namely, Frederick William Powell, Philip Jervis Powell, and F. T. Powell. 
Owing to the numerous cases in which there were officers of the same name in. 
the Service, mostly brothers, confusion arises in identifying them. Thus there 
were two Maughans, two Guys, two Youngs, two Campbells, two Wyburds, two 
Macdonalds, two Notts, two Lowes, two Jones, two Whitelocks, two Roses, two 
Parkers, two Robinsons, two Grieves, two Woods, two Careys, two Williams, two 
Rogers, two Lewis, two Parkers, two Nixons, and two Lowders. Strange to 
6ay, there was no officer in the Service bearing the familiar patronymic of 
Brown, and only one Smith. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 77 

Young, C.B.); Messrs. C. D. Campbell, W. C. Barker, A. 
Macdonald, R. Mackenzie, W. Christopher, Michael W. Lynch 
(who died during the Mesopotamian survey), and Felix 
Jones.* The last officer drew the original charts, and their 
execution was so beautiful that they were inspected by the 
Queen. 

The ' Benares ' arrived at Male, or King's Island, situated 
about the centre of the Maldive group, on the 15th of November, 

1834, and her appearance at first occasioned much trepidation, as 
it was believed that she had come to reinstate Sultan Hamed, 
who had been driven from the throne on account of his tyrannical 
conduct and forced to seek shelter at Cochin. After some delay, 
Commander Moresby commenced the survey without the per- 
mission of the Ministers of the young Rajah, but, eventually, 
when the ex-Sultan was recalled to his nephew's councils, he 
obtained the necessary sanction. The officers and men of the 
'Benares' suffered greatly from illness, only Lieutenant Young, 
Messrs. Christopher and Campbell, being fit for duty, and they 
attributed their immunity to the fact of their being abstainers. 
Accordingly, in February, 1835, the ' Benares,' leaving the 
'Royal Tiger ' behind, proceeded to Cochin for an entirely fresh 
crew. While at this port, Lieutenant Robinson, assisted by 
Acting-Lieutenant Campbell, made a survey of the harbour of 
Cochin, and the chart was published by Government. On the 
return of the ' Benares ' to the Maldives, the new crew soon 
became inefficient through illness, and, on the 8th of June, 

1835, the ship quitted the islands for Bombay. 

When her return was decided upon, Lieutenant J. A. Young 
and Mr. W. Christopher, with great devotion, volunteered to re- 
main at Male, the seat of the Sultan's Government, with a view 
to learn the language and acquire information regarding the laws 
and customs of the natives. Having received the permission 
of the Bombay Government, these two officers, accompanied by 
a few men, landed on the 4th of June, 1835, and took up their 
residence in the building assigned to them. They kept a journal 
of their proceedings, from which, on their return to India, a 
Memoir was compiled, which may be found in Vol. I. of the 
" Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society " (pp. 54 
— 108). After a stay of only three weeks, Lieutenant Young 
was seized with fever, which incapacitated him for further 
exertion. At this time news arrived of the shipwreck, on one 
of the islands of the Collomandon group, of an English vessel, 

* Of the above officers Captains Robinson, Campbell, Jones, and Barker, and 
Lieutenant Mackenzie, still survive ; Lieutenant Winn, second of the ' Benares,' 
during the Red Sea Survey, and Captains Cruttenden and Rennie, who par- 
ticipated in that survey, are also still to the fore. Of the preceding, Captain 
Campbell alone had served in the surveys of the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and 
Maldive Islands, he having been continuously employed in the ' Benares ' on this 
duty between 1828 and 1835. 



78 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the ' Adonis,' from Mauritius. Mr. Christopher immediately left 
Male in a native boat on the 7th of July, to render assistance, 
and, having succeeded in saving the lives of the crew, returned 
to Male on the 28th of July. On the 17th of the following 
month, Lieutenant Young, who had never quitted his bed, was 
forced to leave Male with the men of the ' Benares,' who had 
all also fallen ill, and, a few days after their departure, Mr. 
Christopher was seized with fever, and, after struggling against 
the malady for some time, was obliged to quit the island on the 
i)th of September, 1835. One of the surviving officers of the 
survey writes to us:— "Young and Christopher volunteered to 
remain at Male, or King's Island, the seat of government of the 
Sultan, to acquire a knowledge of the people and their language, 
and make meteorological observations; this was at the risk of 
their lives from the peculiarly sickly influence of the climate on 
Europeans, but they braved this in hopes of doing some good 
to the people as well as contributing to knowledge and science. 
They soon fell ill, in spite of all their care and spirit, and at 
last became so much worse that the king, who, with his'^people, 
revered them for their consistent Christian conduct, had his 
own vessel launched from the shore, where she had been hauled 
high up and covered in, and having fitted her out, sent them 
across to Colombo at great risk of both crew and vessel from 
the terrible weather, as he said, ' They were sure to die if they 
remained, and were good and holy men, and he could not let 
them die if it was possible to get them away in time, for God's 
judgment would fall on the island.' They both recovered under 
the kind care of the Government Missionaries of Colombo, where 
their memory was lovingly cherished for years after." 

This important survey was not performed without the usual 
quota of loss. Mr. Robert Riddell, a young officer of singular 
promise and sweetness of disposition, succumbed to the pesti- 
lential climate of the Maldives soon after his return to Bombay. 
Lieutenant Young and Mr. Christopher made good use of the 
brief time at their disposal, before sickness prostrated their 
energies. They wrote a memoir on the inhabitants, and the 
latter compiled a vocabulary of the Maldivan language, which 
may be found in Vol. VI. of the " Journal of the Royal Asiatic 
Society." 

Captain Moresby proceeded again to the Maldives in the latter 
part of 1835,and returned to Bombay during the monsoon months 
of 1836 ; again, on the 24th of September, he sailed for the 
Maldives, and, on completing the survey, proceeded, in February, 
1837, in the 'Benares,' accompanied by the 'Royal Tiger,' 
Lieutenant Powell, to examine the Chagos Archipelago, of 
which he made an interesting report. Before the survey was 
completed, Captain Moresby was directed to proceed to Madras, 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 79 

and, on the 29th of June, the two vessels anchored in the 
roads. 

The same year he sailed for the Saya cle Malha Bank — a term 
meaning "coat of mail" — extending between 8° 18' and 
11° 30' S., and surveyed the southern part as depicted on the 
present Admiralty charts. He also examined a small portion 
of the Nazareth Bank, the extreme north end of which he made 
to be in 13° 40' S. Captain Moresby was finally recalled, and 
arrived at Bombay on the 7th of February, 1838, when, in con- 
sequence of the state of his health, five days later he proceeded 
to Europe on furlough.* 

Captain Moresby's return to Madras, in June, 1837, was due 
to an application on the part of the Government of that Presi- 
dency for a surveying party to examine the Gulf of Manaar, for 
the purpose of establishing a navigable channel to the Bay of 
Bengal, by the Paumben passage, a project set on foot by 
General Monteith,f supported by the Rt. Hon. J. Stewart 
Mackenzie, then Governor of Ceylon. Lieutenant Powell was 
accordingly detached from Captain Moresby's command, and 
undertook the service, with Lieutenants Ethersey, Grieve, and 
Christopher, and Lieutenant Felix Jones as draughtsman. They 
commenced the survey on the south side of Adam's Bridge, but, 
owing to the high surf, were compelled to quit this part on the 
15th of January, when they proceeded to the westward of the 
Paumben passage, and continued surveying along the coast of 
Madura. By the end of April, 1838, when the whole party 
were recalled, Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey had completed 
the survey of the Gulf of Manaar and Palk Straits, and the 
west coast of Ceylon4 

* The charts resulting from these surveys are the following : — 1. Maldive 
Islands, by Captain Moresby and Lieutenant Powell, 1835 ; 2. Maldive Islands 
(reduced) ; 3. Chagos Archipelago, by Moresby and Powell, 1836 ; 4. Principal 
groups in the Chagos Archipelago, by Moresby and Powell, 1836. Also, 
" Nautical Directions for the Maldive Islands and Chagos Archipelago," by 
Commander Robert Moresby, I.N., 1839. Printed by order of the Court of 
Directors, London, 1840. For a summary of Moresby's Report on the Maldives, 
and papers furnished by Lieutenant Robinson and Dr. Campbell of the ' Benares,' 
see Vol. I. of the " Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society." This was 
the last duty of the old ' Benares,' which was sold out of the Service in this 
year. 

t General Monteith had proceeded in the preceding February, with a party of 
Madras Sappers and some convicts, to excavate a navigable channel through the 
formidable ledges of rock extending from the island of Ramisseram, on which 
Paumben stands, to the coast of Madura, and he succeeded to the extent that 
country craft of light draught, and the steamers ' Nemesis ' and ' Pluto,' on their 
return from China in 1842, came by this route. 

% The following are the charts of these surveys : — 1. Coast of Madura, by 
Lieutenants Powell, Ethersey, and Captain Franklin, 1838 ; 2. Western side of 
Palk Straits, by Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey, 1838 ; Paumben Passage by 
Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey, 1837 ; 4. Islands of Ramisseram and Manaar, 
by Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey ; 5. West Coast of Ceylon, by Captain 
Franklin and Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey (four sheets) ; 6. Palk Straits and 
Gulf of Manaar, by Lieutenants Powell, Ethersey, and Captain Franklin (two 



80 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

The survey of the south coast of Arabia, by Commander 
Haines, was suspended for a period of thirteen months, during 
the time he conducted the survey of, and negotiations for, the 
occupation of Socotra, but, early in 1835, he proceeded in the 
' Palinurus ' to resume the survey of the coast from the Straits 
of Babelmandeb to Misenaat in 50° 37' E. He had under his 
command the following staff of highly scientific officers: — 
Lieutenants Sanders (Assistant-Surveyor), Jardine, and Shep- 
pard. Midshipmen Rennie, Cruttenden, A. Grieve, Ball, Stevens, 
and Barrow, and Assistant-Surgeon Hulton. The result 
of this important and most admirable survey, was a chart of 
the south coast of Arabia, from Ras Misenaat to the entrance of 
the Red Sea, on a scale of six inches to a degree, together with 
numerous plans, and a detailed and most valuable memoir,* 
" giving," as he says, " a description of about 500 miles of the 
southern coast of Arabia, hitherto almost unknown, and an 
account of its population, government and commerce." 

In the months of February and March, 1836, Commander 
Haines surveyed the Kooria Mooria group of islands, off Sher- 
badhat, on the Arabian coast. These islands, five in number, 
are named Hellaneea, Jibleea, Soda, Haske, and Kirzawet 
(called Ghurzood by Commander Haines), the smallest of the 
group. Assistant-Surgeon Hulton, of the ' Palinurus,' wrote 
an interesting account of these islands in a paper, which appears 
in Vol. XI. of the " Journal of the Royal Geographical Society," 
and Commander Haines "gave further details in his private 
journal. While lying off this part of the coast, Mr. Midshipman 
Cruttenden made an excursion from Morbat to Dyreez, the 
principal town of Dafar, of which he wrote a description in a 
Memoir, which appears in Vol. I. of the "Transactions of the 
Bombay Geographical Society." A few months later, when 
the officers of the ' Palinurus ' were surveying Mocha Roads, 
Mr. Cruttenden, accompanied by Dr. Hulton, started on the 
13th of July to visit Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, where they 

sheets), 1838 and 1845. Lieutenant Christopher wrote an account of Adam's 
Bridge and Rainisseram, with a plan of the Temple (" Transactions of the 
Bombay Geographical Society," vol. vii.) 

While employed in Ceylon, Lieutenant Felix Jones, says Markham, visited and 
fixed Adam's Peak and the Horton Plains, descending by the Caltura River, of 
which he made a survey, in company with Major-General Adams, who fell at 
Inkermann. They pushed their way) over the highest ranges by the elephant 
paths, there being then no constructed roads. The Memoir on the Paumben 
Passage and Adam's Bridge, by Lieutenants Ethersey and Powell, which should 
have accompanied their charts, was not published until the year 1869. 

* The Court of Directors communicated this Memoir to the Royal Geo- 
graphical Society, and an abridgment was published in vol. ix. of their Journal. 
In vol. xv., also, there appears Part 2 of this memoir, dealing with the coast to 
the east of Misenaat, as far as the town of Sohar, near Ras el Hadd, which had not 
been so minutely surveyed as the portion to the westward, together with an 
appendix containing remarks on the navigation of the Gidf of Aden, and other 
cognate matters. Both these papers were accompanied by valuable maps reduced 
from the charts. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 81 

were well received by the reigning Imaum, who, however, became 
less friendly when the British party were detained owing to 
Dr. Hulton's illness. After a stay of one month they quitted 
Sanaa, and, in fourteen days, arrived at Mocha. Dr. Hulton 
died soon after his arrival on board the ' Pali minis,' much 
regretted by his shipmates. Mr. Cruttenden published an in- 
teresting account of this visit to Sanaa, which appears in 
Vol. II. of the " Transactions of the Bombay Geographical 
Society," and Vol. VIII. of the " Journal of the Royal Geogra- 
phical Society," accompanied with a map. In May, 1837, the 
survey of the south-east coast of Arabia was suspended,* owing 
to Commander Haines' services being again required in a poli- 
tical capacity, in connection with the acquisition of Aden as a 
coaling station, and the survey was not resumed until 1844, 
when his assistant, Commander J. P. Sanders, continued the 
work. 

Of the survey, as originally planned, when Commander Haines 
quitted Bombay in October, 1833, there remained uncompleted 
the portion of the coast between Cape Isolette and Ras el Hadd, 
and from 50° 50' E. long., 50° 4' N. lat., to within nine miles of 
Morebat; and, on the African coast, from Cape Gardafui, or 
Ras Aseer, the north-east point of Africa, to within a few miles 
of Ras el Bir. To complete this latter portion, and to survey 
Kurrachee and Sonmeanee, Lieutenant Carless sailed from 
Bombay in the ' Palinurus,' in October, 1837, having, as his 
assistants, Midshipmen Grieve and Selby. He first proceeded 
to the mouths of the Indus for the purpose of laying down 
buoys and erecting beacons to facilitate the navigation of the 
Hujamree and Kedywarree mouths, and then, after surveying 
Kurrachee Bay and Sonmeanee, left the former place on the 
7th of Februaiy, 1838 ; and, after a passage of sixteen days, 
the ' Palinurus ' anchored in the large bay on the south side of 
Ras Hafoon, or " the Surrounded." He says, in his report, dated 
the 28th of April, 1838 : — " From this place the survey of 
the eastern coast of Africa has been completed up to Ras Jered 
Hafoun.f and from thence to the westward as far as Ras Gul- 
wainee, a low point about thirty miles east of Burnt Island. 
The distance between Ras Hafoon and Ras Gulwainee is 340 
miles. The country near the sea has also been minutely 
examined. We found fourteen bunders, or towns, each defended 
by two or three forts between Ras Jered Hafoon, and Ras Gul- 

* The following are the charts resulting from Commander Haines' labours : — 
1. Entrance to the Red Sea, Haines, 1835 ; 2. South-east coast of Arabia, 
from Straits of Babelmandel to Misenaat, with several plans, Haines, lSS^; 
3. The several bays near Cape Aden, Haines, 1836 ; Kaoria Mooria Islands, 
Haines, 1836 ; Island of Socotra, Haines, 1834. 

f Ras Jered Hafoon, or Shenareef, is situated ten miles south of Cape 
Gardafui, which again is about twenty-eight leagues to the northward of Ru? 
Hafoon. 

VOL. II. G 



82 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVV.. 

wainee, besides many villages. This part of the coast is inha- 
bited by two Soovnali tribes, the Mijjer-theyns and Singallees." 
Lieutenant Carless speaks as follows of these people, whom 
more recent acquaintance, and, perhaps, injudicious treatment, 
have rendered very suspicious and bloodthirsty : — " Whenever 
we have fallen in with them, they have invariably behaved 
towards us in the most friendly manner ; so much so, that the 
officers of the vessel have been enabled to examine the country 
near the coast, frequently alone and unarmed, in perfect security. 
On every occasion they expressed the greatest satisfaction at 
our having visited their towns, and said they regretted their 
coast was not frequented by our vessels, for they looked on us 
as friends." Lieutenant Carless was now forced to suspend 
operations, owing to scurvy among the crew, and proceeded to 
Mocha, thence returning to Bombay. The chart,* resulting 
from this survey, was very minute and of beautiful execution, 
but it was consigned to a pigeon-hole in the Marine Office at 
Bombay, and never saw the light until 1844, when the loss of 
the ' Memnon ' on this coast, drew attention to its accuracy and 
the necessity for its publication. 

In 1833, Lieutenant H. H. Whitelock, an able surveyor and 
admirable writer, who participated in the Persian Gulf Survey, 
assisted by Mr. Jones, commenced the survey of the west coast 
of Kattywar, and had completed it as far as Dili Island, in- 
cluding the harbour of Beyt, when, on the 26th of October, 183(3, 
he expired on board the ' Discovery,' surveying ship. We learn, 
from a report of the proceedings of the Bombay Geographical 
Society of 1837, that the following were the results of the 
surveys made by Lieutenants H. H. Whitelock and R. Ethersey 
between the years 1834-37, on the coast of Kattywar and Gulf 
of Cambay : f — " The examination of the western coast of 
Kattywar, as far as Diu Island, including the survey of Beyt 
harbour, having been previously completed by the late Lieu- 
tenant Whitelock, assisted by Mr. Jones, Lieutenant Ethersey 
has been enabled this season to finish his survey of the Gulf of 
Cambay. His operations have extended from Diu Island to 
Goapnauth Point along the Kattywar coast, around the head of 
the Gulf, and down the eastern shore, as far south as Surat, 
including the mouths of the important rivers which discharge 
their waters into this arm of the sea — the Saburmattey, Mahe, 
Dhardur, and Nerbudda — the latter of which he has examined 
as far as the city of Broach. This service has afforded Lieu- 

* " North-east Coast of Africa from Ras Gulwainee to Ras Hafoon," Carless, 
2 sheets. (1838.) 

t The charts representing this work of Whitelock and Ethersey are : — 
1. Entrance of the Gulf of Cutch, 1833; 2. Coast of Kattywar from Diu to 
Dwarka, Whitelock, 1833 ; 3. Kattywar from Diu Head to Perim Island, two 
sheets, Ethersey, 1836; 4. Diu Harbour, Whitelock, 1833; 5. Gulf of Cambay, 
Ethersey, 1845. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 83 

tenant Ethersey the opportunity of observing attentively, for 
two successive seasons, the bore, or rushing tide,* which is 
witnessed at the head of the Gulf; and on this interesting phe- 
nomenon he has drawn up an excellent memoir, which has been 
presented by Government to the Society. He has likewise laid 
down, with laborious detail, the extensive shoals, called the 
Malacca Banks, on which Captain Sharpey was wrecked in 1607, 
fixed the position of, and ascertained the soundings along, that 
part of the coast of the Northern Concan, extending between 
St. John's and Bassein. Adjoining the southern limits of 
Lieutenant Ethersey's survey, sixty-five miles of coast line re- 
mained to be examined between Domus, at the mouth of the 
Taptee, and St. John's, and again between Bassein and Bombay." 
Lieutenants Rennie and Constable subsequently surveyed the 
portion from the mouth of the Taptee southward to Danoo, and 
Lieutenants Selby and Whish, that from Bassein to Bombay, 
the intermediate portion having been already examined by Lieu- 
tenant Ethersey .f 

Some of the most important work done by officers of the 
Indian Navy, was the survey carried on through many years, 
of the River Indus and its numerous mouths. In this task the 
names of Lieutenants Wood and Carless are foremost. In 
January, 1836, the latter officer commenced the survey of the 
mouths of the Indus, and, at the end of the first season, under 
date "Bombay, the 22nd of July, 1836," he issued his valuable 
" Report on the State of Navigation of the Indus below 
Hyderabad," in which he expressed his obligations to Lieutenant 

* Ethersey wrote the following Memoirs : — " Observations on the Bore, or 
Rushing Tide, in the Gulf of Cambay and at the entrances of the Mahe and 
Saburmattey Rivers," ("Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. viii.) 
— " Note on Perim Island in the Gulf of Cambay," (" Transactions of the 
Bombay Geographical Society," vol. ii.) — " The Bore in the Gulf of Cambay," 
(" Bombay Selections," No. 25). 

t Captain Jervis, of the Bengal Engineers, before the meeting of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Neweastle-on-Tyne, August 
26th, 1838, adverted in the following terms to the elforts for the advancement of 
hydrographical science made by officers of the Indian Navy : — " The maritime 
surveys which have been made by the East India Company's naval officers are 
honourable to the spirit of that great public body by whose desire they were 
instituted, A series of charts of tiie entire coast of China, by my friend Captain 
Daniel Ross, Indian Navy, and others, illustrating the ports, rivers, and coasts, 
from Cochin China and throughout the Malayan Archipelago to the confines of 
India, by Captains Crawford, Robinson, and Ross, are highly useful to the 
navigators who frequent those seas. The surveys of the Persian Gulf and the 
Red Sea, by Captains Maughan, Brucks, Haines, and other officers of the Indian 
Navy, have been undertaken at great charge, most opportunely indeed, for the 
furtherance of steam communication between this country and India." He also 
referred to the surveys of Captains Moresby and Houghton, Lieutenant 
Ethersey, and other officers, in terms of warm praise. 

At the Anniversary meeting of the Bombay Geographical Society on the 3rd of 
May, 1838, the surveys by Captain Moresby of the Cliagos Archipelago and Saya de 
Malha Bank were referred to, " only Owen's Bank and the Cliagos remaining to 
be examined to complete the survey." — " Transactions of the Bombay Geo- 
graphical Society," vol. i. p. 378. 

G 2 



84 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

E. Pottinger, of the Artillery, who partially examined the 
Hujamree branch, and to Lieutenant Wood, who examined the 
main river from its junction with the Hujamree branch to 
Hyderabad. On the 24th of October, 183(5, Government ordered 
the survey of the coast about the Indus, and, during the years 
1837-38, Lieutenant Carless carefully examined Kurrachee and 
the whole coast line from the eastern mouth of the Indus to 
Sonmeanee, on the Beloochistan coast. During the year 1837 
the Kedywarree branch was surveyed from its mouth to its 
junction with the main river, which also was examined up to 
the point where it throws off a small stream called the Teeteeah, 
a distance of thirty-five miles. The great bank lying off the 
mouths of the several branches of the Indus, was also thoroughly 
examined, with all the channels leading across it. The Hujamree 
branch had been examined in 1836, and, according to a report 
in the " Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society," 
by the close of the season of 1837, Lieutenant Carless had com- 
pleted " a trigonometrical survey of all the open mouths and 
branches of the Indus, with a portion of the main river, and 
the most dangerous part of the coast." On quitting Scinde he 
left behind two of his young officers, Messrs. Grieve and Whit- 
burn, with instructions to report their observations on the 
periodical swell of the Indus between Hyderabad and Sehwan, 
which had been carried on during the preceding season by 
Lieutenant Wood. This they did, and Mr. Whitburn also 
visited the Muncha Lake and made a report of his observations. 
A very valuable paper by Lieutenant Carless, written to accom- 
pany his chart of the survey of the Delta of the Indus, appears 
in Vol. VIII. of the " Journal of the Royal Geographical 
Society." 

In 1833 Commander R. Lloyd succeeded Captain Ross as 
Marine Surveyor-General in Bengal, and, for a period of seven 
years, fulfilled the duties with zeal and success. During this 
time he had under his orders such distinguished surveyors as 
Lieutenants Montriou, Young, Fell, and Rennie, and much 
important work was done. "In 1833," says Markham, "he 
had one brig, with which he conducted a survey of the inland 
navigation of Arracan, but after the first season, his operations 
were put a stop to by severe illness, contracted by much 
exposure in that unhealthy climate. On his restoration to 
health, he, in 1835, surveyed the River Hooghly, from Saugor 
Island to Calcutta, carefully connecting his work with the base 
line measured by Colonel Everest on the Barrackpore Road. 
In 1840 he completed the survey of the sea face of the 
Sunderbunds from Chittagong to Hidjellie, the results of which 
he submitted to Government in the form of carefully drawn 
charts, and a most valuable and interesting memoir. He com- 
pared the state of the coast at the dates of different surveys, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 85 

and his remarks in showing the changes that are taking place, 
prove the urgent necessity for periodical revision of the surveys. 
He also describes the remarkable phenomenon at the head of 
the Bay of Bengal, similar to that reported by Captain Selby, 
off the mouth of the Indus, called the " swatch of no ground." It 
is a deep chasm, over to seaward, and very steep on the north- 
west face with no soundings at 250 fathoms.* Captain Lloyd 
also surveyed the Chittagcng River, and made additions to 
Ross's survey of the Mergui Archipelago, a short account of 
which was published at the time. Ross had laid clown the outer 
islands between 1827 and 1830, and Captain Lloyd filled up 
the inner portions and delineated the coast line."f 

In July. 18.38, Sir Charles Malcolm was superseded by 
Captain Oliver, and one of the first consequences of the change 
was the sudden stoppage of all surveys. During the next few 
years the Service was engaged in warlike expeditions. In the 
Persian Gulf, at Aden, which fell to the British arms, in assisting 
in transporting troops to the Indus for service in Afghanistan 
and Scinde, and in the first China war, the Indian Navy found 
ample employment and earned great distinction for efficiency 
and zeal. Before entering upon an account of these events we 
will speak of the researches of some famous travellers belonging 
to the Service, of whom one earned undying reputation, as the 
re-discoverer of the sources of the Oxus, and another, only an 
early and obscure grave in an unknown part of Central Asia. 

During the year 1835, Lieutenants J. R. Wellsted and F. 
Whitelock (brother of the surveyor, H. H. Whitelock) prosecuted 
their travels in Oman and along the coast of Arabia. Wellsted 
was first in the field, but, in November of that year, he was 
joined by Whitelock, their object being to advance to Dereeyah, 
the Wahabee capital, which has since been accomplished by 
Mr. Palgrave, and, a few years later, by Colonel Pelly and 
Lieutenant Dawes, I.N. In December, 1835, the two officers 
proceeded through Semedand Nezwah to the Green Mountains, 
of which Lieutenant Whitelock gives an account in his "Notes 
taken during a journey in Oman and along the East Coast of 
Arabia." Both the gallant officers were seized with violent 
attacks of fever, but their energy and zeal in the cause of 
geographical research, was such that, as soon as the paroxysms 
of the disease permitted them to move, they again attempted 
the difficult task they had set before them. At length, in April, 

* The MS. of the " Nautical Remarks to accompany a survey of the sea face of 
the Sunderbunds," by Captain Lloyd, dated February, 1841, is preserved in the 
Geographical Department of the India Office. 

f The following were the charts resulting from the labours of Commander 
Lloyd:— Balasore Roads; Entrance into the Hooghly, 1841; River Hooghly, 
and the approaches to it from False Point to Calcutta ; River Hooghly from 
Calcutta to Saugor Point; Sea face of the Kundorbunds, 1840. In 184L he also 
made additions to Captain Ross's chart of the Chittagong River to Foul 
Island. 



8<) HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

1837, when suffering from a violent fit of delirium, Lieutenant 
Wellsted discharged both barrels of his gun into his mouth, 
but the balls, passing upwards, only inflicted two ghastly wounds 
in the upper jaw. He was conveyed on board the ' Hugh 
Lindsay' at Muscat, in a deplorable condition, and proceeded to 
Bombay, whence he was compelled to go on leave to Europe. 
Lieutenant Wellsted retired from the Service in 1839, and 
dragged on a few years in shattered health, and with impaired 
mental powers, chiefly residing in France, until death released 
him from his sufferings, in 1843. He was the author of two 
admirable works, " Travels in Arabia," and " Travels to the 
City of the Caliphs," and, in acknowledgment of his labours, 
was elected a fellow of the Royal and other learned Societies. 
The Right Hon. Sir Alexander Johnston, referring to Wellsted's 
journey through Socotra, and his admirable work on that 
island, already alluded to, says in his address to the Royal 
Geographical Society : — "Lieutenant Wellsted's chart, and his 
account of that island, copies of which are published in the 
Journal of the Geographical Society, do the highest honour to 
his talents and his scientific acquirements and afford the public 
a proof of the advantage they have derived from the employ- 
ment of such an officer in so important a service. Many of the 
officers of this Navy have availed themselves of the opportunities 
which their profession has afforded them of acquiring a know- 
ledge of the customs and interests of the differents native chiefs 
on whose coasts they have been employed." In conclusion, Sir 
Alexander spoke of the Indian Navy, as " one of the most 
important departments of the Military and Civil Services in 
British India, and also one of the most powerful engines which 
can be employed by the Society for procuring information in 
reference to Asia, and for dispersing amongst the people of that 
division of the globe, the arts, the scieuces, aud civilization of 
Europe." 

Lieutenant Whitelock continued his travels in Oman, and 
visited Lachsa, near El Kateef, and other places of interest. 

In 1841, Major W. C. Harris, of the Bombay Engineers, pro- 
ceeded to Ankobar, the capital of Shoa, on a commercial mission 
to the King of that country, accompanied by Captain Graham, 
Lieutenant W. C. Barker (I.N.), Dr. Kirk, Dr. Roth, and a 
German missionary, a Mr. Kraieff, who acted as interpreter. 
The baggage and presents, in the train of the mission, loaded 
two hundred camels, and the distance of 370 miles was per- 
formed in forty-seven days. The mission suffered excessively 
from heat and want of water, owing to their having started at 
the close of the dry season, contrary to the advice of the natives 
of the coast. 

The frontiers of Abyssinia were reached in the middle of 
July, the entire route being through a country described as "a 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 87 

howling wilderness ;" but they now found a great change for 
the better in the country and climate, and, at Ankobar, elevated 
some 8,200 feet above the level of the sea, the thermometer 
ranged between 44 and 63 deg. Lieutenant Barker, after 
residing some little time at Ankobar, returned alone, arriving 
at Aden early in March, 1842; he performed part of the journey 
in company with a caravan bringing slaves to the coast, and 
afterwards with a Dankalli chief.* 

Some account of Lieutenant Wood's remarkable journey to 
the sources of the Oxus, a feat which sheds lustre on the 
Service, will be of interest. The opening of the Indus for the 
purposes of trade, by the treaties formed by our Government, 
induced Aga Mahomed Rahim, a Persian merchant af Bombay, 
to purchase a steamboat of ten horse-power, the command of 
which was accepted (with the permission of Government) by 
Lieutenant Wood, who, on the 31st of October, 1835, had, as 
he says, "the proud satisfaction of unfurling our country's 
flag on the Indus from the first steamboat that ever floated 
upon its celebrated waters." Upon the return of the steamer 
to Bombay, Lieutenant Wood was employed by Government in 
noting the periodical rise of the Indus, the spread of its inun- 
dation, and the changes of its channels; and, on the 9th of 
November, 1836, being appointed an assistant to the commer- 
cial mission of Sir Alexander (then Captain) Burnes to Cabul, 
via the Indus, one of the objects of that mission, namely, to 
examine and report upon that river, from its mouth to Attock, 
was entrusted to Lieutenant Wood. Entering the Hujainree 
branch, the party reached Vikkur, where thej r exchanged their 
sea-going boats for the Scindian dundi, or river craft. Mr. 
Wood endeavours, in his work.f to identify the route of Alex- 
ander's fleet; but the task is hopeless in such a river as the 
Indus, the channels of which are perpetually altering, and its 
banks falling in.} 

* Major Harris, who was knighted on his return to England, published an account 
of his mission, which was successful so far, that he was able to conclude a treaty 
with the King of Shoa. Captain Graham also wrote a long official report, which 
was presented to the Bombay Government, on the "Manners, customs, and 
superstitions of the people of Shoa." The matter-of-fact accounts of Abyssinia 
and its people, by Lord Valentia, Mr. Salt, and Pearce, removed the greater part 
of the romance which the travels of Bruce had thrown over them, revealing 
these nominal Christians in their true colours ; but Captain Graham, as he said, 
still further sought to remove " the film over the eyes of the deluded public," and 
described the natives of Shoa as ''ignorant, barbarous, and filthy." 

t " A Personal Narrative of a Journey to the Source of the River Oxus, by the 
route of the Indus, Cabul, and Badakshan ; performed under the sanction of the 
Supreme Government of India, in the years 1836, 1837, and 1838." By Lieu- 
tenant John Wood, of the East India Company's Navy. London, 18-41. 

A new edition of this work, issued by the son of the late Captain Wood, lias 
been enriched by a valuable Treatise on the Geography of Central Asia, by Colonel 
H. Yule, of the Bengal Engineers. 

X These occurrences are so common that one witnessed by Lieutenant Wood, 
which engulphed houses and property, scarcely excited surprise in those whose 



88 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

In the journey through Scinde, the mission hired some 
Beloochees, of the Jokiyah tribe, as an escort, whose conduct 
justified the confidence reposed in them. The party remained 
for about a fortnight at Hyderabad ; and after accompanying 
the Ameer, Noor Mahomed Khan, on a hunting and hawking 
expedition, the mission divided, Captain Burnes proceeding 
by land and Lieutenant Wood up the Indus. On reaching 
Mittun Kote, that officer was summoned to join Captain 
Burnes at Ahmedpoor, and he accompanied him to Bawul- 
poor : thence they proceeded to Ooch, on the Sutlej, descend- 
ing the Chenab to Mittun Kote, at the confluence of the 
Punjaub streams with the Indus. Wood here makes some 
remarks upon the description of this river, given by Arrian and 
by recent authors : that of the Greek writer contains, in his 
opinion, " all the evidence of a truthful narration." " There is 
no known river in either hemisphere," observes Lieutenant 
Wood, "discharging even half the quantity of water that the 
Indus does which is not superior for navigable purposes to this 
far-famed stream." At Dhera Ismael Khan, Wood left Captain 
Burnes's party, and started for Kalabagh, on the 2nd of July, 
along the west bank of the Indus. At this place he made pre- 
parations for ascending the stream to Attock. The boatmen 
reported its upward navigation impracticable at that season, 
but, having chosen a strong boat, without masts or sails (called 
a duggah), he, with great difficulty, obtained a crew of thirty- 
seven men to take her as far as Mukkud, twenty miles. Here 
he procured a fresh crew, but found it fruitless to attempt to 
reach Attock by the river ; accordingly, he proceeded by land, 
making a detour to avoid the lands of the Sagri Patans, the 
only people east of the Indus who had not then submitted to 
Runjeet Singh. Arrived at Attock, on the 4th of August, he 
descended the river to Kalabagh, which proved a perilous 
undertaking, and from thence proceeded through the country 
of the Bungi Kyi to Kohat, in order to join the mission at 
Peshawur. From Kohat, Lieutenant Wood made an excursion 
into the Kuttock country, to seethe sulphur mines and naphtha 
springs. " The town of Peshawur, as well as the surround- 
ing plain," he says, " bear witness to the violence and oppres- 
sion of the Sikhs. In whatever direction the eye is turned, it 
rests upon uncultivated fields and half-tenanted villages."* 

very lives were in jeopardy. " When the waters of the Indus are low," he says, 
" the noise caused by the tumbling in of its banks occurs so frequently as to 
become a characteristic of this river ; during the silence of the night the ear is 
assailed by what at first sight might be mistaken for the continued discharge of 
artillery ; two, three, and even four reports are often heard within the minute, 
and even thirteen have been counted in that short space of time." The valley of 
the Indus south of the mountains, he aptly describes as " a mud basin undergoing 
continual change." 

* At the period of Mr. Elphinstone's visit, thirty years before, the plain was 
peopled and cultivated, and one of the richest portions of the Cabul dom inious. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 89 

After passing through the Khyber Pass, the mission skirted 
Sufeid Koh, the "Snow-clad Chain," through the province called 
Naujnahar, or "Nine Rivers," to Cabul, which they entered on 
the 20th of September, escorted by Akbar Khan. On their 
arrival, Captain Burnes and his coadjutors were cordially 
received by the famous Ameer, Dost Mahomed Khan, whom 
Wood describes " as about forty-five, and looks worn-out and 
aged ; his frame is large and bony, and all his features strongly 
marked with a general expression of sternness, but lighted by 
eyes of peculiar brilliancy and intelligence." 

From Cabul, the party made an excursion into the valley of 
Koh Daman, which Lieutenant Wood commenced to map. An 
embassy having been sent from Koondooz by Murad Ali Beg, 
to solicit the aid of an English doctor to relieve the chief's 
brother, Mahomed Beg, who was suffering from ophthalmia, 
that able officer, Dr. Lord — who, later, met a tragic end on 
the 2nd of November, 1840, at Purwandurrah, in Afghanistan — ■ 
was despatched, as well as Lieutenant Wood, with the Uzbeck 
ambassador. In their journey across the Hindu Koosh, they 
suffered severely from the cold and snow. The mountaineers, 
armed to the teeth, were restrained from plundering them only 
by the knowledge that they were guests of the rulers of Cabul 
and Koondooz. Being foiled in an attempt to proceed by the 
Purwan Pass, the party returned to Cabul, and, on the 15th of 
November, set out by the Bamian route for Koondooz, where 
they arrived on the 4th of December. Murad Beg received his 
guests graciously in durbar, in an apartment thirty feet by 
fifteen ; the Begs were seated in rows on one side, and on the 
other was Murad Ali Beg, leaning on a large silken pillow. 
From Koondooz, Lieutenant Wood, leaving Dr. Lord behind, 
started for Badakshan, and to trace to its source the Jihoon, or 
Oxus. In this journey he came upon the track of Marco Polo, 
and he furnishes strong testimony to the authenticity and truth 
of the narrative of that much decried Venetian, who has recently 
found so able a commentator in Colonel H. Yule. Leaving 
Koondooz, on the 11th of December, Lieutenant Wood crossed 
an open plain, encircled on all sides by mountains, except on 
the north, where the Oxus flows. Crossing the pass of Latta- 
band, they proceeded along the valley of the Kokcha, where the 
population was scanty, and the dreary appearance of winter 
was seldom enlivened by the sight of man or beast. From 
Fyzabad, the ancient capital of Badakshan, he proceeded to 
Jerm, the modern capital and largest place in that State, and 
thence, with the permission of the Governor, he started for 

"Never," observes Mr. Elphinstone, "was a spot of the same extent better 
peopled ; the uncultivated parts of the land were covered with a thick elastic 
sod that, perhaps, never was equalled but in England ; the greater part was 
highly cultivated." 



90 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the lapis lazuli mines,* returning to Jerm on the 26th of 
December. 

After an unsuccessful attempt to reach the ruby mines, Lieu- 
tenant Wood now applied himself, in spite of the remonstrances 
and croakings of his native guide, a Tajik, to his journey to the 
source of the Oxus. Proceeding up the valley of this river, 
the mountains of Shakh Durah on their left, and those of 
Chitral on their right, both rising to a vast height, their sum- 
mits crowned with perpetual snow, they reached the village of 
Ishtrakh, in the midst of a heavy snow-storm. Having learned 
here that the valley of the Oxus for some distance upwards was 
uninhabited, Lieutenant Wood set off for Kundut, the capital 
of Shah Turai's country, which was reached after a cold ride of 
forty miles. Continuing their march, the party arrived at Kila 
Panj, " Five Hillocks," where they crossed the Oxus, the cur- 
rent being three and a half miles per hour. The valley of the 
Oxus may be said to terminate at lssar, 10,000 feet above the 
sea, the main valley there dividing into two, one conducting to 
Chitral, Gilgit, and Cashmere, the other across the table-land 
of Pamir, to Yarkand. The question which of the two streams 
led to the source of the Oxus was one of difficulty, and the 
Kirghiz gave no satisfactory solution of the point. Wood, for 
sufficient reasons, concluded the Pamir stream to be the larger. 
He now had to encounter obstacles from the people who were 
to guide and escort him, and was forced to throw himself upon 
the honour of the Kirghiz, five of whom joined the party, 
which set forward for the ravine of Sir-i-Kol. After suffering 
much hardship from the intense cold, which caused some of the 
escort to desert, at length, on the 19th of February, 1838, 
Lieutenant Wood and his party stood upon the Bam-i-Duniah, 
or "Roof of the World," as the Wakhanis name the Pamir 
Plain. This honour Lieutenant Wood shares with Marco Polo, 
the naval officer and the Venetian being the only two Euro- 
peans who have ever planted foot on that inhospitable spot. 
Before him stretched a noble lake, then frozen, from the 
western end of which issued the infant Oxus. He says, " The 
lake is about fourteen miles long from east to west, by one 
mile of average breadth : on three sides it is bordered by swell- 
ing hills, which, on the south side, rise into mountains 3,500 
feet above the lake, or 19,000 feet above the sea, and covered 
with perpetual snow, whence the lake is supplied. The western 
end is in hit. 37° 27' N., long. 70° 40' £. : its elevation, 
measured by boiling water, is 15.600 feet. The temperature 

* The deposit of lapi9 lazuli occurs in the valley of the Kokcha, where the 
mountains are on both sides high and naked. The entrance to the mines is on 
the face of the mountain, about 1,500 feet above the level of the stream. The 
ruby mines, which Wood was unable to reach, are twenty miles from Ish-Kashm, 
on "the right bank of the Oxus, in a district called Grharan, which signifies 
" caves " or " mmes." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. \M 

of the water was 32° Fahr. At a distance of GOO yards 
from the shore the depth of water was found to be nine feet ; 
it emitted a slightly fetid smell, and was of a reddish tinge." 
The description and position of this lake, which was called by 
Lieutenant Wood's guides, " Sir-i-kol," and to which he pro- 
posed to give the name of Lake Victoria, after Her Majesty, of 
whose accession to the throne he had just heard, are accurately 
given by Marco Polu, who states that it is the source of a 
" handsome river." 

The details of Wood's return to Koondooz, afford nothing 
remarkable, and he arrived there after an absence of three 
months. When on a visit at Hazrat Imaum, he heard that 
Mohamed Kahim, the chief of Wakhan, whom he had seen, had 
been murdered in open durbar by Murad Beg. Lieutenant 
Wood and Dr. Lord also visited Khulm. and at Mazar, thirty 
miles from thence, where the last of Moorcroft's party died, 
Dr. Lord obtained possession of every book belonging to the 
party, including even the daily cash account book; but there 
were no manuscript records of their journey. On the llth of 
April, 1838, Messrs. Wood and Lord quitted Koondooz, re- 
entered Cabul on the 1st of May, and rejoined Captain Burnes 
at Peshawur. 

For his great achievement, Lieutenant Wood received 
the Patron's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, 
as stated, " for his survey of the Indus, and rediscovery of the 
sources of the river Oxus."* Not long after his return to Bom- 
bay, he resigned the Service, emigrated to New Zealand, under a 
strong belief in the great future before that colony, but soon 
after returned to Europe. In 1849, Sir Charles Napier, 
then proceeding to assume the office of Commander-in-chief in 
India, applied for permission to the Court of Directors to take 
Lieutenant Wood with him, as his special knowledge of Scinde 
and the Punjaub rivers would have been of advantage in the 

* The following are the other contributions to geographical literature by 
Lieutenant John Wood : — " Memoranda on the River Indus," (" Bombay Geo- 
graphical Society's Journal," vol. i.) ; " Report on the Sources of the Oxus," 
(" Royal Geographical Society's Journal," vol. x. p. 520) ; " Selections from the 
Records of the Bombay Government," No. 17. 

There are several manuscript maps by Lieutenant Wood in the Geographical 
Department of the India Office ; a series of sheets of the Indus, and a chart of the 
Indus from Mittun to Attock (1838), four sheets, on a scale of two inches to the 
mile. The original MS. maps, showing the routes of Lieutenant Wood in Central 
Asia, are also preserved in the Geographical Department of the India Office. 
They consist of a map of the valley of the Oxus from Koondooz to its source, 
showing the new ground explored by Lieutenant Wood, 1837-38 ; a survey of 
routes from Peshawur to Bamian, with sketches and sections of the Khyber and 
Hindoo Koosh Passes ; the route of Burnes' mission to Cabul in three sheets, 
and the whole of Burnes' route from Cabul to Bokhara, and thence through 
Persia to Bushire, in nine sheets, drawn by Lieutenant Wood. There are 
also a set of route-surveys in Turkistan (seven sheets), and a reconnoitring 
survey of the Khawk Pass, the most easterly from Cabul to Balk in 
Turkistan. 



92 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Sikh "War, which promised to be of a protracted nature, but, 
though the application was supported by the Duke of Welling- 
ton, Lord Ellenborough, and LordFitzroy Somerset, afterwards 
Lord Raglan, the Court refused to comply with the request of 
Sir Charles Napier. In 1852, Lieutenant Wood sailed for 
Australia, whence he returned to England in 1857. In the 
following year he proceeded to Kurrachce, as Manager of the 
Oriental Inland Steam Navigation Company, which failed, 
chiefly because the shareholders were not guided by his councils, 
and, in 1861, on the formation of a Commercial Steam Navigation 
Flotilla on the Indus, he was appointed, by the Chairman, Mr. 
W. P. Andrew, the First Superintendent, and managed the 
flotilla with conspicuous success as regards the interests of the 
shareholders as well as of the public, until illness, due to fatigue 
consequent upon a hurried journey to Simla, undertaken in the 
interests of his employers, at the height of the hot season, 
necessitated his return to England. Lieutenant Wood never 
rallied, and died in London on the loth of November, 1871, 
having survived his two adventurous companions of the Cabul 
Mission a period of thirty years. Mr. W. P. Andrew — Chair- 
man of the Scinde, Punjaub, and Delhi Railway Company, and 
also of the Indus Steam Flotilla— writes to us of Lieutenant 
Wood's character and career in the following terms : — " John 
Wood acted with me for ten years, when in charge of the Indus 
Steam Flotilla of the Scinde Railway Company, on terms of 
the greatest confidence and affection. No one knew Wood 
better than I did, or appreciated his fine qualities more highly. 
Distinguished as a traveller and explorer, and especially as the 
discoverer of the sources of the Oxus — brave, skilful, and self- 
reliant as an officer— yet he was as humble, as he was true to 
the Government he served, and the friends who trusted him." 

The "Saturday Review," of the 11th of January, 1873, 
writing of the labours of this distinguished traveller, says : — 
"Lieutenant, or Captain, Wood, to judge him from his own 
writings, appears to have been a man of a straightforward, 
honest, and fearless disposition, capable of enduring fatigue 
and hunger, and animated generally by that delight in explora- 
tion and adventure which is characteristic of the members of 
the Naval profession. In truth, the officers of that extinct 
service, the Indian Navy, were not always appreciated in their 
day, and are almost forgotten in our own. By their labours, 
pursued under a burning sun, or a fiery blast from the sands 
of Arabia, or tropical deluge in the monsoon, have been accu- 
mulated ample stores of observation on nautical phenomena and 
facts ; and in the two Burmese Wars as well as in the Indian 
Mutiny, they were seen working guns and attacking palisades 
in honourable rivalry with officers and sailors of the Royal 
Navy. About eleven years ago, in one of those cold fits of 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 93 

doubtful economy, from which few statesmen can escape, the 
Indian Navy was abolished as an encumbrance. The loss was 
speedily felt; attempts to coerce slavers and to entice reluctant 
chieftains into treaties which must be kept, require, it need 
hardly be said, something more than mere diplomatic skill." 

Less fortunate than Wood was his brother officer, Lieutenant 
W. H. Wyburd, whose fate is shrouded in mystery. Before 
and during the time of our invasion of Afghanistan, any attempt 
to explore, or even to enter, the states of Western Turkistan, 
was resented by the savage rulers of the three Khanates ; and 
not without reason, considering the aggressions of England and 
Russia in Central Asia, and the consequences of " Commercial 
Missions," as exemplified by that under the command of Burnes, 
when the hospitality of the Ameer of Cabul was repaid by our 
invading his country and dispossessing him of his throne. In 
1835, at the same time that Lieutenants Wellsted and White- 
lock were proceeding on their travels in Arabia, and shortly 
before Wood's journey to the sources of the Oxus, Lieutenant 
Wyburd, an accomplished linguist, who filled the office of in- 
terpreter to the Commodore in the Persian Gulf, was despatched 
by the British Envoy at the Court of Persia, on an important 
mission to Khiva. In 1845, ten years after he left Persia, it 
transpired that he had never reached Khiva, but that, like our 
unhappy countrymen, Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly, 
he was seized by the Ameer of Bokhara. The British Govern- 
ment was then appealed to, and an inquiry was instituted. 
Wyburd's sisters many times entreated the Government to 
recognise and claim their brother as a British subject and 
servant, but their request was always met by the unwarrantable 
assumption of his death. Thirteen years after Lieutenant 
Wyburd was sent on his mission to Khiva, it came to light 
that he had escaped from Bokhara, and was in slavery in the 
Khanate of Khokand ; and, in the latter part of 1849, the dis- 
covery was made that he was still alive. The Khan of Khokand 
despatched a letter to Colonel (now General Sir) George 
Lawrence, Deputy Commissioner in charge at Peshawur. in 
which he said, " I have seized a Sahib at the fort of Huzrat 
Sooltan, who came by the road of Tajkund and Dusht-i-Kazak. 
His name is Wypart, an Englishman, lie says, and not a Russian, 
and that he has been travelling many years ; he has two Persians 
with him named Mohammed and Hussein, who say they were 
formerly in Stoddart's service, and were sold at Bokhara, and 
purchased by Wypart. These men say their master is English. 
Now I have sent Allahdad to ascertain from you whether he is 
really English or not; that should he be so, I may treat him 
with honour, but if Russian that I may punish him." 

Mr. Wyburd's sisters complained that, notwithstanding this 
discovery, they had beeu unable to obtain from the Government 



04 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

or the East India Company, more information than was con- 
tained in a letter from the Secretary of the Company on the 
5th of January, 1850, which merely stated that the agent of 
the Khan of Khokand was dismissed with all honour from 
lV'shawur, taking with him letters from Colonel Lawrence to 
the Khan and to Lieutenant Wyburd, and that nothing further 
had been heard of the messenger up to the 12th of October in 
that year, though Colonel Lawrence had expressed his intention 
of immediately deputing trustworthy agents to Khokand to 
effect the liberation of Lieutenant Wyburd. 

In 1851, Mr. Disraeli brought his case before the House of Com- 
mons, and presented a petition from Wyburd's sisters, in which 
these ladies declared that they had no confidence in native 
agents, and that they again appealed to the Government and the 
East India Company, and offered to send out an officer to inquire 
after their brother, provided the Government would invest him 
with proper authority. They had received no satisfactory 
answer to their former petition, and they therefore appealed to 
the House to take steps to have Lieutenant Wyburd formally 
recognised as a British subject and servant, and his restoration 
demanded. Mr. Disraeli, having stated the facts of the case, 
asked the Secretary to the Board of Control, and Sir James 
Weir Hogg, Member for Honiton and Deputy-Chairman of the 
Court of Directors, if they would give any information as to 
what had been done, and what steps it was proposed to take in 
the matter. In reply, the Secretary to the Board of Control, 
and the Deputy-Chairman of the Company, stated, that every 
exertion had been made during the past two } 7 ears in the way 
of inquiry and remonstrance that was possible, but without 
effect: everything had been tried "short of assembling an 
army," a measure which they considered was scarcely to be 
justified on the score of saving one human life, though they 
repeated their ^doubts as to whether the object of so much 
anxious solicitude still lived. Finally, by Government Order 
of the 2nd of March, 1852, Mr. Midshipman J. Sheppard was 
promoted to Lieutenant, vice Wyburd, struck off the list of 
the Indian Navy, from the 16th of October, 1837. From 
that date to this, nothing more was done to effect the release 
of this unfortunate officer, who had been sent by Government 
on a special mission, or even to ascertain his fate, which is 
shrouded in impenetrable obscurity. 

It is not every Service of the numerical strength of the Indian 
Navy, that, besides possessing a galaxy of surveying talent, 
could produce at one time, travellers of the distinction and 
scientific attainments of Wood and Wyburd, Whitelock and 
Wellsted, Ormsby and Barker. 



CHAPTER III. 
1838—1845. 

Additions to the Service — The Court of Directors on the Discipline of the 
Service — The Indian Navy and Sir P. Maitland — Occupation of Kharrack — 
Demonstration at Bushire— The Succession of Commodores in the Persian 
Gulf — The Capture of Aden — Bepulse of the Arabs in their repeated Attacks 
upon Aden, and Gallant Services of the Indian Navy — Increase of the Steam 
Marine — The War with China — Services of the ' Atalanta,' ' Sesostris,' 
'Auckland,' and 'Medusa' — Loss of the ' Memnon ' — Augmentation of the 
Service — The Conquest of Scinde, and the Indus Steam Flotilla. 

DURING the year 1838, a fine schooner, named the 'Con- 
stance,' was launched at Bombay ; she was 1S2 tons 
burden, and carried five 12-poundera, which, at a later period, 
as also in the case of her sister ship, the 'Mahi,' of 157 tons, 
were changed for one pivot 32-pounder and two 12-pounder 
howitzers, in addition to the ordinary boats' guns. The Court 
of Directors also contracted in England for a steam-frigate and 
a packet, and an iron river steamer, called the ' Indus,' was 
added to the Service. On the other hand, the 18-gun sloop- 
of-war ' Amherst' was transferred to the Bengal Government. 

In the year 1839 an unfortunate addition was made to the 
steam packets of the Service, in the purchase of the ' Kilkenny,' 
of 681 tons and 280 horse-power, which had hitherto been em- 
ployed in carrying pigs from Waterford to Bristol. It was con- 
sidered that this vessel would be an acquisition to the Service, 
and from her fittings would be peculiarly adapted for the con- 
veyance of passengers between Bombay and Suez ! Accordingly 
she was despatched from Waterford, and, by Government noti- 
fication, dated July 16 — two days after her arrival — was re- 
ceived into the Service under the more grandiloquent name of 
'Zenobia.' From the first she was a signal failure, and this act 
of purchasing into the Government service a worn-out "pig- 
boat," bore so conspicuous a similitude to the perpetration of a 
job, that it was not repeated ; rather, we should say, the job- 
bery of the future changed its type, and was manifested in the 
supply of new steamers like the ' Ajdaha ' and ' Cleopatra,' 
which were from the first worthless, and cost the Government 
large sums to keep in repair. 



96 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

On the 13th of October, 1839, the ' Atalanta,' Lieutenant 
"Webb, caught fire while lying in Bombay Harbour. Assistance 
was promptly rendered by the ' Coote,' ' Taptee,' and other ships, 
which sent boats: the powder was taken out of the magazines 
and the fore part of the vessel was flooded. By these means 
the fire was confined to the after part of the "vessel and then 
extinguished, when she was warped ashore. The conduct of 
all was most praiseworthy, and the Governor in Council issued 
a notification, dated 30th of October, " expressing his high ap- 
probation of the zealous exertions of the several officers and 
crews of the Indian Navy." But the conduct of some of the 
officers of the ' Atalanta,' was not equally commendable. The 
two passed Midshipmen, who were the senior officers on board, 
in the absence on shore of the commanding officer, were tried by 
court-martial, when one lost a step, and the other was severely 
reprimanded. The Governor in Council, however, acting on 
the opinion of the Commander-in-chief, directed that Mr. Zouch, 
the more culpable of the two, should be suspended from em- 
ployment pending a reference to Leadenhall-street ; and the 
Court of Directors issued a minute commenting in severe terms 
on the " spirit of insubordination which prevails among many 
of the junior members of the Indian Navy," and directed that 
the fitness to remain in the Service of Mr. Zouch — who had 
been charged with intoxication on the night of the disaster, but 
was found to be labouring under " constitutional excitement " 
— should be inquired into by a Committee. The Medical Board 
reported that he did not labour under any constitutional unfit- 
ness,* and, therefore, Mr. Zouch was adjudged to lose eight 
steps in accordance with the alternative in the Court's letter. 

It is not our intention to defend the young officer who, in 
the case under consideration, brought discredit on the Service, 
but, though nothing can palliate a breach of military discipline, 
it should be remembered in mitigation of the censure passed in 
such sweeping terms by the Court, that the Government broke 
the pledges they had made to the Service. For instance, in the 
Court's letter of the 4th of May, 1838, appeared the following 
passage : " We, however, positively interdict the employment of 
mates of merchantmen, or any other than commissioned or 
warrant officers of the Indian Navy, in any situation of com- 
mand or responsibility on board any of our vessels, excepting 
in the engine room." This was the Court's order, and here is 
how it was fulfilled by the authorities in Bombay. The ' Indus,' 
iron steamer, fitted out for service on the Indus, received 
as her commander an acting-master, who was not a com- 
missioned officer of the Indian Navy, and, under his orders 

* In justice to Mr. Zouch, whose conduct was used as a lever to censure the 
junior officers of the Service, it should be noted that he was conliued for years 
and died in a madliouse. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 97 

was placed an acting second-master. The ' Victoria,' a steam- 
sloop of 800 tons, launched at Bombay in October, 1839, also 
temporarily received for her officers an acting master and one or 
two acting second-masters. In the following February and 
April, two new river steamers, the ' Comet ' and ' Planet,' pro- 
ceeded to the Indus, commanded and officered in the same w T ay, 
and others followed in quick succession. A plea of necessity 
cannot be urged for this, as there were sixteen passed midship- 
men serving as such, the junior of whom was of eight years' 
standing, and these officers, except when doing duty in steam 
packets, received only midshipmen's pay. On the other hand, 
the mates from the Merchant Service were appointed acting 
masters, without having to undergo an examination, testi- 
monials as to character only being required. While the passed 
midshipmen* serving in the steamers, received the higher scale 
of 110 rupees a month, these acting masters drew the pay of 
a lieutenant, and, when in command, received the higher scale 
of 250 rupees a month, lieutenants of long service being in 
receipt of only their net pay of 145 rupees. 

It was not until September and October of the year 1840 
that passed midshipmen, in some cases, received the rank and 
pay of acting lieutenants, though every vessel was under- 
officered owing to the recent retirements. Even the ' Coote ' 
was sent to serve on a foreign station with only one lieutenant, 
though five or six passed midshipmen were at head-quarters a 
month before she sailed. Now the Service had ever been re- 
markable for the devotion to duty of its officers, who, from time 
immemorial, went uncomplainingly to the worst climates of the 
world, in the worst of all possible sailing craft human ingenuity 
has devised, the ten-gun brig or " coffin," and the still smaller 
schooner, which were less than five feet in height in the 'tween- 
decks. What the general discipline of the Service was at this 
very time, Sir Frederick Maitland, the British Naval Com- 
mander-in-chief in India, had attested, and the Service still 
further proved, by its gallantry and discipline at Aden, that the 
Admiral, with his experience of the officers and seamen of Howe, 
St. Vincent and Nelson, wasa more reliable judge than the civilians 
who threw, broadcast, aspersions against the Service to which 
they owed all their early privileges, nay, their very existence, 
when struggling against European rivalry, Mogul exactions, 
and piratical depredations. The Company Bahadoor was now 
great and powerful, and its standards fluttered from the peaks 

* By order dated the 7th of August, 1835, midshipmen doing the duties of mate 
received an extra allowance of fifty rupees in addition to their pay of fifty rupees, 
but this was cancelled by a second order dated the 9th of November, 1855, and 
thenceforward midshipmen keeping watches and doing the duty of lieutenants 
only received their bare pay, an arrangement to be commended on the score of 
economy, but hardly of justice and fair dealing, as the ' Euphrates,' ' Tigris, 7 
'Constance,' and 'Mahi' were at all times officered by midshipmen. 

VOL. II. H 



98 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of Bamian and the turrets of the Bala Hissar — soon, alas ! to 
be torn down in defeat and blood — and it could afford to break 
faith and play fast and loose with the Marine which was no 
longer essential to its existence. Thus it happened that after 
disgusting every officer brought up in a Service whose duties 
wne purely military, by transforming a large portion of the 
Indian Navy into a second-rate passenger service, than which 
no course could be devised more derogatory to discipline, or 
esprit de corps, the Hon. Court turned round and fulminated a 
most undeserved and sweeping censure against the junior 
officers and the Service at large. From the causes for dissatis- 
faction under which the Indian Navy was writhing, we omit 
altogether from consideration the facts put forth in a respectful 
Memorial by Commander Haines in 1837, by which it appears 
that the emoluments of the staff appointments, which amounted 
to 15,115 rupees per month in 1828, were reduced to 7,013 in 
that year. 

In 1838-39, important events took place in the Persian Gulf 
and on the Indus, in which the Indian Navy participated. 

In November, 1837, a Persian army, under the personal com- 
mand of the Shah, commenced the siege of Herat, which was 
only saved from capture by the genius of Lieutenant Eldred 
Pottinger, of the Bombay Artillery. The attention of the 
Government was earnestly directed to the siege, as it was sup- 
posed that the fall of what is known as " the key of India," 
would seriously endanger the safety of our Eastern Empire. 
On the 1st of May, 1838, Lord Auckland, in a letter addressed 
to Mr. (now Sir) John McNeill, British Minister at Teheran, 
after stating his belief " that the state of our relations with 
Persia is at the present moment exceedingly critical," suggested 
that it might prove of " very essential aid " to his negotiations, 
" were as many cruisers as can be spared for the service, together 
with a regiment of Native infantry, despatched to the Persian 
Gulf to hold themselves in readiness for any service on which 
it might be deemed expedient to employ them, with a view to 
the maintenance of our interests in Persia." Without waiting 
for an answer, Lord Auckland instructed the Bomba} r Govern- 
ment to fit out and despatch the proposed expedition " at the 
earliest practicable period." 

Accordingly, the ' Semiramis,' commanded by Captain Brucks, 
which had only arrived from England in April, was speedity pre- 
pared for sea. and sailed, on the 4th of June, with eleven officers 
and three hundred and eighty soldiers. She encountered very bad 
weather near Muscat, and, the day after leaving Bombay, lost one 
of her engineers ; the chief engineer also became seriously ill, 
when Captain Brucks, who was an excellent " steam officer," 
took charge of the engines. From Muscat he proceeded to 
Bushire and Kharrack, where he landed the troops and some 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 99 

marines, on the 19th of July, the whole being under the com- 
mand of Colonel Sheriff. The Indian Naval squadron was con- 
centrated for service at this point, but no opposition was offered, 
the Governor replying to the summons, that " the island, its 
inhabitants, and everything it contained, were entirely at our 
disposal." Some additional troops and stores were afterwards 
brought to Kharrack by the ' Hugh Lindsay,'- and it is certain 
that this " demonstration " powerfully contributed to bring the 
Shah to his senses, for, on the 14th of August, 1838, he replied, 
" we consent to the whole of the demands of the British Govern- 
ment," one of which was the removal of the Governor of Bushire, 
who had threatened the safety of the British Political Resident. 
and the punishment of the other persons concerned in that 
transaction. The Shah added : " We will not go to war. 
Were it not for the sake of the friendship of the British 
Government, we should not return from before Herat. Had 
we known that our coming here might risk the loss of their 
friendship, we certainly would not have come at all." On the 
9th of September the Shah raised the siege of Herat and com- 
menced his homeward march, a step due to the enterprise of 
Eldred Pottinger and the occupation of Kharrack, rather than 
to any solicitude fur the friendship of the British Govern- 
ment. 

The 'Semiramis' arrived at Bombay on the 5th of July, 
when Captain Bracks undertook his already recorded abortive 
attempt to make the south-west monsoon passage to the Red 
Sea. On his return to Bombay he received the appointment of 
Commodore of the Persian Gulf squadron, and his energy and 
experience were of essential aid to the Government. 

When, in the year 1838, it was decided to undertake the oc- 
cupation of Afghanistan, the Bombay division of the army of 
the Indus, proceeded to Scinde, under the commander-in-chief, 
Sir John Keane, the naval portion of the expedition, including 
a large number of river craft on the Indus, being under the 
command of Captain Pepper, senior naval officer at Surat. 

The 'Constance,' schooner, Lieutenant Jenkins, convoyed from 
Bombay to the Hujamree branch of the Indus, a large number of 
small native craft carrying troops and military stores. On 
arriving at the Hujamree mouth, Lieutenant J. S. Grieve, who 
was there on special service, took charge of the convoy and 
conducted them over the bar and about twenty miles up the 
river. On the arrival of the 'Semiramis,' under command of Lieu- 
tenant Porter, with Sir John Keane and the head-quarters Staff 
of the army, and the 2nd Queen's, Lieutenant Jenkins proceeded 
to Mandavie in the ' Constance,' taking Captain (the late Sir 
James) Outram with him, for the purpose of obtaining money 
that could pass current in Scinde, Outram's mission being to 
procure carriage for the army. From Mandavie, Lieutenant 

H l 



100 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT. 

Jenkins proceeded to Knrrachee, where he made a rough exami- 
nation of the harbour, and then, having landed Captain Outram, 
sailed to the Hujamree with despatches from the Rao of Cutch 
and the Political Agent, Colonel Melvill, for Colonel Pottinger, 
who was carrying on the political duties of the force. Having 
delivered the despatches and inoney to Colonel Pottinger, Lieu- 
tenant Jenkins returned to Bombay, when Admiral Sir Frederick 
Maitland having applied for his services as pilot and inter- 
preter, he was appointed additional flag-lieutenant on board 
H.M.S. ' AVellesley,' seventy-four guns, and resigned the com- 
mand of the ' Constance' to Lieutenant J. W. Young. 

On the 17th of November, 1838, the followingvessels of the Indian 
Navy left Bombay for the Indus, together with some transports 
carrying the troops. The ' Euphrates,' Lieutenant J. Frushard, 
'Semiramis,' Lieutenant J. P. Porter, 'Constance/ Lieutenant 
J. W. Young, and ' Taptee,' Lieutenant A. H. Gordon. Under 
the superintendence of Lieutenant Frushard, the troops were 
landed at Bominacote, on the right bank of the Hujamree branch 
of the Indus,* opposite to Vikkur, where they encamped. The 
disembarkation, conducted by Lieutenant Frushard, was effected 
without opposition on the part of the Ameers, though rumours 
were rife that it was intended. In the latter part of December 
Sir John Keane proceeded with his division to Tatta, whither 
he was accompanied by Lieutenant Frushard. 

From this time forward a flotilla was maintained on the 
Indus, officered and manned by the Indian Navy ; and the little 
newly-launched steamer ' Snake ' was particularly useful. She 
left the camp at Vikkur on the 9th of January, 1839, for Tatta, 
with three country boats, but owing to the strength of the 
current, did not reach her destination until the 13th. On the 
17th she left Tatta for Hyderabad with the treaty for the sig- 
nature of the Ameers, and arrived there on the 20th. The un- 
favourable turn affairs took at that time forced her, on the 24th, 
to commence a precipitate retreat, and in three hours she ran a 
distance of thirty miles to Jerruk. The following morning the 
army arrived there, and the ' Snake ' was despatched twenty 

* The Indus has no less than thirteen or fourteen mouths. The main river, 
after passing Hyderabad and Tatta, divides about fifty miles from the sea into two 
great arms, the Buggaur, or west arm, and the Setta, called also Munneja or 
Waniani. Between Manora Point and Hujamree the coast is low and intersected 
by numerous channels and creeks. After coming down the main branch of the 
Indus from Hyderabad, the river steamers debouch at the Kedywarree mouth, 
then enter the Richel and navigate towards Knrrachee by several channels, 
but the navigation terminates about three miles from that place. One of the 
first officers to perceive the superiority of Kurrachee as a landing place was 
Lieutenant (now Ketired Commander) Sharp, of the Indian Navy. In February, 
1839, when senior officer here, he was ordered to the Indus in a transport with 
horses from Bombay, but recognising the capabilities of Kurrachee, he pro- 
ceeded thither, and landed all the horses in one morning and sent them to 
Tatta. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 101 

miles down to advise the flotilla of the news, and it was than 
discovered that the Ameers had been trying to tamper with the 
boatmen. The steamer remained at Jerruk till the 6th of 
February, when she again went to Hyderabad, where Colonel 
Pottinger* detained her temporarily. 

The great advantage of steam power was also made manifest 
by the important services rendered by the ' Semiramis,' Lieu- 
tenant Porter, which was employed conveying troops, and 
towing two or three transports to Cutch and the mouths of the 
Indus. Her career of usefulness was, however, cut short by 
her running ashore at midnight, on the 13th of February, near 
the entrance of the Gulf of Cutch, and a whole month elapsed 
before she was got afloat. Though blame was attributed to the 
commander and the officer of the watch, as regards not paying 
sufficient attention to the navigation and lead, yet nothing 
could exceed the discipline and exertions of the officers and 
crew up to the date of reaching Bombay, and the senior mid- 
shipman, Mr. Laing, died from fatigue. Ultimately, the ' Semi- 
ramis' was converted into a block ship and coal depot at Aden, 
and her name was chauged to the ' Charger.' 

The ' Wellesley,' seventy-four guns, Captain Thomas Maitland 
(the present Admiral the Earl of Lauderdale), bearing the flag of 
Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick LewisMaitland, Commander-in-chief 
in the East Indies, arrived at Bombay from China and Ceylon 
in January, 1839, and proceeded to the Indus, on the 17th, to 
join Sir John Keane, who sent the Admiral a laconic request to 
" proceed to Kurrachee and take it." Sir Frederick complied, 
and, on arriving there on the 1st of February, in company with 
the ' Berenice,' ' Constance,' and 'Euphrates,' and H.M.'s brig 
' Algerine,' twice sent a flag of truce summoning the fort of 
Manora, which formed the chief defence of the town ; but the 
infatuated garrison refused all terms, and fired on the boats of 
the squadron, which were engaged in landing the troops. The 
' Wellesley,' accordingly, opened fire, and a broadside or two 
speedily reduced the fort to ruins, and brought the commandant 
to terms, upon which Lieutenant G. Jenkins, attached to the 
' Wellesley,' landed and hoisted the British flag on the fort.f 

* Colonel (afterwards Sir) Henry Pottinger, who held the high offices of 
H.M.'s Envoy to China, Governor of Hong Kong, of the Cape of Good Hope, 
and of Madras, commenced his career in India as a midshipman of the Indian 
Navy, and prided himself on his connection with the Service. 

t As a military operation, the capture of Kurrachee was of little moment, 
but from the great and increasing importance of the place, the following details 
of the affair by Lieutenant Jenkins will be perused with interest : — " The pinnace 
of H.M.'s ship ' Wellesley,' being despatched to intercept a boat coming from the 
westward, on nearing the fort, was fired into. At eight a.m. the following clay, 
accompanied by Captain Grey, of H.M.'s 40th Kegiment, I was sent with a flag 
of truce to summon the fort to surrender. The Governor refused any terms ; 
I was ordered to give him fifteen minutes for consideration ; at their expiration 
he quietly assured us that, as a Beloochee, he could not quit his charge till 
driven from it. On my reporting this to the Admiral, H.M.'s ship ' Algerme ' 



102 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

The town also surrendered, when the 40th Regiment and 2nd 
Bombay .Native Infantry occupied the place; and thus, on the 
3rd of February, 1839, the British Government obtained blood- 
less possession of the second finest port in India, as Kurrachee 

harbour can, doubtless, be made when the engineering works 

and the Hon. Company's sloop 'Constance,' stood in, and covered the landing 
of M II. 's 40th Regiment on the western tide of the fort, ami between it and the 
town. When they had taken up a good position, the light company in advance, 
ami protected by some small mounds, I was again ordered by his Excellency 
Admiral Maitland to summon the fort to surrender, under the Hag of truce. The 
Killadar received me from the ramparts. I entreated him to save the shedding 
of blood by a timely surrender, telling him that, in case of his refusal, the 
' Wellesley' would pour in her broadside, and the smaller vessels batter his 
towers from both sides, and that the artillery and infantry were placed between 
him and the town, thus rendering escape hopeless. He calmly thanked us for 
twice sending the flag of truce, and again signified his determination to abide 
the fortune of war. As further argument was useless, the firing commenced 
at eleven a.m., and before noon, a practicable breach was effected in the 
southern face of the fort, when, accompanied by a bugler and guard of three, to 
protect the white flag, I planted it on the tower. From the determined cool- 
ness and calmness of the Killadar, and those surrounding him, we naturally 
expected that no quarter would be taken, and in anticipation we deeply regretted 
the necessity we should be under of butchering these brave fellows ; but 
imagine our contemptuous surprise on learning that these brave men 
had deserted the fort after the fifth shot, making their escape to holes and 
crevices in the rocks, where they were subsequently found and made 
prisoners ! 

"At one p.m., accompanied by Captain Grey, I left in the gig, to demand an 
interview with Mcer Mahomed, the Governor. Owing to incorrect information, 
we proceeded by one of the shallow creeks, and did not arrive at the appointed 
rendezvous, a mosque, until five p.m. Here we were joined by Haji Ali Rackah, 
the Governor's agent, and the Killadar, who went with us to the Government 
House. We were also met by Pitteudoss Sett, a man v\ho, from the strong 
attachment he has ever evinced towards our interests, has been appointed the 
Company's agent at Kurrachee. Meer Mahomed, the Hakim, received us with 
every respect and attention. We requested him to deliver over to the British 
naval and military force instant possession of Kurrachee. After a reference to the 
bombardment, he demurred, and named two of his followers to treat with Sir 
Frederick Maitland, one of whom, he said, should proceed with us on board. 
To this we agreed, but informed the Governor of our unalterable determination 
to land troops and garrison the town the following day, and in case of resistance, 
he was warned that he would be held responsible for all the casualties occurring 
on both sides. On Sunday, the 3rd, followed by a company of the 2nd Grenadiers, 
we proceeded to the residence of the Ameer's agents, who have the civil juris- 
diction and the collection of the revenues, and who informed us they were ordered 
by their Highnesses the Ameers to receive us as friends. On Friday, the 8th, 
his Excellency Sir Frederick, accompanied by Captain Maitland, his secretary, 
Bag-lieutenant, and myself, fulfilled au engagement to dine with Pitteudoss Sett, 
the Company's agent, whose brother, Newal Settee, had rendered important 
services to Colonel Pottinger, the Resident at Hyderabad. We were received by 
the Ameer's agents, the principal inhabitants, and a deputation of merchants. 
It was reported that in the official report made of the capture of Kurrachee to 
the Ameers, it was represented as having been bravely defended for two hours, 
and only succumbing to the irresistible rush made by seven thousand British 
soldiers and sailors ; those numbers were of course grievously reduced by the 
unheard-of bravery of the Scindees and Beloochees. Kurrachee contains about 
twenty-five thousand souls, of whom two-fifths are Hindus. The town is chiefly 
composed of mud-built houses. The citadel is surrounded by a mud wall, in a 
most dilapidated state; such, indeed, is the state of the wall, that there are already 
breaches of sufficient size to admit a good large storming party." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 103 

for deepening the passage over the bar are completed, by which 
this great seaport of Scinde and the Punjaub will attain a com- 
mercial position not inferior to Bombay itself. 

On leaving Kurrachee for Bombay, Sir Frederick Maitland 
addressed the following letter to Captain Oliver, expatiating 
on the services of the Indian Navy squadron stationed at the 
mouths of the Indus : — ■ 

" Bombay Castle, February 27, 1839. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council has much pleasure in 
publishing to the Indian Navy, the following letter from his 
Excellency the Naval Commander-in-chief:— 

" To Captain Oliver, R.N., Superintendent of the Indian 
Navy, Bombay. 

" Sir, — I have the honour to transmit, for your information, 
the disposition of the Hon. Company's vessels of war lately 
serving under my command, as well as copies of the orders I 
left with their commanders, on quitting Kurrachee on the 10th 
instant, and in doing so it is a pleasing part of my duty to 
assure you that nothing could exceed the zeal and activity of 
Captain Pepper (who, I regret to say, will, on account of the ill 
state of his health, be obliged to return to Bombay in the 
' Semiramis ') and of every officer in the Hon. Company's service 
with whom I have had the good fortune to communicate. Lieu- 
tenant J. W. Young, commanding the Hon. Company's schooner 
' Constance,' performed every service committed to his charge 
in a manner which merits my high approbation, particularly in 
his taking the schooner in shore on the 2nd instant, and 
placing her in a position for covering the landing of the troops 
on the Manora Point, Lieutenant J. Frushard, commanding 
the Hon. Company's brig ' Euphrates.' to whom I entrusted the 
superintendence of landing the troops, baggage, stores, &c, at 
the town of Kurrachee, was most indefatigable in his exertions, 
and performed that duty much to my satisfaction. Of Lieu- 
tenant Jenkins, who the Bombay Government kindly lent to 
the ' Wellesley,' as a pilot for the coast, and as interpreter, I 
cannot speak in too high terms in both capacities, but I am 
particularly indebted to him for carrying on all our communi- 
cations with the authorities at Kurrachee, as well as with the 
Governor of the fort at the entrance of the harbour, all of 
which services were performed in a manner that proved both 
zeal and intelligence on his part. 

" F. Maitland, Rear-Admiral, 

Commander-in-Chief. 

" ' Wellesley ' at sea, Feb. 13, 1839." 

On the 5th of March, the Hon. Company's brig ' Taptee' 
arrived at Bombay from the Indus, having on board Sir Henry 
Fane, Commander-in-chief in India, who, after the fall of 



104 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Herat, had resigned to Sir John Keane the command of the 
army that was marching on Candahar and Cabul to set Shah 
Soojah " on the throne of his ancestors," as Lord Auckland 
expressed the ill-judged attempt to discrown Dost Mahomed, 
the able Ameer of Afghanistan ; and, in February of the 
following year, the 'Palinurus' brought, from Kurrachee, 
Sir John (now Lord) Keane and suite, together with 
Prince Hyder Khan, second son of Dost Mahomed, taken 
prisoner at Ghuznee. This distinguished General, and also 
Sir Willoughby Cotton, were fortunate in retiring from Afghan- 
istan " before the wrath to come." 

The ' Wellesley' proceeded from Kurrachee to Bombay, 
whence she sailed for Bushire, where she arrived on the 23rd of 
March. Here the Admiral found the ' Clive,' Captain Haw- 
kins, the ' Elphinstone,' bearing the broad pennant of Commo- 
dore Bracks, and the Hon. Company's schooner ' Emily.' 

The day following his arrival, Sir Frederick Maitland, after 
receiving a visit from the Commodore and Captain Hennell, the 
Political Agent, proceeded to the Residency, where he was 
visited by the Governor. During the interview, the state of 
the relations between the two countries was debated, when the 
Governor expressed his dissatisfaction at the occupation of 
Kharrack by a British force, and the Admiral alluded to the fate 
of the fort at Kurrachee, which he battered down because his 
demands were not complied with. On the following day, Sir 
Frederick, accompanied by Commodore Brucks and the captains of 
the ships of war, returned the visit of the Governor, and demanded 
permission for himself and his officers, to land and communicate 
freely with the Resident, and also complained of the stoppage 
of boats with private stores for himself. The Governor agreed 
to permit this, but peremptorily refused to allow the Admiral 
to embark from the landing-place opposite the Residency, 
although Commodore Brucks stated that, from a personal know- 
ledge of thirty years, this " bunder" had always been used. 
Under instructions from the Admiral, on the following morn- 
ing, the 25th of March, all the boats of the squadron, manned 
and armed, proceeded to the shore to protect the embarkation of 
the Admiral and the other officers. An eye-witness describes 
as follows the rencontre which then took place : — 

" The Persians had assembled to the number of several hun- 
dreds, and the Governor, with his body-guard, was determined 
to prevent, if possible, the property being shipped before the 
Residency. The first boat which approached the shore w r as 
tired upon, and one Persian had his musket presented at 
Captain Maitland; he was just on the eve of firing, when 
fortunately the Admiral and two Indian Naval officers in a 
moment wrenched it from his hands, and kept possession ot 
the piece, which they found loaded with a heavy charge. You 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 105 

may imagine how strongly inclined the Marines must have been 
to fire. The benevolent spirit of the Admiral, however, would 
not allow it till the throwing of stones, and continued firing 
from the Persians, called forth two volleys, which caused the 
Persians to evacuate the breastwork. One was killed and two 
wounded; their fire upon us, fortunately, did not injure any- 
one, but the Commodore and several other officers were struck 
with stones. After this, the Residency was put in a state of 
defence, and Captain Hennell had all the property conveyed as 
quickly as possible on board the ' Wellesley,' ' Elphinstone,' 
' Clive,' and ' Emily,' and finally abandoned the Residency on the 
morning of the 28th, when surrounded by four or five hundred 
armed Persians, composed of Bushirees and Tungustanees, with 
Baukr Khan at their head. A deputation of merchants waited 
upon the Admiral, to try to arrange matters so as to induce the 
Resident to remain ; their request, however, could not, of 
course, be granted ; and, on the morning of the 29th, the 
' Wellesley' and the other vessels reached Kharrack, bringing 
along with them the whole Residency establishment, which are 
now housed in tents, with the Resident's flag-staff beside 
them." 

The removal of British property from the Bushire Residency, 
before its evacuation, as above described, was conducted under 
the protection of the Marines of the squadron, commanded by 
Captain (the late General Sir) Edward Ellis, R.M., of the 
* Wellesley.' On the following day, (the 29th) nine boats from 
the ' Wellesley,' ' Clive,' and ' Elphinstone,' with guns, were 
drawn up in front of the landing-place, to protect the embarka- 
tion of the Residency staff, which Captain Hennell declared was 
threatened by the large force of armed men under Baukr Khan, 
whose numbers had recently been greatly increased ; and the 
remaining boats of the squadron proceeded to the bunder 
and embarked the Resident. This was safely effected, 
though a collision was only avoided by the display of forbear- 
ance on the part of the British, as Baukr Khan marched a 
strong force right across Captain Ellis's path, so that the latter 
had to halt his men. 

There can be no doubt that this method of dealing with law- 
less chiefs and insolent soldiery, though probably in consonance 
with European custom, was contrary to the rough diplomacy in 
vogue in all our dealings with Eastern races, and the result 
was that our prestige suffered. The people of the Persian Gulf 
attributed the benevolent conduct of the veteran Admiral in 
avoiding the shedding of blood, to pusillanimity, and it was ever 
after said in the Gulf that a line-of-battle ship and British 
squadron were beaten by the brave Persians, and were forced 
to withdraw, with their Resident, to Kharrack. This tale was 
told, and believed, together with mendacious statements as to 



10G HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the numbers of the Marines landed, and the boats and ships 
employed. It probably would not have added one leaf to the 
laurel 8 gained by British seamen in every clime, but it as- 
suredly would have saved our prestige, had the Marines of the 
squadron brushed from their path the insolent armed rabble 
that followed the lead of the hectoring Baukr Khan, and had 
the seamen, after clearing the breastwork, which had been 
carefully constructed overnight to prevent the embarkation, 
marched through the town and taught the people and 
Governor of Bushire a lesson they would not soon have 
forgotten.* 

The services of the naval force at Bushire, were acknow- 
ledged in the following terms by the Supreme Govern- 
ment : — 

"Extract of a letter from the Officiating Secretary to the 
Government of India, dated the 9th of May, 1839, addressed 
to Rear-Admiral Sir F. Maitland, Commander-in-chief, &c. : — 

'• The Right Hon. the Governor-General highly applauds 
the cordial and able assistance offered by the officers and crews 
of H.M.'s and the Hon Company's ships, in the removal on 
board the ships, of the Resident and his suite from the Resi- 
dency at Bushire — an operation which, but for their aid, might 
have been attended with difficulty and danger/' 

The Admiral proceeded to Kharrack with the squadron, and, 
during his stay there, inspected the ' Elphinstone' and 'Tigris.' 
The following order by Commodore Brucks shows the opinion 
so experienced an officer as Sir Frederick Maitland, had formed 
of the efficiency of these and all the ships of the Indian Navy 
with which he had come into contact : — 

"E. I. C. brig-of-war ' Tigris,' April 5, 1839. 

" The Commodore has much gratification in publishing the 
following sentiments Sir Frederick L. Maitland, the Naval 
Commander-in-chief, has been pleased to express on his visiting 
the "Elphinstone' and ' Tigris' this day. 

" The Admiral said, 'He took that opportunity of expressing 
the great pleasure he had experienced in visiting the 'Tigris' 
and ' Elphinstone,' both of which he declared to be men-of-war 
creditable to any nation in the world.' His Excellency was 
also pleased to say, 'lie had much pleasure in bearing testi- 
mony to the efficiency of the officers of this squadron, as well 

* The "Bombay Courier" of the 5th of November, 1840, says: — "The Per- 
sians -.till plumed themselves upon the victory they had won over the Englisl" in 
the Bushire affair. Throughout the whole gulf, and as far as Mosul, for the Arabs 
too had imbibed it, but one sentiment was entertained, and everywhere talked of, 
that upon the only occasion when the British and Persians had fairly met, the 
latter had been completely routed and forced to take refuge inflight. No event 
of late times has done so much to lower our name and weaken our power among 
these nations as this unfortunate affair." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 107 

as all those of the Indian Navy he had had the pleasure of 
serving with.' 

"The Commodore feels confident this compliment from a 
naval officer of Sir Frederick Maitland's high naine and cha- 
racter, will be fully appreciated, and the Commodore's pledge 
to him, that all felt it and would be emulous to preserve the 
high opinion Sir Frederick had formed of them, will, the Com- 
modore feels convinced, be fully redeemed by the officers of the 
squadron. 

" G. B. Brucks, Commodore, IN., 
"Commanding Indian Navy squadron, Persian Gulf." 

On the 16th of April, the Admiral, with the squadron, and 
accompanied by the Resident, proceeded off Bushire, where a 
Persian officer of high rank was said to have arrived with full 
powers to settle the late differences. The Sirdar came on 
board the ' Wellesley,' when the Admiral, finding, in reply to 
his question, that he had not come to apologize, refused to 
listen to him ; a dicussion of some hours then took place with 
the Resident, but ended unsatisfactorily. Captain Hennell 
thereupon returned to Kharrack, and the Admiral, accompanied 
by Commodore Brucks, in the ' Elphinstone,' proceeded to 
Bahrein. After communicating with the Uttobee rulers of the 
island, Sir Frederick proceeded to Lingah. and thence to Ras- 
nl-Khymah, where the chiefs assembled on board the 'Welles- 
ley,' and the Admiral and Commodore impressed them with the 
necessity of keeping the peace and respecting British interests. 
It was the first time a ship of the line, or the flag of a British 
admiral, had been seen in the Gulf, and the spectacle was cal- 
culated to impress the chiefs and people with a sense of British 
power. From Ras-ul Khymah the Admiral proceeded to Bom- 
bay, but, before leaving the Persian Gulf, requested Commodore 
Brucks to publish the following order to the squadron under 
his command : — 

"E. I. D. sloop-of-war ' Elphinstone,' off Ras-ul-Khymah, May 1, 1839. 

" The Commodore has much gratification in publishing the 
thanks of His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick L. Mait- 
land, K.C.B., and Naval Commander-in-chief in India, on his 
leaving the Gulf, to the commanders and officers of this 
squadron. 

" His Excellency requested the Commodore on parting to 
accept his best thanks, and convey them in his name to all the 
commanders and officers of the Indian Navy squadron in the 
Gulf, to express the Admiral's satisfaction and pleasure at 
their conduct during the term he has been with them, and to 
say he should ever be happy to serve with them again at 
any time. 

" G. B. Brucks, Commodore, I.N., 
" Commanding squadron in the Gulf of Persia." 



108 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Sir Frederick Maitland died at sea off Bombay on the 30th of 
November, 1840, when the ' Welleslcy' returned into port, and 
the remains of the fine old Admiral were interred on the 2nd 
of December. He was universally beloved and respected, and 
the officers of the Indian Navy, in grateful recollection of the 
uniform kindness and consideration with which he had ever 
treated them, entered into a subscription to erect a monument 
to his memory in St. Thomas's Cathedral* in Bombay. In two 
months, £500 were subscribed by about seventy officers then 
serving in India, with which sum a handsome marble pillar, sur- 
rounded by trophies, and having a suitable inscription, was 
erected near to the memorial of Captain Nicholas Hardinge — • 
brother of the Governor-General of India— who fell at the cap- 
ture of the San Fiorenzo, in 1808. 

The Service, whether known as the Bombay Marine or the 
Indian Navy, has not always received a generous recognition 
from the officers of the British Navy, under whom they have 
from time to time served, but the names of Sir Samuel Hood, 
Commander-in-chief, and Commodores Wainwright, Sayer, 
Loch, Sir Josias Rowley, Sir F. Brisbane, and Sir F. Collier, 
are honourable exceptions to that narrowness of spirit which 
has animated some who, influenced by the distinction of 
" Company's" and "Queen's," of which so much used to be 
heard in the not altogether " good old times," sought to with- 
hold from their comrades of the Indian Service, a share of such 
distinction as has been gained by co-operating with them 
against their country's enemies in the worst climates in the 
world. Among names which will ever be held in affection by 
the officers whose record of service is now " as a tale that is 
told," that of Maitland, the gallant and chivalrous seaman, to 
whom the mighty Napoleon surrendered his sword on the 
quarter-deck of the ' Bellerophon,' will ever be prominent; and 
this record of his worth and nobility of character, and that 
other memorial on the walls of the Cathedral Church of St. 
Thomas, will testify to the grateful remembrance in which his 
memory is held by the officers of the Indian Navy. 

After the affair at Bushire, the duties of the Persian Gulf 
squadron became very harassing. A vessel was obliged to lie 
at Bushire to protect British interests, and the officers suffered 
much annoyance from the liability to insult without being in a 
position to resent it. The two other ships, which at this 
time constituted the squadron, were engaged watching the 

* This cathedral was built by subsection, the Company giving £10,000, and 
was opened on Christmas Day, 1718, by the Rev. Richard Cobbe, who has left an 
account of the ceremony. On the 7th of June, 1816, Bishop Middleton dedicated 
it to St. Thomas. It is a plain building, with heavy buttresses and lofty lantern 
tower of the Gothic style, with turreted pinnacles. The interior is, however, fine, 
and the floor is paved with marble tiles ; it seats about five hundred worshippers, 
and contains some fine monuments. 



! 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 109 

motions of Koorshid Pasha and his emissaries on the Arabian 
coast, and keeping a general surveillance of both shores of the 
Gulf. The Bombay Government could not at this time spare 
any more vessels, and as, owing to sickness and death, those 
on the station were short of officers and men, the duty was 
very heavy. Some idea of the ravages of the unhealthy climate 
of the Gulf, may be gathered from the following notice of the 
mortality, during the past fifteen years, among the Commodores, 
who were appointed for three years, and might be supposed to 
be thoroughly acclimatized.* 

In 182(5, Captain Walker filled the post, but returned to 
Bombay within two }^ears, with impaired health ; he was 
appointed Member of the Marine Board, but died before the 
close of the year from the effects of his service in the Gulf. 
He was succeeded by Captain Maughan, who was seized with 
fever and obliged to quit in less than nine months, and pro- 
ceed to England. A few months later, Captain Guy took the 
command, but was forced to resign, and died on his way home. 
After an interval of two months, Captain Collinson was 
appointed, and stayed a little over two years, when, finding his 
health giving way, he resigned and went home. Captain 
Wyndbam succeeded him in June, 1833, and died in October, 
after a tenure of a few months. The senior officer on the spot 
acted for a few months, when Captain Elwon took the com- 
mand; he expired on the 17th of June, 1835, and was buried 
under the dining-table in the Commodore's house at Bassadore. 
He was succeeded by that sturdy veteran, Captain Pepper, who 
held out for two years and nine months, notwithstanding that 
he was frequently at death's door ; at the end of that period 
his health broke down, and he proceeded to Bombay and then 
to England. After an interval of some months, in October, 
1838, Captain Brucks assumed the command from Commander 
Haines, and, in fifteen months, was obliged to go on leave for 
four months to Bombay and the Hills. He returned to duty, but, 
in 1842, was compelled to return to England in broken health, 
and died in 1850. From this retrospect it will be seen that in 
fifteen years there were eight commodores, of whom four died ; 
and, if from this total of fifteen years, be deducted one year 
and seven months, the period during which senior officers filled 
the acting appointment, it will give one year and eight months 

* An idea may be gathered of the general rate of mortality in the Service, from 
the fact that, of the fifty-two officers, who joined the Indian Navy between May, 
1827, and December, 1830, we find that, in the List for 1858, that is, twenty- 
eight years later, when the senior would be about forty-four years of age, the 
names of only nine appear, the remainder, with few exceptions, having died from 
the effects of climate and that continuous and unremitting work at sea in small 
ships and unhealthy localities, such as no other Naval Service has been con- 
demned to perform to an equal extent. 



110 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

as the average for each commodore's service, instead of three 
years, the period for which the appointment was made. 

During this fifteen years, eleven lieutenants, two pursers, and 
fifteen midshipmen, died, a large number considering how much 
the cruisers were under-officered, while no less than four-fifths of 
the remaining officers, were obliged to proceed on sick-leave to 
Europe or the Hills, and in too many instances never suc- 
ceeded in wholly shaking off the Gulf fever. At the present 
day, the mortality and sickness in H.M.'s ships is reduced 
almost to ordinary proportions, by their visiting the Gulf 
chiefly at the healthy season, and remaining on the station less 
than two and three years, as was the custom at the period of 
which we are writing; and more than all, the salutary change 
is due to the vessels employed being roomy ships or gunboats, 
with awnings spread even when under weigh, and not small 
sailing ten-gun brigs and eighteen-gun sloops, crowded with 
men and guns, and forced perpetually to be at sea, owing to 
the lawlessness of the maritime Arab chiefs. 

From the above statistics of deaths in the various grades of 
officers, it appears that not veteran commodores alone, but 
many a fine, gallant youth, freshly arrived from England, has 
found an early grave in the Persian Gulf, his high hopes and 
generous aspirations untimely nipped in the bud : — 

" The sea, the blue lone sea hath one, 
He lies where pearls lie deep ; 
He was the lov'd of all, yet none 
O'er his low bed may weep." 

But, unhealthy as was the climate of the Persian Gulf, and 
monotonous and dreary the life on that station, the younger 
officers, who had no special ties binding them to their native 
land, managed to enjoy themselves fairly well. At Khouee, 
about twelve miles from Bassadore, the head-quarters of the 
squadron, the officers had built a hunting lodge, and here they 
kept horses and Persian greyhounds, with which they hunted 
the gazelle. Then there were cricket-matches — and where will 
not Englishmen get them up? — and fishing with the seine, and 
turning turtle on a moonlight night; and when, occasionally, 
a ship proceeded up the Shatt-ul-Arab to Bussorah, there was 
glorious sport pig-shooting on the marshy banks of the river 
above Marghill — and well does the writer remember it, and the 
enormous porkers that rewarded the day's shooting. Again, 
when visiting some of the Arab sheikhs, or governors of towns, 
they would invite the officers to go out hawking, when they 
always supplied the horses. Even at Bahrein, the hottest and 
most dismal of stations, there was one resource, a beautiful 
clear deep fresh-water pool — suggestive, perhaps, to the sufferer 
from nostalgia, or depression, of a speedy and happy euthanasia. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. Ill 

Then at Bn shire, where aship almost always lay at the disposal 
of the Political Resident, the ward-room and gun-room officers 
each had a house, with reading-rooms supplied with English 
papers— heaven save the mark! the date of the latter, six and 
nine months old, immediately brought vividly to the know- 
ledge of the would-be reader that he was indeed an exile. It 
was this hardship that was almost (insupportable, especially to 
those who had enjoyed the refining influences of home, or the 
older officers who had families in England; for in the days 
before the Persian War, there was no regular mail from Bombay 
to the Persian Gulf, and only when a cruiser arrived to relieve 
another, or a casual sailing ship, (for a merchant steamer was 
never seen), dropped anchor in Bushire, was any news received 
of the outer world, or letters from the dear ones in England. 
It was this utter expatriation, more than the detestable climate 
and the discomfort and confinement on board a miserable little 
brig or sloop-of-war, that would have tried even Mark Tapley 
himself; and when the only resource was an exchange from 
the intolerable heat of Bushire Roads, where the ship lay three 
miles off the town, " like a painted ship on a painted ocean," to 
the even hotter pearl banks of Bahrein, it is only surprising 
that more officers did not betake themselves to the last resource 
of despairing humanity, drink, or suicide. 

In May and June, 1840, the troops, stationed at Kharrack 
since the date of its occupation, were relieved by others, and 
returned to Bombay in the 'Drongan' and 'Lord Castlereagh' 
transports. On board the latter, which sailed on the 28th of 
May, there embarked about one hundred and eighty Sepoys 
of the 24th Native Infantry, and one hundred of the Marine 
Battalion, making, with followers and ninety-five of the crew, 
about four hundred and forty souls. On the night of the 17th 
of June, during a terrible gale, she was off the mouth of 
Bombay harbour, and, mistaking the lights of the ' Lord 
William Bentinck/ transport, from London, which had gone 
ashore a few hours before on the rocky ledge called the Prong, 
stretching out from the lighthouse of Colaba, she made for 
them, and took the rocks close to her. It has been the custom 
to deride the courage of natives when brought face to face 
with death on the ocean, but this is what the captain of 
the ' Lord Castlereagh' says: — " It is impossible to describe the 
coolness with which the Sepoys worked all day, and their 
apparent cheerfulness under the dreadful calamity." Their 
behaviour adds another leaf to the laurels gained by the 
Marine Battalion, who owed much of the handiness and 
coolness they displayed in the supreme moment of peril, to the 
lessons learnt on board the ships of-war of the Indian Navy. 
The conduct of the Sepoys contrasts favourably with that of the 
European recruits on board the ' Lord William Bentinck,' for, 



112 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

in an account of the shipwreck published in the Bombay papers, 
it is said that " the madness of intoxication infected them ; the 
spirit stores had been rifled, and many were swept from the 
ship, and others from the rafts, in a state of helpless drunken- 
ness." In this lamentable disaster perished the captain, his 
chief officer, surgeon, and seventeen of the crew, seven of the 
passengers, and fifty-eight recruits, besides women and children. 
A number of people on board the 'Lord Castlereagh' also 
perished, including Captain Earle, 24th Native Infantry, com- 
manding the troops, and two officers, one alone escaping with 
his life ; and the detachment of the Marine Battalion lost one 
jemadar, and nineteen non-commissioned officers and men. 
During the terrible scenes of this night " Captains Sanders and 
Hayman,* I.N.," says the Bombay Times, " were conspicuous 
for their exertions." Lieutenants Montriou and Webb also 
rendered great assistance, and the 'Victoria' got up steam "in 
a wonderfully short period," but was unable to approach the 
wreck, and had to stand out to sea to avoid sharing the fate of 
the ill-fated transports. 

The first, and most important, military achievement of the 
year 1839, was the capture of Aden, and, as it preceded the 
capture of Kurrachee by a few days, it was the first conquest 
of British arms — for the suppression of the Canadian revolt in 
1837-38 was a civil conflict — in the reign of Queen Victoria, a 
reign which has been illustrated on sea and land by such 
glorious victories. 

Before entering upon the narrative of the capture of Aden,f 

* Captain Hayman was for many years in charge of the Lighthouse at Colaba. 

t The most salient points of Aden are, the precipitous hills, of •which the 
highest, known as Jibbel Shumshum, has an altitude of 1,775 feet, the isthmus con- 
necting it with the main, about 1,350 yards in breadth, but which is nearly covered 
by the sea at high spring-tides, and the wells and marvellous tanks or reservoirs. 
The wells, which number about one hundred and fifty, of which only about fifty are 
fit for drinking purposes, are mostly of recent construction, the oldest not dating 
further back than A.D. 1500. The reservoirs are about fifty in number, and have 
an aggregate capacity of nearly thirty millions of gallons. It is supposed that 
they were first commenced about A.D. 600, and certainly they existed before the 
Turkish conquest of the place in 1530, as they are mentioned by the Venetian 
officer who describes the expedition. Mr. Salt, who visited Aden in 1809, thus 
describes the tanks as they existed at that period : — 

" Amongst the ruins, some fine remains of ancient splendour are to be met 
with, but these only serve to cast a deeper shadow over the desolation of the 
scene. The most remarkable of these reservoirs consists of a line of cisterns 
situated on the north-west side of the town, three of which are fully eighty feet 
wide, and proportion ably deep, all excavated out of the solid rock, and lined 
witli a thick coat of fine stucco, which externally bears a strong resemblance to 
marble. A broad aqueduct may still be traced, which formerly conducted the 
water to these cisterns from a deep ravine in the mountain above ; higher up is 
another, still entire, which at the time we visited it was partly filled with water. 
Some Arab children, who followed us in our excursions, were highly pleased when 
we arrived at the spot, and plunging headlong into the water, much amused us 
with their sportive tricks." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 113 

in which the Indian Navy bore so conspicuous a part, we will 
give a brief sketch of the dealings of the Company's cruisers 

When Commander Haines visited Aden in 1835, several of the reservoirs appear 
still to have been in a tolerably perfect state ; besides the hanging tanks, or those 
built high upon the hills, several large ones were traceable round the town ; but 
from the British occupation until very lately, no steps having been taken to repair 
or preserve them from further destruction, they became entirely filled up with 
stones and soil washed down from the lulls by the rain ; the people of the town 
had been permitted to carry away the stones for building purposes, and, witli 
the exception of a very few, which could not easily be destroyed or concealed, all 
traces of them were lost, save where here and there a fragment of plaster, appear- 
ing above the ground, indicated the supposed position of a reservoir, believed to 
be ruined beyond the possibility of repair. About 1855, the restoration of these 
magnificent public works was undertaken, and has now been completed. Cap- 
tain Playfair, in his " History of Arabia Felix," describes the reservoirs, which 
were constructed to collect and store the water descending from the precipitous 
sides of the encircling hills, as extremely fantastic in their shapes. " Some are 
formed by a dyke being built across the gorge of a valley ; in others, the soil in 
front of a re-entering angle in the hill has been removed, and a salient angle or 
curve of masonry built in front of it, while every feature of the adjacent rocks has 
been taken advantage of and connected by small aqueducts, to ensure no water 
being lost. The overflow of one tank has been conducted into the succeeding one, 
and thus a complete chain has been formed, reaching to the very heart of the 
town. These reservoirs were filled for the first time on the 20th of October, 
1857, when, though a very small proportion of the whole had then been repaired, 
more water was collected from a single fall of ram than the whole of the wells 
would yield during an entire year." 

The annual fall of rain in Aden is very limited, seldom exceeding six or seven 
inches ; it is manifest, therefore, that a large city could not entirely depend on 
this precarious source of supply. To remedy this defect, the Sovereign of Yemen, 
towards the close of the fifteenth century, constructed an aqueduct to convey 
the water of Bir Ahmed into Aden. The remains of this work are still 
visible, though it has long been ruined and disused ; but a fair supply is 
acquired for the use of the inhabitants by condensing apparatus in addition to 
the wells. 

Aden was anciently one of the most celebrated cities of Arabia, and owed its 
riches and importance to being the general entrepot of the great carrying trade 
which existed between India, Persia, Arabia, and Africa, and the various nations 
of Europe, Egypt and Phsenicia. The author of the " Periplus of the Erythraean 
Sea," informs us that shortly before his time, Arabia Felix, as he calls Aden, had 
been destroyed by the Romans ; and Dean Vincent is of opinion that the Caesar in 
whose reign this event took place was Claudius. In the time of Constantine, 
Aden had recovered its former splendour, and as a conquest of the Roman Empire 
received the name of Romanum Emporium. The Venetian officer who chronicles 
the expedition of Suleiman Pasha to Aden in 1530, and who compulsorily served 
in that Admiral's fleet, says of the town : — 

" It is very strong, and stands by the sea-side, surrounded by exceedingly high 
mountains, on the tops of which are little castles or forts. It is encompassed also 
with ravelins on every side, excepting a little opening, about three hundred paces 
wide, for a road into the country and to the shore, with gates, towers, and good 
walls. Besides this there lies a shoal (a) before the city, on which is built a fort, 
and at the foot of it a tower (b) for the defence of the port, which lies to the 
south, and has two fathoms of water ; to the north there is another harbour, 
with good anchorage, covered from all winds. There is plenty of good water 
here ; the soil is dry, producing no kind of things; they have none but rain- 
water, which is preserved in cisterns and pits one hundred fathoms deep." 

Aden continued to monopolise the Indian trade till the sixteenth century, 

(a) The Island of Seerah. 

(b) Seerah mole. 

VOL. II. I 



114 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

with the rulers of that place, and the causes which brought 
about its occupation by us. 

We have mentioned, in the course of this Narrative, that a 
naval force was despatched from England in 1799, by the 
British Government, to cruise in the Red Sea, and also an ex- 
pedition from Bombay, under Colonel Murray, to occupy the 
island of Perim, which, however, was evacuated after a brief 
occupation of only a few months ; on our reoccupation of the 
island, the tank, which served as a reservoir of water, and other 
remains of works, were found in tolerable preservation. From 
Perim the small body of three hundred troops proceeded to Aden, 

when the naval enterprise of the Portuguese opened a new route to India, by the 
Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Salt describes the city, in 1809, as being still of " con- 
siderable importance as a place of trade," but its ruin appears to have been 
complete in 1835, when it was visited by Commander Haines, who speaks of 
it as " a wretched village, built on the ruins of the ancient city, containing 
about ninety stone houses, in a dilapidated state, and several mosques, only 
one of which was in repair ; the remainder of the houses were of mats and 
reeds, its trade was annihilated, its reservoirs in ruins, its wells brackish, and the 
streets and harbour almost deserted. It had a population of from five to six 
hundred souls, of whom one hundred and eighty were Jews, thirty or forty 
Banians, and the remainder Arabs or Soomalies." 

The Sultan usually resided at Lahej, leaving the peninsula in joint charge of a 
Governor and a Collector of Customs, with a force of about fifty Bedouins. The 
revenues did not exceed 12,000 dollars annually. How great is the contrast 
between this gloomy picture and its present state under British rule, is testified 
by the following extract from the Address of the Native mercantile community, 
presented to the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his landing on the 1st of 
November, 1875 : — 

" When Aden was captured in 1839, being the first of the territorial conquests 
that have been made during the glorious reign of Queen Victoria, it was only a 
small fishing village ; but under the fostering care of British ride it has expanded, 
as Your Royal Highness will this day see, and it has become a large and pros- 
perous town containing a population of nearly thirty thousand souls, composed of 
many creeds and races, and with an import and export trade showing transac- 
tions valued at upwards of two millions sterling." 

The first British ship to visit Aden was the Hon. Company's ship 'Ascension,' 
under the command of Captain A. Sharpey, on the 8th of April, 1609. Captain 
Shai-pey was kept as a prisoner six weeks by the Governor, who also seized goods 
to the extent of 2,500 dollars. On the 10th of November in the following year, 
Sir Henry Middleton arrived at Aden with three ships, whence he proceeded with 
two of them to Mocha, where he was treacherously thrown into prison ; eight of 
his men were killed, and an attempt was made by one hundred and fifty Turkish 
soldiers to capture the Hon. Company's ship ' Darling,' which, however, was frus- 
trated, and after some desperate fighting the entire body of Turks was slain, with 
the exception of one man, who was made prisoner. Sir Henry and his companions 
were taken before the Pasha at Sanaa, and ultimately, in March, 1611, escaped on 
board ship, when he compelled the Governor to p:iy an indemnity of 18,000 dollars. 
Captain Doveton, who remained at Aden in the ' Peppercorn,' suffered similar 
treatment, and for some time twenty of his men were detained prisoners there. 
In 161-4 a Dutch fleet under Van den Broeek visited Aden, but both the Com- 
pany's commanders, Captain Saris and Captain Shilling, who fell later in the 
Persian Gulf when fighting against the Portuguese, avoided Aden during their 
visits to Mocha in 1612 and 1618. On the 6th of February, 1708, two French 
ships visited Aden, the first of their nation, under M. de Merveille, who proceeded 
to Mocha, where he states he found a Dutch factory. In 1762, the Red Sea 
was visited by the famous scientific expedition organised by King Frederick V. 
of Denmark, under charge of the learned M. Neibuhr. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 115 

where they were hospitably entertained by Sheikh Ahmed,* until 
the change of the monsoon enabled Colonel Murray, in March, 
1800, to return to Bombay. In 1802 a treaty of commerce was 
concluded between Ahmed and Captain Sir Home Popham, after 
the unsuccessful attempt of the latter to enter into a similar 
engagement with the Imaum of Sanaa. Whilst the whole 
peninsula of Arabia was convulsed by the Wahabee war, 
the little State of Aden, by the wisdom of its ruler and the 
bravery of its inhabitants, offered a sturdy resistance to the 
progress of this sect of religious reformers. A remarkable in- 
stance of the friendty feeling of this chief towards the British 
occurred in 1804. A large Surat vessel was lying at anchor in 
the harbour, when the Joasmi fleet entered. The Sultan 
sent his soldiers on board to defend her from the Wahabee 
pirates, and compelled them to put to sea without having re- 
ceived any supplies, although they offered him half the plunder 
they had already received to be permitted to remain. 

Sultan Ahmed, the Abdali chief, expired in 1827, after a 
reign of nearly thii^-six years, and was succeeded by his 
nephew, commonly called Mahsin bin Foudthel, whose name in 
full, as given by Commander Haines, was Al Hasan ibn Fudhl' 
Abdul-Karim, Ahmed was one of the bravest and most politic 
of the chiefs of Yemen ; he encouraged commerce, invited mer- 
chants from India and Egypt to settle in his territories, had 
a well-organized body of troops at his disposal, and Aden, 
under his government, bade fair to regain a portion of its lost 
importance.f His successor was a man of quite a different 
stamp, being treacherous and unscrupulous in the acquisition of 
wealth, and described by Commander Haines as " indolent and 
almost imbecile." He resided at Lahej, a town having a popu- 
lation of about 5,000 souls, situated some eighteen miles north- 
west of Aden. 

In 1829 some coal was sent to Aden, and landed on Seerah 

* This chief succeeded to power in 1792, on the death of his brother. He was 
Tisited in 1809 by Salt, the traveller, and by Commander Haines in 1820. He 
is described as a very handsome old man of a benign and intelligent expression 
of countenance, and much beloved by his people. Mr. Salt says (p. 117) that by 
his judicious conduct he had raised his office to a respectable position in Yemen, 
and by his constant solicitude for his people, became fully entitled to the appella- 
tion of " father of his country," which was commonly bestowed upon him. 
Ahmed belonged to the Abdali tribe, the chief of which, in 1728, threw off his 
allegiance to the Imaum of Sanaa, and declared himself independent. He con- 
certed measures with his neighbour, the Chief of the Yafahi tribe, to obtain posses- 
sion of Aden, and it was stipulated that they should enjoy the revenues alternately. 
In 1735 the confederate chiefs succeeded in their object, but before six months 
the Sultan of Lahej, as the Abdali chief called himself, after the neighbouring 
town, expelled his colleague. From this period the commercial prosperity of 
Aden suffered a rapid decadence ; it was blockaded in 1753, and carried bv storm 
in 1771 by the chief of the Azaiba tribe, who only retained it for two days. (See 
Captain Playfair's " History of Arabia Felix.") 

t " Wellsted," vol. i., p. 110. 

I 2 



116 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Island, for the use of the ' Hugh Lindsay,' but, on the occasion 
of her first visit to Aden, it was found difficult to obtain labour, 
and six days were occupied in taking on board 180 tons of 
coal. For this and other reasons, Maculla was selected as a 
coaling station for the steamers engaged in the overland com- 
munication. Commander Haines, then engaged in the survey 
of the south-east coast of Arabia, arrived at Aden in 1835 ; and 
two of his officers visited the Sultan at Lahej, who treated them 
well, and requested the assistance of the British in an expedi- 
tion he contemplated against the Foudtheli tribe, whose chief 
port is Shugra, in retaliation for a recent attack made by them 
upon Aden ; but of course the request was refused. In the 
following year the Foudthelis again attacked Aden, which they 
sacked, and carried off property to the value of 30,000 dollars ; 
they also exacted a tribute for the future of one dollar per 
diem. 

On the 4th of January, 1837, the Madras ship ' Deria Dowlut,' 
belonging to a niece of the Nawab of the Carnatic, and sailing 
under British colours, went on shore in the bay of Koobet 
Sailan, a few miles distant from Aden. She had a valuable 
cargo on board, and a considerable number of pilgrims bound 
for Jiddah ; and, at daylight, was boarded by crowds of Arabs 
from Aden, who plundered her of everything that could be re- 
moved. The passengers, amongst whom were several ladies of 
rank, landed on rafts, in doing which fourteen perished. The 
survivors were seized by the Arabs, stripped naked, and the 
females subjected to the most brutal indignities, and only saved 
from being carried off into the interior by the intercession of 
an influential family in Aden, who supplied them with food 
and clothing. The Government of Bombay felt bound, not 
merely to demand redress for this outrage, but to take such 
further precautions as should preclude the recurrence of similar 
atrocities. For this purpose Commander Haines, who was still 
engaged surveying on the south coast of Arabia, was recalled 
and despatched to Aden in the Hon. Company's sloop-of-war 
'Coote,' with instructions, in the event of his negotiations 
proving successful, to endeavour to obtain the place by purchase, 
in order that British commerce in the Red Sea might be placed 
on a safer footing for the future, and that a secure coal depot 
for the vessels engaged in the overland transit might be esta- 
blished. Commander Haines arrived at Aden on the 28th 
of December, 1837, and landed on the 4th of January following, 
when he had his first interview with the Sultan ; the latter 
denied, most solemnly, all knowledge of, or participation in, 
the atrocity with which he was charged, but, as the property 
captured in the ' Deria Dowlut ' was being sold publicly in the 
market, his assertion was not believed. A formal demand was. 
accordingly, made for the sum of 12,000 dollars as an indemnity, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 117 

or the entire restitution of the plundered property. After much 
negotiation, goods to the value of 7,808 dollars were restored, 
and the Sultan passed a bill, at twelve months' sight, to Com- 
mander Haines, for the remainder, 4,192 dollars. Having thus 
settled the primary object of his mission, Commander Haines 
succeeded in obtaining from the Sultan, who dreaded an attack 
from Ibrahim Pasha, a written bond, dated the 23rd of January, 
that he would cede the peninsula to the British in the following 
March, in consideration of an annual pension of 8,700 dollars ;* 
but, before this could be embodied in a treaty, a plot had been 
formed by the Sultan's son for the seizure of the papers and 
person of the Political Agent after the final interview. In- 
telligence of this meditated treachery having reached Com- 
mander Haines, the interview was evaded, and he proceeded to 
Bombay. 

On his arrival, Commander Haines' proposals were laid 
before the Government, who approved all the steps he had 
taken, and, in October, 1838, on the termination of the monsoon, 
he was despatched in the ' Coote,' Commander Denton, with a 
small detachment of the Bombay European Regiment, to take 
possession of Aden according to the terms agreed upon with 
the chief. After touching at Maculla, Commander Haines 
arrived before Aden on the 24th of October, and forthwith 
addressed the Sultan, demanding the fulfilment of his contract; 
but his requisition was met with language and conduct the 
most violent and insulting. " I am," so wrote the Sultan's son, 
" above my father and you. If you come to the gate I will 
permit you to enter, and then be upon your head ; such is the 
law of the Bedouins." The Sultan refused to allow the plun- 
dered property, which had formerly been restored, to be removed 
from Aden ; he also issued orders that the ' Coote ' should not 
be supplied with water and provisions. At length, on the 20th 
of November, his people committed an act of open aggression. 
The 'Coote's' pinnace was sent to reconnoitre a party of 
Bedouins on camels, when they fired upon the seamen, and 
some bullets struck the boat. On the pinnace's return it was 
again despatched to the shore, with the launch and gig, under 
Commander Denton, upon which the forts opened fire, when 
the boats returned to the ship without loss. The same evening 
a party, commanded by Acting-Lieutenant B. Hamilton and 
Lieutenant Western of the Engineers, took possession of a 
small island which commanded the pass, and mounted a nine- 
pounder. On the following morning this fort was reinforced 
by all the boats' crews under Commander Denton, and fire was 
opened on the pass, by which a large body of men were driven 
back. On the following day the gun and party were removed. 

* Bombay Book of Treaties, p. 282. 



118 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

From this period np to the 17th of December, a rigorous 
blockade was enforced, the duty being most harassing to the 
officers and men, who were employed night and day in the 
boats, and constantly engaged skirmishing with the batteries 
and parties on shore, when the boats were frequently struck by 
shot. On the 17th of December the Sultan begged a truce of 
three days, which he treacherously employed in sending a boat 
to the African coast, whence the 'Coote' was supplied with 
provisions, to endeavour, by a bribe of 200 dollars, to induce 
the Soomalies to murder all the English who landed there. On 
the 18th of December the Hon. Company's schooner 'Main' 
and the barque ' Anne Crichton,' laden with coals, arrived at 
Aden, a significant intimation to the Sultan, had he chosen to 
accept it, that the British were determined to enforce the fulfil- 
ment of the agreement into which he had voluntarily entered. 
Hostilities were now resumed, and, on the 11th of January, 
1839, a skirmish took place off Seerah Island, between the bat- 
tery on the mole and the schooner 'Mahi' and a mortar-boat, 
when two seamen were wounded and about twenty or thirty of 
the Arabs placed hors de combat. 

Commander Haines says in his official report to the Secretary 
to Government, dated the 15th of January : — "I have the honour 
to inform you, for the information of Government, that during 
the many skirmishes which have taken place between the boats 
of the Hon. Company's sloop-of-war 'Coote' and the shore, the 
crew of that vessel, assisted hy Lieutenant Evans of the Bombay 
European Regiment, Lieutenant Western of the Bombay Engi- 
neers, and the detachment of the former officer's regiment, have 
behaved with great gallantry, in every instance, and it is won- 
derful that only two men of the ' Coote ' were wounded. In the 
last skirmish of the 11th of January, under the command of 
Lieutenant Johnstone, they were assisted by the ' Mahi ' schooner 
and the mortar-boat. The action lasted for three or four hours, 
doing the enemy considerable damage by destroying about 
twelve feet of their battery without injury to themselves." 

Meanwhile the Bombay Government had despatched a small 
Expedition to take possession of Aden, and, on the 16th of 
January, it arrived in Aden Back Bay. The ships of war were 
H.M.S. ' Volage,' twenty-eight guns, Captain Smith, senior 
naval officer, and H.M.'s brig ' Cruiser,' ten guns, Commander 
King; and the troops, which were embarked in transports, con- 
sisted of four hundred men of the European Regiment, the whole 
of the 24th Bombay Native Infantry, with the 4th company 1st 
battalion Artillery, and the 6th company (Golundauze) Artillery, 
the whole under Major Bailie, of the 24th Native Infantry. 

Commander Haines having summoned the Sultan to surrender, 
and received an unsatisfactory reply, immediately requested the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 119 

military and naval chiefs* to take the necessar}' steps to occupy 
the place according to the terras of the agreement, and placed 
his services as pilot at the disposal of Captain Smith, the fami- 
liarity he had acquired whilst surveying the port, enabling him 
to place the ships in their respective positions to the best 
advantage. 

The 17th of January was occupied by Captain Smith and 
Major Baillie in preparing their plans for the attack, and in 
making the necessary preparations. It was decided that the 
attack should be made on the Eastern side, called Aden Road, 
or Front Bay anchorage, and that the ships of war were first 
to bombard the island of Seerah and town, and that then the 
troops were to be landed in the boats of the squadron for the 
assault. 

On the 17th, a reconnaissance was effected, and an attempt 
was made that night to land some guns and artillerymen on a 
small island on the north side, in order to act as a diversion 
when the real attack was made, and to prevent ingress into the 
town. The attempt, however, failed, and, on the morning of the 
18th, theExpeditionf sailed round to the Front Ba3 7 ,and anchored 
there the same afternoon. As Captain Smith was standing 

* The following is a copy of Commander Haines' letter to Captain Smith : — 
" Hon. Company's sloop-of-war ' Coote,' 

" Aden Back Bay, January 16, 1839. 
" Sir, 

" All the negotiations with the chieftains of the Abdalla tribe having failed in 
bringing them to perform their written promise of transferring Aden to the 
British, and their having declared war by opening a fire on the Hon. Company's 
sloop-of-war ' Coote,' and her boats ; in fact, after all reasoning and every 
strenuous endeavour had been exerted on the part of the Bombay Government to 
bring the deceitful and dishonourable tribe to their senses by mild and conciliatory 
measures, have proved unavailing, I am under the necessity (as the last and only 
resource left to obtain satisfaction for the repeated insults offered to the British) 
to solicit force may be used to compel them to evacuate the ground ceded to the 
British, under the Sultan's seal, in January, 1838. I have, therefore, the honour 
to request that you will, with the squadron under your command in co-operation 
with the troops under the command of Major Baillie, adopt such measures for 
the immediate capture and occupation of Aden as may appear to you both best 
calculated to obtain it. I take the liberty of pointing out that many of the poor 
inhabitants of Aden have been compelled by the chieftains to remain there, con- 
sisting principally of Jews, and Banians ; I therefore earnestly solicit that, 
if possible, their lives be preserved. I also beg, that if fortune should place 
the Sultan or his sons, any chieftains or Seids, in our possession, their lives be 
spared ; and that any individual so captured be secured, to await further decision 
regarding them. Having a perfect knowledge of the localities of the place, I 
shall feel most happy to afford you any information on the subject ; and if, from 
a thorough knowledge of the Bay and anchorages, my services or advice be 
advantageous, I shall feel proud to accompany the commander of any vessel 
or squadron in taking up a close position for the destruction of their strongest 
battery. 

" (Signed) S. B. Haines, Political Agent. 

" To Captain Smith, H.M.'s ship ' Volage,' 
Senior Officer, Aden." 

f The ships-of-war were : — The 'Volage,' ' Cruiser,' ' Coote,' and ' Main.' The 
transports were the ' Lowjee Family,' ' Ernaad,' and ' Ann Crichton.' 



120 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

in towards Seerah Island, piloted by Commander Haines, and 
followed by the ' Cruiser,' towing the mortar-boat, the enemy 
opened fire with musketry and several large guns, but the 
' Coote ' and transports not having come up, Captain Smith 
hauled off and anchored for the night. On the following morn- 
ing, the whole of the ships having arrived, the signal was made 
to prepare to attack, and for the troops to be held in readiness 
for landing in two divisions. At 9.30, the ' Volage' anchored 
with a spring on her bower cable, at about three hundred yards' 
distance from the lower battery on the northern side of the 
Island of Seerah, and at the same time the ' Main ' took up a 
position on the southern side. Both ships opened a heavy fire 
on this formidable work, and also on the Kound Tower and 
batteries on the heights, to which the enemy replied with spirit 
from all their batteries; but, owing to the vessels being laid 
close to the shore, most of the shot passed over them. At 
10 a.m., the ' Cruiser ' anchored near the ' Volage,' and, soon 
after, the 'Coote' opened her guns on the southern side. Thus 
the fire was kept up, the Queen's ships on one side, and those 
of the Company on the other, the seamen working their guns 
in generous rivalry, and cheering as the rapid and effective fire 
brought down the solid masonry in heavy masses. " In a short 
time," says Captain Smith, "two of the guns in the lower 
battery were dismounted, and most of the people were driven 
from the remainder: they, however, took shelter behind the 
ruins of the battery, and kept up an incessant fire of musketry 
upon the ships, and although the lower battery was almost 
knocked to pieces, still we had great difficulty in dislodging the 
men. At this period, I directed the fire to be 'opened on the 
Hound Tower and batteries on the heights, which were filled 
with men armed with matchlocks, and in the course of an hour, 
I had the satisfaction to see this Tower, though sixty feet high 
and strongly built, a mass of ruins." 

The fire of the lower battery continuing, Captain Smith directed 
the 'Main' to drive the enemy from behind it by musketry. 
" This service," says Captain Smith, " was performed by her 
Commander, Lieutenant Daniell, in a most gallant manner ; 
but, I regret to say, that Mr. Nisbett, midshipman, was 
severely wounded." Nothing could exceed the spirit and 
dash with which Lieutenant Daniell acted on this occasion, 
and he was gallantly seconded by his officers and men, 
who, though but a handful, acted like heroes. He first 
ordered the soldiers below, and then, with his two officers, 
Lieutenant Hamilton and Mr. Nisbett, by his side, and two or 
three men to work the schooner, the rest being at the guns, 
steered his small craft right up to the work. On approaching, 
he fired a couple of broadsides, and then " boarded" the battery 
before the Arabs could divine his purpose. The enemy were 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 121 

overpowered, and turned and fled after firing a few desultory 
shots, one of which severely wounded Mr. Midshipman Nisbett. 
Acting-Lieutenant Hamilton, not content with this feat, rushed 
through the battery with some seamen, scrambled up the heights 
at a point where the Arabs never expected an attack, and sprang 
single-handed among a group of thirty men, who, supposing 
that he was backed up by a large storming party, called out for 
quarter. Mr. Hamilton forced them to descend before him, and 
soon met the troops who had been landed. 

On the fire being sufficiently reduced, Captain Smith, at 
11.30, made the signal for the boats to push off and land both 
divisions of troops, which was effected under a musketry fire, 
" which," says Major Baillie, "wounded two men of the Euro- 
pean regiment in the right division, and killed one private, and 
wounded one private and a bugler of the 24th Native Infantry 
in the left division, with which I landed." 

Captain Smith says in his dispatch : — 

" Lieutenant Dobree, who had charge of the first division, 
Mr. Rundle, mate, and a quarter-master of the ship, were the 
first on shore, and made for a 68-pounder, which had 
been fired at us several times, when a matchlock was fired at 
the quarter-master by a man behind the gun, who was imme- 
diately cut down by him, and the first British flag was planted 
by Mr. Rundle. So completely were the enemy driven from all 
points (with the exception of the island) by the fire of the ships, 
that the whole of the troops landed with the loss of only two 
men killed, and three wounded. A partial firing was still kept 
up from the island, when I directed Lieutenant Dobree, who had 
returned with the two mates, Messrs. Stewart and Rundle, with 
a party of seamen, and Lieutenant Ayles with the Marines, 
amounting altogether to fifty, to land and take possession of it ; 
this was gallantly accomplished, the party ascending the heights, 
spiking and dismounting the guns, taking the flag which had 
been flying from the Tower, and making prisoners of one hundred 
and thirty-nine armed Arabs, who were conducted from the 
island to the main by the party, and given over into the charge 
of Major Osborne. In an attempt to disarm the prisoners made 
by the military, they made a most formidable resistance, and 
1 regret to say, that several lives were lost on both sides." 

Major Baillie advanced with his troops into the town, seized 
the Sultan's palace and the mosque, and, pushing on, at one p.m. 
occupied what is now known as the "Main Pass." The victory 
was completed with trifling loss, when an ill-advised attempt 
to disarm the one hundred and thirty-nine Arab prisoners, who 
had been captured at Seerah Island, aroused the tiger-like 
ferocity which lies dormant in the breast of these sons of Ishmael. 
Suddenly drawing their creeses, they made a furious attack upon 



122 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the guard, killed two Europeans, wounded some others, of 
whom one died, and broke away in a body.* 

* The following is Major Baillie's report of his operations on shore, under date 
the 31st of January : — '' Both divisions formed up in the most steady manner, 
and advanced through the town, the enemy retiring before them. The Bombay 
European Regiment seized on the Sultan's Palace, and planted the British flag 
on the top of it. On debouching from the town a flag of truce was hoisted at 
Hydroos, the principal Mahomedan Mosque, where all the inhabitants, both male 
and female, had sought protection. The halt was immediately sounded, and I 
advanced with a white flag, met the Mahomedan priest, and explained to him 
through my Arab interpreter, that none of the inhabitants should be touched; 
to keep all unarmed people and females with him at the Mosque, and to collect 
any arms there might be, and deliver them to Lieutenant Evans, European Regi- 
ment, whom I posted with a picquet of thirty Europeans, a little to the right, and 
within 300 yards of Hydroos, with instructions not to approach the Mosque. At 
the western end of the town, within 200 yards of the above mentioned piquet, 
Captain Morris, having occupied a large stone building with the head-quarters of 
the 24th Regiment, N.I., hoisted the British flag, having previously seized on the 
southern gate and occupied a mosque situated half way between the soutli gate 
and his own position. Captain Willoughby, with twenty-two Europeans of the 
Bombay Artillery, having just landed from the mortar boat, took post between the 
European and 24-th Regiments, thus forming a semicircle ; Lieutenant Evans's 
picquet in advance. At one p.m., I proceeded with the flank companies of the 
European Regiment, under the command of Captain Curnming, to seize the gate- 
way at the northern pass. The enemy still keeping up a desultory fire from the 
heights on our right as the columns advanced, but without effect. On approaching 
within 200 yards of the defile, skirmishers were thrown out under Lieutenant 
Rose, supported by Captain Stiles, to dislodge a small body of Arabs, who kept 
up a fire on the advance from the heights to the right of the pass. A small 
party was thrown forward to examine the gully, and meeting with no opposition, 
the whole pushed on and occupied the gate which was deserted. It had two 
guns to defend the passage ; a picquet consisting of an officer and fifty rank and 
file was left at this gate, and Captain Stiles was directed to scour the heights on 
our left, when returning. The small column returned to the town, where I found 
one hundred and thirty-nine Arab prisoners sent by Lieutenant Dobree, R.N., from 
the fortified island. I instantly desired the Arab interpreter to explain to the 
Sheikh or Chief, that they must give up their arms, when they would be escorted 
to the Northern Gate and permitted to proceed wherever they pleased ; to this 
some demur was made, but at last acceded to, and their matchlocks were taken 
from them. In the meantime, knowing what little dependence was to be placed 
on the faith of the Arabs, I directed Major Osborne and Captain Willoughby to get 
their men under arms quietly in case of accidents. In taking their creeses from the 
Arabs, they became alarmed I suppose, for several of them jumped up, drew their 
creeses, stabbed the Serjeant-Major of the Artillery in five places, and inflicted a 
fearful wound on the Arab interpreter. Some of the sentries immediately fired 
on them, when they broke away in a body, killing two men and wounding two, 
and a sergeant of artillery, since dead ; the remaining sentries fired on them, and 
killed and mortally wounded twelve Arabs. In their flight, the Arabs killed a 
bhistie of the European Regiment. The Sultan has since written to the Political 
Agent that the alarm amongst the Arabs was occasioned by a negro slave of his 
own who drew his creese to conceal it. Had it not been for this unfortunate 
occurrence, so deeply to be regretted, the loss of life would have been very trifling. 
On the 21st, as the inhabitants were returning to their houses, the 24th Regi- 
ment, N.I., were moved back to the mosque. The duty being very fatiguing to 
the troops, the picquet on the fortified island was relieved by the marines of the 
' Coote.' On the 25th, in consequence of information received from the Political 
Agent, that the Bedouins were gathering, and intended an attack, two hundred 
European and Native troops, with two guns, under the command of Captain 
Morris, were moved out and occupied the old Turkish wall on the isthmus, which 
commands the approach to Aden, but there has been no symptom of any attack ; 
on the contrary, as far as I can learn, everything seems to be as quiet as could 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 123 

The total loss in effecting this most important conquest was 
only sixteen killed and wounded, and, considering the desperate 
courage subsequently displayed by these Arab tribes, in their 
numerous attempts to retake Aden, it is very creditable to the 
small British force that they were able to defeat over one 
thousand armed warriors amply supplied with matchlocks and 
guns. Of these latter, there were twenty-five in battery, of 
which five were dismounted by the fire of the squadron, and 
five dismounted and thrown into the sea by the sailors. There 
were also eight guns not in battery. By desire of the captors, 
three handsome brass cannon were set aside for presentation to 
Her Majesty, and are now in the Tower ; they were probably 
brought here by Soleimanthe Magnificent in 1530. The largest 
measures 18^ feet; the second, 17 feet, with an inscription — 
" Made by Mohammed ibn Hamzah ;" the third, which is highly 
ornamented, and has an inscription, "Soleiman ibn Selim, 901" 
(a.d. 1523), measures 15 feet 7 inches. 

Commander Haines says in his letter to the Secretary to 
Government: — "Captain Smith accepted my services in taking 
his ship in, and, I feel proud to say, that he was pleased with 
the position I gave her. I could not but admire the splendid 
fire from the shipping and mortar vessel ; and the behaviour of 
the little 'Mahi' drew the admiration of every person. No- 
thing could have been more regular than the landing ; the men 
were steady to a degree, and they stormed the place gallantly. 
But what is still more to be admired, and a greater proof of 
their discipline is, that, after lauding, neither male, female, nor 
property was molested. The loss of the enemy has been very 
severe ; one hundred and thirty-nine are now said to be 
missing, besides many wounded inland, and we have twenty- 
five men too severely wounded to return inland, among them 
one Chieftain, and Ali Salaam, a nephew of the Sultan. I have 
supplied the unfortunate sufferers with food, and everything to 
make them as comfortable as circumstances will admit of, and 

be expected, and provisions of every kind are brought in daily from the interior. 
The extreme regularity with which the troops embarked, and their patience while 
cooped up in the boats for upwards of three hours, reflects the highest credit on 
both men and officers. I have to thank Major Osborne, and Captains Morris and 
St. John, for their unremitting exertions during the landing and throughout the 
day ; in fact, every officer has exerted himself to the utmost, and all I have now 
to fear is for their health. Captain Willoughby, with the assistance of Lieutenant 
Western and his pioneers, has completed a battery of field-pieces on a most com- 
manding position in a very shoi't time. I am extremely happy to state that the 
privacy of the inhabitants while at Hydroos was never invaded, nor has there 
been a single complaint against any soldier, whether European or Native. I 
have to express my high sense of the cordial co-operation and assistance afforded 
me on every occasion by Captain Smith, R.N., and the squadron under his 
command ; their labours and exertions have been great and unremitting. Some 
matchlocks were received from the Mahomcdan priest, and forty unarmed 
Bedouins were escorted to the Northern Gateway, and went into the interior on 
the 20th." 



124 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

they receive kind medical attention from Dr. Malcolmson of the 
24th Regiment. I have also given a few dollars for the sup- 
port of their families." 

The following paragraph, from the General Order of the 
Bombay Government on the capture of Aden, relates to the 
conduct of the Naval forces : — 

" Bombay Castle, February 19, 1839. 

"The Honourable the Governor in Council experiences the 
highest gratification in offering to Captain Smith, H.M.'s ship 
* Volage,' commanding the naval part of the Expedition ; to 
Commander Haines, of the Indian Navy, the Political Agent, 
who volunteered his services in that frigate : and to the several 
Commanders and Officers of the vessels engaged on this dut} r , 
the cordial thanks of Government for their gallant, zealous, 
and effective services. The spirited conduct of Lieutenant 
Daniell, and the Honourable Company's schooner 'Mahi,' is 
deserving of special notice.'' 

The following special notification was issued by the Governor 
in Council, relative to the gallantry displayed by Lieutenant 
Daniell, and the officers and men of the ' Mahi ' : — 

" Bombay Castle, August 29, 1839. 

" The Superintendent, Indian Navy, having brought to the 
notice of the Honourable the Governor in Council, the promo- 
tion of several officers of Her Majesty's Naval Service, con- 
sequent on the capture of Aden, on which occasion the 
conspicuous gallantry of Lieutenant Daniell, Indian Navy, 
commanding the Honourable Company's schooner, ' Mahi,' was 
particularly reported by Captain Smith of H.M's ship 'Volage,' 
commanding the naval portion of the Expedition, the Honour- 
able the Governor in Council deems it but justice to that 
officer to mark such distinguished conduct by recommending to 
the Honourable Court to present him with a sword of the value 
of one hundred guineas, and he regrets that the gradational rise 
of the Indian Navy precludes him from conferring additional 
rank on this gallant officer." 

The following Government Order, for rewards for distin- 
guished services at the capture of Aden, was issued from 
Bombay Castle, on the oth of September, 1840 : — 

" The Honourable the Governor in Council has much satis- 
faction in publishing to the Indian Navy the following extract, 
paras. 1 and 2, of the Honourable Court's Letter, No. 47, dated 
the 1st of July last. Para. 1. ' We have had under con- 
sideration your despatch in this Department, dated the 7th of 
September, 1839, and the documents therein referred to, bring- 
ing to our especial notice the gallantry displayed by those 
officers of the Indian Navy who were engaged in the attack 
and capture of Aden. The conspicuous services rendered on 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 125 

that occasion by Commander S. B. Haines, and by Lieutenant 
E. W. S. Daniell, so justly commended in your despatch, are 
well deserving of some distinguished mark of our approbation ; 
and we have accordingly resolved to present Commander Haines 
with a sword of the value of 200 guineas, and Lieutenant 
Daniell with one of the value of 100 guineas, each with a 
suitable inscription. The sword intended for Commander 
Haines will shortly be sent out to you for presentation to that 
officer.' 

" Para. 3. — ' We have further resolved, that, as a token of 
our approval of the conduct of Mr. Midshipman Nisbett, and in 
consideration of the severe wound he received during the attack 
of Aden, he be presented with a donation of 500 Company's 
rupees, which you will forthwith cause to be paid to him.' " 

For many years after the capture of Aden, much hard fight- 
ing for its defence was necessitated by the repeated attempts of 
the Arabs to retake the stronghold ; and on all these occasions 
the Red Sea squadron of the Indian Navy, of which Aden was 
the head-quarters, afforded valuable co-operation in repulsing 
the enemy. Commander Haines was appointed the first British 
Political Agent at Aden, having as his assistant, Lieutenant 
Jenkins, who was nominated to the post, as a reward for his 
good service in the ' Wellesley,' under Sir Frederick Maitland. 
Lieutenant Jenkins held this appointment from the 1st of 
January, 1840, to the 10th of September, when he proceeded to 
England on sick leave,* and was succeeded in the office of 
Assistant Political Agent, by Lieutenant C. J. Cruttenden, who, 
from his linguistic acquirements, and his familiarity with the 
political condition of the neighbouring nationalities, was well 
fitted for the post. 

Commander Haines' first object, says Captain Playfair, in his 
" History of Arabia Felix," was to throw up temporary defences, 
sufficiently strong to resist a sudden attack, and to keep the 
Arab tribes quiet till this had been effected. In both he was 
successful, and a line of field works was speedily constructed 
across the isthmus, on the site of the old, so-called, Turkish 
fortification. Before the expiration of the monthof January, 1839, 
a treaty of peace and friendship was concluded with the Azaiba 
tribe, a branch of the Abdali ; and, in February, the Sultan 
himself, and the chiefs of the various surrounding tribes, 
namely, the Akrabi, Subaihi, Yaffahi, Foudtheli, Sherjehi, &c, 
executed similar engagements. On the 9th of March, a Euro- 
pean soldier, having imprudentl} 7- strayed beyond the fortifica- 
tions, was murdered by an Arab, who managed to effect his 

* Lieutenant Jenkins returned to England, via Egypt, and while there, at the 
request of the British Consul-Greneral, accompanied him and some of the Foreign 
Consuls to present the ultimatum to Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, and he then 
proceeded to England with the despatches of the Consul- General to Lord 
Palmerston. 



126 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

escape. On the following day, the Alxlali Sultan visited Aden, 
to express his regret at what had occurred, and to solicit the 
friendship of the British. On the 18th of June, he executed a 
bond * pledging himself to maintain a friendly line of policy, 
and received the first payment of a stipend of 541 dollars per 
mensem (equivalent to the originally stipulated purchase- 
money of the place), besides various small sums paid to sub- 
ordinate chiefs, formerly chargeable on the revenues of Aden, 
which Government was pleased to confer upon him as long as 
he should remain faithful to its interests. From this time con- 
fidence was restored, and the natives of the surrounding districts 
began to flock rapidly into Aden, so that in the month of Sep- 
tember, 1839, the population had increased to 2,885, exclusive 
of the military. The Abdali chief, like a treacherous Bedouin, 
soon forgot his obligations, and, in conjunction with the Sultan 
of the Foudtheli tribe, attempted to retake Aden on the 11th 
of November, but was defeated with heavy loss. 

The following account of this affair, appeared in the " Bombay 
Courier Extraordinary," of the 23rd of December, 1839 : — 

" It appears that information had been received, some time 
previously, by Commander Haines, the Political Resident at 
Aden, of an intended attack, who made every arrangement 
accordingly, in conjunction with the military authority of the 
place, notwithstanding the matter was looked upon by many as 
an idle threat on the part of the Arabs. The neck of land, or 
rather sand, which connects the peninsula of Aden with the 
main land, is intersected by a wall about one thousand four 
hundred yards in length, both extremities of which touch the 
sea at high water ; at either end of this wall, there is a semi- 
circular projecting field-work, mounting two guns, while three 
other guns are placed along the wall in as many redoubts, at 
regular intervals of 300 yards. Early in the morning of the 
11th of November, a report was made that some eight or ten 
men were seen prowling about near the advanced sentries, but 
who, on being challenged, dispersed. Soon after, more men 
were seen creeping round the left field-work, it being nearly 
low-water. At about four a.m., the sentry fired, and the Arabs, 
finding themselves discovered, raised a tremendous shout, and 
rushed on in three columns, of about two thousand men each, 
one column on each field-work, and one on the centre, but were 
quickly checked by a well-directed fire of grape and musketry 
from the works, while Lieutenant Hamilton, I. N., in the launch 
of the Hon. Company's brig of war ' Euphrates,' poured repeated 
volleys of grape from the boat's 12-pounder, across their 
columns, with admirable judgment and precision. The centre 
column alone reached the wall, within which about two hundred 
and fifty of them found their way, when the remainder were 

* Bombay Book of Treaties, p. 284. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 127 

obliged to retreat; those who got in were joined by about one 
hundred and fifty others, who had crawled along and succeeded 
in passing unobserved round the left field-work. Finding their 
retreat cut off, after losing some men in attempting it, they 
made a rush at the heights commanding the wall ; but on re- 
ceiving two shots, and losing one of their number, they retreated, 
and tried another part of the hills, where Mr. Nott, a midship- 
man of the Indian Navy, was placed with a party of seamen 
and a gun ; on receiving the first shot from which, they fled in 
great, confusion, and made a desperate rush to pass outside the 
left field-work, where Mr. Cameron of the European regiment 
was placed ; here the slaughter was dreadful, about thirty of 
their number being mowed down upon the spot ; some made 
good their retreat, and a few fled away into the hills, where 
they were either taken, or shot next day. In the meantime, 
the firing from the artillery was kept up from the front, and 
by Lieutenant Hamilton from the flank, till only about five 
rounds of grape shot remained at the wall, when an order was 
given to cease firing ; the enemy being at a considerable dis- 
tance. On this the Arabs, taking it for granted that all the 
ammunition of the defenders was expended, rushed with a loud 
yell in five columns again to the wall, within a short distance 
of which they were once more fatally checked by the destructive 
fire of grape and musketry in front and flank. Daylight had 
just broken on the scene, and showed the Arabs in full retreat 
in a dense mass extending from side to side of the broad part of 
the isthmus, their numerous camels loaded with dead, those 
very camels, some of which carried small guns, and all of which 
were intended to be laden with the plunder of the English, of 
whose wealth they had formed most extravagant notions. The 
ex-Sultan had persuaded them that ' all the buttons worn by 
the English were of solid gold, and that precious stones and 
valuables of all kind awaited their expected victory.' " 

Lieutenant (now retired Captain) B. Hamilton was the same 
officer who had distinguished himself by his conspicuous gal- 
lantry at the capture of Aden, when, single handed, he drove 
before him as prisoners, thirty armed Arabs. 

The following was the Government Order on the repulse of 
this formidable attack on Aden : — 

"Political Department, Bombay Castle, December 2, 1839. 

" The following extract from Station Orders, by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Capon, commanding at Aden, is republished : — Extract 
from Station Orders, by Lieutenant-Colonel Capon, dated Aden, 
the 11th of November, 1839. 

" The Commanding Officer congratulates the troops on the 
gallant manner in which they repulsed an attack along the 
whole front of the field-work by bodies of Arabs, five thousand, 



128 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

or upwards, in total strength, half an hour before day-break 
this morning. The promptitude in manning the works, with 
the excellent practice with the guns, completely defeated an 
attempt, which for secrecy and suddenness in the onset, bears 
testimony to the hardihood and skill of the enemy. The defence 
of the upper works was also excellent, while the highly valuable 
services of the ' Euphrates ' launch, under Lieutenant Hamilton, 
contributed mainly to the success with which it has pleased the 
Almighty to bless us ; our loss being nothing, whilst that of 
the enemy could not have been short of one hundred. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council has much gratification 
in noticing the judicious arrangements of Commander Haines, 
the Political Agent, and Lieutenant-Colonel Capon, and the 
courage and firmness which were displayed by the whole of -the 
force at Aden, both European and Native, on the occasion of 
the attack made on that place by a formidable body of Arabs 
on the morning of the 11th inst., when the assailants were 
successfully repelled, happily without any casualty occurring 
on the side of the British. The officers and men of the Military 
and Naval Services have merited the approbation and thanks 
of Government for their distinguished conduct on this occasion, 
which has been brought to the favourable notice of the Hon. 
the Court of Directors." 

The annual subsidy paid to the Abdali chief was now stopped, 
and the town of Shugra, together with the whole of the Foud- 
theli coast, was blockaded by the cruisers of the Indian Navy. 
On the 21st of May, 1840, a second attack was made upon 
Aden by the united Arab tribes in the pay of the Sultan of 
Lahej. On that day a party of about two hundred and fifty 
men made a daring and successful attempt to enter the works, 
by creeping unobserved round the left flank, but they were 
driven out after having inflicted and received some slight loss.* 

* An anonymous writer — and, in those days, the Indian Press gave too ready 
insertion to articles attacking private character by such cowardly methods — wrote 
to the 'Bombay Courier,' making the following accusation against Commander 
Haines, the Political Agent : — 

" Captain Haines gave out that he saw the whole affair, and commanded one 
of the gunboats, which fired on the enemy as they retreated. He was snugly on 
board the ' Charger,' three miles off, and was seen to come up to the scene of 
fiction in his gig, just as it was all over. At first we were beginning to give him 
credit for his gallantry, till the captain of the ' Circassian,' a coal ship, undeceived 
us, as he saw Captain Haines getting into his gig from the ' Charger,' as he passed 
up in his own boat." This attack drew forth the following vindication of the 
gallant officer by Captain McQueen, of the ' Mary Mitcheson,' merchantman : " I 
read with much surprise in your paper of the 13th instant purporting to be an 
extract of a letter written from Aden, that Captain Haines did not reach the field 
of action till all was over. Fair play and justice I do like to see upheld, and I beg 
distinctly to state that this officer left the ' Charger,' on board of which vessel he 
was living, at least twenty minutes before either Captain Sproule of the ' Cir- 
cassian ' or myself quitted our ships, and that when the gunboats were stationed, 
Captain Haines was there directing the force, from which by far the most execu- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 129 

In both these attacks timely information of the designs of the 
enemy had been given to the authorities by the British Agent 
at Lahej, and it. was mainly through his instrumentality that 
they were so easily frustrated. This circumstance coming to 
the knowledge of the Sultan, the Agent, Hassan Khateeb, was 
murdered, and his dwelling and those of his family were plun- 
dered ; also as a Jew had been the bearer of his letters, an 
order was issued directing the sack of every Jewish house in 
Lahej, and all landed property belonging to the residents in 
Aden was confiscated. The losses sustained by the merchants 
amounted to 15,000 dollars, exclusive of the plunder of sixteen 
houses belonging to the Khateeb family. In neither of these 
two attacks had the Akrabi joined, but, on the contrary, they 
had evinced the most perfect good faith towards the British ; 
irritated at this, the united forces of the Abdali and Foudtheli 
besieged their castle of Bir Ahmed, but were unable to reduce 
it. The duties of the garrison and of the crews of the Indian 
Navy vessels in port, owiug to the expectation of an attack from 
a large body of Arabs collected in the vicinity of Aden, were of 
a very arduous and harassing nature, owing to the constant 
night alarms, and severe sickness broke out. The vessels in 
port sent up their boats nightly, manned and armed, and the 
crew of the Hon. Company's ship ' Zenobia,' also proceeded 
every night to the Turkish wall, to take charge of a large gun- 
boat, stationed close in shore so as to cut off all communication 
with the town. 

The Bombay Government found themselves under the neces- 
sity of increasing the garrison, and, on the 19th of July, the 
Hon. Company's steam frigate ' Sesostris ' sailed from Bombay 
with three hundred men of H.M.'s 6th Regiment. This rein- 
forcement arrived not a day too soon, for upwards of two 
hundred Sepoys had left Aden suffering from wounds or the 
last extremity of sickness, and nearly three-fourths of the 
remainder were affected with scurvy occasioned by want of fruit 
and vegetables ; the small European force, consisting of three 
hundred and fifty of the European Regiment and one hundred 
artillerymen, was, in comparison, tolerably healthy. But before 
the arrival of the reinforcements from Bomba} r , the combined 
Arab tribes made a third, and desperate, attempt to retake Aden. 
The day selected for this final effort, was the 5th of July, and 
the hour 2.45 a.m. The enemy mustered about five thousand 
men, and advanced towards the isthmus defences with great 
impetuosity ; but the sudden and unexpected fire from a block 
boat, moored within twenty yards of the shore, and several ships' 
boats within twelve yards, officered and manned by the Indian 

tion and effect were produced upon the Arabs, as both upon their advance and 
retreat the guns were ably brought to play and with much effect upon the whole 
attacking section." 

VOL. II. K 



130 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Navy, completely staggered them, while the fire from the line 
of works completed their discomfiture, and they retreated with 
a loss of two hundred men. The principal tribes concerned in 
this attack were the Abdali and Foucltheli, and immediately 
after their repulse they retired to Bir Ahmed, not many miles 
distant from the Barrier Gate, and in a position whence they 
could effectually intercept all communication between Aden and 
the interior. Here they built a fort, which they named Nowbat 
Sheikh Mehdi, and commenced a series of raids, which caused 
the utmost annoyance to merchants and others bringing supplies 
into Aden. 

The state of affairs in Europe at this period, owing to the 
aggressive policy of France, rendered it advisable that certain 
points on the African coast should be obtained, with a view to 
their occupation, should occasion require it. To this end Captain 
Moresby and Lieutenant Barker, of the Indian Navy, were des- 
patched to open friendly relations with the chiefs of Zeyla and 
Taj ura, and to obtain certain islands by purchase. A com- 
mercial treaty, bearing date August 19, 1840, was concluded 
between Sultan Mahommed bin Mahommed and Captain 
Moresby, on behalf of the British Government, whereby the 
Mussah islands,* situated in the Bay of Taj ura, were ceded to 
the British Crown ; and they were formally taken possession of 
in the name of Her Majesty, on the 31st of the same month. 

On the 29th of July the Foudtheli Sultan, Ahmed bin 
Abdulla, accompanied by three of his brothers and some armed 
men, arrived at the Barrier Gate, and the interpreter, Ahmed 
bin Aidan, having gone out to confer with them, was murdered 
by the Foudtheli chief, who, with his followers, succeeded in 
effecting bis escape. On the 3rd of September Sultan Mahsin, 
of Lahej, seized a kafila of camels entering Aden with supplies, 
and, having sold them, appropriated the proceeds to his own 
use. In the same month a party of marauders crept close to 
the line of works, under cover of night, aud fired at the sentries, 
fortunately without doing any execution, while the return fire 

* These islands are a barren coral group about thirty feet above the level of 
the sea, consisting of three large and five small rocky islets. They afford no 
water, but an abundant supply is obtainable on the mainland, about eight miles 
to the west of them, where there is a running stream and a good anchorage, 
whence the islands could be supplied with water, by means of boats, at all 
seasons of the year. In the same month two other islands were purchased and 
taken possession of by the British ; one called the Bab, in the straits connecting 
the Khoobet Kharab with the Bay of Tajura, and the other named Eibat near the 
town of Zeyla. The Governments of Zeyla and Tajura were in the hands of their 
hereditary chiefs, who owned no allegiance to any foreign power, and conse- 
quently were perfectly competent to cede any part of their territories. While 
these events occurred the whole province of Yemen, to which this portion of 
the coast of Africa had formerly been a dependency, was in a state of anarchy ; 
it had been evacuated by the Egyptians, and the Imaum of Sanaa had lost the 
Tehama, or sea-coast, which was usurped by the Beni Aseer and the Shereefs of 
Aboo-Areesh. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 131 

killed and wounded eleven men and three camels. But, on 
another occasion the Arabs succeeded in venting their hate of 
the Giaours they could not expel, and a European soldier, 
who ventured unarmed outside the Turkish wall, was attacked 
and killed by a prowling Bedouin who mutilated the body. A 
price was set on the head of Commander Haines, who learned 
from his spies that the Arab chiefs had sworn on the Koran to 
recapture Aden or die in the attempt. 

At this time the ' Clive,' Commander J. P. Sanders, was on 
the Red Sea station, her officers being Lieutenants R. 
Mackenzie, B. Hamilton, and G. W. Wollaston. The crew 
were in a state of the highest efficiency and discipline, their 
proficiency in great gun and small-arm drill being quite 
remarkable. In July, 1841, Admiral Sir William Parker, the 
newly appointed Naval Commander-in-chief, was passing 
through Aden for Bombay, on his way to assume command of 
the Naval forces in China, and Commander Sanders asked so com- 
petent an officer — one regarded by the mighty Nelson himself 
as one of his best frigate captains — to inspect his ship, an invi- 
tation which the gallant admiral willingly accepted. The crew 
of the ' Clive ' were, accordingly, exercised in his presence at all 
the drills, including firing by broadsides and single guns, and 
the vessel and her arrangements were minutely inspected. 
" Before leaving the vessel," writes an officer of the ' Clive ' to 
us, " Sir William Parker expressed his high admiration of the 
state of efficiency in which he found the officers and crew, and 
said to the officer who conducted him back to the steamer con- 
veying him to Bombay, ' I greatly wish I had a few such 
vessels with me in China.' On his arrival in Bombay he wrote 
a highly complimentary letter expressive of his approval of all 
he had witnessed, and requested that it should be read to the 
officers and men. Sir Robert Oliver was very wary in con- 
veying any acknowledgment of efficiency, but, on this occasion, 
he gave expression to his gratification that Sir William Parker 
had such a favourable impression of the efficiency of the Indian 
Navy." It is only due to Lieutenant Mackenzie, first of the 
4 Clive,' to state that the smartness of the crew at gun and 
small-arm drill, was, in a great measure, due to his efforts. 
During the year 1841, one of the officers of the 'Clive,' Lieutenant 
W. G. Wollaston,* was employed on shore at Aden, superin- 
tending the erection of batteries on Ras Morbat. 

On the 22nd of September, 1841, the Hon. Company's steam 
frigate 'Auckland' sailed for Aden with troops, and, imme- 
diately on their landing, orders were given to dislodge the 

* Lieutenant Wollaston retired from the Service in March, 1846, and a few- 
years later entered the Home Coast Guard Service as Inspecting Lieutenant, 
serving at Wittering, in Sussex, Blatchington, near Newhaven, and Bourne- 
mouth, where he died on the Sth of June, 1868, aged fifty-five. 

K 2 



132 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

enemy from the position which he held at the tower called after 
its owner, Sheikh Mehdi. Accordingly a force of four hundred 
Europeans, two hundred Natives, and a detachment of artiller} 7 , 
under the command of Colonel Pennycuick, was despatched 
inland for this service, which was successfully accomplished 
with small loss. Having destroyed the tower of Sheikh Mehdi, 
the force proceeded to the village of Sheikh Othman, the fort 
of which was likewise destroyed, and then returned to Aden, 
having accomplished a march of nearly forty miles in twenty- 
four hours. While these operations were being carried on 
against the allied tribes by land, Shugra and the Foudtheli 
coast were blockaded by the vessels of the Indian Navy,* 
Captain f Haines sending them a message that, as they cut off 
his supplies by land, he would cut off their dates by sea, and, 
if they could subsist on horses' provender, his horses could 
very well manage on the dates. These measures had the 
desired effect ; the Foudtheli chief implored forgiveness for the 
past, and promised to observe a more friendly attitude towards 

* An officer of the ' Clive ' gives the following details, from which an idea can 
be formed of the nature of the blockading duties in which the Service was engaged 
during the chronic state of hostilities that existed for the first fifteen years after 
the conquest of Aden : — " The first day of the blockade a number of boats en- 
deavoured to steal inside the reef at Shugra with supplies ; Lieutenant Mac- 
kenzie, first of the ' Clive,' made a dash at them with the launch and pinnace, 
armed with a 12-pounder howitzer and a 3-pounder brass gun. The Arabs rushed 
down and drew their boats up on the beach, and then congregated among the 
low brushwood and sand hillocks along the shore. A smart fire was kept up on 
both sides, but the Arab shot passed high overhead and did no harm. Only one 
man in the boats was hit, although the boats were struck several times, and Lieu- 
tenant Mackenzie had a flesh wound in the shoulder. The Sheikh appeared 
early in the action, having ridden down close to the beach on an Arab mare with 
a foal behind it. He disdained the shelter the rest took, and came down on the 
beach with a flourish of defiance, but soon disappeared wounded. After this they 
kept out of reach and we returned on board. We subsequently found that they 
acknowledged a loss of fifteen killed, including the Chief, whom we saw carried on a 
camel while his mare was led. In the evening the boats made a second attempt to 
steal in, when Lieutenant Mackenzie again attacked them, hoping to carry them 
by boarding, but they were prepared and drew up on the beach, when another 
fusilade was kept up till night put an end to our work. November 20th. — Again 
off Shugra. It was determined to attack the boats drawn up on the shore with 
the view of destroying them without landing. Accordingly the launch and 
pinnace, armed as before, under the command of Lieutenant Mackenzie, began 
the attack about four o'clock. The Arabs had dug a series of rifle pits along the 
shore, and otherwise sheltered themselves, so that few men could be seen. The 
action was continued by throwing shot and shell and destroying the boats, but 
the tide prevented a nearer approach, and musketry could only be used with 
effect when the enemy were flitting about. Had the Arabs had any good marks- 
men we must have suffered severely, but as it was only two of us were hit, one 
ball striking a seaman in the forehead and knocking him over and another lodging 
in Lieutenant Mackenzie's jacket, while several lodged in the boat and even 
passed through her. Darkness coming on put an end to the work. They had 
perfidiously hoisted a flag of truce in the moruing, and when a boat had gone 
within reach to parley, fired into her. If the subsequent reports of our spies were 
correct, they paid dearly for their treachery, as they 6tated that in the last attack 
the Sheikh's nephew and several men were killed." 

t Commander Haines attained post rank on the augmentation of the Service, 
on the 11th of October, 1841. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 133 

the British for the future, and Sultan Mahsin, of Lahej, visited 
Aden, on which occasion he entered into a treaty of peace and 
friendship,* and arranged for the restitution of the property of 
the British Agent, who had been murdered by his orders. His 
monthly stipend, which had been stopped from the date of his 
first attack upon Aden, was restored to him in February, 1844, 
together with one year's back pay, in consideration of his 
having ceased to molest the British since 1841 ; but before 
doing so, it was thought necessary to guarantee his fidelity by 
a more stringent agreement than had previously existed.f 

In the early part of 1845, Aden was threatened with an 
attack from the Arabs, who assembled from the interior in very 
considerable force, and boasted of their intention to storm the 
British stronghold. The garrison and squadron were accord- 
ingly reinforced, and, in March, 1845, we find that there were 
one thousand two hundred European, and one thousand three 
hundred Native troops, while the squadron in the harbour con- 
sisted of H. M.S. ' Serpent,' sixteen guns, Commander Nevill, and 
the Hon. Company's ships ' Elphinstone,' eighteen guns, Com- 
mander J. P. Porter, senior naval officer, and ' Euphrates,' ten 
guns, Lieutenant A. H. Gordon. However, the Arabs quarrelled 
among themselves, and, after some fighting, dispersed ; but, 
although all immediate danger had passed away, the Govern- 
ment, on the requisition of Captain Haines, strengthened the 
squadron by the addition of the steam frigate ' Auckland,' 
Commander Carless, which was temporarily stationed at Aden. 

In August, 1846, a fanatic named Seyyid Ismail, who had 
preached a jehad, or religious war, in Mecca, made his way 
thence, by slow marches, to the vicinity of Aden, accompanied 
by a crowd of dervishes and religious zealots. On his arrival 
at El Ghail, distant about two days' journey from Lahej, his 
force amounted to some two thousand men. He there issued a 
proclamation to the Abdali, Foudtheli, and Akrabi tribes, calling 
on them to join his standard, and promising them divine 
assistance and complete invulnerability. He then proceeded 
within seven miles of Lahej, where he was met by the infirm 
old Sultan and several of his sons, and his army was plentifully 
supplied with food and fodder by the neighbouring tribes, and 
further augmented by one thousand Abdali s, five hundred 
Foudthelis, one hundred Akrabies, and two hundred Mughrabies. 
On the 17th of August about four hundred men of the Seyyid's 
army approached to reconnoitre the outposts of Aden, but were 
driven back with loss. On the 21st a division, eleven or twelve 
hundred strong, advanced to the vicinity of Khore Mukser, while 
the Seyyid fixed his head-quarters at Sheikh Othman ; and, on 
the 26th, a body of two thousand men advanced close to Aden, 
but were repulsed by a well-directed fire from the line of works 

* Bombay Book of Treaties, p. 285. f Bombay Book of Treaties, p. 287. 



134 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAY*. 

and the boats of the Company's ships-of-war in the harbour. 
Captain Holt, then a midshipman of the 'Mahi,' writes that 
he was employed " for ten or fifteen days in the boats of the 
'Mahi,' with those of other ships of the squadron, in defending 
the Turkish wall from the Arab attacks. The ladies and 
children living at the Point, were sent on board the ships every 
night for protection." 

Dissensions now broke out in the Seyyid's Armj 7 , which 
rapidly melted away, and its leader, deserted by his followers 
and by the Abdali* and Foudtheli Sultans, retired inland, 
and was subsequently slain by a Bedouin in a brawl on the 
22nd of August, 1848. For a time the Foutheli Chief attempted 
to stop the traffic of Aden, but the usual corrective, a blockade 
of his coast by the cruisers of the Indian Navy, compelled him 
to abstain. On the 18th of August, 1847, Commander C. D. 
Campbell arrived at Aden in the ' Semiramis,' and assumed 
command of the ' Euphrates ' as Senior Naval officer ; and, in 
the following November, assisted by a party of his men, he 
performed the almost impossible task to any but a British 
seaman, of taking to the top of Jibel Shuuishum, the precipitous 
peak towering above Aden, a 12-pounder gun, a labour he 
accomplished in nine clays. 

* " Sultan Mahsin bin Foudthel," says Captain Plajfair, " died at Lahej, on 
the 30th of November, 1847, at an advanced age, and was succeeded by his son 
Ahmed. The old Chief had ever proved himself inimical to the British. He is 
described as low of stature, of a corpulent habit, and grave and saturnine dispo- 
sition. From the day that lie assumed the Government, his time was wasted in 
useless disputes with the British or with the neighbouring Arab tribes, and so 
great was his avarice, that not content with the treasures which had been amassed 
by his predecessors, he continued to extort money from all who came within his 
power, until respectable merchants fled from his dominions to avoid his arbitrary 
exactions. His successor, Ahmed, was a man of different stamp ; he was sensible 
of the advantages which friendly relations with the British would confer upon his 
tribe, and used his utmost endeavours to cultivate them ; but he was cut off at 
an early age ere any of the measures of reform, which were confidently expected 
to be carried out under his rule, had even been commenced. He visited Aden on 
the 28th of February, 1848, on the occasion of his succession, and in token of his 
friendship for the British, he remained till the 8th of March ; he died of small-pox 
on the 18th of January, 1849, and was succeeded by his brother Ali, the present 
Chief of the tribe. Ali Mahsin resembles his father in cunning and treachery, 
but he is wanting in the warlike spirit which made the latter so formidable an 
enemy. His policy, ever since he succeeded to the government of his country, 
has been to alienate the surrounding tribes from the British, and on their defec- 
tion build for himself the reputation of being the steadfast friend and supporter 
of the English. In this he has, till very lately, been but too successful ; his 
intrigues fostered into irreconcilable rancour the disputes which have frequently 
arisen between the Arab tribes and the authorities of Aden, and for many years 
frustrated all attempts at reconciliation. It is only since the commencement of 
1857 that the fatal effect of this policy became apparent, but it is satisfactory to 
add that, through the sagacity of the British representative, the surrounding 
tribes have, without a single exception, laid aside their animosity, and are now on 
the most friendly footing with the British. Soon after the accession of Ali Mahsin, 
a new treaty was concluded between him and the East India Company ; it bears 
date 7th of May, 1849, and was ratified by Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General of 
India, on the 30th of October in the same year." (Captain Playfair's Memo- 
randum on Aden.) 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 135 

In January, 1848, Commander Campbell, of the ' Euphrates,' 
having embarked Lieutenant Cruttenden, the Assistant Political 
Agent, proceeded to the Soomalie coast, and visited the 
various tribes, the results of the visit being recorded by Lieu- 
tenant Cruttenden in the Journals of the Bombay and Royal 
Geographical Societies. The ' Euphrates ' then returned to 
Aden, and, on the 4th of April, Commander Campbell was des- 
patched to Mocha to protect the British merchants from the 
exactions of the Dowlah ; by his vigorous action, seconded by 
Lieutenant Leeds, commanding the ' Constance,' which was or- 
dered up to support him, he exacted compensation and an apology 
for the outrage. For his conduct on this occasion he received a 
letter of thanks from the Secret Committee of the Board of 
Control, communicated through the Bombay Government. 

Though since the departure of Sir Charles Malcolm, the 
Indian Navy had been reduced one-fourth in its strength of 
commissioned officers, the services required of it were increased 
in a still greater ratio. Since the acquisition of Aden a squadron 
was permanently established there for the protection of the 
settlement and of British interests in the Red Sea ; a squadron 
was also employed at the mouth of the Indus, while the esta- 
blishment of monthly steam communication with Suez, required 
the employment of officers in the packets. In addition to these 
calls, the outbreak of war in China necessitated the despatch of 
the ' Atalanta ' to those seas, and later, other steamers were 
sent to the eastward. The result of this demand for officers, 
was that the ships were sent to sea under-officered, and the few 
they had on board were overworked. Still it is gratifying 
to record that the duties required of them were performed with 
zeal and success, and the admirals of the Royal Service expressed 
their satisfaction with the ships and officers of the Indian Navy. 

In the latter part of 1839 the ' Victoria,' steam- sloop, of 705 
tons and 230 horse-power, and carrying five guns, was launched at 
Bombay, and, under the command of Commander H. A.Ormsby,* 
F.R.S., the famous traveller, who had been reinstated in the 
Service, made the quickest passage to Suez then recorded. On the 
9 th of January, 1840, a steam frigate, named after the Governor- 
General, the ' Auckland ' — of 946 tons and 220 horse-power, 
and carrying six 8-inch guns — was floated out of Bombay 
dockyard; and, two years later, a second fine steam frigate was 
added to the Service from the hands of the Parsee builders of 
the dockyard, and was called the ' Semiramis,' the steamer of 
the same name brought out by Captain Brucks, having been 
converted into a coal-ship at Aden, and re-christened the 
' Charger.' The steamers and sailing ships constructed at 

* Like Captain D. Ross and Lieutenant J. R. Wellsted, of the Service, Com- 
mander Ormsby had been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, in recognition 
of Lis services as a surveyor and scientific geographer. 



136 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Bombay were the most serviceable of any in the possession of 
the Company, and such as were not lost by the accident of the 
sea, were in perfect condition at the time of the abolition of the 
•Service, while the steamships built or purchased in England 
were generally signal failures. On the 19th of April, 1840, the 
'Cleopatra,' steam sloop, Commander J. P. Sanders, built at North- 
fleet, arrived at Bombay ; scarcely had she left the Channel 
on her passage out, which was made under sail, with her paddle- 
boxes and wheels stowed on board, than she lost her foremast 
and was forced to put into Lisbon. This evil fortune followed 
the ship until she found a premature grave in mid-ocean. On 
the 16th of June following, the ' Sesostris,* steam frigate, of 
876 tons, and 220 horse-power, and carrying four 8-inch guns, 
arrived from England, under command of Commander Robert 
Moresby, the eminent surveyor, who was returning from his 
three years' leave, and under whose immediate supervision she 
had been built and fitted out in the East India Docks. 

Early in 1841 the ' Sesostris ' proceeded up the Persian Gulf, 
and her presence, owing to the terror inspired by the range of 
her great guns, had the happiest effect in checking the piratical 
instincts of the Arab chiefs. In company with the ' Coote,' 
Commodore Brucks, and the ' Tigris,' she made the tour 
of the ports of the Gulf, and, at Debaye, brought a noted 
piratical Skeikh to his " bearings " by a brief bombardment of 
his stronghold, which he had regarded as inaccessible.f 

* These ships, as the first of the class of steam frigates, were the wonder and 
admiration of all the people at the places at which they touched on their voyage 
out and in India. An officer of the ' Sesostris ' writes to us : — "The ' Sesostris ' 
was at this time thought a perfect marvel. Hundreds of people used to flock to 
the bunder and on board, to inspect so fine a steam vessel of war." 

f An officer present in the Persian Gulf, thus describes the doings of the 
squadron : — " Left Kharrack on the loth of February, and proceeded to Bushire, 
to arrange some matters connected with boats belonging to Assaloo, which were 
cruising to intercept boats laden with supplies for Kharrack. The arrival of the 
' Coote,' ' Sesostris,' and ' Tigris ' at Bushire caused a great sensation. On the 
17th sailed for Bahrein, where some communications took place between the 
Commodore and the Chief; here also the range of the ' Sesostris's' guns was ex- 
hibited. The next place we went to was Furaat. Here again the Commodore 
had further communication with the Chief; after which we proceeded to a place 
called Biddah, situated at the bottom of a harbour ; the entrance is narrow, and 
in some parts barely sixteen feet water. On the arrival here of the ' Sesostris' 
and ' Coote' some negotiation about piracy was agreed to by the Chief and Com- 
modore, but at daylight next morning the signal was made, ' prepare for action ;' 
and shortly after sunrise, a shot from the ' Coote' went over the fort, and, imme- 
diately after, one close under the fort. She then opened her broadside ; the dis- 
tance was too great though the shot told — it was 1,700 yards. The ' Coote ' also 
fired nine guns, when a flag of truce came off. All was now settled here, and 
the vessels put to sea. No vessels the size of the ' Coote ' and ' Sesostris ' ever 
entered this place before. We nex 1; went to an island called Seer Abonaid ; here 
we stopped two days on account of a north-west wind. We then proceeded to 
Abothubee, where some communication took place, and the following day the 
vessels were off Debaye. This place is situated on a backwater, and the Chief, 
Muktoom, is said to be the greatest rascal on the coast. He appears to have 
been committing various acts of piracy, and breaking the maritime truce, and 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 137 

The following article in the " Bombay Times," describes the 
strength and condition of the Indian Navy, early in 1841 : — 
" Beginning with the ordinary sailing vessels of the Compauy's 
navy, they in all amount to fifteen in number of an aggregate 
burthen of 3,419 tons, and an aggregate armament of one 
hundred and twenty-eight guns ; consisting of one ship (which, 
however, is dismantled, and used as a hulk) ; three sloops-of- 
war, of about 400 tons burthen, and an armament of eighteen 
32-pounders each ; four brigs of 258, 255, 192, and 179 tons 
respectively, of ten and six light guns ; six schooners of 70 to 
157 tons, two of which are armed with long 32-pounderguns, the 
others with four 6-pounders each ; and two light cutters. These, 
though not apparently a very formidable fleet, are smart light 
teak-built craft, chiefly employed in protecting the trade along 
the coast. They are at present greatly overworked, especially 
those stationed in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf; and heavy 
complaints are made of their being under- officered, the Directors 
having, in 1838 and 1839, reduced the establishment from 
seven captains, twelve commanders, and forty-five lieutenants, 
to four captains, eight commanders, and fort} 7 lieutenants, 
amongst whom are shared the duties of the fifteen sailing 
vessels. Seven large steam vessels of from 700 to 900 tons, 
are now afloat; besides two of 900 and 1,000 tons, nearly 
ready. Seven armed iron steamers on the Indus, and four in 
the Euphrates, of from forty to seventy horse-power each. 
Each vessel has a detachment of the Marine Battalion on board. 
A system of instruction in naval gunnery is carried on, similar 
in detail to that pursued in H.M.'s ship ' Excellent ;' also a 
school of navigation and engineering. 

" It is to their steamers that the Company now look as the 
right arm of the strength of their Marine. These consist of 
nine splendid vessels, one of which is still unfinished, of an 
aggregate burthen of 15,b'58 tons, and a gross value of about 
.£500,000. They are mostly in very high condition. The 
' Auckland,' the latest built, is still in dock, but is entirely 
finished, and will be floated out on the first spring tide. The 
' Semiramis ' is not yet completed. By far the fastest of the 

that with impunity, as the naval force has never been strong enough in the G-ulf 
to send a sufficient armament to punish him. The ships anchored about 2,000 
yards from the forts, but were to go within 1,000 if necessary. The negotiations 
were not satisfactory, so at sunset the Commodore ordered the ' Sesostris ' to 
throw a shell clear of the fort, to expedite them ; at sunrise the next morning a 
shell was thrown over the fort, which had the desired effect, and the Chief came 
off, humbled himself, and satisfied all demands. We then proceeeed to Sharga, 
where all the Chiefs visited the Commodore, who had the steamer exhibited, as 
at Bahrein. We then went to Umulgaveen, a town on a large backwater ; here 
we went through the same ceremonies, and then went to the great Tomb ; the 
' Sesostris' and ' Tigris ' will now go back to the Presidency, and the ' Coote' to 
Kharrack. The cruise of this squadron will be beneficial, and the impression 
made last a few months ; but the Arab chiefs, like the sick man, require to have 
the dose often repeated." 



138 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Company's steamers is the ' Victoria,' a beautiful teak ship, 
built in Bombay in 1840, commanded by Captain Ormsby, 
and which has hitherto beat every vessel in the packet service 
in her voyages to and from Suez with the overland mails. The 
' Auckland ' and ' Sesostris ' are steam frigates, with no great 
power of engine for the size of the ship, but with a fine schooner 
rig for canvas ; this is also meant to be the case with the 
' Serniramis.' The 'Sesostris' and the 'Cleopatra' are the 
finest vessels under sail, making on a wind, if it blows fresh, 
from nine to ten knots an hour, and beating most sailing vessels 
that come in their way. The same is expected to be the case 
with the ' Auckland ' and the ' Serniramis.' The steamers at 
present are mostly in a state of very high efficiency, with the 
exception of the ' Hugh Lindsay,' ' Zenobia,' and ' Berenice,' of 
which the last only requires some repairs in her sheathing, and 
a general overhaul, she having been literally knocked off her 
legs with hard and incessant work. With the exception of the 
' Hugh Lindsay,' which is old-fashioned and slow, and the 
frigates 'Auckland,' 'Sesostris,' and 'Serniramis,' the other 
steamers are mostly employed in the packet service to Suez, a 
voyage out and in of 5,984 miles, commonly performed, all 
delays included, in thirty-eight to forty days, the stay at Suez 
being about four days, that at Aden thirty-six hours. These 
steamers consume from 600 to 700 tons of coal each voyage, 
the expense of which is about =£3 per ton; it is computed, 
however, that taking wastage into account, the cost of that 
employed in raising steam must be upwards of £4 ; so that the 
coaling alone costs from =£2,500 to .£3,000 for each voyage up 
the Red Sea. The cost of coal for the Bombay steam flotilla 
amounts annually to upwards of ,£30,000. The greater part of 
this is contracted for in England, and costs about £o per 
ton when landed at Bombay ; a considerable portion has of late 
been purchased at Bomba} 7 , and has cost somewhere about 
£1 IBs. per ton. At Suez, about 1,500 tons are required an- 
nually, cost, including salary of agents, .£5 10s. per ton. The 
number of passengers of all descriptions for two years preceding 
May 1840, was, from Suez 234, for Suez 255 ; these included 
servants and children. The fare of first class passengers betwixt 
Suez and Bombay is .£80, of which .£30 goes to the commander 
of the vessel for table money, and £50 into the Government 
Treasury. The gross receipts for passengers in the periods 
just alluded to have been somewhat above £30,000; of which 
about £] 2,000 has gone to the commanders for table money, 
and <£18,000 to the Treasury." 

In March, 1841, Captain Moresby, who had proceeded to 
England early in 1838, on the cessation of the surveys, after 
ten years' continuous service in this department, finally retired 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 139 

from the Service,* when the Governor in Council, in orders, 
dated the 29th of March, notified that he would '-have much 
pleasure in bringing to the notice of the Hon. the Court of 
Directors, the distinguished services which Captain Moresby in 
an honourable career of nearly twenty-four years, has rendered 
to his country and the Government, and especially the manner 
in which by his valuable services, he has contributed to extend 
and improve the science of maritime geography."! Shortly 

* An officer of the Service writes to us as follows of the circumstances under 
which Captain Moresby retired from the Service : — " He left the Indian Navy in 
disgust, as he told me himself. Of course the Peninsular and Oriental Company 
were delighted to get such a man as Moresby, and the Government were as much 
vexed and annoyed at losing him. He got £1,000 a year from the Peninsular and 
Oriental Company. He could not get that in the Indian Navy, but that was not 
what vexed him ; it was that he did not like the treatment he met with, for he 
was a sensitive and proud gentleman, and a very noble fellow." 

t The Peninsular and Oriental Company, then entering upon their successful 
career as the great carrying company of the East, paid Captain Moresby and the 
Service of which he was so distinguished an ornament, the great compliment of 
selecting him to command their fine new steamship, ' Hindostan,' of 2,017 tons 
and 550 horse-power, which was the pioneer of that magnificent fleet of ships 
which has covered the Eastern seas from Japan to Suez. The ' Hindostan,' with 
eighty passengers, sailed, via, the Cape, for India on the 24th of September, 1842, 
the Directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Company giving a grand banquet 
on the 13th of the month, at winch the Chairman, Sir John Campbell, in re- 
turning thanks to the toast of the prosperity of his Company, proposed by 
General Sir James Law Lushington, G.C.B., Chairman of the East India Com- 
pany, said: — "The Company were determined to establish a line of powerful 
steamships, of which he hoped the ' Hindostan ' might be considered as a 
favourable specimen ; and should their efforts on the other side of the isthmus 
be supported as fully by the Government as those they had made up to Alexan- 
dria, he did feel entitled to say that hereafter the communication between this 
country and Calcutta, Ceylon, and Madras, would be as frequent and as regular 
as that which now existed between this country and Alexandria and Malta. 
Above all he begged to acknowledge, on behalf of the Company, the liberal 
system pursued towards tliem by the East India Company — tangible proof of 
which was their annual grant of £20,000. This was, however, but characteristic 
of their general system in all matters by which our Eastern dominions were 
calculated to be benefited." The ' Hindostan ' arrived at Bombay on the 20th 
of December, and proceeded to Calcutta, from which she continued to carry mails 
and passengers to Suez. 

Captain Moresby made fourteen voyages in command of the ' Hindostan,' and 
on the completion of the last, during which the ship was in imminent danger, the 
passengers, principally military officers (among whom we find the name of Sir 
John Garvock, and others of note), presented him with the following address : — 
" Steamer ' Hindostan,' approaching Suez, August 6, 1846. 
" Dear Captain Moresby, 
" As we shall, in all probability, arrive at Suez during the night, we are anxious 
before we separate, to offer to you our best and warmest thanks for the kindness 
and attention we have received from you whilst on board this noble vessel. Your 
well known skill as a seaman and navigator, your intimate acquaintance with the 
seas through which we have passed, your devoted attention to the duties of your 
ship, and your anxiety and watchfulness when approaching land, have impressed 
us with feelings of confidence and security which can only be fully appreciated 
by those who have experienced clanger such as we have recently escaped. We 
feel that we are only doing you common justice in stating, that you have used 
your best exertions to contribute to the comfort, convenience, and kindly feeling 
of your passengers, and to lessen the inconvenience to which this mode of con- 
veyance is perhaps unavoidably subject. We are aware this is the last voyage 



140 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYT. 

before Captain Moresby's resignation, Captain Pepper, an old 
and distinguished officer, resigned the post of senior officer at 
SSurat, from the 1st of January, 1841, and proceeded to England 
for the benefit of his health. On this occasion the Governor in 
Council, under date the 29th of December, 1840, took the 
opportunity of recording the " high sense he entertained of 
Captain Pepper's valuable services in the various offices he has 
filled during his long professional career." 

In 1840 war broke out with China, and a large fleet and 
army were despatched thither, a great portion of the latter 
being drawn from the three Presidencies. The ' Queen,' a 
steamer built at Northfleet for the Bengal Government, at the 
same time as the 'Cleopatra' and ' Sesostris,' and which ulti- 
mately was brought into the Indian Navy, and the 'Mada- 
gascar/ also a steamer, were despatched to China by the 
Supreme Government, and the Indian Navy was most 
efficiently represented by the ' Atalanta,' and, at a later 
period of hostilities, by a fine squadron of steamers, the 
' Auckland,' ' Sesostris,' ' Akbar,' ' Memnon,' ' Medusa,' and 
' Ariadne.' 

The 'Atalanta' only arrived from sea on the 9th of April, 
1840, when she was immediately fitted with heavy guns, and 
Commander T E. Rogers placarded Bombay for " fifty young 
and active sailors," to fill up his complement of European 
seamen. The ' Atalanta ' sailed on the 28th of April, and 
arrived off Canton river on the 20th of June, in company with 
the ' Wellesley,' bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Sir 
J. J. Gordon Bremer, and H.M.'s ships ' Cruiser,' ' Algerine,' 
and ' Rattlesnake,' with eighteen transports, having troops on 
board. The Bocca Tigris was blockaded, and, on the 28th of 
June, Admiral Elliot, Commander-in-chief, arrived in the 'Mel- 
ville,' seventy-four guns. The first operation was the capture 
of Chusan, on the 5th of July, by Sir Gordon Bremer. The 
'Atalanta,' which had been employed on the previous day re- 

you propose to undertake on this side the isthmus of Suez, and in closing your 
career in the Indian seas you may be justly proud of the prominent part you 
have taken in the establishment of steam navigation between India and your 
native country. To your distinguished labours as a maritime surveyor we are 
indebted for the safe navigation of the Red Sea ; to you it fell to establish the 
first coal depot at Aden, you were the first to complete the direct line of commu- 
nication between England and Calcutta, and you have, in the splendid vessel we 
are now leaving;, kept up that communication uninterruptedly for a period of 
three years and a half. We are glad to learn that your valuable services are 
likely to be continued to the Peninsular aud Oriental Company, and you have our 
best wishes that a more congenial climate may preserve you in health, and that 
your career may be as successful in the European as it has hitherto been in the 
Indian seas. And now, dear Captain Moresby, with our best wishes for the health 
and happiness of yourself, your amiable lady, and your family, 

" Believe us, very sincerely yours." 
(Appended were the signatures of eleven ladies and twenty-seven gentlemen.) 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 141 

connoitring, towed the ' Wellesley ' into position, and, after a 
few broadsides from the fleet, the troops landed and took pos- 
session of the works, upon which were mounted ninety-one 
guns. In his despatch to Admiral Elliot, who arrived on the 
following day, Sir Gordon Bremer does justice to the " zeal and 
alacrity " displayed by the officers and men of the ' Atalanta ' 
and ' Queen,' no less than by those of H.M.'s ships. The 
Admiral says in his despatch of the 17th of July, that he pro- 
ceeded to Ningpo, on the 13th, in the ' Atcilanta,' the squadron, 
with the exception of the ' Wellesley,' having preceded him, 
and, after establishing a blockade of the river, returned to 
Chusan. 

On the 7th of January, 1841, a portion of the army and 
fleet, the latter under Sir Gordon Bremer, now acting Com- 
mander-in-chief, Admiral Elliot having proceeded to England 
sick on the 4th of December, captured the forts of Chuenpee 
and Tykoktow,* and, on the 20th, preliminaries of peace were 
signed between the British and Chinese commissioners, but it 
was soon found that the latter were acting with the duplicity of 
which we have since had so many instances in our dealings 
with the Celestials. On their faithlessness becoming manifest, 
the fleet captured, during the months of February and March, 
the Bogue forts, as the extensive batteries on the Bocca Tigris, 
to bar the passage of the river, were called. At the capture of 
the strong chain of forts defending Canton, by the military and 
naval forces under Sir Hugh Gough, between the 23rd and 27th 
of May, the ' Atalanta ' was of great service towing the boats 
and other craft carrying the right column of attack, the left 
division being towed by the ' Nemesis.' " The ' Atalanta,' " 
says Sir H. Senhouse,t senior naval officer, "was then placed 
so as to enfilade the line of the batteries in front of the city." 
Captain (the late Admiral Sir) Thomas Herbert, of the ' Cal- 

* In this action the following Company's steamers were engaged : The ' Queen,' 
Mr. Warden ; ' Madagascar,' Mr. Dicey ; and ' Nemesis,' (which arrived from 
England in November, 1840), Mr. W. H. Hall, then a master in the Navy, who 
gained the soubriquet of ' Nemesis Hall,' and is now an Admiral. 

Mr. Bernard wrote a work in two volumes, entitled " Narrative of the Voyages 
and Services of the ' Nemesis,' from 18-40 to 1843, compiled from the notes of her 
Commander." "The ' Nemesis,' which was built in England for the service of 
the East India Company, went to sea," says Mr. Bernard, " a merchantman, 
although heavily armed; she was never commissioned under the Articles of War, 
although commanded principally by officers of the Boyal Navy ; neither was she 
classed among the ships of the regular navy of the East India Company." The 
' Nemesis ' was built in three months by Mr. Laird, of Liverpool ; her burthen 
was 700 tons, her engines of 120 horse-power ; her length 18-4 feet, breadth 29 feet, 
depth 11 feet ; and with twelve days' supply of coal, water and provisions for 
four months, and stores, she only drew six feet. 

t This officer died on the succeeding June 14, of exhaustion and fatigue, con- 
sequent on his exertions at the attack on Canton. Between March 31, when Sir 
Gordon Bremer proceeded to Calcutta, to confer with the Governor-General, and 
up to the time of his death, Sir H. Senhouse was in command of the fleet. Sir G. 
Bremer returned to Macao on the 22nd of June. 



142 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

liope,' commanding the advanced squadron, to which the ' Ata- 
lanta' was attached, in his despatch describing the storming of 
the French fort on the 26th of May, makes special mention of 
Lieutenant Grieve and Mr. Midshipman Eden of the latter ship. 
Captain "Warren, of the ' Hyacinth,' also says in his despatch to 
Sir H. Senhouse, " I cannot conclude without expressing my 
approbation of the steadiness of Commander Rogers, of the 
Indian Navy, in conducting the 'Atalanta' to her station." 
Again, in a despatch of the 2nd of June, he says: — "By the 
indefatigable attention of Commander Rogers, of the Hon. 
Company's steam vessel 'Atalanta,' who, for three days, was 
almost in constant motion, all the transports and ships of war 
were assembled, excepting two of the former which grounded." 
The operations at Canton were completely successful, and the 
forts, mounting forty-nine guns, were captured with the loss of 
fifteen killed and one hundred and twelve wounded. 

Oil the 24th of August the 'Atalanta' left China with Sir 
Gordon Bremer, and arrived at Bombay on the 26th of Sep- 
tember. Commander Rogers, who was suffering from ill-health, 
had arrived at the Presidency shortly before, and, on the occa- 
sion of his being placed in orders on the 21st of September, to 
proceed to Europe for the benefit of his health, the following 
notification was issued from Bombay Castle : — " The Hon. the 
Governor in Council regrets the necessity which has compelled 
Commander Rogers' departure from China at a juncture of such 
importance, and desires to take the occasion of recording his 
sense of the distinguished services of this officer, while in com- 
mand of the Hon. Company's steam sloop-of-war 'Atalanta,' 
during the recent operations in China. These services, which 
have been reported in terms of marked approbation by Her 
Majesty's Chief Superintendent, the Hon. the Governor in 
Council will have much satisfaction in bringing to the notice 
of the Hon. Court of Directors." The Court, on his arrival in 
England, presented Commander T. E. Rogers with a sword of 
the value of one hundred guineas in acknowledgment of his 
services, and appointed him to the lucrative post of Master- 
Attendant at Calcutta. 

Pecuniary rewards were also granted to those who had par- 
ticipated in what may be called the first phase of the China 
"War. " The Queen," so ran the notification of the Home 
Government, " as a mark of the high sense Her Majesty enter- 
tains of the gallant behaviour of the officers and men," directed 
that a portion of the sum of money received from the Chinese 
authorities at Canton, under the convention concluded by 
Captain Elliot, should be paid, as batta, for twelve or six 
months, according to length of service, to the Military and 
Naval forces of the Queen and Company, engaged at Canton, 
Chusan, and elsewhere in China, up to the end of June, 1841. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 143 

Accordingly, the Governor-General in Council issued an order, 
dated the 2nd of March, 1842, in which was published a copy 
of the Treasury Minute, by which it was ordered that " officers 
and men of the East India Company's steamers should receive 
the same allowances as officers and men of Her Majesty's 
ships." 

In July, 1841, Admiral Sir William Parker, the newly ap- 
pointed Commander-in-chief, arrived at Bombay, and, accom- 
panied by Sir Henry Pottinger, who had been nominated " sole 
Plenipotentiary, Minister Extraordinary, and chief Superinten- 
dent of British Trade in China," sailed from Bombay in the 
steam frigate ' Sesostris,' Commander Ormsby, which arrived 
at Macao on the 9th of August. 

Throughout the succeeding operations, whenever seamen 
were landed from the fleet, the Naval Brigade included a de- 
tachment from the ' Sesostris,' which was placed under the com- 
mand of the senior lieutenant, Mr. J. Rennie. Sir William 
Parker had opportunities of judging of Lieutenant Rennie's 
seamanlike qualities when he was a passenger on board the 
' Sesostris ' from Bombay to China, and his quick eye recog- 
nised in him the efficient officer and smart seaman. The Indian 
Navy worked, on the whole, amicably with the Royal Service ; 
but, occasionally, difficulties arose, owing to the friction caused 
by the jealousy unhappily existing between the two Services, 
and by the attempts sometimes made to treat the commissioned 
officers of the Indian Navy on the same footing as those of the 
uncoveuanted Bengal Marine, which were always resented by 
the former. On such occasions, whenever Sir William Parker 
was appealed to, and Lieutenant Rennie especially was quick 
to resent any attempt to slight in his person the status of an 
old and distinguished Service, the Admiral would discourage 
any endeavour to treat its representatives as inferior in position 
to the officers of his own Service, and, with the kind-hearted- 
ness and geniality for which he was remarkable, always ended 
by inviting to dinner the offender and the officer whose amour 
propre had been ruffled, when a hearty shake of the hand, or a 
few words, would soon set all right between the belligerents. 

On the 21st of August, the fleet,* accompanied by twenty-one 
transports, with troops, sailed for Hong Kong in three divisions, 
the centre led by the ' Wellesley,' carrying the flag of Sir W. 
Parker, the weather division by the ' Queen,' having Sir H. 
Pottinger on board, and the lee division by the ' Sesostris ; ' 

* H.M. ships 'Wellesley,' 'Blonde,' 'Druid,' ' Modeste,' 'Cruiser,' 'Colum- 
bine,' ' Pjlades,' 'Algerine,' and 'Rattlesnake' troop-ship. Hon. Company's 
steam ships ' Sesostris,' ' Queen,' ' Nemesis,' and ' Phlegethon.' The steamers 
' Enterprise ' and ' Madagascar ' returned to Calcutta for repairs in September, 
1841, when the latter caught fire at sea and blew up. At this time Captain 
Elliot, the Commissioner, proceeded to England. 



144 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

immediately in rear of the ' Queen ' and ' Sesostris ' were the 
steamers ' Phlegethon ' and 'Nemesis.' The fleet rendezvoused 
off the harbour of Amoy on the 25th, and, on the following 
morning, the defences were reconnoitred by Sir Hugh Gough 
and Sir William Parker. These appeared to be of vast extent 
and great strength, and the battery is described by Mr. Mc 
Pherson, in his account of the war, as upwards of a mile in 
length, faced with mud and turf, several feet thick, and mount- 
ing about one hundred guns. It was decided that the line-of- 
battle ships ' Wellesley ' and 'Blenheim' should attack the 
strongest batteries, the forty-four gun frigates ' Druid ' and 
' Blonde,' and the ' Modeste,' sixteen guns, the island of Koolang- 
soo, while the ' Cruiser,' ' Columbine,' ' Pylades,' and ' Algerine,' 
engaged the extreme point of the line, and covered the landing 
of the troops, flanked by the * Sesostris ' and ' Queen.' 

" About a quarter past one," says Sir W. Parker, in his 
despatch, of the 31st of August, to the Governor-General, " a 
steady and favourable breeze having set in, the squadron 
weighed and proceeded to their stations. The 'Sesostris,' 
being the most advanced, received a heavy fire before any 
return was made. She was soon joined by the ' Queen,' and 
both commenced action with good effect." The ' Wellesley ' 
and 'Blenheim' anchored at 2.30, within four hundred yards of 
the principal battery, and opened fire, the remainder of the fleet 
commencing to engage about the same time. Lieutenant (now 
Admiral Sir) Richard Cullinson, in the ten-gun brig ' Ben thick,' 
who was employed sounding ahead of the ' Wellesley,' anchored 
within the entrance of the harbour, " where he was joined," 
says the Admiral, " by the ' Sesostris,' which was placed by 
Captain Ormsby in a very judicious situation for relieving her 
and the other ships from a raking fire." " The fire of the 
Chinese," he continues, " soon slackened, under the excellent 
gun practice of the squadron," and about 3.30 the troops, 
with detachments of seamen, were landed and carried the 
batteries." 

On the following day the city w r as entered, and the citadel, 
with its vast magazines and granaries, fell into the hands of 
the victors. The Admiral says : — " I have the highest satisfac- 
tion in reporting the gallantry, zeal, and energy, which have 
been manifested by ever} r officer and man in H.M.'s Navy and 
Royal Marines, as well as those of the Indian Navy under my 
command. They have vied with each other in the desire to 
anticipate and meet every object for the public service, and are 
fully entitled to my best acknowledgments, and the favourable 
consideration of the Board of Admiralty and Indian Govern- 
ment." A small garrison of five hundred and fifty men was 
left on the island of Koolangsoo, together with the ' Druid,' 
' Pylades,' and ' Algerine,' for their support. 



HISTORY OF THE LVDIAN NAVY. 145 

The following account of the service rendered by the ' Sesos- 
tris * at the capture of Amoy, on the 2Gth of August, appears in 
the Asiatic Journal for January, 1842 : — " The plan of attack 
seems to have been soon arranged, for, at one o'clock, the ' Sesos- 
tris' and 'Queen' steamed up to the long battery, consisting of 
seventy-six guns, on the right of the harbour ; these allowed 
them to come very near without firing. The first shot was fired 
at the ' Sesostris,' and was followed by eleven others before she 
returned the compliment; she then, however, kept up a good 
fire from three of her guns, passed along the whole length of 
the battery (more than half a mile) till she came opposite the 
white semicircular battery, behind which the suburbs of the 
town on this side of the hill commence ; here she remained all 
alone for more than half-an-hour, firing shot and shell at the 
battery and into the town in right good style, when she was 
relieved by the 'Wellesley' and 'Blenheim' coming up and 
anchoring so near as to render her further presence unnecessary. 
She then passed on to the batteries on the island (Colun-soo) 
and added her guns to those of the ' Blonde,' ' Modeste,' and 
' Druid,' who had taken up their position there ; here she re- 
mained until the close of the whole affair, dividing her favours 
between the batteries on that island and another strong one 
in front of part of the suburbs of the city, which was also 
within her range. When the ' Queen ' had done as much 
mischief as she thought proper to the battery at the end of 
the wall, or rather as soon as she had finished protecting the 
landing of the troops at that point, she joined the ' Blonde,' 
' Druid,' ' Modeste,' and ' Sesostris,' in their attack upon 
the island and town. The two small steamers, 'Nemesis' 
and ' Phlegethon,' were most usefully employed in landing the 
troops." 

The combined naval and military force sailed from Amoy on 
the 5th of September, and, on the 21st, reached the Chusan 
islands, which had been evacuated in February by the British 
garrison. On the 26th, a reconnaissance was made of the 
defences of Tinghae and Chusan harbour, when it was found 
that the place had been considerably strengthened since its 
capture by Sir Gordon Bremer. The ' Wellesley' was moored 
as close as possible to the intended point of landing, and 
the ' Cruiser' and ' Columbine' were advanced within 200 yards 
of the beach. By occasional well-directed round shot from 
those vessels, and shells from the ' Sesostris,' the Chinese were 
completely kept in check. The disembarkation of the troops 
took place on the morning of the 1st of October, in two 
columns, that destined for the attack of the sea defences being 
strengthened by a detachment of seamen and marines ; in 
landing the troops, the ' Sesostris' rendered great assistance. 
" The steam vessels," says the Admiral, " moved into the inner 

VOL. II. L 



14(5 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

harbour as soon as the troops were landed, to assist in the 
reduction of Tinghae," upon which the main body, led by ISir 
Hugh (lough, having carried the line of batteries, now rapidly 
advanced. By two o'clock the place was in possession of the 
British, who captured thirty-six new brass guns. In the report 
of his proceedings, the Admiral says : — " The unremitting exer- 
tions of every officer and man of H.M.'s squadron, Royal 
Marines, and Indian Navy, throughout the operations, merit 
my warmest commendation," and again : — " The fire from the 
ships and steam-vessels covering the landing party, did much 
execution."' 

The weather did not permit further proceedings till the 7th 
of October, when the troops were re-embarked and proceeded 
to Chinhae. The defences of this city, situated at the entrance 
and on the left bank of the Tahee, or Ningpo river, were very 
extensive and had been strengthened by the Chinese in expecta- 
tion of an attack. The wall enclosing the city was 37 feet in 
thickness and 22 feet high, and nearly two miles in circum- 
ference ; on a commanding position was the citadel, which was 
regarded as the key of Chinhae, and of the large and opulent 
city of Ningpo, fifteen miles up the river. The fortifications, 
according to Sir Hugh Gough, " presented both a sea de- 
fence and a military position of great strength." The plan of 
attack embraced the landing of two columns of troops on the 
right bank of the river, while the attack on the citadel and city 
on the left bank, was assigned to the ships-of-war. Early on 
the morning of the LOth of October, the troops were landed, and 
while the citadel was cannonaded by the ' Wellesley' and 'Blen- 
heim' — towed to their stations by the ' Sesostris,' " with very 
commendable activity," says the Admiral — assisted by the 
'Blonde,' and 'Modeste,' the 'Sesostris,' ' Queen,' and ' Phle- 
gethon ' shelled the citadel in flank and enfiladed such of the 
harbour batteries as the guns could bear upon. Soon after 
eleven, the citadel was breached and the defences reduced to a 
ruinous state, when the Chinese abandoned the guns. The first 
column of troops had already entered some of the batteries, 
and, before noon, a battalion of soldiers and seamen had carried 
the citadel by assault. The high wall of the city was now 
escaladed, the garrison having fled, and Captain Herbert 
remained in command until the evening, when Sir Hugh 
Gough arrived, and a body of troops was conveyed across the 
river in the ' Phlegethon.' The total number of ordnance cap- 
tured, amounted to ninety iron, and sixty-seven brass, guns. 
The Admiral, in his despatch to the Governor-General, again 
expressed his sense of "the gallantry and good conduct of 
every officer and man of H.M.'s ships and the Indian Navy," 
under his command, and the pleasure he had "in bearing testi- 
mony to his lordship, that the same spirit of enterprise has 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 147 

been conspicuously evinced by Commander H. A. Orrnsby, 
and Lieutenant McCleverty, Mr. Hall and Mr. Warden, and 
indeed by every officer and man in the steam vessels attached 
to the expedition." 

A garrison of about five hundred men, and the ' Blonde,' 
were left at Chinhae, and the military and naval chiefs having 
decided to attack Ningpo, only fifteeu miles up the river, the 
remainder of the troops were embarked in the ' Sesostris,' 
'Queen,' ' Phlegethon,' and 'Nemesis,' the supernumerary sea- 
men being distributed in the ' Modeste,' ' Cruiser/ ' Columbine,' 
and ' Bentinck.' On the morning of the 13th of October, the 
Expedition proceeded up the river, and the vast city, with a 
population of 300,000 souls, was captured in the afternoon 
without any resistance, the troops and mandarins having fled a 
few hours before, leaving considerable booty and a large 
amount of cash. A lull now took place in the prosecution of 
active operations, and the British commanders awaited the 
arrival of reinforcements, while Sir Henry Pottinger proceeded 
to Hong Kong, where he arrived on the 1st of February. 

The Chinese having occupied some places in the neighbourhood 
of Ningpo, on the 27th of December, Sir Hugh Gough and Sir 
"William Parker proceeded up the river t3 Yuyao, with seven 
hundred troops, embarked in the small steamers, and the enemy 
were dislodged from their positions ; a second Expedition to 
Fungwa, on the 10th of January, 1842, was equally successful. 
During the absence of the Commander-in-chief the garrisons at 
Ningpo and Chinhae repulsed, with heavy loss, two columns of 
Chinese troops, which made a determined attack on the morn- 
ing of the 10th of March. At Ningpo, where the fighting was 
severe, a number of fire-rafts, lashed together with chains, were 
floated down the river, across which they extended ; and had it 
not been for the promptitude of the officers of the ' Sesostris," 
assisted by the boats of the ' Modeste,' which towed the fire- 
rafts into the mud, where 'they burnt harmlessly, the former 
ship would have been destroyed. 

Captain H. B. Watson, commanding H.M.S. 'Modeste,' says : 
— At half-past twelve a.m., a shot was fired from two guns, 
planted on the bank of the river, at H M.S. ' Columbine,' and, at 
three a.m., four fire-rafts were discovered drifting down the south- 
west branch of the river, with the ebb tide, ahead of the Hon. 
Company's steamer ' Sesostris,' extending the whole way across 
it. 1 immediately sent Lieutenant Pearse, with Messrs. Halkett 
and Crofton, mates, with two boats to assist in towing the fire- 
rafts clear of her, and, by the indefatigable exertions of Mr. 
Roberts, her master, with the boats of the ' Sesostris,' and the 
quickness with which Commander Orrnsby slipped one of his 
cables, they were happily grounded clear of her, and ahead of 
the ' Modeste,' where they exploded. During this time a smart 

L 2 



148 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

fire was kept up on the boats by tlie enemy from the banks of 
the river. As soon as the fire-rafts were lit, it appears to have 
been the signal for a general assault upon the city of Ningpo; 
for immediately a heavy discharge of matchlocks and jingals 
followed ; soon after an officer hailed the ship from the shore, 
to say that the gates on the southern and western side had been 
attacked by a strong body of Chinese troops. The boats of 
H.M.'s ship 'Modeste' and the Hon. Company's steamer ' Sesos- 
tris,' under the command of Lieutenant Birch, were sent higher 
up the river to fire on the advancing columns of the Chinese, 
and at daylight the ' Sesostris ' and ' Phlegethon ' took up a 
position to do so more effectually, whilst the ' Queen ' moved 
up to cover the north gate, astern of the ' Columbine.' Soon 
after eight a.m., the firing had all ceased, the enemy having 
been beaten at all points with a most severe loss. Lieutenant 
Birch, with the boats of the 'Modesto' and ' Sesostris' under 
his command, proceeded up the south-west branch of the river, 
towards Foong-wa, and no traces either of fire-rafts or an 
enemy being seen, returned on board. I cannot close my letter 
without expressing my thanks to Commander Morshead, of 
H.M.'s sloop 'Columbine,' Commander Ormsby, of the Hen. 
Company's steamer ' Sesostris ;' Lieutenant McCleverty, of the 
Hon. Company's steamer ' Phlegethon ;' Mr. Warden, of the Hon. 
Company's steamer ' Queen ;' and to all the officers and ships' 
company's employed, for their valuable assistance on this occa- 
sion." This eulogium was heartily endorsed by Sir William 
Parker, in his despatches to the Admiralty, dated "Chusan, 
March 18, 1842." 

The naval and military commanders-in-chief, who proceeded 
to Ningpo, acknowledging the desirability of following up the 
repulses at Chinhae and Ningpo, determined to make a rapid 
movement on the Chinese camp at Tsekee.* Accordingly, the 
small-arm men and marines of the squadron, numbering four 
hundred and ten men, were placed under the command of 
Captain T. Bourchier, of the ' Blonde,' the ' Sesostris ' con- 
tributing a detachment, under Lieuteuant J. Kennie and 
Messrs. A. J. Smith and H. Broughton. On the morning of 
the 15th of March, about eight hundred and fifty troops and 
four guns, in addition to the naval brigade, accompanied 
by Sir Hugh Gough, embarked in the ' Nemesis,' ' Phle- 
gethon,' and 'Queen,' which immediately proceeded up the 
river. The combined force was landed and in full march for 
Tsekee by two p.m., the ' Phlegethon' being sent up the river 
to harass the retreat of the Chinese army. About four o'clock 

* Sir Hugh Gough, on March 13, made a preliminary movement as far as Litso 
seven miles distant, with a force of six hundred bayonets and two guns, flanked 
by the ' Sesostris,' which moved up the river parallel to his route, but his Excel- 
lency returned on finding that the Chinese had retreated over the hills the pre- 
cediun night. 



I 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAYY. 149 

the city walls were escaladed by the seamen and marines, with- 
out resistance on the part of the enemy, who, to the number of 
five or six thousand men, were strongly posted in fortified camps 
on the two high hills of Seagon, in front and on the left. The 
assault of the former was assigned to the 49th Regiment, and 
of the latter to the naval brigade. The attack was completely 
successful, and the hills were carried in gallant style, the 
Chinese, who kept up a hot fire during the ascent, not waiting 
to cross bayonets with their foes. The loss of the naval brigade 
was only three killed and fifteen wounded, while the Chinese 
left between eight hundred and a thousand dead on the 
field. The Admiral conveyed his " best and cordial thanks 
to every individual of Her Majesty's squadron and the In- 
dian Navy, attached to the naval brigade, whose conduct 
was as exemplary for steadiness in their quarters as in the 
field." 

Ningpo was evacuated on the 7th of May, a small garrison 
was left at the citadel of Chinghae, and the fleet sailed for 
Chapoo, a port distant sixty miles to the northward of the latter 
place. On the 18th of May, the troops, in three columns, with 
a total strength of fourteen hundred men, having disembarked 
in a bay about two miles to the eastward of the city, under 
cover of the steamers and small vessels of war, marched to dis- 
lodge the Chinese from the defences of the surrounding heights. 
The combined attack of the three columns commenced simulta- 
neously ; and while the ' Cornwallis,' seventy-four guns, 
'Blonde,' forty-four guns, and ' Modeste,' eighteen guns, en- 
gaged the sea batteries, the 'Sesostris' shelled the field works 
for the purpose of dispersing the Chinese, as the troops ad- 
vanced to the attack. The heights were carried in fine style 
by the troops ; and Sir W. Parker having joined the General 
with the seamen and marines of the fleet, under command of 
Captain Bourchier, C.B., of the ' Blonde,' the batteries were 
carried by the Naval Brigade before the mines in them could 
be sprung, and the gates in the city were occupied. The 
Chinese attempted to retreat, but were intercepted in every 
direction and suffered severely, their loss being between twelve 
and fifteen hundred men, while that of the British was eleven 
killed, including Colonel Tomlinson, commanding the 18th 
Royal Irish, and fifty-five wounded. 

The Admiral, in his despatch of the 23rd of May, reported in 
favourable terms of the conduct of the Naval Brigade, which 
included a detachment from the 'Sesostris,' under their officers, 
Lieutenant J. Reunie, Mr. A. J. Smith, mate, Mr. Henry 
Broughton, midshipman, and Mr. Patrick Cruickshank, assistant- 
surgeon. 

While the fleet lay at anchor off Chapoo, the long-expected 
reinforcements arrived from India and England. These 



150 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

consisted of Her Majesty's 98th, with artillery, and several 
regiments of Madras Native Infantry ; Her Majesty's ships 
; Vindictive/ fifty guns : ' Thalia' and ' Endymion,' forty-four 
guns; ' Cambrian,' thirty-six guns; 'North Star,' twenty-six 
guns ; ' Dido,' twenty guns ; ' Pelican ' and ' Harlequin,' 
eighteen guns ; ' Childers,' ' Clio,' ' Hazard/ ' Wanderer/ 
' Serpent,' and ' Wolverine,' sixteen guns ; ' Chameleon,' ten 
guns ; steamer ' Vixen,' eight guns. Also, the Indian Navy 
steamers, 'Auckland/ Commander R. Ethersey ; ' Ariadne/ 
Lieutenant J. Roberts ; and ' Medusa,' Lieutenant H. H. 
Hewett ; and the Bengal Marine steamers, ' Tenasserim/ 
'Hooghly/ ' Pluto/ and 'Proserpine.' 

After the necessary delay in destroying the Latteries, maga- 
zines, and other public buildings at Chapoo, the troops were 
re-embarked, and the Expedition quitted that port on the 28th 
of May. On the 8th of June the fleet rendezvoused off the 
Amherst Rocks, when steps were taken to define the shoals on 
the north side of the channel leading into the Yang-tse-kiang 
river. This point was not reached, however, without the 
occurrence of a serious accident to the 'Ariadne,' a new flat- 
bottomed steamer of the Indian Navy, which had recently joined 
the fleet under the command of Lieutenant J. Roberts. The 
' Ariadne' struck on the point of a rock,* before unknown, and, 
a hole being knocked in her bottom, the engine-room compart- 
ment was speedily filled with water. Lieutenant Roberts 
promptly got a sail under her bottom, and, having received 
assistance from the squadron, the leak was sufficiently stopped 
to enable her to be towed to Chusanf by the ' Sesostris/ which 
then returned to the fleet. 

The weather continued too thick for the ships to break 
ground until the 13th of June, when the 'Cornwallis,' 'Blonde/ 
' Columbine,' ' Medusa,' 'Phlegethon,' and ' Tenasserim/ joined 
the ' Modeste' at the anchorage off Woosung, a distance of 
thirty miles, whither she had proceeded, in company with the 
'Nemesis' and Pluto,' to intercept any communication with 
that place. At the point where the river Woosung joins the 
Yang-tze-kiang, the banks were lined with strong batteries, 
the western side, between the cities of Paoushan and Woosung, 
presenting for three miles an uninterrupted fortified embank- 
ment, mounting one hundred and thirty-four guns. Again, on 
the opposite bank of a creek bounding the latter city, the 
Chinese had constructed a semi-circular battery, mounting ten 

* This rock, which is a-wash at low water, but had four or five feet of water 
on it at the time of the accident, is now known as the " Ariadne rock." 

f The ' Ariadne ' was doomed to misfortune. On her arrival at Chusan she 
was run ashore for repairs, and was set afloat on the night of June 23, when she 
slid off a mud bank and sunk in ten fathoms of water, and the officers and crew 
escaped with their lives though three Chinamen perished. The vessel was irre- 
coverably lost as it was found impossible to raise her. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 151 

24-pounclers, while a strong fort,* armed with twenty-one guns, 
at the mouth of the eastern entrance of the Woosung river, 
completed the sea defences, making a total of one hundred 
and sevent3 r -five guns, which were all placed injudicious posi- 
tions. 

On the 14th of June, the military and naval commanders- 
in-chief made a close reconnaissance of these works in the 
Company's steamer ' Medusa,' which acquired the name of "the 
Cornwallis' child," as she always accompanied the flag-ship as 
tender throughout the succeeding operations ; and her gallant 
commander, Lieutenant H. H. Hewett, won the admiration of 
every officer and man of the fleet for his bonhomie and dashing 
seamanlike qualities.! As no spot appeared available where 
the troops could be landed, except under the protection of the 
guns of the fleet, Commanders Kellett and Collinson, assisted 
by the masters of the ships-of-war, sounded and buoyed the 
channel during the nights, and the 'Medusa,' supported by 
guard-boats, was then advanced as near the batteries as was 
possible, without exposing her to destruction, for the purpose of 
preventing the Chinese from removing the buoys. In this she 
was successful, and, as the Admiral said in his despatch, 
" by the vigilance of Lieutenant Hewett, none of them were 
disturbed." 

The 'Sesostris' returned from Chusan on the 15th of June, 
just in time to participate in the ensuing operations. The 
wind being adverse for the ships taking up their assigned posi- 
tions under sail, the Admiral, at daybreak on the following 
morning, the state of the tide and weather being favourable for 
the purpose, caused the steam-ships to be lashed alongside the 
sailing-vessels, and, at six a.m. of the 16th of June, the whole 
moved to the attack on Woosung in the following order : — The 
leading ship ' Blonde,' towed by the ' Tenasserim ;' the flag- 
ship 'Cornwallis,' towed by the 'Sesostris;' the 'Modeste,' 
towed by the 'Nemesis;' the 'Columbine,' towed by the 
' Phlegethon ;' the 'Clio,' towed by the 'Pluto;' the ' Algerine' 
to proceed as close as possible under sail, the 'Medusa' being 
reserved to meet any unexpected contingency. The 'Blonde' 
and ' Cornwallis,' says the Admiral, in his despatch, " were 
directed to anchor against the heaviest batteries, at the entrance 
on the western side, and, when placed, the sloops were to 
proceed higher up under cover of their fire, to attack those 

* The distance between this fort on the east side and the main battery on the 
west line, was about a mile, and the channel running in a curved direction between 
them on the west side, was not more than 320 yards in width. 

t It would appear as if these qualities were characteristic of the family, as the 
British Navy does not possess a finer seaman or more popular officer than his 
nephew, Commodore Sir William Hewett, while his brother, Mr. Prescott Hewett, 
F R.S., President of the Royal College of Surgeons, is equally famous in his 
profession. 



152 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

adjoining the village of Woosnng, anil the flanking battery 
immediately opposite to it; and it was in order that she might 
be in readiness to support the sloops, should they require it, 
that the ' Blonde' preceded the flag-ship, for the narrowness of 
the channel made it doubtful whether she could pass her. 
Captain Bourchier, closely followed by the 'Cornwallis,' towed 
by the ' Sesostris,' and piloted by Commanders Kellett and 
Collinson, led the squadron into action with his accustomed 
gallantry, and the advancing ships were met by a heavy fire 
from the batteries on both sides, which they were obliged to 
approach end on. About half-past six, the two ships were 
anchored by the stern, within five hundred yards of the bat- 
teries, the sloops, with the exception of the 'Algerine,' which 
anchored astern of the 'Cornwallis,' passing in succession to 
their stations. 

The 'Sesostris,' after casting off from the flagship, proceeded 
to take up a station to enfilade the fort on the eastern side ; un- 
fortunately, she took the ground, but, says Sir William Parker, 
" in a position which enabled Commander Ormsby to render 
very essential service, of which he ably availed himself." The 
' Tenasserim ' proceeded to tow the ' North Star,' twenty-six 
guns, into position ahead of the ' Blonde,' and then attempted 
to close the eastern battery, with which the ' Sesostris ' and 
some of the larboard guns of the 'Cornwallis' were engaged, 
but, in doing so, she likewise grounded, although in a situation 
to render very effective service. The squadron maintained so 
heavy a fire that, by eight o'clock, the enemy were driven from 
the batteries, which were in a ruinous state. During these 
proceedings, the 'Modeste,' 'Columbine,' and 'Clio,' towed by 
the steamers, having silenced the battery opposed to them, 
Commander Watson, senior officer, landed his men and took 
possession of it, after a brief resistance from the Chinese 
troops in that quarter. On perceiving this movement, the main 
body of the seamen and marines, who were already in their 
boats, immediately disembarked under command of Captain 
Bourchier, and, forming a junction with Commander Watson's 
party, which included a detachment from the ' Sesostris,' under 
Lieutenant Rennie, the whole line of the western batteries was 
speedily occupied. Shortly afterwards, the Chinese in the 
eastern battery, which had also suffered considerably under the 
fire of the 'Sesostris,' retired, upon which Commander Ormsby 
promptly landed with a party of men from his ship and the 
' Tenasserim,' and destroyed the guns and works. The three 
steamers, ' Nemesis,' ' Phlegethon,' and ' Pluto,' which had towed 
the sloops, contributed by their fire to Commander Watson's 
success, and the ' Medusa,' under her spirited commander, well 
performed her share in a warm morning's work. The steam 
vessels were now sent for the troops, and, before one o'clock, the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 153 

whole were disembarked under Sir Hugh Cough's orders, and 
the combined force entered Paoushan without resistance. In 
this action, the squadron lost only two men killed, and thirty- 
five wounded, among whom were Mr. E. Roberts, master, Mr. 
A. J. Smith, mate, and three men of the * Sesostris.' The ships 
were much cut up aloft in their rigging, and it is surprising 
that the casualties were so few, considering how well the Chinese 
served their guns. The ' Blonde' had fourteen shot in her hull, 
the ' Sesostris ' eleven, and the other ships were all more or less 
"peppered." The Chinese loss was severe; and seventy-nine 
heavy, and eighty-six light, guns were captured in the batteries 
at Woosung. 

On the following day, the Admiral sent Commander Kellett, 
with the 'Medusa' and ' Phlegethon,' to reconnoitre the river, 
when they found two strong batteries abuut six miles above 
Woosung, that on the left bank mounting forty-six guns, and 
that on the opposite side, fourteen guns. These batteries were 
occupied, on the 18th of June, by Commander Watson without 
opposition, the enemy having deserted them. On the following 
morning, the destruction of the guns and military stores at 
Woosung and Paoushan being completed, the troops were em- 
barked in the steamers ' Tenasserim,' ' Nemesis,' ' Phlegethon,' 
and ' Pluto,' which respectively took in tow the ' North Star,' 
' Modeste,' ' Columbine,' and ' Clio,' and proceeded up the river, 
the military and naval Commanders-in-chief embarking, with 
the marines of the squadron, on board the ' Medusa.' By half- 
past one, the squadron had approached within sight of Shanghai, 
which is about twelve miles above Woosung, but the Chinese 
defending the formidable batteries, had been so dispirited by 
their recent ill-success, that, after a few broadsides from the 
ships and steamers, they fled with precipitation ; the seamen 
and marines were at once landed, under Captain Bourchier, and 
took possession of the batteries mounting forty-nine guns, 
which, with the exception of seventeen of brass, were destroyed, 
together with all the military stores. The troops were also 
disembarked from the steamers, and the city was occupied 
without resistance. On the 20th, Captain Bourchier and Com- 
mander Kellett proceeded in the 'Medusa' and 'Phlegethon,' 
thirty miles up the river without interruption, and, on the fol- 
lowing day, Sir William Parker embarked in the ' Medusa,' ac- 
companied by the 'Phlegethon' and 'Nemesis,' and succeeded 
in ascending the river for a distance of forty-seven miles above 
Shanghai, when they were stopped by the shallowness of the 
water at the entrance of a large lagoon. On the 2ord of June, 
the troops were re-embarked at Shanghai, when the squadron 
dropped down the river to Woosung, where they were trans- 
ferred to their respective transports. 

On the 22nd of June, the ' Memuon,' Commander F. T. 



154 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Powell, a new steam frigate of the Indian Navy of the same 
class as the ' Sesostris,' arrived at Singapore from England 
direct, and proceeded to Hong Kong. Here she found H.M.S. 
* Vindictive,' Captain Nicholson, bearing the flag of Rear- 
Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane,* who proceeded in her up the 
Canton river to join the squadron, consisting of H.M.'s ships 
'Nimrod,' 'Cruiser,' and 'Wolverine.' A little later the 
' Akbar,'t steam frigate, constructed at Glasgow, of 1,200 tons, 
350 horse-power, and carrying six 8-inch guns, arrived at Hong 
Kong, under command of the veteran Captain Pepper, who had 
been specially appointed Senior Officer of the Company's ships 
serving on the China station. The ' Akbar ' remained at 
Whampoa, as guard-ship, for nine months, and the ' Memnon ' 
did not get further than Chusan, so that neither of these ships 
participated in the subsequent operations of the war, though 
the 'Akbar' was engaged with pirates in the Cap Sing Moon 
passage. 

The fleet of seventy-three men-of-war and transports, was de- 
tained at Woosung by bad weather and adverse winds, until the 
6th of July, on which day they proceeded up the noble Yang- 
tze-Kiang (at this point upwards of ten miles from bank to 
bank), in the following order : — 

Advanced Squadron. — Surveying. H.M.S. ' Starling,' six 
guns; 'Plover,' six guns; 'Modeste,' eighteen guns; and 
4 Clio,' sixteen guns. Hon. Company's steamers ' Phlegethon ' 
and 'Medusa.' 

General Squadron. — 1st Division. H.M.S. ' Cornwallis,' 
seventy-four guns, flagship; ' Calliope,' twenty-six guns; and 
steamer ' Vixen ' ; transport ' Marion,' with Sir H. Gough and 
staff: and seven other transports. 

Second Division.— H.M.S. 'Blonde,' forty-four guns. Hon. 
Company's steam frigate 'Auckland;' and ten transports. 

* Sir Thomas Cochrane succeeded to the command-in-chief of H.M.'s ships on 
the return to England of Sir W. Parker on the conclusion of the war. 

f The 'Akbar' and 'Berenice,' which was launched in 1836, were both con- 
structed by those famous shipbuilders and marine engineers, the Messrs. Kobert 
Napier and Sons, of Grovan, Glasgow, whose plant and goodwill were sold by- 
auction in March, 1877. The firm was founded about fifty years ago by Mr. 
Eobert Napier, who had previously carried on business as a blacksmith in Glasgow. 
Mr. Napier constructed his first marine engine in 1823, and in 1836 and 1841 he 
built the 'Berenice' and 'Akbar.' His first contract for a steamer for Her 
Majesty's Government was obtained in 1840. Along with Sir Samuel Cunard, 
Mr. Napier projected the celebrated Cunard Line, and built its first ships, to 
•which many were added from the same yard. Messrs. Napier and Sons constructed 
for the British Navy, the ' Erebus,' ' Black Prince,' 'Hector,' 'Audacious,' 'In- 
vincible,' ' Hotspur,"' and ' Northampton,' all armour-clad vessels, representing a 
tonnage of 26,938 tons, the engines representing 5,450 horse-power. One turret 
ship was built for the Danish Navy, three of 4000 tons each, with engines of 
400-horse power, for the Turkish Government, and two of 3,000 tons and 
500-horse power, for the Dutch Government. The firm have in addition supplied 
engines to fifty-two vessels of Her Majesty's Navy, and to twenty-nine of Foreign 
Governments." They were also extensively employed by private shipowners 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NxVVY. 155 

Third Division. — H.M.'s troop-ships 'Belleisle' and 'Jupiter.' 
Hon. Company's steamer ' Queen ; ' and nine transports. 

Fourth Division. — H.M.S. ' Endymion,' forty- four guns. 
Hon. Company's steam frigate ' Sesostris ; ' and thirteen 
transports. 

Fifth Division. — H.M.S. 'Dido,' twenty guns ; and troopships 
'Apollo' and 'Rattlesnake;' and eight transports. 

Thanks to the exertions of the surveying officers, chief among 
whom were Commanders Kellett and Collinson, the fleet pro- 
ceeded up the river, a distance of 170 miles, without loss, 
though, owing to the difficulties and unknown dangers of the 
navigation, "every ship of the squadron and many of the 
transports," says the Admiral, " have been on shore," but 
the bottom being everywhere of soft mud, they sustained no 
damage. Some opposition was offered from three batteries at 
Sheshan, about five leagues below the intersection of the Grand 
Canal, but they were abandoned, and the whole of the works 
destroyed. 

The fleet was detained some clays off Seshan by scant winds, 
and the Hon. Company's steamers 'Medusa' and 'Phlegethon,' 
while prosecuting the surveys, were opposed, on the 15th, at the 
entrance of the narrow channel between the island of Tseaoushan 
and a commanding promontory on its south side, by a batter}' 
of twelve guns. Lieutenants McCleverty and Hewett engaged 
these works and silenced them, " with much credit," as the 
Admiral wrote. The same afternoon, Sir Hugh Gough and Sir 
William Parker proceeded, with the ' Vixen ' and ' Medusa,' to 
reconnoitre the approaches to Chin-Kiang-foo, when they not 
only found the battery and adjoining village deserted, but passed 
on without the slightest opposition close to the suburbs of the 
city,' and above the island of Kinshain. 

On the 17th, Captain Bourchier was sent with a strong 
squadron to blockade the entrances to the Grand Canal, and, 
on the 19th and 20th, the remainder of the fleet succeeded in 
reaching the anchorage at the entrance of the South Grand 
Canal, and preparations were made to attack the great city of 
Chin-Kiang-foo. The disembarkation of the troops was com- 
menced at daybreak on the 21st of July, under cover of the 
guns of the ' Auckland,' the small steam vessels, and the armed 
boats. The right brigade, under Lord Saltoun, moved forward 
to attack the entrenched camp, which was carried after a brief 
resistance, and, about the same time, General Schoedcle, with 
his brigade, ascended the heights on the river-side, ," supported," 
writes the Admiral, "by a well-directed fire of shot and shells 
from the ' Auckland,' " to which, on this occasion, was allotted 
the place of honour. General Schoedde, with the left brigade, 
entered the city by escalading the northern wall, while General 
Bartley, with the centre brigade, accompanied by Sir Hugh 



156 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY". 

Gough, Llew in the west outer gate, and carried all before liim ; 
and Captain Richards, of the flagship, with a naval brigade, 
including a strong detachment of the Indian Navy, escaladed 
the wall at another point. 

" The enemy," wrote General Schoedde, " defended himself 
with the greatest gallantry, disputing every inch of ground, and 
fighting hand to hand with our men ;' and the Admiral reported 
that " incredible numbers of Tartars, in some cases including 
whole families, have unhappily died by their own hands." 
Such was the capture of Chin-Kiang-foo, a city situated some 
two hundred miles from the mouth of the mighty Yang-tze, and 
only thirty miles from Nankin, the ancient capital and second 
city of China. The British loss was heavy, numbering one 
hundred and eighty-five killed and wounded, of whom about 
twenty had died from sunstroke, the day being oppressivelv 
hot. 

The Admiral spoke in high terms of " the zeal and gallantry 
evinced by every officer and man of the Royal and Indian Navy 
and Royal Marines under my command, which has been equally 
manifested in bringing the fleet up this river, as in the sub- 
sequent operations on shore, in which they have been en- 
gaged." 

A strong detachment of troops was left to occupy the heights 
— the city being uninhabitable owing to the number of decaying 
corpses— and to secure the mouth of the Grand Canal, and the 
remainder of the force embarked for Nankin, where they arrived 
on the 9th of August. " This vast city," says Sir Hugh Gough, 
in his despatch, " which contains a population of one million 
souls, is surrounded by a wall twenty miles in circumference, 
and in some parts seventy feet high ; and the garrison num- 
bered fifteen thousand men, of whom six hundred were Tartars, 
exclusive of militia. The nearest part of the wall is 1000 
yards' distance from the river, and at this point the ships of 
war took up their stations in order to shell the city." On the 
11th, the force was landed, and the guns placed in position, the 
13th being fixed for the bombardment. But the Commanders- 
in-chief were anxious to avert the scenes of horror they had 
witnessed after the assault of Chin-Kiang-foo, when ' ; women 
and children in dozens were hanging from beams, or lying on 
the ground with their throats cut, or drowned in deep wells, to 
prevent their falling into our hands." The fall of one of the 
strongest cities in China had, at length, taught the Emperor 
and his advisers that the white '"barbarians" were invincible, 
and, a truce being granted, full powers were given to three 
high Commissioners to conclude a treaty of peace. 

After some conferences this instrument was signed on board 
the 'Cornwallis,' on the 29th of August, by the Commissioners 
Keying, Elepo, and New-King, — exactly three years from the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 157 

day on which the English were expelled from Macao by Lin. 
By the terms of this treaty, the Chinese Government agreed to 
pay an indemnity of 21,000,000 dollars ; conceded the opening 
of the ports of Canton, Amoy, Fow-chow, Ningpo, and Shanghai, 
to British merchants, consular officers to reside there, and just 
tariffs to be established ; ceded the island of Hong Kong in 
perpetuity— of which Sir Henry Pottinger, the able Plenipo- 
tentiary, was appointed the first Governor and Commander-in- 
chief; and agreed to other articles of minor importance. 

On the payment of the first instalment of the indemnity, the 
fleet dropped down the river, and the greater portion of the 
force returned to India, garrisons being left at Chusan and 
Amoy, and one thousand eight hundred men at Hong Kong.* 
The ' Sesostris ' left Nankin on the 1st of September, and 
Hong Kong on the 10th, with intelligence of the conclusion of 
peace; and, on the 16th of September, on receipt of the rati- 
fication of the treaty by the Emperor of China, Major Malcolm, 
secretary to Sir Henry Pottinger, proceeded in the ' Auckland ' 
to Suez, on his return to England. 

The ' Sesostris,' nearly the whole of whose crew were on the 
sick list, owing to the exposure and heat, arrived at Bombay on 
the 11th of October, and, in the following month, Commander 
H. A. Ormsby proceeded on sick leave to the Mahableshwur 
Hills, when Lieutenant J. Rennie assumed temporary command. 
On the 7th of January following, Commander Ormsby resumed 
command of the ' Sesostris,' but the state of his health com- 
pelled him to proceed to Europe in the following March.f 
Lieutenant Rennie, also, had suffered so greatly in health that 
he had to take sick leave to England. In this expedition he 
first displayed that daring and aptitude for war, both as a 
seaman afloat and on shore with the Naval Brigade, for which 
he was distinguished in his subsequent career. 

On the conclusion of hostilities, a general promotion of com- 
manders to captains, and first lieutenants to commanders, took 
place in the Royal Navy, and, on the 14th of February, 1843, 
a vote of thanks was passed in both Houses of Parliament, to 
the military and naval forces of the Queen and Company en- 

* We have stated the scale of batta paid to officers and men engaged in the 
operations in China, up to the end of June, 1841. By a Minute of the Treasury, 
dated July 26, 1844, it was ordered that the soldiers and seamen of Her Majesty 
and the East India Company " engaged in the whole of the operations commencing 
from August 21, 1841, and terminating with the signature of the treaty of peace 
on August 29, 1842," should receive twelve months' batta; and those employed 
on the Yang-tze-Kiang only, or in occupation at Hong Kong and other stations, 
six months' allowance. 

t Commander Ormsby arrived at Bombay from Europe on the 12th of May, 
1844, and, on the 8th of June, was appointed to the command of the ' Auckland ;' 
but his health again gave way and he proceeded to the Neilgherry Hills in 
January, 1845, and to England in the following November. In June, 1846, he 
finally retired from the Service. 



158 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

gaged in the China War. The Duke of Wellington, in moving 
the vote in the Lords, spoke of the operations in detail, and 
expressed his admiration " of the skill and energy of the officers 
and men engaged ;" as regarded the attack on Canton, he 
described it "as unprecedented in the military and naval 
history of the country." The late Lord Derby (then Lord 
Stanley), in moving the vote of thanks in the House of 
Commons, also spoke in eulogistic terms. Sir William Parker 
wrote a despatch to the Governor-General, published in General 
Orders, the 7th of February, 1843, relative to the efficient aid 
rendered by the vessels of the Indian Navy ; and Lord Auckland, 
successively First Lord of the Admiralty, and Governor-General, 
on the occasion of the banquet given by the Directors, on the 
20th of February, 1847, to Sir Willoughby Cotton, the newly- 
appointed Commander-in-chief at Bombay, made allusion to the 
services of the Indian Navy in China, in the following compli- 
mentary terms : — " While thanking them on the part of the 
British Navy, he bespoke their good feelings in favour of a 
branch of the public service, though less considerable in number, 
not inferior in gallantry and devotion — he meant the Indian 
Navy. He had had occasion to remark the services and gallant 
actions performed by the officers. of the Indian Navy in the 
Chinese War." 

And yet we will venture to assert that most general readers, 
and many officers of the army and navy, who are familiar with 
the events of the China War of 1840-42, possess but a very hazy 
notion of the eminent services rendered by the officers and men 
of the Indian Navy. May these pages place them on record 
before a public which has relegated to obscurity a Service which 
did good and honourable work in its day. 

On the conclusion of the w r ar, the only ship of the Service 
that remained in China, was the ' Medusa,' of whose pro- 
ceedings we will give a brief notice. The ' Medusa' — which, like 
the ill-fated ' Ariadne,' was sent out from England in pieces, 
and put together in Bombay Dockyard, under the superin- 
tendence of Captain Turner, of the Engineers — was a flat- 
bottomed iron steamer of 432 tons, 70 horse-power, and carried 
three swivel guns. She left Bombay for China on the 21st of 
September, 1841, under the command of Lieutenant H. H. 
Hewett, herofficers being Midshipmen Adams, Way and Martin,* 
with the rank of acting mate, conferred under warrant of the com- 
mander, the day after leaving Bombay. On her arrival at 

* Messrs. Way nnd Martin left the ' Medusa ' before the commencement of the 
operations up the Yang-tze-Kiang, ending with the treaty at Nankin. Midship- 
men Twynam and Williams were sent from Bombay to replace them, and in 
February, 1844, Mr. Adams proceeded to Bombay to pass his examination for 
Lieutenant, though he had already done so with credit on board H.M.S. 
' Cambrian.' 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 159 

Manilla, the 'Medusa' filled up with wood, there being no coal 
available. Crossing the Formosa Channel for Hong Kong, she 
encountered a gale of wind, which freshened into a cyclone, and, 
as her fuel was expended, Lieutenant Hewett found himself 
under the necessity of bearing up for Singapore, and narrowly 
escaped losing his ship in the Gulf of Tonquin. The ' Medusa' 
put into Cameran Bay, in Cochin China, for fire-wood, which 
was procured from the natives ready cut and dried, in exchange 
for sheets and blankets. About midnight, after sailing thence, 
she encountered a terrific storm of thunder and lightning 
between Great and Little. Catwicks, but the following morning 
broke fine, and the officers of the ' Medusa' were able to take 
observations for the first time since bearing up, Avhen they 
found that the compasses were no less than three points out in 
deviation, although only half a point when proceeding up the 
China Sea. On his arrival at Singapore, Lieutenant Hewett 
refitted his ship with new bulwarks and had scarcely thoroughly 
repaired her when he received orders to proceed to Moulmein, 
as a war with Burmah was apprehended. The 'Medusa' re- 
mained there from January, 1842, to March, when she sailed 
for Calcutta, and was employed towing down the river the 
transports with reinforcements for China. In April, after being 
docked, she proceeded to China, joined the Expedition up the 
Yang-tze-Kiang, and was engaged, as already detailed, in the 
capture of Woosung, Shanghai, Ching-Kiang-foo, and also in 
numerous affairs with forts while serving as pioneer of the 
fleet. 

After the conclusion of peace, the 'Medusa' was employed 
surveying Nimrod's Sound, and the North-East group of the 
Chusan Archipelago, and her name and that of her gallant 
commander were perpetuated in Chinese waters by the "Medusa 
Rock" and "Hewett Channel." On the 21st of November, 
1845, the ' Medusa ' left Hong Kong for Bombay, where she 
arrived on the 27th of December. While employed in China, 
Lieutenant Hewett was a universal favourite among all classes, 
and, when he returned to Bombay, the merchants of Hong 
Kong, who had often enjoyed his hospitality when proceeding 
as his guest, on business to the treaty ports, subscribed the sum 
of five hundred guineas and presented him with a handsome 
gold repeater watch and some plate. Lieutenant Hewett was 
remarkable in the Service for his dash and open-handed 
generosity, and he possessed, in addition, the scientific acquire- 
ments of an accomplished surveyor. Writing of this time, Mr. 
Adams, his first-lieutenant, says : — " He was a general favourite, 
and my beau ideal of a naval officer. He was always ready for 
any work, and from him I learnt that cant was not in the naval 
vocabulary," and, we may add, in justice to this officer, he 
carried the lesson into practice, and cant was a word which the 



1130 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

whilom first-lieutenant of the ' Medusa,' throughout his career, 
employed no more than did the commander of that vessel. On 
the 16th of February, 184(5, Lieutenant Hewett was placed in 
temporary charge of the Draughtsman's Office, vice Lieutenant 
Montriou, who had sailed in the 'Taptee,' on the 22nd of 
October preceding, to prosecute the survey of the west coast as 
far as Beypore ; but, on the 15th of July, he proceeded to 
Europe for three years on sick leave. While in England, the 
Court of Directors, in acknowledgment of the ability and zeal 
he had uniformly displayed during the period he was in com- 
mand of the 'Medusa,' presented him with a sword of the value 
of one hundred guineas, bearing the following inscription : — 
" Presented by the Court of Directors of the East India Com- 
pany to Lieutenant Harry Heald Hewett, of the Indian Navy, 
in testimony of the high sense the Court entertains of his 
services in command of the Honourable Company's steam- 
vessel ' Medusa,' while employed with the Naval Expedition 
in China, and in the China Seas, to the close of the vear 
1845." 

The career of another ship, which arrived in China only to 
witness the closing scenes of the war, was as brief as it was 
unfortunate. The steam frigate ' Memnon,' under the command 
of Commander F. T. Powell, sailed from England for China 
early in 1842. Before leaving the Thames, an event occurred 
which negatived the prevalent opinion that the ships of the 
Indian Navy could not legally fly the pennant to the westward 
of the Cape of Good Hope, if this privilege was regarded 
as the evidence of authority to exercise Martial Law. A sea- 
man behaved disrespectfully to the first-lieutenant, and, when 
seized, fell down the hatchway and broke his arm. He brought 
a complaint before the magistrate of the Thames Poliee Court, 
who, after looking at the Articles of War, intimated that he 
must dismiss the case, as it was beyond his jurisdiction and 
amenable to Martial Law. While on this point of Naval 
Discipline, we may mention a cognate case. In 184G, the 
Honourable Company's steam-frigate 'Ajdaha,' while on her 
way to India, proceeded into Portsmouth harbour flying the 
pennant : and, on her right to do so being referred to the 
Admiralty, a reply was received to the effect, that the Naval 
Commander-in-chief had better not interfere with this privilege 
of the Indian Navy. 

The ' Memnon ' arrived at Bombay, on her return from Hong 
Kong, on the 26th of January, 1848. She was then employed 
in carrying the mails to Suez, and, on the 22nd of July, for the 
last time, left Bombay for that port. The wind and sea were 
not worse than during ordinary monsoon weather, up to the 
31st of July, when the ship being off the coast of Africa, it 
blew a strong gale with a heavy sea ; at four p.m., sea and wind 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 1G1 

went down very suddenly, and the ship was kept away N. by 
E. during the night. At eleven a.m. on the 1st of August, 
there being a strong gale with a heavy sea, the tiller got 
jambecl hard a-starboard, and could only be cleared at last by 
breaking up the deck over the head of the rudder, and cutting 
away all the slide groove. Matters were got to rights again 
about 1.30 p.m. ; but, during the whole of this time, the ship 
had been rolling about almost a helpless log on the water, the 
fore and main topmasts being struck. The delay occasioned by 
this accident was, in all probability, in some measure, the cause 
of the loss of the ship that night, as otherwise the high land of 
Guardafui would have been sighted early in the evening. About 
eleven p.m., the officer of the watch went down to Commander 
Powell and reported that the ship was close ashore. The 
captain proceeded on deck, and turned the hands up, but it was too 
late as the ship was in the midst of breakers, with the high land 
of Guardafui distant about eight miles on the larboard quarter. 
A heavy sea now struck the ' Memnon,' and she went on shore 
with a tremendous crash, broadside on; the engines were in- 
stantly shattered, her back broken, and the engine-room 
swamped. The ship then fell over on her starboard side, 
which was then to windward, and the deck thus became fully 
exposed to every sea that struck her. The lee fore-rigging, 
which was taut from the laying over of the ship, was imme- 
diately cut, when the foremast went over the side to windward ; 
the same was done with the mainmast, but it would not go 
until the body of the mast had been cut into about eight inches, 
when it also fell over the side, carrying with it the starboard 
cutter, and the funnel followed immediately afterwards. The 
ship then forged rather nearer the shore. Lieutenant Leeds, and 
a few hands, lowered and manned the port cutter, but the line 
they carried paid out so fast that it was lost, and with it that 
hope of establishing a communication with the shore. The 
boat and party, however, landed in safety under the lee of the 
ship. The seas now came sweeping over the ill-fated ' Memnon,' 
which continued rolling and striking heavily. Little could be 
done, but wait patiently for daylight, which all hands did 
without noise and confusion, though the- night was bitterly 
cold, and there was great danger of the ship suddenly breaking 
up. All that could be got at, such as beds, trunks, &c, were 
thrown overboard on the chance of their being washed ashore. 
About three o'clock a.m., the ship began to show signs of 
breaking up, as the framework was evidently loosening, and 
the deck planks were opening and closing. Commander Powell 
then commenced endeavours to establish a communication with 
the party on shore; and, after failing to do so by means of a 
rocket and kite, succeeded in veering a line ashore, made fast 
to a spar, which the party there secured; a hawser was soon 
VOL. II. M 



1(52 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

stretched, and communication established by hauling the cutter 
to and fro, under the lee of the ship. The passengers and sick 
■were first despatched ashore, and as much provisions as were 
procurable — about twelve days' biscuit and some preserved 
meats — with arms and ammunition. About midday the cutter 
was unfortunately stove in, but the people on shore managed 
to patch her up, so that, with constant baling, she made two 
more trips, and brought off the remainder of the crew, Com- 
mander Powell being the last to leave his ship. 

They now found themselves on a desert shore, without a 
drop of water; but, at night, a small quantity was brought in 
by the Soomalies, for which they asked the exorbitant price of 
2 rupees per skin. From this date until the 4th, officers and 
men took up their quarters on the sand, under a hurricane- 
house, composed of planking from the wreck. 

At eleven o'clock a.m. on the 4th of August, the whole party, 
with the exception of Commander Powell and a few men, 
marched under command of the First Lieutenant, Mr. (now 
Captain) Balfour, for a watering place about seven miles distant. 
The route lay over a plain of burning sand, and the sufferings 
of the whole party from thirst were very great ; a large portion 
of the men fell before reaching the water, and one died of 
apoplexy. Water was sent back to those who had dropped on 
the road, and, about three o'clock p.m., the whole had come up. 
In the evening Commander Powell joined, with all the remain- 
ing sick on camels, which had been procured from the Soomalies. 
It was now determined that no more day marches should be 
attempted. 

On the 5th, they marched, at sunset, to a watering-place on 
the road to Hulloolah, seven miles distant. Here water was 
found by digging holes in the nullah, but it had a strong alkaline 
taste. On the following day the Sherreef of Hulloolah came 
into camp, and recommended them, instead of undertaking a 
march to that place, which they would find very distressing, to 
return again down to the coast, to a place a few miles distant 
from the wreck, where he had boats all ready, with abundance 
of water, to take the whole party on to Hulloolah, where he 
promised to provide them with baghalahs to carry them to Aden. 
He said he would ask no price for his services, but trusted to 
the English Government for remuneration. This proposal was 
eagerly closed with ; and, in the evening, the party marched to 
a spot on the beach, called Bunder Lug, where they found one 
small boat of about twenty tons, and four small fishing boats, 
but not a drop of water. On the 7th, it was found that nothing 
could be done until the Sherreef had been paid 800 rupees, 
nearly their whole stock of cash. After waiting under a burn- 
ing sun, without a drop of water, until three p.m., they waded 
out to the boats, in which they were forced to sit, like herrings 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 163 

in a barrel, for twenty-four hours in their wet clothes. On the 
8th, at three p.m., they came to an anchor at a watering place 
called Boa, about seven miles from Hulloolah, where the nacodah 
of the boat advised them to make their camp; the Sherreef 
tried to induce them to go to that town, but they refused to 
have anything more to do with him. 

A military officer, who was a passenger on board the 
'Memnon,' says of their later proceedings : — 

" On coming to an anchor, we had to swim ashore through 
the surf. Our encamping ground was a beach of fine white 
sand, which made a most comfortable bed, and plenty of water 
to be had by scooping out the sand about two feet deep with our 
hands. We slept every night in the open air, and were always 
soaking wet through in the morning, but from low living, and 
having no liquor whatever, we all kept our healths ; there was 
not even a cold amongst the whole of us. Our daily allowance 
was at first half a handful of biscuits and two handsful of dates. 
When the biscuit fell short we had to take to jowary. On the 
16th, Rubeah bin Salem, an Arab merchant at Fetuk, came 
into camp, and changed the face of affairs, by offering to supply 
everything on credit. Orders were, therefore, given to him to 
complete a month's supply for the whole party. Some days 
previous to this, after a long discussion, an arrangement had 
been made with the nacodah of the boat we came to Hulloolah in, 
to take a party to Aden to obtain assistance ; this, after some 
time, he agreed to do for 300 dollars, to be paid on reaching 
Aden. On the morning of the 17th, at eight, a party, consist- 
ing of Lieutenant Balfour, Mr. Stradling, and three seamen of 
the ' Memnon,' with five passengers, embarked on board her, 
and put up sail, with three cheers from the whole party on 
shore. We had a hazardous cruise of eight days in this craft, 
several times having had most narrow escapes of being upset 
during the heavy land squalls. On the 22nd got sight of a 
barque, which, on approaching, we found to be the wreck of 
the ' Captain Cook,' of Scarborough ; we boarded her, and found 
the Soomalies plundering her. As the crew had been taken to 
Aden by a brig, we imagined that some craft would soon be 
sent down from that place to the wreck. We wrote up a 
description of the wreck of the ' Memnon ' on the mast with 
tar, and gave a note in pencil to one of the Soomalies, who 
promised to deliver it to any ship that might come. On the 
morning of the 23rd, finding that our water was failing and no 
chance of procuring more, we decided at once to bear up for 
Aden. All hands were put upon two measures of water per 
diem, the measure being a tin wafer box, and we weighed 
anchor with a stiff land breeze. From the part of the coast 
whence we took our departure, Aden bore, by a rough calculation, 
north-west about 130 miles. We had neither chart, compass, 

M 2 



164 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

nor sextant, but, thank God, made the high land of Aden at 
half-past ten a in. of the 25th. Got to the entrance of Back 
Bay at nine p.m., but the wind failing, did not come to anchor 
until eleven. On reporting our arrival to the Political Agent, 
the Hon. Company's ship 'Tigris' was immediately ordered to 
proceed to Hulloolah to bring up the rest of the crew, and we 
were most hospitably received." 

Great credit was due to the officers and men of the ' Memnon,' 
and, particularly, to Lieutenant Balfour, for the discipline that 
was maintained under very trying circumstances ; watches were 
kept as if the ship had been in commission, and perfect order 
and obedience were enforced, no punishment being inflicted after 
the first day. When it is remembered that at this spot, 
Hulloolah, twenty years later, a commissioned officer and thirteen 
seamen and marines of H.M.S. ' Penguin,' though armed with 
Enfield rifles, were massacred to a man by a party of Soomalies, 
the immunity from attack enjoyed by this party of half armed 
and starving seamen, burdened with sick and passengers, and 
fainting for want of water, aggravated by long marches over a 
burning desert, was, doubtless, due to the discipline of the 
men and the firm attitude assumed by the officers. 

The ' Clive ' and 'Constance' proceeded from Aden to the 
scene of the wreck off Cape Guardafui, or Ras Assair — 
the north-east point of Africa, on which the ' Memnon ' was 
wrecked — and were employed in saving the specie and mail 
boxes. 

On hearing of the loss of the 'Memnon,' Sir Robert Oliver 
ordered Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, then in command of the 
' Palinurus,' guard-ship at Kurrachee, to return to Bombay and 
proceed to the wreck for salvage purposes. The 'Palinurus ' 
reached Bombay on the 6th of October, and sailed for Cape 
Guardafui on the 17th, with the necessary submarine apparatus 
for recovering stores. Lieutenant Campbell reached the scene 
of the wreck on the 31st of October, and, anchoring in twenty 
fathoms of water, at once set to work. On the 20th of December 
gales set in, and he was forced to run for shelter to Oolock Bay. 
On the K)th of January, 1844 — the surgeon having been 
drowned in the surf five days before — the ' Palinurus ' proceeded 
to Aden, where she discharged the recovered stores and copper, 
amounting to sixty tons. On the 2nd of March she again 
arrived at the wreck, by the 17th got in the remainder of the 
stores and the iron 68-pounder guns — no light work with the 
appliances at his disposal and a small brig of less than 200 tons 
— and, heavy weather again coming on, on the 22nd ran round 
to Oolock Bay. Finding nothing more could be done, he left 
for Aden, w-hich was reached on the 29th of March. Having 
discharged the recovered stores, amounting to thirty tons, to 
the ' Tigris,' ' Queen,' and ' Semiramis,' Lieutenant Campbell 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 165 

sailed on the following day for Bombay, which he reached on 
the 2nd of June ; on reporting himself at the Marine Office, Sir 
Robert Oliver saluted him with the frank avowal : — " Glad to 
have you back all safe, did not expect to see you again." 

After discharging at the dockyard, the remainder of the 
stores and the 68-pounders, Lieutenant Campbell, whose health 
had suffered by the arduous nature of his services in Mesopo- 
tamia with the Euphrates Expedition, and at the wreck of the 
'Memnon,' where he played the part of chief diver, proceeded to 
England on sick leave. 

Commander Powell was arraigned before a court-martial on 
the 3rd of April, 1844, for the loss of his ship, but was fully 
acquitted of all blame. The officer of the watch on the night of 
the 1st of August, was also tried by court-martial on the 18th of 
May, for neglecting to heave the lead as ordered by Commander 
Powell, but was acquitted, upon which the singular anomaly 
was presented of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas McMahon, 
the Commander-in-chief of the Bombay Army— to whom, under 
the existing regulations as to Martial Law, the Superintendent 
of the Indian Navy had to apply to convene a court-martial — 
remarking upon the finding of the Court, which he disapproved. 

During the year 1841, an important augmentation in the 
numerical strength of the officers of the Indian Navy, was sanc- 
tioned by the Court of Directors. The following is the Govern- 
ment Order :— 

" Bombay Castle, November 5, 1841. 

" The following extract of a despatch from the Hon. the Court 
of Directors, No. 62, dated the 27th of August last, is published 
for general information :— 

"21. The establishment, of which our despatch of the 30th 
of January, 1839, contemplated that the Indian Navy might 
eventually consist,* is therefore inadequate to the performance 
of the duties required of it. And in order that a sufficient 
number of officers may be always available for the various 
demands of the public service afloat, or otherwise, after making 
due allowances for furloughs or absence on sick leave, we have 
resolved that the following be the establishment of the Indian 
Navy, allowing, in accordance with the practice observed in the 
Royal Navy, those midshipmen who have passed their final 
examination, to be styled ' mates,'t and to receive an increased 
rate of pay, viz. : — captains, six ; commanders, twelve ; lieu- 
tenants, forty-eight ; mates and midshipmen, seventy-two ; 
total, one hundred and thirty-eight. 

" 22. Of this aggregate number, after deducting for absentees, 

* Captains, four ; Commanders, eight ; Lieutenants, forty ; Midshipmen, forty- 
eight ; — total, one hundred. 

t It was not until 1855, that by General Orders of the 8th of August, mates 
were made commissioned officers. 



166 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

a proportion of one-third in the grades of captains and com- 
manders, of one-sixth in that of lieutenants, and of one-tenth in 
those of mates and midshipmen, there will remain effective, four 
captains, eight commanders, forty lieutenants, sixty-four mates 
and midshipmen, total, one hundred and sixteen ; so that besides 
the officers employed in the ships and boats already mentioned, 
there will generally be a few of each grade available for other 
duty. 

" 23. And here it will be proper that we should state, with 
reference to the concluding paragraph of the Governor's Minute 
of the 24th of December, respecting what are termed ' shore 
appointments,' that it is desirable that the posts of assistant to 
the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, of assistant-secretary 
to the Military Board in the Naval Department, and of draughts- 
man, should be filled by officers on the effective list, holding 
either the rank of commander or of lieutenant ; and with the 
exception of those three posts, it must be a rule that officers 
accepting a shore appointment must be removed altogether from 
the effective list of the Indian Navy. 

"24. The situation of 'Master-Attendant' is now reserved as 
an appointment for a captain of the Indian Navy, on certain 
conditions,* one of which being that he shall first resign the 
active service ; and the office of ' Indian Naval Storekeeper ' 
should also be reserved for one of the captains of that Service, 
upon the same terms and conditions, but we do not propose to 
disturb the present tenure of Captain Simpson. 

"26. You will make the requisite promotions consequent 
upon the increase of establishment authorized upon this letter, 
and we shall furnish you with an adequate supply of young 
gentlemen as volunteers. 

"28. In conclusion we would remark, in reference to the 
command allowances of the new ratings under Captain Oliver's 
scheme of August, 1839, which has already been adverted to, 
that in our despatch of the 31st of December, 1829, we approved 
of a scale, whereby we allowed to a captain of a first rate, 900 
rupees a month ; second do., 800 rupees ; commander third do., 
600 rupees ; fourth do., 500 rupees. Captain Oliver's scheme 
makes no allusion to first-rate vessels, and reduces the command 
allowance of third-rates to 500 rupees per month ; but it is our 
wish that the senior officer in the Persian Gulf should continue 
in the receipt of the first-rate allowance : that when the com- 
mand of a second-rate be given to a commander, the allowance 
be reduced from 800 rupees to 700 rupees a month, and that the 
allowance of a third-rate vessel, when commanded by an officer 
holding the rank of commander, should remain as before at 
600 rupees a month. 

* Salary Rs. 15,000 per annum. Pension — The retired to which the regulations 
■would have entitled him at the time he resigned the active service. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 1(37 

"29. It being intended by the scheme to place lieutenants 
in command of fourth-rates, the command allowance of that 
class of vessels at 400 rupees a month is proper ; but should 
the command of a vessel of the fourth-rate be given to a com- 
mander, his allowance ought to be raised to the former amount, 
viz., 500 rupees a month." 

It will be seen by Paragraph 28 of the preceding that Captain 
Oliver, in his zeal for economy, proposed that the Court should 
cut down the allowances of commanding officers to a point 
below that at which they had been placed by the Court more 
than ten years before. When it is considered that officers of 
the Indian Navy were paid at a rate much lower than that re- 
ceived by their brethren of the Army, or even the branch pilots 
at Calcutta, and, therefore, might legitimately have asked for an 
increase, it cannot be a subject of wonder that Captain Oliver's 
interference in a sense opposed to the interests of those whose 
just claims he ought to have been foremost to defend, rendered 
him an object of dislike and distrust to the officers of the 
Service. 

As regards the payment of 900 rupees to the captains of all 
vessels called first-rates, no such class existed, and, therefore, 
the order remainder unfulfilled. The command allowance for 
the eighteen-guu sloops had always been 800 rupees per men- 
sem, by whomsoever it was held, but now that they were classed 
as third-rates, the steam frigates alone being called second-rates, 
the officer in charge, if a commander, was to receive 600 rupees, 
and, if a lieutenant, 500 rupees.* 

* The following order was published in the Marine Department : — 
" November 13. Consequent on the augmentation of the Indian Navy, the 
following promotions are made, to have effect from the 11th of October, 18-11 : — 
Commanders W. Lowe and Stafford B. Haines to be captains, on augmentation. 
Lieutenants Frederick T. Powell and Greorge Robinson to be commanders, vice 
Lowe and Haines promoted. Richard Ethersey, James A. Young, Henry A. 
Ormsby and G. B. Kempthorne to be commanders, consequent on the augmenta- 
tion. Midshipmen Henry W. Grounds and Andrew Nesbitt to be lieutenants, 
vice Powell and Robinson, promoted. John Roberts, Albany M. Grieve, Frederick 
E. Manners, and George W. Leeds, to be lieutenants, vice Ethersey, Young, 
Ormsby, and Kempthorne, promoted. Samuel B. King, and Edward C. Zouch 
to be lieutenants on the augmentation." 

In the year 1843, the commissions of the undermentioned midshipmen, were 
antedated as follows, by a General Order, dated Bombay Castle, March 2, issued 
in pursuance of the orders of the Hon. Court of Directors. Mr. J. Sheppard, 
vice Wyburd, struck off the list ; October 16, 1837. Mr. M. VV. Lynch, vice 
Rogers, promoted ; December 13, 1837. Mr. J. F. Jones, vice Harvey, deceased ; 
December 16, 1837. Mr. H. H. Hewett, vice Clendon, deceased ; April, 16, 1838. 
Mr. J. S. Grieve, vice Sawyer, retired ; January 21, 1839. Mr. A. E. Ball, vice 
Lloyd, retired ; February 13, 1839. Mr. J. Stephens, vice Harris, retired ; 
April 9, 1839. Mr. W. C. Barker, vice Powell, retired ; April 10, 1839. Mr. 
A. McDonald, vice Denton, retired ; July 1, 1839. Mr. W. Christopher, vice 
Swan, retired ; July 1, 1839. Mr. W. Fell, vice Prentice, retired ; July 1, 1839. 
Mr. W. E. Campbell, vice Sharp, retired ; July 8, 1839. Mr. A. H. Gardner, 
vice Warden, retired ; July 9, 1839. Mr. H. A. Drought, vice Rogers, retired ; 
July 15, 1839. Mr. J. S. Draper, vice Pruen, retired ; July 18, 1839. Mr. J. 



168 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

The Indian Government having come to the resolution to 
remove the British troops from the island of Kharrack, on the 
4th of January, 1842, the Hon. Company's steam frigate 'Auck- 
land,' Captain W. Lowe, proceeded to the Persian Gulf, and was 
followed, on the 6th, by the corvette ' Coote.' These ships, 
assisted by the schooners 'Royal Tiger' and 'Mahi,' embarked 
the troops and heavy guns from Kharrack, which was thus 
evacuated after an occupation of two years and a half. And 
here we would take the opportunity of protesting, as we did 
some years ago in a letter published in the ' Times,' against the 
unwisdom of our ceasing to hold this most important strategical 
position. Kharrack commands at once the mouths of the Shatt- 
ul-Arab and Bushire, and it is difficult to exaggerate its import- 
ance, of which its first European occupants, the Dutch, were 
fully alive. It may be said that, like Perim, having once been 
occupied by a British garrison, it can be re-occupied without 
exciting alarm or international jealousy, and this, indeed, is 
the only satisfactory reason that can be advanced for its 
evacuation. With Kharrack in our possession at one extremity 
of the Persian Gulf, and Ormuz at the other, that inland sea 
would be, practicall} 7 , a British lake, in the event of any future 
complication with a great European Power, or the seizure of the 
Euphrates valley by Russia. Ormuz possesses the one great 
drawback of being without water, but, like Perim, the require- 
ments of the garrison might be satisfied by condensers in the 
event of the supply from the mainland being cut off, as happened 
during the memorable siege of 1622, when the prowess of the 
Company's sailors gave Portuguese ascendency in the East its 
death blow. Kharrack, on the other hand, has the advantage 
of possessing an ample supply of water, and the island, which 
was surveyed, during our occupation, by Major Goodfellow, of 
the Bombay Engineers, could be easily made defensible. During 
the Russo-Turkish War, now in progress, Lord Derby informed 
Prince Gortschakoff that he considered British interests de- 
manded the freedom from Russian control, of Constantinople, the 

Rennie, vice Dent, retired ; July 18, 1839. Mr. R. McKenzie, vice Buckler, 
retired; July 29, 1839. Mr. B. Hamilton, vice Buckle, retired; September 17, 
1839. Mr. C. J. Cruttenden, vice Bowing, retired ; September 26, 1839- Mr. 
A. Ford, vice Wood, retired ; November 23, 1839. Mr. W. B. Selby, vice Winn, 
retired ; May 31, 1840. Mr. W. Balfour, vice Offer, deceased ; August 22, 1840. 
Mr. C. H. Berthon, vice Lynch, deceased; December 27, 1840. Mr. G. W. 
Wollaston, vice Porter, promoted consequent on Captain Moresby's retirement ; 
April 1, 1840. 

Though there was an augmentation of lieutenants, there was no increase in 
their pay ; and it will scarcely be credited that up to the time of the abolition of 
the Indian Navy, the lieutenants, who ranked with captains in the Army, received 
only 145 rupees per mensem, a sum considerably less than their compeers in the 
Royal Navy, and this injustice was perpetuated, though military officers of all 
ranks received a higher rate of pay than Royal officers. The officers of the Ser- 
vice memorialised the Court of Directors on this injustice, but, under Orders 
dated the 22nd of February, 1844, their prayer for redress was rejected. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 1G0 

Suez Canal, and the Persian Gulf. As regards the appearance of 
any Russian force in the Persian Gulf, the idea would appear to 
be most chimerical, for it could do nothing when it got there as 
long as we have command of the sea, and the road to India, by 
the Euphrates valley to the head of the Gulf, or through Persia, 
will scarcely ever be adopted by a Russian army seeking to 
invade our Eastern Empire, which must make the attempt, if 
ever such a mad project is put into execution, by the passes 
through which every conqueror, from Alexander and Mahmoud 
of Ghuznee, has penetrated. Nevertheless, it is impolitic, 
we think, to cease to occupy so advantageous a position as 
Khar rack. 

Captain W. Lowe was appointed Commodore of the Persian 
Gulf squadron from the 1st of January, 1842, Commodore 
Brucks' term of service having expired, and shifted his broad 
pennant to the ' Elphinstone,' being succeeded in the com- 
mand of the ' Auckland ' by Commander R. Ethersey, who, on 
the 15th of March, sailed for China, where he was of signal 
service during the concluding operations of the war, as already 
narrated. 

On the 26th of February in this year, a fine steam frigate, 
named the ' Semiramis,' was launched from the dockyard, and 
added to the Service. Her dimensions were as follow : — ■ 
length, 189 feet; breadth, 34 feet; depth of hold, 21 feet. Her 
burden was 1,040 tons, and her steam-power about 250 horses. 
She was fitted with two 68-pounder pivot guns, and six heavy 
guns on the main deck, though this armament was subsequently 
changed for six 8-inch guns. 

An extraordinary instance of mortality from cholera* occurred, 
in 1842, on board the Hon. Company's steamer ' Zenobia,' while 
carrying troops from Bombay to Kurrachee. In a few hours 
there died no less than thirty-four men, chiefly belonging to 
H.M.'s 28th Regiment, on passage to Scinde, who, having been 
drenched with rain when brought on board, were subjected to 
great heat during the passage. 

By notification, dated the 11th of August, 1842, the Governor 
in Council made public the dates of despatch of mails and pas- 
sengers by the Company's steamers. They were to leave Bom- 
bay for Suez on the 1st of each month, except during the 
monsoon months, June to September inclusive, when there 
would be no despatch. This was, however, soon changed, and 
we find that, in the following year, the steamers made the 
passage in the teeth of the monsoon to Aden, a task of no little 

* Attacks of cholera were more frequent and virulent in those clays, owing to 
the want of the most ordinary sanitary precautions and bad diet. In June, 
l^i J-0, an outbreak occurred at Kurrachee, when, in nine days there died, two 
officers, fifty sergeants, seven hundred and sixty-three privates, thirty-two women, 
and forty-eight children, besides five hundred and ninety-five Sepoys. 



170 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

difficulty and danger with vessels of the insufficient horse-power 
of some of the Company' ships. On the 22nd of March, 1843,* 
Captain R. Cogan,t who had returned to England after a few 
months passed at Bombay in the previous year, brought forward 
a motion before the Court of Proprietors, censuring Captain 
Oliver for his administration of the Service, in appointing "ad- 
venturers'' to the command of ships, mentioning the case of a 
Mr. Newman being appointed, as an acting-master, to the com- 
mand of the ' Zenobia,' in October, 1842, while Lieutenant A. 
Nesbitt, an officer of twelve years' standing, who had been 
severely wounded in action in the Company's service, " was 
sent in charge of the mails on about one half Mr. Newman's 
salary."^ His motion also censured Captain Oliver, " for arbi- 
trarily suspending, degrading, and dismissing officers without 
court-martial or any inquiry," instancing the dismissal of Com- 
mander Young from the ' Berenice,' Commander Kempthorne 
from the 'Victoria,' and Lieutenant Bird from the 'Cleopatra.' 
The motion was opposed, and the oppression denied, by the 
Chairman, General Sir James Law Lushington, and by Mr. 
Loch, and it was negatived by a large majority. 

* In 1843, the Governor in Council published the following order : — 

" March 6. The following extract of a despatch, No. 70, dated the 30th of 
December, 1842, from the Hon. the Court of Directors, is published for general 
information : — We direct that when an officer, holding the rank of captain or 
commander on the effective list of the Indian Navy, shall be employed in any 
office or situation on shore to which a staff salary or allowance is attached, he be 
allowed to draw, in addition to such staff salary or allowance, the reduced or 
shore pay only of his rank ; viz., if a captain, Rs. 400 a month ; if a commander, 
Rs. 300 ; unless the staff salary or allowance may have been fixed under special 
and peculiar circumstances on the principal of consolidation, as in the instances of 
the present political agent at Aden, and the timber agent at Calicut ; in such 
cases the pay of the officer will merge for the time being in the consolidated 
salary of the situation. We further direct, that if a captain or a commander on 
the effective list, and not drawing either of the established command allowances, 
shall be employed temporarily under orders of Government doing duty on shore, 
for the performance of which no staff salary is allotted, he shall, during such tem- 
porary employment, be paid at the following rate, viz., if a captain, at Rs. 602 a 
month ; if a commander, at Rs. 422 ditto." 

t Captain Cogan, who was one of the most distinguished officers of the Service, 
died on the 26th of November, 1847, aged forty -nine. 

X It should be stated, injustice to Mr. Newman, that he had been employed 
as an acting-master in the Indian Navy since the year 1837 or 1838, and had 
done good service. He commanded the ' Zenobia' at the time of the outbreak of 
cholera already referred to, and in the " Conquest of Scinde" will be found a 
letter by Sir Charles Napier to his brother, describing him as " a noble fellow." 
Whatever the most unceasing kindness and attention could effect, Mr. Newman 
did for the poor sufferers, and Sir Charles Napier, Lord Altamont, and other 
military officers on board, presented him with a gold snuff-box in testimony of 
their admiration and esteem. 

It appears that by General Orders, dated the 10th of March, 1843, Lieutenant 
Nesbitt, the officer mentioned by Captain Cogan, was gazetted to the temporary 
command of the ' Victoria' in the place of Lieutenant J. S. Grieve, who proceeded 
to Europe on sick leave ; and we find that Mr. Newman was transferred to 
the command of the Hon. Company's iron steamer ' Indus,' which was employed 
between Bombay and Kurrachee, and in 1843 he was given the command of the 
' Hugh Lindsay,' which was henceforth employed on the Madras side. The 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 171 

In 1843, Commodore Brucks presented a Memorial to the 
Court of Directors, praying that increased honours and emolu- 
ments might be conferred on the Service, but, though the 
Directors were, doubtless, well disposed towards their ill- 
requited, but long-suffering, Naval Service, the Court, the 
Admiralty, and " the Authorities " generally, utterly ignored 
it, and, as the Indian Navy boasted no friends in high places, or 
possessed any back-stairs influence, the reception of the Memorial 
was similar to that which had befallen one presented, in 1823, 
by Commodore Sir John Hayes— that is to say, its prayer was 
not granted. The officers of the Royal Navy, for their conduct 
during the China War, received promotion throughout all ranks, 
and a liberal dispensation of the Bath, such as the irreverent 
have, in later times, clubbed "a shower bath," but the only 
reward vouchsafed the Indian Navy, beyond the repeated 
thanks of the gallant old Commander-in-chief, Sir William 
Parker — and, perhaps, after all, this acknowledgment is, and 
should be, the most valued by military and naval men — the 
only reward, we say, was the honour of knighthood conferred 
by Her Majesty upon Captain Oliver, their Superintendent, 
who, "rose up," as the saying is, Sir Robert Oliver, Knight ! 
As Voltaire would have said, this treatment of an ancient and 
honourable Service, which had always confessedly done its 
duty, must have had for its object, " pour encourage?- les autres." 
This advancement to a dignity highly appreciated, and much 
sought after, by civic dignitaries, who regard the honour as a 
suitable reward for having entertained royalty, was conferred 
upon Captain Oliver — as we gather from a notification published 
by the Bombay Government after the death of the gallant officer 
— " expressly in acknowledgment of the zeal and ability with 
which he had exerted himself to further Her Majesty's service 
in relation to the Expedition sent to the China Seas." 

We have already mentioned that, in 1838-39, at the time of 
the invasion of Afghanistan, a flotilla, for the transport of 
troops and materiel, was established in Scinde, with head- 
quarters at Kotree, having for its Superintendent and Assistant- 
officers of the Indian Navy who held commissions and joined the Service under a 
" covenant" that, subject to the rules of seniority, they were entitled to receive 
commands as they became vacant, had just grounds of complaint when, after 
struggling on for six years as midshipmen on a monthly pittance of 50 rupees, 
and a further indefinite period as mates on 100 rupees, and as lieutenants on 145 
rupees a month, they were denied the commands to which they were justly 
entitled. On this point, the " Bombay Times," of May, 1849, on the occasion of 
Mr. Acting- Master Kingcombe, of the ' Indus' flotilla, assuming command of 
the ' Medusa,' which he had before held, observed : " During his former com- 
mand, in the time of Sir R. Oliver, a considerable noise was made, and we think 
with great justice, that an acting-master should hold charge of a steam-vessel on 
a salary of 250 rupees a month, while there were many unemployed lieutenants 
enjoying the magnificent allowance of 145 rupees." 



172 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Superintendent,* commissioned officers of the Indian Navy, and, 
for the subordinate ranks, acting-masters, and crews, all under 
Martial Law. The duties of the Superintendent and his 
Assistant were most arduous and responsible, among the suc- 
cessive occupants of the former post, being Captains Nott, 
Ethersey, Daniull, Hamilton, and Balfour ; and of that of 
Assistant-Superintendent, Lieutenants Hopkins, Holt, James, 
and Child. 

Early in 1843 Scinde became the scene of stirring events, in 
which the flotilla participated. At this time Commander A. H. 
Nott was Superintendent, and the vessels under his command, 
consisted of the 'Mootnee,' head-quarter vessel, and five 
steamers, having European andsNative crews, and armed with 
two heavy pivot guns. Having transported Sir Charles Napier 
and his army from Sukkurf to the left bank of the Indus, 
Commander Nott detached the 'Satellite' and 'Planet,' vessels 
of 335 tons and 60 horse-power, to accompany the army on its 
march to Hyderabad, the capital, in order to keep open com- 
munications and prevent any hostile bands from crossing the 
river; and Commander Nott himself followed a few days later 
in the ' Comet,' for the same purpose. 

On the loth of February, 1843, the British Residency at 
Hyderabad was treacherously attacked by a force of eight 
thousand Belooches, with six guns, commanded by Meer Shah- 
dad Khan, one of the principal Ameers. The Residency, 
which was protected, on three sides, by a low wall only four or 
five feet high, and, on the fourth side, by the ' Planet,' steamer, 
was held by a garrison of one hundred men, the Light Company 

* The Assistant-Superintendent also held the appointments of Superintendent 
of Boats on the Indus and Government freight-agent, and, as Senior Naval 
officer at Mooltan, after its capture in IN 49, had charge of the Government stores 
and treasure at that important town, and the superintendence of the embarkation 
of the troops and passengers to and from the Punjaub and North- West Pro- 
vinces. 

f We cannot resist extracting the following singular General Order of Sir C. 
Napier, dated " Sukkur, the 21st of November, 1842," which evinces an eccen- 
tricity not without example in men of genius : — " Gentlemen, as well as beggars, 
may, if they like, ride to the devil when they get on horseback ; but neither gen- 
tlemen nor beggars have a right to send other people there, which will be the case 
if furious riding be allowed in cam]) or bazaar. The Major-General recalls the 
attention of all in camp to the order of Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace (dated the 
18th ultimo), and begs to add that he has placed a detachment of horse at Cap- 
tain Pope's orders, who will arrest any offender, and Captain Pope will inflict 
such a fine or other punishment as the bazaar regulations permit. This order to 
be published through the cantonment by beat of drum for three successive days. 
Captain Pope is not empowered to let any one off punishment, because, when 
orders have been repeatedly not obeyed, it is time to enforce them. Without 
obedience, an army becomes a mob and a cantonment a bear-garden. The en- 
forcement of obedience is like physic, not agreeable, but at times very necessary." 
The above can only be matched by an Order of Sir Lionel Smith, the officer who 
commanded the expedition against the Bem-boo-Ali Arabs in 1821, prohibiting 
" pariah dogs and galloping cadets " from appearing on the Poonah parade-ground 
during Divine Service. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 173 

of H.M.'s 22nd Regiment, under Captain Conway, forming the 
escort of the Resident, Major (the late Sir) James Outram. 
This small force, assisted by the fire of the ' Planet,' kept the 
enemy at bay for four hours, and killed ninety of them ; but, at 
length, their ammunition being expended, they retired in the 
best possible order to the ' Planet ' and ' Satellite,' which 
had fortunately arrived, and joined Sir Charles Napier at 
Hala. 

Major Outram gives the following account of this affair in a 
despatch to Sir Charles Napier, dated " On board the ' Planet ' 
steamer, fifteen miles above Hyderabad, six p.m., February the 
17th, 1843 : — At nine a.m. this morning, a dense body of 
cavalry and infantry took post on three sides of the Agency 
compound, (the fourth being defended by the ' Planet ' steamer 
about five hundred yards distant) in the gardens and houses 
which immediately commanded the enclosure, and which it was 
impossible to hold with our limited numbers. A hot fire was 
opened by the enemy, and continued incessantly for four hours ; 
but all their attempts to enter the Agency enclosure, although 
merely surrounded by a wall, varying from four to five feet 
high, were frustrated by Captain Conway's able distribution of 
his small band, and the admirable conduct of every individual 
soldier composing it under the gallant example of their com- 
manding officer, and his subalterns, Lieutenant Harding and 
Ensign Pennefather, of H.M.'s 22nd Regiment, also Captain 
Green, of the 21st Regiment Native Infantry, and Wells of the 
15th Regiment, who volunteered their services, to each of whom 
was assigned the charge of a separate quarter, also to your 
aide-de-camp, Captain Brown, Bengal Engineers, who carried 
my orders to the steamer, and assisted in working her guns and 
directing her flanking fire. Our ammunition being limited to 
forty rounds per man, the officers directed their whole attention 
to reserving their fire, and keeping their men close under cover, 
never showing themselves or returning a shot, except when 
the enemy attempted to rush, or showed themselves in great 
numbers ; consequently great execution was done with trifling 
expenditure of ammunition and with little loss. Our hope of 
receiving a reinforcement and a supply of ammunition by the 
'Satellite' steamer (hourly expected) being disappointed, on 
the arrival of that vessel without either, shortly after the com- 
mencement of the attack, it was decided at twelve a.m., after 
being three hours under fire, to retire to the steamer while still 
we had sufficient ammunition left to fight the vessel up the 
river. Accordingly, I requested Captain Conway to keep the 
enemy at bay one hour, while the property was removed, for 
which that time was ample, could the camp followers be 
induced to exert themselves. After delivering their first loads 
on board, however, they were so terrified at the enemy's cross 



174 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY". 

fire on the clear space between the compound and the vessel, 
that none could be persuaded to return except a few of the 
officers' servants, with whose assistance but little could be 
removed during the limited time we could afford ; consequently 
much had to be abandoned, and I am sorry to find that the loss 
chiefly fell upon the officers and men, who were too much 
occupied in keeping off the enemy to be able to attend to their 
own interests. Accordingly, after the expiration of another 
hour (during which the enemy, despairing of otherwise effecting 
their object, had brought up six guns to bear upon us), we took 
measures to evacuate the Agency. Captain Conway called in 
his posts, and all being united, retired in a body, covered by 
a few skirmishers, as deliberately as on parade (carrying off 
our slain and wounded), which, and the fire from the steam- 
boats, deterred the enemy from pressing us as they might 
have done. All was embarked, and I then directed Mr. Acting- 
Commander Miller, commanding the ' Satellite ' steamer, to 
proceed with his vessel to the wood station, three miles up the 
river on the opposite bank, to secure a sufficiency of fuel for our 
purposes, ere it should be destroyed by the enemy, while I 
remained with the ' Planet,' to take off the barge that was 
moored to the shore. This being a work of some time, during 
which a hot fire was opened on the vessel from three guns 
which the enemy brought to bear on her, besides small arms, 
and requiring much personal exposure of the crew (especially 
of Mr. Cole, the commander of the vessel). I deem it my duty 
to bring to your favourable notice their zealous exertions on 
the occasion, and also to express my obligation to Messrs. 
Miller and Cole for the flanking fire they maintained on the 
enemy during their attacks on the Agency, and for their 
support during the retirement and embarkation of the troops. 
The 'Satellite' was also exposed to three guns in her progress 
up to the wood station, one of which she dismounted by her 
fire. The vessels were followed by large bodies of the enemy 
for about three miles, occasionally opening their guns upon us 
to no purpose. Since then we have pursued our voyage up the 
Indus about fifteen miles without molestation, and propose to- 
morrow morning anchoring off Muttaree, where I expect to find 
your camp. Our casualties amount to two men of H.M.'s 
22nd Regiment, and one camp follower, killed ; and Mr. Con- 
ductor Kelly, Mr. Carlisle, Agency Clerk, two of the steamer's 
crew, four of H.M.'s 22nd Regiment, and two camp fol- 
lowers, wounded, and four camp followers missing. Total, three 
killed, ten wounded, and four missing. 

Sir Charles Napier, hearing that the Ameers were at Meanee, 
about ten miles from his own position at Muttaree (whither he 
had moved on the 16th from Hala, having left Hyderabad on the 
6th), marched thither on the 17th, with his slender force of 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 175 

two thousand eight hundred men of all arms, and twelve pieces 
of artillery. The Belooch soldiery, twenty-two thousand 
strong, against whom he pitted his small army, at odds of 
nearly ten to one, were no despicable foe. They fought on this 
famous field of Meanee not for their rulers, whom they hated 
and despised, but for their own supremacy and pay, for their 
religion, and, more than all, for the privilege of rapine. They 
" opened a most determined and destructive fire upon the 
British troops, and, during the (action which ensued, with the 
most undaunted bravery, repeatedly rushed upon them, sword 
in hand." After a resolute and desperate contest, which lasted 
for upwards of three hours, the enemy was completely defeated 
and put to flight, with the estimated loss of about five thousand 
men, one thousand of whom were left dead on the field, 
together with the whole of their artillery, ammunition, and 
standards. During this memorable action, the ' Comet,' under 
the immediate command of Commander Nott, was the means 
of preventing a large body of the enemy assembled at the 
village of Sehwan, from crossing the river to form a junction 
with the main Belooch army at Meanee. 

Speaking of the services of the other steamers, the ' Planet' 
and ' Satellite,' on the 17th of February, Sir Charles Napier 
says, in his despatch, written on the field of battle: — 
" I ought to have observed in the body of this despatch that 
I had, the night before the action, detached Major Outram in 
the steamers, with two hundred Sepoys, to set fire to the wood, 
in which we understood the enemy's left flank was posted. 
This was an operation of great difficulty and danger, but 
would have been most important to the result of the battle. 
However, the enemy had moved about eight miles to their 
right during the night, and Major Outram executed his task 
without difficulty at the hour appointed, viz., nine o'clock, and 
from the field we observed the smoke of the burning wood 
arise. I am strongly inclined to think that this circumstance 
had some effect on the enemy." 

The clay following the battle, six of the principal Ameers 
surrendered unconditionally as prisoners of war. Thus, as the 
Governor-General stated in his notification, " victory placed 
at the disposal of the British Government the country on both 
sides the Indus, from Sukkur to the sea." One of the principal 
Ameers, Ali Moorad, of Khyrpore, who had succeeded by our 
means in obtaining " the turban of the Talpoors," and was the 
most powerful chief in Upper Scinde, remained faithful to his 
engagements. On the other hand, the Chief of Meerpore, Shere 
Mahomed, who, in June, 1841, had voluntarily entered into 
the same engagement as the Hyderabad Ameers, like them 
receded from it. 

After the action at Meanee, the British force proceeded down 



176 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAYY. 

to Hyderabad, where Sir Charles Napier formed a fortified camp, 
the river side of which was defended by the steamers ' Comet' 
and ' Meteor.' On the 20th of February a portion of the 
British force, accompanied by a party of seamen, proceeded 
into Hyderabad to take formal possession of the city, and, on 
that day. Commander Nott hoisted the British flag upon the 
citadel. This was accomplished without opposition, when the 
force returned to camp. 

During the months of February and March, Shere Mahomed 
was enabled to collect an army of twenty thousand Belooches, 
with which he took up, and strongly entrenched, a position at 
Dubba, about four miles from Hyderabad. Intelligence having 
been received that as soon as Sir Charles Napier should march 
out to give battle, Shere Mahomed intended to attack the en- 
trenched camp to rescue the six captive Ameers, the protection 
of the river face devolved upon the flotilla, and Commander 
Nott made the necessary arrangements. The captive princes 
were embarked on board the ' Comet,' which was under steam, 
prepared to act, under Commander Nott's immediate orders, as 
circumstances might require, while other steamers took up 
positions to guard the camp. 

Sir Charles Napier, who had detached a small force on camels 
to Emaum Ghur, which was blown up on the 24th of March, 
marched out with five thousand men to attack Shere Mahomed ; 
and, after a severe action, the Belooch army was defeated and 
dispersed, three chiefs were slain, and the Ameer himself fled to 
the desert. The British troops took possession of Meerpore a 
few days later, as well as the important fortress of Omercote, 
which was abandoned. In announcing his victory at Hyder- 
abad, the General concluded that " not another shot will be 
fired in Scinde," and after this he asserted that " Scinde is 
now subdued ;" but in these expectations he was premature.* 
The flotilla was much employed in conveying troops, and, on 
one or two occasions, was actively engaged with the enemy. A 
few days after the action at Dubba, one of the steamers, 
having embarked a detachment of troops, was employed in 
sinking and destroying some boats, and preventing the Belooches 
from crossing from the western to the eastern bank to join 
Shere Mahomed. Again, on the 27th of May, the ' Satellite,' 

* Shere Mahomed being engaged in further hostile preparations, Sir C. Napier 
disposed his forces, for the purpose of surrounding him ; but the Ameer, finding 
himself beset by three several bodies, determined to attack the weakest, under 
Captain Jacob, who, however, on the 14th of June, defeated and dispersed his 
four thousand Belooches, the Ameer with ten followers again taking refuge in 
the desert. Another of the Ameers, Shah Mahomed, a few days previously 
(the 8th of June), was captured, and his force of two thousand men dispersed 
by Colonel Roberts, in command of one of the detachments moving against 
Shere Mahomed. In the course of these marches, the troops suffered much 
from heat, and several men and one European officer were struck down with 
sunstroke. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 177 

Acting-Master R. C. Miller, was actively engaged, and performed 
some good service, as appears by the following despatches from 
Sir Charles Napier and the officer in command of the troops 
embarked on board the steamer : — 

Extract of a letter from Sir Charles Napier, dated Hyderabad, 
the 30th of May, 1843 :— 

" As Shere Mahomed found that he could not recruit his troops 
in Sciude, he resolved to draw reinforcements from the moun- 
tains of Beloochistan ; I therefore sent Lieutenant Anderson, of 
the 1st European Regiment, with a steamer and one hundred 
men, to destroy the boats collected on the right bank for the 
Belooches of Sukkur to cross over to Scinde. This officer has 
performed his duty in a brilliant manner, and he speaks highly 
of the way in which Master Miller of the steamer manoeuvred 
his vessel. The rumour of this skirmish in Beloochistan will 
have good effect in Scinde." 

The following is Lieutenant Anderson's letter to Sir Charles 
Napier's Military Secretary : — 

" Above the Luckie Pass, 27th May, 1843. 

" Sir, — I had the honour to inform his Excellency, Sir Charles 
Napier, K.C.B., Governor of Scinde, this morning, that I had 
expectations of finding some five hundred Belooches of Meer 
Shah Mahomed assembled below the Luckie Pass, to give us 
fight on our arrival there. When we came in shore, the 
Belooches fired into the steamer, and, to judge from their fire, 
they must have been three hundred or three hundred and fifty 
strong. The steamer immediately returned their fire, doing 
some warm execution. We then ran down, and landed the 
Sepoys of the 25th Regiment, who chased the enemy out of 
their strong position, and drove them up the steeps beyond. 
It being useless to pursue them any further, the Sepoys returned 
leisurely on board, after having killed and wounded about ten 
of them. During the skirmish the steamer kept up a splendid 
fire of grape and round shot at the retreating Belooches, killing 
and wounding, it is supposed, forty men. Mr. Lowry received 
a slight wound leading on his men, and two Sepoys were killed 
and seven wounded carrying the heights. On board the steamer 
Captain Miller received a slight wound, and two European 
sailors and one stoker were severely wounded. I must beg to 
express my thanks to all parties for their activity during the 
affair, which lasted altogether three hours, from one to four p.m. 
of this day." 

On the 9th of March the Hon. Company's corvette ' Coote, 
Commander H. B. Lynch, sailed for Kurrachee with troops, and. 
on the 26th of March, proceeded to Bombay with Hussein AH 
Khan, one of the Ameers captured at Meanee, and two of his 
cousins, with a retinue of thirty-two persons. No better selec- 

VOL. II. N 



178 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tion could have been made by Government than Commander 
Lynch to take charge of the unfortunate and high-bred Scindian 
noble, as the Captain of the 'Coote' was not only an accomplished 
linguist who could converse freely in Persian, but a polished 
gentleman who knew how to respect misfortune, and treated 
the young Ameer as an honoured guest, and not as " a nigger," 
according to the too general phraseology adopted by British 
officers in speaking of all natives, even those of the highest 
rank. The 'Coote' continued to be employed on the Scinde 
coast. 

The officers and men of the flotilla received the Scinde medal 
and clasps for Meanee and Hyderabad, and the question as to 
whether they should share in the prize-money, was referred to 
Sir Charles Napier, who replied with an emphatic affirmative. 
The 'Shannon' and 'Palinurus,' as well as the 'Coote,' which 
were employed on the Scinde coast, between the 17th of 
February and 24th of March, 1843, also participated in the 
one-sixth of the Scinde prize-money, and the same was notified 
by Order dated the 10th of June, 1848. An Order relative to 
the second distribution, was issued under date the 6th of 
September, 1849 ; and for prize-money for Meanee and Hydera- 
bad, under date the 6th of May, 1850. The money distributed 
was considerable, Commander Nott, who shared as a field- 
officer, receiving, we believe, £8,000.* This officer proceeded 
to Bombay on the conclusion of hostilities, and, a few months 
later, was appointed to the command of the ' Coote ' and pro- 
ceeded as Senior Naval Officer to the Persian Gulf. In July, 
1846, he retired from the Service, and was appointed Indian 
Navy Storekeeper, which appointment he resigned, from ill- 
health, in the following year, when he returned to England. 

In 1844 f a bi-monthly overland communication between Eng- 

* The survivors of this Scinde campaign hud no cause to complain on the 
score of prize-money ; and Sir Charles Napier received, including the second 
and final distribution, no less than 683,522 rupees, or over £68,000, being one- 
eighth of the entire value of the boot} . 

f In 1844, the following Government General Order was published, relating 
to the accession of retired officers who had served the prescribed period, upon 
the Senior List of £800 per annum, in the terms of the Court's despatch in the 
Marine department, dated the 31st of October, 1S27 : — 

" Bombay Castle, June 17. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council is pleased to publish in General Orders 
the following Resolution by the Hon. the Court of Directors, communicated in 
their despatch, dated the 1st of May, 1844 : — We have resolved that it be no 
longer a rule of the Service that an officer of the Indian Navy must continue 
upon the effective list to entitle him to the senior list pension of £800 per annum, 
but that in future every officer of the Indian Navy, who shall have held the rank 
of captain for seven years, or who shall have completed a period of thirty years' 
active service in India, without reference to the rank he may have attained, be 
allowed to quit the active duties'of his profession, and to remain in Europe upon 
a pension of £360 per annum, with the privilege of eventually succeeding to one 
of the senior list pensions of £800 per annum, in which his retired pay will merge 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 179 

land and India was arranged, which came into operation from 
January in the following year. The steamships of the Indian 
Navy were to continue the conveyance of one mail a month 
from Suez to Bombay, whence it was to be distributed over the 
three Presidencies, and the second mail was to be conveyed 
by the Peninsular and Oriental Company from Suez to 
Madras and Calcutta, dropping Bombay letters, and also a mail 
for the Straits Settlements and China, at Galle. For this latter 
service, including both the Calcutta and China lines, the Penin- 
sular and Oriental Company were to receive £160,000 per 
annum, towards which the Company contributed ,£20,000 a-year, 
and relinquished the annual grant of £50,000 voted by Parlia- 
ment for the promotion of steam navigation in the East. 

On the 26th of October, 1844, Sir Robert Oliver, under special 
permission of the Court of Directors, left the Presidency for 
England on one year's leave, the state of his health necessitating 
a surgical operation. On his departure the Governor in Council 
appointed Captain John Pepper, who had been Indian Navy 
Storekeeper since the death of Captain Simpson, from the 31st 
of January, 1844, to act as Superintendent of the Indian Navy ; 
and Commander H. B. Lynch, who had officiated temporarily as 
assistant to Sir Robert Oliver, to be permanent Assistant- 
Superintendent. In April, 1845, Captain Pepper was compelled 
to proceed to England on sick leave, when Commander H. B. 
Lynch was appointed Acting-Superintendent, with Commander 
H. C. Boulderson as his assistant. 

During portions of the years 1844-45, the steam frigates 
' Auckland,' Commander Carless, 'Sesostris,' Commander Young, 
and ' Akbar,' Lieutenant Leeds, and other ships, were employed 
in carrying troops to Vingorla, to assist in quelling the insur- 
rection in the Southern Mahratta country, and in bringing 
them back to the Presidency on its suppression. Colonel (now 

on the occurrence of vacancies in such list ; promotion being made in the room 
of such officer from the date of his so quitting actual service." 

" Captain G-. B. Bracks succeeded to the senior list, vice Captain Crawford, 
deceased, from the 10th of November, 1843." 

The following General Order of importance was also issued this year : — 

" Bombay Castle, September 3, 1844. 
The following extract, Para. 3, from a letter from the Hon. the Court of 
Directors, dated the 20th of February last, No. 16, is published for general 
information : " With regard to the general question raised by your Military 
Auditor-General in his report of the 15th of March, 1843, we are of opinion that 
officers of the Indian Navy ought, upon the same principle as officers in our Army, 
to be allowed compensation for the wounds and bodily injuries they may unfor- 
tunately receive in action with the enemy, and we have accordingly resolved that 
henceforth the regulations for the grant of pensions and gratuities to the officers 
of the Company's Army wounded in action, be extended to the Indian Navy, 
the pensions therein provided for wounded officers being, when applied to the 
Indian Navy, the same as those fixed by ttie scale for officers of corresponding 
rank in the Army." 

N 2 



180 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

General Sir) William Wyllie,* then commanding the troops in 
the Southern Concan, writes to us : — " Captain Carless was of 
great service to me at Vingorla, having landed nightly some 
eighty European seamen for many nights when I was very hard 
up for men, and he brought me supplies of provisions from Goa, 
which were of great service to me as well as to the troops in 
the interior during the rebellion in those parts." 

In the year 1845, the Indian Navy Club was founded under 
the auspices of Commander H. B. Lynch, Acting-Superintendent, 
and a representative Committee of officers from all the com- 
missioned grades of the Service. The Club soon acquired a 
great celebrity for its cuisine and general good management 
under Messrs. Bone and Keys, pursers, and also for the liberal 
terms on which its doors were opened for the admission, as 
honorary members, of officers of the Naval, Military, and Civil 
Services.f Early in this year,J the Hon. Company's schooner 

* Of his estimate of the Service generally, derived from lengthened experience 
of its officers on active service, Sir William Wyllie writes to us under date the 
27th of April, 1877 — "I had many friends in the glorious old Service, which 
has now ceased to exist. Possessing a great knowledge of Eastern seas, they 
knew their work well and did it well. No men could have performed it better." 

t On the abolition of the Indian Navy, the plate, furniture, and effects of the 
Club were sold, and realised a sum which recouped to the original members the 
amounts of their entrance fees, the balance being handed over to a local charitable 
institution. 

X On the 20th of January, 1845, there died at Singapore, in command of the 
Hon. Company's steamer ' Phlegethon,' an officer who had served for some years 
in the Bombay Marine, where he increased the reputation he had acquired in 
His Majesty's Navy. In 1809, at the age of eleven years, Captain Scott entered 
the Royal Navy, and served successively in H.M.'s ships ' Swiftsure,' ' Scipion,' 
seventy-four guns, and ' Ocean,' ninety-eight guns, under Sir Robert Plampton. 
He was wounded three times in one action, and was three years a prisoner of war, 
when he obtained his release at the general peace of 1814. In the beginning of 
1815, through the influence of Mr. J. Bebb, then Chairman of the Court of 
Directors, and of Captain Agnew, he was appointed a midshipman in the Hon. 
Company's ship ' Carnatic,' and came to India with letters to the Local Govern- 
ment of Bengal, by which he was transferred to the Hon. Company's cruiser 
' Antelope,' twelve guns. Captain J. Hall, belonging to the Bombay Marine, but 
at this time in the pay and under the orders of the Supreme Government. He 
served in the ' Antelope' in the Eastern Islands until the latter portion of 1818, 
when he embarked for England in the hope of obtaining a commission in the 
Army. Being cast away, however, on the passage, his purpose was frustrated ; 
and he was persuaded to try his fortune in the South American cause, under Lord 
Cochrane, and afterwards in the Brazilian cause, under Commodore Jewitt and 
Lord Cochrane, till after the capture of Bahia, when he retired from that service. 
In July, 1824, he again hastened to India, for the purpose of rejoining the 
Bombay Marine in the Burmese Expedition, but arrived too late. Under the 
patronage of Commodore Hayes, he first joined the Country Merchant Service, 
as chief officer of the 'Forbes' steamer; and, in July, 1830, entered the Harbour 
Master's Department, which he left in April, 1831, on being appointed, by Com- 
modore Hayes, Superintendent of the Middleton Point Station. He frequently 
displayed great intrepidity iu saving life and property, and, in the gale of May, 
1831, the lives of forty-six natives were rescued by his activity and exertions. 
He was subsequently appointed to the command of the ' Jumna' inland steamer, 
and while in this department of the Service his surveys and various reports on 
inland navigation, and particularly of the Bhaugnrutty river, rendered the 
Government and the country much service. In 1842, he assumed command of 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 181 

' Emily,' Acting-Master Litchfield in command, was lost in the 
Persian Gulf by running at night on the west side of the 
island of Kenn. 

Sir Robert Oliver is certainly entitled to credit for having 
encouraged the young officers of the Service to perfect their 
scientific attainments as regards the study of steam, and to 
keep themselves up to the level of an age, when this new agency 
had revolutionized the motive power of ships, and improvements 
were so rapidly introduced that, to this day, we appear to be 
entering upon some new phase of the ever-changing problem of 
nautical warfare. He also did more than any of his prede- 
cessors to encourage gunnery, that most important part of a 
naval officer's education, and which, since the introduction of 
steam, has become of even more vital importance than in those 
days, when Sir John Jervis taught the British Navy that it 
conduced to success in maritime war, in a degree not less than 
seamanship itself. The Court of Directors, at the request of 
Sir R. Oliver, obtained permission from the Admiralty for some 
of their officers to study gunnery* on board H.M.S. 'Excellent' 
at Portsmouth, and the first to take advantage of this boon 
were Lieutenant Griffith Jenkins (who had returned to England 
on sick leave from Aden, where he was Assistant Political 
Resident) and Lieutenant A. H. Gordon. At a later date other 
officers of the Service studied on board the 'Excellent,' in- 
cluding Lieutenants Grounds, Robinson, and Mitcheson. 

Lieutenant Jenkins, during the twenty months he served in the 
' Excellent,' went through the entire course, and obtained a first- 
class certificate. On his return to India, he was appointed 
Gunnery Officer on board the receiving-ship ' Hastings,' and, in 
1850, when the gunnery establishment was removed to Butcher's 
Island, in Bombay Harbour, he proceeded thither with his staff. 
Between the years 1843 and 1854, when Lieutenant Jenkins 
returned on sick leave to England, and was succeeded by Lieu- 
tenant Grounds, every officer passing for lieutenant and hun- 
dreds, of seamen, training for the grades of warrant and petty 
officer, served under his orders. The good effects of the system 
were apparent at the time of the second Burmese War in 1852, 
when three hundred seamen -gunners, trained by Lieutenant 
Jenkins and his instructors, were drafted on board the ships 
forming the Expedition, and the accuracy ot the fire of tiie 

the ' Irrawadiy' steamer, and in 1844 resigned that vessel to take the command 
of the war-steamer ' Phlegethon,' to which he was specially appointed by Lord 
Ellenborough, who rightly appreciated Captain Scott's character and talents. Up 
to the time of his death, he rendered conspicuous service in the suppression of 
piracy and the destruction of numerous proas in the Straits. His remains were 
followed to the grave by the Governor of Singapore and all the officers of H.M.'s 
and the Hon. Company's services on the station. 

* Acting-Lieutenant G. N. Adams was appointed gunnery officer of the 
'Medusa;' Mr. Midshipman W. G. Pengelley of the 'Auckland,' and other 
officers, of the ' Sesostris ' and other ships. 



182 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Company's ships throughout the operations of the war, was re- 
marked by officers of all services, and received the commenda- 
tion of the press. On the removal of the gunnery establish- 
ment to Butcher's Island, batteries were erected for exercise, 
also class rooms, and a laboratory fitted with all the necessary 
appliances. 

Sir Robert Oliver, in furtherance of his laudable desire, issued 
the following Order on the 25th of June, 1842 :— " With the 
view of rewarding lieutenants and midshipmen who acquire 
scientific attainments, the Government have sanctioned the 
entertainment of a gunnery officer for all vessels to a fourth- 
rate inclusive, also for fifth-rates carrying revolving 32-pounder 
guns. Officers to be qualified for the appointment must hold 
first-class certificates from the naval instructor and teacher of 
gunnery. The gunnery officer is to forward quarterly a journal 
of his proceedings to the Superintendent's Office, accompanied 
by a certificate from the commander of the vessel, countersigned 
by the senior officer if on a station, to the effect that he has 
performed his duties in strict accordance with the regulations, 
and that he has complied with all instructions received." On 
the 19th of December following, the subjoined order was pub- 
lished relative to the duties of Lieutenant Griffith Jenkins, who, 
having gained a first-class certificate on board H.M.S. ' Excel- 
lent,' was appointed gunnery officer of the ' Hastings,' in place 
of the instructor hitherto employed:— " The gunnery officer to 
have the supervision of this branch of the duties of a vessel of 
war, and is to visit all vessels for the purpose of exercising a 
surveillance over the gunnery department. The gunnery officer 
or superintendent of naval gunnery, is to be borne on the books 
of the ' Hastings,' receiving and gunnery ship, but is not to 
interfere with her internal arrangements or duties further than 
may be required in the performance of his duties ; such officers 
and seamen as may be placed under the gunnery officer for in- 
struction are not to be interfered wUh by the commander or 
officers further than for the preservation of discipline; they are 
to be considered as under the immediate orders of the gunnery 
officer. When the gunnery officer visits a ship, the commander 
and officers will render him every assistance in the performance 
of his duties, and comply with all his requisitions. The junior 
gunnery officers are frequently to place themselves in communi- 
cation with Lieutenant Jenkins, through whom their reports 
and journals are to be submitted to the Superintendent. The 
means of qualifying themselves in this branch of naval educa- 
tion being open to all, the Superintendent calls officers to take 
every opportunity of perfecting themselves; at the same time 
he will report to Government any particular instances of pro- 
ficiency either by the officers or ship's company, as a selection 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 183 

may be made of the most efficient to any service where honour 
and credit are to be gained." 

On the 28th of October, 1845, there was a great conflagration 
in Bombay, to assist in extinguishing which, parties were landed 
from H.M.'s ships ' Fox ' and ' Pilot,' and from the guardship 
' Hastings,' the sloop-of-war ' Coote,' and the steam frigates 
' Semiramis ' and 'Akbar,' who were directed by their officers 
and by Commander Lynch, Superintendent, and Commander 
Boulderson, his assistant. There was great destruction of 
property, one hundred and ninety houses and shops being burnt, 
and fifteen lives were lost. All the seamen worked gallantly 
and well, but Commander Boulderson and eight sailors of the 
Indian Navy greatly distinguished themselves by their gallantry 
in removing 4,000 lbs. of powder from the midst of the flames, 
when the service appeared to involve instant death. The ' Bom- 
bay Courier' wrote as follows of this deed of daring: — "After 
some hours of toil, the men expressed a desire to ' splice the 
mainbrace.' This was speedily complied with, and gave them 
fresh vigour for after efforts. During the conflagration notice 
was given to the police, that in the lower floor of a house, the 
upper part of which was on fire, there was a number of barrels 
of gunpowder. A party of sailors immediately volunteered the 
dangerous task of removing them, and actually removed the 
whole quantity while showers of sparks were falling around 
them. Had a spark fallen upon one of these barrels, unpro- 
tected as they were by any wet cloth or covering, the communi- 
cation would have been instantaneous, and the consequences 
fearful to reflect on. The daring displayed by the seamen was 
no doubt gratifying to the feelings of the Service to which they 
belong. Two officers and a midshipman of the Indian Navy 
were severely injured, the former by the falling of a portion of 
a building, and the latter by the explosion of some gunpowder ; 
a seaman, too, of the same Service, was injured to an extent that 
endangered his life." 

The Government issued a General Order thanking the officers 
and seamen engaged in extinguishing this great conflagration, 
and rewarded the eight seamen who had risked their lives by a 
donation of fifty rupees each. Sir Charles Napier, ever fore- 
most in recognising deeds of personal gallantry, wrote, on the 
12th of November, to Mr. C. C. Rivett, Magistrate of Bombay, 
in the following terms of the devotion they had displayed: — 
" My dear Rivett, 

" No man can read of Mr. Danvers and Captain Boulderson, 
with the fine fellows who went with them to save the powder, 
without admiration. What noble fellows ! I hope the Govern- 
ment will publish an account of this gallant deed to all India, 
and reward them by making their gallantry known to the world, 
if not in more substantial ways. If Danvers and Boulderson 



184 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

and you are friends, do tell them that I have rarely known more 
courageous conduct— indeed, never. It cannot be surpassed, 
unless on those extraordinary occasions when men voluntarily 
devote themselves to certain death. Danvers, Boulderson, and 
their companions, are gloriously bold men." 

While on the subject of this fire, we take the opportunity of 
referring to the frequent occasions on which the officers and 
crews of the ships of war of the Indian Navy lying in Bombay 
harbour, rendered timely aid in assisting to extinguish confla- 
grations on shore and afloat. An instance occurs to mind in 
the case of the burning of the ' Thomas Grenville,' in 1843, 
when the merchants of Bombay addressed a letter of thanks to 
Sir Robert Oliver, for the succour rendered by the officers and 
crews of the Hon. Company's vessels in harbour, and pre- 
sented a sum of 5,000 rupees for distribution among the men 
thus engaged. 

In December, 1845, Sir Robert Oliver returned overland 
from England, and resumed his duties at the head of the 
Service from the 14th of that month, Commander Lynch re- 
verting to his post of Assistant-Superintendent, and Commander 
Boulderson to the charge of the Draughtsman's Office, whence, 
in February, 1846, he was transferred to the command of the 
' Auckland.' 



CHAPTER IV. 
184(5—1849. 

The ' Elphinstone' in New Zealand — Loss of the ' Cleopatra' — Increase of the 
Indian Navy in Ships and Officers, and Changes in its Constitution — Deaths of 
Captains Sanders, Pepper, Ross, and Carless — Death of Sir Robert Oliver — 
Review of his Character and Public Career — Surveys during the Administra- 
tion of Sir Robert Oliver — Temporary Appointment of Captain Hawkins as 
Superintendent — Services and Death of Lieutenant Christopher — The Indian 
Naval Brigade before Mooltan — Appointment of Commodore Lushington — 
Death of Captain Hawkins, and Notice of his Services. 

IN 1845-46, the Hon. Company's sloop-of-war ' Elphinstone,' 
eighteen guns, Commander J. A Young,* was actively en- 
gaged in the military operations then in progress in New 
Zealand, and participated in the capture of Ruapekapeka, the 
pah, or stronghold, of the famous Maori chief, Kawiti. The 
'Elphinstone' sailed from Bombay on the 19th of August, 
1845, with Major (the late Sir) William Robe, appointed 
Governor of South Australia ; and, on her arrival at Adelaide, 
she embarked Captain (afterwards Sir) George Grey, who was 
appointed by Lord Stanley — the late Earl Derby — then at the 
head of the Colonial Office, Governor of New Zealand, in place 
of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., who was recalled. In passing through 
Bass' Straits, the ' Elphinstone,' which was deeply laden with 
ammunition, encountered a tremendous gale of wind, but the 
practised seaman in command brought his ship in safety to 
Auckland. Here the Governor was sworn in, and, immediately, 
proceeded in the ' Elphinstone ' to the Bay of Islands, where a 
strong force, under command of Colonel Despard, 99th Regi- 
ment, was collected to chastise the chiefs Heki and Kawiti, 
who had hitherto defeated all attempts to reduce them. 
The ' Elphinstone ' arrived at the Bay on the 22nd of Novem- 

* Commander James A. Young, who was appointed from the ' Sesostris ' to 
the command of the ' Elphinstone,' was an elder brother of Commander John 
Wellington Young, who received the distinction of the Bath for his services in 
the Persian War of 1856-57, and was at this time in command of the ' Akbar,' to 
which he had been promoted from the ' Atalanta,' where he was succeeded by 
Lieutenant A. H. Gordon, commanding the ' Euphrates.' Commander J. A. 
Young, on assuming command of the ' Elphinstone,' was succeeded in charge of 
the ' Sesostris ' by Commander J. Frushard. 



186 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

ber, when Governor Grey landed at Kororarika, and, after some 
negotiations with the two chiefs, which proved abortive, it was 
decided that an advance should be made on Kawiti's pah, which 
was situated about eighteen miles inland. The Governor re- 
turned to Auckland in the ' Elphinstone,' which had left behind 
her a party of seamen, with two field pieces, and her marines, 
consisting of fifteen Europeans of the Bombay Artillery, under 
the command of Lieutenant G. W. Leeds, first-lieutenant of 
the ' Elphinstone.' On the 8th of December, this detachment, 
with three hundred soldiers, under command of Colonel Wyn- 
yard, of the 58th Regiment, embarked on board the transport 
' Slain's Castle,' and proceeded to the mouth of the Kawa Kawa 
river, at its junction with the Waikari, about four miles from 
the Bay, where H.M.S. 'North Star,' twenty-six guns, was lying 
at anchor. Here the detachments were landed, and, on the 10th, 
the remainder of the troops having arrived, the march inland 
commenced. 

As the boats were insufficient to carry the whole force, one 
hundred and fifty men marched by land on the left bank of the 
river ; great difficulty was also experienced in transporting the 
heavy guns and stores, owing to the lack of bullocks and drays. 
Colonel Despard had neglected to make roads, and effect the 
necessary reconnaissance before the advance of the force, as we 
have seen Sir Garnet Wolseley did with such good effect in the 
Ashantee War— so that it was not before the 22nd of December, 
that one division, five hundred strong, including one hundred 
and fifty seamen, with three guns, took up a position cutting off 
Heki's approach to Kawiti's pah, and the remainder of the 
troops, seven hundred in number, encamped in a high com- 
manding situation about three-quarters of a mile from the pah 
at Ruapekapeka. Owing to the nature of the country this slow 
progress was unavoidable. "At one place," says the Com- 
mander of the force, " the troops were obliged to move in single 
file, the path being very narrow, and on both sides covered 
thickly with ferns, two and three feet in height, mixed with a 
description of brushwood, called tea-tree, six and seven feet 
high. The country was a constant succession of hills, many of 
them extremely steep." At another place there was an almost 
perpendicular ravine, so that a new road had to be opened for 
the guns " by cutting away the bush and burning the fern," and 
Colonel Despard adds, " it frequently required fifty or sixty 
men, in addition to a team of eight bullocks to each gun, to get 
it up the hills and through the woods." H.M.S. 'Castor' 
arrived on the 15th of December, when one hundred men 
marched up country to join the Expedition, and, on the 20th of 
December, the 'Elphinstone' anchored in the Bay on her return 
from Auckland, with the Governor on board, when a second party 
of forty seamen immediately marched to join Colonel Despard. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 187 

With this detachment proceeded the Governor, Captain Graham, 
of H.M.S. ' Castor,' and Commander Young of the ' Elphinstone.' 

On the 28th of December a detachment of one hundred men 
of the 58th Regiment arrived from Norfolk Island, so that the 
total force before the pah was composed as follows : — Thirty- 
two officers and two hundred and eighty seamen from H.M.'s 
ships ' North Star.' twenty-six guns, ' Racehorse,' eighteen 
guns, ' Osprey,' twelve guns, and the Hon. Company's ship 
' Elphinstone,' eighteen guns, the whole under Commander 
Hay, of the ' Racehorse,' — the contingent from the ' Elphinstone,' 
being sixty seamen and fifteen Bombay artillerymen acting as 
marines, under Lieutenants W. Leeds and Ralph, and Midship- 
men H. H. Garrett and W. M. Peugelley. Royal Marines, 
three officers and eighty men under Captain Langford ; 58th 
Regiment, nineteen officers and five hundred and forty-three 
men, under Colonel Wynyard ; 99th Regiment, six officers and 
one hundred and fifty men, under Captain Reed ; Volunteers 
from Auckland, forty-two men, under Captain Atkyns. Also 
Captain Marlow, R.E. and Lieutenant Wilmot, R.A. Total, 
sixty-eight officers and one thousand one hundred and ten men, 
besides four hundred and fifty native allies. The ordnance 
consisted of three 32-pounders, one 18-pounder, two 12-pounder 
howitzers, one 6-pounder brass gun, four 4^-inch mortars, and 
two rocket tubes. 

Between the 28th and the 31st of December, the troops were 
employed bringing up the guns to a new defensible position 
taken up by the native allies, about 1,200 yards from the pah. 
" Two guns, a 32-pouuder and a 12-pounder howitzer," says 
Colonel Despard, " were placed in battery on an elevated 
position in front of the camp, and several shells were thrown 
from them into the pah with great accuracy, doing great credit 
to the two officers who directed them, Lieutenant Bland, H.M.S. 
'Racehorse,' and Lieutenant Leeds, Hon. Company's ship 
' Elphinstone.' " A rocket battery was also established on the 
same ground, about 650 yards from the pah, under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Egerton, of H.M.S. ' North Star,' but 
though it was well served, from some defect in the composition, 
the rockets frequently fell short. As there was a great deficiency 
of carriage the tents were left at a depot formed on the road, 
and, there being abundance of wood and bush, the men were 
enabled to hut themselves without difficulty. 

On the morning of the 1st of January, 1846, a strong party 
pushed forward to within 350 yards of the pah, and a stockade 
was commenced on an open spot in the only wooded space that 
now divided them from the enemy, to afford protection to a 
breaching battery of two 32-pounders, brought up with great 
labour from the 'Elphinstone,' with room for a magazine; the 
stockade, being on lower ground than the pah, was constructed 



188 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of sufficient height to protect the guard from the enemy's fire. 
A small battery was also formed in rear of this stockade for the 
four mortars, two of which were afterwards removed to the 
advanced battery. So well did the sailors and soldiers work, 
that before night the stockade was far enough advanced to 
render it secure against any attack of the enemy. On the after- 
noon of the following day, the enemy sallied out from the pah 
in great strength with the apparent view of turning the flank of 
the working party in the advanced stockade, but they were 
repulsed with loss by the native allies, the Europeans acting as 
a reserve. With a view to prevent a renewed attempt of the 
enemy to make a sortie under protection of the woods, 
Colonel Despard caused the construction of a third battery to 
the right, within 150 yards, for the reception of one 18-pounder 
and one 12-pounder howitzer, which were to bear upon the 
same face, the western, of the pah ; this battery was also pro- 
tected by a stockade of rough timber. 

As soon as the batteries were sufficiently advanced to admit 
of their being unmasked without danger, all the pioneers were 
employed in cutting down the wood in their front, which was 
completed by the 9th of January, when the entire face of the 
pah was left bare. As by that date the supply of shot in camp 
was considered ample, about ten o'clock on the morning of the 
following day, all the batteries opened simultaneously, and 
their fire was kept up, with little intermission, during the 
greater part of the day. At first but little impression appeared 
to be made, and it was not until several hours' firing that the 
outer works showed signs of giving way ; by sunset the outer 
stockade was completely broken down in two places, "but, 
nevertheless," says Colonel Despard, " it was evident that the 
inner fences and the strong stockades, which crossed the body 
of the work in different directions, were scarcely injured." 
Towards evening the British fire slackened, but was occasionally 
continued during the night to prevent any repairs being made 
to the breaches. In the meantime the enemy had begun to 
retire during the night, which it was impossible to prevent 
owing to the woods coming close up to the pah in several places. 
On Sunday morning a party of the native allies, perceiving the 
pah silent, crept up to it, when Colonel Despard, seeing them 
in the breach, proceeded towards the pah with one hundred 
men, under Captain Denny of the 58th Regiment, and entered 
the breach. An entrance had scarcely been effected than the 
enemy, still remaining in the work, opened a heavy fire from 
the right, but the advance pushed in, and having gained some 
of the inner stockades, they maintained themselves until a re- 
inforcement arrived, when the Maories were driven out of the 
pah. The enemy, however, desirous of carrying off their killed 
and wounded, kept up a hot fire from the woods, and even made 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 189 

some attempts to retake the work itself, but were repulsed, and, 
after three hours' sharp firing, they finally retreated. " We had 
thus gained," says Colonel Despard, " in little more than twenty- 
four hours, the strongest fortress which the New Zealanders 
had ever erected, and one, which the natives throughout the 
whole colony hoped and expected would have resisted our 
utmost efforts. Their whole attention was turned to what 
the result of this attack would be, and had it been different 
from what it was, there is no doubt but our enemies would 
have multiplied four-fold. 

This pah of Ruapekapeka — of which a plan was made by 
Captain Marlow, R.E., and Lieutenant Leeds of the ' Elphin- 
stone,' which appears in Vol. III. of the New Series of the 
Professional Papers of the Royal Engineers— was about 120 
yards by 70 in extent, and much broken into flanks ; it had two 
rows of palisades three feet apart, composed of timber twelve 
to twenty inches in diameter, and fifteen feet out of the ground. 
Inside these two rows, says Captain Marlow, in his despatch, 
was a ditch four feet deep, with earthen traverses left in it, and 
the earth was thrown up behind to form an inner parapet ; each 
hut inside was also surrounded by a strong low palisade, and 
the ground excavated inside the hut, and the earth thrown up 
as a parapet.* The British loss, which was chiefly confined to 
the seamen who followed the enemy into the forest in the most 
daring manner, was twelve killed and thirty wounded, including 
only one officer, Mr. Midshipman Murray, of the 'North Star.' 
Two iron guns, one split by an eighteen-pound shot from the 
batteries, were found in the pah. On the following da} 7 , the 
12th of January, the works were burned to the ground, and, on 
the 14th, the camp was broken up and the return march com- 
menced, the soldiers and seamen carrying the ammunition and 
dragging the light guns and the carriages of the heavy ord- 
nance, which were transported in drays to the river. During 
the afternoon of the 15th and two succeeding clays, the guns 
and stores were embarked in the boats and sent down to the 

* " On closely examining this fortress," says Colonel Despard, " we were all 
surprised at the singular mode adopted for strengthening it. The outward stock- 
ade was almost entirely composed of whole trees, deeply sunk in the ground, and 
supported on the inside by a thick embankment of solid earth. It was also loop- 
holed in many parts close to the ground, so that a man could lie in the ditch and 
fire through, without being himself exposed. In the interior, nearly every hut 
was stockaded with a deep excavation underground, into which the inhabitant 
could retire, and shelter himself almost entirely from both shot and shell. The 
earth, taken out from these excavations, formed a low rampart to support its 
stockade, thus rendering each hut a little fortress. There was great ingenuity 
displayed in this sytem of defence, more, probably, than had ever been before 
exhibited by any race of savages we had yet been acquainted with. The chief's, 
(Kawiti) hut attracted particular attention. It was remarkably neat, with a low 
verandah in front, and an extensive excavation underneath, as well as being 
strongly stockaded on the side exposed to attack, by upright timber, with others 
laid horizontally behind, and supported by an embankment." 



190 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

shipping, with as many men as could be accommodated, the 
remainder proceeding, as before, by land. On the 18th of 
January the ships sailed for Auckland with the troops, a 
detachment of two hundred men of the 58th remaining behind 
at the Bay of Islands. 

A few days after the capture of his pah, Kawiti and Held, 
who had joined him there the evening before the assault, wrote 
to the Governor asking for peace in the most submissive terms, 
and thus was brought to a successful conclusion the northern 
campaign, which had lasted since July, 1844. The troops and 
seamen engaged in this decisive affair, received the thanks of 
Her Majesty ; Colonel Despard, Colonel Wynyard, and Captain 
Graham, R.N., senior naval officer, were awarded the C.B. ; 
and Captain Marlow. R.E., Captain Denny, 58th, and Lieutenant 
Wilmot, R.A., received brevet promotion.* 

* Mr. Midshipman (now Commander) Pengelley of the Indian Navy, who 
served as midshipman with the ' Elphinstone's ' Brigade, has kindly supplied 
me with the following account, derived from memory, of the operations at 
Kawiti's pah : — 

" We numbered about twelve hundred in all. These marched to the front, 
and in due course opened fire from batteries composed of boats' guns and 12- 
pounder field pieces. It was quickly ascertained, however, that this description 
of light ordnance produced little or no effect on the stout palisades made 
of the tough trunks of the cowrie gum. The ' Elphinstone' therefore sent back a 
detachment of her seamen to Kororarika, for a couple of her medium 27 cwt. 
32-pounders, which were conveyed through the bush and over hill and dale in 
native canoes welded round with strong iron bands, and dragged bodily eighteen 
miles to the front by our seamen and marines, inspirited by the sound of fife and 
drum. The guns were placed in position without loss of time, and a clay ap- 
pointed on which to open a simultaneous fire. After blazing away with shot, 
shell, and Congreve rockets for some hours, a breach was made, but it was not 
until the following day (Sunday) that we advanced. Our native allies on that 
morning informed us that a considerable body of rebels had gone out at the back 
of the pah. We, therefore, went in at the front, and avoided bloodshed thereby, 
agreeably with the earnest wishes of Governor Grey, who was present during our 
operations, having Captain James Young with him. 

" The bravery of the enemy was undeniable, and their conduct in the field chival- 
rous in the extreme. For instance, our pioneers were daily engaged cutting in 
the dense jungle a passage, through which we intended, on unmasking, to open 
fire. The native sentries, many of whom spoke English, used to call out ' You 
may come so far — but, if one step beyond, we shall tire on you.' Then occasion- 
ally, as if for amusement, they would hang up a blanket about fifty yards from 
their ' pah,' and with loud gesticulations would invite our native allies to come 
and take it down. This, in turn, would be done by our own people, who were 
headed by a renowned chief named Toinati Waka, only recently deceased. 
Scarce a day passed without a brisk passage of arms taking place, resulting, after 
a lar^e expenditure of powder on both sides, in the deaths, perhaps, of one or 
two, and a half-dozen or so wounded. Of course, much to their chagrin, none of 
the European force were permitted to engage in this desultory and highly irre- 
gular kind of warfare. They merely looked on, passed their remarks, en- 
joyed the sport, and ' bided their time.' Another somewhat peculiar custom we 
noticed, namely, of an evening, after fighting all day, sometimes in a regular and 
sometimes in an irregular kind of way, as detailed above, a few of the enemy would 
boldly enter into our native camp, and mingle freely with Toinati Waka's 
men, telling them, perhaps, that on the following or 6uch a day they intended 
making a grand ' sortie,' and chatting gaily, apparently in a friendly spirit, over 
a dish of boded potatoes, about the stirring events of the day. As for conceal- 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 191 

Extracts from correspondence, commendatory of the officers 
and crew of the ' Elphinstone,' when employed in New Zealand, 
were published in General Orders under date the 26th of June, 
1846, and also, on the \8th of October following, the Court's 
despatch highly eulogising Commander Young and those under 
his command. 

The 'Elphinstone' proceeded to Auckland and thence to 
Sydney with Colonel Despard, and, on the 25th of February, 
sailed with despatches for Aden, where she cast anchor on the 
22nd of May. On the 27th, Commander Young went on shore 
on sick leave, Lieutenant Leeds remaining in temporary com- 
mand, and, on the arrival of the ' Semiramis,' Commander 
E. W. S. Daniell, with the mails from Suez, he proceeded 
in her to Bomba}^, arriving there on the 27th of June. 
After a short residence on shore, his health being sufficiently 
restored to permit of his returning to duty, Commander Young 
was appointed to the command of the ' Cleopatra,' Lieutenant 
J. Rennie being transferred to the schooner ' Constance ;' and, 
on the arrival of the 'Elphinstone' at Bombay, the ward-room 
officers (with the exception of Lieutenant Leeds, who was sent 
on shore sick), and men who had served under him, were 
drafted from the sloop-of-war to the steam-frigate, much to 
their satisfaction, as a better seaman or more kind and con- 
siderate officer than Commander Young never trod a ship's 
deck. The 'Cleopatra' had been employed conveying the 
mails to Suez, and Commander Young, for a short period from 
the 26th of November, 1846, was in temporary charge of the 
duties of Senior Naval Officer at Aden, an appointment newly 
constituted by the Court of Directors in consequence of the 
growing importance of that place, and published to the Service 
in the following Government General Order : — 

" The following extract from a despatch from the Hon. Court 
of Directors, dated the 20th of May, 1846, No. oS, is published 

ment, they were undoubtedly as conversant with the strength of our force as we 
ourselves were ; a simple, dogged, determined, yet good-tempered spirit animated 
them cheerfully and bravely to await results, without one thought of yielding. The 
fire-arms of the enemy were generally equal, and frequently superior, to ours in 
range, being good Kentucky rifles, supplied evidently by the South-Sea American 
whalers, to whom the dollar was of course irresistible. They were such excellent 
shots that our officers, both naval and military, were obliged to dress as much 
like the men as possible, as the enemy gave out that they had no desire to kill 
our men, but the officers only. Very rarely did they make a night sortie in 
force ; just about daylight being the favourite time for a New Zealander to com- 
mence an attack. Regularly, therefore, an hour before daylight, at the sound of 
the bugle, we stood to arms. The climate we found most healthy and invi- 
gorating. Although we could only boast of having two tents — one for the 
Governor, and the other belonging to Colonel Despard, the senior military officer 
— yet there was no case of either fever or rheumatism, though the nights were 
generally rainy, and the sun powerful during the daytime. We slept as best we 
could in our own self-made " warries," or huts manufactm-ed from the branches 
of bushes." 



192 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

for general information : — ' The Red Sea Station, which in- 
cludes the Gulf of Aden, is of increasing importance, and we 
think that the senior Indian Navy officer stationed at Aden may 
usefully exercise supervision over the vessels serving in the 
Red Sea, and as his duties thereby become more onerous and 
responsible, we have resolved that a special allowance be made 
to the senior officer employed in command on the Red Sea 
Station, under the denomination of table money. We do not, 
however, deem it necessary to assign to him the amount drawn 
by the Commodore in the Persian Gulf, but we desire that the 
allowance according to rank appointed in our letter of the 23rd 
of April, No. 36, of 1845, for the senior officer in the Gulf when 
the Commodore is absent, may be granted to the senior officer sta- 
tioned at Aden, in addition to the command allowance of his ship. 
It must be understood at the same time, that the tour of service 
of the senior officer on the Red Sea Station is to be assimilated 
with the practice which obtains in the Persian Gulf Station.'" 

In April, 1847, the ' Cleopatra ' was placed under orders to 
convey one hundred convicts to Singapore, although, when 
making the passage from Bombay to Aden in the voyage imme- 
diately preceding her last, she had worked together to such an 
extent that Commander Young had actually to secure her 
paddle-boxes by chains thrown across the decks and fastened 
on either side. This he officially reported on his return. The 
condition of the ship being so unsatisfactory, Commander Young 
proceeded to the office of the Superintendent and remonstrated 
with him against sending a ship to battle against the approach- 
ing south-west monsoon in a notoriously unfit condition. Sir 
Robert Oliver, who was at no time remarkable for the pos- 
session of an amiable temper, was furious at a subordinate 
officer attempting to remonstrate, no matter how respectfully, 
against his orders, and he turned upon the noble seaman before 
him, whose whole life had been characterized by unselfish 
devotion to duty, with a bitter taunt that he was deficient in 
nerve. Commander Young made no reply, but went on board 
his ship, which sailed from Bombay on the 14th of April, and 
from that day no word was ever heard more of the ' Cleopatra.' 
The ill-fated ship had scarcely cleared the coast than one of the 
most terrible cyclones on record, swept over the Indian Ocean, 
and, it is supposed, engulphed the 'Cleopatra' and the gallant 
hearts on board her.* 

* Captain T. Gr. Carless wrote a paper, which appeared in Vol. VIII. of the 
Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, entitled " Remarks on the 
Course of the Hurricane which occurred on the Malabar Coast, in April, 1847, and 
on the probable position of the steam frigate 'Cleopatra' at the time, with a 
sketch." This Paper, which was drawn up from information derived from the 
log-books of the 'Sesostris' and 'Victoria,' and the ships ' Buckinghamshire,' 
' Mermaid,' ' Faize Rubahny,' and ' Atiet Rohoman,' is a valuable exposition of 
the nature of this rotatory storm or cyclone. Allowing 428 miles as the whole 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 193 

We would not say that the loss of the ' Cleopatra ' and the 
valuable lives on board her, is to be laid at Sir Robert Oliver's 
door, for it is probable that the stoutest ship would have suc- 
cumbed to the cyclone had she been caught in its vortex; but, 
equally, we cannot acquit the Superintendent of serious wrong 
in disregarding the remonstrances of the Captain of the 'Cleo- 
patra,' which might have battled through that terrible ordeal had 
she been made perfectly seaworthy. For the sad calamity that 
overtook that ship, after the incident that occurred in his office, 
Sir Robert Oliver is entitled to the commiseration of every one 
in a degree only less than the gallant seamen who were lost 
in the ' Cleopatra.' 

Great anxiety was entertained at Bombay for the safety of 
the ' Sesostris,' which had left Aden for Cannanore, with 
troops, on the 5th of April, and, no steamer being available, 
Commander Frushard, on the 27th of April, sailed in the sloop- 
of-war ' Coote,' for Vingorla, where he found the ' Sesostris ' at 
anchor, she having arrived in safety at Cannaliore, on the 22nd 
of April. The ' Mermaid' and other vessels were wrecked at 
Vingorla, and the 'Buckinghamshire,'* a fine Indiaman of 
1,700 tons, which got into the vortex of the cyclone within 
sixty miles of Vingorla, was totally dismasted during the storm, 
which raged with unparalleled fury from the 16th to the 19th 
of April. No special search was at this time made for the 
' Cleopatra,' and the ' Coote ' returned to Bombay ; but, as time 
wore on, and no news was received of her arrival at Singapore, 
anxious fears began to be whispered about, and, at length, on 
the 28th of August, Lieutenant John Wellington Young was 
despatched to the Laccadive Islands in the ' Auckland,' to make 

distance run from Bombay, he says, the probable position of the ' Cleopatra,' " at 
8 a.m. on the 17th, was in lat. 12° 5' N. about forty miles from the land, with 
Elicalpine Island, the nearest of the Laccadives, fifty miles to the windward. A 
reference to the chart will show that she was nearer its vortex than the ' Mer- 
maid,' ' Faize Rubahny,' or ' Victoria,' and consequently must have been more 
exposed to its greatest violence than either of these vessels." 

* The ' Buckinghamshire ' was bmlt in Bombay Dockyard, of teak and copper- 
fastened, for the Hon. Company's Mercantile Service, and, probably, a nobler 
ship never left the builder's hands. The hurricane raged with such unparalleled 
violence, that one of her heavy cutters was torn from the davits and blown across 
the poop like a straw, and the poop ports having been forced in by the wind, the 
bulkheads of the cuddy were blown down. During the calm, while in the vortex 
of the hurricane, her decks were covered with dead and dying birds, and pro- 
bably few ships but those built by the Parsee shipbuilders at Bombay, would 
have escaped destruction during an ordeal as terrible as that encountered by the 
' Sulsette' frigate in the ice of the Baltic. The cost of the ' Buckinghamshire ' to 
the Company was no less than £93,000, and she was sold, on the lapse ofthe Com- 
pany's charter, in 1833, for £10,500. In the year 1848, the ' Euphrates; brig, 
afforded another proof of the strength of the Bombay-built ships, for having 
grounded on the coral reef surrounding the isLud of Corgo, situated two 
miles north of Kharrack, a dead lee shore, during a south-easter, on a December 
night, she remained hammering away on the coral reef for four or live d;i_\<, 
until she knocked herself a bed, and, finally, got off without any material 



VOL. II. 



1^4 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

inquiries regarding his missing brother, and rescue him if, per- 
chance, his ship was cast away on that inhospitable shore. But 
it was all to no purpose, and the sickening dread of the worst 
was soon confirmed in the breast of the gallant commander of 
the ' Auckland.' 

" How sleep the brave who sink to rest, 
By all their country's wishes blest." 

No officer or man in the Indian Navy but offered the tribute 
of a sigh to the memory of the good and noble Young, and his 
brave officers and crew, who had added lustre to the Service, 
and gained the applause of all with whom they had served by 
their conduct in the recent affair in New Zealand.* 

The ship's company of the 'Cleopatra' numbered one hun- 
dred and fifty-one souls, and, in addition, there were on board, 
for passage to Singapore, one hundred convicts, with a strong 
marine guard, under charge of Mr. Anderson, Chief Constable 
of the port ; so that probably there were nearly three hundred 
souls on board the ' Cleopatra ' when she foundered in mid 
ocean. A monument, executed in white marble, by Mr. Bovey, 
of Plymouth, was erected, in Bombay Cathedral, to the memory 
of the officers and crew of the ill-fated ship. The design is 
simple and appropriate, and the entablature has the following 
inscription : — " Sacred to the Memory of the Commander, 
Officers, and Ship's Company of the Hon. East India Company's 
steam frigate ' Cleopatra,' which is supposed to have foundered 
in a hurricane off the Coast of Malabar, on the 15th day of 

* Lieutenant W. H. Carpendale, of the ' Cleopatra,' who is now a clergyman 
of the Church of England, writes to us as follows of the condition of the ship at 
the time of her last voyage : — "I served in the ' Cleopatra ' some time, and pro- 
ceeded in her in an awful south-west monsoon trip from Aden to Bombay in 
June, 1846, when her waterways opened, and one of her bolts worked out of the 
port side by the gangway as much as eight or ten inches. The sea was very high, 
and Hamilton, who commanded, standing with one leg on either side of the 
open seam on the quarter-deck, exclaimed, and I shall never forget it, ' Ah, 
Cleopatra, this is the last trip you'll ever make in a heavy sea!' He was right. 
Spite of all this, she was never docked Spite of James Young's protest or 
respectful remonstrance, for Young succeeded in command, she was only cooked 
up by dockyard hands, and was sent to sea to join the Admiral at Singapore, 
taking two hundred convicts on board. She foundered, and nothing more was 
ever heard of her. I was one of the last officers in her, and prayed Young to 
get the order cancelled that ordered me out into the ' Auckland ' with Hamilton, 
but he had no power with the chief, Sir Robert Oliver, and thus, in the Pro- 
vidence of God, I escaped. But it was a dastardly thing that she should have 
been sent to sea, and on service, too, after such discoveries, without being docked. 
James Young was a fine fellow. Possibly you know all the details of his de- 
struction in this ship. I mean how surely he apprehended mischief — how, after 
representing the state of the ship to the chief, who asked, ' Do you refuse to 
command her ?' he replied, ' No, Sir Robert ' How he left his plate on shore, 
and other valuables, and how he returned a second time to say good-bye to his 
relation at Colaba. Poor old Oliver, I know, felt the loss of the ship, and once 
earnestly questioned me about her during that last bad trip, and I told him we 
all thought her rotten." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 195 

April, 1847. There were lost in the ill-fated vessel, J. A. 
Young, Commander ; C. Eden, H. Ralph, T. Lawes, Lieutenants ; 
J. C. Carr, Assistant-Surgeon ; F. Nott, Mate; J. Soady, Mid- 
shipman; J. Croad, Clerk in Charge ; W. S. B. Hadley, Captain's 
Clerk ; together with a crew of one hundred and forty-two 
souls. This monument is erected by the Officers and Seamen 
of the Indian Navy as a tribute of respect to their lamented 
comrades." 

The ' Cleopatra,' like some other steamships constructed by 
contract in England and Scotland, such as the ' Akbar,' ' Ajdaha,' 
(added later) ' Queen,' and ' Sesostris,** and the Zenobia," (pur- 
chased into the Service) was a bad bargain from the first; the 
finest and most seaworthy ships of the Indian Navy being the 
' Victoria,' ' Semiramis,' (second of that name,) ' Auckland,' 
and ' Ferooz,' (launched in 1848), which were all built at 
Bombay. 

Lieutenant J.W.Young, though unsuccessful in ascertaining 
the fate of his hapless brother's ship, was enabled to relieve the 
wretched inhabitants of the Laccadive group, over two of which, 
Kalpeni and Underoot, the sea had made a clean breach, and 
swept away two hundred and fifty persons ; while one hundred 
and sixty-two died from starvation on Underoot, and five hun- 
dred and thirteen on Kalpeni from hunger and when attempting 
to escape to the Malabar coast. Altogether one thousand eight 
hundred souls were said to have perished. The wretched sur- 
vivors had been subsisting on the roots of the young cocoa- 
trees, and the opportune arrival of the 'Auckland,' with sup- 
plies, was the means of saving them from a lingering death. 
Captain Biden, the well-known and highly-respected Master- 
Attendant at Madras, wrote as follows of the relief afforded to 
these poor islanders : — 

"Except on a small bank off Minicoy, there is no anchorage 
amongst the Laccadives. Captain Young had a most anxious 
duty to perform on his approach to the islands, which was done 
by steaming close to them and then backing off. On one occa- 
sion, the ' Auckland's ' boat was nearly swamped in the surf, 
and could not be got through it when she attempted to re- 
turn ; however, the natives carried the boat across the island 
to where it was smooth water, and all the operations, in per- 
formance of a duty grateful to every British seaman, were well 
and ably performed by Captain Young and all under his com- 
mand. The poor famished people, so opportunely relieved, 

* In August, 1849, Commander C. D. Campbell, reported of the ( Sesostris ' 
that she was so loose in frame and decayed in timber that in a seaway the butts 
of her deck planks opened and closed, and he stated in his official report, that 
she made so much water that he had to ease the engines when oflfSocotra. On 
his representations, and remembering the fate of the ' Cleopatra,' both the 
' Sesostris ' and her sister ship, the ' Queen,' had new decks laid. 

o 2 



196 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

evinced every feeling of thankfulness and gratitude for their 
deliverance." 

Commander Young* proceeded in the 'Auckland,' in the 
following year, to Singapore and the newly established colony 
of Labium, of the progress of which he brought satisfactory 
accounts. 

During the year 1846, an addition was made to the strength 
of the Indian Navy, by the arrival of a new steam-frigate, and 
the Service also sustained a loss by the stranding of a sloop-of- 
war. The former was the ' Moozuft'er '— a word signifying 
" Victorious" — a fine ship, 256 feet in length, and 1,440 tons 
measurement, which was built at Messrs. Fletcher's yard, at 
Liinehouse, and was launched on the 27th of January, 1846, in 
the presence of the Chairman and Court of Directors, who were 
afterwards present at the customary lunch. The 'Moozuft'er' 
had engines of 500 horse-power, made by the Messrs. Seaward 
and Capel, and was constructed to carry eight heavy guns, (com- 
monly called 68-pounders), throwing hollow 5(5 lb. shot, and 
having a calibre of 8-inch. That fine officer, Commander R. 
Ethersey was appointed to the command of the 'Moozuft'er,' 
which left England under steam and sail on the 25th of October, 
1846, but did not arrive at Bombay until the 21st of February 
in the following year, having thus been one hundred and nine- 
teen days on the passage, during sixty of which, however, she 
was becalmed near the line. 

Commander Ethersey commanded the 'Moozuffer' for nearly 
three years, during which time, among other duties, he brought 
Lord Dalhousie from Suez to Calcutta, and took thence his pre- 
decessor, Lord Hardinge, on his return to England. He was 
succeeded by Commander Harry Heald Hewett, an equally fine 
officer, who, in 1849, made the passage to Aden by the direct 
route in eleven days and nine hours, thus eclipsing the feat of 
Commander J. W. Young, who, in the preceding year, was con- 
sidered to have done wonders by getting to Aden in twelve 
days and four hours. Hitherto, the steamers of the Indian 
Navy, owing to their small steam power, were forced, during 
the monsoon, to make the south-west passage, which frequently 
occupied from eighteen to twenty days, and it used to be a joke 
that the gallant officers went down " to see how their friend the 
equator was getting en." The feat of Commander Hewett in 
the 'Moozuffer' remained unrivalled by any steam vessel, and 
when, in July, 1855, acting on the advice of Lieutenant Fer- 
gusson, the Indian Navy draughtsman, conveyed to Mr. Ritchie, 
the Peninsular and Oriental Company's Superintendent at Bom- 
bay, their steamer, the ' Cadiz,' Captain Oldham, made the direct, 
or north-west, passage, in twelve days and nine hours, the Bom- 

* His commission as Commander was dated the 13th of September, 1847. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ID 7 

bay "Telegraph and Courier" had a lengthy leading article on 
the achievement. 

The addition to the Service of the 'Moozuffer' was almost 
neutralized by the loss of the ' Coote.' This fine sloop-of-war 
sailed from Bombay under the command of Lieutenant J. S. 
Grieve, who had only joined her on the 15th of the month, and, 
on the morning of the 1st of December, grounded on a reef near 
Calicut, to which port she was bound. Every exertion was 
made by the officers and men to get her off, but without avail, 
and, on the 3rd of December, she was abandoned, after all her 
guns and a great portion of her stores and ammunition had been 
safely landed. The crew were accommodated on shore until 
the arrival of the ' Medusa,' which took them to Bombay. The 
hull of the ' Coote' was sold for 10,000 rupees, but her purchaser 
sustained a total loss, owing to her having grounded, while being 
towed ashore, on a mud bank, from which it was impossible to 
remove her. Her unfortunate commander, Lieutenant J. S. 
Grieve, brother to the late Commander Albany Grieve, — both 
smart officers and eminent surveyors, — did not long survive the 
loss of his ship, but died at Calicut on the following 7th of April. 

In the year 1847 another steam-frigate, of the same size and 
armament as the ' Moozuffer,' called the 'Ajdaha,' or "flying 
dragon," was launched in London, and sailed from Gravesend 
on the 25th of September, under command of Captain Sanders 
(Lieutenants H. A. Drought and H. W. Grounds proceeding in 
her to India, on their return from furlough), and cast anchor 
in Bombay harbour on the 28th of December. 

In February, 1847, the Colaba Lighthouse, which was under 
the charge of Lieutenant Hay man, of the Invalid Establishment, 
was fitted with a light on the revolving principle, exhibiting its 
greatest intensity every two minutes. 

We have seen that, by the Orders of the Court, dated the 
30th of January, 1839, and promulgated at Bombay on the 4th 
of April following, the Indian Naval Establishment was fixed at 
four captains, eight commanders, forty lieutenants, and forty- 
eight midshipmen — total one hundred. Again, consequent on a 
despatch of the Court, dated the 27th of August, 1841, and 
published in General Orders of the 5th of November in that 
year, the strength of the Service was fixed at six captains, 
twelve commanders, forty-eight lieutenants, and seventy-two 
midshipmen — total one hundred and thirty-eight. Again, by a 
General Order, dated the 13th of September, 1847, in accord- 
ance with the Court's despatch of the previous 28th of July, 
there was a further augmentation* of the Service, the establish- 

* By the augmentation, the following officers received promotion from the 13th 
of September, 1847 : — Commanders H. B. Lynch and J. P. Sanders to be 
captains ; Lieutenants C. D. Campbell, E. W. Daniell, A. H. Gordon, J. Gr. 
Johnston, J. F. Jones, and J. W. Young, to be commanders ; and Mates E. 



198 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

ment of which was placed at the following scale : — Eight cap- 
tains, sixteen commanders, sixty-eight lieutenants, and one 
hundred and ten midshipmen — total two hundred and twoofficers 
of the combatant branch; also fourteen pursers and twelve 
captains' clerks. In addition to these " covenanted " officers, 
there were now in the Service, or engaged within the next two 
years, fourteen masters and twenty-one second-masters, who 
were employed to fill any temporary vacancies on board the 
sea-going ships, and also officered the Indus flotilla and the 
steamer ' Comet,' stationed on the River Tigris, and commis- 
sioned by a Commander of the Service, who also held the ap- 
pointment of Surveyor-General of Mesopotamia. 

By the Order of the 13th of September, 1847, the Superin- 
tendent was made a Commodore of the First Class in the 
Indian Navy, and it was also directed that the Assistant-Super- 
intendent was to be a captain on the effective list, and to hold 
his appointment for three years ; but, if for the advantage of the 
public service, he might be re-appointed for a further term. The 
nomination of a secretary to the commodore, was also sanctioned, 
and Mr. Frederick G. Bone, Purser, received the appointment, 
which he filled with success, and to the satisfaction of his 
superiors and the Service generally, from the year 1847 to the 
date of the abolition of the Service in 1863.* 

The following was the Government General Order on this 
augmentation, and the appointment of Sir Robert Oliver as 
a First Class Commodore, " to command all officers and men, 
the vessels and establishments of the Indian Navy afloat or 
ashore." 

"The Governor in Council deems this a fitting occasion to 
offer to Sir Robert Oliver the warmest acknowledgments, on 
the part of the Government, for the able manner in which he 
has for many years conducted the department under his control, 
and by his indefatigable exertions drawn forth from its very 
inadequate and defective means most important services to the 
State, and the Governor in Council feels confident that the ad- 
ditional powers now placed in the hands of the Superintendent 

Bode, A. Chitty, E. F. T. Fergusson, E. Giles, J. Bernard, B. Crome, S. B. 
Hellard, G. Holt, R. Jermyn, L. Jollifl'e, R. Leeds, F. Nott, G. T. Robinson, 
J. Sedley, J. S. Stevens, P. Taylor, A. D. Taylor, C. Walker, G. E. Way, 
W. M. Pengelley, and C. Y. Ward, to be lieutenants. Commander H. B. Lynch, 
having obtained his captaincy on the augmentation, was reappointed Assistant- 
Superintendent from the 24th of November, the terms of the Warrant requiring 
that the appointment should in future be held by an officer of that tank, though 
in t lie past, lieutenants had frequently filled the office, which was now, however, 
made of a much more responsible character, owing to the introduction of steam, 
and increase of the Service. 

* During Mr. Bone's absence on sick-leave to England, in the administration 
of Commodore Wellesley, Mr. W. H. D. Williams, purser, a gentleman much 
and deservedly liked in the Service, filled the office of Secretary to the Coin- 
mander-in-chief. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 199 

will enable him to improve the discipline of the Indian Navy, 
to raise its character, and to promote its efficiency in all its 
parts." 

On the 4th of April, 1848, a Government Order was issued 
appointing Sir Robert Oliver, Commander-in-chief of the Indian 
Navy, and, in January of the following year (1849), an Act 
was passed by the Supreme Legislative Council by which the 
Governor-General and the Governors of Bombay and Madras 
were empowered to direct any superior officer, being a captain 
or commander, of the Indian Navy, to hold courts-martial in the 
Eastern seas, the officer in question presiding over such court, 
which was to consist of commissioned officers of the Indian 
Navy, whether in command or not, or, when a sufficiency of 
such of suitable rank could not be found, of officers of the 
Company's army above the rank of captain, and officers of the 
Royal Navy, should such be disposed to act. Courts-martial 
had been held during the past few years under Sections 5 and 6 
of Act XII. of 1844, whereby the Governor-General of India in 
Council, and the Governors in Council of Madras and Bombay, 
respectively, were authorized to grant commissions " to any 
officer commanding-in-chief any fleet or squadron of ships or 
vessels of war," to call and assemble courts-martial ; provided 
always that " no Commander-in-chief of any fleet or squadron 
of the Indian Navy, or detachment thereof, consisting of more 
than five ships or vessels, shall preside at any court-martial, 
but that the officer next in command to such officer command- 
ing-in-chief shall hold such court-martial and preside thereat." 
By these enactments, for the first time in the annals of the 
Service, the Commander-in-chief, or Acting-Superintendent, of 
the Indian Navy, by virtue of his rank of Commodore afloat, 
having his broad pennant flying on board the 'Hastings,' were 
empowered to convene courts-martial for the trial of offenders, 
and the authority hitherto vested in the General officer com- 
manding-in-chief the Bombay Army, to assemble a court and 
revise its finding, was abrogated. Finally, in 1856, a bill was 
brought into the Supreme Legislative Council to amend the 
Articles of War of the Indian Navy. Under the original Act, 
officers belonging to the Service were not responsible to a court- 
martial for acts committed on shore. The new bill repaired this 
omission, and provided that any officer guilty of " scandalous, 
infamous, cruel, oppressive, or fraudulent" conduct anywhere 
within the dominions of the East India Company, was liable to 
be tried by court-martial. 

In June, 1847, under the auspices of Sir Robert Oliver, was 
completed the enlargement of the dock, next the factory, con- 
structed in 1810, and called after Mr. Duncan, Governor of 
Bombay. The entrance to this dock was enlarged to the width 
of sixty-three and a half feet, and was thus of sufficient extent 



200 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

to admit the largest steamers, with the usual height at spring- 
tides of upwards of twenty feet o( water at the gates. At the 
same time the extensive wood-yard and slips to the east and 
south were also formed. 

On the 18th of May, 1848, a steam frigate for the Indian 
Navy was floated out of Bombay Dock,* and received the name 
of the 'Ferooz.' She was a noble ship, 240 feet in length, 
til feet beam, with engines of 550 horse-power, and carried 
eight heavy guns. The ceremony of christening the 'Ferooz' 
was performed by Lady Falkland, in presence of the Governor, 
Lord Falkland— who had arrived in the ' Sesostris,' Commander 
Lowe, from Suez, on the 27th of April, in succession to Mr. 
(now Sir) George R. Clerk — and all the elite of Bombay society, 
including Sir Willoughby Cotton and Sir Robert Oliver, the 
Military and Naval Commanders-in-chief. The 'Ferooz ' was of 
the same class as the 'Ajdaha' and ' Moozuffer,' but was in- 
comparably a stouter ship, being built of teak, under the direc- 
tions of the Parsee shipbuilder, Cursetjee Rustomjee, who — ■ 
like the Wadia family, f during their lengthened connection with 
the Indian Navy — never " scamped " his work. The strength of 
build of the 'Ferooz' was put to a test not less severe than 
that encountered by the ' Salsette ' frigate, constructed by the 
same family, which has already been recorded. When the 
' Ferooz/ under command of her first captain, Commander 
Frushard, after conveying the Governor-General, Lord Dal- 
housie, from Scinde to Bombay, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, 
Moulmein and Calcutta, was on her way down the Hooghly, 
under charge of a branch pilot, she ran aground on the " James 
and Mary," probably the most dangerous quicksands to be found 
in any river; she was aground six days and five nights, and, even- 
tually, was carried over them by the action of the " bores," with 
which each flood-tide sets in. This marvellous escape from des- 
truction was, undoubtedly, owing to the excellence and strength 
of her build, and the ' Ferooz ' came off with slight damage to 
her sheathing, and the breakage of her rudder pintles. There 
are few recorded instances of vessels having escaped submer- 

* On the 6th of February, 1848, H.M.'s brig ' Nerbuclda,' sixteen guns, was 
launched from the same dock. She was a beautiful cratt, of 420 tons, and 119 
feet in length, with 33 feet beam, and being fitted out, sailed, on the 29th of 
February, for England in charge of Commander Pierce, of the ' Cruiser,' from 
which the spars, masts, and guns had been transferred. The sailing qualities of 
the ' Nerbudda' were remarkable, and she arrived at Portsmouth on the 2nd of 
June, making the passage in ninety-three days. A second brig of the same 
class, called the 'Jumna,' was launched on the 3rd of March, and was fitted 
anew throughout ; she was, however, not so fortunate as the ' Nerbudda,' for 
sailing for England on the 12th of April, under the command of Lieutenant 
Rodney, she encountered a hurricane within ten days' sail of Bombay, and was 
dismasted and forced to put into Trincomalee under jurymasts. 

f One of the same family of the Wadias, Ardaseer Cursetjee, at this time 
filled the office of Superintendent of the Steam Foundry. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 201 

sion in the " James and Mary " sands, after grounding upon 
them even for one tide. 

On the 2nd of February, 1848, Commodore Plumridge arrived 
from England in the ' Cambrian,' forty-four guns, to relieve 
Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood, who proceeded home in the 
' Fox.' On the 23rd of the same month, Rear-Admiral S. H. 
Inglefield, C.B., Commander-in-chief of H.M.'s ships in India, 
whose flag-ship, the ' Vernon,' lay in the harbour, died at 
Bomba} r , when Commodore Plumridge temporarily succeeded to 
the high command. The gallant officer signalized his brief 
assumption of power, by denying the right of the Commander- 
in-chief of the Indian Navy to fly the broad pennant of the 
Royal Navy, notwithstanding the Warrant of His Royal High- 
ness the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom — his late 
Majesty King William IV.— dated the 12th of June, 1827, by 
which the ships of the Bombay Marine were "granted the pri- 
vilege of wearing the Union Jack, and a long pendant having 
St George's cross on a white field in the upper part next the 
mast, with a red fly." A correspondence ensued, and, on the 
matter being referred to the Admiralty, it was decided, in order 
to soothe the susceptibilities of officers of the type of mind of 
Commodore Plumridge, that the broad pennant of the Com- 
mander-in-chief of the Indian Nav} r was to be a red flag with a 
yellow cross, and the Company's cognizance of a yellow lion 
and crown in the upper canton nearest the staff. The Com- 
modore of the Persian Gulf, being of the second class, was 
allowed a similar flag with a blue field. 

In this year the ' Elphinstone' brought from the Persian 
Gulf, some of the sculptures collected by Mr. Layard and Major 
Rawlinson for the British Museum, which were taken to England 
by H.M.S. 'Jumna;' and, a little later in the year, the 'Clive' 
brought to Bombay a further instalment. At this time, appre- 
hensions of war with China being entertained, the ' Semiramis,' 
Commander E. W. S. Daniell, sailed to the eastward on the 
27th of February, armed with six 8-inch guns and some of 
smaller calibre, and carrying a party of Bombay artillerymen 
to do duty as marines, as was the custom of Indian Navy ships 
proceeding to a distant station on active service. The ' Semi- 
ramis' however, proceeded no further than Madras, as all 
immediate danger of war had passed away ; she arrived at 
Bombay on the 29th of March, and, on the 6th of May, pro- 
ceeded to Suez, with Mr. Clerk, late Governor of Bombay. 

Death was busy, during the year 1848,* in the removal of 

* By a Government General Order, dated 22nd of June, 1848, the medical 
supervision of the Indian Navy was placed " under the Superintending Surgeon 
of the Presidency Division subject to the control of the Medical Board," and the 
Indus flotilla was similarly placed under the Superintending Surgeon of the 
Sciude Division. 



202 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

some of the most distinguished officers of the Indian Navy. 
Captain J. P. Sanders, commanding - the ' Ajdaha,' was obliged, 
by declining health, to proceed on shore on the 17th of March, 
and died before the close of the year, near Malta, on his way to 
England ; in him the Service lost one of its most accomplished 
surveyors. On the 4th of August Captain Pepper died at 
Poona. On the conclusion of the China War he returned, in 
the ' Akbar,' to Bombay, and was appointed Indian Naval Store- 
keeper, and, for six months, during the absence of Sir Robert 
Oliver, officiated as Superintendent of the Indian Navy. Captain 
Pepper himself proceeded to England on sick leave in April, 
1845, and had only returned to Bombay on the 14th of December 
preceding his death. A Government Order was issued, under 
date the 15th August, announcing the death of Captain Pepper,* 
whose public services were lengthy and honourable. In the 
following September died Commander H. C. Boulderson, de- 
scribed in the " Bombay Times," as " an officer of considerable 
talents and attainments," who had filled the post of Assistant- 
Superintendent underCaptain Lynch, and officiated as Draughts- 
man during the absence of Commander Montriou. 

In the latter part of the year 1848, owing to failing health, 
Captain Ross, F.R.S., resigned the posts of Master-Attendant 
at Bombay, and President of the Bombay Geographical Society, 
the latter of which he had held since the .return of Sir Charles 
Malcolm to England, having discharged the duties with great 
ability and success for the past ten years, during which time 
he could boast as his coadjutors many eminent men.t The 
Government issued a General Order, dated the 8th of November, 
1848, eulogistic of Captain Ross's lengthened and distinguished 
services, and, on his resigning the post of President, the Geo- 
graphical Society elected him Honorary President, and requested 
him to sit for his portrait. The Hon. J. P. AVilloughby was 
elected President in his place, Commodore Lushington, R.N. 
being chosen Vice-President in the place of Mr. Lushington. 

On Captain Ross' retirement from the Service, the Board of 
Control refused to allow him the highest pension of his rank, 
awarding him only £360 a year. As was observed by an in- 
fluential paper, in recording this misplaced act of parsimony : — 
" He has for fifty years been almost continually employed in 

* The death of Captain Pepper gave a step in rank to Commander J. P. 
Porter, who had returned from Europe on the 10th of March, and Lieutenant 
E. A. Ball became Commander. 

f We find in the list of Office Bearers for the year 1846, many men of 
European reputation. One of the Vice-Presidents was that eminent scholar 
and linguist, Major-General Vans Kennedy, and among the twelve Ke- 
sident Members of the Committee, appear the names of Captain Lynch, 
I.N., Lieutenant Jenkins, I.N., Mr. L. K, Eeid, Colonel P. Melvill, General 
E. Barr ; while in the list of the eight Non-Resident Members were Major H. C. 
Eawlinson, Captain G. Le G. Jacob, Captain Carless, I.N., and Lieutenant 
Cruttenden, I.N. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 203 

the scientific department of the Service ; he bears a name as 
an hydrographer, second only to that of Horsburgh; and his 
charts and surveys have been the means of saving numberless 
lives and uncounted fortunes. Instead of remaining Master- 
Attendant on the full emoluments of his office, while the duties 
were discharged by a deputy, he retired, as he found the in- 
firmities of years advancing, and has been requited with a 
salary less than that of the youngest boy civilian." However, 
Captain Ross did not long remain an object for the exercise of 
the miserable parsimony, if not injustice, of the Board of 
Control, for he died in Bombay a few months after retiring 
from the Service. 

In a previous chapter we have described the great services 
he rendered to the cause of hydrography, by his surveys of the 
China Seas, between the years 1806-20, and of the Arracan 
coast at a later period. Between the years 1821-33, he was 
Marine Surveyor General of Bengal, where he had as his 
assistants many officers of the Service, including Lieutenants 
Crawford, Maxfield, Criddle, Barnard, R. Lloyd, G. Laughton, 
A. S. Williams, G. Boscawen, T. G. Carless, C. Montriou, and 
C. B. Richardson. On resigning office at Calcutta, he was ap- 
pointed Master-Attendant at Bombay, a post he filled for fifteen 
years, when the infirmities of old age induced him to retire on 
a pension. Daniel Ross was far in advance of his age as a 
scientific hydrographer, and worthily earned the honourable 
designation of the " Father of Indian Surveys."* 

By Government General Order, under date the 14th of July, 
1849, it was notified that, in future, the appointments of Master- 
Attendant and Indian Navy Storekeeper, vacant by the retire- 
ment and death of Captains Ross and Pepper, should be held by 
officers of the rank of Captain on the effective list, for a period 
not exceeding three years, subject to reappointment, and that 
the allowances were to be 800 rupees per annum, with house 
rent 180 rupees. Captain Lynch succeeded Captain Ross as 
Master- Attendant, and, on his departure to Europe soon after, 
Captain Hawkins received the appointment. 

Before the close of the year 1848, which had been a calami- 
tous one for the Service, in the number of distinguished officers 
it had lost by death, another name was added, not less honoured 
than those which had already gone " to that bourne whence no 

* Some officers of the Service, including Captains Hawkins and Jenkins, Dr. 
Buist, the noted editor of the ' Bombay Times,' and Mr. (afterwards Sir) J. P. 
"Willoughby, made a proposal for the institution of a literary memorial to Captain 
Boss, to consist of all published charts and hydrographic memoirs, to be kept in 
the Town Hall at Bombay for public reference. The project received general 
support, and a Committee was also formed m London, including the Hydrographer, 
(Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort,) Sir Charles Malcolm, and Sir Charles Forbes, and 
a considerable sum was collected and expended in furtherance of the object 
in view. 



204 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

traveller returns." On the 16th of December there died, after 
a brief illness, at Bushire, Commodore T. G. Carless, com- 
manding the Persian Gulf squadron, of small-pox complicated 
with an affection of the lungs. Commodore Carless was sin- 
cerely regretted by a large circle of friends, and one who knew 
him well, wrote to the "Bombay Times" in the following 
terms : — " To his own officers he was kind, affable, and hos- 
pitable; his house was always open and free to them, and they 
ever met a welcome. To his men he was considerate and con- 
descending—alive to their every want, and to whatever might 
conduce to their comfort and happiness. In every other re- 
latiouship, his conduct was no less commendable." Commodore 
Carless died in his forty-second year, and added another name 
to the long list of Indian Navy officers who have fallen victims 
to the climate of the Persian Gulf. He had served in the first 
Burmese War, but it was as a surveyor of the first distinction 
that the name of Captain Carless will ever be held in respect 
as long as the keel of an English ship ploughs the waters of the 
Red Sea, which he, in conjunction with Captain Moresby, 
mapped out, and robbed of its terrors to all future navigators. 
He was for some time Senior Naval Officer at Aden, and com- 
manded the 'Sesostris' when she crossed the Indian Ocean to 
Cannanore with troops, at the time the 'Cleopatra' foundered 
in the memorable hurricane of April, 1847, of which he drew 
up an excellent paper. He had only succeeded to the command 
of the Persian Gulf squadron in the preceding April, when 
Commodore Hawkins, whose state of health had necessitated 
his return to the Presidency in the previous year, finally 
relinquished the command. His successor was Captain J. P. 
Porter, and his death gave a step in rank to Commander F. T. 
Powell, then serving with the Indian Naval Brigade before 
Mooltan. 

On the 5th of August, 184s, Sir Robert Oliver died at 
Bombay, aged sixty-five. He had expressed his intention to 
retire during the course of the year, but had a sunstroke on the 
27th of July, and expired after a few days' illness. 

Sir Robert Oliver had seen little war service, having only 
once been under fire, on the 4th of April, 1804, when he 
landed on the Calabrian coast, from the brig ' Espoir,' and 
spiked some guns and burnt some small vessels. On the intro- 
duction of steam he studied the new motive power, and fitted 
out war-steamers with pivot guns designed by himself; and, on 
the retirement of Sir Charles Malcolm, when the Court had 
decided to transform the Indian Navy into a steam Service, the 
Admiralty recommended Captain Oliver as a suitable officer to 
carry out the required changes. 

The Government issued the following Notification on the 
character and services of Sir Robert Oliver : — 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 205 

" Bombay Castle, August 9, 1848. 

" The Right Honourable the Governor in Council has re- 
ceived, with the deepest concern and regret, the report of the 
decease, on the morning of the 5th instant, of Commodore Sir 
Robert Oliver, and feels it to be his duty publicly to record the 
high and lasting sense entertained of the value and importance 
of the services which this lamented and distinguished officer 
has performed while filling the office of Superintendent, and 
latterly, of Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy. 

" Sir Robert Oliver has stood for ten years at the head of the 
Indian Navy ; and during the whole of that period, the records 
of Government abundantly prove, that he has discharged the 
responsible and onerous functions of his high office in a man- 
ner which has elicited the warmest approbation of every 
superior authority in India and in England. His energy, fore- 
sight, skill, and thorough practical knowledge of every branch 
of his profession, have always been conspicuous; and these 
qualities were so displayed in the equipment and fitting out of 
the vessels despatched to co-operate with Her Majesty's Navy 
in the China Expedition, that it pleased Her Majesty, in 1843, 
to confer upon him the honour of Knighthood, expressly ' in 
acknowledgment of the zeal and ability with which that officer 
had exerted himself to further Her Majesty's Service in re- 
lation to the Expedition sent to the China Seas.' Under the 
conduct of Sir Robert Oliver, the strength of the Indian Naval 
Force has been largely increased, and its servicesemployed always 
with honour and success, in every part of the Indian Ocean. 
The various marine establishments connected with the Navy 
have been extended, reformed, or organized. A steam factory of 
great power and efficiency has been erected, and commodious 
slips for the promotion of shipbuilding at the port have been 
constructed. Other works and improvements, planned or 
advised by the same master-mind, have been completed or are 
in progress, the whole designed to render the dockyard of 
Bombay equal to the important national objects for which it 
may be required. The great extension given to the Indian 
Navy generally, and to its establishments in Western India, 
under the management of Sir Robert Oliver, has caused the 
Hon. Court of Directors recently to invest him, in his office of 
Superintendent, with the commission of a Commodore of the 
First Class, and the dignity of Commander-in-chief. 

" The Right Honourable the Governor in Council feels it to be 
unnecessary to do more than point to these leading facts in 
Sir Robert Oliver's Indian career. Originally selected to fill 
the office of Superintendent of the Indian Navy on account of 
the qualifications he had been proved to possess in his own 
Service, the Royal Navy, he has amply fulfilled all the ex- 
pectations based on his appointment. He has devoted the 



20(3 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

whole energies of his life, with untiring zeal and unflinching 

honesty of purpose, to the duties of his station. He has died at 
his post; and the Government deeply deplores the loss of one 

who, for ability, integrity, and faithfulness to his trust, justly 
merits to be ranked among the most deserving and dis- 
tinguished servants of the State." 

Though this eulogium was not undeserved, Sir Robert Oliver,, 
owing to defects of temper and judgment, was far from popular 
in the Service over which he ruled for ten years. That the feel- 
ing of irritation caused by his administration, among the officers 
of the Indian Navy, was very general, however often and forcibly 
the Court of Directors and Bombay Government expressed their 
confidence in him, is proved by the fact that no less than nineteen 
officers, some of them the best in the Service, men not inclined 
to be malcontents without good grounds, echoed the complaint 
of Captain Cogan, made in 1843, and separately petitioned the 
Court for redress against what they considered the arbitrary 
and unjust acts of Sir R. Oliver, more particularly in the case 
of Lieutenant Bird,* whom he caused by General Order, under 

* The following is the Government General Order relating to these Me- 
morials : — 

" Bombay Castle, May 3, 1848. 

" The Right Hon. the Governor in Council is pleased to direct the publication 
in General Orders of the following extracts of a despatch, dated the 22nd of 
March, conveying the decision of the Hon. the Court of Directors upon a number 
of memorials presented in September and October last, by the following officers 
of the Indian Navy : — Lieutenants Peevor, Twynam, Dakers, Batt, King, Frascr, 
Manners, Constable, Adams, Etheridge ; Messrs. Giles, Hellard, Toby, Robinson, 
Taylor, Ranken, Mitcheson, Brooman, Stroyan, and Pengelley, which contained 
comments upon the constitution and administration of the Service to which they 
belong, and highly improper reflections and imputations upon their superiors. 
The Right Hon. the Governor in Council desires the most serious attention of 
all the officers of the Indian Navy to the observations of the Hon. the Court of 
Directors ; implicit obedience to their instructions will be strictly enforced ; and 
the Government trust that the leniency shown in the decision now promulgated 
will be duly appreciated, and induce the young officers who have been misled to 
join in an act which is characterised by the highest authority as a flagrant breach 
of discipline and subordination, to endeavour, by their future behaviour, to retrieve 
the confidence of their superiors, and obliterate the recollection of their miscon- 
duct on this occasion. The suspension awarded to Lieutenant Manners of six 
months, and to Lieutenant Etheridge and Midshipman Pengelley of three months, 
from pay, allowances, and the active duties of the Service, will take effect from a 
date which will be hereafter fixed. Lieutenant B. Hamilton is admonished, in 
conformity with the Hon. Court's instructions, and cautioned to be more circum- 
spect in his conduct hereafter. 

" Letter from , dated the 10th of September, 1847 (No. 85), and the 1st of 

October, 1847 (No. 99). Transmitting, with the observations and proceedings of 
Government thereon, nineteen memorials addressed to the Court by certain officers 
and midshipmen of the Indian Navy, respecting the removal from the Service of 
Lieutenant Bird, under the Court's orders, respecting also the power vested in the 
Superintendent of the Indian Navy, and the mode in which those powers are 
exercised ; the inadequacy of the pay of lieutenants, their severe duty, consequent 
on the paucity of commissioned officers, and the employment of strangers in 
command of Indian Navy vessels, to the disadvantage of the officers of the 
Service ; respecting, likewise, the system under which officers of the Indian 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 207 

date the 20th of July, 1847, to be struck off the list from the 
1st of August following, without court-martial, for incompe- 

Navy take relative rank with the Royal Navy, their not being granted honorary 
distinctions, &c. 

" With respect to the memorials from the officers and midshipmen of the 
Indian Navy, we concur generally in the view taken by your President in hi3 
Minute of the 14th of September, 1847, and we consider those documents, 
not less from their offensive tone, than from the manner in which they have 
been severally framed and presented, as highly objectionable and altogether 
inadmissible. 

" Letter from , dated the 15th of October, 1817 (No. 101). Forwarding a 

memorial from Midshipman Pengelley, of the same tenor as the preceding. 

" Every individual in our Service is at liberty to represent his case to us if he 
feel aggrieved, but his appeal ought to be couched in temperate and respectful 
terms. That privilege, however, does not admit of a body of officers sending in 
memorials of a similarly offensive character, both in substance and in terms, as the 
memorials alluded to are. It can scarcely be known to the officers of the Indian 
Navy, that among the members of a military body, such combination is, under 
any circumstances, highly irregular, and punishable as tending to the subversion 
of discipline ; but in a case like the present, where the parties, under the pretence 
of presenting a memorial for the redress of alleged grievances, presume to call in 
question the acts of the constituted authorities, and to cast imputations and re- 
flections upon the conduct of their superior officer in the discharge of his public 
duty, the combination constitutes a military crime, and the parties so associated 
should be made to understand that they are guilty of a grave offence, subjecting 
the individuals to serious penalties. 

" With reference to the imperfect state of the law at the time, there would, we 
are sensible, have been great difficulty in convening a court-martial for the trial of 
the offenders ; but as the tone and language assumed by the?n are both intem- 
perate and disrespectful to superior authority, and involve points of which they 
could not properly take cognizance, and as an insubordinate spirit and contempt 
of authority were evinced in the very presentation of the memorials, after the 
memorialists had been made aware, by their superior officers, of the impropriety 
of the course they were pursuing, we cannot determine otherwise than to visit 
this flagrant breach of discipline and subordination with punishment. 

" In proceeding to notice the conduct of the memorialists, we cannot divest 
ourselves of the impression that the spirit of insubordination, the discontented 
temper, and the disposition to resist authority, which have been displayed by the 
younger members of the Service, have been connived at and encouraged by those 
of more mature age and of higher rank, who ought to have shown a very different 
example, and to have repressed the rash proceedings of their juniors, who were 
permitted to proceed, step by step, in a course alike injurious to themselves and 
to the Service. 

" We are disposed, however, to make every allowance for the youth and inex- 
perience of the junior officers and midshipmen, and to attach all due regard to 
your intercession in their favour; but it seems to us imperative, that for the 
vindication of discipline, the upholding our authority, as well as that of your 
Government, and of the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, the memorialists 
should be made to understand that their conduct cannot be passed over altogether 
with impunity." 

(The Court then directs, by way of example, that Lieutenant Manners be sus- 
pended from pay and allowances, and from the active duties of the Service, for 
the period of six months ; that Lieutenant Etheridge and Midshipman Pengelley 
be suspended from pay and allowances, and from the active duties of the Service, 
for the period of three months ; and that Lieutenant Hamilton be admonished, 
and informed that his conduct has made a very unfavourable impression upon the 
Court). 

" We are of opinion that the Superintendent of the Indian Navy has a right 
to expect all the support which can be accorded to him by the local authorities ; 
and we observe with satisfaction that your Grovernment, under whose immediate 
orders he is acting, and who have consequently the best means of forming a judg- 



208 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tence, and who died of chagrin and disappointment, or, as the 
papers said, of "a broken heart," in consequence of the treat- 
ment on his official conduct, have distinctly declared that you 'regard the impu- 
tations and reflections east upon his conduct and motives as wholly unfounded, 
and that your confidence in this able and strictly upright officer is undiminished 
in the slightest degree.' We beg you will assure Sir Robert Oliver of our cordial 
concurrence in these sentiments." 

The " Deecan Herald " of the 8th of May, 1863, in a lengthy article on the 
Service at the time of its abolition, refers in the following terms to the case of 
Lieutenant Bird : — 

" That officer entered the Navy in 1828, and might in 1848 have retired on a 
pension of £180 a-year due to his rank. He had been appointed Ilarbour- 
Master at Kurrachee in 18 15, and, having suffered from the climate, proceeded on 
two years' leave to the Neilgherry Hills for the benefit of his health. He had, 
throughout, enjoyed the universal esteem and respect of his brother officers, and 
no complaint of any sort had been brought, or ever established against him. He 
had had no communication with any official leading him to imagine that anything 
adverse awaited him ; when receiving some official papers in sick-quarters, he 
opened them expecting to find himself gazetted as commander in consequence of 
the augmentation just about to be made in the number of officers in the Indian 
Navy. To his horror and amazement he found himself dismissed without cause, 
his pay stopped on the instant, and he himself left in a strange country to subsist 
on charity, a scanty pittance being allowed him in the shape of a pension ! A 
portion of the Court's letter upon which this was based was afterwards suffered 
to see the light, and these were the only indications of the grounds of the punish- 
ment inflicted. In 1813, Mr. Bird had, at Aden, been unexpectedly put in com- 
mand of the ' Cleopatra,' in place of an officer not then considered fit to take 
charge of a vessel to Suez, though afterwards rewarded with a staff appointment. 
Mr. Bird's ship was officered with acting-masters fresh drawn from some merchant 
vessels ; the ship got ashore amongst some coral reefs over night, at a time when 
it was not usual, or in general requisite, for the commander to be on deck. He 
was tried by court-martial, the chief charge being the omission to heave the lead, 
though in seas filled with coral, like that where the steamer went ashore, there is 
often no bottom to be found within ten fathoms of a reef. He was fully and 
honourably acquitted by the Court, and, one would therefore have imagined, on 
the common principle of justice, stood as clear of blame as if no charge had ever 
been laid against him. The steamer was but little injured. The other ground of 
offence was, that while Harbour-Master at Kurrachee he had incurred the dis- 
pleasure of Sir C. Napier. The case proved to have been this:-— The 'Berenice' 
having arrived with stores, the officer commanding (Lieutenant Selby) intimated 
to the Superior Naval Officer (Lieutenant Bird) that his vessel was empty and 
ready for sea. Of this Sir C. Napier was immediately apprised ; when it was 
found that some trifles — a dozen or two of campstools, we believe — had escaped 
observation and remained to be disembarked. A signal was made to that effect) 
and a boat immediately ordered from the shore. A stiff breeze had, meanwhile, 
sprung up, and the boats had difficulty in reaching the vessel. Some hours of 
time were lost ; the boats, knowing the difficulty of obtaining remuneration for 
any damage sustained by them in knocking against a steamer, were not very bold 
in their approaches, and ultimately, after various fruitless attempts, sheered off. 
By the time this had occurred, the mail from Bombay had arrived at Munnora 
Point ; and the only alternative that remained was to delay the steamer till the 
weather moderated, with the risk of keeping the Scinde letters, with official 
despatches of importance, till too late for the overland steamer, or to dispatch 
the ' Berenice' at once. The latter course Lieutenant Bird wisely determined to 
pursue. Some warm or heated expression may, probably, on the occasion have 
escaped Sir C. Napier ; whatever it was, it never became subject of official 
notice. When the matter was fully explained to him, he expressed his entire 
satisfaction with what had occurred ; and when Mr. Bird was recalled and a 
non-commissioned officer put in his place, the Governor of Scinde expressed deep 
regret at his departure. These circumstances gave rise to the transmission of a 
multitude of memorials, prepared for the Court of Directors by the junior officers, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 209 

merit he had received ; though, as the " Bombay Times " of the 
20th of September, incidentally remarked, " he would, it is 
said, have been restored had he survived." Lieutenant Bird 
had been tried by court-martial, in December, 1843, for negli- 
gence in grounding the 'Cleopatra' near Suez, but acquitted; 
upon which the Commander-in-chief and Court of Directors 
animadverted upon the leniency of the Court, and ever since he 
had been a marked man. 

There can be no doubt that Sir Robert Oliver possessed 
abilities, though they were limited to his acquisitions as a good 
"steam officer" and mechanic as well as sailor, but he had 
small claims to be considered a scientific officer, and the marine 
surveys, which have ever been one of the chief glories of the 
Indian Navy, were discouraged by him, and only the most 
urgent were undertaken during his regime. For this, however, 
it is more than probable that his masters in Leadenhall Street 
were to blame, as Sir Robert Oliver went out to India as the 
apostle of economy, and his orders were imperative to cut clown 
expenditure in every department. His honesty and high prin- 
ciple were unquestioned, and he served the Government to the 
utmost extent of his capacity, regardless of the strain on his 
physical strength. 

Active and zealous in the discharge of his duties he had 
obtained so completely the ear of Government and the Court of 
Directors, that his word was law% and he was entrusted with 
almost absulute power, which he did not always exercise wisely or 
well. The effect of his arbitrary conduct on the discipline of 
the Indian Nav}', as we have seen, induced no less than nine- 
teen officers, including some of the best and steadiest in the 
Service, to petition the Court against their chief, and, though the 
Directors and Government supported him, that this state of 
indiscipline was due to mismanagement is proved by the fact 
that, after his death, the Service was always loyal to the three 
Commanders-in-chief, who ruled over it, in succession, up to the 
date of its abolition, and no instances of an insubordinate spirit 
were ever again manifested. Sir Robert Oliver also displayed 

none of whom knew but that their own turn for victimization might be at hand. 
A reprimand of unusual violence was returned from the India House, where the 
Oliver interest was supreme and triumphant. That a greater degree of secrecy 
than that in general prevailing would under such circumstances obtain, was, on 
this occasion, to have been expected, where there was so much meanness and 
tyranny to be ashamed of, and the first light let in upon the secrets of the Council 
Chamber, was afforded by the examinations before the Committee of Indian 
Affairs in 1852. Mr. Willoughby, one of the ablest of our public servants, and 
Member of Council when these oppressions occurred, stated that he had then 
recorded an opinion condemnatory, as it would appear, of the conduct of Sir 
Robert Oliver, and was told that his views being calculated, in the opinion of the 
Court, to promote discontent in the Service, were highly disapproved at home. 
Mr. Willoughby states that he felt so much shocked by this gratuitous insult, 
that he considered his independence as a Member of Council extinguished." 
VOL. II. P 



210 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

want of tact, to use a mild expression, by treating some of the 
older and more distinguished officers of the Service with scant 
respect. For instance, he issued an order directing, amongst 
others. Captain Ross, the Master-Attendant, a surveyor of world- 
wide repute, which was acknowledged b} r his being elected 
a Fellow of the Royal Society, and President of the Bombay 
Geographical Society, and his senior in years and service, to 
appear at stated hours at the Marine Office, and make his 
report. The order so closely resembled a proceeding of the 
schoolmaster of Dotheboy's Hall, immortalised by the genius of 
Dickens, that the name of Squeers was not inaptly applied to 
Sir Robert Oliver, and clung to him to the last. Of course the 
weapon, ridicule, gave the death-blow to the obnoxious order, 
which gradually fell into disuse. Sir Robert, on the other 
hand, entitled himself to the gratitude of the officers, par- 
ticularly the juniors, whose means were limited to their scanty 
pay, by the establishment, in 1846, of a Sanatarium at Colaba, 
adjoining Bombay, in a healthy situation and well furnished. 
Hitherto, officers, when sent on shore sick, were obliged to have 
recourse to the alternative of either residing on shore with 
their friends, if they had any, or resorting to the European 
Hospital. 

A brief review of the surveys undertaken during the admi- 
nistration of Sir Robert Oliver, will fitly close this notice of his 
character and career. 

Commander A. Dundas Taylor says, in a "Memorandum on the 
Marine Surveys of India," submitted to the Indian Government 
on the 10th of March, 1871, that " the successor to Sir Charles 
Malcolm, unfortunately for the commercial interests of India, 
took no concern in accurate Marine Surveying, because he 
neither knew the value nor had any experience of it. One of 
the first acts of his official career put a sudden stop to all sur- 
veys. This was followed by the almost simultaneous resigna- 
tion of many superior officers and clever surveyors, Captains 
Robert Cogan, Michael Houghton, Robert Moresby, Richard 
Lloyd, and Lieutenants Wellsted and John Wood, all names 
known to fame." He continues: — "In 1844 two surveying 
vessels were employed, one on the coast of India south of Bom- 
bay, the other on the south-east of Arabia, but the same par- 
simony that had so long suppressed all surveys, now grudged 
the vessels an efficient outfit, and when the rainy season hin- 
dered active operations, the surveyors were packed off to other 
duty before the charts and sailing directions had been com- 
pleted and sent in. The resumption of Marine Surveys in 
1844, was most opportune, but there was no head capable of 
organising a system, and subordinates were not allowed to offer 
suggestions, indeed, applications for necessary instruments were 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 211 

refused. One vessel had no doctor, till, half of the crew and 
officers being sick, she was compelled to seek medical treatment 
at the headquarters of the nearest Collectorate, the expenses of 
the vessel going on whilst no work was being done." 

Again, Markham says : — " Even after 1844, when a few sur- 
veys were sanctioned, they were confined to the narrowest 
limits, the officers were miserably found both as regards vessels 
and instruments, their allowances were cut down, and the 
acquisition of all knowledge beyond bearings and soundings was 
coldly discountenanced. In Sir Robert Oliver's time, the chart 
office of the Indian Navy was one little corner of the sail-loft in 
the dockyard of Bombay, where numbers of valuable documents 
were eaten by white ants and cockroaches. The office of the 
draughtsman* of the Indian Navy was, afterwards, removed to 
the Observatory at Colaba by Sir Robert Oliver, and here the 
charts were compiled, drawn, and occasionally lithographed. 
Captain Montriou held this office from 1847 to 1852, and drew 
up the information called for in the Parliamentary paper 
printed in 1852. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Fergusson, 
who held the appointment until the end came in 18(32. The 
establishment consisted of the draughtsman and two natives 
for copying, and its whole cost was under .£500 a-year. In 
1844 a few surveys were again permitted, but in such a niggard 
spirit, that an officer making geological or other scientific in- 
vestigations, apart from sounding with the lead, was obliged to 
pay. his own boat-hire !" 

It was not without many protests that those interested in 
marine hydrography viewed the cessation of all surveying 
operations, which was one of the first fruits of Sir Robert 
Oliver's assumption of authority. The Secretary of the Royal 
Geographical Society, in a letter which was read at the Quarterly 
Meeting of the Bombay Branch in November, 1839, adverting 
to the notice of this measure received through an officer of the 
Indian Navy, expressed great astonishment and regret that, 
"after all the expenditure of life and treasure in the beautiful 
surveys of the Persian Gulf, of the Red Sea, and half of the 
southern coasts of Arabia, the other half should remain unsur- 
veyed." This referred to the discontinuance of the survey so 
ably conducted by Commander Haines. In the Annual Report 
of the Royal Asiatic Society for 1836-37, the Right Hon. Sir 
Alexander Johnston, as Chairman of the Committee of Corre- 
spondence, in the course of a detailed statement of the Society's 
operations, said that the Committee have " derived so much 
information from the surveys of the Indian Navy, as to render 
it his duty, considering the debt of gratitude which the friends 

* In the latter part of 1855 the designation of the Indian Navy Draughtsman, 
who was actually at the head of the Survey Department, was changed for the 
more pretentious one of Hydrographer. 

P 2 



212 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of science owe to this distinguished body of men, to allude 
shortly to the history of their military achievements, their 
maritime surveys, and diplomatic negotiations." Sir Alexander 
Johnston then gave a succinct account of the war services of 
the Indian Navy from the date of the successes achieved by 
Commodore James in 1755, and of their triumphs in the more 
peaceful domain of scientific survey, and, in the course of his 
remarks, paid the following tribute to the officers of the Service : 
— ' k They have shown the greatest promptitude, the strictest 
discipline, and the most undaunted courage. They have been 
equally distinguished by the zeal, and by the great practical 
and theoretical science with which they have executed those 
maritime surveys by which they have been enabled, during the 
last forty years, to complete the most useful and valuable charts 
of different parts of the coasts of Asia, and of the coasts of the 
Arabian and Persian Gulfs." 

During the China War of 1840-42, the Service found an 
ample field for vindicating its character for efficiency as a war 
marine, but when, in 1844, nearly two years after the cessation 
of hostilities, the surveys were resumed, it was on the meagre 
footing mentioned by Commander Taylor, and on the cheese- 
paring principles for which Mr. Markham is our authority. 

On the 5th of January, 1843, Lieutenant W.Christopher, com- 
manding the ' Tigris,' sailed from Aden for Zanzibar, whither 
he was despatched by Captain Haines, Political Agent, with 
the returning envoys of Seyyicl Said, the Imaum of Muscat, 
and was directed by that officer to make an examination of the 
coast to the northward, that portion between Brava and Ras 
Hafoon being utterly unknown except in so far as the running 
surveys of Captain Owen were concerned. Lieutenant Chris- 
topher made a journey into the interior, and discovered a noble 
river to the northward of the Juba, which he called after Cap- 
tain Haines. 

He says, in his interesting report, that he arrived at the town 
of Brava, about thirt} r -eight leagues to the northward of the 
Juba River, on the 19th of March, 1843, and, on the following 
day, started from the ' Tigris,' passing the town of Brava, within 
a mile of which is a watch-tower, erected on a rocky islet by the 
Portuguese some centuries ago. He then crossed the sand-hills, 
and, after some hours' journey, arrived on the banks of the 
Haines River, which, though now said to be at its lowest, was 
" from seventy to one hundred and fifty feet broad, ten to 
fifteen deep, with a current, by estimate, of a mile and a half 
an hour." Lieutenant Christopher was debarred from carrying 
out his wish to explore this river, which has no debouchure, but 
falls into a lake, owing to the great sickness on board the 
' Tigris,' no less than thirt}^-one European seamen being ill. 
Hearing that the river approached within four miles of the sea 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 213 

at a place called Gahven, he landed at Munjaia, but, owing to 
the unfriendly conduct of the people, was unable to proceed 
inland. On the 1st of April he made another attempt at Merka, 
where he made chronometrical observations and called on the 
chiefs, producing the Imaum's letter. While at Brava, Lieu- 
tenant Christopher had been warned against landing at Merka, 
or Mukdeesha (called also Magadoxa), and, when we remember 
the unprovoked attack by these people, about forty years before, 
on the boats of H.M.S. ' Leopard ' and ' Deedalus,'* when they 
killed Lieutenant Mears and several men with their spears, it 
must be owned that the character for treachery and cruelty of 
the natives on this coast, was fully justified. Lieutenant Chris- 
topher was gifted with that combination of gentleness with 
courage, which is the true attribute of all great travellers among 
savage races, and, after gaining the good will of the Sultan of 
Merka, he inspired confidence in the failing hearts of his guides, 
who wept with fear at being compelled to trust themselves 
among the natives of the interior. Passing through a country 
which bore evidences of great fertility, he arrived, after a march 
of nine or ten miles, on the banks of the river, which he found 
had a depth at this point of seventeen feet, with a breadth of 
150 feet. On the 6th, the 'Tigris,' after taking on board 
2.300 gallons of water, sailed for Magadoxa, where by dint of a 
judicious display of force in the shape of the boats manned and 
armed, with their carronades on board, and the marines as a 
guard, he succeeded in obtaining the requisite permission to 
land. The chief on the Haines River having sent Lieutenant 
Christopher the required written authority, he proceeded up 
country on the 10th of April, with two of his officers, Messrs. 
Robinson and Metcalf, a guard of fourteen men, marines and 
seamen, and ten spearmen sent by the Sheikh. On the follow- 
ing day the party arrived at the river, which they crossed in the 
presence of seven thousand spectators, and visited Giredi, the 
capital of the Sultan, by whom they were well received. One 
day was devoted to exploring the neighbourhood, and then 
Lieutenant Christopher returned to the ' Tigris,' having, as he 
says in his journal — extracts from which, as well as a map, are 
published in Vol. XIV. of the Journal of the Royal Geographical 
Societyf — "traced this fertilizing stream for 110 miles of direct 
distance, and established a friendly intercourse with the Chiet 
resident on its banks." 

* The ' Daedalus ' struck on the shoal called after her when running down 
to pick up the survivors of the massacre, which took place at the mouth of 
the Juba, or G-ovind River, called by ancient navigators Rio dos Fuegos, or 
Rogues' River. 

t See also his "Extract from a Journal, kept during a partial inquiry into 
the present resources and state of North-Eastern Africa, with Memoranda," 
addressed to Government, by whom it was presented to the Bombay Geogra- 
phical Society, in Vol. VI. of whose "Transactions" it appears. 



214 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

The survey of the south-eastern coast of Arabia by Captain 
Haines, between the years 1833-37, which was discontinued 
owing to that officer being required to conduct the negotiations 
for the acquisition of Aden, was resumed in the year 1844, 
when Commander J. P. Sanders, who had been assistant to 
Captain Haines, was despatched in the ' Palinurus ' to continue 
the survey of that portion of the coast between Ras Morbat and 
Ras Seger, and between Ras Fartak and the rivers of Mesinah. 
Commander Sanders proceeded from Bombay to Muscat, where 
he obtained a rate for the chronometers, and, leaving that place 
on the 17th of December, arrived at Morbat on the 24th, in 
company with the tender 'Nerbudda.' His Assistant-Surveyor 
was Lieutenant Fell, and among his officers were Midshipmen 
Constable, Ward, James, and Whish, and Assistant-Surgeon H. 
J. Carter,* an accomplished geologist and naturalist. Commander 
Sanders says:f — "In obedience to my instructions, I com- 
menced a trigonometrical survey at Morbat, surveying four and 
a half miles to the eastward of that place, and the bay, on a 
large scale ; I then proceeded to the westward, in continuation 
of the survey on a scale of 2,040 yards to half an inch. I have 
minutely examined the coast and bays between Ras Morbat 
and Ras Seger, and between Ras Fartak and Mesinah, making 
a total distance of nearly 180 miles, well sounded ; the whole 
distance is perfectly clear of any shoals which would interfere 
with ship navigation, with the exception of one near Ras 
Deriah."$ 

Commander Sanders returned to Bombay, as was customary, 
during the south-west monsoon, and, on the 23rd of September, 

* Among papers contributed to scientific journals by Dr. Carter, F.R.S., were 
an admirable memoir on the Geology of the South-East Coast of Africa, published 
in the Journal of the Bombay branch of the Asiatic Society, for 1852 ; a paper 
on the ruins of El Balad, in the district of Dhafar, Vol. XVI. of the " Journal of 
the Royal Geographical Society," and other memoirs on Geological subjects. 

f " A short Memoir of the Proceedings of the ' Palinurus,' " by J. P. Sanders, 
Commander — " Journal of the Royal Geographical Society," vol. xvi., p. 169- 
186. The memoir is accompanied with a map. 

X Of the dangers incidental to surveying on this open coast, Commander 
Sanders says : — " I was much hindered on my first arrival on the coast by the 
strong belaat winds which prevail on it, one breeze succeeding another at inter- 
vals of eight or ten days, always blowing very strong, sometimes a perfect gale, 
and constantly varying in gusts from N.NE. to N.N W., rendering it quite unsafe 
to send a boat away from the vessel. These belaats never last less than three, 
but sometimes seven or even ten days. The belaat is also dangerous to ships 
near the shore. Occasionally at night the breeze would die away to a perfect 
calm, and remain so for an hour or two ; heavy gusts would then blow down from 
the mountains at intervals of a few minutes (without any warning except the 
noise on the water), sufficiently strong to split the sails or carry away the masts 
of any ship under sail not prepared for it ; these gusts would succeed each other 
for live or six hours. In one of these belaats the tender's mainmast was carried 
away; she, however, reached the 'Palinurus,' and, as at that time, her services 
were much required, I jury-rigged and kept her with me. The belaats were suc- 
ceeded often by strong south-easterly winds, which, bringing with them a very 
consideiable swell were almost as great a hindrance as that wind." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 215 

1845. again sailed for the Arabian Coast, Lieutenant Albany M. 
Grieve being Assistant-Surveyor. On his proceeding to Eng- 
land in 1846, the work was completed* by Lieutenant Grieve,t 
who, assisted by Lieutenant Ward,J also surveyed the islands to 
the west of Socotra. By the completion of the surveys of Com- 
mander Sanders and Lieutenant Grieve, the surveys of tbe 
Persian Gulf and Red Sea were connected, and thus the entire 
coast line, from Cape Comorin to Ras Gulwainee on the African 
continent, had been minutely examined and laid down by 
the officers of the Indian Navy. 

Besides Lieutenant Christopher, other officers of the Service 
were employed on the north-east coast of Africa. Lieutenant Bar- 
ker, who had accompanied Sir W. Harris as astronomer during 
his mission to the Court of Shoa, surveyed the coast of Africa 
from Bab-el-Mandeb to Berberah, on the Soomali"coast, and the 
resultant chart was referred to by the late Sir Roderick Mur- 
chison, in his address to the Royal Geographical Society, of the 
27th of May, 1844. In 1848, Lieutenant Albany Grieve con- 
tinued the survey of the Soomali coast from Berberah to Ras 
Gulwainee ; and, in February of that year, Lieutenant Crutten- 
den, who, while employed at the wreck of the 'Memnon,' had 
collected considerable information relative to the tribes on the 
coast about Ras Assair, which he forwarded to Government, 
proceeded on a visit, accompanied by Commander Campbell to a 
powerful Soomali chief, and his researches among the Edoor, 
or Western, branch, are embodied in a paper which appears 
in Vol. VIII. of the Journal of the Royal Geographical 
Society. § 

On the 1st of March, 1844, Lieutenant Montriou was ap- 

* The following were the charts resulting from the Surveys commenced by 
Captain Haines and completed by Commander Sanders and Lieutenants Grieve 
and Barker: — " Gulf of Aden," Haines, Barker, and Grieve (1847); "Islands 
west of Socotra," Grieve (1848); "North-East Coast of Arabia," Sanders and 
Grieve (1849) ; " Gulf of Macera," Grieve (1847). A Memoir, to accompany the 
charts of that portion of the South-East Coast of Arabia, surveyed by Commander 
Banders and Lieutenant Grieve, was written by Assistant-Surgeon H. J. Carter, 
of the ' Palinurus,' and may be found in Vol. III. of the Journal of the Bom- 
bay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, pp. 224-317. As previously mentioned, 
the Memoir, in two parts, by Captain Haines, to accompany his charts of the 
South-East Coast of Arabia, may be found in Vols. IX. and XV. of the " Journal 
of the Royal Geographical Society." 

t This eminent surveyor died suddenly on the 17th of January, 1858. 

X Lieutenant (now Commander) C. Y. Ward, compiled the " Gulf of Aden 
Pilot," pubhshed by the Admiralty in 1863. 

§ " Memoir on the Western or Edoor Tribes, inhabiting the Soomali coast, 
with the Southern branches of the family of Darrood, resident on the banks of 
the Webbi Shebeyli, commonly called the River Webbi." The Soomali tribes 
inhabiting the coast to the westward of Burnt Island, are called the Edoor, while 
the country from Ras Hafoon to Zeyla is called the Bur-e-Somal, and is divided 
into two great tribes, which are again subdivided. In 1843, Lieutenant Crutten- 
den had forwarded a memoir to Government on the Mijirtheyn, one of the 
branches of the two great families of the Bur-e-Somal, whose habitat is the country 
round Ras Hafoon. 



216 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

pointed to the command of the ' Taptee,' brig, as appears in 
General Orders, "for the purpose of surveying the Rajahpore 
Creek and other inlets on the coast of the South Concan." 
We find him transferred from the 10th of June followiug, to 
the temporary charge of the Indian Navy Draughtsman's office 
in place of Commander Boulderson, but he soon after returned 
to the Malabar coast. Again he was Acting Draughtsman 
from the 25th of July, 1845, when Commander Boulderson 
temporarily held the office of Assistant-Superintendent, during 
Sir Robert Oliver's absence : but, on the 22nd of October fol- 
lowing, he again sailed in the ' Taptee,' his Assistant-Surveyor 
being Midshipman A. D. Taylor, with the object, as appears in 
his instructions, "of prosecuting the survey of the west coast as 
far south as the Beypore River, and particularly to ascertain 
the capability of the different rivers and creeks to be used as 
harbours of refuge for ships in distress or in time of war." 
This latter eventuality had reference to an apprehended outbreak 
of hostilities with the United States, the Company's steam 
frigates being armed with additional heavy guns. Lieutenant 
Montriou finally returned to Bombay on the 28th of May, 1846, 
having made some accurate surveys and an extensive series of 
topographical, meteorological, and tidal observations. He was 
assisted in his work by Midshipmen Whish, Nixon, Lamb, 
and Dickson, but found his chief helper in Midshipman Taylor, 
avIio gave earty promise of becoming one of the most accom- 
plished surveyors produced by the Indian Navy. On his 
return to Bombay, Lieutenant Montriou resumed charge of the 
Draughtsman's Office, which had been temporarily held by 
Lieutenant H. H. Hewett, on his return from China, in the 
• Medusa,' early in the year. 

The following Order of importance regarding the special 
staff allowance to be paid to surveyors, was issued in the year 
1846 :— 

'•The Hon. the Governor in- Council is pleased to announce 
that the Hon. the Court of Directors have authorised the follow- 
ing scale to be established for the remuneration of officers of 
the Indian Navy, when employed as surveyors in vessels fitted 
out for survey duties, viz. : — 

Command Surveying 

allowance. allowance. 

A Captain shall receive Rs. 600 and Rs. 350 
A Commander „ „ 500 „ „ 350 
A Lieutenant „ „ 300 „ „ 350 

"Whenever a lieutenant may be appointed an assistant- 
surveyor, he shall receive in addition to his naval pay of 175 
rupees, or 145 rupees per month, as senior or junior lieutenant 
as the case may be, a surveying allowance of 175 rupees per 
month." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 217 

The whole coast from the eastern mouth of the Indus to 
Sonmeanee, as well as the harbour of Kurrachee, had been 
carefully surveyed by Commander Carless* in the last years of 
the administration of Sir Charles Malcolm ; and, in 1842, 
Lieutenant Montriou made a survey of Sonmeanee Bay. In 
1846 the Indus mouths were again surveyed by Lieutenant 
W. B. Selby, assisted by Midshipmen Taylor and Stroyan, but 
the charts, it appears, were never published. Lieutenant Selby 
had already gained credit for his surveys in Mesopotamia, and 
the memoirs written by him and Lieutenant Grounds, on the 
countries adjacent to the Euphrates, received the commendation 
of the Court of Directors, and a General Order was published 
relative thereto, under date the 9th of June, 1846. 

That distinguished surveyor, Lieutenant J.Felix Jones, on his 
return to the Persian Gulf, after accompanying Lieutenant 
C. D. Campbell in his memorable ascent of the Euphrates, re- 
mained from 1842 to May, 1846, in command on the river 
Tigris, and, as opportunities offered for travelling in the dis- 
turbed districts around, was engaged in collecting materials for 
a map comprising the territories and rivers between the Medi- 
terranean, Kurdistan, Persia, and the Gulf. This map he 
constructed in Bombay when employed on special duty in 
1846-47. In May of the latter year, Lieutenant Jones re- 
turned to Mesopotamia as surveyor,! and with extended powers 
on obtaining his commission as commander, on the aug- 
mentation of the Service, under date the 13th of September, 
1847. 

On the death of Sir Robert Oliver, Captain Lynch officiated 
temporarily as Superintendent of the Indian Navy, until the 
arrival, on the 31st of August, of Captain Hawkins in the 
1 Clive' from Bushire, who had been succeeded in the command 
of the Persian Gulf squadron by Captain Carless in the pre- 
ceding April. Captain Hawkins was appointed a first-class 

* " Memoir to accompany the Survey of the Delta of the Indus in 1837," by 
Lieutenant Carless, Vol. VIII. of the "Journal of the Royal Geographical 
Society ;" " Bombay Selections," No. 17. 

t See "Narrative of a Journey through parts of Persia and Kurdistan, under- 
taken by Commander J. F. Jones, I.K., of the Hon. Company's steam-vessel 
' Nitocris,' in company with Major Rawlinson, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia," 
dated Bagdad, the 31st of December, 1847. In 1843, Lieutenant Jones brought 
Tamar, a deposed chief of the Cha'ab Arabs, from Bussorah to Bagdad; and, in 
August of the following year, accompanied Major Rawlinson (who had succeeded 
Colonel Taylor as Political Resident at Bagdad) to Zohab, a village in a district 
of the same name, forming a portion of the territory in dispute between Persia 
and Turkey. The journey occupied two months, and during that time many 
interesting sites were visited and their true positions astronomically fixed. 
Commander Jones's narrative gives a detailed account of these places. On their 
return these officers executed a map, constructed from the results of their observa- 
tions, which was forwarded to the British Ambassador at Constantinople to assist 
the Commissioners at Erzeroum in their inquiry. 



218 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Commodore, with his broad pennant on board the 'Hastings.' 
Commander Ethersey being Assistant-Superintendent, and 
Captain Lynch officiated as Master-Attendant in place of the 
veteran Captain Ross. 

During Commodore Hawkins' brief tenure of office,* the 
Indian Navy added to the laurels already gained, per mare et 
terrain, by a fresh display of its discipline and readiness to 
respond to the call of duty. The Service played a not unim- 
portant part at the famous siege of Mooltan in 1848-49, and 
the occasion is of further interest, as the first instance of a 
purely naval force being engaged in military operations at a 
distance of seven hundred miles from the sea. During the first 
siege, Lieutenant YVillmott Christopher, who, as Assistant- 
Superintendent of the Indus flotilla, had been engaged in 
transporting men, guns, and stores, to Mooltan, took advantage 
of this opportunity to indulge his love of adventure and un- 
bounded energy, and joined the hastily raised levies of the 
late Sir Herbert Edwardes, when his intimate knowledge of 
Mooltan and its neighbourhood was of essential service to that 
officer. General Whish, with the right column, encamped 
before Mooltan on the 18th of August, the left column joining 
headquarters on the following day ; and, on the arrival of the 
heavy guns, on the 4th of September, his force consisted of 
two hundred and nine officers and seven thousand six hundred 
and thirty-two men, with thirty-two pieces of siege ordnance 
and twelve field-pieces. There were, besides, the native regular 
and irregular levies of General Van Cortlandt and Lieutenant 
Edwardes, and the contingents of the Nawab of Bhawulpore, 
under Lieutenant Lake,f and of Shere Singh, amounting, in 
the aggregate, to fourteen thousand three hundred and twenty- 
seven infantry, eight thousand four hundred and seventeen 
cavalry, with forty-five guns and four mortars. Opposed to 
these, Moolraj had, at this time, under his orders in Mooltan, 
according to Edwardes, from whose work, " A Year on the 
Punjaub Frontier," we have derived these estimates, ten thou- 
sand men, of whom about twelve hundred were cavalry. 

Lieutenant Christopher accompanied Edwardes' force, and 
when, on the morning of the 1st of September, the latter moved 
from Sooraj Khoond to join General YYhish's army encamped at 
Seetul-ke-maree, six miles distant, Lieutenant Christopher was 
of great service during the first day's fighting before Mooltan, 
where he was destined so shortly to lay down his life. 
Edwardes says: — "Another volunteer went with me into the 

* During the administration of Commodore Hawkins, took place the 
launch in Bombay Dockyard, on the 11th of November, 1848, of the ' Meanee,' 
of eighty guns, for H.M.'s navy. This noble line-of-battle ship, which was built 
of teak, cost £70,000, and had been eight years in construction. 

t The late Major-General Edward Lake, R.E., C.S.I. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 219 

field, and assisted me greatly in carrying orders — poor Christo- 
pher, of the Indian Navy, whose zeal proved fatal to him so 
shortly after. On this occasion he rode about with a long sea 
telescope under his arm, just as composedly as if he had been 
on the deck of his own vessel." 

The siege operations were commenced at daylight of the 7th 
of September, by working parties of one thousand men from the 
irregulars, and sixteen hundred men from the British camp. 
On the night of the 9th, it became necessary to dislodge the 
enemy from a position they had taken up among some houses 
and gardens in front of the trenches, and Colonel Pattoun, of 
the 32nd Regiment, conducted the attack with four companies 
of H.M.'s 10th Regiment, a wing of the 49th Regiment N.I., 
the Rifle company of the 72nd Regiment N.I., and two of Van 
Cortlandt's horse artillery guns. Notwithstanding the display 
of the greatest gallantry, the attack ended in failure, " owing," 
says Major Siddons, of the Bengal Engineers, in his " Journal 
of the Siege of Mooltan," " to ignorance of the localities, and 
the darkness and confusion consequent on a hastily planned 
night attack." The British column was driven back with 
heavy loss, the 10th and 49th having one hundred and twenty 
men placed hors de combat. Among the officers wounded was 
Lieutenant Christopher, and we cannot give a better account of 
the circumstances under which he received a wound that proved 
fatal, than in the words of Sir Herbert Edwardes : — " Captain 
Christopher, of the Indian Navy, had, from his first arrival 
with the steamers at Mooltan, shown the usual willingness of 
his profession to co-operate with his brother officers on shore. 
On the night in question, he had once already conducted some 
reinforcements to Colonel Pattoun's assistance ; but the fighting 
at the outposts still raged with unabated fury. Another re- 
inforcement came up, but had no guide. ' Will no one show us 
the way?' asked the officer of the party, looking round on the 
tired occupants of the trenches. ' I will,' replied Christopher, 
and, putting himself at their head, steered them with the steadi- 
ness of a pilot through ditches and gardens, under a roaring 
fire of musketry. A ball hit him in the ankle, and shivered 
the joint to pieces. A few weeks later, he was borne by the 
grateful British soldiers to a rude grave beside a well, 
near the village of Sooraj Khoond, and I myself read the 
service over him. A better or braver man fell not beneath 
the walls of Mooltan." 

The surgeons, in examining the wound received by Christo- 
pher while conducting the detachment of the 10th Regiment, 
found it necessary to amputate the limb, but mortification set 
in, and a second operation became necessary. This, however, 
proved of no avail to save his life, and, after a period of terrible 
suffering, delirium supervened, and, on the 8th of October, he 



220 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

expired. Lieutenant Christopher, who, at the time of his 
death, was a senior lieutenant, his commission bearing date 
July, 1839, was an officer of great enterprise and rare promise. 
He had graduated as a surveyor under Captain Moresby, and, 
while employed at the Maldive Islands, showed that he was 
possessed of scientific attainments of a high order. After his 
return from the East Coast of Africa, where he discovered the 
Haines River, he was appointed Assistant-Superintendent of the 
Indus flotilla, under Commander F. T. Powell, and had only 
returned to his duties in May, 1848, after a brief stay at Bom- 
bay, where he had lost his wife. No man was confessedly 
more competent for the duty, or to an equal extent commanded 
the confidence of the public. Lieutenant Christopher was 
intimately acquainted with the navigation of the rivers of the 
Punjaub, having, in 1847, ascended the Indus, Sutlej, and 
Chenaub, in the steamer 'Meanee,' and the results of his inves- 
tigations were published by the Bombay Geographical Society 
shortly before his death,* while his report to the Government 

* See two papers in Vol. VIII. of the " Transactions of theBombay Geographical 
Society." The first is a " Report of an Experimental Voyage up the Indus and 
Sutlej, made by the ' Meanee,' steam-tender to the pennant-ship ' Mootnee,' with 
the ' Ravee,' iron flat, in tow, having sixteen hundred maunds of merchandise 
on board ; with Diary." Lieutenant Christopher left Sukkur on the lyth of 
June, 1847, the ' Meanee' having three months' stores, and drawing two feet 
nine inches aft, with the flat lashed alongside. On the 9th of July he left the 
Chenaub and entered the Sutlej, "whose channel at its junction is 150 yards 
broad and 12 feet deep ; current three miles an hour. The ' Ravee' s' breadth is 
800 to 1000 yards ; current four miles an hour." On the 13th the ' Meanee' 
was dashed on a bank by an eddy, and being struck by some timber, began to 
fill. Lieutenant Christopher secured her to the bank, and having repaired 
damages, proceeded after a detention of nine hours. On the 16th of August the 
' Meanee' was swerved on to the bank by the current, when the port-wheel was 
bent a good deal, and six Hats were split. On the 18th of August he arrived at 
Ferozepore, having left the ' Ravee' at Pank Puttun, 155 miles down the river. 
The second paper is his "Journal of the Ascent of the River Chenaub," dated 
Vizerabad, 1st of October, 1847. On the requisition of the Resident at Lahore, 
Lieutenant Christopher quitted Buckree wood-station, situated at the confluence 
of the Chenaub and Sutlej, on the 8th of September, to ascend the Ravee to 
Lahore. On the following day he arrived at Mooltan bunder, where he received 
a visit from the Naib, or Dewan, Moolraj, who, he notes in his Journal, three 
times asked him if more steamers were coming up, and appeared anxious on 
the subject. Moolraj presented him with 125 rupees, which he returned, but 
on the Dewan refusing to receive it, gave a portion to his servants and placed the 
balance to the credit of Government. On the 11th he entered the Ravee River, 
and the ' Meanee,' carried by a cross-current, struck the bank and lost several 
floats. Having repaired damages he proceeded. During the trip he frequently 
had nuzzurs, or gifts, proffered for his acceptance, amounting in all to about 
1000 rupees, besides horses and other presents, but always refused to accept 
them. On the 21st of September, he secured at Ramnuggur Ghat, whence he 
proceeded to Lahore, where he was invited by Mr. John Lawrence (now Lord 
Lawrence), the Resident, to attend Durbar. He says : — " I was presented with 
tlic usual provision money, namely, 250 Nanakshai rupees, sweetmeats, &c. 
The Resident told me I could not object, as it was customary. From this sum, 
as at Mooltan, presents were given to the servants, and the remainder will be 
paid into the treasury, as I may be ordered to carry it to its account. The 
Durbar were restrained from visiting the steamer by understanding that one 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 221 

on the practicability of transporting guns and stores, as well as 
troops, by the Indus and Chenaub within one and a half miles 
of Mooltan, was of paramount importance when the rebellion of 
Moolraj necessitated the siege of that renowned stronghold. 
Subsequently he took the 'Conqueror,' steamer, forty miles 
above Kalabagh, and thus triumphed over the old prejudices 
against the possibility of navigating the upper rivers. His loss 
was sincerely deplored by his numerous friends, and particularly 
by the Service, of which he was so bright an ornament ; while 
his official superior wrote to the Government, " acknowledging 
his gallant services, and lamenting his early death." With 
Lieutenant Christopher the tale of the distinguished officers 
of the Indian Navy who had died during the year 1848 was 
complete. 

After a sanguinary fight on the 12th of September, the siege 
of Mooltan was raised, chiefly owing to the defection of Rajah 
Shere Singh and his army, on the 14th of September, General 
Whish, as well as the senior officers, and Major Napier (now 
Lord Napier of Magdala) being of opinion that its successful 
conduct was no longer practicable. 

General Whish was not in a position to resume the siege 
until the 21st of December, when, reinforcements having ar- 
rived from the Bombay Presidency, under Brigadier the Hon. 
H. Dundas, C.B. (the late Lord Melville) he had under his com- 
mand a regular army, exclusive of sick, of four hundred and 
thirty -six officers, two hundred and thirty-seven native officers, 
and fourteen thousand nine hundred and seventy-five men, with 
ninety-seven guns, of which thirty-seven were siege ordnance; 
that of Moolraj being about twelve thousand, with fifty-four 
guns and five mortars. Accompanying the Bombay column 
was a brigade of seamen from the Indian Navy, which had been 
fitted out and despatched by Commodore Hawkins, within 
thirty hours of the receipt of orders, a remarkable instance of 
the zeal and smartness that characterised this officer. The 
detachment, which was placed under the command of Com- 
mander F. T. Powell, Superintendent of the Indus flotilla, who 
accompanied it to Mooltan, consisted of about one hundred 

would come up the Eavee next season and be close to the walls. They all 
appeared desirous of accompanying me over to see her." On the 28th, Lieu- 
tenant Christopher proceeded on to Vizerabad, and continuing, secured at 
Delawe for the night. On the following day he steamed abreast of the town of 
Jellalpur, and as further progress was impossible, and ' the river was falling, 
returned to Bagur ferry. Here he hired horses and went by land to the fort of 
Akmur. He fixes the highest navigable point at the ferry of Gliol, six miles 
below this fort, and twelve from Jamu, the former capital of Maharajah Gholab 
Singh. "I had hoped," he says, "the steamer would have been visible from its 
towers." He commenced the descent on the 1st of October, having made the 
first ascent of the Chenaub, from its junction with the Sutlej to Vizerabad, a 
distance of 315 miles, in 113 hours' steaming, having an average current of 2f 
miles to contend with. 



222 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

seamen-gunners, and the following- officers: — Lieutenant C. H. 
Borthon, and Midshipmen* (with the rank of acting-master) 
Davies, Cookson, Cousens, Heathcote, and Elder. The brigade, 
completely accoutred, proceeded to Kurrachee by steamer, and 
thence up the Indus in the 'Napier,' Acting-Master Kingcombe, 
with the flat ' Beeas ' in tow, to Shere Shah-ke-puttun, whence 
some of the officers proceeded to Edwardes' camp, where they 
spent Christmas Day. The brigade disembarked on the 
27th of December, and marched up to the camp before 
Mooltan, 

During the earlier operations of the investment the steamers 

* By General Order, under date 7th of August, 1840, midshipmen were 
eligible for the appointment of acting-masters on board steam-vessels, provided 
they were competent to perform the duties as laid down in the Masters' Certifi- 
cates i page 266 of the General Instructions) ; they were also required to possess 
a knowledge of gunnery and of the steam engine. This rank of acting-master, 
as applied to the covenanted ranks of the Service, was soon after abolished. 
Other orders of importance relating to midshipmen, were the following : — 
November 18, 1841. Midshipmen to be examined periodically ; the examination 
to be conducted with regularity, and the test moderate in the first instance, 
but gradually progressive, until the final examination for lieutenant, which 
ought to embrace all the professional acquirements absolutely requisite as a 
minimum ; the final examination to take place at the end of five years. The 
Examining Committee at the Presidency to be assisted by the teachers of gun- 
nery and naval instructors. Certificates of good conduct to be allowed due 
weight. Should any midshipman be unable to pass at the final examination, he 
is to be placed in rank below those who may pass, although his juniors on the 
list ; at the next examination, he is to be called upon to come forward, and if 
again unable to pass, in like manner to be placed below all those who may pass, 
and in future reported to Government. Those absent from the Presidency, whin 
the time arrives for their final examination, are to have a committee constituted 
by the commander and superior officers of the ship, who are empowered to pass 
them provisionally, subject to confirmation after being examined by the Com- 
mittee at the Presidency. Should they not be passed by the latter Committee, 
they will take rank below all those who may have passed at the date of the 
provisional examination ; if otherwise, they will retain their rank. — November 
4, 1843. Such midshipmen as may have passed their final examination to be 
styled mates, and to receive an increased rate of pay. — September 18, 1844. 
Reports to be forwarded quarterly from each vessel of the Indian Navy, of the 
progress made in the professional qualifications of the midshipmen serving on 
board. — November 6, 1844. 31 idshipmen not allowed spirits, but an equivalent 
in money. — Standing Order of December 29, 1852. Midshipmen required to 
attend on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the rigging-loft at the dockyard for 
instruction by the boatswain in turning in dead eyes, &c, and the ' Snake' to 
be employed in bringing them from Butcher's Island, on which occasion the 
" young gentlemen" were expected to study steam engineering. — Government 
General Order dated May 16, 1855. The Court of Directors directed that a 
nmhhipman was required to pass "the examination in the different professional 
subjects within the period of six years from the commencement of his service," 
allowance being made for sickness, failing which he was to be "finally removed 
from our naval service, and you will strike his name from the list without 
further reference to us." — Government General Order, dated July 31, 1855. 
Midshipmen to be only allowed three months, instead of six months, as laid 
down under date January 22, 1851, for passing their examination for lieutenant. 
The last Government Order regarding midshipmen was issued by the Governor 
under date " Bombay Castle, March 12, 1859," and made public the instructions 
of the Court in their despatch of August 11, 1858, dealing with their promotion 
to the rank of mate and lieutenant. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 223 

of the Indian Navy were able to render essential service. On 
the 28th of December they seized a large quantity of ammu- 
nition on its way to the enemy; and, on the night of the 29th, 
the commander of the ' Conqueror,' having received intimation 
that his vessel was to be attacked, pushed out into the middle of 
the stream, and made every preparation to give a warm welcome 
to his intended captors, who, however, did not put in an 
appearance. On the 30th the steamer ' Meanee' reached Shere- 
Shah-ke-puttun from Ferozepore, with <£50,000, and a large 
suppl} 7 of ammunition, and was ordered on to Sirdarpoor to the 
assistance of the ' Conqueror.' Acting-Master Davies tem- 
porarily proceeded on board the ' Beeas ' with a party of men 
to protect the boats and stores in her vicinity, and, after 
the main portion of the brigade had landed from the 
'Napier' to join the army, she also proceeded out into the 
stream to prevent the passage of the enemy's boats up the 
river. 

The detachment of the Indian Navy was brigaded with the 
Bombay Artillery, under the command of Major (with the rank 
of Brigadier) Leeson of that corps, and worked in two watches, 
under the command of Lieutenant Berthon and Mr. Davies. 
The battery was made of sandbags and platforms, laid down 
by the sailors, and the guns were supplied from the park of 
artillery. Colonel Cheape, C.B., was now Chief Engineer, and, 
on the 27th of December, siege operations were commenced in 
real earnest by the capture of the whole line of suburbs 
between Seetul-Ke-Maree and the canal, by one Bengal column, 
while the two Bombay columns carried, after a desperate 
resistance, and crowned with guns, the important points of 
Seedee-lal-ke-Beyd and Mundee Awa. The attack was now 
directed to the city, within the walls of which the enemy was 
almost entirely confined. 

While some batteries were ordered to breach the curtain 
next the Khoonee Bhoorj, or Bloody Bastion, others, including 
the Indian Navy battery,* which consisted of two 8-inch 
howitzers and four 18-pounders, directed their fire against the 
Delhi gate. On the right attack a heavy fire was kept up 
between the 28th and 30th of December, when, at ten a.m., a 
shell from a mortar pierced the supposed bomb-proof dome of 
the Jumna Musjid, or mosque, in the citadel, which, says 
Edwardes, "formed the enemy's principal magazine, containing 
400,000 lbs. of powder, and, in an instant, the sacred edifice 
and 500 souls were blown into a thousand fragments." The 
lucky shot has been attributed by Edwardes, and other writers, 

* An excellent illustration of tins battery, sketched by an officer of the 60th 
Rifles, which distinguished regiment were constantly employed in the battery 
keeping down the matchlock fire from the walls, as they were at close quarters, 
appeared in the " Illustrated London News" of that date. 



224 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

to Lieutenant Newall of the Bengal Artillery. The following 
version of the incident is given us by the late Commander 
Heathcote, of the Indian Navy, who was present throughout 
the siege, and who, by his smartness and readiness of resource, 
gave early promise of the professional ability and energy for 
which he was distinguished in the Service : — " Commander 
Powell was one of the few men who had been in the citadal at 
all. The magazine was not, as it is sometimes said, in the 
great Mosque, but in a building near it, which had been con- 
structed at great expense for the special purpose, and was con- 
sidered bomb-proof. Powell had been with the General and 
Chief Engineer, pointing out what he believed to be the position, 
and had laid a mortar two or three times, but with no effect. 
He then turned away, saying that he was sure that the 
direction was the right one, and recommended that the shells 
be pitched a little farther, and then a little nearer, in the same 
line. The officer in charge of the mortars then laid another as 
directed, and the explosion immediately took place, and a mag- 
nificent and appalling sight it was. It is one of the largest 
explosions on record, if not the largest, as happening in the 
course of a siege, and its effect, especially, on the result of the 
operations, was most valuable." 

The Indian Navy battery played with great effect on the 
Delhi gate itself, being assisted by a second battery, the fire of 
which was directed on the third curtain from the gateway, and 
a Bengal battery of 5|-inch mortars. On the morning of the 
2nd of January, Major Siddons, to whose valuable paper on the 
Siege 'of Mooltan, in the " Corps Papers of the Royal Engi- 
neers," we are indebted, reported that the breach of the Khonee 
Bhoorj was " practicable, although steep," and that of the Delhi 
gate " sufficiently good to allow of an attempt being made upon 
it as a diversion." Accordingly, about noon, two columns were 
told off for the assault, the Bengal troops on the Delhi gate, and 
the Bombay troops on the Khonee Bhoorj, and advanced 
under a salute of all the batteries. The latter column, con- 
sisting of three companies of the 1st (now the 103rd) Bombay 
Fusiliers, under Captain Leith, carried all before them, and the 
British colours soon waved on the crest of the breach, where it 
was planted by Colour-Sergeant Bennet ; but the former were 
not equally successful. Moving out under protection of the fire 
of the Indian Navy and other batteries, the storming party, led 
by Captain Smyth of the 32nd Regiment, "discovered that the 
mines did not form a practicable breach, there still remaining a 
perpendicular drop of seven or eight feet above the rubbish, 
that did not promise a good footing for the ladders which the 
sappers were carrying behind." This had escaped the notice of 
the Engineers. Captain Smyth, accordingly, retired to the pro- 
tection of the Indian Navy battery, and soon repaired to the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 225 

breach at the Khonee Bhoorj, where his men assisted their more 
fortunate comrades in the city. It appears by a letter from 
Commander Powell to Commodore Hawkins, that as II.M.'s 32nd 
Regiment were retiring from the Delhi gate, Mr. Heathcote fired 
a shrapnel shell from one of the 8-inch howitzers, which cleared 
a bastion from which a dense swarm of matchlock-men were 
keeping up a biting fire on the retiring troops. By dusk the 
whole of Mooltan was in possession of the British, and Moolraj, 
after closing the gates of the citadel against three-fourths of 
his soldiers, took shelter within its walls, with nearly four 
thousand picked men. 

General Whish having determined to attack the citadel from 
the city side, as well as from the north-east, on the 4th of 
January, a brigade of the Bombay Division marched round and 
encamped on the north side of the fort, and, communicating by 
pickets and patrols with the Bengal Division on the east, and 
with a detachment of Edwardes' Irregulars on the west, com- 
pleted, for the first time, the investment of Mooltan. Moolraj, 
seeing the toils closing around him, tried to negotiate for terms 
on the 5th and 8th of January ; but he was given to under- 
stand that only an unconditional surrender would be 
received. 

The batteries were completed and armed as fast as practica- 
ble, and, on the night of the 6th of January, the Indian Naval 
Battery for seven 18-pounders, "intended to beat down the 
defences from the building called Buhawulhuk to the junction 
with the town wall, was commenced, and carried up to the soles 
of the embrasures." On the following night this battery was 
completed, and four of the guns were in position by daybreak. 
On the night of the 8th of January, the battery was completely 
armed, the guns being dragged through the trenches by the 
sailors, assisted by the working parties, under a fire which, 
during the early part of the night, is described as "very 
sharp." On the morning of the 9th of January, the battery, 
commanded by Lieutenant Berthon, opened fire, a confidential 
agent of Moolraj being at the time engaged with General 
Whish in seeking for terms for his master. Edwardes says in 
his narrative : — " A new battery of seven 18-pounders had just 
been opened in our trenches, and played heavily on the fort 
during this interview, so that conviction must have reached the 
Dewan that his diplomacy was not likely to gain either time or 
terms." 

"About three a.m.," says Major Siddons, "a shell from the 
citadel, exploding at the foot of the exterior slope, set fire to the 
battery, owing to the peculiar construction ; though every endea- 
vour was made to extinguish it, the fire soon gained the mas- 
tery, and the guns were with the greatest difficulty withdrawn 
and powder saved, by the exertions of the seamen, who were 

VOL. II. Q 



22(j HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

working- the guns when the accident happened. The enemy, 
observing the mischance, kept up a very heavy fire on the spot, 
and several casualties occurred." The accident was clue to the 
fascines, of which the lower part of the battery was composed, 
catching fire by the explosion of a shell. 

Commander Powell says in his despatch of the 11th 
of January, 1842, addressed to Commodore Hawkins : — 
"Every exertion was made by Lieutenant Berthon, and the 
officers and men under his command, to extinguish the fire, but 
without avail, and it became necessary to move the guns out of 
the battery into the trench, when the enemy opened a very 
heavy fire of all arms on them, and, I regret to state, three men 
were severely wounded, and Mr. Elder, Acting-Master, had his 
foot crushed by one of the guns ; but he is not seriously hurt. 
It is also my painful duty to report the death of Alexander 
Johnstone, Quartermaster, who died yesterday a little after 
noon, of the wounds he received in the morning. This is the 
same man who was slightly wounded on the 31st ultimo, and 
had gallantly returned to duty. The rest of the wounded, I 
am glad to say, are doing well." 

The Indian Naval Brigade, on being burnt out of their bat- 
tery, speedily found themselves a new sphere of usefulness in 
two breaching batteries constructed in the city, which they 
worked under Lieutenant Berthon and Mr. Davies. These 
consisted of a battery for two 18-pounders, which was brought 
to play on the south-west cavalier bastion of the citadel on 
the 10th of January, and " succeeded perfectly in keeping down 
the fire of the enemy's artillery ;' and a second battery for four 
18-pounders, which opened fire on the 16th of January on the 
same point. Soon after, the artillery opened two 8-inch, and 
two 10-inch, mortars, to assist in the breaching. In the mean- 
time other batteries were constructed on the right attack, and 
saps were pushed on from both the right and city attacks, the 
garrison only making one sortie on the trenches, when they 
were repulsed by a party of the 10th Regiment, on which 
occasion Major Napier, the engineer on duty, was wounded. 
All the arrangements were made for storming both breaches 
on the morning of the 22nd of January, and the troops had 
taken up their positions, when, at seven a.m.,Moolraj intimated 
his wish to surrender, and the batteries ceased firing. Within 
two hours the arch-rebel and murderer of Anderson and Vans 
Agnew, had surrendered himself, together with his garrison of 
between three and four thousand men, into the hands of the 
British General. The British loss during the siege of Mooltan 
w r as nine officers and two hundred and one men killed, and fifty- 
five officers (of whom six died) and nine hundred and twenty- 
seven men wounded. According to returns in Major Siddons' 
work, no less than thirteen thousand eight hundred and fifty- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 227 

three shot and twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and forty- 
three shell, carcases, and other projectiles, were poured into the 
city and citadel from sixty-seven pieces of siege ordnance, of 
which thirty-five belonged to the Bombay division, exclusive ot 
field artillery. 

Commander Heathcote has supplied us with the following 
interesting particulars regarding the work done by the Indian 
Naval batteries before Mooltan :— " The siege of Mooltan was 
in reality two sieges, first of the town, which of itself was a 
very strong fortification, and secondly of the citadel, which was 
a triple-walled fortification, of immense strength both naturally 
and artificially, one of its walls being simply an escarpment of 
the hill side ; it had also a deep broad ditch and good glacis, 
especially on the side nearest the town. Without the explosion 
I doubt whether we should have got in without reinforcements, 
especially in artillery. But it was decided that the town should 
be first taken, and our first battery was opposite the place se- 
lected for breaching near the Delhi gate of the town. It was 
composed of two 8-inch howitzers, and four 18-pounders. The 
range was short, but the walls and gate were a good deal 
obscured by intervening trees, which had been only partially 
cleared away. At the assault this breach was found imprac- 
ticable, for there was a steep descent of about twenty feet to 
the base of the wall, which had not been seen ; all that could 
be seen had been well levelled. On the return of the 32 nd into 
our battery, we re-opened with grape, canister, and shrapnel, 
for right and left of the breach was thick with the enemy's 
riflemen. 

" The two-gun battery of 18-pounders in the city was erected 
for the purpose of enfilading some guns on the citadel, a con- 
siderable distance on the right, which were a little too effi- 
cacious against our working batteries. It was well placed, and 
accomplished what was intended. Our other battery in the 
city was of four 18-pounders. We also used in the city some 
howitzers, for a short time just before the capitulation, to pitch 
shells over the parapet of the second wall. These batteries in 
the city we had entirely to ourselves, working watch and watch 
at night, putting up in some of the adjacent houses, and when 
we could not get charpoys, sleeping on the ground. A 
favourite place was where there was a little rise of a com- 
fortable height to form a pillow, and here I enjoyed many a 
sound, though not very lengthy snooze, until I found out that 
my pillow was a dead body, only too slightly covered with 
earth. One morning at daylight, Davies had only just got up 
from a charpoy where he had been sleeping, when a shot came 
crashing through and fell on the impression lately made by his 
head. 

" In the attack on the citadel the four-gun batterv in the city 

<i 2 



228 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

was employed in clearing away the defences to the right of the 
breach formed by the explosion, the glacis only being between 
ns and the fortress. I remember also that we received orders 
to train our left gun round into a makeshift embrasure, to bring 
it to bear on a gun which was particularly well served and well 
placed on the highest part of the fort on the extreme left. That 
gun was dismounted at our second shot. A gun immediately 
opposite our battery was also exceedingly well served, and as it 
was so placed that we were completely exposed to it, it being 
much higher than we were, and the glacis very narrow, it nearly 
drove us out ; however, we managed to silence it. Two days 
after it banged into us again, so we devoted all our attention to 
it until it was silenced again. After we had entered the fort 
we were curious to see the gun, and we soon understood how 
completely it was sheltered from our fire. We could never 
have touched it except when it was run forward to fire. Its 
last injury was that it had been hit on the side by one of our 
shot, and, being a brass gun, this had so indented it that it 
could not be loaded. But the first injury which had silenced it 
the first time was most curious. One of our 18-lb. shot had 
entered its muzzle and stuck there, when the Sikhs had run the 
gun back and sawn off the muzzle, and there was the muzzle of 
the gun with our shot still in it, lying close by. The gunners 
had then fought with the shortened gun until it was again 
disabled. 

" The seven-gun battery was the first we employed against 
the citadel. It was constructed entirely of fascines made 
months before of small brushwood ; this would not have been 
selected if there had been any choice, but the result was that 
they were the best materials possible for creating a blaze if a 
spark went near them. There was no earthwork at all in the 
breastwork of the battery, which was composed entirely of these 
dry fascines, the very perfection of a faggot. At the embra- 
sures they were covered with raw hides, the range to the wall 
to be breached was about two hundred and fifty to three 
hundred yards, but a howitzer latterly had been placed a few 
hundred yards in our rear to keep down the fire of the enemy 
from the walls. The enemy, thorough good soldiers and espe- 
cially thorough good engineers as they were, did not oppose us 
with guns, but used mortars instead, from behind a position 
where they were completely protected. The}' seemed to have 
got our range with great accuracy, for the shells came thick and 
fast into the battery, into the breastwork of the battery, and 
into the trench behind the battery. The first that fell in 
between the guns we lay down to, but really we had to wait so 
long for the explosion, that the next that came were picked up 
and thrown out. The shells were about 8-inch, made of ribs of 
wrought iron covered with molten bars, with a large fuze that 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 229 

burnt fiercely. One shell which fell in the trench closed our 
magazine door with a mound of earth, and we had to dig out 
our magazine man, who fancied he had himself been blown up 
with all his cartridges. But some of the shells had buried 
themselves in the fascines of the breastwork, and the long 
fuzes had soon set them in a blaze in several places at the 
same time, and all we could do was to save the guns being 
burnt with the battery. The covering the embrasures with 
hides also proved to be quite inefficient, for the explosion from 
the guns tore the skins away and left the fascines bare. The 
battery was erected under the orders of the present Lord Napier 
of Magdala." 

Of the movements of the Indus flotilla up to the 11th of 
January, Commander Powell says:— "The 'Comet' and 'Con- 
queror,' steamers, are still above Mooltan, stopping all water 
communication. The 'Napier' and ' Meteor' are stationed off 
Raj Ghaut, protecting the bridge and pontoon boats, also those 
the siege train came up in, and the 'Meanee' is towing up com- 
missariat grain boats to the same ghaut. The 'Planet ' also 
arrived there yesterday, with two 10-inch mortars, six hundred 
and thirty shells, and forty-four bales of clothing; she is now 
having a few repairs made good, and will be held ready for 
service clown river." Again, writing under date the 25th of 
January, he says:— "The 'Meteor' and 'Comet,' steamers, left 
Raj Ghaut on the 14th and 16th of January for Scinde, the 
former to bring up treasure from Sukkur, and the latter, with a 
number of wounded officers, for Kurrachee. Since the with- 
drawal of the 'Comet,' the 'Conqueror' has been employed 
about Mooltan, stopping all communication by the river; but 
as this is no longer required by the Assistant Resident, orders 
were sent yesterday, directing Mr. M'Laurin to drop down to the 
junction of the Ravee, and assist in making a bridge of boats 
over that river. The boats, in charge of Mr. Acting Second- 
Master Somerville, left Raj Ghaut this morning, accompanied 
by the ' Meanee ' steamer, with the engineer officers and a com- 
pany of sappers, who are to make the bridge. The ' Planet,' 
steamer, is still at Raj Ghaut, where she has been employed 
with the 'Napier' for some time past, in guarding the fleet of 
boats with government stores on board, and preventing the 
enemy crossing the river. The 'Satellite,' 'Assyria,' and 
' Nimrod,' steamers, have been chiefly employed in Lower 
Scinde, under the orders of Senior Lieutenant Drought, who, as 
well as all the officers in charge of the tenders and their crews, 
together with the other officers and men of the flotilla, have 
evinced the greatest zeal in the performance of the arduous 
duties which have devolved on them, during the recent move of 
the Bombay division to Mooltan ; and I beg to submit the en- 
closed copy of a letter from Brigadier the Hon. H. Duudas, C.B., 



230 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

conveying liis thanks to myself, and the officers and men whose 
services he did me the honour of accepting, which will be duly 
communicated to them : — 

" ' Colonel the Hon. H. Dundas, Commanding Bombay Column 
of Mooltan force, to Captain Powell, I.N., Commanding detach- 
ment of Seamen serving with the force before Mooltan, Camp, 
Mooltan, 25th of January, 1849. 

" ' The operations before Mooltan having been brought to a 
successful termination, I have the honour to request you will 
accept for yourself, and convey to the officers and seamen under 
your command, my thanks for the assistance you so willingly 
rendered, and the service they gallantly rendered, in serving the 
batteries, and sharing the fatigues which devolved on the artil- 
lery, with the order and intrepidity so truly characteristic of the 
British sailor.' " 

In his final despatch of the 22nd of January, General Whish 
says : — " The services of Captain Powell, of the Indian Navy, 
with the steamers under his command, have been of much 
value to the Expedition ; and a detail of seamen from the 
vessels, have afforded material relief at the batteries on several 
occasions." 

The Governor-General also refers specially to Commander 
Powell in his General Order, under date, " Ferozepore, 1st 
February, 1849," conveying his thanks to General Whish, and 
the brigadiers of his gallant army ; and the Chairman of the 
Court of Directors, General Sir A. Galloway, mentioned the 
officers and seamen of the Indian Navy, in the formal vote of 
thanks to the army engaged in the Punjaub, proposed for the 
acceptance of the Special General Court of Proprietors on the 
24th of April. Of the Indian Navy he said in the course of his 
speech : — " That distinguished body, under Captain Powell, 
rendered efficient service and of the most important character 
during the whole of the campaign." 

Their immediate commander, Brigadier Leeson, says Com- 
mander Powell, "very handsomely acknowledged" the services 
of the Indian Naval Brigade, of which the late Sir Herbert 
Edwardes wrote in the following terms : — " It was a peculiarity 
of this siege of Mooltan, that it was not only shared in by the 
regular and irregular troops, but by British seamen. Com- 
mander Powell, of the Honourable East India Company's Navy, 
had from the very commencement largely assisted the opera- 
tions against Mooltan, by rapidly conveying troops and military 
stores, and cutting off enemy's boats by means of the steamers 
of the Indus flotilla under his command. No sooner had the 
second siege been regularly begun, than this indefatigable officer 
conceived the idea of assisting the artillerymen, by volunteering 
to work one of the heavy batteries with sailors of the Indian 
Navy. The gallant offer was accepted, and throughout the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 231 

siege these 'jolly tars' took watch and watch with their com- 
rades on the shore. It was a fine sight to see their manly faces, 
bronzed by long exposure to the burning sun of the Red Sea or 
Persian Gulf, mingling with the dark soldiers of Hindostan, or 
contrasting with the fairer but not healthier occupants of the 
European barrack. They looked on their battery as a ship, 
their 18-pounders as so many sweethearts, and the embrasures 
as port-holes. ' Now, Jack, shove your head out at that port, 
and just hear what my little girl says to that 'ere pirate, Moll 
Rag!' was the kind of conversation that you heard on board of 
the sailor battery as you passed. Either the pirates derived 
more than usual annoyance from this amphibious attack, or the 
sailor battery had been erected in a position most galling to the 
garrison ; for, on the 9th of January, they bent such a storm 
of shells on it, as to set fire to the fascines of which it was com- 
posed, and burn the battery to the ground." 

Like their brethren of the Royal Navy, when serving on 
shore, the Indian Naval Brigade carried no colour, though had 
they done so, it would have been — 

" Scribbled, crossed, and crammed with densest condensation," 

to have contained the record of their services on shore. 

It would have borne the names of Orrnuz, Ras-ul-Khymah, 
Beni-Boo-Ali, Java, Celebes, Ternate, Arracan, New Zealand, 
China, and many another hard service on land during the 
earlier days before the Company had an organized army, and 
the Marine defended their factories at Surat, Gombroon, Bus- 
sorah, and elsewhere. The siege of Mooltan was the first 
instance in which seamen had served so far from their floating 
homes, where the 

" Bare head, bare breast, bare feet, and blue jacket,' 

of the British sailor has reigned triumphant for centuries, and 
Jack proved himself as much at home in his battery, when 
fighting against "Moll Rag," as when working his guns within 
the wooden walls of his ship 

Of the late Captain Powell, Edwardes writes : — " I am sure 
there is not one soldier of the Mooltan field force who does not 
yet hope that he will share in their honours as largely as he 
did in their clangers and fatigues." In this expectation, Major 
Edwardes was disappointed ; and Commander Powell, who, had 
he been in the Royal Navy, would have received promotion to 
post rank and the C.B., was awarded no distinction whatever, 
beyond barren thanks. 

On the conclusion of the siege, the army marched ofT to join 
Lord Gough, who was waiting for reinforcements after the 
drawn battle of Chillianwallah, and participated in the great 



232 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

victor}' at Goojerat, which concluded the war. The Indian 
Naval Brigade returned to Bombay, with the exception of 
Midshipmen Davies and Cookson, who remained at Kotree, 
with some men, for a fortnight, when they also proceeded to 
Bombay. Immediately after his return, Mr. Midshipman Elder 
died of cholera on board the ' Hastings.' The officers and men 
engaged at Mooltan received the Punjaub war medal, with 
the clasp for Mooltan, and shared in the Punjaub prize- 
money.* 

There were many applications in England from officers of 
post rank in the Royal Navy, who were alone eligible for the 
vacant appointment of Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, 
of which the salary was 2,500 rupees a month, equal to over 
.£3,000 a-year, with an allowance for house rent, as fixed on 
Sir Robert Oliver's assumption of office ; and, out of the 
number, two were named as candidates for selection by the 
Court of Directors, namely, Captain Stephen Lushington and 
Captain Sir Henry Leeke, K.H. Wednesday, the 15th of 
November, was named as the day of election. The votes of the 
Directors were evenly balanced, when the Chairman, General 
Sir James Law Lushington, gave the casting vote in favour of 
his relative, and certainly, in this instance, the result justified the 
act of favouritism, for Commodore Lushington proved in every 
way an efficient Commander-in-chief. 

Commodore Lushington took charge of the Indian Navy on 
the 27th of January, 1849, when Commodore Hawkins was 
appointed to the command of the flagship ' Hastings,' Com- 
mander Ethersey remaining Assistant-Superintendent. At 
this time the Service had the full complement of officers sanc- 
tioned by the scheme of the 13th of September, 1847, except as to 
midshipmen, who numbered only sixty-eight instead of one hun- 
dred and ten. In addition to the staff appointments of Draughts- 
man, Master-Attendant, with his three assistants, all acting- 
masters, and Indian Navy Storekeeper, there were Harbour- 
masters at Kurrachee and Aden on 500 rupees a month, but a 
few years later the latter post was held by a warrant officer, so 

* By Government Notification, dated Fort William, the 17th of February, 
1854, the Governor-General, in pursuance of H.M.'s Warrant and the Orders of 
the Court of Directors, dated the 19th of December, 1851, and the 13th of 
August, 1852, ordered that the prize-money captured at Mooltan should be dis- 
tributed to the troops on the following scale, less the amount of donation batta 
already paid. Captains of the Indian Navy, ranking as lieutenant-colonels, to 
receive three hundred and sixty shares each, or 2,370 rupees ; Commanders of 
the Indian Navy, ranking as majors, to receive two hundred and forty shares 
each, or 1,580 rupees ; Lieutenants and Masters, ranking as captains, to receive 
one hundred and twenty shares each, or 790 rupees ; and seamen, one share, or 
6 rupees 9 annas and 4 pice. The total for distribution was 1,673,668 rupees, 
of which the Commander-in-chief received one-eighth, or 209,208 rupees, and 
Major-Generals and Brigadier- Generals, each, one thousand five hundred shares, 
or 69,136 rupees. 






HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 233 

that the Service was gradually robbed of the few shore appoint- 
ments to which its officers were eligible. 

The total cost of the Indian Navy, including the pay of the 
officers and men, was only £300,000 per annum, or, including 
wear and tear of ships, losses and renewals, nearly .£400,000 ; 
not an extraordinary outlay, when their utility is considered as 
a war marine, their surveying duties, the services of the Indus 
flotilla, and the saving to the Company effected by their carry- 
ing the mails between Bombay and Suez. 

In June, 1849, under instructions from the Court of Directors, 
the Bombay government issued certain rules for the appoint- 
ment of officers as interpreters in the Indian Navy, the lan- 
guages to be "studied and recognised" as qualifying for the 
office, being Hindostanee, Persian, Arabic, Malay, and Sindee. 
There were to be three interpreterships, namely, one for the" 
Persian Gulf, one for the Aden station, and a third " for any 
squadron or vessel proceeding on special service." The allow- 
ance was to be 100 rupees a month — a very insufficient 
remuneration, when it is considered that an officer must have 
passed in Hindostanee and Persian, and at least one of the 
other three languages, before he could be held qualified fur 
the appointment. The Service had always produced officers 
competent for such duties, and, at this time, Captain 
Lynch was examiner at Bombay for Oriental languages. 

Under the administration of Commodores Hawkins and 
Lushington the Indian Navy was so popular, that great num- 
bers of European seamen from the merchant ships in Bombay 
harbour, took the bounty of 50 rupees on entering for the usual 
period of three years. More volunteers came forward than 
were required to man the ships, so that the commanding 
officers had the pick of the seamen, and generally found old 
men-of-wars' men in sufficient numbers to fill vacancies. A 
Bombay paper, commenting on this plethora of seamen, said : — 
" Jack willingly submits to a month's imprisonment for leaving 
his ship, if he has only a chance of being 'passed' at the 
Marine Office." 

On the 1st of November, 1850, a meeting of officers was held, 
for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of 
establishing a fund for the purchasing out of officers willing to 
retire from the Service ; and steps were taken and rules formu- 
lated having this object in view. 

In the following year Lieutenant Manners, commanding the 
'Victoria,' was instrumental in saving the crew of a Spanish 
vessel, which was wrecked on the east coast of Africa, for 
which he received, from the Madrid government, the Order 
of Marino della Diadema, and the thanks of the Bombay 
government. 

A valuable addition was made to the Indian Navy during the 



234 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

year 1851, by the launch at Bombay of a beautiful steam- 
frigate of 1003 tons, carrying six heavy guns, which received 
the name of the ' Zen obi a,' but offered a singular contrast to the 
Waterford "pig-boat" of the same name, formerly in the Ser- 
vice. Commander C. D. Campbell was appointed to take com- 
mand of her, but, on the death of Captain Hawkins, he was 
removed to the flag-ship, and, on the 8th of October, Com- 
mander Ball finally succeeded to the post. At this time orders 
were sent out by the Court of Directors, for the construction in 
Bombay Dockyard of two large steam-frigates. On the 16th 
of February, 1852, the " silver nail," customary on such 
occasions, was driven into the keel of the first of these frigates, 
which was to be named the ' Assaye ;' and, soon after, the same 
ceremony was observed as regards her sister-ship, to be called 
the 'Plassy,' though this name was subsequently changed to 
the ' Punjaub.' 

Commodore Lushington having expressed his desire to resign 
the appointment of Commander-in-chief, the Court of Directors, 
on the 5th of November, 1851, elected as his successor Captain 
Sir Henry J. Leeke, R.N. This officer did not proceed out to 
India until March of the following year, and, meanwhile, im- 
portant events had occurred, which tested the efficiency of the 
force over which Commodore Lushington had presided, an 
efficiency in no small degree clue to the confidence reposed 
in the Commander-in-chief by the officers of the Indian 
Navy. 

Some months before Commodore Lushington's departure, 
an unhappy event deprived the Service of one of its best 
and most popular officers. At 1.30 a.m. of the 26th of August, 
1851, Captain Hawkins, at this time Assistant-Superintendent 
and commanding the 'Hastings,' met with a fatal accident, at the 
age of fifty-three. He had dined with two friends in apparently 
robust health and high spirits, and, afterwards, drove one of 
them (Major French) in his curricle, to the reception of the 
Viscountess Falkland at Parell. On his return, he brought 
Major French back to his residence on the Esplanade, and then 
proceeded alone towards his own house in Colaba. Soon after, 
his lifeless body was found underneath the vehicle, which had 
been upset by the horses running against a bank, and it was 
supposed that a fit of apoplexy, to which he had formerly 
been subject, had suddenly rendered him incapable of guiding 
them. He was interred in the graveyard of the cathedral on 
the same day, under a salute of twenty minute guns from the 
' Hastings,' and his funeral was attended by nearly all the 
members of the legal and mercantile communities then at the 
Presidency, and by a large concourse of natives. The deceased 
officer was carried to the grave by seamen of the 'Hastings,' his 
brother, Major Hawkins, of the 8th Native Infantry, was chief 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 235 

mourner, and the pall-bearers were the following officers : — 
Commodore L/lishington, Captain Kempthorne, Commanders 
Hewett, Montriou, Barker, and Campbell. A public subscrip- 
tion was immediately set on foot for a monument in the 
cathedral to his memory, Captain Hawkins being a universal 
favourite, not only in his own Service, of which he was the 
senior officer at the time of his death, but among all classes of 
the community. 

Captain Hawkins was born on the 6th of April, 1798, being, 
on his father's side, lineally descended from the celebrated 
Admiral of Elizabeth's reign, Sir John Hawkins. At the age 
of thirteen he left Midhurst School, in Sussex, to enter the 
Royal Navy, having been appointed to the 'Denmark' on the 
14th of October, 1811. The ship's crew were attacked with 
typhus fever of so malignant and fatal a kind, that, out of 
twenty-three infected with it, Mr. Hawkins and one other alone 
escaped with their lives. On the 10th of November, he was 
sent to Haslar Hospital, and, after suffering from delirium for 
forty days, was discharged on the 12th of January, 1812. It 
was many months before he fully recovered, and, soon after, 
through the interest of Sir Evan Nepean, he received an 
appointment in the Bombay Marine. 

In 1816, when serving in the 'Aurora,' in the Persian Gulf, 
he took part in an action with thirteen piratical vessels : and, 
in 1818, was again engaged with three other vessels on the 
coast of Guadel. In 1819-20, he was employed in the gun- 
boats and batteries at the reduction of Ras-ul-Khymah, and, in 
1821. he served with the land force at the reduction of the 
Beui-Boo-Ali. In 1823 he was employed on a survey of the 
Straits of Dryon, leading into the Straits of Singapore and 
Malacca, and received the thanks of the Penang Government. 
He obtained his lieutenancy on the 23rd of May, 1824. In 
1829, while in command of the 'Clive ' at Muscat, he took an 
active part in saving the city from fire, and, in acknowledgment 
of his gallant conduct and exertions, was presented with a 
sword by the Imaum. In the same year he received the 
thanks of the Bombay Government, for having recovered a 
portion of the cargo of a ship belonging to the merchants of 
Bombay, which had been wrecked on the south coast of Arabia. 
In 1830 took place his famous voyage to the African coast, 
where he was wounded, and for which he was tried for piracy. 
He was promoted to the rank of commander on the 21st of May, 
1831. AYhile in England in 1832, he was employed by Lord 
Glenelg, then President of the Board of Control, to carry des- 
patches overland to India, there being a prospect of a Dutch war ; 
this mission he accomplished in the depth of winter, travelling 
by way of Vienna, Constantinople, Tabreez, Teheran, Shiraz, 
and Bushire. The journey was accomplished in the shortest 



236 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

time on record, and he received a letter of thanks from the 
Commissioners for the affairs of India. 

In 1834 the clipper ship ' Sylph,' of Calcutta, was wrecked 
at the entrance of the China Seas, having on board a cargo of 
opium, valued at £130,000 sterling, and a crew of sixty men. 
Commander Hawkins, then commanding the 'Clive,' at great 
personal risk, owing to the heavy sea running, proceeded to her 
in his boat, which was upset, one seaman being drowned ; 
nevertheless he reached her, after having been in the water for 
three hours, alternately swimming and clinging to his boat. 
After most hazardous and fatiguing work, extending over seven 
days, he ultimately succeeded in saving the whole of the crew 
and cargo, for which he received the thanks of the Governor- 
General, and of the Governments of Bombay and the 
Straits Settlements. By order of the Supreme Government 
his right to salvage was waived, but the parties assigned the 
sum of d£8,000 in lieu thereof, and, afterwards, presented Com- 
mander Hawkins with a gratuity of =£1,500 for his personal 
risk and exertions. In 1838 Commander Hawkins was em- 
ployed in an examination of the Euphrates, and, upon that 
service, reached Hit, 500 miles from Bussorah. His report to 
Bear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm upon this survey, received, 
through the Bombay Government, the approbation of the 
Secret Committee of the Court of Directors. He was promoted 
to the rank of Captain on the 22nd of January, 1839, and, in 
1840, proceeded to England on sick certificate. Captain Haw- 
kins returned to India in 1844, and, in 184*5, when Commodore 
of the Persian Gulf squadron, made a cruise round the Gulf, 
when, by his energy and promptitude, he brought to terms a 
noted piratical chief, named Humeed bin Ma j dull. Commodore 
Hawkins forced this Arab robber, who, insolent in his fancied 
security, had vaunted his determination to defy the British flag, 
to disgorge the plunder he had amassed from certain merchant 
vessels, and give security for future good behaviour, and 
" this he did," said Lord Palmerston, then Foreign Minister, in 
his letter of thanks, " without bloodshed." 

In this year, by another act of persoual daring, he assisted 
in getting off the Island of Seir Abonade, in the Persian Gulf, 
H.M.'s frigate 'Fox,' 42 guns, Commodore Sir Henry Black- 
wood, who was then suffering from illness. The difficulty of 
extricating the ship from the reef was much increased by the 
anchor having become detached from the chain cable, and, 
upon learning this, Commodore Hawkins instantly jumped 
overboard, dived, and succeeded in again bending it, when the 
united crews of the ' Fox,' ' Clive,' and ' Constance,' (Lieutenant 
Rennie) hove her off. Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood ad- 
dressed the following letter to Commodore Hawkins on this 
occasion : — 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 237 

"Sir,— I feel it a duty 1 owe to yourself and the officers and 
seamen of the squadron of the Indian Navy under your orders, 
to endeavour to express ray sense of the value of the services 
rendered by you and them on the late call for their exertions, in 
giving assistance to H.M.S. 'Fox,' under ray command, to 
extricate her from the perilous situation in which she was 
placed. Professional knowledge, zeal, and activity, were shown, 
which could not have been surpassed by any officers or seamen 
in the world. 

" I beg to be allowed, therefore, to express to them through 
you m} r own thanks and those of the officers and crew of the 
'Fox.'" 

On the death of Sir Robert Oliver, in August, 1848, Captain 
Hawkins became Acting Superintendent and Commander-in- 
chief of the Indian Navy, an office he continued to hold until 
relieved by Commodore Lushington, in January, 1849. He 
filled it at a period of great responsibility, and the rapid equip- 
ment of the flotilla and detachment of seamen, despatched to 
Mooltan under his superintendence, received not only the praise 
of the local Governments in India, but also the thanks of the 
British Parliament. For all these services, extending over a 
period of thirty-nine years, during which he twice received the 
thanks of the British Ministry, and seven times that of the 
Bombay Government, he would, had he been an officer of the 
Royal Service, undoubtedly have been rewarded with either the 
C.B. or knighthood, but the " cold shade " of the Service in 
which he had passed a long and distinguished career, rested 
upon him, and he descended to the tomb plain Captain John 
Croft Hawkins. 



CHAPTER V. 
The Burmese War. 1852—1853. 

Despatch of the Indian Naval Squadron from Bombay — Arrival at Bombay 
of the newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief, Sir Henry J. Leeke — 
Capture of Rangoon and Bassein— Relief of Martaban — Expedition up the 
Irrawaddy — Indian Naval Commanders in Burmah — Operations at Prome — 
The Relief of Pegu — The ' Ferooz' Boats on the Sittaug — Boat Expedition to 
Pantanno— Commander Rennie up the Duggah Creek and at Lamena — His 
Flank March to assist Sir John Cheape — The Indian Naval Flotilla on the 
Irrawaddy — Loss of the ' Moozuffur' and ' Medusa.' 

OX the 12th of February, 1852, the Governor-General, Lord 
Dalhousie, in one of those luminous minutes, in the com- 
position of which his Lordship had no rival among his great 
predecessors, save the Marquis Wellesley, made known to the 
world "the necessity for exacting reparation from Burmah by 
force of arms," unless his Burmese Majesty apologised for the 
insults offered to British officers, and paid an indemnity of ten 
lacs of rupees. Accordingly, preparations for war were pushed 
on in all three Presidencies, the Bombay portion of the Expe- 
dition consisting of the 'Ferooz.' 'Moozuffer,' ' Sesostris,' and 
' Berenice.' The celerity and completeness with which these 
ships were fitted out, reflected the highest credit on all con- 
cerned, and Commodore Lushington, on the 23rd of February, 
issued a General Order, expressing his thanks to the different 
branches of the Service for their zeal and activity, and con- 
gratulating the captains, officers, and crews, on the highly 
creditable and expeditious manner in which the ships had been 
prepared for sea. Captain H. B. Lynch* was appointed Com- 
modore, with his broad pennant flying on board the ' Ferooz,' 
and, on the 24th of February, only three days after instructions 
had been received from the Governor-General, directing the 
fitting out of a squadron, the ships were ready for sea. In the 
forenoon of that day, the Governor, Lord Falkland, accom- 

* Captain Lynch was appointed to the command of the ' Ferooz ' on the 20th 
of February, vice Commander Drought, transferred to the ' Queen.' Commander 
Hewett had been in command of the 'Moozuffer' since the 1st of December, 
1818, when Commander Ethersey was appointed Assistant-Superintendent under 
Commodore Hawkins. Commander Campbell's appointment to the ' Sesostris ' 
was dated the 11th of December, 1851. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 239 

parried by the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, in- 
spected the ' Ferooz' and ' Sesostris,' and expressed himself 
highly gratified with all he had witnessed, and, soon after two 
o'clock, Commodore Lynch, having received his final instruc- 
tions, made the signal to weigh, and the squadron sailed for 
Madras. 

The following is the list of officers attached to the Expedi- 
tion : — ' Ferooz.' — Captain H. B. Lynch ; Lieutenants Hellard, 
Holt (joined at Madras), and Mitcheson (gunnery officer), after- 
wards transferred to the 'MoozufTer;' Surgeon Wright, and 
Assistant-Surgeon Wilson ; Purser Beyts ; Acting-Masters Price 
and Connor; Midshipmen Monk, Davis, Clay, and Hurlock ; 
and Captain's Clerks Cole and Pierce. Two hundred and thirty 
men. Armament — Seven 8-inch guns, a 12-pounder howitzer 
field-piece, and boats' guns. 

'MoozufTer.' — Commander H. H. Hewett ; Lieutenants Ro- 
binson, Campbell, and Stevens ; Surgeon Costello, and Assis- 
tant-Surgeon Welsh ; Acting-Master Freeman • Acting-Mate 
Brazier; Clerk-in-charge, Litchfield ; Midshipmen Templer, 
Harries, Dowell, and Dawkins. Two hundred and thirty men. 
Armament — Five 8-inch guns, two heavy 32-pounders; and 
boats' guns. 

' Sesostris.' — Commander C. D. Campbell ; Lieutenants Lewis, 
Davies, and Windus ; Assistant-Surgeon Stewart; Purser 
Gibbon ; Acting-Mate Lamb ; Midshipmen Dawson, Turner, 
Yelf, and Capel. One hundred and thirty-five men. Arma- 
ment — Two 8-inch guns, two 32-pounders, and boats' guns. 

' Berenice.' — Lieutenant A. Nesbitt ; Acting-Masters Atkins, 
Cairncross, and Nunnerly ; Assistant-Surgeon Thompson ; 
and Mr. Ford, Clerk-in-charge. Ninety-seven men. Armament 
— Two 32-pounders. 

All the ships of the squadron employed on service in Burmah, 
were supplied with detachments of Bombay European Artillery- 
men, who did duty as Marines. 

The squadron arrived at Madras on the 7th of March, but 
some delay arose on the part of the military authorities in em- 
barking the troops which were to form the Madras contingent 
of the Expeditionary army. On the 9th of March, the new steam 
frigate, ' Zenobia,' arrived at Bombay from Suez, and, having 
taken in the necessary supplies of ammunition and stores for 
active service, sailed, on the 11th, for Madras, where she arrived 
on the 19th of the same month. Two days before she cast 
anchor in Madras Roads, the 'Medusa' had arrived from Bom- 
bay, thus increasing the Indian naval squadron to four steam 
frigates and two steam sloops. 

The following were the officers of the ' Zenobia ' and 
' Medusa' : — 

'Zenobia.' — Commander E. A. Ball; Lieutenants Jermyn, 



240 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Sedley, and Aylesbury; Purser Hora; Assistant-Surgeon Betts ; 
Mates Wood and Douglas ; Midshipmen Moorhead, Liardet, 
Cobbold, and Evans. Two hundred men. Armament— Four 
8-inch guns and two 32-pounders. 

' Medusa.' — Lieutenant H. A. Fraser ; Acting-Mates Mason, 
Duval, and Hunter; Midshipman Harding (appointed Acting- 
Mate on the 1st of June). Sixty men. Armament — Five 32- 
pounders. 

On the 23rd of March, Sir Henry Leeke, the newly appointed 
Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, arrived at Bombay and 
assumed charge, when the Governor issued the following 
General Order to the Service : — ■ 

" Bombay Castle, March 23, 1852. 

" Captain Sir Henry John Leeke, R.N., appointed by the 
Court of Directors to be Superintendent and Commander-in- 
chief of the Indian Navy, has this day arrived and assumed 
charge of his office, according to the terms of his commission. 
Under the authority of the Court of Directors, Captain Sir 
Henry John Leeke is appointed Commodore of the First Class 
in the Indian Navy. Commodore Lushington having resigned 
his office into the hands of his appointed successor, the Right 
Hon. the Governor in Council avails himself of the opportunity 
publicly to record the high sense which the Government enter- 
tains of the able manner in which the duties of the Marine 
branch of the administration of this Presidency, have been con- 
ducted by Commodore Lushington, during the period he has 
held the important cffice of Commander-in-chief. To Commo- 
dore Lushington the Government has been often and largely 
indebted for his zealous and energetic co-operation in all its 
views and objects, and especially on the recent occasion, when 
a sudden and unexpected call was made for a detachment of 
steamers to be employed in the Bay of Bengal. The celerity 
with which this detachment was fitted, and the admirable order 
in which it was despatched to its destination, have elicited the 
marked approbation of the Supreme Government ; and his 
Lordship in Council feels it must be a source of much gratifi- 
cation to Commodore Lushington, on resigning his command, 
to have been enabled to offer this most convincing proof of the 
state of perfect efficiency in which the Indian Navy has been 
maintained whilst under his charge; ready at all times for im- 
mediate action, whenever and wherever its services may be 
required." 

Commodore Lushington* also received the thanks of the 

* Commodore Lushington commanded with distinction the Naval Brigade 
before Sebastopol, and, from 1862 to 1865, was Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich 
Hospital. He obtained Flag rank, and was nominated a K.C.B. in 1855, and 
G.C.B. in 1867. Sir Stephen Lushington died on the 28th of May, 1877, at the 
age of seventy-three. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 241 

Governor-General. His departure was much regretted by the 
officers of the Indian Navy, for he was a thorough gentleman 
and an admirable officer. Dignified, yet kind and courteous to 
all, he was firm and just, and though, perhaps, rather inclined 
to " taking things easy," was, in many respects, a model Com- 
mander-in-chief. He avoided excessive intermeddling with 
details, the bane of so many excellent and energetic chiefs, 
and thus showed the officers that he trusted them, while his 
courteous treatment of every one placed in contact with him, 
had the best effect upon the Service and revived its zeal and 
discipline. 

On the 31st of March the squadron, with four transports in 
tow, embarked the Madras brigade, consisting of a total force of 
four thousand three hundred and eighty-eight officers, soldiers, 
and camp followers, and sailed for Rangoon the same day. On 
the 7th of April the squadron anchored at the mouth of the 
Rangoon river. Already there had arrived here the Hon. Com- 
pany's steamers 'Pluto,' 'Phlegethon,' and ' Proserpine'; also, 
on the 1st of April, Rear-Admiral Austen, the Naval Com- 
mander-in-chief, in H.M.'s steamship ' Rattler' ; and, on the 
following day, from Calcutta, Major-General H. Godwin,* ap- 
pointed to the command of the Expedition, with the Bengal 
Division, and H.M.'s steamship ' Hermes,' the Hon. Company's 
steamers 'Enterprise,' ' Tenasserim,' and 'Fire Queen,' and four 
transports. The first operation undertaken by the General and 
Admiral was the capture of Martaban, which fell on the 5th of 
April, after a brief bombardment, when they proceeded to the 
rendezvous, where, on their arrival on the 8th, they found the 
Indian Naval squadron. f 

* This fine old soldier had commanded the 41st Regiment throughout the 
First Burmese War with a success and gallantry which gained him the warm 
commendation of Sir Archibald Campbell, and the experience then acquired in 
Burmese warfare pointed him out as well suited for the command in 1852. 

t The following was the strength of the Expeditionary forces at this time : — 

H.M.'s ships. — 'Rattler' (flag-ship), 'Fox,' 'Hermes,' 'Salamander,' ' Serpent,' 
and a gun-boat. Total, eight hundred and eighteen men, eighty guns. 

Steamers of the Indian Navy. — ' Ferooz,' * Moozuffer,' ' Zenobia,' ' Sesostris,' 
1 Medusa,' and ' Berenice.' Total, nine hundred and fifty-two men, thirty-one 
heavy guns. 

Steamers of the Bengal Marine. — ' Tenasserim,' ' Pluto,' ' Phlegethon,' ' Pro- 
serpine,' ' Enterprise,' ' Fire Queen,' and ' Mahanuddy.' Total, five hundred men, 
thirty-three guns. 

Troops. — H.M.'s 18th Royal Irish, eight hundred and fifty men ; 51st Regi- 
ment, nine hundred men ; 80th Regiment, four hundred and sixty men ; five 
companies of Artillery, five hundred and seventeen men ; three regiments of 
Native Infantry, two thousand eight hundred men ; Gun Lascars, seventy men ; 
two companies of Sappers and Miners, one hundred and seventy men. Total, 
five thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven men. 

Ordnance. — Howitzers, 8-inch, two; 24-pounders, six; field-guns, 9-pounders, 
eight. Total, sixteen. 

Grand total. — Ships- of- war, nineteen ; men, eight thousand and thirty-seven : 
guns, one hundred and fifty-nine. 

VOL. II. R 



242 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

By the evening of the 10th of April, ttie entire fleet was con- 
cent rated, under the command of Kear-Admiral Austen, at a 
point below the Hastings Sand, and it was resolved by the 
Military and Naval Commanders-in-chief to proceed, on the fol- 
lowing morning, to the attack of Kan goon, the most important 
city and chief port of the Burmese Empire. The following 
was the part taken by the Indian Naval squadron in the attack 
on its defences, which were considered impregnable by the 
King of Ava and his generals. 

On the morning of Sunday, the 11th of April, each ship 
having two transports in tow (with the exception of the 'Ze- 
nobia,' which vessel unfortunately grounded on the De Silva 
Shoal, and was not in company), crossed the Hastings Sand, 
and anchored a little below the stockades protecting Kangoon, 
having cast off the transports when clear over the Hastings 
shoal. At 9.30 a.m., almost immediately on anchoring, the 
enemy opened fire, which was returned by the ' Ferooz,' ' Sesos- 
t.ris,' and ' Moozuffer,' the 'Berenice' and 'Medusa' having 
anchored some distance below. Within ten minutes of opening 
fire the magazine of the principal stockade at King's Wharf, 
was blown up by a shell from the squadron.* At ten o'clock, 

* Admiral Austen writes to the Supreme Government : — 

" Upon the East India Company's steamers, ' Ferooz,' ' Moozuffer,' and ' Sesos- 
tris,' taking up their positions, fire was opened upon them from the stockades on 
either side, which was returned with shot and shell. In the course of an hour an 
explosion took place, the importance of which was only afterwards discovered. It 
was that of a stockade mounting nine 18-pounder guns, well planted, and would 
doubtless have done great mischief to our shipping, if not thus accidentally 
silenced so early." 

Lieutenant Laurie, of the Madras Artillery, author of the " History of the 
Burmese War," says : — 

" We beheld the ' Ferooz,' under Commodore Lynch, moving on, evidently to 
take up position opposite the stockades. With the animated crowd of soldiers on 
her decks, she was a grand picture in motion. Next came the ' Sesostris.' At 
length the Burmese, unable to stand this gradual augmentation of the steam 
warriors in front of their position, fired at the frigates, and the operations began. 
The ' Moozuffer,' ' Ferooz,' and ' Sesostris,' also the 'Medusa' and ' Phlegethon' — 
the two latter, from their drawing little water, approaching nearer and nearer the 
coast — came severally into action. The fire from the vessels, Queen's and 
Company's, was kept up with terrific effect against Dalla, on our left, and the 
Rangoon defences on our right. At first, the enemy returned the fire with con- 
siderable dexterity and precision ; but, shortly after the ' Fox ' had come up, 
and poured in her broadside, and the ' Serpent' had moved on to destroy, by 
eleven o'clock the firing on our right almost ceased. However, the war-steamers 
kept on thundering forth against the works on both sides of the river, utterly 
destroying the stockades on the shore at Rangoon, and cannonading Dalla with 
decided effect. The large stockade, south-west of the Shoe Dagon, was set on 
fire by a well-directed shell, which caused the explosion of a powder magazine. 
.... The shot flew over the decks of the war-steamers ; on board one, the 
• Sesostris,' Ensign Armstrong, of H.M.'s 51st Regiment, was mortally wounded. 
Several shots struck the vessels ; the ' Moozuffer ' was maimed a little, and the 
'Ferooz' had a part of her rigging shot away The fire of the enemy proved 
fatal to many on board the shipping ; but the casualties were by no means 
numerous on this day. These highly successful operations by both the Queen's 
and the Hon. Company's Navy — the chief work, doubtless, of the 11th having 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 243 

H.M.'s ship ' Fox' passed up in tow and was quickly engaged, 
and within a quarter of an hour the enemy's fire was silenced, 
when the squadron ceased firing. At five p.m., Commodore 
Lynch weighed and stood up the river, anchoring abreast of the 
King's Wharf, and ahead of H.M.'s ship ' Fox,' the Admiral 
having previously taken and burnt the stockades on the right, 
or Dalla, bank of the river. At 5.15 p.m., two stockades, just 
above the Indian Naval squadron, opened fire, whereupon the 
heavy guns of the steam frigates replied by a crushing fire of 
shells, by which the magazine was blown up and the works 
silenced. 

At four a.m. on the following morning, H.M.'s 51st Regiment 
w r as landed from the ' Ferooz' and ' Sesostris,' and the 9th and 
35th Madras Native Infantry from the 'Moozuffer' and ' Ze- 
nobia,' which latter had joined during the night. Having 
landed the troops, and obtained Admiral Austen's permission, 
Commodore Lynch proceeded up the river with the ' Sesostris,' 
' Moozuffer,' and ' Zenobia,' and, anchoring abreast the upper 
stockade, landed parties from his ships, under Commander 
Campbell, and burnt the stockades without opposition, the 
enemy having evacuated them previously to the landing of the 
party. Being now abreast the Great Pagoda and the line of 
the principal stockade at the upper end of the open plain, these 
three frigates commenced shelling with considerable effect, the 
shells bursting over the Pagoda, until ordered to cease firing by 
signal from the Admiral. Commodore Lambert, of the ' Fox,' 
frigate, second in command, proceeded on board the ' Ferooz,' 
and desired Commodore Lynch to steam up to the assistance of 
H.M.'s brig ' Serpent' and the ' Phlegethon' steamer, which had 
attacked the stockade at Kemmendine, but found the enemy's 
fire too much for them. Accordingly, the 'Ferooz' and 'Moo- 
zuffer' weighed and stood up, and anchored at dark, ahead of 
the ' Serpent,' about three quarters of a mile below the Kem- 
mendine stockade. On the following morning (the 13th of 
April), flood-tide having made, the four ships dropped up in 
company — the river being too narrow to allow a ship to swing 
at anchor — abreast the stockade, upon which they opened fire ; 
this not being returned, Commodore Lynch landed a party 
from the vessels and burnt the stockade, which was found 
to have been evacuated. The ' Ferooz ' and ' Moozuffer ' 
now rejoined the Admiral off Rangoon, anchoring in the 
same position as on the previous day, abreast the great Pagoda, 
which the squadron shelled during the night, by orders of the 
Admiral. At two in the morning the squadron ceased firing, 
to allow the advance of the troops, then near the stockade. 

fallen to tlie latter — cleared the coast for nearly a mile, and made a splendid 
landing-place for the troops, who were now eager to commence land operations on 
the following morning. The Navy had acted as a pioneer of true civilisation." 

R 2 



244 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Rangoon was captured during the afternoon, when ninety- 
eight guns and seventy jingalls were taken. The enemy stood 
by their guns with resolution, and, on landing, whole guns' 
crews were found lying dead by their pieces, blown to atoms 
by the shells from the steam-frigates. In what gallant style 
the troops captured the White House Stockade, and the Great 
Dagon Pagoda, with a los-s of seventeen killed and one hun- 
dred and thirty-two wounded, all readers of military history 
well know. 

Commodore Lynch says in a postscript to his letter of pro- 
ceedings, addressed to Sir Henry Leeke : — " While closing my 
letter, I was called by signal on board the Admiral, who 
informed me he should proceed himself to Calcutta, instead of 
the ' Sesostris,' as had been arranged ; and I cannot let my 
letter go to you without telling you of the very kind manner in 
which the Admiral expressed himself with reference to our part 
in the late operations. He said he felt fully the value of the 
services of the vessels of the Indian Navy, both in the attack and 
the shelling of the place, and that the General had expressed 
himself fully satisfied with our practice, and that we had been 
of the most essential service, and he would have much pleasure 
in making it fully known in despatches." 

There is a point regarding the operations attending the cap- 
ture of Rangoon not referred to by any of the military or 
naval chiefs in their despatches; and as it is of great credit to 
the Indian Navy, and particularly to Commander Campbell, we 
have much pleasure in placing it upon record. While engaged 
with the enemy's batteries, the Captain of the ' Sesostris' caused 
the 68-pound shot he was firing out of his 8-inch guns, to be 
heated in the furnaces, and, for the first time in the history of 
war, fired red-hot shot of this calibre. The effect was con- 
siderable, in creating a panic among the enemy and setting fire 
to their stockades and defences. Commander Campbell, re- 
membering what Captain William Jacob, of the Bombay Artil- 
lery, told him of the successful breaching of the Mocha forts in 
1820, also fired spherical case, or shrapnel, loaded with six 
pounds of powder onty, the lead balls having been previously 
shaken out, and these projectiles pitched into the stockades 
and exploded among the timber, which the}' rent in pieces. The 
orders issued to the squadron were that each ship was to fire, 
during the night, shell once every ten minutes, but Commander 
Campbell, by firing a red-hot shot, and one of these spherieal 
shells simultaneously, managed to do double damage to the 
enemy's defences. It was a shell from the after 8-inch gun of the 
' Sesostris' that blew up the magazine in one of the stockades.* 

* " The following letter appeared in the " Times " of the 1st of June, 1852, 
from the pen of an officer : — 

"I must write a few lines to you by the Admiral, who is just off to Calcutta 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 245 

Admiral Austen, in his letter to the Governor-General, 
spoke of Commodore Lynch as having, " by his ability, 
judgment, and discretion, rendered essential service ;" and he 
adds, " the commanders and officers of the Indian Navy, and 
of the East India Company's uncovenanted service, have, with- 
out a single exception, performed their duties with all possible 
alacrity." 

In the official notification of the Governor-General, dated the 
28th of April, 1852, on the recent successes, Lord Dalhousie 
said : — 

" The Governor-General in Council is happy to record his 
appreciation of the essential service rendered by Captain Lynch, 
the senior officer of the Indian Navy, to whose ability, judg- 
ment, and discretion, his Excellency the Rear-Admiral has 
borne his testimony on this occasion." 

The •' Bombay Times," of the 8th of May, writes as follows of 
the gunnery practice of the Indian Navy : — 

"It is no disparagement to the rest of the force at Rangoon, 
that the Bombay portion of it should speak chiefly of their own 
achievements ; and nothing could have exceeded the courage, 
coolness, and conduct of the officers and men of the Indian 
Navy, or the beauty of the practice of their guns ; the shells 

with the intelligence of the fall of Rangoon. We took it on the 14th, after three 
days' fighting. The first day, Easter Sunday, we engaged the stockades on the 
banks of the river. The ' Sesostris,' ' Moozuffer,' and ' Ferooz ' had the brunt of 
the action. The fire from the ' Sesostris,' Captain C. D. Campbell, blew up one 
and burnt two other stockades, and before night the whole were silenced. We 
engaged them at from three to five hundred yards, and our 8-inch shot and shells 
were too much for their redoubtable stockades to stand. We killed about three 
hundred, and took or silenced forty guns — some good 24 and 18-pounders, worked 
by Englishmen it is said. The next thing was to take tiie new town, which is a 
mile and a half from the river, but our guns reached it easily, and we shelled 
away for two days and nights, Captain Campbell firing 68-pounder red-hot shot, 
the first, I think, ever fired afloat on board ship. The effect was tremendous. 
The whole place was set on fire, and two-thirds of it burnt down. The troops 
(the 18th, 51st, and 80th Queen's, Europeans, and two Madras and one Bengal 
Native regiment) stormed the place and took it at once. It was very strong, the 
walls being twenty feet high, and covered in front by spikes. There were one 
hundred guns on the walls, forty of which are heavy, the rest brass, 6 to 3- 
pounders, generally well mounted, besides jingalls innumerable. There was but 
little found in the place, all having been removed beforehand. The loss has been 
heavy of officers, as much from sun and cholera as the enemy's shot. The Indian 
Navy seems to stand high in the good opinion of all, and has been complimented 
in most gratifying terms by the Admiral. It was a fine sight at night— the 
stockades all burning, the roar of the 8-iuch guns, the flight of shell and rockets, 
and the flames and bursting of the shells in the distant fort formed a grand 
tableau worthy of a master hand to describe. Captain Campbell, of the 'Sesostris,' 
worked all the time of the bombardment, till he fell down from sheer exhaustion, 
and actually slept for an hour and a half within a couple of yai-ds of the 8-inch 
gun during the firing, and woke up asking if they had stopped firing ! You will 
probably see by the official account what a gallant part he took in the capture of 
some of the stockades ashore with his blue-jackets. For all this he was selected 
to carry the despatches to Calcutta, until the Admiral altered his mind and 
decided on taking them himself." 



246 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

burst to a hair's breadth just where they ought, and did the 
precise amount of mischief intended b} r them. We take the 
opportunity of specially adverting to the subject, because, 
though we have always heard the merits of the gunnery in- 
struction spoken of in the highest terms, we have at times ex- 
pressed an opinion that more than enough of time and attention 
was devoted to the subject. The result shows that if it has 
been so, the time has been well spent, and that the instruction 
has been as good as could be given and thoroughly taken ad- 
vantage of." 

The express to Bombay announcing the fall of Rangoon, 
brought orders that two more war steamers should be prepared 
for immediate service in Burmah. Sir Henry Leeke issued the 
necessary orders, and the 'Queen,' Commander Drought, and 
' Victoria,' Lieutenant Manners, were ready for sea in twenty- 
four hours. By next post, however, they were countermanded. 
Sir H. Leeke, in a General Order, dated the 6th of May, ex- 
pressed his gratification at the expeditious manner in which 
Commander Drought and Lieutenant Manners met his wishes 
by preparing these vessels for sea. The ' Queen' was undocked 
at eleven o'clock a.m., on the 3rd instant, and was fully equipped, 
and ready to proceed on service, had she been required, at sun- 
set the same evening ; equally meritorious was the smartness 
displayed by Lieutenant Manners. 

The 'Zenobia' left Moulmein on the 14th of April, for 
Madras, for reinforcements, but, when south of the Andamans, 
broke her intermediate shaft and was compelled to return ; a 
little later, in company with the 'Berenice,' she proceeded to 
Kyouk Phyoo, in Arracan, for the 67th Bengal Native In- 
fantry, which she disembarked at Rangoon on the 11th of 
May. 

On the 7th of May, an Expedition, consisting of about four 
hundred and fifty troops, under Colonel Apthorp, and the 
steamers 'Medusa,' 'Pluto,' and ' Tenasserim,' with the marines 
from the ' Fox,' under Commander Tarleton, left in pursuit of 
the Governor of Rangoon, who was reported to be a little way 
inland with an army of ten thousand men. After proceeding 
about forty-five miles up the river, the combined force of 
soldiers and sailors landed and advanced on Maubee, a distance 
of seven miles, but they found that the Governor had decamped, 
having received intimation of the intended arrival of the 
steamers. After firing the village, the force marched back to 
the river, suffering severely from the heat of the sun. At this 
time sickness was very prevalent in the Expeditionary force both 
ashore and afloat. 

The most important operation conducted during this month 
was the capture of the city of Bassein, the occupation of which, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 247 

in the first Burmese war, by the late Sir Robert Sale, was con- 
sidered of prime necessity by the Commander-in-chief, Sir 
Archibald Campbell. The garrison of Bassein had recently 
been strengthened by four thousand regular troops from Ava, 
which increased the strength to six thousand men, and the 
defence of this important post was now entrusted to a new 
Burmese general. 

On the 17th of May, General Godwin, accompanied by Com- 
modore Lambert, proceeded to sea with eight hundred men,* 
embarked in the steam-frigates 'MoozufFer' and 'Sesostris,'! and 
the steamers 'Pluto' and ' Tenasseriin.' Bassein, situated about 
sixty miles above the island of Negrais, at the entrance of the 
Bassein river, was reached on the afternoon of the 19th. The 
' Pluto,' from her little draught, was employed sounding in 
advance up the river; then came the 'Tenasseriin,' having on 
board the naval and military chiefs, followed, at half a cable's 
length, by the ' Sesostris' and 'MoozufFer.' 

At a few minutes after four o'clock in the afternoon of the 
20th of May, they sighted the fortifications of Bassein, which 
stands on the left bank of the river, consisting, says Commo- 
dore Lambert, in his despatch, "of a very extensive mud fort, 
a long line of stockade, and a strong work round the Pagoda, 
with a brick parapet fronting the river; also, in an admirable 
position on the right bank, there stood a very large stockade, 
mounting several cannon." The enemy permitted the squadron 
to approach unmolested, and preparations were forthwith made 
to attack the works, the Navy being represented in this instance 
by the steam-frigates ' Sesostris' and ' MoozufFer.' At half-past 
four, when abreast the stockades, the ships anchored, imme- 
diately after which the troops were landed " in perfect order in 
a very short period." They had scarcely formed under General 
Godwin's direction, when a heavy fire was opened, both with 
cannon and musketry, from the various stockades, which was 
immediately answered by a cheer from the party landed, who 
stormed and carried the Pagoda. As soon as the enemy com- 
menced firing, the ships opened their fire on the different bat- 
teries. Commodore Lambert says : — "Observing the stockade 
opposite the town had been silenced, I directed Commander 
Campbell, of the ' Sesostris,' to land with the boats of his own 
ship and the ' MoozufFer's,' and to storm it, which he effected in 

* Four hundred men of the 51st Regiment, three hundred of the 9th Madras 
Native Infantry, sixty-seven Madras Sappers, seven gunners of the Bengal Artil- 
lery, under Major Errington of the 51st Regiment ; the Marines, forty-four men, 
and a detachment of sixteen seamen, with a field-piece, from H.M.S. ' Fox.' 
under Lieutenant Rice, R.N., and Lieutenant Elliot, R.M. 

t According to a return made by Commodore Lambert, the crew of the ' Sesos- 
tris' at this time numbered one hundred and sixty-eight officers and men, whereas 
she left Bombay with one hundred and thirty-five men. 



248 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

gallant style, driving the Burmese from their guns, with con- 
siderable loss to them in killed and wounded."* 

The Commodore adds : — " Commander Campbell has called 
my special attention to the zeal and activity displayed on this 
occasion by Lieutenants Robinson and Lewis of the Indian 

Navy I cannot conclude without expressing my best 

thanks to Commanders Campbell and Hewett, of the Indian 
Navy, for the skill and ability with which they brought their 
ships up a river which has hitherto been but imperfectly sur- 
veyed, for a distance of more than sixty miles My 

thanks are general to the officers and men who served under my 
orders on this occasion, for the steady, gallant, and cheerful 
conduct with which they performed their duty, neither can I 
omit remarking that the most perfect unanimity prevailed be- 
tween the two Services." 

An officer of the ' Sesostris' wrote the following account of the 
capture of Bassein, to a near relative : — 

" On Monday, the 17th of May, the ' Moozuffer,' ' Sesostris,' 
' Tenasserim,' and 'Pluto,' left for Bassein River, one hundred 
and fifty miles to the westward of Rangoon. We took eight 
hundred troops on board the squadron, and steamed down in 
gallant style, put out to sea that evening, and next day, at 
five p.m., entered this river in the midst of tremendous squalls 
of rain and wind, the poor fellows being all crowded into every 
corner we could stuff them. We anchored that night, and next 
day all steamed up this noble river, following the little ' Pluto ' 
as our guide, having no pilots, and but a poor map, dated 
1754 ! We had only one accident, however, all day, the ' Ten- 
asserim' grounding, but we anchored and pulled her off very 
soon, and away we went again, sweeping round corners and 
running along bushes in pretty style, the water being generally 
very deep. At one corner we came upon a large body of the 
enemy constructing a mud battery for four guns, but they all 
fled, and we pushed on without firing a gun. At four p.m. we 
drew near Bassein, and as no description of the place could be 
obtained, you may fancy the excitement of such a time. In 
half-an-bour we came upon the first works, sixty miles up the 
river, and as we slowly drew past them, we had time to see the 
numbers that crowded the walls and the guns laid ready, but 
not a musket fired, and some hopes were entertained that they 
would not fight. We observed that a different system was 
adopted here, and instead of timber stockades, regular sloping- 
sided mud forts in European style were being thrown up on 

* General Godwin says in his despatch : — " The Commodore claimed the 
services of Captain Campbell, of the ' Sesostris,' and his men, in destroying a 
large stockade on the opposite bank of the river, when they drove off the Bur- 
mese, fired the stockade, and took six guns." The correspondent of the Calcutta 
" Englishman " says: — "The gunnery from the ships was terrific and most 
effective." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 249 

both sides, so that the shot would have no effect ; however, we 
passed on and anchored directly above them, and just opposite 
the town and great Pagoda. Here Captain Campbell was 
ordered to superintend the troops landing, which was no sooner 
done, our boats being first on shore, than they advanced to the 
walls, which were so close that our interpreter called to them 
to open the gates and give up ; but they answered they would 
shoot us all, and sure enough they opened a furious fire upon 
us, the balls not only flying thick as hail round us on shore, 
but even peppered those on board the ship. It was a thrilling 
moment to see our gallant fellows rush up to the walls and 
scramble in; in an instant, several were knocked over, but 
nothing daunted the others ran along driving the enemy in 
hundreds from every point, our guns playing on them all the 
time. After clearing the town of all that survived, the troops 
then attacked the mud fort I mentioned before as only just 
made ; here they found a great part of the enemy who had fled 
before them. A hard fight took place, the fort was very strong, 
being surrounded by a deep ditch, too wide and deep to get 
across, but a few planks were found and over these about sixty 
brave fellows rushed and up the sides in a moment, under a 
tremendous fire from three thousand men, who were crowded 
inside and formed a compact line on the top ; dreadful carnage 
ensued, the men being made desperate by the number of their 
comrades and officers shot in the advance ; three hearty cheers 
showed us all was over, and by 6.30 p.m. every place had been 
stormed and taken. While all this was going on, Captain 
Campbell was ordered to attack the stockade on the other side 
of the river, which mounted six guns and was full of men, 
who gave as much annoyance, their shells striking the ship and 
whizzing past us pretty thick. He took the men of the ' Moo- 
zuffer' and 'Sesostris,' total one hundred and forty, and away 
we went at a run, found the gates open at the back, and in we 
popped, before the fellows had well made out what we were 
doing. There were five hundred men in the place, who only 
stood a few minutes and then fled pell-mell out, when a great 
many were shot down or bayoneted, and we no sooner got hold 
of their guns than we peppered them well with their own cannon, 
and then set the whole place on fire ; the whole affair was quickly 
done, and we got on board by six o'clock. About sixty of the 
enemy were killed and wounded besides those killed before by 
the ships' guns." 

A total of fifty-four guns and thirty-two jingalls were cap- 
tured in the works at Bassein. In the notification, issued by 
the Governor-General, under date, Fort William, 5th June, 
1852, his Lordship says : — 

"In ascending for sixty miles a river still very imperfectly 
known, in effecting the landing of the troops, and capturing the 



250 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

city, the fort, and the stockaded defences on both sides of the 
river, fully garrisoned and armed, and in accomplishing all this 
with very unequal numbers, and within the limits of a single 
day, the combined forces at Bassein performed a gallant and 
spirited service, which well deserves the approbation and ap- 
plause of the Government of India His Lordship in 

Council desires especially to mark his sense of the services 
rendered by Major Errington, H.M.'s 51st Light Infantry, com- 
manding the detachment of troops at Bassein, and to Commander 
Campbell, of the Indian Navy, by whom the stockade upon the 
right bank of the river was stormed and taken. Equal acknow- 
ledgments are due to Lieutenant Rice, R.N., to Lieutenants 
Elliot and Nightingale, R.N., to Commander Hewett, to Lieu- 
tenant Robinson and Lieutenant Lewis, Indian Navy." 

Two days were occupied in arranging for the occupation of 
Bassein, for the protection of which the ' Sesostris ' was left. 
At daybreak, on the 22nd of May, the squadron weighed for 
Rangoon, where they arrived on the 23rd, after an absence of 
seven days. 

Commander Campbell was not idle while at Bassein, but gave 
vent to his active disposition in ascending the river a distance 
of forty miles, to dislodge a native chief who had taken up a 
position with three thousand men, but withdrew on the ap- 
proach of the steamer. He also performed an act of humanity, 
which redounded as much to his credit as his gallantry at 
Rangoon and Bassein, in effecting the rescue of the crew of a 
British ship, which had been wrecked on the Andaman Islands. 
This was the more praiseworthy as Commander Campbell, in 
order to execute it, was under the necessity of leaving Bassein 
without naval protection for two days, and had an attack been 
made by the Burmese during his absence, he would have got 
into serious trouble.* 

* We gather the following details from a letter written to a Madras paper, 
under date the 6th of September, by the late Captain Bideu, Master- Attendant 
at Madras, a gentleman deservedly respected : — 

" In July last, the ship ' Elizabeth,' when bound from the coast of Arracan to 
Calcutta, was unfortunately wrecked in Duncan's Passage, which lies between 
the northern group of the Andamans and the little Andaman in 11° N. The 
captain and crew were saved, and left the wreck in the only seaworthy boat they 
had, and proceeded under lee of the Andamans to the nearest port of refuge ; 
but encountering rough weather and a heavy swell, with a scanty supply of water 
and provisions, the lives of all, in their frail barque, were in such jeopardy that, 
by mutual consent, it was agreed to land a portion of the crew on the most 
secluded and sheltered spot they could find on the Andamans, and that the 
captain and others should proceed to Mouimein or Rangoon for the purpose of 
obtaining the means of rescue to those left on shore. By great good fortune the 
'Elizabeth's' boat i having, I believe, missed Mouimein and Rangoon) made the 
mouth of the Bassein River, a distance of three hundred miles, and, to their 
unspeakable joy, found lying in the river the Hon. Company's steam-frigate 
' Sesostris.' They pulled alongside, and reported the forlorn and perilous plight 
of their shipmates who were left destitute of the means of support, and at the 
mercy of the barbarous savages of the Andamans, should their lurking place 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYT. 251 

Another officer of the Service was also instrumental in 
effecting the rescue of a ship's company during this war. Com- 
mander J. Rennie, of the ' Zenobia,' in June, 1353, proceeded 
to St. Martin's Island, about fifty-five miles from Akyab, and, in 
boisterous weather, extricated a French brig from a position of 
great peril. For this act, Commander Rennie received a gold 
medal from the Emperor of the French. 

The 'Sesostris' returned to Rangoon from Bassein on the 
8th of September, having had a narrow escape from destruction 
in the Bassein River, where she struck on a rock, with seven 
fathoms of water on the other side of her. Here she remained 
for two days, when Commander Campbell, having taken every- 
thing out of the ship, succeeded, by great exertions, in getting 
her afloat. 

On the morning of the 26th of May, Martaban was suddenly 
attacked by a force of between one thousand and twelve hundred 
men, with a large force in reserve, but, though the enemy dis- 
played unusual resolution, they were driven back by the garrison, 
consisting of the 49th Madras Native Infantry, assisted by the 
' Ferooz,' which was lying at Moulmein, opposite the town, and, 
on hearing the cannonade, landed a company of the 51st Regi- 
ment at the threatened point. The " Moulmein Times," of the 
28th of May, says : — "The 'Ferooz' sent discharges of artil- 
lery, which made the Burmese seek a more distant point for 

be unhappily discovered. The moment their narrative was made known to 
Captain Campbell, and he had given orders to afford the boat's crew every care 
and comfort, he proceeded on shore to ask Major Roberts of the 9th Madras 
Native Infantry, in command of the garrison at Bassein, whether he would 
undertake the defence of that important post during the absence of the Hon. 
Company's steam-frigate ' Sesostris,' as he was most anxious to proceed forthwith 
to the rescue of the shipwrecked mariners in the Andamans. Major Roberts 
pledged himself to exert redoubled vigilance on his part, and in a very short time 
steam was up and the gallant Captain of the 'Sesostris' nobly braved the perils 
of the bar across the mouth of the River Bassein, which was at that time, owing 
to a heavy sea, exceedingly shallow and very dangerous. Under the guidance 
of a very correct information which Captain Campbell received from the Com- 
mander of the : Elizabeth,' he made direct to the place of refuge, and was the 
means of rescuing from the extremity of peril and danger the suffering mariners 
of the ' Elizabeth,' who had subsisted on cocoa-nuts and wild berries and were 
very nearly exhausted. Captain Campbell performed this seiwice of generous 
humanity in two days ; he took the greatest care of all the ' Elizabeth's ' crew, 
and, shortly after his return to Bassein, the ' Fire Queen' steamer, on her way to 
Calcutta, touched there, and received on board the shipwrecked mariners, and 
conveyed them to Calcutta. Captain Campbell's able and gallant conduct at 
Rangoon and Bassein is well known, but, I venture to say, that throughout his 
service no circumstance connected therewith will ever carry with it a more grate- 
ful and gratifying reflection to his own mind than that which so nobly prompted 
him, without hesitation, to quit a responsible post and proceed to the rescue of 
shipwrecked mariners." For this deed of prompt humanity, involving responsi- 
bilities of no ordinary kind, in temporarily leaving a post in time of war, Com- 
mander Campbell received a silver-mounted spy-glass, having a suitable inscrip- 
tion, which was raised by subscription, and doubtless there is no act of his 
honourable career the contemplation of which affords him more sincere satis- 
faction. 



252 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAV5T. 

protection, and defaced the beauty of their Pagoda. Com- 
modore Lynch, on delivering his instructions to his second in 
command, manned his three cutters and proceeded up the 
Salween to intercept the flight of the Burmese. He found 
them scattered at the third Pagoda, and ordered his boats to 
open fire on them with shell and canister, which made them 
scamper away as fast as their legs would carry them. The 
boats returned on the same evening, and proceeded up the river 
yesterday morning." Martaban was kept in constant alarm by 
night attacks, until Lieutenant Sedley,* then in temporary 
command of the ' Zenobia,' dragged one of the 68-pounders of 
his ship up to the summit of a hill commanding the town, by a 
party of seamen, assisted by elephants. This formidable piece 
of artillery was manned and worked by a strong detachment of 
men from the ' Zenobia,' under the command of one of her 
lieutenants; "and," says a newspaper correspondent, "since 
its elevation the enemy have not ventured to show themselves 
near the camp." 

On the 1st of September, the boats of the 'Zenobia,' which, 
after breaking her shaft, was guardship at Martaban, were 
engaged in a little affair, in which the officers and men ac- 
quitted themselves very creditably. Having received informa- 
tion that the enemy were encamped at a village named 
Ketturhee, Lieutenant Sedley sent, on a reconnoitring expe- 
dition, the boats of the 'Zenobia,' accompanied by the schooner 
'Pegu,' having men from the ' Zenobia' to work her guns. On 
arriving abreast of the village, the second cutter was ordered to 
pull ahead of the other boats, and endeavour to ascertain the 
strength of their position. She had not proceeded far, how- 
ever, before the Burmese opened a sharp fire with jingalls and 
muskets, which was speedily returned from the cutter, pinnace, 
and schooner. The Burmese kept up their fire with great 
spirit and accuracy ; they commenced with a discharge of jingall 
balls, followed by volleys of musketry at the boats and schooner. 
About forty minutes elapsed before they slackened their fire, 
when the ' Zenobia's ' second cutter and pinnace pulled for the 
stockade, landed, and burned the village to the ground. A 
large quantity of ammunition was found and destroyed. The 
stockade abreast of the river, a strong work, was about 300 
yards in length, ten feet high, and three feet thick, with a 
trench cut inside. The spherical case fired by the gunners of 
the ' Zenobia,' on board the ' Pegu,' committed great execution, 
judging from the number of killed and wounded found in this 
stockade. The 'Zenobia's' boats were riddled with musket 

* Lieutenant Jermyn, Senior Lieutenant of the ' Zenobia ' when she left 
Bombay, was obliged to go on sick-leave to England soon after the capture of 
Rangoon, when Lieutenant Sedley became First-Lieutenant and assumed tem- 
porary charge on Commander Ball's retirement through ill health. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 253 

balls, and the ' Pegu ' received some shot in the main boom. 
There were many remarkable escapes ; an officer's hat was shot 
through with a jingall ball, -and immediately afterwards the 
sleeve of his coat received a bullet. The boats of the ' Zenobia' 
and the ' Pegu ' returned on the following day to the anchorage 
off the creek. The fatigue and exposure undergone by both 
officers and men rendered the work very arduous, the seamen 
being on their oars nearly the whole of the time, and 
constantly wet through. Eighteen canoes were captured 
in all. 

On the 3rd of June an Expedition was despatched to Pegu, 
about seventy-five miles nearly north of Rangoon, consisting of 
a detachment of troops, under Major Cotton of the 67th Regi- 
ment ; the 'Phlegethon,' five boats from H.M.S. 'Fox,' and a 
paddle-box boat from the ' Moozuffer,' under Mr. Midshipman 
Harding, the whole under Commander Tarleton,* commanding 
the Irrawaddy flotilla. Pegu was captured on the 4th with 
small loss, and the force, after destroying the fortifications, 
returned to Rangoon on the following day. 

Early in the month of July an Expedition was undertaken 
by Commander Tarleton against the important city of Promo, 
and the officers and men of the ' Medusa/ Lieutenant Fraser, 
greatly distinguished themselves. The 'Medusa,' with Com- 
mander Tarleton on board, proceeded up the river as far as 
Yeanjun, where she anchored on the 7th of July, having been 
joined on the way by the steamers 'Proserpine' and 'Mahanuddy.' 
This place was deserted both by the enemy and its inhabitants, 
and the crews were compelled to procure their own fuel ; while 
thus employed, the 'Phlegethon' joined company, and, there being 
coal sufficient to supply the other vessels, the four steamers, 
accompanied by three boats from the 'Fox,' immediately pro- 
ceeded. At two p.m., when opposite to Konnonghee, a large 
number of armed men were observed collected on the bank, but, 
on a shell being fired amongst them, they immediately dis- 
appeared, either into the jungle or some trenches near the 
water's edge, whence they opened a most vigorous fire from 
muskets and five or six guns. The flotilla remained abreast 
their position for an hour, shelling the enemy, but no decided 
impression could be made on them, as they were protected by 
the embankment. The work could have been captured by run- 
ning one of the small steamers alongside and landing the 
seamen ; but Commander Tarleton was of opinion that this 
service could not have been performed without considerable loss, 
as the jungle covering the bank offered the enemy a secure 
retreat, and, moreover, he had received strict injunctions only 
to reconnoitre. Under these circumstances he very wisely de- 

* Despatch of Commander Tarleton, dated H.M.S. 'Fox,' Rangoon, the Sth of 
June, 1852. 



254 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

termined not to land and attempt to dislodge the enemy, 
reported by the neighbouring inhabitants to be fifteen hundred 
strong. The casualties on this occasion were confined to the 
1 Medusa,' at which, as the leading vessel, the enemy's fire was 
principally directed. 

At sunset the flotilla anchored off Meaoung ; and, at day- 
light on the 8th, again weighed, and proceeded till within sight 
of an extensive fortification crowning the end of a ridge of hills 
300 feet high, terminating abruptly at the town of Akouk- 
toung. Bundoola was reported to be here, with seven thousand 
men and a number of guns, variously stated as from fifteen to 
forty. It having been ascertained from the pilot that a shal- 
low passage might, probably, be found at this season through 
a creek to the eastward of the island, opposite Akouk-toung, 
the steamer proceeded by this passage, which was completely 
out of the range of Bundoola's guns. Here they learned that a 
small steamer, belonging to the King of Ava, had only left on 
the previous day, and that a large army was concentrated near 
Akouk-toung. Commander Tarleton, foreseeing the panic which 
the presence of the steamers would create above the defensive 
force, urged forward with all speed, detaching the ' Proserpine,' 
as the fastest vessel, to endeavour, by proceeding all night, to 
overtake the Burmese vessel. However, her commander, Mr. 
Brooking, found this impracticable, and was compelled to 
anchor. The ' Mahanuddy's' fuel being now exhausted, Com- 
mander Tarleton left the ' Phlegethon ' with her, to supply her 
wants, and, he says, " by dint of great attention on the part of 
Lieutenant Fraser, I.N„ and the officers of the ' Medusa,' I 
succeeded in steaming through the night, and reached Prome at 
daylight on the 9th." At the south end of the town, near the 
water's edge, they observed four heavy guns, but no armed 
men near them. The 'Medusa,' accordingly, anchored abreast 
the spot, where her men landed, and, having made fast a 
hawser to the guns, and hove them off, they were then disabled, 
and sunk in deep water, and the brass guns taken on board. 
At seven the ' Proserpine ' joined, and, a few hours afterwards, 
the two other vessels, when, assisted by the boats' crews of the 
' Fox,' every gun in Prome, twenty-three in number, was 
brought off. It was an arduous task, but was completed with 
the spirit characteristic of British seamen. 

In the afternoon the 'Medusa' ascended ten miles higher up 
the river, as far as Zeegain, where she anchored for the night, 
leaving the other vessels at Prome, to transfer fuel. " I had 
now," says Commander Tarleton, in his letter to Commodore 
Lambert, " fully carried out the instructions contained in your 
letter of the 30th of June. There was no prospect of over- 
taking the steamer, and I had seriously to consider the safety 
of the vessels under my orders. With an enterprising foe, I 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 255 

was aware that the creek near Akouk-toung might be made 
impassable ; and even by the Burmese, when, by the large force 
in the neighbourhood, such means were at their command. I 
therefore decided on an immediate return, with a view to pre- 
vent their having time to complete their preparations. I re- 
joined the vessels off Prome at daylight on the 10th, and com- 
menced the descent of the river." 

The city, which was now evacuated, had been in the pos- 
session of the British for twenty-four hours, the Governor, 
Moungwine, having fled at their approach. At ten a.m. the 
squadron arrived at the entrance of ^Akouk-toung Creek, and 
when about half way through, observed several large boats, 
crowded with armed men. They succeeded, before our guns 
could be brought to bear upon them, in reaching the opposite 
bank, from which they opened a straggling fire of musketry, 
but were silenced by the guns of the flotilla. The steamers 
now turned round and ascended the creek again, dispersing the 
enemy wherever he was to be seen, and, having brought away 
five brass guns on field-piece carriages that were still in the 
boats, burnt the General's state barge and a number of war 
boats, with a large quantity of arms and ammunition. They 
then continued the descent of the river, and were joined in the 
afternoon by the ' Pluto.' It was found that the enemy had 
evacuated his trenches at Koun-oung; and, at sunset, the 
flotilla was anchored off Mouiew, where it was employed in 
provisioning and preparing for further service. 

Commander Tarleton says in his despatch of the 11th of 
July:— "I should be doing injustice to every officer and man 
in the little force (consisting of the ' Medusa,' ' Phlegethon,' 
'Proserpine,' 'Mahanuddy,' and three boats of the 'Fox,' and 
twenty Marines, the officer commanding whom, I regret to say, 
is severely wounded) if I failed to represent to you the zeal and 
attention that has been shown on the service by all ; without it, 
I have no hesitation in saying that it could not have been 
brought to a successful issue." Among the casualties of the 
7th of July, were:— H.M.S. 'Fox'— Mr. John Elliot, First- 
Lieutenant Royal Marines, wounded severely ; Mr. Frederick 
Morgan, Assistant-Surgeon, wounded slightly. Hon. Com- 
pany's steamer ' Medusa ' — Mr. T. Rose Hunter, Mate, I.N., 
dangerously wounded in the right arm, which was amputated, 
compelling him to proceed to England ; Mr. E. Brazier, Mate, 
I.N., slightly wounded. On the 9th and 10th of July, there 
were destroyed and sunk nineteen guns and nine brought 
away. The Expedition was admirably conducted, and great 
credit was due to all concerned. Towards the end of August, 
Commander Tarleton was relieved of the command of the 
Irrawaddy flotilla by Commander (now Admiral Sir Charles) 



256 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Shadwell, of the ' Sphinx,' and, on his promotion, was appointed 
Flag-Captain of the ' Fox.' The British Navy has produced 
few finer seamen than Captain (now Admiral Sir Walter) 
Tarleton, who was noted in Burmah for that combination of 
dash, enterprise, and good judgment, which constitutes a 
good officer. 

In July, Commodore Lynch proceeded in the 'Ferooz' to 
Calcutta, and, on the 21st, Lord Dalhousie embarked in her on a I 
short visit to Rangoon to confer with the military authorities; ■ 
he arrived thereon the 27th, and quitted the town on the 1st of 
August, in the ' Ferooz,' which arrived at the Presidency on the 
(3th. Before leaving Rangoon, his lordship published a General 
Order, highly eulogistic of the good service rendered by the 
Military and Naval forces ; and, on his return, considerable 
reinforcements were ordered to be despatched to strengthen 
General Godwin's army. 

During the next few months the 'Ferooz,' 'Moozuffer,' 
' Zenobia,' and ' Berenice,' were actively employed conveying 
troops to the seat of war,* and when, soon after the conclusion of 
peace, the usual recurrent cry was raised against the expense of 
the Indian Navy, it was shown that the above-named steamers 
" more than paid the cost of building, also the pay of officers 
and men, by the transport of troops, provisions, and stores." 

The Indian Navy was well represented at this time by the I 
four steam frigates, ' Ferooz,' ' Moozuffer,' ' Sesostris,' and ■ 
' Zenobia,' which, as regarded efficiency, formed as fine a 
squadron as any navy could boast the possession of, but, more 
particularly, was the personnel of the Service admirably repre- 
sented by the four officers in command of these ships. Com- 

* The following were the movements of the ships of the Indian Navy while 
employed in the transport of troops : — " The ' Ferooz,' after leaving Lord 
Dalhousie at Calcutta, proceeded to Madras, where she cast anchor on the 19th, 
and in company with transports left the roads on the 21st, carrying the C troop 
Horse Artillery and 19th Madras Native Infantry. On the 28th of August the 
' Moozuffer ' and H.M.S. 'Sphinx' arrived at Madras, which they quitted for 
Rangoon on the 7th of September, towing transports, carrying the 1st Madras , 
Fusiliers and a detachment of the Sappers and Miners. The ' Ferooz ' again 
sailed for Calcutta, where she arrived on the 15th of September, and, on the 1st ' 
of October, in company with the 'Moozuffer' and 'Sphinx,' which had arrived on 
the 24th of September, returned wiih the Bengal Fusiliers to Rangoon. A third 
time the '' Ferooz ' and ' Moozuffer' cast anchor at Calcutta, on the 11th of Octo- 
ber, and sailed in company for Rangoon on the 21st. The ' Moozuffer' arrived at 
Calcutta from Rangoon for the fourth time, on the 1st of November, and sailed 
on the 14th. Other ships of the Indian Navy were also employed carrying troops 
to the seat of war. The ' Zenobia ' arrived at Calcutta from Martab;m on the 
27th of October, under her new captain, Commander J. Rennie, and left on the 
8th of November for Rangoon ; again she arrived from Moulmein, on the 2nd of 
December, and left for Rangoon on the 11th. The 'Berenice' arrived at Cal- 
cutta on the 31st of August, and sailed on the 8th of September ; again she 
arrived on the 29th of September and sailed with artillery on the 8th of October, 
and made a third voyage with troops, arriving at Calcutta on the 8th of Novem 
ber and sailing on the 4th of December. The ' Hugh Lindsay,' under Acting 
Master Newman, was also actively engaged trooping from Madras to Calcutta. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 257 

modore Lynch was the scion of an old Galway family, and pos- 
sessed that happy mixture of the fortiter in re, which enabled 
him, by dint of energy and resolution, to carry an enterprise 
to a successful issue, with the suaviter in modo, which pre- 
vented any asperities arising in the delicate relations existing 
between himself and the senior officers of the Royal Navy, the 
rock upon which too often the public service had been sacri- 
ficed to gratify pique or unworthy jealousy. An accomplished 
scholar and linguist, he was also a diplomatist of the first 
quality, and his distinguished bearing and well-bred ease of 
manner fitted him as much for the intercourse of courts as his 
bonhomie and geniality made him acceptable to all those with 
whom he was brought into contact. Such opposites as Sir 
Robert Oliver and Commodore Lushington found him equally in- 
dispensable as Assistant-Superintendent, and he managed the 
difficult task of acquiring their goodwill without sacrificing his 
independence or the regard of his brother officers. Commander 
Campbell was a man of great natural ability. He was equally 
at home with the sextant and steam-engine, and was a votary 
of science in the true acceptation of that term, for, though pos- 
sessing considerable theoretical knowledge, he was eminently 
practical, while he was a first-rate seaman and gunnery officer. 
Commanders Hewett and Rennie, par nobile fratrum, were 
officers such as Nelson loved to have under his command. 
Brave and dashing, reckless where personal safety was con- 
cerned, they were careful of the lives of their men and of their 
own reputations, which, already considerable by their exploits 
in China, were still further enhanced by the skill and daring 
they displayed during the operations in Burmah. Finally, 
these four officers were as eminent as surveyors as they were 
distinguished in war. The achievements of Lynch in the 
Euphrates Expedition and Mesopotamia, of Campbell in the 
Red Sea and Maldive Islands, of Hewett in China, and of 
Rennie on the coasts of India, were of a character that 
would have stamped them as men of mark, even had they 
never drawn a sword in the more troubled arena of military 
strife. 

On the cessation of the monsoon and the arrival of large rein- 
forcements from Bengal and Madras, General Godwin, having 
resolved to attack Prome, embarked a strong column of troops 
on board the following steamers : — Indian Navy : the ' Sesos- 
tris,' and 'Medusa.' Bengal Marine: 'Fire Queen,' having on 
board General Godwin, and bearing the broad pennant of 
Commodore Lambert; 'Enterprise,' 'Mahanuddy,' 'Nemesis,' 
'Proserpine,' and ' Phlegethon.' Also nine boats of H.M. ships 
' Hastings, (flag ship,) ' Fox,' ' Winchester,' and ' Sphinx,' to 
convoy the cargo boats. On the 27th of September the squadron 
weighed from the rendezvous off Yangernsiah, a town situated 

VOL. II. S 



258 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

at the upper end of the Panlang creek, which joins the Irra- 
waddy to the Rangoon River, and arrived off Prome on the 
morning of the 9th of October. On the squadron nearing the 
city the enemy opened fire, which was returned by the steamers, 
which anchored above the town, thus completely turning the 
position. A small force was landed that afternoon, and, after 
a brief struggle, cleared the lower end of the town : on the fol- 
lowing morning, the remainder of the troops and a detachment 
of seamen, under Commander Rice, R.N., were disembarked, and 
soon the important city of Prome was in the occupation of the 
British with trifling loss, owing to the defences having been 
taken in flank, a movement which redounded to the credit of 
the military and naval chiefs. The squadron then returned 
to Rangoon, Sir John Cheape — the chief engineer at the siege 
of Mooltan — being left in command. In his report to the 
Secretary to the Supreme Government, Commodore Lambert 
says : — " Nor can I speak too highly of Commander Camp- 
bell,* the officers and men of the Indian Navy and the Bengal 
Marine." 

The Governor-General, in publishing the despatches of 
General Godwin and Commodore Lambert, relative to the cap- 
ture and occupation of the city of Prome, observes : — " His 
thanks are also due to Commander Campbell, of the Indian 
Navy, whose merit has been acknowledged by the Commodore. 
The Governor-General in Council has viewed with high appro- 
bation the services of the officers and men, who, upon this occa- 
sion and for several months past, have been employed in boats 
upon the river, subject to severe exposure, and engaged in 
harassing duty, which they have performed with the utmost 
alacrity and cheerfulness, and with conspicuous advantage to 
the public service. To the officers, seamen, and marines of 
H.M.'s ships, of the Indian Navy, and of the Bengal Marine, 
who have been serving upon the Irrawaddy, and to Commander 
Tarleton, who lung commanded them, the Governor-General 
in Council is desirous of offering his hearty thanks." The 
British Navy had to deplore the loss near Prome, on the 8th of 
October, of Rear-Admiral Austen, who died of cholera on board 
the 'Pluto,' in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His remains 
were conveyed, in the ' Rattler,' to Trincomalee, for interment, 
and Commodore Lambert became Commander-in-chief of Her 
Majesty's ships and vessels in the China seas, until the ar- 
rival, in the following year, of Vice-Admiral Sir Fleetwood 
Pellew. 

* The following is a memorandum of the amount of ammunition expended by 
the ' Sesostris' in the three actions at Rangoon, Bassein, and Prome : — Nine tons 
of 8-inch and 32-pounder shot and shell, five hundredweight of leaden balls, three 
tons of powder, one thousand rounds of great gun, five thousand rounds of musket 
ammunition ; also Congreve rockets and 8-inch carcases. One officer of the 
' Sesostris, Lieutenant Windus, was wounded at Prome. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 259 

The ' Sesostris' and ' Medusa' remained at Prome to assist in 
the defence of the town, which the enemy made an attempt to 
burn on the 12th of October, but were driven off after setting it 
on fire in three or four places. The chief Burmese general at 
Prome, a son of the famous Bimdoola of the first war, surren- 
dered himself, and was placed temporarily on board the ' Sesos- 
tris.' General Godwin pushed on reinforcements to Prome with 
the intention of continuing the advance on Ava, and Captain 
Loch, C.B., of H.M.S. ' Winchester,' remained as senior naval 
officer on the Irrawaddy. In November some sharp fighting 
took place at Prome, in which the officers and men of the 
'Sesostris' and 'Medusa' bore a prominent part. On the 2nd 
of that month, Captain Loch and Sir John Cheape, with eighty 
men of the 18th Royal Irish, embarked at daylight on board the 
'Medusa,' for the purpose of reconnoitring the right bank of the 
river from Padangmew to the White Pagoda, one mile and a 
half below Prome. The 'Medusa' steamed down the river, ac- 
companied by three boats of the ' Winchester,' three of the 
' Sesostris,' and one of the ' Medusa.'* The boats were anchored 
about three hundred yards above the White Pagoda, while Cap- 
tain Loch proceeded to Pandangmew to communicate with the 
commander of the steamer 'Enterprise;' on returning again to 
the W'hite Pagoda he landed the General and his escort, and a 
naval brigade of seventy-four officers and men. 

Captain Loch says in his report : — " Sir John Cheape ordered 
an advance, and immediately on our crowning the terrace be- 
neath the Pagoda, the enemy's skirmishers, who lined the jungle, 
were discovered, evidently expecting that we should come on by 
the lane beneath the Pagoda. On their being driven in, a fire 
was opened by them from the high ground inland, their stockade- 
being unoccupied. They were immediately driven from their 
different posts with the utmost expedition, until we attained 
our object ; viz., a distinct view of the two stockades which they 
are throwing up, and a knowledge of the country in the vicinity. 
At this time the enemy were in possession of two commanding 
positions between us and their stockade, which they were im- 
mediately driven out of. The heat was now so intense, and 
three men having received strokes from the sun, I halted under 
cover of the enemy's look-out houses for an hour. Having 

* The following were the details of this force : — ' Winchester's ' boats. Gig, 
Commander F. Beauchamp Seymour (volunteer), Mr. Gregory, naval cadet, five 
men, three marines ; barge, Lieutenant Hillyar, Mr. Round, mate, Assistant- 
Surgeon Slade, fifteen men ; pinnace, Lieutenant Pearse, Mr. Bond, mate, thirteen 
men. ' Sesostris's ' boats. — Pinnace, Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. Capel, midshipman, 
Assistant-Surgeon Welsh, fourteen men, eleven artillerymen ; 1st cutter, Lieu- 
tenant Windus, eleven men ; 2nd cutter, Mr. Duval, mate, eleven men. ' Medusa's ' 
cutter, Mr. Harries, midshipman, ten men, six artillerymen. The Commander 
Seymour, above mentioned, is now Vice-Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour, 
commanding the Channel Squadron, an officer noted at this time for his fire- 
eating proclivities. 

s 2 



2(50 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 






accomplished our reconnaissance, I caused the Naval Brigade 
to return to the river stockade; ISir John Cheape recalled the 
Royal Irish at the same time, and we burned the greater part 
of the lower breastwork, leaving the larger and more valuable 
timber on the beach, to be brought to Proine to-morrow, for the 
use of the steamers. It is with much satisfaction that I have to 
express my approbation of the zeal, good conduct, and bravery 
of every officer and man of the force employed." Lieutenants 
Lewis and Windus, of the ' Sesostris,' were also specially re- 
ferred to. 

On the 4th of November, Captain Loch, who was an officer 
of great enterprise, was again engaged with the enemy. He 
says: — "I landed with the seamen and marines noted below,* 
stormed the heights of Akoukton, and captured five guns, de- 
fended by three hundred and fifty or four hundred men, yester- 
day afternoon between the hours of three and half-past five p.m., 
and I am happy to say without the loss of a man. The landing 
was covered by the fire of the Hon. East India Company's 
steamer 'Medusa,' Lieutenant Fraser commanding, which was 
so admirable, that to it I attribute our good fortune in being 
able to ascend a narrow pathway, winding up the ridge of the 
hill to the outer breastwork, every yard of which might have 
been defended by a handful of men, screened from sight in the 
dense underwood growing on either side, against any number 
of assailants. We found a Burmese, wounded by a shell from 
the steamers, lying in the entrenchment. He told me the 
troops were before us, so on we went, and at last were met by 
a partial fire, which, after an immediate and rapid charge, was 
never renewed, nor could we again see the enemy through the 
jungle everywhere as thick as a bramble bush. The guns were 
loaded and primed, with the exception of one which was fired 
with a volley of musketry and some jingalls at the 'Medusa' as 
she approached the cliff, just before anchoring ; four of them 
were iron nine feet 18-pounders, one an iron six feet 9-pounder. 
Having no powder to burst them, I threw them over the cliff, 
and moved the force slowly back to the boats, protected by a 
rear-guard. When it was embarked, I directed Lieutenant 
Fraser to anchor the ' Medusa' for the night at the entrance of 
the creek facing the cliff, and commanding the entire front. I 
experience great pleasure in having so soon again to bring 
before your Excellency's notice the gallant bearing and good 

* 'Winchester's' boats — Gig, Commander F. B. Seymour, (volunteer,) Mr. 
Gregory, naval cadet, four men, three marines ; barge, Lieutenant Hillyar, 
Mr. Round, mate, Mr. Slade, assistant-surgeon, fifteen men ; pinnace, Lieutenant 
Pearse, Mr. Bond, mate, thirteen men. Hon. Company's steam-frigate ' Sesos- 
tris,' Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. Duval, mate, twenty-two seamen, eight artillery- 
men ; Hon. Company's steamer • Medusa,' Mr. Brazier, mate, Mr. Harries, 
midshipman, fifteen seamen, twelve artillerymen. Total force landed, eighty- 
two. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 231 

conduct of all the officers and men engaged. When they landed 
they saw the difficulty and apparent danger of the pass, and 
they knew the superiority in numbers of the enemy ; they had 
no reason to contemplate so easy a victory ; yet they formed 
with the steadiness of old soldiers, and with the cheerful alacrity 
which always distinguishes British seamen and marines. Lieu- 
tenant Hillyar, of the ' Winchester,' commanded under me, and 
again added to his well-known character as an able, zealous 
officer. Lieutenant Lewis, first of the Hon. East India Com- 
pany's ship ' Sesostris,' formed and led his marines and seamen 
in a masterly manner, and I gladly recommend him to your 
Excellency's notice. Mr. Brazier, senior mate of the 'Medusa,' 
landed with his men, and attracted my attention by his zeal. 
j To Lieutenant Fraser, commanding the 'Medusa,' much is due 
for the able way he handled his vessel in the strong tides and 
eddies when he had to anchor, and the most effective aid he 
rendered by his fire. He is a most zealous officer, and has 
and is rendering daily most valuable service to the naval and 
military force at Prome. I cannot refrain mentioning that one 
quarter of an hour did not elapse from the time the 'Medusa' 
anchored, before my people were formed on the beach, and 
the boats safely moored, under charge of men to fight their 
guns." The capture of these five guns again opened the river 
to Prome. 

On the 9th of November, Captain Loch, having heard that the 
Burmese had re-occupied the heights at Akoukton, proceeded 
thither in the 'Medusa,' when he captured two guns and re- 
embarked without loss. Commodore Lambert arrived at Prome 
on the same day, and, on the 12th, directed Captain Loch to 
attack some works, constructed by the Burmese opposite Upper 
Prome, with a force of steamers and boats.* Captain Loch, 
having disembarked above the stockades, which opened a well- 
directed fire on the steamers, advanced, with forty-two seamen 
and fifty men of H.M.'s 80th Regiment, along a narrow pathway 
leading to the rear of the upper stockade, which was carried at 
the double. The detachment moved rapidly on to the lower 
stockade, where they captured five guns, the enemy having 
succeeded in removing the remainder. These works were of 
admirable construction, and are described as " casemated stock- 

* Hon. Company's steamer ' Mahanuddy,' Mr. H. Simpson, towing ' Winches- 
ter's' gig, six men ; barge, fifteen men, Lieutenant Hillyar, Mr. Round, mate, 
and Mr. Slade, assistant-surgeon ; launch, twenty-one men, Lieutenant Nelson, 
Mr. Hinde, mate, and the Hon. H. D. Lascelles, midshipman. Hon. Company's 
steam-frigate 'Sesostris,' Commander Campbell. Hon. Company's steamer 
' Medusa,' Lieutenant Fraser commanding, towing ' Winchester's ' pinnace, 
eight men, Lieutenant Pearse, and Mr. .Bond, mate ; cutter, nine men, Mr. 
Attingham, midshipman, Mr. Gregory, naval cadet. ' Sesostris's ' landing party, 
Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. Duval, mate, forty-two men ; ' Medusa's ' landing party, 
Lieutenant Fraser, Mr. Douglas, mate, twenty-five men : 'Ferooz,' Mr. Hurlock, 
midshipman, eight men. 






202 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



ades, formed in the shape of a horse shoe, with three strong 
lines of abbatis in the front; within they had circular shell- 
proof galleries, into which the}' could retreat, and also use them 
for magazines." Captain Loch reported in high terms of the 
steadiness of all concerned in these operations. 

On the 21st of November, the recapture of Pegu, abandoned 
in June, was effected by General Godwin with eleven hundred 
men, and the ' Nerbudda,' ' Damooda,' and ' Lord William Ben- 
tinck' — three small steamers of the Bengal Marine, which had 
arrived at Rangoon on the 1st of October — the ' Mahanuddy,' 
and boats of the ' Fox ' and ' Sphinx,' all under Commander 
Shad well. A garrison of four hundred and thirty men, of whom 
two hundred belonged to the 1st Madras Fusiliers, with two 
24-pounder howitzers, and a detail of artillery and sappers, was 
left at Pegu, under the command of Major Hill of the Madras 
Fusiliers, and General Godwin returned to Rangoon with the 
remainder of the force. No sooner had he departed than the 
enemy, to the number of six thousand men, made repeated 
and desperate attacks upon Pegu, and Major Hill sent a mes- j 
senger to Rangoon requesting assistance. Learning that a 
large flat, with stores for Pegu, had been attacked and burnt j 
by the Burmese, Commodore Lambert, being anxious to keep 
open the communications with the garrison, on the 8th of 
December sent on that service Commander Shad well, with three 
boats of the ' Sphinx,' two of the 'Fox,' and the two paddle- 
box boats of the ' Moozuffer,' having a total of one hundred and 
thirty-three officers and men.* On reaching the usual landing 
place at Pegu on the 10th, the small flotilla was received by 
the enemy with a heavy fire ; but, nevertheless, the party landed. 
Commander Shad well, however, found the Burmese in too great 
strength to force his way to the beleaguered garrison, and, after 
some severe fighting, was compelled to retreat with a loss of 
four seamen and marines killed, and two officers, and twenty- 
six men wounded, most of them severely, of whom three died.f 

* H.M.S. ' Sphinx ' — Gig, Commander Shadwell, four men : starboard paddle- 
box boat, one 24-pounder howitzer, Mr. Cookson, midshipman, fifteen men, six 
marines ; port paddle-box boat, one 24-pounder howitzer, Mr. Murphy, master' 8- 
assistant, Mr. Johnson, assistant-surgeon, fifteen men. H.M's ship ' Fox ' — Pin- 
nace, one 12-pounder howitzer, Lieutenant Mason, Mr. Hudson, midshipman, 
fifteen men, six marines ; barge, one 12-pounder howitzer, Mr. Pocock, mate, 
Lieutenant Nightingale, R M., thirteen men, six marines. Hon. Company's 
ship ' Moozufier' — Paddle-box boat No. 1, one 12-pounder howitzer, Lieutenant 
Robinson, the boatswain, twenty-one men ; paddle-box boat No. 2, one 12-pounder 
howitzer, Mr. Templer, midshipman, an apothecary, twenty men. Total, one 
hundred and thirty-three officers and men, accompanied by Captain Mallock, 
Bengal Artillery, and twelve artilleiymen in two cargo-boats. 

f The correspondent of the " Friend of India " writes : — " Both the supplies 
and the force were considered too small for the emergency, as the enenn was 
flushed with the glory of having cutoff the flat and captured two thousand rounds 
of ammunition, and the Burmese had concentrated all their energies for one 
decisive stroke, and were pouring in troops from all directions. We regret to say 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 263 

The loss of the ' Moozuffer' s' boats was one man killed and nine 
wounded. 

The day after Commander Shadwell's departure the messenger 
arrived with a letter from Major Hill, who stated that he was 
hard pressed, and that his ammunition was running short. On 
receipt of this intelligence, General Godwin sent the same 
evening two hundred men in the steamer ' Nerbudda,' in com- 
pany with a force of armed boats from the squadron, under 
Commander Lambert of the flagship ' Fox,' but meeting the 
boats under Commander Shadwell, the latter deemed it prudent 
to bring the whole force back. The General immediately placed 
a sufficient force under orders, and, before ten o'clock that night, 
the 11th of December, one thousand and fifty soldiers were em- 
barked in a number of native cargo boats, the long-boats of the 
transports, and the armed boats of the squadron,* the latter 
under the command of Captain Tarleton, flag-captain. The 
steamers ' Nerbudda' and ' Mahanuddy ' had both been disabled, 
but were temporarily repaired, and, on the following morning, 
started with four hundred men under the personal command of 
General Godwin, who was accompanied by Commander Shad- 
well. A small land column, under Colonel Sturt, 67th Bengal 
Native Infantry, also marched for Pegu on the morning of the 
13th. Within an hour of embarking the troops Captain 
Tarleton left Rangoon. 

At two p.m. on the 12th of December, when about two- 
thirds of the distance, the ' Nerbudda ' and ' Mahanuddy 'joined 
the flotilla of boats, and, at eight o'clock, it being then slack 
water, the boats were anchored within hail of the ' Nerbudda,' 
twelve miles below Pegu. Early on the following morning the 
boats proceeded, with the steamer leading, and, at seven a.m., 
the troops were landed about six miles below the Ghat at Pegu, 
and half a mile from the first stockade. The 'Nerbudda' then 
went back to the ' Mahanuddy,' which had broken her rudder- 
that the steamer and men-of-war's boats failed to accomplish their object. It 
Teas found that the Burmese had taken up positions, and were in such force, that 
nothing but a miracle could preserve our small band from destruction if they 
attempted to force their way to the relief of Major Hill. The little steamer with 
the two hundred Fusiliers did not reach the scene of action. The boats fought 
fiercely, and did great execution. The men in one of them killed eleven Burmese 
in hand-to-hand fight, but what could they do against two thousand Burmese 
on lofty banks and well entrenched ? They made good their retreat, however, 
with some loss." 

* The following was the naval force employed at the relief of Pegu : — Boats of 
'Fox,' manned and armed — Captain Tarleton in command, Commander Lambert, 
Lieutenant Mason, Mr. Sturgeon, second master, Mr. Seccombe, assistant-surgeon, 
Mr. Villiers and Mr. Bason, midshipmen. Boats of ' Sphinx,' manned and armed 
— Mr. Webb, midshipman, Mr Murphy, master's assistant. Boats of ' Moozuffer,' 
manned and armed — Mr. Freeman, master, Mr. Templer, midshipman. Boats of 
1 Berenice,' manned and armed — Mr. Nunnerly, master. 'Fire Queen's' paddle- 
box boats. Gun party — Commander Shadwell, B.N., 'Sphinx;' Lieutenant 
Bobinson, I.N., ' Moozuffer ;' Mr. Hudson, midshipman, 'Fox;' Mr. Smith 
midihipman, ' Sphinx ;' Mr. Dawkius, midshipman, ' Moozuffer.' 



2 154 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

head, and transhipping the troops from her, landed them at 
four a.m. on the 14th. At seven o'clock General Godwin 
marched for the Pagoda with his whole force, accompanied by 
seventy-five seamen with two boats' guns fitted as field-pieces, 
under command of Commander Shad well and Lieutenant Robin- 
son, I.N., " whose excessive labours," says the general in his 
despatch, "in a close country, without a road, were most cheer- 
fully borne." General Godwin marched on the eastern gate of 
the Pagoda, and, as the enemy had established their batteries 
on the southern face, where he had attacked before, this move- 
ment turned all their works on the banks of the river and round 
the Pagoda. The enemy, finding themselves outflanked, aban- 
doned their defences, and the relief of Major Hill's gallant 
little force was effected with the loss of only three killed and 
nine wounded. 

Meanwhile, Captain Tarleton, who had remained behind in 
charge of the steamer and boats, had not been idle. Leaving 
sufficient men to w T ork the guns in the boats, he had landed all 
the disposable seamen, and, with a rocket party, commanded by 
Mr. Freeman, of the 'Moozuffer,' proceeded on shore to drive off 
the enemy, who had been firing upon some of the camp fol- 
lowers. He says: — "This demonstration, and the fire of a few 
shells and rockets, served to check their advance. At this time 
the ' Nerbudda,' on the falling tide, had unfortunately grounded 
on a stake, and her two foremost compartments filled with 
Welter. It became necessary to put her on shore to repair the 
damage, to move from our position was therefore impossible, 
and I proceeded to strengthen it by landing some rockets, 
felling trees, and throwing up entrenchments. The inarch of 
the army to the eastward of the Pagoda had left the enemy in 
possession of the lower defences on the river's bank, and I was 
sensible that he had it in his power greatly to annoy us. He 
reconnoitred our position with a few horse in the evening, but 
did not further molest us. At two p.m. I had the satisfaction 
of observing the preconcerted signal that the army had forced 
its way into the Pagoda, which intelligence was confirmed to 
me by Commander Shad well, on the morning of the 15th. In 
the evening this officer returned with his party of seamen and a 
guard. He informed me of the river bank being cleared of the 
enemy ; and it is therefore my intention to move up with the 
boats with the morning flood-tide. I reconnoitred the river 
defences now evacuated, and am only surprised that Com- 
mander Shadwell should have been able to pass and repass 
them in his late attempt to communicate with the garrison at 
Pegu. They are, for the purpose, of the most formidable de- 
scription, and completely command the passage of the river for 
a distance of nearly five miles. Your Excellency, knowing the 
nature of the service that has been performed, will appreciate 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 2(55 

the zeal of both officers and men who have carried it out; but 
I feel I shall fail in my duty to them if I did not bring to your 
notice the exertions made by Commander Shadwell and the 
men under him, in taking the guns a distance of eight or nine 
miles through a difficult country, under an ardent sun ; by 
Commander Lambert, and Lieutenants Mason, R N., and Ro- 
binson, I.N., and Mr. Freeman, Master, I.N., in their constant 
attention and watchfulness in bringing up so large a convoy in 
the boats. Lieutenant Robinson was afterwards attached to 
the gun party, and Mr. Freeman was most useful to me in 
directing our rocket battery, and in the construction of our 
entrenchments." 

On the 20th of December Lord Dalhousie characteristically 
cut the gordian knot of coming to terms with the " Monarch of 
the Golden Foot and Son of the White Elephant," by issuing a 
proclamation, " that the Province of Pegu is now, and shall be 
henceforth, a portion of the British territories in the East," and 
also directed that, in honour of the event, k 'a royal salute shall 
be fired at every principal station of the Army in the several 
Presidencies of India." Captain A. P. Phayre, with a suitable 
staff of deputy, and assistant, commissioners, was appointed 
Commissioner of the newly annexed province, which was 
about two hundred miles in length by nearly two hundred in 
breadth. 

In 1752, just a century before, the British were possessed of 
only a few factories and the Island of Bombay, and now T , by this 
act of Lord Dalhousie's, our authority was supreme over a vast 
empire extending from Peshawur to Cape Comorin, and from 
Kurrachee to the limits of Tenasserim, with a population, in- 
cluding the tributary states, which, by the census returns of 
1871-72, exceeded two hundred and forty millions. 

General Godwin left Pegu on the 20th of December, and 
Rangoon on the 29th, for Prome, having given orders for the 
march of a land column from Martaban to Shoe-gyne, under 
command of Brigadier-General Steel, C.B. On the 24th of 
December an Expedition left Rangoon, under Commanders 
Shadwell and Rennie,* of the ' Sphinx ' and ' Zenobia,' in their 
gigs, consisting of the following boats : — cutter of the ' Win- 
chester ;' barge of the ' Fox ;' paddle-box boat of the ' Sphinx, 1 
with a 24-pounder howitzer, and rocket-tubes ; two paddle-box 
boats of the ' Moozuflfer,' with two 12-pounder howitzers and 
forty men, under Lieutenant Mitcheson and Mr. Freeman ; and 
two paddle-box boats of the ' Zenobia,' with two 12-pounder 
howitzers and forty men, under Lieutenant Aylesbury and Mr. 

* Commander J. Rennie assumed command of the 'Zenobia' in September, 
vice Commander E. A. Ball, who had been obliged through failing health to relin- 
quish the command temporarily to Lieutenant Sedley, and died soon after. 



266 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Mason, Mate. This Expedition was despatched to protect the 
natives from the oppression of a tributary Burmese chief: pro- 
ceeding up a creek they passed a large village, and released an 
immense fleet of canoes, into which the poor people, who had 
been driven hither by the Burmese chief, embarked with their 
goods, and moved into the river under the protection of the 
boats, whence they proceeded to their respective homes. These 
canoes, which were counted as they passed out into the main 
stream, numbered thirteen hundred, and contained eight thou- 
sand and forty souls. The boats returned to Rangoon at day- 
break of New Year's Day, having been absent a week on their 
errand of mercy. 

On the 4th of January, 1853, Brigadier-General Steel em- 
barked at Rangoon, with his force, for Martaban, on board the 
'Moozuffer,' 'Zenobia,' and ' Berenice,' each towing a transport, 
and H.M.S. ' Sphinx,' bearing the broad pennant of Commodore 
Lambert, towing a ship laden with ordnance and stores. On 
the following day, the troops were disembarked at Martaban, 
which was now defended by the ' Ferooz,' Commodore Lynch, 
and three batteries, called respectively the North and South 
Batteries, and the Hill Stockade, counting in all fourteen 
pieces of ordnance. In the North Battery was one 68-pounder 
from the ' Zenobia,' which has been noted as so effective in 
keeping the enemy away after their attack of the 26th of May ; 
this gun was now laid so as to command a stockade on a hill, 
eighteen hundred yards distant. On the 14th of January, 
General Steel set out for Tonghoo, which he entered after 
a fatiguing march through two hundred and forty miles of 
unknown forest. 

The boats of the ' Ferooz ' saw much service while she lay as 
guardship at Martaban. In the latter part of December, 1852, 
Lieutenant G. T. Holt had a sharp brush with the enemy off 
the Moulmein River, in which Midshipman Thomas Stanley 
Clay — afterwards Captain in the Bombay Fusiliers — and some 
men were severely wounded. He writes to us : — " On return- 
ing to the 'Ferooz' (from which I was distant some twenty 
miles) through the creeks at night, we passed through the worst 
fire I was ever under ; how we escaped I don't know, for the 
creeks were not more than fifty yards wide, if that, and less at 
places. I at last tried firing rockets (signal) horizontally 
through the bushes on both sides, and that so frightened them, 
that we were left unmolested the rest of the way. The enemy 
frequently hailed us, and told us to land and fight like men. 
Our boats and oars were tremendously cut up by their slugs. 
On this occasion I captured several war canoes, forty feet long, 
no end of arms, old John Company's muskets, and destroyed 
their barns with about two or three hundred tons of rice. We 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 207 

must have killed a great number of the enemy, but had no 
means of computing the number."* 

About the 20th of January some of the ' Ferooz's ' boats, 
under Acting-Master Price, captured and destroyed a stockade 
some ten or twelve miles up the Beeling creek, in the Sal ween 
River. Commodore Lynch, not knowing of this attack, pro- 
ceeded up the river to destroy the stockade, in the ' Medusa,' 
which had shortly before arrived from Prome, but found that 
the work had been satisfactorily completed. The commodore 
then retimed to Moulmein, where the 'Ferooz' lay, and the 
' Medusa ' proceeded up the Salween to protect the commis- 
sariat boats bringing provisions to Beeling. The ' Proserpine ' 
at this time attempted to make her way up the Sittang, but was 
obliged to return owing to the '-bore." On the 12th of 
February, as the British column was marching to Tonghoo, 
General Steel met at Shoe-gyne, Lieutenant Hellard, First- 
Lieutenant of the ' Ferooz,' who, with the energy and enter- 
prise for which he was distinguished, had forced his way up the 
Sittang,f from Martaban, witli three boats of the ' Ferooz,' 
escorting seven native boats laden with provisions for the force. 
Lieutenant Hellard had experienced great difficulty in entering 
the river, owing to the numerous and extensive sand-banks, 
the channels between which had never been properly surveyed, 
and also from the " bore," which, on one occasion, was about 
six feet high, and might have swamped his boats had they not 
been hauled up in a small creek. On leaving Shoe-gyne, 
General Steel resolved to take half of the twenty day's pro- 

* Commodore Lambert wrote to Government expressing his warm approval of 
Lieutenant Holt's gallantry, which elicited the following letter from Mr. Allen, 
Officiating Secretary to the Government of India, to his Excellency the Naval 
Commander-in-chief, dated Fort William, the 4th of January, 1S53 : — 

"I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of 
the 27th ultimo, and in reply to express the satisfaction of the Governor-General 
in Council with the conduct of Lieutenant G. T. Holt of the Indian Navy in 
having driven a body of the enemy, with much loss to them, from the creeks on 
the Martaban shore." 

f Colonel H. Yule, the historian of Major Phayre's Mission to Ava in 1855, 
says of the Sittang : — 

" The course of the Sittang is tortuous throughout the province, but especially 
for fifty miles north of the cantonment of Shwegyeen it writhes like a wounded 
snake, so that the development of the stream would nearly double the actual 
length of the valley. Throughout its course it is shallow and full of shoals, over 
which boats of any size have to be dragged laboriously, in passing between 
Shwegyeen and Tonghoo in the dry season. The lower part of the river presents 
a still greater obstacle to navigation in the remarkable bore, occasioned by the 
union of two portions of the tidal wave of the Indian Ocean, which drives up the 
narrowing funnels of the estuary with a speed, it is stated, of nearly twelve miles 
an hour, and with a crest raised sometimes nine feet above the surface. Native 
boats do frequently make the dangerous entry, but it has never been accom- 
plished by our steamers, though it has been attempted. The important frontier 
station of Tonghoo is thus, by the wild nature of the country on the one hand, 
and by the wilder water-access on the other, deprived of all easy and effective 
communication with Eangoon, the centre of Government, of supply, and of 
reinforcement." 



268 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY*. 

visions at his disposal, in boats up the Sittang River, escorted 
by the boats of the ' Ferooz,' the other half being carried by 
sixty elephants and forty carts. On the 22nd of February, the 
British column entered Tonghoo, and, soon after, the provision 
boats, under Lieutenant Hellard, arrived. 

Lieutenant Hellard has kindly supplied us with the following 
narrative of the proceedings of the 'Ferooz,' from the capture 
of Rangoon up to the time of his return from the Sittang River, 
where he was employed for a period of over four months : — ■ 
" Soon after the taking of Rangoon the ' Ferooz ' proceeded to 
Calcutta, leaving the pinnace behind in charge of Mr. Midship- 
man Hurlock, who was actively employed in the Irrawaddy 
until our return with Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of 
India. After taking his lordship back we were ordered to pro- 
ceed to Moulmein to protect Martaban, and also to clear the 
various creeks in its vicinity, and the boats were constantly 
employed on this service, having an occasional brush with the 
enemy. On one occasion, Lieutenant Holt being in command, 
accompanied by Messrs. Midshipman Clay and Hurlock, they 
had a sharp engagement, drove the Burmese from their 
stockade, which was destroyed, together with a large store of 
grain ; in this engagement Mr. Midshipman Clay was wounded. 
In the Beeling Creek I was in charge on several occasions, but 
the enemy generally retreated on the appearance of the boats, 
although they had cut down trees across and staked them down 
for miles, and we were days employed in clearing it, this being 
the nearest way to Sittang. Being also stationed in Moulmein 
with a view of assisting the force proceeding to Tonghoo, under 
General Steel, I volunteered to attempt an entrance into the 
River Sittang, although the Commodore, Captain Lynch and 
others, had, after visiting the entrance, declared it impossible 
for any ship's boat to enter it, on account of the bar. I was at 
first refused, but at last permission was granted, provided I 
could find volunteers to man three boats. At muster next day 
the whole of the crew stepped to the front to accompany me, 
the great difficulty being to decide who should. We started in 
the two sponson boats and the second cutter, with seven native 
boats laden with provisions for the troops, the officers accom- 
panying me being Mr. Connor, Acting-Master, and Messrs. 
Midshipmen Hurlock and Liardet. We successfully opened 
the navigation of the river. On arriving at Sittang, finding 
the General had gone on to Shoe-gyne, I lost no time in joining 
him, and in twenty-four hours started for Tonghoo, keeping up 
a daily communication with the army. They, however, made a 
forced march, surprised the enemy and took the place, and the 
boats arrived shortly afterwards. We were kept for about two 
months, and, after conveying the General to Sittang, returned 
to the 'Ferooz,' encountering the first burst of the south-west 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 2G9 

monsoon, in which the sponson boats were nearly swamped. I 
should have mentioned that the cutter with Connor returned to 
the ship before this. A survey of the Sittang I handed in to 
Captain Lynch, who forwarded it to Government, together 
with a report on the river, derived from information furnished 
by me. Some of the boats were nightly employed in pro- 
tecting Martaban, the alarm being usually given about eight 
p.m., not returning to the ship till after daylight. On one 
occasion the Burmese attacked in force, driving in the outpost 
guard on the hill : the boats started at once in command of two 
commissioned officers and two midshipmen, retaking the out- 
post and holding it until reinforcements arrived, when the 
enemy was driven back and pursued a considerable distance, 
assisted by the guns of the 'Ferooz.' " 

Commodore Lynch called for Lieutenant Hellard's journal 
while employed on the Sittang, which, together with his chart, 
was forwarded to the Supreme Government; and a report on 
the navigation of the river, which was afterwards sent in, was 
drawn up from notes supplied by that officer. Lieutenant 
Hellard was offered surveying allowance for himself alone, or 
extra batta for all engaged under his orders ; and, animated by 
the praiseworthy feeling that those who shared the danger and 
labour should also partake of the reward, he accepted the latter 
alternative, so that all the officers and men received batta.* 

* Colonel (afterwards Sir) Archibald Bogle, Commissioner of the Tenasserira 
and Mergui Provinces, wrote from Tonghoo, under date the 8th of March, 1853, 
to Commodore Lynch, regarding the opening of the Sittang river by Lieutenant 
Hellard and his officers and men, in the following terms : — 

"I attach so much importance to this event that I have lost no time in bringing 
it to the knowledge of the Most Noble the Governor-General in Council, who 
will, I am sure, highly appreciate Lieutenant Hellard's enterprise. No man-of- 
war's boat ever before made good its passage into the Sittang, and the dangers and 
difficulties of its navigation have hitherto had the effect of closing it to commerce ; 
but without a survey, without charts or pilots, the boats of the ship under your 
command have found a passage into the river, and have conducted in safety a 
fleet of provision-boats to the important military post of Tonghoo, and proved the 
practicability and safety of a most valuable line of communication. I consider 
this extremely creditable to all concerned, and I beg you will do me the favour to 
intimate to Lieutenant Hellard, and the officers and seamen under his command, 
the high opinion I entertain of the skill, prudence, aud patient perseverance with 
which this important service has been accomplished." 

The Bombay Government, under date the 21st of April, 1853, thanked 
Lieutenant Hellard for his services, and the Secretary to the Government of 
India, under date the 6th of July, 1853, in communicating the thanks of 
Government to Lieutenant Hellard for his " two charts and journals," conveyed 
" the approbation with which the Governor-General in Councd has received his 
enterprising and persevering exertions, in conjunction with other officers, and 
boats' crews of the ' Ferooz,' in making good an entrance into the Sittang, and 
affording material aid to the column under General Steel. The Governor- 
General in Council has already taken occasion to bring Lieutenant Hellard's 
name under special notice of the Hon. the Court of Directors in connection with 
this valuable service on the Sittang." 

Of the services of his first-lieutenant, Commodore Lynch says : — " Lieutenant 
Hellard distinguished himself on every occasion by his abdity as an officer, and 



270 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Towards the end of the year 1852, a notorious Burmese 
chief, Mya-toon by name, having under his orders a force of 
seven thousand desperadoes, had infested the neighbourhood of 
Rangoon, and burned down Donabew, on the right bank of the 
Irrawaddy, and also many villages. Mya-toon was a man of 
resource and skill, as we found to our cost, and became the 
dread of the country. On the 12th of December, 1852, Com- 
mander Hewett, with the boats of the ' Fox' and of his ship, 
under Lieutenant P. W. Mitcheson, surprised at Pantanno a 
body of three thousand Burmese belonging to Mya-toon's force, 
and killed a large number of them, including a chief. The 
attack was well planned, and executed with the dash and 
judgment for which the captain of the ' Moozuffer' was distin- 
guished. On the 16th of January following, a second attack 
was made on Pantanno, by Commander (now Rear-Admiral) 
Rowley Lambert of the 'Fox,' with the boats of the squadron, 
including those of the 'Moozuffer' and 'Zenobia,' the number 
of men embarked being about one hundred and eighty, and the 
place was carried with small loss. On the following day, 
Commander Lambert made an advance up a creek to attack the 
energy, in which he was not equally successful. There was 
not sufficient space for two boats to pass abreast in this creek, 
the banks of which were low and covered with jungle, while 
stakes impeded the passage, across which trees had been felled 
and dropped. The boats had only proceeded a few miles 
when a volley of musketry was fired upon them from 
each bank. Several men fell ; the fire became " hotter 
and hotter," and, at length, the boats were forced to 
retire with a loss of twelve killed and wounded, including 
among the latter the Senior Lieutenant of the 'Moo- 
zuffer,' an officer of distinguished gallantry and ability, 
who had led the party which, on the 12th of December, had 
carried Pantanno with small loss. Lieutenant Mitcheson 
received two wounds on this occasion, and the second in the 
left leg was so severe that he had to submit to amputation.* 

his zeal and gallantry in the performance of every duty on which he was employed, 
either on board the ship or on detached duty in command of the boats. Lieu- 
tenant Hellard volunteered to command the boat expedition, which was the first 
to enter the River Sittang, a most difficult and dangerous service, in which he was 
fully successful, and was of great assistance to the troops employed under General 
Steel on the east bank of the Sittang. I cannot speak too highly of Lieutenant 
Hellard. The very perfect and efficient order of the ' Ferooz ' is mainly to be 
attributed to his untiring zeal and exertions." 

* Commodore Lambert, under date, " Trincomalee, October 28, 1853," sent 
Lieutenant Mitcheson the following certificate : — 

" This is to certify that Lieutenant P. W. Mitcheson, of the Indian Navy, was 
specially brought to my notice by Commander R. Lambert, of H.M.'s ship ' Fox,' 
in command of the Expedition, for his gallant conduct when in charge of the 
' Moozuffer's ' boats in an attack on the enemy's position near Pantanno, on the 
10th and 17th of January, 1853, on which occasion he was twice wounded, the 
second time so severely as to cause amputation of the left leg." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 271 

Very remarkable was the judgment and gallantry displayed 
by Commander Rennie, of the steam frigate ' Zenobia,' in some 
operations which he undertook against a strong Burmese force, 
under the Menghee, or Governor, of Bassein, in conjunction 
with Captain Fytche, the newly-appointed Deputy Commis- 
sioner. 

Commander Rennie only arrived at Bassein on the evening 
of the 19th of January, and, at eight a.m. of the 21st, accom- 
panied by Captain Fytche, started in the 'Nemesis,' leaving the 
boats of the 'Zenobia' up the Dugga Creek, for the purpose of 
driving out the chief at Kbyoung Gou. On reaching the village 
of Khan Gee Goung at five p.m., Commander Rennie found that 
the depth of water would not permit of the ' Nemesis ' proceed- 
ing further; accordingly, at eight, he left with the boats* of 

Commander Hewett wrote to him : — 

" I have the greatest pleasure in forwarding you a certified copy of a letter to 
the address of the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, from the Governor 
in Council at Bombay, wherein his Lordship in Council conveys the expression of 
his regret that the severe wound received by you deprives the Service, for a time, 
of your valuable assistance. You will, I trust, allow me to express the same senti- 
ments whdst gallantly storming for a second time that unfortunate stronghold 
which has proved so destructive to life and health." 

On his return to Bombay, Lieutenant Mitcheson was ordered home on sick 
leave, and the Hon. the Court of Directors obtained permission from the 
Admiralty for him to study gunnery on board H.M.'s ship 'Excellent' at 
Portsmouth, when the gallant officer obtained a first-class certificate in gunnery, 
and a first-class certificate in mathematics, Sir Thomas Maitland notifying at its 
foot: — "Notwithstanding the loss of his leg, I consider Lieutenant Mitcheson 
well qualified for the superintendence of the gunnery instruction." Whilst 
on leave he also studied to prepare for the duties of naval instructor, obtaining 
a certificate on the subject, and on his return to India was appointed to act 
as Indian Naval Instructor pending the pleasure of the Court of Directors, 
the duty involved being to examine, as well as to instruct, officers of the Indian 
Navy in navigation. He was also afterwards made a member of the Local 
Marine Board, and Special Member for Examinations in Navigation, and from 
September, 1860, to September, 1861, during the absence on leave of Lieutenant 
Fergusson, was Superintendent of the Bombay Observatory, and also Indian Naval 
Draughtsman. 

* The following is the strength of the force with which Commander Rennie 
proceeded on the 22nd of January . — 

' Zenobia.' — Gig, Commander Rennie, Mr. Dowell, midshipman, six seamen ; 
pinnace, one 12-pounder, Mr. Wood, mate, Mr. McEvoy, warrant officer, thirteen 
seamen ; port paddle-box boat, one 12-pounder, Lieutenant Aylesbury, Assistant- 
Surgeon Crawford, fourteen seamen, two artillerymen, two natives ; starboard 
paddle-box boat, one 12-pounder, Lieutenant Manderson, Bengal Artillery, (who 
volunteered his services), Mr. Eckley (a), midshipman, six seamen, three artillery- 
men, ten Natives ; cutter, one 3-pounder, Mr. Channon (a), midshipman, thir- 
teen seamen. Total : one commander, two lieutenants, one assistant-surgeon, one 
mate, three midshipmen, one warrant-officer, fifty-two seamen, five artillerymen, 
and twelve natives. 

' Nemesis.' — Mr. Arthur Baker, first officer, in charge of starboard paddle-box 

(a) These two officers belonged to the Bengal Service, and were received on 
board at Rangoon for passage to join the surveying vessels ' Krishna ' and 
' Spy,' and, having no midshipmen, Commander Rennie availed himself of their 
services. 



272 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the ' Zenobia ' and ' Nemesis,' and, at two p.m. on the following 
day, reached the outposts of the enemy. On n earing the posi- 
tion, the Burmese opened tire on the boats from a stockade on 
the left bank, from which they were speedily expelled by a dis- 
charge of grape and canister. Cutting their way through the 
stakes, which extended right across the creek and for some 
twenty yards in depth, the force at once pushed on for the 
village of Khyoung Gou, about three miles distant. On their 
arrival they found the post deserted, when Captain Fytche's 
Kareens immediately started in pursuit, and came up with the 
Burmese rear guard, whom they pressed so closely that the 
chief in command escaped with difficulty. The Burmese troops, 
on being driven from Khyoung Gou, retreated to Eugma, a large 
village sixteen miles inland, nearly equidistant from Donabew 
and Pantanno.* As the natives assured Commander Rennie 
that there was a tolerable road all the way, he determined 
to follow them ; and, having landed one 12-pounder and three 
3-pounder guns, at daylight, on the 23rd, started off in pursuit, 
the guns, he says, " being dragged by hand over a rough road, 
and sometimes over a paddy field, without a grumble or com- 
plaint." The advance guard, consisting of a large body of 
natives, was led by Captain Fytche, who, at two p.m., came in 
collision with a strong party of the enemy, whom he dispersed, 
the chief falling b} T his hand. The wdiole force then pursued them 
through Eugma, a village consisting of above three thousand 
houses, which was burned ; and, finding that they were com- 
pletely broken, halted for the night, and bivouacked in an open 
plain. As the spies reported that the enemy intended a night 
attack, Commander Rennie planted his guns at the corners of 
the encampment, the men sleeping under arms. At daylight, 
on the 25th, the whole force retraced their steps to Khyoung 
Gou, and, on learning that the Burmese had retreated to the 
northward for the purpose of joining the Menghee at Kyouk 
Khyourz Ko-say, they re-embarked in the boats, and, after 
a fatiguing pull, reached the 'Nemesis' at five p.m. on 
the 25th.f 

boat, with eleven Europeans, and' Mr. Arthur Farquhar, clerk-in-charge, (volun- 
teer) ; Mr. Henry John Jane, second officer, in charge of port paddle-box boat, 
with ten Europeans, and Mr. Ivory, carpenter, (volunteer) ; Mr. Diego Dias, mid- 
shipman, in charge of first cutter, with five Europeans and four Seedees, accom- 
panied by Mr. William Stevenson, surgeon. 

* See despatch of Commander Rennie to Commodore Lambert, dated Bassein, 
3rd February, 1853. 

t The beneficial effect produced by this success, and the moral dread in which 
the evil-doers held Europeans, is exemplified in a remarkable manner by au inci- 
dent jotted down in his journal at the time of its occurrence, by Commander 
Rennie. He writes : — " On our way back we met many of the inhabitants re- 
turning from the jungle to their village, and all highly pleased with the success 
of our expedition. We had a convincing proof of the dread they feel for our 
power this evening in the following manner. On our way back, a small but re- 
spectable party met Fytche and asked his permission to return, which he granted, 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 273 

On the 26th the boats again proceeded at daylight in tow 
of the ' Nemesis,' through the Bugga creek, and up the Bassein 
river, till five p.m., when they anchored for the night at Pyagee, 
and, at daylight of the 27th, proceeded on to Na Thoung 
Goung, a large town, beyond which there was not sufficient 
water for the steam vessel ; there Commander Rennie obtained 
information that the Menghee had quitted his encampment two 
days before, and had retired to Lamena, and that the force 
which had been driven from Eugma, amounting to twelve hun- 
dred men, had passed on to join him. The two officers having 
determined on attacking the Menghee, started in the boats at 
five a.m. of the 28th, and reached Lamena in thirteen hours. 
On their arrival the people, if not hostile, appeared very luke- 
warm, and they could obtain no authentic information of the 
enemy's movements. 

A careful watch was kept, the boats being placed in position 
and the guns loaded. At midnight, intelligence was received 
that the Menghee's force, amounting to three thousand fighting- 
men, was posted in a position not more than eight miles off. As 
they feared he might escape, Captain Fytche sent forward all the 
natives in whom any reliance could be placed, in order that, by 
a forced march and making a circuit to the right, they might be 
able to head the Menghee's troops and stop their retreat. To 
give confidence to these natives, and insure his directions being 
followed out, Commander Rennie detached Mr. Baker, first 
officer of the 'Nemesis,' who left at half-past five a.m. on the 
29th, with three hundred picked men, accompanied by the 
Commissioner's Sheristadar (or magistrate's chief clerk) to act 
as interpreter. To allow him time to reach his post, the sea- 
men waited until seven a.m. before moving for Lamena, when 
they marched with the four guns, fastened to the axletrees of 
carts drawn by bullocks. On arriving at the spot indicated as 
the Menghee's position, it was discovered that he had moved at 
two a.m. and was then encamped eight miles in advance. The 
seamen being much knocked up by a march of about twelve 
miles in the heat of the clay, and Mr. Baker's force having 
failed in the object for which they had been sent forward, Com- 
mander Rennie encamped, and Captain Fytche sent out scouts, 
who reported that the Menghee was unconscious of the proxi- 
mity of an enemy, and that he certainly would not move before 
sunrise. A little before one a.m., favoured by the light of a 

and consequently some fifty of them, men and women, collected, and bringing a 
quantity of their goods and chattels from the jungle, were en route looted by some 
of our gallant friends. The poor people lodged their complaint before the Com- 
missioner, and in the dark he compelled the assemblage of every native. They 
crouched down to the amount of about two thousand ; he then with torches 
picked out the offenders, who admitted their crime, and though one of them was 
a chief commanding three hundred armed men, he then and there tied them up 
to posts and flogged them by a boatswain's mate, whilst, they were by the doctor 
reported capable of bearing punishment." 

VOL. II. T 






274 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

bright moon, the British force made a circuitous march through 
the woods on the enemy's right flank, emerging on his front at 
half-past five a.m., when they discovered by his innumerable 
fires that they were cooking the morning meal. A position 
whs now taken up half a mile on the Menghee's front, on the 
road by which he would have to advance. 

It was just sunrise when the enemy commenced their march, 
having been overheard by Captain Fytche, who had ridden 
down close to their advanced column, rejoicing in the idea of 
cutting up Mungwa and his Dacoits, for whom they had mis- 
taken the British column, which was supposed to be still at 
their former camping ground. Soon after, their advanced 
guard, consisting of eight hundred well-armed Ava soldiers, 
approached the British position, and, as the guns were partially 
hidden from their view, and the small party, consisting of only 
eight}' blue-jackets, were kneeling down and almost concealed 
by the morning mist, they came on shouting and yelling to 
within two hundred yards, when they opened a well-directed 
fire of musketry, by which two seamen were wounded. By this 
time, the enemy being within good range of the guns, Com- 
mander Rennie opened on the dense mass with grape and 
canister, which effectually stopped their advance, and, on 
receiving a second discharge, they broke and fled — a confused 
rabble. Forty-eight dead bodies were found on the field, and 
fifty prisoners were taken, including the Menghee's two sons. 
The pursuit was continued till seven a.m., when a jungle was 
reached, totally impenetrable to a European, and the force 
halted for breakfast. The object of the Expedition having been 
thus crowned with the most complete success, Commander Rennie 
marched at ten, without a halt, to Lamena, which he reached at 
seven the same evening, the men having marched between 
thirty and thirty-four miles since one a.m., no mean exploit, 
considering the state of the roads, and that they had to drag 
the guns part of the time, for the bullock-drivers took the carts 
to the rear directly the enemy came in sight, and did not return 
until the force bivouacked for breakfast. 

The following day, Commander Rennie left Lamena in the 
boats at nine a.m., and, after a long pull, at seven p.m. reached 
the 'Nemesis' at Nathaung-Goung, where, at the Deputy- 
Commissioner's request, he remained the following clay, and, 
leaving on the 2nd of February, with the boats in tow of the 
steam-vessel, arrived at Bassein at noon on the 3rd. During 
the Expedition thus successfully concluded, six guns, one jingall, 
and three hundred muskets were captured.* 

* The following letter by Commander Rennie, gives further details of this 
remarkable achievement : — 

" Bassein, February 4th. 

"When I last wrote you we were on the eve of departure for Bassein, where 
we arrived on the 19th, and were immediately applied to by Fytche, the Deputy 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 275 

Commander Rennie displayed the usual generosity of his 
cloth, for which he was specially noted in the Service, by con- 

Comtnissioner, to co-operate with the officer commanding the garrison, and to 
assemble a force sufficient to expel the Burmese troops from the province. On 
applying to the commandant lie could not spare a man, having no authority to 
detach any from the garrison, his command being restricted to its defence. I was 
thus left to my own resources, and finding that, combining with the ' Nemesis,' I 
could muster eighty bayonets, I at once acceded to Fytche's request, and started 
next morning, the 21st, in the ' Nemesis ' to meet the 'Zenobia's' boats. We 
went on in the ' Nemesis' until the creek shoaled to six feet, when we started in 
our boats, and after a severe pull, reached the enemy's outposts at two p.m. on 
the 22nd. This was a strong; position, a stockade on the left bank, with two 
jingalls, and defended by two hundred and fifty men armed with muskets, whilst 
at the distance of one hundred yards in front, they had staked the creek right 
across in tiers, so as to pi-event our advance. The moment we came within range 
they opened fire, but a discharge of grape and canister from our seven boats 
speedily sent them to the right about, and in a few minutes we opened a passage 
through the stakes ; the men jumping into the water and cutting a way through 
with pole-axes. We burned the stockade and pushed on for Khan Gree Groung, 
where they had eight hundred men ; the dose at the stockade proved too strong 
for the nerves of the Burmese, and when we reached the village we found they 
had bolted, leaving everything behind them. Our native allies, amounting to 
some two thousand, went after them, and so hotly were they chased that the 
chief who commanded, threw off all his gold clothing, his culottes, &c, even to his 
long stockings, all of which were picked up and brought in. They retreated to 
Eugiua, sixteen miles inland, and we started after them the next morning at 
daylight. At Eugma they had twelve hundred men, eight hundred with muskets 
and four hundred with dhaos and spears, and when within four or five miles of 
the place, Fytche, who was well in advance with the natives, came on their 
advance guard, consisting of about four hundred men, and was charged by the 
chief in person on horseback, whose career was put a stop to by a bullet from 
Fytche's unerring gun, upon which his followers broke and fled, and never stopped 
until clear of the village ; for, on our coming up with the guns, which we dragged 
by hand, I could only see a knot of about seventy men — these a single discharge 
sent off at double quick time, and leaving Manderson in charge of the artillery, I 
went on after them with the blue-jackets, but never got within reach of them. 
We then burned the village, or rather town, for it contained three thousand 
houses, and bivouacked on an open plain. Our scouts gave us reason to believe 
that the Burmese meditated an attack on us during the night ; their pluck failed 
them, and, save by a few distant shots, we were left undisturbed. The next 
morning we returned to the boats, and the morning after to the ; Nemesis,' getting 
back to her at sunset, after a pidl of eleven hours' duration. 

" Next morning, the 26th, we started off, towed by the ' Nemesis,' up Bassein 
River, to examine the Menghee's position ; but as he was known to have with 
him three thousand armed men, eight hundred of whom were tried Ava soldiers, 
we scarcely hoped for a successful result. We paddled along all that day, anchor- 
ing at sunset, and, proceeding on the following morning, reached a large town at 
noon on the 27th. We expected to have found the enemy posted twelve miles 
inland from this, but on arrival we learned he had vacated two hours previous, 
and was then near Lamena, some twenty-eight miles further up the river ; so on 
to Lamena we went in the boats and arrived there at dark on the 28th. After 
some little trouble we got intelligence of the Menghee's position, stated to be only 
six miles inland of us, that he had got three thousand fighting men with him, 
and coolies, women, &c, in all about ten thousand. However, Fytche was con- 
fident of success, and on we went at daylight, and by attaching our guns to 
bullock-carts got on very well till nearly noon, when we reached the position he 
had occupied the night previous ; hut instead of six miles it was twelve, and 
instead of the Menghee moving at sunrise, as stated to us he would, he had 
started at two a.m., and was now eight miles in advance. We went on four miles 
further, when our men being quite knocked up with the heat, we halted and 
cooked our dinner, sending out spies to bring us intelligence of the old man, a 

T 2 



276 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

ceding to Captain Fytche, in his letters and despatches, the chief 
merit of the success attending this remarkable achievement; 
but his colleague would be the first to disclaim the chief 
honours, which were justly due to the Commander of the 
* Zenobia,' who inspired his gallant blue-jackets with that 
ardour for the combat which animated him wherever powder 
was to be burned, while " all hands," officers and men, reposed 
the utmost confidence in a leader whose coolness and judgment 
were as remarkable as his dash and gallantry. The effect of 
this feat of arms was most striking, and, henceforth, the entire 
district of Bassein was tranquillised, and British authority de- 
finitely established. For his successful conduct of the Expe- 
dition, Commander Rennie received a letter, signed by Mr. 
Allen, Secretary to the Supreme Government, expressing the 
high approbation of the Governor-General. 

As it became necessary before all things that the daring 
guerilla chief, Mya-toon, whom his countrymen, doubtless, con- 
sidered a patriot of the Wallace type, should be ousted from 
the position he had taken up at Donabew, situated to the north- 
duty executed very faithfully ; and after dark they assured us he was quiet for 
the night and certainly would not move before next morning. Fytche now con- 
sidered him safe, but to insure complete success, he resolved on the bold experi- 
ment of getting on his front ; so after a few hours' rest we started off just after 
midnight, and by making a move to the right found oui'selves at five a.m. close to 
the old Menghee's force, their fires spreading over the plain, and we took up our 
position half a mile ahead on the road he must pass on advancing. A little before 
six they began to move, and for the first time were aware of their progress being 
checked ; but having no intimation of our being near them, they concluded we 
were a small band of Dacoits ; our guns, four in number, were masked by trees, 
and the Europeans were all kneeling down, almost concealed by the morning 
mist ; so on they marched very boldly, yelling out shouts of abuse and defiance, 
until they approached within two hundred j'ards. This was the advanced guard 
of one hundred Ava men, all musketeers, led by a very daring chief on horseback, 
flourishing his dhao. Here they opened a very well-directed h're, though rather 
high, and on two of our fellows getting hit, the guns sent a shower of canister and 
grape into the dense mass, which acted like an electric shock, and a repetition 
completely routed them, sending them flying over the plain a disorganized rabble, 
but leaving behind them forty-eight killed ; and we captured fifty prisoners, 
besides four gold umbrellas, three hundred muskets, and spears innumerable. 
Amongst the prisoners are the Menghee's two sons, aged nineteen and twenty- 
three, very nice-looking lads, one of them shot through the foot. We had no 
time to look for wounded men, nor do I fancy there were many, as they were so 
close to us ; the grape-shot and canister told their tale with terrible effect. The 
Menghee had a narrow escape, his horse was almost cut in two, and when last 
seen by his sons he had but four men with him, indeed, never were any body of 
troops so completely destroyed, and when we left, the villagers had turned out in 
hot pursuit, attracted by the rich loot the Menghee was known to possess. We 
got to Lamena that evening at seven p.m., the men having marched full thirty 
miles since one o'clock that morning. It will hardly be believed that eighty blue 
jackets backed by three to four hundred Kareens, who behaved very indifferently, 
coidd annihilate a force of nearly three thousand fighting men, not Dacoits, but 
mostly up-country soldiers. The whole success is of course mainly attributable to 
our having Fytche with us ; he is a very gallant, daring fellow, and the natives 
consider him invincible. We returned all the better for the trip, and have been 
absent just a fortnight, only one man sick out of the lot." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 277 

east of Pantanno, a strong force proceeded to attack him, and 
the result was the most sanguinary disaster of the war. This 
Expedition, consisting of one hundred and forty-three seamen, 
sixty-two marines, and twenty officers, from H.M.'s ships 
'Winchester,' 'Fox,' and ' Sphinx,' and three hundred men of 
the 67th Bengal Native Infantry, under Major Minchin, with 
two 3-pounder field guns from the ' Phlegethon,' the whole 
under the command of Captain Loch, C.B., of the ' Winchester,' 
left Donabew on the 3rd of February, 1853, and, on the follow- 
ing morning, found themselves opposite the strong entrenched 
position occupied by Mya-toon. Captain Loch was an enter- 
prising and very gallant officer, but deficient in judgment and 
totally unfitted for independent command on shore. Despising 
his enemy, he neglected the ordinary precaution of employing 
scouts, and advance and flanking parties, to apprise him of the 
position of the enemy in the thick jungle through which he 
had to penetrate ; and thus it happened that the first intimation 
he had of their proximity was a heavy and destructive fire, 
while he was ignorant of their numbers and the strength of 
their position. Captain Loch made repeated and gallant at- 
tempts to storm the enemy's position, but without avail ; and, at 
length, after Captain Price, of the 67th, Mr. Kennedy, First- 
Lieutenant of the ' Fox,' four seamen and marines, and four 
Sepoys, were killed, and Captain Loch (mortally), fift^-one sea- 
men and marines, and eighteen Sepoys, were wounded, the 
force was compelled to retreat, leaving behind the dead and 
both field-pieces. The disaster necessitated a second Expedi- 
tion, which General Godwin placed under the command of Sir 
John Cheape, and to act in support Commander Rennie under- 
took, at Sir John's request, a flank movement with his small band 
of eighty seamen and European marines of the 'Zenobia.' During 
this service it is difficult which to admire most, the boldness 
and caution of his advance, or the judgment with which he 
effected a retreat when forced to fall back ; throughout Com- 
mander Rennie, who was as good a soldier as sailor, brought to 
bear the experience he had acquired in the China War, when, as 
First-Lieutenant of the ' Sesostris,' he commanded the shore 
parties from that ship on every occasion when a naval brigade 
was employed. 

Commodore Lambert, Acting Commander-in-chief, arrived at 
Bassein in the ' Proserpine,' on the 19th of February, and, after 
warmly congratulating Commander Rennie on his success, 
entered into explanations of Captain Loch's disaster, and 
stated that he had despatched the 'Moozuffer' to Calcutta with 
despatches for the Governor-General. Commander Rennie 
proposed starting from Bassein with his men to co-operate in 
the Expedition against Mya-toon under Sir John Cheape, not- 
withstanding that the Military Commandant at Bassein de- 



278 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

clined to assist, and his Excellency agreed to permit him to do 
so. Accordingly, at 3.30 a.m., on the 26th of February, accom- 
panied by Captain Fytche, he started in the 'Nemesis,' towing 
all the ' Zenobia'8 ' boats, and proceeded up the Dugga Creek 
to Khan Gee Goung, and thence in the boats to Kongoon, 
where they arrived at eight a.m. on the 27th. Commander Rennie, 
having written to Sir John Cheape, reporting his arrival and 
requesting instructions, marched with his blue-jackets to 
Mygee, which was reached at ten p.m. on the 1st of March ; 
here he was reinforced by some two thousand native auxiliaries, 
with their chiefs, under Captain Fytche's orders, one-third of 
whom were armed with muskets. Having despatched flanking 
parties, with directions to be guided in their advance by the 
sound of his own guns he crossed over the river twenty carts 
for provisions and ammunition, and some canoes for pontoons. 
As the messenger to Sir John Cheape returned without having 
communicated, Commander Rennie started on his march on the 
following morning, using every precaution to guard against a 
surprise. Some firing took place between the advance guard 
and the enemy, when he halted and bivouacked. On the 3rd 
he marched again, as he says in his journal, " proceeding with 
great caution, feeling every inch of the road through a tree 
jungle, our flankers literally creeping along." They soon came 
upon three deserted breastworks, the last one " having a trench 
full of spikes in front, and a hole dug on either side." The 
advance party, on reaching the edge of the jungle, found the 
enemy in strong force on the opposite side of the creek ; and 
Mya-toon's men, who were dressed in the uniform of our Sepoys, 
opened a heavy fire from behind their breastwork, which Com- 
mander Rennie replied to by his guns. At this time an act of 
gallantry was performed by Lieutenants J. Sedley and J. Wood, 
who, accompaied by two seamen, under a heavy fire, swam 
across the creek, which was fifty yards wide and twenty feet 
deep. The enemy, seeing the Europeans on the left bank, beat 
a retreat, leaving a 9-pounder gun and three jingalls. During 
the afternoon, the Burmese returned to the attack in great 
numbers, upon which Commander Rennie opened on them with 
his guns, and a brisk action ensued. Finding that he had the 
main force of Mya-toon to contend with, he reluctantly recrossed 
his men with the carts and guns, in perfect order. The total 
loss during the day was eleven natives killed and wounded. 

It was not until the 5th of March that Commander Rennie 
became aware that Sir John Cheape had retreated to Donabew, 
there to await reinforcements from Rangoon, and had not the 
officers and men of the ' Zenobia ' been well disciplined and ably 
handled, it is not improbable that a disaster would have occurred 
not less sanguinary than that which befell Captain Loch. 

Commander Rennie arrived at Mygee at five p.m. on the 4th of 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 279 

March, when it was found that the native allies only mus- 
tered forty men, the remainder having disappeared in the 
jungle.* 

* The following Extracts from Commander Rennie's Journal, detail his pro- 
ceedings between the 2nd and 5th of March : — " 2nd March, 7.30. Started on our 
march, advancing very cautiously, our leading chief, Moung-tse-bo, evidently in 
a great funk, and proceeded until nine a.m., when we came on an outpost of some 
hundred men who fired and fled. The sound of the muskets did not improve 
Moung-tse-bo's nervous excitement, and he persuaded Fytcho to halt at ten 
o'clock on the plea of the place we had reached being the only spot where we 
would have a supply of water. We bivouacked in the open plain and remained 
undisturbed. 3rd. Still no reports of guns on our left as we had hoped. Seven a.m. 
Started for the Danao, proceeding with great caution, feeling every inch of the 
road through a tree jungle, our Hankers literally creeping along ; the road very 
good, and the jungle pretty open, with occasionally a dense thicket ; found the 
breastworks, three in number, deserted ; they were of no great value, the last one 
had a trench full of spikes in front, and had also a hole dug on either side. Moved 
round them, and crawled along for another mile, when Kotso, the native chief in 
advance, reported his being on the Danao Creek, i.e., at the edge of the jungle, 
whence he could see the creek, and that the opposite bank was held by 
five guns. Fancying that we were too late for the fun, and that the force under 
Sir John had outstripped us, I ran forward to prevent them firing on our natives, 
and discerned by the reception that Kotso had mistaken Mya-toon's people, who 
were all in uniform (blue coats with red head dresses), for Sepoys. The instant 
we showed, they opened a heavy fire upon us, but without doing us much harm. 
We were on an open bank and they were firing from breastworks in tolerable 
security, as we could only get a glimpse of their heads as they peeped over to fire, 
and as every head had a shower of bullets sent at it, they were not permitted 
much time to aim. However, seeing no chance of driving them out by a fusilade, 
I directed the men to cross the creek, about fifty yards wide and twenty feet deep. 
This was gallantly done by Sedley from the left, and Wood with two men swam 
across from the right and brought over a small canoe, and no sooner was a footing 
established on the left bank than the brave defenders bolted, leaving behind four 
dead, one gun, a 9-pounder, three jingalls, and thirty-two muskets. Not knowing 
what might be our next operation, and finding our friends dispersing to loot, I 
put a port fire to the village and burned it down. Fytche being decidedly of 
opinion that we should halt for the day, I deferred to his wish and piped to 
dinner. Moung-tse-bo was undoubtedly at the bottom of this, his courage, fast 
oozing away ever since we started, had quite left him under the heavy fire, and 
his nephew having been shot through the le;f by a jingall ball, which broke the 
bone, he was glad of any excuse to prevent an advance. We found the post to 
be of great strength and the entrenchments well built of mud faced on both sides, 
and spaces about three feet in height and as many thick, upon which our grape 
made no impression, and behind which the enemy remained in perfect security, 
thus accounting for their defence. We remained unmolested for the day until 
five p.m., when, having just emptied the men's firearms at a mark, and whilst in 
the act of refilling their pouches, we observed the enemy irj great numbers filing 
down the road from Mya-toon's camp and taking up positions in the jungle in 
front and on our flanks, we being, as it were, on the chord of an arc, having a 
diameter of about four hundred yards. No sooner had they got into position 
than they opened a fire of jingalls and musketry, replied to by our allies, and 
"whenever they collected in kuots by our guns. The latter soon slackened the 
enemy's fire, and by dark it had nearly ceased. The bullets flew thick and 
fast around, over, and amongst us, yet, strange to say, not a man was hurt, and 
only one grazed Fytche, a jingall ball, on the shoulder. In the meantime, as I 
saw we were in for a night of it, I got Sedley to form barricades of the carts, with 
our bullocks in the rear, and placing the four field-pieces at the angles, kept all 
ready to give them a warm reception, m case they dared to rush in. Our allies, 
in spite of every remonstrance, kept yelling like demons and blazing away their 
muskets, the coward Moung-tse-bo setting them an example in both avocations, 
and, as was anticipated, by two a.m. had nearly expended all they had. At four, 



280 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

On the 5th Commander Rennie marched to a large village 
ten miles in advance of Mygee, the inhabitants of which had 
taken refuge in a junk and begged his protection from Mya- 
toon ; several natives and one seaman died here from cholera. 
He sent messengers to Bassein for provisions on the 6th, and, 
on the following day, letters were received from Commodore 
Lambert from Pantanno, from Captain Smith, the Com- 
missioner, from Donabew, distant about twenty miles from 
Mya-toon's position, stating that Sir John Cheape had received 
reinforcements and would positively march on that day, and 
from Captain Garden, the Deputy Quartermaster-General, en- 
closing a sketch of the route by which Sir John intended to 
advance. On the evening of the 9th supplies arrived from 
Bassein, and, on the following day, Lieutenant Pearse, R.N., 
brought three days' provisions, sent by Captain Tarleton from 
Pantanno. Commander Rennie had determined to march again 
to the support of the main force, and only awaited the return of 
three of his boats which he had sent to Atoung, twenty miles 
up the river, under Lieutenant Sedley, when a scout came in 
with a report that Sir John Cheape was held in check by 
Mya-toon. On learning this news, notwithstanding that the 
native auxiliaries were greatly disheartened, he marched at seven 
p.m. on the 11th of March, and arrived, at noon on the following 
day, at Atoung, where two letters were received, of that morning's 
date, from Captain Smith, stating that Sir John had determined 
on retiring, and, being in want of guides and provisions, was 

Fytche told me there -would be trouble to bold tbem on the left bank any longer, 
that then- ammunition was all done, and that any advance was totally out of the 
question. We supplied them with a small quantity of powder to induce them to 
hold out a little longer, upon which they re-opened the ball, and in the meantime 
Sedley carried over our carts, ammunition, guns, &c, and in an hour and a half's 
time they reported all over but the rocket tube and eight men. The rocket I 
fired and then carried over, when having mustered all hands we returned to our 
boats, not a man hurt, not a thing left behind, we bringing with us a brass jingall 
as a trophy, and all things considered, though at the time I was averse to the 
retreat, yet I now think it was by far the best thing we could have done. I was 
relying on the certainty of Sir John Cheape being up that morning, so that, if 
deserted by all our natives, we could have held our own, and it was not until the 
5th that we were made aware of the flank movement by Sir John having been 
converted into a retreat to Donabew, where they halted and sent to Rangoon for 
reinforcements. Our native allies no sooner found out that we were crossing the 
creek, than they followed the same course, only not in the same quiet manner, 
and over they came, yelling like devils and swimming. By degrees, from the 
noise made, the enemy knew we were retiring, and accordingly followed us to the 
bank, yet with great caution, for we were all over some time before they fired at 
us, and, it being a dense fog, their firing passed us harmlessly. Our total loss 
amounted to eleven killed and wounded, all natives ; and the enemy acknow- 
ledged losing from thirty to forty. Out of the host who marched from the Dugga 
with us, only forty accompanied us back, the remainder disappeared in the jungle. 
We returned by a capital road a little to the west of the one we advanced by, and 
remaining at a small village till our boats came down, returned to Mygee at five 
p.m., where we found the people in great alarm, fancying Mya-toon would revenge 
himself by burning their village." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 281 

quite unable to say when he would advance. As Commander 
Rennie notes in his Journal, it was fortunate for the safety of 
his small party that he had not marched before. Mya-toon, 
whose position was only eighteen miles distant, sent a party to 
reconnoitre the village, but they retired on being fired at. 
Commodore Rennie now sent a boat to the ' Nemesis,' with 
directions to bring up supplies for a fortnight, from the 
' Zenobia ' at Bassein, ninety miles distant ; and the boat 
returned from the 'Nemesis' at one a.m. of the 17th, "doing 
one hundred and thirty miles in fifty-three hours." On the 
17th a letter was received from Captain Garden, to the effect 
that the advance would positively take place on the following 
day, the distance to Mya-toon's position being only seven and 
a half miles. 

Before nine a.m. on the 18th, Captains Rennie and Fytche 
marched with the blue-jackets and two hundred and seventy 
native auxiliaries, to act in co-operation with the main column, 
consisting of twenty-two officers and six hundred and five Euro- 
pean troops, and twelve officers and six hundred and three 
Sepoys, besides guns, mortars, and rocket-tubes. At two p in. 
the sailors bivouacked, and, early on the morning of the 19th, 
marched in the direction of Sir John Cheape's guns, which 
were heard about two and a half miles distant The line of 
route was through a dense jungle, where occasionally the 
enemy opened fire only to retire when the guns replied with 
canister. The sailors captured three entrenchments, admirably 
constructed, where they took two guns, and, soon after, heard 
the bugles and saw the red coats of Sir John Cheape's force- 
on the left bank of the stream. To the disgust of Commander 
Rennie and " all hands," the blue-jackets arrived on the scene 
just too late to participate in the attack on Mya-toon's position, 
which had been carried, with heavy loss, by storming parties 
led by Lieutenant Taylor, of the 9th Native Infantry, and 
Ensign Wolseley, of Her Majesty's 80th, the former of whom died 
a soldier's death, and the latter survived from a ghastly wound 
in the thigh to win immortal renown as the Commander of the 
Red River and Ashantee Expeditions. The officers and men of 
the Naval Brigade were warmly welcomed by the force, the mess 
of Her Majesty's 51st, (which regiment had greatly distinguished 
itself during the day), entertaining the former most hospitably.* 

Commander Rennie was busily occupied on the 20th, assist* 

* Sir John Cheape's losses between the 27th of February and the 191 h of March, 
inclusive, were as follows :— Killed, two officers, Ensign Boileau, 67th Bengal 
Native Infantry, and Lieutenant Taylor, 9th Madras Native Infantry, and nine- 
teen non-commissioned officers and men. Wounded, twelve officers and ninety- 
three rank and file. It is a singular circumstance that among the officers wounded 
in Captain Loch's ill-fated expedition was Lieutenant Glover of the ' Sphinx ' 
(now Sir John Glover), the coadjutor of Sir Garnet Wolseley during the Ashantee 
War. ' 



282 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

ing in preparing boats for the sick and wounded soldiers, one 
hundred and thirty in number, whom Sir John Cheape wished 
to send down by the steamers to Donabcw, and, on the fol- 
lowing day. some thirty of them were despatched under the 
directions of Captain Tarleton, guarded by the boats of the 
squadron. The entire force commenced the return march on 
the 22nd, and Commander Rennie arrived at Bassein on the 
evening of the 25th. Of the 'Zenobia's' men, two died of 
cholera, three others were severely injured from a tree falling 
on them during a heavy thunderstorm, and all the remainder, 
officers and men, suffered from exhaustion and illness caused 
by exposure, which ultimately proved fatal in some cases.* 

* Commander Rennie writes as follows in his Journal, of the proceedings of 
the 18th and 19th of March : — " 8.45. a m. Our allies having joined, and amount- 
ing to two hundred and seventy men with muskets, and about as many carrying 
provisions, armed with dhnos, we started, and marching over a tolerably open 
country, advanced rapidly for a couple of miles, then a mile of heavy jungle with 
large trees cut down and thrown across the path, rendering it impassable, and breast- 
works thrown up about every hundred yards on either side of the road, which 
was cut up with trenches and spiked. After getting through these impediments, 
we again proceeded by a tolerable road and pretty open country until two p.m., 
when we halted in a large open plain, from which our advance guard had driven 
an outpost of some fifty men, and in whose sheds we found some little shelter 
from the intense heat. Here we barricaded ourselves for the night in case of an 
attack, and it was quite astonishing to see the rapidity with which the natives 
formed theirs. At eight p.m. we fired three guns to signalize to the army our 
position, and they were instantly replied to by three rockets in a south-easterly 
direction, apparently about four miles distant. Feeling now secure as to Sir 
John's advance, I directed the men to breakfast at five a.m., and at 7.30 started 
on a forward movement in a fog. We, however, had capital guides, one of whom 
left Mya-toon's camp at midnight, and who knew every inch of the road. At 
eight a.m. we drove in a picket of some fifty men who fired and fled, and at 8.30 
heard Sir John open fire, distance about two and a half miles. At nine we came 
upon a dense jungle whence we were fired on, but a dose of canister from our 
12-pounders sent them to the right about and we entered the thicket, and until 
11.30 were occupied cutting our way through the two miles of obstructions. The 
road was quite impracticable for a mile and a half, felled trees all the way, and 
three very strong entrenchments defending the path, the centre one full a thou- 
sand yards long and admirably constructed. Our guides told us when we 
approached them, and by threatening their flanks, which was ably done by our 
natives, we passed unmolested. We captured two small brass guns from the 
centre entrenchment, and a spy told us when he passed the enemy before at 
sunset that one of the ' Phlegethon's ' guns was planted there, but, much to our 
disappointment, it had been withdrawn during the night. Just as we emerged 
from the jungle we heard the bugles of Sir John's advance guard, and five 
minutes afterwards we discovered them on the left bank of the stream, at the 
village of Kuentanee. This village extends on both sides, so, halting my men, I 
crossed over and, finding the road by the left bank was stated to be much shorter, 
crossed over the guns, &c, and piped to dinner. Moved off in about an hour and 
joined Sir John about one mile off in a plain, and about an hour afterwards 
accompanied him to the village of Kymen-ku-Dyun, to arrive at which we had 
again to cross the river ; put the men into quarters, and received a most hospitable 
invitation from H.M.'s 51st Regiment to join their dinner. I rode over the place 
in company with Sir John Cheape afterwards, and his expressions were : ' D — n 
me if 1 think much of the place after all — heh ?' ' We ought not to have lost so 
many men here, heh ?' ' D — n me if I think much of it — heh, Thompson?' ap- 
pealing to his aide-de-camp. In the first place, the attack ought to have been 
made from the Bassein side, and not from Henzada or from Honabew. Also 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 283 

Commander Reimie received letters of approval of his con- 
duct during the operations against Mya-toon, from Commodore 
Lambert and Lord Dalhousie, couched in very handsome terms, 
which he had the satisfaction of communicating to the officers 
and men who had served under his orders with the gallantry 
and discipline of veteran troops. This was the last service of 
importance rendered by the 'ZenobiaV crew, for such cannot 
be considered a brush Lieutenant Sedley, when in command of 
one of the boats, had with some Dacoits when he proceeded to 
Pantanno to clear the river of them, in accordance with in- 
structions received from Rangoon. On the 27th of June the 
' Zenobia ' quitted Bassein and proceeded to Kyonk Phyoo and 
Akyab. The operations against Mya-toon, resulting in the 
dispersion of his followers, concluded the Burmese War, which, 
though not productive of any startling achievements by our 
Military and Naval forces, cost the country, according to the "Hur- 
karu," up to the 12th of June, 1853, in casualties to officers as 
follows: — Killed and died, fifty-eight, including, of the Indian 
Navy, Commander Ball, who died soon after leaving Burmah, and 
Midshipmen Cobbold, on the 9th of May, 1852, and Evans, on the 
1st of June, 1852. Wounded, forty-five, including Lieutenants 
Mitcheson (twice), Aylesbury, and Windus ; Acting-Lieutenants 
Hunter and Brazier, and Midshipman Clay. Proceeded on sick 
certificate, eighty nine, of whom twenty- four belonged to the 
Indian Navy.* During the same period it is said that thirteen 
hundred and fifty- three European soldiers and seamen, 
and above two thousand Sepoys, perished by the sword or 
disease in Burmah, 

In consequence of the paucity of officers in the squadron at 
Burmah — owing to the arduous boat duty and unhealthy 
climate having necessitated the departure of so large a number 
on medical certificate to Europe and the Mahableshwur Hills, 
the great resort of sick officers of the Bombay Presidency — 
on the 16th of February, Commander Drought and Lieutenants 
Child and Peevor proceeded round to Burmah, the former reliev- 
ing Commander Campbell, whose health had broken down, in 

they were to blame for having moved at all before they had guides to show them 
where to go, and the first Hank movement was a blunder ; they were then only 
four miles from Myatoon's position, and their retiring gave him great confidence ; 
then even at the last, although aware of our proximity, they, instead of 
waiting half an hour for our arrival, by which we should have got in the rear of 
Mya-toon, went blindly on, and came unexpectedly to an obstruction which 
taxed them to the utmost to overcome, and without inflicting any loss on the 
enemy." 

* The following were the officers who left Burmah on sick leave to Europe and 
India : — To Europe, Commander C. D. Campbell ; Lieutenants Stevens, Lewis, 
Campbell, Davies, Holt, Mitcheson, Jermyn, and Nisbett ; Purser Hora ; Sur- 
geons Costello, Wright, "Welsh, and Keys ; Midshipmen Dawson, Monk, and 
Moorhead. To India, Lieutenants Lamb and Duval; Paymaster Litchfield; 
Surgeons Aldridge, Crawford, and Stewart ; Midshipmen Yell'. 



284 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the command of the ' Sesostris.' On the occasion of Com- 
mander Campbell leaving Bombay for England, the "Bombay 
Times" took the opportunity of eulogizing his great services 
during the twenty-four years he had passed in India, especially 
in the recent war, and added :— " With the largest and most 
arduous division of the duties imposed upon them, the Indian 
Navy has here, as elsewhere, come off with the smallest share 
of honours and requital." In May, the following officers pro- 
ceeded to the eastward to reinforce the squadron in Burundi : — 
Lieutenants Brooman and Dickson; Mate Rushton ; Midship- 
men Munro, De Belin, Strong, Bewsher, G. Lewis, and Ogilvy. 

In March, Rear-Admiral Sir Fleetwood Pellew, wdio had arrived 
at Calcutta to take the Command-in-chief of Her Majesty's 
ships, proceeded to Burmah, and, having hoisted his flag on 
board the ' Winchester,' Captain Shadwell, then lying at Moul- 
mein, sailed in her to Madras and Trincomalee. The Expedi- 
tionary force to Burmah, officially known as the " Army of 
Ava," was broken up on the 1st of July, 1853, when there were 
left in the country two divisions, under the command, respec- 
tively, of Brigadiers-General Sir John Cheape and Steel, com- 
prising three hundred and forty-six officers, four thousand three 
hundred and thirty-four European soldiers, and eight thousand 
two hundred and forty-two Sepoys. General Godwin embarked 
on board the 'Zenobia,' for Calcutta, where he arrived on the 
8th of August, only, however, to die on the 26th of October, 
at Simla, in the house of his old friend and companion-in-arms, 
Sir William Gomm, the Commander-in-chief. General God- 
win suffered much unmerited vituperation from a portion of 
the English and Indian press, but he was eminently popular 
with those under his command, and, on the occasion of the 
farewell banquet given by the officers at Rangoon, he struck a 
responsive chord in every breast, when, referring to the com- 
plaints regarding his want of enterprise in not having marched 
on Ava like his predecessor, Sir Archibald Campbell, he said 
" that whatever the public and press might say in regard to his 
conduct of the war, he could honestly state he had done his 
duty in obeying orders and acting up to his instructions." 

Of the Indian Navy squadron employed in Burmah, there 
remained behind, on the conclusion of hostilities, the 'Zenobia,' 
Commander Kennie, the 'Berenice,' Lieutenant Berthon, and 
the ' Medusa,' Lieutenant Fraser. Commander Drought took 
the ' Sesostris ' from Prome to Calcutta, where she was docked 
with six feet of water in her hold, and transferred to the Bengal 
Marine, being replaced by her sister-ship, the ' Queen,' which, 
however, was of little use, as she was in the last stage of decay 
and decrepitude. Of the officers who had sailed in the 
' Sesostris ' from Bombay all had been invalided, except 
Purser Gibbon, Mate Turner, and Midshipman Capel. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 285 

In December, 1853, the Marquis Dalhousie proceeded, in the 
'Zenobia,' to inspect the newly-acquired Province of Pegu, and, 
probably, his Lordship's last official despatch written in British 
Burinah, was that dated on board the 'Zenobia,' the 13th of 
January, 1854, off Cape Negrais. 

From October, 1853, to the following June, a period of nine 
months, one of the ' Zenobia's ' officers, Lieutenant Aylesbury, 
commanded some gunboats, manned from the ' Zenobia,' sta- 
tioned on the river frontier for the suppression of Dacoits and 
preservation of order, and received, personally, the thanks of 
Lord Dalhousie, as well as of the Supreme Government, and 
Colonel (now Sir Arthur) Phayre, the Commissioner of Pegu. 
Under orders from the Government of India, in June, 1855, he 
also officiated, for twelve months, as Superintendent of the 
Irrawaddy steam flotilla, which had been organised by Captain 
Rogers, late of the Indian Navy, Superintendent of the Bengal 
Marine.* 

* In July, 1856, Lord Dalhousie appointed Lieutenant Aylesbury Master- 
Attendant and Marine Magistrate for Bassein and Dalhousie, as a reward for his 
distinguished services. At our request this gallant officer, who was Second-Lieu- 
tenant of the ' Zenobia' throughout the Burmese War, on the departure of Lieu- 
tenant Jerniyn after the capture of Rangoon, has furnished us with the following 
Memorandum regarding the services of that ship : — 

" At the taking of Rangoon we took part in the cannonade and storming of the 
King's Wharf Stockade, when Lieutenant Jermyn, of the ' Zenobia,' was the first 
in climbing through an embrasure in the stockade. As I saw his white trousers 
disappear, I thought it was the last I should see of my old friend and messmate. 
The ' Zenobia' was stationed as guard-ship at Kemmendine afterwards for a month 
or so, when we were ordered to Moulraein with sick and others. En route to 
Madras, the intermediate shaft broke, and we had to put back to Moulmein ; we 
then took our station as guard-ship at Martaban, and the ' Ferooz,' Commodore 
Lynch, went to Madras in our stead. Commander Ball was obliged to leave at 
Moulmein and resign his command to Lieutenant Joseph Sedley, who, shortly 
afterwards, was relieved by Commander J. Rennie. During the time Sedley was 
in command, we saw some stockade service. On one occasion, I remember his 
coming on board and saying there was a very strong stockade up the river called 
Beeling Tat, and that the military on shore had advised him not to attempt the 
taking of it, as he would burn his fingers. We were called away at once, and, 
after hard work, we came on the place and took it with a rush. I fired the 
houses in the village to windward, and drove the smoke on the enemy, while the 
blue-jackets attacked them in flank. We were next engaged in the Cliina- 
Buckeer river on boat service. Afterwards we were stationed at Bassein as 
guard-ship, and the men were always aw ay on gunboat service, particularly in the 
action with Mea Toon, at which so many men were lost ; the first men in the 
stockade, via Bassein, were the ' Zenobia's.' After this affair I was present with 
Rennie, and second in command, at the Lamena business, and was slightly 
wounded. It was a gallant little affair, and well carried out. I was afterwards 
frequently at small boat affairs, and latterly was despatched to guard the river 
frontier. The officers appointed for this duty were myself, Mr. Brazier, Mr. 
Strong, Mr. Pirn, Mr. Munro, and fifty blue-jackets. We proceeded to Kamma 
as our station. All the time I had command of the river frontier, my men were 
in first-rate order ; I could leave the boats and penetrate alter Dacoits, and did 
so, going to places that no Europeans had ever visited before. On my return 
from this duty, I was presented with the usual thanks, and I have a letter from 
Colonel Phayre, saying that now my services were over, he could testify that the 



286 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

The ships of the Indian Navy, which had for so long a period 
navigated without loss the shallow waters and intricate chan- 
nels of the Burmese coast, were not destined to leave its shores 
without leaving behind the bones of one of the finest steam- 
frigates possessed by the Service. The ' Moozuffer,' whose 
officers and men had taken such a prominent part in all the 
operations of the war from the capture of Rangoon, and who 
everywhere had earned the repeated thanks of the officers under 
whose orders they had served, had been employed in the early 
part of 1853 running between Rangoon and Calcutta. Thus 
we find that, on the 17th of February, she arrived at the 
Presidency ; and the news she brought of the disaster at 
Donabew, and an outbreak at Beeling, in itself an insignificant 
affair, was considered of so threatening a character that the 
Government despatched her on the 24th of February, with four 
companies of the 2nd Bengal Fusiliers, for Moulmein. On the 
loth of May the ' Moozuffer' again arrived at Calcutta, and, on 
the 8th of July, left her moorings for the last time. 

The following letter, descriptive of her loss off the Rangoon 
river, is from a military officer who was on board at the time : — 
"After leaving the Sandheads, we crossed the bay all right, 
and everything was going on pretty well, with the exception of 
the weather, which was thick and foul. We first touched at 
Khyouk Phyoo, and took down from there the pilot who was 
well acquainted with the Arracan coast, in the navigation of 
which the captain and officers of the ship were inexperienced. 
We had remained nearly two days at Khyouk Phyoo, where 
we were joined by the ' Zenobia,' and the two ships embarked 
the Arracan Battalion for Rangoon. On leaving the port and 
getting to sea, we soon left our consort hull down, and held on 
down the Arracan coast at a rapid pace. The first night it 
blew half a gale, and we must have been going at a very high 
rate of speed, but I believe that the ship was only allowed nine 
knots an hour in the dead reckoning by the log. The next day 
and night were so foul and overcast that no observation could 
be taken, and the consequence was that, on the third day, the 
captain was necessarily ignorant of the ship's position, and no 
one else on board was better informed. On the fourth day, 
land was seen, but as it presented no known peculiarity, and 
everything was murky and indistinct, we kept off and on, 
endeavouring to make out where we were, until at length, 

tranquillity of tlie frontier was mainly attributable to my exertions and the 
bravery of my men. I received a very handsome present from Lord Dalhousic, 
and an appointment (the last he ever gave) as Master-Attendant of Dalhousie. 
On one occasion, I swore sixty-six heads of villages, under a Buddhist oath, to alle- 
giance to Queen Victoria, and every man passed me with his neck bared for the 
sword-cut if I doubted his honesty of purpose. I was nine months on the frontier ; 
Brazier and Strong under me were first-rate at boat service, and a credit to the 
Indian Navy." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 287 

approaching too close, the ship took the ground. At low water 
we were high and dry on a fine firm sandbank, the people from 
the vessel walking about and taking a full and leisurely view 
of the poor ' Moozuffer,' from her keel up to her hammock- 
nettings. But her fatal hour had not yet arrived, for that night 
at high water she floated, when we backed off the bank and 
anchored. Next morning we got up our anchor and set off 
again on a voyage of discover}'', and had not made much run 
when the leadsman sang out four and a half fathoms from the 
chains. At this moment the captain was busily intent in 
catching with his glass the palmyra-trees at the mouth of the 
Rangoon river, and did not hear the cry of the leadsman, who 
presently gave three and a half fathoms, and almost imme- 
diately two and a half fathoms, and we were again aground. 
The palmyra-trees were made out just at the moment we took 
the ground, and it was then obvious that we had overrun our 
estimated course and the mouth of the river considerably by 
the great speed at which she had been going after leaving 
Khyouk Phyoo, on Monday the 11th. This time, Friday the 
15th, the ship had taken up a fatal position in the Sheeing 
quicksands, eleven miles to the eastward of the Rangoon river, 
with all the forepart of the vessel, from the engine-room forward 
to her bow, on the bank, but a considerable depth of water 
astern. At night she was nearly off, nay, I believe, was 
actually afloat again : but the backing of the engines was, as 
it would seem, stopped too soon, and the tide immediately 
drove her on the bank again, never more to float. She now 
began to evince unequivocal symptoms of dissolution, for on 
Saturday morning one of her boilers was forced up, and the 
steam pipes destroyed in consequence, and at the same time it 
was obvious that her bottom, under the machinery, was 
seriously injured, as the engines began to evince strong symp- 
toms of a desire to part company, and there were ten feet of 
water in the ship, the orlop deck, where the passengers' bag- 
gage was stowed, being by this time under water. This day, 
Saturday, we started off the ship's gig to Rangoon, some forty- 
five miles or so distant, to give the authorities there intelligence 
of what had happened and of our condition and position, and 
fortunately the boat made that place the same night in safety. 
On Sunday morning we had the pleasure of hearing our guns 
answered, and before long the ' Pluto ' and ' Zenobia ' hove in 
sight, and it being high water the former ran alongside of us, 
the ; Zenobia ' anchoring at a short distance from the wreck. 
We were not long in shifting everything we could save, with 
our precious selves on board the two steamers, and we reached 
this place (Rangoon) on Sunday night, fatigued, harassed, and 
dirty, as you may easily imagine. Had Saturday night been 
blowy, there is no knowing what might have occurred to us all, 



288 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

but the weather favoured our escape. They were busy after 
we left in getting everything they could out of the 'Moozuffer, 
and for a short time entertained the idea of endeavouring to 
float her by means of empty casks, but the futility of such an 
attempt soon became obvious, for she began to settle in the 
quicksand on which she grounded, and is now abandoned, and, 
I believe, invisible." 

It is told of Commander Hewett, who felt acutely, as a sailor 
would, the loss of his noble ship, that when his servant brought 
up to him on deck the sword presented to him by the Court of 
Directors in acknowledgment of his distinguished services in 
China, he ordered him to take it below again, for, he added, " it 
shall never be said of me that I saved anything when my men 
lost their all." It was an act characteristic of this fine generous- 
hearted seaman. • 

The officers and men of the 'Moozuffer' remained at Ran- 
goon until the ' Ferooz ' proceeded with them to Bombay, 
where she arrived from Madras on the 28th of September. 
Commander Hewett was tried for the loss of the 'Moozuffer,' 
but was fully and honourably acquitted, not the slightest blame 
attaching to him or any of his officers,* the loss of the ship 
being attributable to the thick weather and an error in the dead 
reckoning. 

Misfortunes never come singly, and, before the close of the 
year, another vessel of the Indian Navy, whose name has 
repeatedly received honourable mention in these pages, came to 
grief on the river where, during the past eighteen months, she 
had performed such good service. On the Dth of December, 
the ' Medusa,' Lieutenant H. A. Fraser, left Prome for Kamma, 
fifteen miles to the northward, to resume her station on the 
river frontier, but had only proceeded about half-way when she 
struck on a sunken rock, which instantly stove in her bottom 
close to the second compartment ; and the vessel being in a 
state of extreme weakness, owing to old age and decay, the 
sudden rush of water destroyed compartment after compart- 
ment. The vessel filled so rapidly that some of the officers and 
crew were obliged to jump overboard and swim for their lives ; 
only one man was drowned, and Lieutenant Fraser succeeded 
in saving the treasure chest and most of the ship's papers, but 
everything else, including the clothing of officers and crew, was 

* The following were the officers of the ' Moozuffer' at the time of her loss : — 
Lieutenants Child, Dickson, and Windus ; Surgeon Grlasse ; Purser Gibbon ; 
Acting-Master Freeman ; Mates Turner and Davis ; Midshipmen Templer, Har- 
ries, and Dawkins. With the exception of Acting-Master Freeman and the three 
midshipmen, none of the above officers had sailed in the 'Moozuffer' from 
Bombay in February, 1852. Lieutenant Windus, Purser Gibbon, and Mr. Turner 
had joined her from the ' Sesostris,' and Mr. Davis from the ' Ferooz.' Commander 
Drought returned to Bombay in the 'Ferooz' on the transfer of the 'Sesostris' 
to the Bengal Marine. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 289 

lost, as the vessel had twenty-two feet of water over her deck.* 
Lieutenant Aylesbury, of the ' Zenobia,' then at Prorae in 
charge of gunboats, was of great assistance, and the guns were 
recovered. 

On his arrival at Bombay, Commodore Lynch resigned the 
command of the 'Ferooz,' and proceeded to England, thus 
terminating his naval career. On the occasion of his departure, 
Sir Henry Leeke issued a General Order, dated the 12th of 
October, highly eulogistic of his distinguished career. While 
in England Captain Lynch was enabled to render his country 
important services, though in a different arena from that in 
which his talents had hitherto found scope. On the conclusion 
of the Persian War of 1856-57, Captain Lynch, then residing 
in Paris, was delegated by Lord Palmerston to conduct the 
negotiations with the Persian Plenipotentiary, which resulted 
in the Treaty of Paris of the 4th of March, 1857, and he accom- 
panied to London the Envoy, with whom he was & persona 
grata owing to his familiarity with Persian, among other 
Oriental languages, his intimate knowledge of Eastern customs 
and modes of thought, his acquaintance with the members of 
the mission, and his courtly manners. The Shah of Persia, in 
consideration of his services, nominated him a Knight of the 
Lion and Sun, an order instituted by a predecessor specially in 
honour of Sir John Malcolm. Lord Lyons, the British Am- 
bassador at Paris, always applied to Captain Lynch for advice 
on Eastern matters and, at his death in April, 1873, his loss 
was keenly, and very generally, regretted by the society of that 
capital, both English and native, who admired his ready Irish 
wit, untempered by cynicism, and his exuberant geniality .f 

* Lieutenant Fraser and the officers and ship's company of the ' Medusa' were 
tried by court-martial at Bombay between the 25th and 28th of July, 1854, for 
the loss of their ship, and were fully acquitted of all blame. The Court also 
recorded "its approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant H. A. Fraser, and the 
officers and ship's company then on board the ' Medusa,' in the exertions they 
made to save that vessel." 

t " Galignani's Messenger," in a notice of Captain Lynch, in its issue of the 
19th of April, 1873, remarks :— 

" Persons familiar with Paris society during the last twenty years, will learn 
with regret the death of Captain Henry Blosse Lynch, C.B. He had long made 
the French capital his home, and gathered around him many sincere friends. 
The deceased officer was a most amiable and unassuming man, of agreeable con- 
verse and great intelligence ; everyone seemed to like his society, and what is rare, 
we never heard a single word uttered against him. His decease took place at his 
residence in the Rue Royale St. Honore." 

Sir Henry Rawlinson, in his address to the Royal Geographical Society, after 
describing Captain Lynch's services and comparing him with Ormsby, Wellsted, 
and Wyburd, continues: — 

" He was even more gifted than them as a scholar and linguist, and in having 
those rare qualities of geniality, tact, and temper which command the respect of 
the wildest as well as less barbarous Orientals. Geographical science, indeed, is 
indebted to such men as Lynch for its most useful data, for both in his published 
official reports and the Journal of our Society, we find the maps and papers con- 
nected with his name conveying the soundest information. Happily he lived to 
VOL. II. U 



290 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVV. 

Had Captain Lynch not been an officer of the Indian Navy, 
it is certain that — as in the recent case of Sir Lewis Felly, 
who was made a K.C.B. for his negotiations with the Envoy of 
the Ameer of Afghanistan at Peshawnr— he would have received 
the ribbon of the Bath for his services in connection with the 
Persian treaty. 

On the conclusion of the Burmese War, the Queen's Govern- 
ment conferred the Order of the Bath on three officers of the 
Royal Navy, but only one of the Indian Navy, the first of the 
Service to be admitted to its honours, received the coveted dis- 
tinction. Commodore Lambert was made a K.C.B., and Cap- 
tains Tarleton and Shad well, who had, in addition, been 
promoted from the rank of commander, were awarded the C.B. 
Commodore Lynch was the fortunate officer to receive the latter 
distinction, and Commander Campbell, second in seniority, 
whose services at Rangoon, Bassein, and elsewhere, were very 
meritorious, received a sword of the value of 200 guineas, and a 
letter* from the Court of Directors, to the effect that his 
rank disqualified him from receiving the C.B., a lame excuse, 
as many instances have occurred in which officers of the rank 
of Commander — one even in the case of a distinguished officer 
of his own Service — have received the decoration. 

The following General Order was published to the Service 
under date the 14th of March, 1854 :— " The Right Honour- 
able the Governor in Council has much satisfaction in publishing 

witness the extended commercial intercourse between Mesopotamia and the ad- 
joining countries with Europe on the one hand, and with India on the other, 
which he had striven so well to initiate. As a Fellow of our Society of thirty-six 
years' standing, the absence of his well-known face will leave a void amongst 
us not readily refilled. Of the gap beyond, in the circle of his immediate rela- 
tions and friends, it is hard to speak ; our deepest sympathy, however, is with 
them." 

* The following is a copy of the letter : — 

" East India House, Feb. 7, 1854. 

" Sir, — I am commanded to inform you that the Court of Directors of the East 
India Company have noticed with great satisfaction the flattering terms in which 
the Government of India has in its Despatches during the recent war hi Burmah, 
made mention of the conduct and services of the several commissioned officers of 
the Indian Navy who were employed and have distinguished themselves in the 
course of that war ; and in order to show their sense of the conduct of the Indian 
Navy, they have resolved to confer some special mark of favour and approbation 
upon yourself as the senior of the Indian naval officers named in the Governor- 
General's Despatch of the 2nd of July, 1853, your rank being immediately below 
that which would render you eligible for the honorary distinction of the Bath. 
It is accordingly the Court's intention to present you with a sword of the value of 
two hundred guineas, in testimony of the high sense entertained by them of your 
services in the Burmese War. " I am, &c, 

" (Signed) James C. Melvill." 

The sword bore the following inscription : — " Presented by the Court of 
Directors of the East India Company to Commander Charles Dugald Camp- 
bell, of the Indian Navy, as a testimonial of the high sense the Court entertains 
of his conduct and services in command of the Hon. Company's steam-frigate 
' Sesostris ' while employed during the war with Burmali in the years 1852 and 
1853." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 2'Jl 

to the Indian Navy the following despatch from the Honour- 
able the Court, No. 4, dated the 11th of January, 1854. 
" Par. 1. We have the gratification of apprizing you that 
among the honours and promotions by special brevet which 
have been conferred by the Queen upon the East India Com- 
pany's Military officers, for service during the late operations in 
Burmah, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint 
Captain Henry Blosse Lynch, of the Indian Navy, to be an 
extra member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or 
Companion of the most Honourable Order of the Bath. 

" 2. We also inform you that the Government of India has, 
in the 22nd and 23rd paragraphs of their despatch in the Secret 
Department, dated the 2nd of July, 1853, noticed in very 
flattering terms the conduct and services of the several com- 
missioned officers of the Indian Navy who were employed and 
have distinguished themselves in the course of the war, and 
that it has appeared to us that, adverting to that communication 
and to the other commendatory despatches which have been 
published in the ' London Gazette,' during the progress of 
hostile operations, we might very appropriately show our sense 
of the conduct of the Indian Navy by conferring some special 
mark of favour and approbation upon Commander Charles 
Dugald Campbell, who is the senior of the Indian Naval officers 
named in such despatch of the 2nd of July, 1853, whose rank 
is immediately below that which would render him eligible for 
the honorary distinction of the Bath. 

" We have accordingly resolved that Commander Charles 
Dugald Campbell, Indian Navy, be presented with a sword of 
the value of 200 guineas, with a suitable inscription, in testi- 
mony of the high sense entertained by the Court of Directors of 
his services in the Burmese war." 

A like compliment was paid to Commander James Rennie. 
The Court sent him a complimentary letter, referring to a 
despatch from the Governor-General in Council, respecting the 
services rendered by him during the Burmese War, and inti- 
mated their intention to present him with a sword of the value 
of 200 guineas in testimony of their appreciation of his con- 
duct. This resolution of the Court was communicated to the 
Service in a General Order, dated the 11th of July, 1854. 



u 2 



CHAPTER VI. 
1854—1856. 

Services of the c Semiramis ' against Soloo Pirates — Launch of the c Falkland,' 
' Assaye,' and ' Punjaub' — The Cyclone at Bombay of the 2nd of November, 
1854— Anomalies in the condition of the Service — Exploring Expedition to the 
Soomali Country and Death of Lieutenant Stroyan — Affairs at Aden — The 
' Elphinstone's' crew at Lahej — Transport of the 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers 
to Suez — Death of Captain Montriou ; his Character and Services — The ' Eerooz' 
at Calcutta — The ' Queen ' and ' Elphinstone' at Jiddah — Services of the 
Indian Navy during the years 1854-56 — Affairs in the Persian Gulf — Boat 
Action at El Kateef — British Relations with the Imaum of Muscat. 

THE only service of importance performed by ships of the 
Indian Navy during the continuance of the Burmese war, 
was rendered by the steam frigate ' Semiramis,' which had been 
employed in Chinese waters since 1850. 

Early in 1852, a squadron was despatched from Singapore 
against the Soloo pirates, on the north-east coast of Borneo, to 
avenge the murder, on the 12th of September in the preceding 
year, of the captain, super-cargo,* and five seamen of the 
British schooner ' Dolphin,' at Maladu Bay, some leagues above 
Labuan, in Borneo. The Expedition comprised H.M.S. ' Cleo- 
patra,' Captain Massie, the Hon. Company's steam-frigate 
' Semiramis,' Commander Stephens, and the Hon. Company's 
steamer 'Pluto,' which had brought the 'Dolphin ' to Singapore 
on her being seized and surrendered by a friendly chief. The 
squadron proceeded to the mouth of the Kiniabatangan river, 
and despatched fifteen boats up the river to Tunku, the head- 
quarters of the Soloo pirates. 

An officer of the 'Cleopatra' gives the following account of 
the Expedition which appeared in the " Illustrated London 
News" of the 29th of May, 1852, with sketches, dated Singa- 
pore, the 16th of March, 1852 : — 

" The ' Cleopatra ' sailed from Singapore on the 10th of 
January, and arrived at Labuan on the 20th, where she was 

* The supercargo was Mr. Robert Burns, a grandson of the Scotch poet, who 
had acquired two of the native languages, and had penetrated further into Borneo 
than any other European. He had written an account of his travels in the 
" Journal of the Indian Archipelago " for 1849. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 293 

joined by the ' Semiramis ' and ' Pluto,' the latter vessel 
bringing Mr. St. John (the political agent for Borneo) and 
Captain Brooke, from Sarawak, to accompany us on the Ex- 
pedition. We started again on the 27th, and proceeded alone 
to Gaya Bay, leaving the steamers behind to complete coaling. 
The ' Semiramis' joined us at this place, and we proceeded to 
Maladu Bay, where we remained four days until the ' Pluto ' 
arrived. We all started together on the 7th of February for 
Tunku, the pirate settlement. This took a week (although 
only two hundred miles) on account of the coast being quite un- 
explored, and the sea filled with reefs in all directions. We 
anchored off the pirate settlement on the morning of the 15th, 
and immediately hoisted all the boats out, manned and armed 
them, and sent them, in company with those of the 'Semiramis' 
and 'Pluto,' to ascend the river. Our force consisted of two 
hundred and fifty men in fifteen boats, seven of which had guns, 
each of the commanders taking charge of their own men, and 
Captain Massie superintending the whole. Our pilot, mis- 
taking the river, ascended the wrong one, after having been 
obliged to haul all the boats over by main strength, it being 
nearly low water at the time. After trying the different 
branches, not at all agreeing with the description of the place, 
we returned in the afternoon. A large war boat was seen in 
the river. The next morning, the 16th, the boats were sent in 
the same order to another river, but being low water, found it 
impossible to cross the bar, they therefore returned to their 
respective ships till the tide flowed. When the tide had 
sufficiently flowed (11.30 a.m.), we again started, and after some 
little trouble succeeded in getting over the bar, and commenced 
pulling up the river, the leading boats having white flags. 
After two hours' pulling up a magnificent river, we arrived at 
the chief's house, and immediately landed the marines and 
small-arm men. We found the place deserted, but from the 
appearance of the fires they could only have left a few minutes 
before. After having been ten minutes here looking round the 
place, the men in the boats were suddenly fired upon from the 
jungle, and one man killed and two wounded. The men, thus 
taken by surprise, instantly seized their arms and fired into the 
jungle; and as the boats' guns and congreve rockets could be 
brought to bear, fired in the direction of the smoke. Small-arm 
men were then landed on both banks, but nothing more was 
seen of them. The men then embarked and returned down the 
river to their ships. Next morning the boats readied the chief's 
house, about six a.m. and burnt about forty houses. While 
this was going on, the natives again came down to the same 
spot (chief's house) and fired on the crews left in the boats, by 
which one man was killed and two wounded. In the afternoon 
everybody was again embarked, and returned to their ships 



29-1 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

before sunset. Next morning, the 19th, after having committed 
the bodies of the two men who had been killed the day before 
to the deep, the vessels weighed, and arrived at Labuan on the 
28th, where the steamers were left behind to coal. This small 
cruise will teach these pirates that they are not safe in their 
own strongholds, and that they are liable to be attacked by our 
vessels at any time." From Singapore the ' Semiramis ' pro- 
ceeded to Houg Kong, where she arrived on the 30th of March, 
with twelve of the crew of the late ship ' Herald,' who were all 
tried for piracy at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, 
and were executed on the 3rd of May. The ' Semiramis ' sailed 
on the 8th of April for the northern ports, and, after some 
further service, proceeded to Bombay, where she arrived on the 
13th of April, 1853. Sir Henry Leeke complimented Com- 
mander Stephens, in General Orders, for the good service ren- 
dered by him during the three years' commission in the China 
Seas. 

About this time the rumours regarding the projected amalga- 
mation of the Bengal Marine with the Indian Navy, gathered 
increased consistency. On the conclusion of the Burmese war, 
the Supreme Government, which had always regarded with 
jealousy the control exercised over the Indian Navy by the 
Bombay Government, a control inseparable from the circum- 
stance of the noble harbour of that Presidency being the head- 
quarters of the Service, proposed to raise the Bengal Marine to 
the position of a Navy, and to give the officers fixed emolu- 
ments and rank corresponding with the grades of the Indian 
Navy. The Court of Directors, however, considered it was 
more expedient to amalgamate the two services, offering to the 
commanders of the Bengal Marine commissions as masters in 
the Indian Navy, and, to the junior officers, a gratuity. The 
commanders, who received 500 rupees a month, memorialized 
against the injustice, and, as the Governor-General in Coun- 
cil supported their Memorial, in the end, the two services 
remained distinct. At this time the two ships of the Indian 
Navy employed to the eastward, Mere the ' Zenobia ' and the 
' Berenice,' and the Bengal Marine consisted of the following 
steamers . — ' Sesostris,' ' Tenasserim,' ' Fire Queen,' ' Hooghly,' 
' Nemesis,' ' Pluto,' ' Proserpine,' and ' Phlegethon.' 

During the year 1852, an order relating to the uniform of 
the Service was issued by Sir Henry Leeke.* 

* The following is the Government General Order : — 

" Commodore's Office, Bombay, July 29, 1852. 

" In consequence of a communication from the Hon. Court of Directors, and by 
direction of the Eight Hon. the Governor in Council, and to prevent any mistake 
in the future arrangements of the uniform of the officers of the Indian Navy; I 
hereby order the following changes to take place : — 

" Commodores of 2nd Class and captains of three years' standing: Two gold 
epaulettes with forty bullions each, a bonnet and crescent, and edging to the 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 295 

No events of importance occurred during the year 1853 
beyond the concluding operations of the Burmese war, and the 
launch, in November, of an eighteen-gun sailing corvette of 
494 tons, called the 'Falkland,' after the Governor, Lord 
Falkland. On the 19th of November she was commissioned 
by Commander John Stephens, late of the ' Semiramis,' but, on 
the 26th of January, 1854, he was superseded* by Commander 
H. H. Hewett, who had been residing at the Mahableshwur 
Hills for the benefit of his health since his return to Bombay. 
The 'Falkland' was a perfect model of a small ship of war, 
and with her square spars and tapering masts, having the 
tauntness almost of a thirty-six gun frigate, was the admiration 
of Bombay Harbour. 

In this year (1854)t two fine steam-frigates were added to 
the Service. On the lath of March, the ' Assaye,' which had 
been a little over two years in building, was launched, the 

strap ; devices, an anchor surmouuted by a grenade, above that the lion. Cap- 
tains under three years — The same epaulettes ; devices, an anchor surmounted by 
a lion. Commanders — Two epaulettes, gold bullions 3y inches long, If inch in 
circumference ; device, a lion. Lieutenants — Two plain gold epaulettes, bullion 

3 inches long, 1^ inch in circumference ; no device. All the devices on the epau- 
lettes are to be of silver. Pursers — Two epaulettes of gold, the same bullion as 
lieutenants, but silver strap. Secretary to Commander-in-chief — The same as 
pursers, with a golden lion on the strap. Surgeons — The same as pursers. The 
epaulettes of all grades are to be loose bullion, and the present box and jacket 
epaulettes are to be discontinued. 

" And as much inconvenience has arisen from a want of uniformity of dress for 
the officers of the Service (more particularly so when waiting upon their superiors), 
who, from the variety of orders given, and from there being at present six or seven 
different dresses worn, can scarcely know which is right, I beg it to be distinctly 
understood that I have no objection to the surtout coat being continued without 
epaulettes, as worn by the officers of the Royal Navy, and with distinctive lace on 
the cuffs, as follows, viz. : — 

" Commodoi'es of 2nd Class — Four rows f inch wide. Captains — Three rows 
^ inch wide. Commanders and Secretary to Commander-in-chief — Two rows 
5 inch wide. Lieutenants — One row § inch wide. The surtout coat of all other 
officers to be plain. The coat to be of blue cloth or kerseymere, double-breasted, 
and with the Hon. Company's buttons, and to be worn only by officers above and 
with the rank of purser. Jackets and round hats to be worn on board the ship, 
if permitted by the captains or commanding officer. Mates and midshipmen 
when on duty at the dockyard or rigging loft, may wear a blue cloth jacket. The 
caps of all officers down to the rank of clerk and of 1st Class engineers and 1st 
Class boatswains, gunners, and carpenters, are to be surmounted with the Com- 
pany's lion." 

* Some of the crew of the ' Falkland ' had refused to obey a negro boatswain, 
and, by sentence of court-martial, were transported. By an exercise of authority 
which excited much adverse criticism in the Service and the Bombay Press, Sir 
Henry Leeke superseded Commander Stephens, an officer whom he had, shortly 
before, highly complimented for the efficiency and high state of discipline in 
which he had brought back the ' Semiramis ' from her three years' commission in 
China. 

t In this year also an iron river-steamer for navigating the Indus, called the 

4 Lady Falkland,' constructed by Messrs. Laird, at a cost of £15,000, and sent 
out in pieces to Bombay, had been launched from the dockyard, but her career 
was very brief, for, when proceeding to her destination in tow of the ' Berenice,' 
she foundered on the 6th of May, being totally unable to meet the heavy seas 
which she encountered on the passage. 



200 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

ceremony talcing place at midnight in the presence of Lord 
Elphinstone, Rear-Admiral* Sir Henry and Lady Leeke, and 
nearly three hundred guests, who repaired to the scene of the 
launch from the dockyard, where an extemporised ball-room 
had been fitted up. This fine steam-frigate was 277 feet in 
length "overall," and 39^ feet extreme breadth; her tonnage 
was 1,800, and horse-power, 650. Owing to the non arrival 
of her engines, she was not ready for sea until the following 
October, and, upon the 17th, was commissioned by Commander 
John W. Young. On the 21st of April her sister-ship, the ' Pun- 
jaub,' was launched ; this beautiful frigate was seven feet 
longer than the 'Assaye,' and was fitted with engines of 700 
horse-power. Commander Young made over charge of the 
'Assaye' to Commander Daniell on the 21st of December, and, 
on the 2nd of January following, assumed command of the 
' Punjaub.' 

Bombay will not soon forget the memorable cyclone which 
burst over it at midnight of the 1st of November, 1854, deso- 
lating the city and strewing the harbour with wrecks. The 
wind veered round the compass, and, at three a.m. of the 2nd 
of November, the pressure of the wind actually registered 
35 lbs. to the square foot.f On the following morning Bombay 
harbour presented a scene of desolation ; five square-rigged 
ships and three steamers were on shore, most of them dis- 
masted, and one hundred and forty-two smaller craft, mostly 
native, were wrecked. The ' Assaye ' drifted towards the 
Castle walls and carried away her bowsprit, but was fortunately 
saved from total shipwreck by the exertions of her officers and 
men. The ' Hastings,' receiving ship, drove from her moor- 
ings, sprung a leak, and, while being towed by the 'Queen,' 
fouled the ship 'Mystery;' and, ultimately, after battering 
against the fort walls, which she damaged to a considerable 
extent, was brought to Mazagon in the last stage of decrepi- 
tude; and, though she was patched up sufficiently to do duty a. 
little longer as receiving ship, the old frigate was soon con- 
signed to the limbo of the ship-breaker's yard. The surveying 
brig, 'Palinurus,' was dismasted, and got aground off the dock- 
yard breakwater, where her situation was one of extreme peril, 
until she floated off with the tide. The Governor's and Sir 
Henry Leeke's barges, and nearly all the pleasure yachts and 
bunder boats usually moored off the Apollo bunder, were lost, 
and the cutters 'Margaret,' ' Nerbudda,' and 'Maldiva' were 

* Sir Henry was placed on the Eetired List of the Royal Navy with the rank 
of Rear- Admiral. On the 26th of May in this year, Captain F. T. Powell was 
appointed Assistant-S uperintendent. 

t Equal to a force of 280 lbs. against a man weighing 182 lbs., or 13 stone, and 
presenting a surface of eight square feet. The gardens were described as looking 
as if " a roller had passed over them," the streets were strewed with tiles and 
debris, and the loss of property was enormous. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 297 

seriously damaged. The ' Elphinstone' had a narrow escape, 
as she grounded off the Custom House basin, and was only 
got afloat by the discipline and smartness of the crew and skill 
of the officers ; backing astern, she set a staysail and threaded 
her way through the crowded harbour to the anchorage outside 
the shipping. 

The paucity of commissioned officers in the Service, which 
had long been a serious bar to its efficiency, was more apparent 
in 1854-55 than at any previous time. Since 1847, when 
the last augmentation had taken place, the number of ships had 
been increased by the addition of the corvette ' Falkland,' and 
the steam -frigates 'Ferooz,' ' Ajdaha,' ' Zenobia,' 'Assaye,' 
and ' Punjaub,' while a large fifty-gun screw frigate and a 
smaller steamer were building at Bombay. Of the eight 
captains on the strength of the Service, three held shore 
appointments, viz., the Indian Navy Storekeeper, Master- 
Attendant at Bombay, and Assistant-Superintendent, who also 
commanded the Commander-in-chief's flag-ship; and three 
held commands afloat — the commodore in the Persian Gulf, 
senior officer at Aden, and Superintendent of the Indus flotilla. 
Owing, however, to a portion of the captains being always 
absent on furlough or sick leave, some of these commands were 
held by commanders. Again, in the latter part of 1855, out of 
the sixteen commanders on the strength of the establishment, 
there were six in England, two were employed on survey duty, 
one was in charge of the Indus flotilla, leaving a total of only 
seven for naval duties ; as there were nine vessels in commis- 
sion, which were regular commander's commands, two of these 
were held by lieutenants, who, however, were as amply quali- 
fied for the duties as any post-captains. The evils of the 
paucity of officers were most seriously apparent among the 
lieutenants ; of the sixty-eight on the list, only thirty-eight 
were available for active employment : of these, eight held 
commands, nine were on staff employ or surveying, one was 
employed under the Bengal government, leaving twenty for 
the ordinary duties of lieutenants. Now at this time, exclusive 
of the ' Victoria,' ' Berenice,' and ' Euphrates,' there were the 
following fifteen vessels employed as men-of-war : — ' Assaye,' 
'Punjaub,' ' Akbar,' (guard ship), 'Ajdaha,' 'Ferooz,' 'Auck- 
land,' 'Falkland,' ' Give,' 'Elphinstone,' 'Queen,' ' Semiramis,' 
'Zenobia,' ' Tigris,' ' Mahi,' and ' Constance,' requiring at least 
thirty-nine lieutenants. To make up the deficiency, mates, 
directly after passing their examinations, and having only five 
years' actual sea service, were created acting-lieutenants,* 

* In the Squadron Orders of August, 1854, when the rank of acting-lieutenant 
was first largely introduced, owing to the pressing want of officers, the following 
mates were promoted to the provisional rank from the 10th of that month : — 
Messrs. Barker, Carew, R. Carey, Clarkson, Douglas, Forster, Mason, Rushton, 



298 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

oftentimes to be reduced again when the immediate necessity 
had passed, while midshipmen kept the watches on board the 
'Tigris,' 'Constance,' and ' Mahi,' and oftentimes on board the 
sloops-of-war : and, indeed, it was a rarity to see more than 
one "pucka" lieutenant in any of the ships of the Indian Navy. 
An officer seldom remained more than six months in one ship ; 
and it need scarcely be said that this constant chopping and 
changing militated against efficiency, as, generally, officers 
returning from a cruise had but just got to know their men, 
when they were ordered into another ship about to sail from 
Bombay, to make up her deficiency. That the Service was 
maintained in its high state of efficiency, was certainly marvel- 
lous, and most creditable to the officers, though, perhaps, it was 
in a measure due to their being uninterruptedly employed, for 
no sooner had a ship arrived from a lengthened absence on a 
foreign station, than the officers were draughted to another 
about to sail; and this went on during the whole period of 
their service in India. But, on the other hand, the policy of 
the Court of Directors in keeping an insufficient staff of officers 
to perform the duties of a considerable fleet, was the reverse 
of a wise economy, as, owing to the heavy and unremitting 
labour, a large number of officers were always absent on 
sick-leave. 

In 1835, there were twenty-one vessels in all, of which only 
one was a steamer, the tonnage of the w T hole being barely 
4,500 ; while, in 1855, there were eleven steam-frigates and 
sloops, of 12,774 tons, fifteen iron river-steamers, of 6,026 
tons, and fifteen sailing vessels, of 2,941 tons — the grand total 
of tonnage, including two harbour steamers and eleven flats, 
being 24,159 tons. The officers were worse off than in those 
clays, their prospects less promising, and their work heavier, 
notwithstanding the augmentations of 1839, 1841, and 1847, 
and the admission of officers from the merchant service, who 
were employed in the river-steamers, with the rank of acting- 
master. The Chairman of the Board of Directors expressed 
his anxiety for the efficiency of the Service and his acknow- 
ledgment of their services, when he stated, ' ; that the value of 
the force to the Empire of India had been so frequently mani- 
fested and acknowledged, that the Court would merely revert to 

Skelton, Taylor, Trollope, Wood, J. Carpendale, and Duval. From this time it 
became the ordinary practice to create midshipmen acting-lieutenants on being 
commissioned as mates. The Bombay Government, under date, 8th of August, 
1855, published, for the information of the Service, the following extract from a 
despatch of the Court of Directors of the previous 30th of May: — "We take 
this opportunity of expressing our desire that the mates of the Indian Navy 
should be appointed by commission, as more in conformity with the practice 
which obtains with respect to mates in the Koyal Navy, with whom they take 
relative rank." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 299 

the point, as now more than ever desirous of consideration, 
with reference to our line of coast on the north-west; but, like 
any other force of a similar character, its value must depend 
upon the state of efficiency in which it is maintained, and 
hence the great anxiety the Court feel in the decisions on the 
questions at issue." But in what practical form was this 
anxiety expressed? The numerous staff appointments, for- 
merly enjoyed by them, were now almost all swept away. 
Honours were denied to the officers on the most hollow pre- 
texts, while they were lavished upon those of the sister 
Services. No matter what their standing and experience, 
officers of ever}^ grade in the Indian Navy were subordinate to, 
and, when acting together, under the control of, the junior of 
that grade in the Royal service — an invidious distinction which 
had lung ceased in the Royal and Indian Armies. The degrada- 
tion was keenly felt by the Service, and was brought into 
prominence during the Burmese War, where officers of great 
experience in river service, like Lynch, Campbell, and Hewett, 
were passed over in preference for commanders in the Royal 
Service, while frequently lieutenants of twenty years' uninter- 
rupted service afloat, found themselves placed under the orders 
of officers far their juniors. 

On the question of emoluments, the position of the two 
Services w T as equally anomalous, though, probably, this state- 
ment will be received with surprise by all those who fancied 
that, on this point at least, the Indian officers were in a better 
position than their Royal brethren. The captains and com- 
manders of both Services had about equal emoluments ; but 
commanding Royal officers received freight money for carrying 
public treasure, a privilege which, though formerly enjoyed by 
Indian officers, was now denied to them, and, in addition, the 
former received a stipulated allowance from the Company while 
employed in Indian waters. But. while the Court gave to all 
ranks a lower scale of furlough pay than that granted to officers 
of the same grade in their military forces, the lieutenants serv- 
ing in India had the most cause to complain. Indian Naval 
lieutenants received only 145 rupees a month, or .£174 per 
annum — from which a considerable reduction was made for the 
Service Widow and Orphan Fund — which was a lower scale of 
pay than is granted to lieutenants of the British Navy, serving 
at home. But this alone did not represent the difference in 
favour of the latter, as the ward-room messes of the Royal 
Navy on the Indian station, received an additional allowance 
from the Court of Directors.* This anomaly was twice repre- 

* Lieutenants R.N. of seven years' standing, doing duty as senior of a ship, 
receive £200 yearly pay, and all others £182 ; their duties are lighter as the ships 
are fully officered, and their mess stores are obtained at wholesale prices. Also, 






300 HISTORY OF TUE INDIAN NAVY. 

sented to the Court, in Memorials, to which they replied by 
peremptorily declining to comply with the prayer of the peti- 
tioners. The mates of the Indian Navy received only 80 
rupees a month, increased to 100 rupees after eight years' 
service — a less sum than is paid to officers of a corresponding 
rank in the Royal Service — and midshipmen only received 
50 rupees per mensem, without an allowance by parents or 
guardians being obligatory, as in the sister Service. Both 
these ranks were expected also to subscribe to the Indian 
Navy Fund out of their meagre pay. The fact was, therefore, 
that the pay of these ranks, particularly of the three junior 
grades, was insufficient for their support in respectability in 
India, but the Court turned a deaf ear to all remonstrances and 
representations. That under these depressing influences, the 
officers of the Indian Navy, unlike their brethren of the Army, 
who forced the Court to concede higher pay and emoluments, 
remained true and faithful to their masters, and were ever 
ready and efficient in time of war, speaks more for their loyalty 
and patriotism than volumes of eulogy.* 

directly they arrive in the Indian Seas, they receive from the Indian Government 
the following allowances per annum, in addition to their pay : — 

Indian Pay. Royal Pay. Total. 

Rs. £ £ 

Commander-in-chief . . 30,000 2,555 5,555 per annum. 

Commodore in command . 15,000 1,066 2,566 „ 

Commodore second ditto . 10,000 940 1,940 „ 

(701 1,201 

Every Captain 5,000 ] 575 1,075 „ 

( 450 950 „ 

Every Commander . . . 2,500 300 550 „ 

Lieutenants' messes receive the following allowances : — 

Rs. 

3rd rate 2,500 

4th rate 2,000 

5th rate 1,750 

6th rate 1,250 

All vessels commanded by a Commander 850 

There are other allowances granted them, such as house rent, if doing duty 
ashore; and an officer in command of a vessel gets freight on Government trea- 
sure at the rate of from f to 1 per cent, according to distance. The privilege has 
been a fortune to many. On private freight they receive from f to 2 per cent. 
In the Indian Navy, freight on Government treasure was not allowed, and, on 
private freight, they received only 2 per cent. They formerly received from f to 
2 per cent., and were responsible for f of any loss, but were cut down to i per 
cent., and made answerable for the full value of any loss. Consequently no officer 
cared to carry treasure under such conditions. 

* The " Friend of India," in August, 1854, acknowledged that if " a feeling 
which approaches discontent, constantly makes itself manifest among them, it is 
not without foundation." " Their pay," it added, " is scarcely on the Indian 
scale ; their promotion is wretchedly behindhand ; their nominal rank only serves 
to render their practical subjection to the Royal Navy more irksome and humi- 
liating. They are in the position in which the Company's officers were placed 
before the great Indian reform, when they could never practically attain a higher 
rank than that of captain. Their services scarcely meet with the reward which 
becomes brave men or a grateful Government. The personal efforts of the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 301 

There were two other points on which the Service had just 
cause of complaint at the period at which we have arrived. 
One, in direct antagonism to every scheme having for its object 
the efficiency of the Service — which, as we have seen, the 
Chairman of the Court stated the Directors had so much at 
heart — was the employment of steam-frigates as packet ships, 
by which it was impossible to train the men to their duty as 
gunners, and all attempts at smartness and discipline were 
rendered abortive.* The mail service was also rendered still 
more unpalatable by an order from the Court, some two or 
three years before, by which the officers were deprived of the 
batta formerly allowed to them. This extra pay, small as it 
was, was granted as a small remuneration for the discomforts 
and inconveniences to which the officers were subjected by their 
cabins being appropriated to passengers ; the Company re- 
ceived the passage-money, and denied their officers any com- 
pensation for robbing them of the accommodation to which 
they were legally entitled ! And yet it was stated in evidence 
before the House of Commons some years before, that the 
Service had not only naught to complain of, but the officers 
were happy and contented with their lot. From the first 
establishment of the packet service, the entire body of officers 
felt the duties derogatory to them as commissioned gentlemen 
ranking with the Army, and officers like Captain Campbell, 
who were the salt of the Service, complained of the indignities 
to which they were subjected by the duties thrust upon them. 
This was so far back as 1838, and the Court ordered that 
the commanding officers should not be required to sign returns 
like masters of merchantmen. 

During the continuance of the Burmese War, the monthly 
line of packets between Suez and Bombay, was run by the 
' Ajdaha,' ' Akbar,' and ' Victoria/ the latter a serviceable, but 
slow, vessel of small horse-power. Formerly the officers com- 
manding the steamers employed in the packet service, were 
senior lieutenants, but when the steam frigates, 'Ajdaha' and 
' Ferouz,' which also carried the mails before the Burmese War, 

Governor- General secured for Captain Rennie a local recognition, but his com- 
panions obtained for their Burmese sufferings only money, and even the fortunate 
exception gained nothing valuable at home." A Committee, consisting of a 
Member of Council, the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, the Master- 
Attendant, the Assistant-Superintendent, and the Military Paymaster, was ordered 
by the Court of Director::' at this time to assemble for the purpose of inquiring 
into the grievances, and renort upon the state, of the Indian Navy. The general 
result of this investigation, as regards increased full and furlough pay, rank and 
other pressing grievances, was, however, nil. 

* A writer to the " London Mail " of the 24th of November, 1853, observes : — 
" Picture to yourself an officer and gentleman, brought up in all the strictness of 
a man-of-war's etiquette and cleanliness, made to preside over the system in vogue, 
and can it be wondered at that the packet service is detested by every officer in 
the Indian Navy ? It is looked upon by them as derogatory to a gentleman." 



302 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

were built, the Court directed that the commands should he 
held by commanders. Formerly, also, the commanding officers 
supplied the servants and provisions, but, in 1847 or 1848, 
Government gave the provisioning of the passengers and 
supply of the servants, to a Parsee contractor, who, of course, 
tried to make all he could out of the contract. The complaints 
of the public were now loud and frequent, but there was no 
help for them, as the captain was not responsible. 

Soon after the appointment of Commodore Lushington, much 
discussion had occurred in England on the condition of the 
Indian Navy, and a Committee of the House of Commons was 
appointed to inquire into the subject. In May, 1850, Sir 
Charles Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed 
himself strongly against the principle of employing ships of 
war in the packet service, and procured the transference of these 
duties to the Peninsular and Oriental Company; but, neverthe- 
less, the change was not carried out until Sir Charles Wood, 
now presiding over the Board of Control, carried into effect his 
own recommendations made to the Court some years before. 
The contract for the conveyance of mails and passengers was 
given to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, and the 
steamers of the Indian Navy were reserved for purely naval 
duties. 

The second point referred to above, which was an anomaly 
such as probably never before existed where common sense 
ruled the day, was the fact that the administration of the 
Indian Navy was subject to the control of a Military Board and 
a Military Audit Department, so that military officers, who did 
not know the difference between the main-sheet and a sprit- 
sail yard, allowed or disallowed the expenditure of stores 
according as their wisdom prompted them, thus causing endless 
delays to officers before their accounts were passed, vexatious, 
and, oftentimes, ridiculous references being made to them long 
after they had quitted their ships.* Formerly the Military 

* The following anecdotes, told in the Service, illustrate the profound ignorance 
of the Military Board as regards nautical matters : — 

A master sent in his expense and supply books to be audited at that office ; a 
spar, it appeared, had been expended during the cruise of the vessel, and to prove 
that such was the fact, he appended to his accounts a copy of the ship's log, 
wherein it was shown that on such a day, and at such an hour, the main-topsail- 
yard was carried away, and immediately replaced by another. The Board, how- 
ever, not knowing the precise meaning of the technical term " carried away," 
imagined that the yard had been clandestinely taken otf by some one, and, in the 
plenitude of their wisdom, they sent the account books back to the master, with 
a letter, calling upon him for an explanation, and intimating at the same time 
that it was a highly repi-ehensible proceeding, to permit any article, the property 
of Government, to be carried away without some authority for so doing ; and in 
the absence of this authority, the master would either be charged the full value of 
the missing spar, or he was to have it brought back again. 

Another instance, still more ludicrous, occurred on board one of the steamers : — 

The master, or accountant, it seems, had used more rope and plank than was 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 303 

Board was aided in Marine matters by a naval officer or 
secretary, but that appointment was abolished, notwith- 
standing strenuous opposition on the part of Commodore 
Lushington. 

The Court of Directors had always reserved to themselves 
the entire patronage and management of the Marine, and there 
was so much maladministration in consequence, that, says a 
writer, in the " Ueccan Herald " of the 8th of May, 18(53, " bills 
occurred for stores sent out from home amounting to between 
.£80,000 and £90,000, and so carelessly were these selected 
that from .£20,000 to ,£30,000 worth were sold annually in 
Bombay." 

The evil policy of employing the ships of war as packet and 
passenger vessels was abandoned with the happiest results in 
the improved discipline and efficiency of the Service, but the 
anomalies as to pay and supervision of accounts, were continued 
to the last, and were only abrogated with the abolition of the 
Indian Navy. 

In the year 1854, the French steam frigate ' Cayman ' was 
lost off Zeyla, on the Soomali coast, when Captain Frushard, 
commanding the ' Semiramis,' with praiseworthy alacrity pro- 
ceeded to her assistance, and conveyed the officers, crew, and 
stores to Aden.* 

his established allowance for so many months ; and lie was sorely pnzzled how to 
account for the deficiency, wheu one of his messmates, on a sudden thought, sug- 
gested that lie should expend the articles lie was short of as follows, viz. — forty 
fathoms of 3-inch rope for twiddling lines, and twenty feet of 3-inch plank for 
tommy noddies, as he was quite certain, if his sage advice was only adhered to, 
that the Military Board would not notice it. The Master took the hint ; the 
entry as above was made in the books, and they were July forwarded. It will 
scarcely be believed that the accounts were passed by the Board without a single 
question being asked as to what was meant by twiddling lines and tommy 
noddies. As to the latter, it would have been a puzzle for the master himself to 
explain what that article was, such a thing never having been heard of. The 
former is well known to be a sort of twine or cord used generally for man-ropes, 
boats' yoke-lines, and other similar purposes, but it is made of white line, and not 
of junk. 

The above incidents, we believe, actually took place, though we do not per- 
sonally vouch for them ; certainly, as the Italians say, " se non e vero e ben 
trovaio." 

* Captain Frushard writes to us : — 

"I had arrived with the mails from India during the night, and in the fore- 
noon saw a Native craft coming in, and my glass soon told me there was an officer 
in her. He came on board the ' Semiramis ' at once, and reported his vessel a 
wreck off Zeyla. I sent word to Commander Montriou (the senior officer at 
Aden), and as soon as I had taken on board coal enough, started for Zeyla, and 
there I found the ' Cayman,' high and dry upon one of the hmer reefs. Fortu- 
nate it was for them that the wreck was there, for a few miles away on either 
side, and the Soomalies would have considered her a godsend. Old Sliirmakhi, 
the Sheikh of Zeyla, was an old and proved friend of ours, and had given some 
huts in the town for the use of the ' Cayman's ' crew, and assisted in sending 
the news to Aden. I received on board aud conveyed to Aden the captain, 
officers, crew, sails, arms, ammunition, tanks, hammocks, and a vast amount 
of general salvage, including even a lot of the fittings of her cabins. The 
' Elphinstone ' arrived at Zeyla before I left, and brought over chains, anchors, 



304 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

In the same year an Expedition, for geographical purposes, 
was organised at Bombay, which merits some notice here, as an 
officer of the Indian Navy was one of the party, and was the 
only one who fell a victim to the treachery of the natives. 
This Expedition, which was started under the auspices of the 
Bombay Government, had for its object the exploration of the 
iSoomali country, and was placed under the command of 
Captain Richard Burton, of the 18th Bombay Native Infantry, 
the now world-renowned traveller, who had already earned a 
reputation by his adventurous visit to Mecca in the disguise of a 
Mahommedan. The other members of the party were Lieutenant 
Stroyan, of the Indian Navy, a surveyor of high scientific 
attainments, Lieutenant Heme, 1st Bombay Fusiliers, and Lieu- 
tenant Speke, of the Bengal Army, immortalised by his discovery 
of Lake Victoria Nyanza. Captain Burton successfully accom- 
plished a preliminary journey to Harrar, which had never before 
been visited by any other European, Lieutenant Speke pene- 
trated into the country of the Warasingali tribe of Soomalies, 
and Lieutenants Heme and Stroyan remained at Berbera 
during the annual fair, to acquire information regarding that 
port. All four met at Berbera in April, 1855, with the in- 
tention of accompanying the return kafilah inland to Ogaden. 
The fair at Berbera terminated on the 15th of April, when the 
last inhabitants of that late populous town proceeded into the 
interior ; on the 18th a baghalah entered the creek, and the 
nacoda and crew were entertained by the officers who, most 
providentially as it turned out, detained the vessel all night in 
the harbour. The travellers retired to rest that night as usual, 
and about two a.m., on the following morning, were attacked by 
a body of one hundred and fifty to two hundred well armed 
Soomalies, chiefly of the Esa Moosa tribe, at whose approach 
the servants, almost without exception, took to flight, leaving 
their masters to defend themselves as they best could. Lieu- 
tenant Stroyan was killed before he could reach his arms, 
Lieutenant Burton was wounded by a spear, which passed 
through his cheek, dividing the palate, Lieutenant Speke was 
taken prisoner, wounded in several places, but managed to effect 
his escape almost by a miracle, and Lieutenant Heme alone re- 
mained unscathed. The entire property and baggage of the Ex- 
pedition were plun lered, and the surviving officers, with the few 
servants who remained faithful to them, took refuge in the bag- 
halah, carrying with them the remains of Lieutenant Stroyan, 
which they committed to the deep during their passage to 

&c, and all were housed in the store-rooms at Aden till a vessel came from 
Reunion and took away the bulk. The only notice I ever received for this, 
though done entirely on my own responsibility, was the offer through the 
Consul at Bombay, of a gold medal from the French Government. As this 
was not till three years after the salvage, I declined to receive it, as coming 
too lace." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 305 

Aden. A demand was made by Brigadier Coghlan on the 
elders of the tribes for the surrender of the principal insti- 
gators of this unprovoked outrage, who were well known by- 
name, and it was enforced by a rigid blockade of their 
coast, maintained by the ' Elphinstone' and 'Main',' which 
stopped the entire trade of Berbera during the seasons 
of 1855-5(5, thus inflicting a severe punishment on the offending 
tribe. The Soomali chiefs showed every disposition to com- 
ply with the demands made upon them, but they were unable to 
do so to the full extent, as most of the offenders escaped to 
other tribes, and thus were beyond their reach, and only one 
man, who bore the mark of a gunshot wound on his back, was 
sent to Aden a prisoner. At length Government, satisfied that 
all had been done which was within the power of the tribe, 
consented to the withdrawal of the blockade, upon certain con- 
ditions, which was embodied in a treaty, and, in November, 
1856, the blockading vessel was recalled.* 

On the 2nd of December, 1856, the 'Elphinstone,' Captain 
Frushard,t sailed from Bombay for Zanzibar, carrying Captains 

* Captain Playfair's " History of Arabia Felix." 

t Captain Frushard was enabled to render an important service to bis Govern- 
ment in tbe year 18-18, on the occasion of the first voyage of the ' Ferooz ' to 
Suez. The incident is worthy of record as showing the description of civil duties, 
unostentatiously performed, and oftentimes unehronicled, which the officers of the 
Indian Navy rendered to their own and the Home Governments. Captain Frushard 
writes — " I had just anchored at Suez when the Vice Consul (Levick, I think, was 
his name) came on board and gave me a letter from Mr. Murray, the Consul-General 
in Egypt, addressed to the Commander of any vessel of the Indian Navy arriving 
at Suez, which was to the effect that Abbas Pasha, late Governor of Cairo, was 
about to proceed on the pilgrimage to Mecca ; that he had on all occasions 
evidenced his friendliness to the English, and treated foreign visitors to Cairo 
with great distinction, and he, Mr. Murray, deemed it desirable that Abbas Pasha 
should be conveyed to Jiddah by any vessel of the Indian Navy, if possible. The 
Vice-Consul Levick also told me, as from Mr. Murray, that on the return of 
Ibrahim Pasha from England, he had accused Abbas of malversation during his 
governorship of Cairo, and it was probable Ibrahim on that, or some other 
protest, would put Abbas ' out of the way,' and Mr. Levick added that ' Abbas 
was then in Suez.' I went on shore and called upon Abbas Pasha and offered 
to convey him to Jiddah, at which he was greatly pleased, and wished to go off 
at once, although I told liim I was not ready, as I had to take in coal. However, 
I took him on board in my gig, and lucky it was for him, for that same afternoon 
a number of Ibrahim Pasha's followers arrived at Suez, and I then learnt that 
Abbas Pasha had escaped from Cairo the night before. The next day a large 
party of priests, beys, and followers embarked, and I proceeded to Jiddah, 
leaving an official for the commander of any vessel that might arrive to take on 
my mails to Bombay, if they came during my absence. Abbas and most of his 
followers talked only Turkish Arabic ; but his medical man was an Italian, who 
spoke French well, and my purser, Cole, (a) was well up in Arabic, and so we got on 
swimmingly. The morning after landing Abbas at Jiddah, I left for Suez. On 
the afternoon of my arrival there, Nubar Bey came from Cairo with a despatch 
from Mr. Murray, apprising me of the death of Ibrahim Pasha, and the great 
importance and necessity for Abbas Pasha's return, Abbas now being Viceroy. I 
immediately left again for Jiddah, taking Nubar Bey with his despatches. 

(a) Mr. Cole was afterwards for many years British Consul at Jiddah. 
VOL. II. X 



306 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 






Burton and Speke on their first exploration of Equatorial 
Africa. After a brief stay at Zanzibar, where the officers 
received great kindness from the Sultan, and the British Consul 
and Hon. Company's Agent, Colonel Hamerton — who died 
on the ensuing 5th of July — the 'Elphinstone ' sailed for 
Aden, where Captain Frushard performed the duty of senior 
naval officer, to which he had been appointed from the 3rd of 
August, until his departure to England, on sick leave, in 
1858. 

We will now give some details of affairs at Aden, taking up 
the thread of the narrative from the year 1848, the point at 
which we had left off. The Red Sea squadron of the Indian 
Navy found ample employment in keeping the Arab tribes 
and the Soomalies on the opposite coast, to their treaty 
engagements, or in punishing them for repeated outrages. 

The first of a series which for many years compli- 
cated the relations of the British with the Arab tribes near 
Aden, occurred on the 29th of May, 1850. A boat from the 
Hon. Company's steam-frigate ' Auckland,' proceeded to the 
north coast of the harbour, and the crew, having ventured on 
shore, were attacked by a body of Bedouins from Bir Ahmed ; 

Abbas was at Mecca on our arrival at Jiddah, and I despatched Cole and Nubar 
Bey on dromedaries to find him. They were fortunate, and returned with him, 
when I sailed at once and landed him in Suez on the eighth or ninth day after 
Ibrahim Pasha's death, and so saved much trouble in Egypt ; for already there 
were four parties in the field — Ibrahim Pasha's sons, the Army, the Priests, and 
the faction from Constantinople. I received the approval of the Home and 
Bombay Governments, but, until then, I had my doubts whether I should not be 
" checked" for the coal I had expended. 

" Before reaching Suez, Nubar Bey came to me and said the Pasha wished me 
to accept a sum of money in purses. I don't remember how many, but as a purse 
is £15, I know the total was a goodly sum. I told Nubar to inform the Pasha I 
could not accept one, the rules of the Service expressly forbidding it. At Suez a 
crowd of notables from Cairo greeted our landing, among them a Colonel Bonthron, 
or some such name, who was one of Ibrahim Pasha's suite when on his visit 
to England, and Abbas gave me into his charge to be escorted to Cairo, where I 
was lodged in the palace of the Foreign Minister. The director of the principal 
hotel came daily for orders about meals, &c, ' by order,' also various officers to 
know where I wished to visit, and my servants might each have had a carriage 
had I willed so. The palaces were open to me, a review of the cavalry was 
ordered expressly for my pleasure, and on all occasions of my visiting or driving 
with the Viceroy, I was received with marked distinction and seated in the place 
of honour, and I found that he had daily information of how I had been attended 
to. Of course I was a ' big man ' in Cairo, and had no end of suppliants for my 
good word to the ' Supreme Head.' Although presents were offered me, I never 
accepted more than an amber mouth-piece, the value of which I gave, on leaving 
Cairo, as gratuities to those who had attended upon me. 

" I had a very gratifying reception on taking leave, and while he lived, I had 
several letters from Nubar Bey, written by direction of the 'Supreme Head' (as 
he termed the Viceroy), all showing that Abbas Pasha had a lively remembrance 
of what we had done for him. In one he said he had ' ordered a yacht to be 
built, to be called the ' Ferooz'.' In another that ' I and the officers of th< 
' Ferooz' were to be free of the Desert.' Again, ' That he had ordered a carnag< 
from London for me, which, however, never reached me.' " 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 307 

one man was killed, and a boy, who was wounded, and another 
seaman, saved their lives by running round the coast to the 
Barrier gate, while the remainder swam off to a waterboat 
which happened to be near at hand. Shortly afterwards a 
Sepoy of the 3rd Madras Native Infantry was wounded at the 
Barrier gate, by a fanatic, who was shot by the sentry. On the 
28th of February, 1854, a party of officers from the garrison, 
consisting of Captain Milne, of the Bombay Army, Lieutenant 
M'Pherson, of H.M.'s 78th Highlanders, Lieutenants Ogilvie 
and Henchy, of the Madras Artillery, and Mr. Saulez, pro- 
ceeded into the interior for antelope shooting, being accom- 
panied to Lahej by Lieutenant Cruttenden. of the Indian Navy, 
Assistant Political Agent, who, having procured an escort from 
the Sultan for their protection, returned to Aden. The party 
spent the following night at a neighbouring village, inhabited 
entirely by Syuds, or descendants of the Prophet, where they 
imprudently dismissed their guard. In the middle of the night, 
a fanatic, named Syud Hoossein, succeeded in gaining entrance 
to the courtyard, where they were sleeping, and killed Captain 
Milne, and wounded Lieutenant M'Pherson and Mr. Saulez, 
and, making his escape, found refuge with Ahmed bin Abdulla, 
the Foudtheli Sultan. A few days later, on the 27th of March, 
an armed Arab, from Bir Ahmed, contrived to evade the police 
at Steamer Point, and landed at Aden, with the intention, it 
was supposed, of assassinating the Political Agent, Captain 
Haines. The first European he met was Lieutenant Delisser, 
of H.M.'s 78th- Highlanders, whom he attacked, when that 
officer, who was riding, dismounted, and grappled with the 
assassin, and, after having received several wounds, killed him 
with his own jembea, or Arab dagger. The body was sub- 
sequently hung in chains at the Barrier gate, through which all 
the Arabs from the interior had to pass on entering Aden. On 
the 4th of June, in the same year, a Sepoy was wounded out- 
side the Barrier gate, and, on the 12th of July following, eome 
of the crew of the merchant vessel, ' Sons of Commerce,' which 
had been wrecked at Koobet Sailan, having landed, were at- 
tacked, and two men murdered and the wreck plundered by the 
subjects of the Lahej Sultan. The captain and four of the crew 
proceeded to Aden, where they arrived on the following day, 
when the ' Elphinstone,' Lieutenant Batt, was despatched with 
some troops, and brought the survivors in safety to Aden. 
Lieutenant Lithgow, first of the ' Elphinstone,' proceeded on 
shore to examine the wreck, when a body of four hundred 
Arabs opened fire upon the boat. As the wreck was beyond 
rescue and the weather very boisterous, the ' Elphinstone ' 
returned to Aden. The chief instigator of this outrage, was 
seized by the Sultan of Lahej, and executed on the 27th of 

x 2 



308 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

October, thus affording a proof of the friendship of himself and 
his people, the Abdali. 

The combined Foudtheli and Akrabi now carried on incessant 
depredations, and supplies were constantly stopped, to the 
great distress of the inhabitants and garrison of Aden, while 
the Sultan of the Abdali expressed his inability to protect 
the communication between Aden and the interior, and repress 
the aggressions of his neighbours. The only means of punish- 
ing these troublesome allies, at the disposal of the Political 
Resident, who was debarred, by orders from Bombay, from 
undertaking hostile operations, was by blockading Bir Ahmed 
and Shugra by the ships of the Red Sea squadron, and 
excluding members of the offending clans from Aden. This 
course was adopted, and the ' Elphinstone' blockaded the 
Foudtheli coast, while, at the same time, friendly relations were 
formed with other tribes in the vicinity of Aden, who were 
thereby detached from a threatened coalition with the Foudtheli 
against our ally, Sultan AH Mahain of the Abdali. 

Such was the state of affairs towards the end of 1855, at 
which time Sultan Ali suddenly came to terms with the 
Foudtheli, and the latter expressed an earnest desire to make 
peace with the British, and promised to respect and preserve 
the roads leading to Aden. Brigadier (now General Sir Wil- 
liam) Coghlan, the Commandant and Political Resident at 
Aden, found it expedient to accept these advances, and so far 
to relax his hostility as to raise the blockade of Shugra, and 
permit the Foudthelis free access to Aden ; the question of the 
restoration of the annual stipend, withheld from the Foudtheli 
Sultan since the murder of Captain Milne, was, however, 
reserved until the sincerity of these protestations of peace had 
been further proved. This arrangement was acceded to chiefly 
at the request of Sultan Ali ; but, no sooner did he see a 
prospect of a permanent peace between the Foudtheli and 
the English, than he used every artifice in his power to pre- 
vent it.* 

At this time also the Akrabi tribe tendered their submission, 
and the roads being open, supplies were abundant in Aden. 

* " Early in 1857, says Captain Playfair, to whose valuable " History of Arabia 
Felix" we are much indebted, " the Akrabi tribe tendered their submission and 
sued for friendship. These overtures were accepted, and thus an end was put to 
all the differences which had so long complicated the relations between the 
authorities of Aden and the neighbouring tribes. The results of these measures 
left nothing to be desired, the roads were open and secure, and supplies abundant, 
while the Foudtheli and Akrabi ceased from their depredations. The Sultan Ali 
of Abdali, chagrined at good relations being thus established between his neigh- 
bours and the British, demanded toll upon the wells of Sheikh Othman, from 
which the town and shipping of Aden were to a great extent dependent for water. 
This gave rise to a long correspondence carried on by Sultan Ali in a tone of haughty 
contempt, and the matter was not finally settled until Brigadier Coghlan threatened 
to stop his stipend, and the Governor of Bombay had passed a severe censure on 
his conduct." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 300 

But the quondam peacemaker now became the disturber, and, 
towards the end of J 857, the Abdali began plundering the 
supplies coming from Bir Ahmed to Aden, and all efforts to 
induce Sultan Ali to award compensation proved futile, his 
replies to the remonstrances of Brigadier Coghlan being a curious 
compound of insolence, recrimination, and subterfuge. About 
the middle of January, 1858, Sultan Ali wrote a kind of 
circular letter, copies of which were sent to Captain Playfair, 
and several officers of the Aden garrison, charging the Aden 
Residency with disregard of treaty obligations, injustice, op- 
pression, and support of his enemies, and concluding with a 
menace that not having received a direct reply from "ourfriend, 
Lord Elphinstone," then Governor of Bombay, he had deter- 
mined "to keep his people from entering Aden, and to close his 
country till the Government shall come to its senses." This 
menacing despatch he followed up by plundering the Foudtheli, 
aud refused a demand for restitution made by the British 
Political Agent, who, at length, broke off all communication 
with him, and discontinued the payment of his stipend. Ali 
Mahsin, on his part, retaliated by prohibiting his tribe from 
sending any supplies into Aden, and seized several kafilahs of 
coffee and grain, the property of Aden merchants, after having 
exacted a transit duty upon them. Subsequently, about the 
beginning of March, he occupied in force the fort and village of 
Sheikh Othman, distant a few miles from the isthmus line of 
works, and so situated as to command all the roads leading into 
Aden, and, in order to distress the garrison and shipping, 
which were to a great extent supplied with water from this 
place, he filled up all the wells, except such as were required 
for his own people. As such a state of things could no longer 
be tolerated, the Brigadier assumed the character of a soldier, 
and, conciliatory measures having failed to bring the recal- 
citrant Arab chief to terms, determined to have recourse to arms. 

As soon as it was known that an Expedition was projected 
against Lahej, the crew of the ' Elphinstone,' then quartered on 
shore at Steamer Point, wrote and despatched the following 
letter, or "round robin," to Brigadier Coghlan, the original of 
which we have now lying before us, signed by "all hands," 
whose honest Saxon names are familiar to us as those of 
shipmates : — 

" Honoured Sir,— We, the ' Elphinstone's ' crew, having 
heard that there is to be an Expedition against Lahej, humbly 
beg that you will kindly allow us to serve with the forces (as 
many of our comrades are doing in India) where we flatter our- 
selves we might be of use in working the field-pieces or else as 
infantry, and, Sir, if you will kindly have the kindness to grant 
our humble petition, we will ever pray for your health and 
prosperity. 



310 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

"Would you allow us to be the forlorn hope as we are living 
ashore and have got nothing else to do, and 
" We remain, honoured Sir, 

" Your most obedient servants." 

(Here followed the signatures of the crew, in their watches 
and with their ratings opposite their names.) 

The gallant Brigadier was the last man to refuse such a 
request, and almost the entire ship's company, under the 
charge of a lieutenant and two midshipmen, with field-pieces, 
accompanied the force. 

On the 18th of March, 1858, Brigadier Coghlan marched out 
of Aden with a force of two or three companies uf H.M.'s 57th 
Regiment, a wing of the 29th Bombay Native Infantry, and 
the detachment of seamen. 

The force was unopposed till it arrived within two miles of 
the village of Sheikh Othman, when the Arabs opened fire under 
cover of the hillocks, where they had taken up their advanced 
position. The British main body being halted, the enemy were 
dislodged from their cover by skirmishers sent out from both 
flanks, aided by the guns, and a small detachment of horse. 
This operation discovered about five hundred men, under the 
command of a brother of the Abdali chief, mostly mounted on 
camels, who disputed the ground with obstinate bravery and 
considerable skill, but in less than an hour gave way. Brigadier 
Coghlan then advanced upon the fort and village, which were 
quickly stormed by the sailors, the first to enter the village, 
cutlass in hand, being a gallant young midshipman, Mr. Mon- 
tagu H. Jones,* who outran his men, like Achilles, " podos- 
akiis," (swift of foot) and, heedless of aught but the honour of 
being " in at the death," received a wound as he vaulted lightly 
over the low wall. The Arabs now retired to some distance, 
and, about ten a.m., on being joined by considerable reinforce- 
ments from the direction of Lahej, spread themselves over the 
country, evidently intending to contest the further advance of 
the British in that direction. 

Shortly after, a parley was demanded, and three of the 
Abdali chiefs came forward, and solicited, on the part of Sultan 
AH, the cessation of hostilities, pledging themselves to concede 
all the British demands, and stating their readiness to proceed 
to Aden to treat for peace. Satisfied with their gocd faith, the 

* This young officer realized all that Marryat wrote in his wildest imaginings of 
reckless dare-devil midshipmen. Montagu Hornby Jones would dive oil' the 
maintop-gallant yard-arm or under the ship's bottom, and perform feats that 
would seem impossible to any but the genus midshipman. He was the son 
of the late General Sir Harry Jones, R.E., G.O B., who led the forlorn hope 
at San Sebastian, and was worthy of such a father, possessing talents that 
would have made him a Cochrane had opportunity permitted. He was cut 
off within two years of the Lahej Expedition, and in penning these few lines 
the author fulfils a pleasing duty to the memory of a friend and most promising 
young officer. 



HISTORY OF THE IXDIAN NAVY. 311 

Brigadier, at their earnest request, commenced his return march 
to Aden, having first blown up the fort and village of Sheikh 
Othman with the powder captured there. On the following 
day supplies began to pour into Aden in great abundance, and, 
soon after, the Sultan's brother arrived at the Residency to 
settle the basis of a reconciliation. Brigadier Coghlan's 
demands were complied with, and, for a time at least, Sultan 
Ali's overweening self-importance received a check. 

The detachment of seamen distinguished themselves both by 
their gallantry in storming the walled village and by their 
marching powers. The Brigadier highly commended them for 
their activity and discipline, and the officers and men received 
the thanks of the Bombay Government. 

Sir William Coghlan, at our request, has supplied us with 
the following particulars of this well planned and happily 
executed little Expedition : — 

"I possess no record with regard to my Expedition against 
the Arabs on the 18th of March, 1858, and my report of that 
day's proceedings was not published. Our troubles in India 
were then recent, and it was not expedient to let the world 
know that we had difficulties in Arabia. But what happened 
was in this wise: — The Sultan of the Abdali (Lahej) had for 
some time previously given me much trouble. I bore it as long 
as possible, for our policy was one of peace. At length, how- 
ever, his insults became intolerable, and I resolved to go forth 
with part of my garrison, and settle all scores at once. This I 
did with entire success. The force included a detachment of 
seamen from the ' Elphinstone.' We had a hard day's work 
under a blazing sun, and I was glad to get back to Aden in the 
evening without any loss from that enemy. The Arabs opposed 
us at the Khore Mucksa, where, by their numbers, they pre- 
sented a formidable appearance, but they never checked our 
advance. When we approached the village and fort of Sheikh 
Othman, the ' Elphinstone's ' party scaled the walls, and had 
the British flag at the mast-head in a few minutes. Thus they 
attained the object prayed fur in the accompanying letter,* 
which I received a day or two previously. They were ' the 
forlorn hope, having nothing else to do !' This curious docu- 
ment may recall some of the signatures to your recollection. 
Thus ended this little affair, which was a hard day's work, 
thoroughly successful, and of more importance than some 
of those then occurring in India which were made a good 
deal of." 

Not long after their return from this service, the crew of the 
'Elphinstone' were attacked with cholera, and, in a few days, there 
died Assistant-Surgeon Brigstocke, Mr. Midshipman Dodd, Mr. 
Taylor, boatswain— a genuine salt of the old school, well known 

* This is the "round robin" already given. 



312 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

in the Service as " Polyphemus," owing to his having lost ar 
eye in action — and nine petty officers and seamen. Her com- 
mander, Captain Frushard, proceeded to England on sick- 
certificate, after thirty-three years' continuous service in th( 
East, and Commander Adams, of the ' Assaye,' on his arrival at 
Aden, found the ship dismantled and the crew housed on shore. 
With characteristic energy he sent working parties on boarc 
the ship, fumigated and whitewashed the holds, store-rooms, 
and lower deck, sent up masts and yards, bent sails, ordered the 
crew on board, and despatched her on a cruise with the 
' Assaye's ' surgeon in medical charge, when not another case 
of cholera occurred. 

In 1854, when this country was engaged in her great struggle 
with Russia, and the Muscovite bear and the still more in- 
satiable Crimean winter were calling for more victims, the 10th 
Hussars and 12th Lancers were ordered to proceed from India to 
participate in the glories and disasters of the sanguinary struggle 
before Sebastopol,* upon which the eyes of the world were 
fixed. The 10th Hussars, about seven hundred men, with their 
horses, embarked on board the ' Punjaub,' Commander Young — j 
which had been fitted in six days with stalls for two hundred 
and fifty horses — 'Auckland,' Commander Drought, 'Victoria,' 
Lieutenant Adams, and the sailing transport ' Sultana,' with 
Lieutenant Etheridge, I.N., as agent for transports, all of which 
sailed for Suez on the 9th of January, 1855; and it may be 
noted as a proof of the fine lines of the ' Punjaub ' and her 
admirable sailing qualities, that, though without her engines 
and impeded by her great paddle-boxes, she sailed the other 
vessels hull down, and, while they were staggering under full 
steam or a press of sail, she was running before the gale with 
her topsails lowered on the cap. On the 21st of February, the 
12th Lancers, with their horses, sailed in the ' Queen,' Com- 
mander Montriou ; and the transports, 'Precursor' (steamer) ; 
' Earl of Clare,' with Lieutenant Jackson, I.N., as agent for 
transports ; ' Earl Grey,' with Lieutenant Hunter, I.N., as agent 
for transports ; and ' Jessica,' with Lieutenant Whish, I.N., as 
agent for transports. On the 24th of February, the ' Semiramis,' 
Lieutenant Batt, and ' Assaye,' Commander Daniell, sailed for 
Mangalore, and, having embarked the remainder of the 12th 
Lancers, proceeded to Suez, but the engines of the 'Assaye' 
roke down, and she had to tranship her cargo of men and horses 
to the ' Semiramis.' 

The supervision of the transport duties was performed by 

* The only officer of the Indian Navy present at the bombardment of Sebas- 
topol, was, we believe, Lieutenant Pengelley, who served in the Turkish Contin- 
gent as Naval Director of the Land Transport Corps, from the 13th of October, 
1855, to the 29th of May, 1856 ; while thus employed he witnessed the bombard- 
ment of the northern forts of Sebastopol, and was present at the occupation of 
tertch by the Allies, for which services he received the medal. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 313 

Captain Frushard, assisted by Lieutenant Worsley,* First Lieu- 
tenant of the ' Punjaub.' The following Government General 
Order was published to the Service, eulogistic of the officers of 
the Indian Navy employed in transporting the 10th Hussars 
and 12th Lancers to Suez: — 

" Bombay Castle, June 19, 1856. 

" The Right Hon. the Governor in Council has much satis- 
faction in publishing to the Indian Navy the following extract, 
para. 40, of a despatch from the Hon. Court, No. 76, dated 31st 
of October last : — 

" ' We have perused with much satisfaction the letter of the 
Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, dated 24th of April, 
1855, in which he reports the return of the vessels with the 
officers of the Indian Navy who were in command of divisions 
of transports, and brings prominently to notice the names of 
Captain Frushard, Commanders Young, Daniell, and Drought, 
and of Lieutenant Worsley. The testimony therein borne by 
Sir Henry Leeke to the zeal and activity displayed by those 
officers in the performance of the arduous duties assigned to 
them, as well as to the good conduct of every officer and man 
serving under their orders, and the successful result of those 
transport arrangements, reflect great credit upcn the Indian 
Naval Service, and fully entitle all the parties concerned to our 
hearty commendation.' "| 

On the 1 1th of May, 1855, Commander Young again took 
command of the 'Assaye,' and, on the 11th of December, Com- 
mander Montriou, who was relieved in the ' Queen ' by Lieu- 
tenant Adams, assumed command of the ' Punjaub,' which he 
exchanged for the appointment of Master-Attendant (in suc- 
cession to Captain Frushard, appointed Senior Naval Officer 
at Aden on the 3rd of August) ; and, finally, on the 5th- 
of April, 185G, the command of the Punjaub ' was conferred on 
Lieutenant Fullerton of the ' Tigris,' an intelligent and zealous 
officer. Captain C. Montriou, who served with distinction in 
the first Burmese war under Commodore Hayes, and as Indian 
Navy Draughtsman for many years, died of cholera at Bombay 
on the 29th of April, only sixteen days after his promotion to 
the rank of Captain on the retirement of Captain Lynch. 

The "Bombay Telegraph and Courier" thus writes of 
the character and career of Captain Montriou : — " A man 
of extraordinary talents and abilities, beloved and admired 

* This officer, who was distinguished for his activity and capacity, and had 
gained credit while first-lieutenant of the ' Semiramis,' during his service in China 
in 1850-53, was appointed to the command of the ' Ajdaha ' in the following 
year. 

f Military Letter, No. 59, dated the 19th of May, 1855. Reports arrangement 
for the conveyance of H.M.'s 10th Hussars and H.AI.'s 12th Lancers to Suez, and 
conduct of officers engaged therein belonging to the Indian Navy. 



314 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

by every one who knew him, he had served continu- 
ously for thirty-two years in the service of Government in 
India, and was considered a very superior officer. He had 
served in the first Rangoon War, and took a prominent part in 
all the maritime surveys round by Bengal. In 1839 he 
came to Bombay, and commanded the receiving ship 'Has- 
tings,' and was acting draughtsman as well for some years. 
In this position he became a great favourite with the late Sir 
Robert Oliver, and he was in such good favour with seamen, 
that he had often from three to four hundred sailors in his 
ship, and by this means he made up the war complements of 
the ships and steamers equipped for the China War. He 
planned and wrote out the whole of the ordnance equipment 
required for the vessels of the Indian Navy, and was a general 
referee from the highest official quarters respecting professional 
matters afloat; but, strange to say, though he had a most won- 
derful memory, was highly read, and well informed upon 
almost every subject, yet he could never be induced to become 
an author. His love of reading and writing was great, and 
there were few men, however learned, that he could not cope 
with in scientific acquirements. His manner was retiring and 
unassuming, but at the same time he had a high and noble 
spirit, and was most warm-hearted and generous. From 1847 
to 1851, Commander Montriou was in charge of the Observatory, 
and then Government appointed him Senior Naval Officer at 
Aden. Here he, on several occasions, distinguished himself in 
the boat attacks of the Arabs, and co-operating with the 
Resident for the welfare of the port; and he was constantly 
consulted by the Resident in political matters, on account of 
his great tact, learning, and experience. 

" But at Aden, private misfortunes and family bereavements 
told heavily upon his constitution, and, after a long and dis- 
tressing illness, he was burnt out of house and home, and he 
and his wife and child were left utterly destitute of everything, 
except the clothes they had on when rescued from the flames. 
On this occasion he lost property to the amount of 26,000 
rupees. He therefore had to begin life anew, and, on his return 
to Bombay, was given the command of the ' Queen,'* and then 

* The following instance of the devotion to duty which distinguished Captain 
Montriou, is given by Lieutenant Carew, at this time one of the officers of the 
' Queen.' He says : — 

" We were steaming down the river Hooghly, bound to Bombay, when we 
strnck on that most dangerous bank, the James and Mary. The tide was rapidly 
falling, and no time was lost in laying a bower anchor out in mid-stream, and 
shifting all the guns to windward, where they were well secured ; meantime the 
boats were lowered. Our vessel, whose keel adhered to the mud of the steep 
bank, was heeling over fast, when Captain Montriou, in answer to something said 
by the pilot, replied, ' No, the ship may leave us, as that we can't help, but we 
won't leave her while she floats, so we will go to quarters.' We remained at 
quarters watching the vessel gradually heeling over till the guns hung from their 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 315 

of the ' Punjaub,' and last year was nominated Master Atten- 
dant and captain of the port. His losses so embarrassed his 
affairs that he was unable to visit England for the recovery of 
his health. His whole career had been one of usefulness and 
honourable distinction, and we believe he also drew up the 
Report for the Committee of the House of Commons, respecting 
the surveys of the East India Company. Commander Montriou 
leaves a wife and two sons and two daughters to lament his 
loss." 

Sir Henry Leeke paid the following tribute to the deceased 
officer in a Squadron Order : — "It is with sincere and very deep 
regret the Commander-in-chief has to announce to the Service 
the demise of Commander Charles William Montriou, Master- 
Attendant, whose melancholy death took place this morning at 
ten o'clock, at his residence in Colaba. In making this sad 
event known, the Commander-in-chief cannot resist expressing 
the mournful gratification he feels at being able to bear 
testimony to the truly upright and honourable career of 
Commander Montriou, during the many years he has served in 
the Indian Navy. In all his duties he was strictly correct, and 
ever anxious to perform them with a degree of integrity and 
zeal seldom surpassed, and his loss will be felt by all who 
have had the pleasure of serving with or knowing him. The 
Commander-in-chief desires that captains and commanding 
officers will cause as many of the officers and seamen of the 
ships in port as can be spared, and all officers of the dockyard 
establishment, to attend at the Colaba Church, at a quarter 
past five o'clock this evening, to follow his remains to the 
grave, and pay the last melancholy tribute to one who was so 
justly esteemed and beloved in the Service." 

The 'Zenobia,' Commander Rennie, continued to be employed 
to the eastward after the Burmese War, under the orders of the 
Governor-General. Early in 1855, she embarked at Rangoon a 
mission conveying a complimentary letter from the King of Bur- 
mah to Lord Dalhousie, which was responded to by his lordship 
delegating Major Phayre and other officers to Ava. The 'Zenobia' 
conveyed to Rangoon this mission, of which Commander Rennie, 
Lieutenant Heathcote, and Mr. Ogilvy were members, and, on 
the 1st of August, they proceeded on their way to Ava, and 
successfully accomplished the duties entrusted to them. On 
the 2nd of August, during Commander Rennie' s absence, the 
'Zenobia' proceeded to the Andamans, to rescue the crew of 
the brig 'Rob Roy,' which had been wrecked on that inhospit- 

breechings and side-tackles, when she suddenly cut her keel out of the mud, and 
started off into deep water until her anchor brought her up. The pilot said it 
was the first vessel he had known to be saved when once in the position we were, 
and no merchantman could have been. It was the heavy guns shifted to wind- 
ward that saved her." 



316 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

able group, the captain, his wife, and some of the crew having 
been picked np after four days' exposure in an open boat at 
sea, while proceeding to Rangoon to make known their fate. 

On the 31st of July, 1855, Commander Drought was trans- 
ferred from the command of the ' Ferooz,' to that of his former 
ship, the ' Auckland,' which was on the eve of sailing to the 
China seas, and, on the 4th of September, the former ship left 
Bombay, under charge of Lieutenant Batt, for Calcutta, when 
Commander Rennie assumed command of her, being relieved in 
the ' Xenobia ' by that officer. From this time, except during 
the brief interval occupied by the Persian War, the ' Ferooz ' 
remained under the immediate orders of the Supreme Govern- 
ment. On the 15th of November, the ' Ferooz,' which had 
arrived at Madras two days before from Galie, conveyed Lord 
Dalhousie, who had been staying some months at the Neilgherry 
Hills for his health, to Rangoon, whence his lordship returned to 
Calcutta on the 29th of November, the last time he steamed up 
the familiar waters of the Hooghly. On the 17th of the fol- 
lowing month, the 'Ferooz' was despathed to Suez to convey 
to India his successor, Lord Canning, and Lady Canning, and, 
on the 28th of January, 1856, she anchored in Bombay harbour 
with his Lordship, who was greeted with great enthusiasm by 
the people of the Western Presidency, though, from the peace- 
ful aspect of affairs, few of those welcoming him on his landing, 
could have anticipated that the viceroyalty of the new 
Governor-General was destined to be not less famous, as 
regards the occurrence of events of the first magnitude, than 
that of any of his predecessors. On the 6th of February, 
Lord Canning proceeded in the ' Ferooz ' to Madras, and, after 
a stay of eleven days with the Governor, the late Lord Harris, 
sailed on the 25th of February for Calcutta. The ' Ferooz ' 
arrived off Fort William on the 27th, and, two days later, his 
Lordship was sworn in, and commenced his momentous ad- 
ministration of Indian affairs. 

On the 9th of March the Marquis Dalhousie, accompanied by 
his daughter, Lady Susan Ramsay, after a memorable rule ex- 
tending over eight years, quitted the scene of his labours on 
board the ' Ferooz,' which conveyed him to Suez. " His Lord- 
ship carried with him," said the 'Bombay Times,' "a larger 
portion of respect and regard than has perhaps ever before 
attended a retiring Governor-General ;" and when this truly 
great man went over the side of the ' Ferooz,' after taking an 
almost affectionate adieu of Commander Rennie, who had ever 
been an especial favourite of his, and all the other officers, the 
ringing cheers with which all hands greeted him, and the 
echoes of the guns as, for the last time, he received the salute 
due to his exalted position, must have evoked some painful 
regrets. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 317 

Far different from these were the next passengers carried by 
the 'Ferooz.' From Suez she conveyed to Jiddah, the new 
Shereef, or High Priest, of Mecca, and his harem of wives, who 
were jealously guarded by the tertium quid, those sable-hued 
and hideous eunuchs, from the contaminating glances of the 
young midshipmen and other Feringhees. All the officers were 
required to give up their cabins and mess-rooms to this aged 
ecclesiastic and his bevy of beauties, for which they received no 
return ; and when the Shereef expressed his desire to testify his 
acknowledgment for the great inconvenience to which all the 
officers had been subjected, by presenting them with some 
token of his regard, the Government refused the proffered gift, 
and, with equal magnanimity, themselves made no return. 
The 'Ferooz' arrived at Bombay on the 28th of April, and, on 
the 21st of June, sailed for Calcutta. 

During the course of the year 1855, the ' Akbar' was fitted 
up as the receiving-ship and flag-ship of the Commander-in- 
chief, in place of the old ' Hastings,' which was finally towed 
away from her moorings to be broken up, after thirty years of 
not very eventful service, for this small thirty-two gun frigate, 
which was built on the eve of the first Burmese War, was the 
least successful of any ship launched from Bombay dockyard, 
and indeed, while her wretched sailing qualities fully entitled 
her to the opprobrious term of " an old tub," her limited accom- 
modation unfitted her for the duties of a receiving-ship. 

On the 14th of January, 1856, the ' Queen,' Lieutenant 
Adams, sailed from Bombay for Jiddah and the other ports of 
the Red Sea,* to afford protection to the British and French 

* Our last account of the events at Mocha, in which the Indian Navy partici- 
pated, brought us down to the year 1836, when Turkee Bilmas and the remnant 
of his followers narrowly escaped an imminent death by taking refuge on board 
the Hon. Company's ships 'Benares' and 'Tigris.' Early in 1840, the Egyptian 
troops evacuated Yemen, which threw the country into a state of anarchy, and, 
in May, Hoossein Shereef of Aboo Areesh, who had obtained the co-operation 
of the Beni Asseer, a powerful Bedouin tribe mustering twenty thousand 
warriors, had already occupied Hodeida and Mecca, for which he agreed to pay 
the Pasha of Egypt an annual tribute of 90.000 dollars. The Shereef now ad- 
dressed a most insulting letter to the Governor of Bombay, demanding the imme- 
diate surrender of Aden, while his conduct towards the merchants of Mocha was 
cruel and oppressive. In April, and again in July, 1841, the Imaum of Sanaa 
sent missions to Captain Haines, to request the co-operation of the Bed Sea 
squadron in an attack on the ports of Yemen, but the Political Resident's instruc- 
tions enjoined strict non-intervention in the atfairs of Arabia, and he was forced 
to reply in the negative. The recognition by the British Government of the 
Suzerainty of the Porte over Yemen, induced the latter, owing to the representa- 
tions of the British Ambassador at Constantinople, to despatch a Commissioner, 
Ashraf Bey, in March, 1842, to depose the truculent Shereef, but so well did the 
latter play his hand — probably resorting to that trump card of Turkish officials, 
bribery — that the Special Commissioner not only avoided all chance of meeting 
Lieutenant Cruttenden, I.N., Assistant Political Resident at Aden, who had been 
sent to confer with him, but reported to the Porte that the Shereef had been 
much misrepresented, and that he was submissive to the Sultan and solemnly 
denied all intention of insulting the British flag. In Julj, 1843, this clever schemer 
was raised to the dignity of Pasha, and formally invested by Ashraf Bey with the 



318 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Consuls, and to endeavour to suppress the threatened conflict 
which afterwards broke out between the Turks and Arabs. 
From January to the following April, Lieutenant Adams was 
engaged, in conjunction with the 'Elphinstone,' Captain 
Frnsliard, assisting our allies, the Turks, in the defence of 
Hodeida, which was besieged by a vast horde of the Asseer 
tribe of Arabs, estimated by Captain Playfair to be not less 
than sixty thousand men. The two ships took up positions 
commanding the town, and, for a considerable time, received on 
board the families of the besieged who sought refuge from the 
horrors of an assault by the enemy. At length the Asseer 
Arabs, despairing of success, dispersed, owing chiefly to a 
virulent outbreak of cholera, which, according to Playfair, 
carried off fifteen thousand men and many of the principal 
chiefs. This was the last service performed by the ' Queen,' 
which, though constructed only sixteen years before, was worn 
out, being as short-lived as most of the British-built steamers 
supplied to the Service.* 

Government of the Tehama, or seaboard, upon the condition of paying 70,000 
dollars annually. In 1848, the new Imaum of Sanaa declared war against Shereef 
Hoossein, whom he first defeated in battle, and then compelled to capitulate upon 
his own terms, which were the surrender of Mocha and other places, together 
with the payment of a ransom of 20,000 dollars. But now the tide of success 
again turned, and Zebeed was captured by one division of the Shereef 's army, 
while another laid siege to Mocha, which, after an obstinate defence of two 
months, was delivered up by an act of treachery. So suddenly was this perfidy 
planned and executed, says Captain Playfair in his "History of Arabia Felix," 
that the Shereef 's General, Ameer Futteh Mahommed, had barely time to save 
his life by taking refuge on board the ' Mahi,' which happened to be lying in the 
roads. He was taken to Aden, where he was entertained at Government expense, 
and provided with means to return to his country. A desultory warfare was now 
carried on between the Imaum and Shereef Hoossein, and, in 1849, the Turkish 
Government sent a fleet and land force against Hodeida, whereupon he delivered 
up the ports of the sea-coast, and, retiring to enjoy his ill-gotten gains, died in 
March of the following year. 

Many ships of the Service proceeded to Mocha and Jiddah to protect British 
interests during the above disturbances, among them the ' Zenobia,' Lieutenant 
A. H. Gordon, in 1840, and the ' Euphrates,' Commander Campbell, in 1848. In 
that year also Lieutenant Adams was sent in the ' Tigris ' to Jiddah to enquire for 
some women, said to have been sold into slavery by a Bombay merchant, and 
held a conference with Hassab Pasha at Wadi Fatimah, half way between Jiddah 
and Mecca. The Pasha consented to send the women to Jiddah, where they were 
examined by Lieutenant Adams, but they were too well tutored to own the 
truth. 

In January, 1856, as above stated, the Asseer Arabs invested Hodeida, but 
they were prevented from proceeding to extremities by the presence of the 
'Queen' and 'Elphinstone.' The Turkish Sultan having appointed a new 
Shereef of Mecca in April, 1856, he proceeded from Suez to Jiddah in the 
Hon. Company's steam-frigate ' Ferooz,' as already mentioned, and, after some 
severe fighting before Mecca, his authority was acknowledged in the Holy 
City. 

* Captain Adams writes : — " We remained at Hodeida a considerable time, 
until a transport with Turkish troops came from Jiddah ; the suburbs were burnt 
to prevent the enemy forming a lodgment, and I took up a position to cover the 
town and assist the defence of the southern fort. Disease, said to be cholera, set 
in, and the Asseer tribe took their departure. I then went on to Jiddah, re- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 319 

In an earlier chapter detailing the action fought in the 
Persian Gulf, by the 'Elphinstone,' in 1834, with the Beni Yas 
pirates, we described the dealings of the Company's cruisers 
with that tribe up to the date of the conclusion of the peace of 
the 4th of May, 1853 ; but such instruments as treaties of 
peace, even though the} 7 ' be denominated " perpetual," are con- 
sidered as binding by Arab tribes only so long as they are too 
weak to break them, or their interests are involved in their 
maintenance. Bearing this in mind, the reader will not sup- 
pose that " Othello's occupations's gone," and that the Indian 
Naval squadron had henceforth a sinecure in keeping the peace 
of the Persian Gulf. On the contrary, after, as well as before, 
the year 1853, the Hon. Company's ships were seldom many 
days in Bassadore harbour, before they were despatched here and 
there on the requisition of the British Political Resident of the 
Persian Gulf, who resided at Bushire, off which a ship gene- 
rally lay at his disposal, to restrain the predatory instincts of 
the Arab tribes, which were too deeply ingrained not to crop up 
in piratical acts directed against each other and the British 
flag. As the historian of the Indian Navy, we will now briefly 
detail the instances in which the services of the squadron were 
called into requisition, both to keep the peace and maintain the 
authority of the British Government as the controlling power 
in the Persian Gulf. 

In May, 1825, hostilities having arisen between Sheikh 
Sultan bin Suggur, the Joasmi chief, and Sheikh Tahnoon, of 
the Beni Yas, who, as being a dependent of the Imaum of 
Muscat, resented the occupation by the former of the towers of 

mained for a week or two, then crossed over and ran down to Massowah, and 
finding all quiet there, returned to Aden ; took the Assistant Resident over to 
the Soomali coast, settled some disputes, then brought him back to Aden, and 
started for Bombay." The ' Queen' was now in the last stage of decrepitude, and 
that she did not share the fate of the ' Cleopatra,' was due to the Captain's skill. 
Captain Adams writes to us : — "We fell in with the tail end of a cyclone, and 
our non-arrival at Bombay caused great anxiety to Government, particularly to 
Sir Henry Leeke. We put back to Aden, where I had the ' Queen ' condemned. 
I found on the arrival of the mail, that the ' Ferooz,' Captain Rennie, had been 
sent out to seek for any vestiges of the ' Queen,' and that my brother officers had 
given themselves promotion by striking us of the ' Queen ' out of existence. I 
received a semi-official letter from Sir H. Leeke, telling me to offer the Peninsula 
aud Oriental Company 1,000 rupees to tow the ' Queen' to Bombay, but I took 
the responsibility of the ' Queen' being condemned, and towed the ' Elphinstone' 
to Bombay. I did this, knowing that if the ' Queen' foundered witli the ' Elphin- 
stone ' in tow, we could escape to her. We arrived safely at Bombay, where the 
Persian Gulf Expedition was fitting out. Sir H. Leeke wanted me to take the 
' Queen' to the Gulf to be anchored in Bushire creek, on our capturing the town, 
but I declined, and took command of the ' Semiramis,' Commander Alan Hyde 
Gardner proceeding to England sick. I prepared her for sea, when Captain 
Young was appointed to the command, and Captain Jenkins to the ' Assaye,' 
of which I was made second captain." For the judgment displayed by him 
at Hodeida, Lieutenant Adams received the thanks of the Bombay Government, 
under date the 5th of May, 1856. 



320 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Brymee, a place on the frontiers of his Highness's territories, 
two cruisers were sent to the pearl banks, and succeeded in 
preventing the war from degenerating into indiscriminate 
plunder. In the following August, in consequence of an act of 
piracy on a Bahrein vessel, by some Shargah war dhows, the 
Commodore sailed to that port with his squadron, and made a 
demand for full compensation for the life and property sacri- 
ficed, threatening immediate hostilities in the event of non- 
compliance. This decisive course of action brought Sultan bin 
Suggur " to his bearings," and he lost no time in affording 
redress to the Bahrein chief, Sheikh Abdoolla, who, in a letter 
to the British Political Resident, expressed himself amply 
satisfied. " The successful termination of this business," says 
Lieutenant Hennell, then Assistant Political Resident, "created 
a sensation throughout the Gulf highly creditable to our 
Government." In the following year the Bahrein chief came 
to an open rupture with Sheikh Rahman bin Jaubir, (the noto- 
rious old pirate chief of Khor Hassan, whose fort at Demaun, a 
small island close to Kateef, had been destroyed in 1816 by 
the Uttoobees), but two of the Company's vessels of war sta- 
tioned off Demaun for the protection of the trade of Kateef 
from Rahman, prevented the two chiefs from carrying on 
regular hostilities until their withdrawal, agreeably to orders 
from the Bombay Government. The two chiefs then engaged 
in war until the end of 1826, when Sheikh Rahmah, seeing 
defeat inevitable in an action in which his vessel was engaged 
with a superior force, terminated his life and his guilty career 
by blowing up his ship together with himself and all his 
crew. 

In 1832 most daring outrages were committed by the people 
of Rashid bin Humeed, Sheikh of Ejman, upon the commerce 
of Muscat, and an application being made to Sultan bin Suggur 
for redress, the latter disowned all responsibility, as he exercised 
no authority over the Ejman chief. Upon this the Company's 
cruisers ' Ternate' and 'Tigris' proceeded to that port and 
demanded the restitution of the captured vessels and property 
within twenty-four hours. " Entire compliance," we are told, 
" was yielded, and, after some little delay and hesitation, the 
boats, money, and jewels, the property of the passengers, were 
yielded up." Again, in November of the same year, when a 
large fleet of Joasmi vessels of war, containing fifteen hundred 
men, under command of Sultan bin Suggur, appeared at the 
head of the Gulf, in order to assist Sheikh Nassir, the here- 
ditary Governor of Bushire, who had been ejected from the 
town by the Persian authorities, the Resident only succeeded 
in preventing a blockade of the port, which would have caused 
great distress to the inhabitants, by appealing to the Com- 
modore of the Persian Gulf squadron. This was a mode of 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 321 

argument to which alone the Joasrai chief would listen, and, 
accordingly, he returned to Shargah without the anticipated 
plunder of a rich Persian town. 

Soon after Captain Sawyer's action with the Beni Yas, a 
portion of the tribe, in order to escape the consequences of the 
British demand for the restitution of the plundered property, 
migrated from Abu Thubi to Adeed, the situation of which 
afforded peculiar facilities for continuing a lawless mode of 
living. Some members of the tribe, acting independently of 
each other in three vessels, commenced a course of piracy on 
the high seas, their practice being to take their plunder into the 
interior for disposal. As this could not be permitted, the only 
course was to hold the chiefs of the ports of Adeed, Wukra, and 
Biddah, responsible for the acts of these people, whom they not 
only permitted to go unmolested, but supplied with water and 
other necessaries; accordingly, to fulfil this object, and, at 
the same time, to remove the impression that any part of the 
dangerous and intricate coast between Ras Reccan and Adeed 
was inaccessible to our cruisers, two sloops-of-war and a 
schooner were despatched to make the attempt to coerce 
these chiefs. It was entirely successful, and, after threading 
the numerous and dangerous shoals, they succeeded in reaching 
Biddah, Wukra, and Adeed in safety, and bound the Sheikhs 
of those places by the enforcement of pecuniary guarantees, to 
seize the boats of the pirates ; and, eventually, some men of 
the pirate chief, Jassim bin Jubbur Rugrajee, were seized, and 
their baghalah was burnt on the beach in the presence of the 
Resident. This took place in 183G, and, five years later, the 
same pirate chief, who had during that interval been guilty of 
similar acts, seized and plundered a Ras-ul-Khymah vessel ; 
as the Biddah Sheikh was suspected of sharing the proceeds of 
previous piracies committed by this old offender, and he had 
been personally warned by the Resident in September, 1836, 
not to harbour him, Commodore Brucks proceeded in February, 
1841, with a squadron, consisting of the steam frigate ' Sesos- 
tris," which had arrived from England in the previous June, 
the ' Coote,' eighteen-gun sloop-of-war, and the ' Tigris,' ten- 
gun brig, to demand the surrender of the pirate vessel and its 
prize, together with the payment of 300 dollars, and an addi- 
tional sum for other property plundered. " This affair," says 
Captain Kemball, "was most judiciously arranged." After a 
brief fire, when the shells from the 'Sesostris' created great 
consternation, the Commodore's demands were complied with. 
and the vessel of Rugrajee, who was actually at Biddah when 
the squadron arrived, but fled into the interior, was publicly 
burnt and his effects were confiscated. On the conclusion of 
this affair the squadron proceeded to Debaye, to settle accounts 
with the chief of that place, who, like the Adeed and Biddah 
VOL. II. Y 



o22 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Sheikhs, had seceded from Abu Thubi after the events of 1834, 
and established what is called the Boo Felasa branch of the 
Beni Yas. Muktoom-bin-Butye, the young Debaye chief, who 
succeeded to power in 1836, having permitted his people to 
commit acts of piracy, and refused redress to the demands of 
the Resident, Commodore Bracks opened fire upon his town with 
shell from the 8-inch guns of the ' Sesostris,' when he was 
quickly induced to pay 400 dollars and surrender two captured 
bagarahs. 

In December, 1844, in consequence of an act of aggression 
committed on the pearl banks, by a Joasmi dhow on one from 
Ejinan, the Political Resident demanded 200 dollars as com- 
pensation, and the Commodore proceeded with two vessels of 
war to Ras-ul-Khymah and Shargah, and enforced payment. 
In 1846 hostilities commenced between the coalesced tribes of 
Debaye, Ejman, and Amalgavine, against the Joasmis, during 
which Sheikh Suggur bin Sultan, the son of the old Sheikh 
Sultan bin Suggur, was killed. On the death of this fiery young 
chief, who had always counselled his father* to give no heed to 
the Resident's arguments for peace, Commodore Hawkins 
proceeded to Shargah with a squadron, when, says Lieutenant 
Disbrowe, the Assistant Political Resident, " he succeeded in 
bringing hostilities to a close, and through his intervention a 
temporary peace was concluded between the contending parties." 
The truce, which was for six months, was signed in the presence 
of the Commodore, " and," says Disbrowe, " that alone insured 
its being kept inviolate."f 

* Perhaps the last occasion on which the old Sheikh of Shargah, then said to 
be one hundred and three years old, was brought to book by the Service, was in 
1859, when Commodore G. Jenkins enforced at forty-eight hours notice, the 
surrender of seven boats which had been engaged in piratical acts on the opposite 
coast. He also extracted from the Bahrein Sheikh the restitution of the cargo of 
a Persian ship with interest at five percent. In December 1857, when the British 
merchant ship ' Ambassador' went ashore on the island of Kenn, and was 
plundered by the islanders, Commodore Jenkins recovered the whole of the cargo, 
for which the underwriters in London proposed to present him with a complete 
silver service of plate, though with characteristic disinterestedness, he only con- 
sented to receive a portion with a suitable inscription. 

f In our account of the destruction of Ras-ul-Khymah and humiliation of the 
Joasmi Arabs, we referred to Article IX. of the Treaty of the 8th of January, 
1820, concluded with the maritime tribes of the Persian Gulf, by which the Arab 
chiefs bound themselves to cease from engaging in the slave trade. In the month 
of July, 1839, the following more detailed agreement was entered into with this 
object, with the chiefs of Ras-ul-Khymah, Abu Thubi, Debaye, and Amal- 
gavine : — 

" Political Department, Bombay Castle, December 3, 1839. 

" The following engagement for the suppression of the slave trade in the Persian 
Gulf, entered into with the British Government, by each of the four following 
maritime Arabian chiefs, in the month of July last, is published for general in- 
formation, namely: — Sheikh Kuleefa of Abu Thubee, Sheikh Mukhtoom of 
Debaye, Sheikh Abdoola of Amalgavine ; and Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur of Ras- 
ul-Khymah. 

" ' I do hereby declare, that I bind and pledge myself to the British Govern- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 323 

Early in the year 1845, one Humeed bin Majdull, chief of 
the Amayir, a small tribe occupying an island between Kateef 
and Grane, having put to sea with three baghalahs, seized and 
plundered a trading vessel belonging to Kharrack, and when 
the nacodah, or native captain, represented that the property 
he was plundering belonged to a British subject, that chief 
laughed him to scorn and insolently asked, "Who are the 
English?" He was soon to have a reply to his question. It 
was ascertained that the Amayir chief had, shortly before com- 
mitting this piracy, broken with part of his tribe, and quitting 
his residence, Jezirat-Boo-Ali, took refuge with Mahomed bin 
Khaleefa, the Bahrein Sheikh ; but he soon parted from his 
entertainer, and repaired with a large band of followers to a 
small island called Gunnah, or Jinnah* Here he established 
himself, and, relying upon the strength of his position, as 
owing to shoals the island was unapproachable to the cruisers, 
gloried in his deeds of piracy, and expressed his utter contempt 
for any endeavours the English might make to bring him to 
punishment. As the piracy upon which he was now embarked 
was of too flagrant a character " to admit of a compromise 
being made regarding it," although it was in June, one of the 
hottest months of the year, Commodore Hawkins sailed for 
Gunnah with his flag-ship, the ' Coote,' and the schooner 
' Constance,' Lieutenant Ford, in order to exact full satisfaction 
from Humeed bin Majdull. Captain Kemball, the Assistant 
Political Resident, who accompauied the Expedition, writes as 
follows of its results :— " When the naval force approached the 
pirate's den, and Humeed bin Majdull was called upon to afford 
redress for the wrongs he had committed, he sent back a reply 
of haughty defiance ; he declared his perfect indifference for any 

merit in the following engagement: — 1st. That the Government cruisers, when- 
ever they may meet any vessel belonging to myself or my subjects, beyond a 
direct line drawn from Cape Delgado, passing two degrees seaward of the island 
of Socotra, and ending at Cape Gaudel, and shall suspect that such vessel is 
engaged in the slave trade, the said cruisers are permitted to detain and search 
it. 2nd. Should it on examination be proved, that any vessel belonging to 
myself or my subjects, is carrying slaves, whether men, women, or children, for 
sale, beyond the aforesaid line, then the Grovernmeut cruisers shall seize and 
confiscate such vessel and her cargo. But if the aforesaid vessel shall pass 
beyond the aforesaid line, owing to stress of weather or other cause of necessity, 
not under control, then she shall not be seized. 3rd. As the selling of males and 
females, whether grown up or young, who are " hoor," or free, is contrary to the 
Mahomedan religion, and whereas the Soomali tribe is included in the " ahtar" 
or free, I do hereby agree that the sale of males and females, whether young or old, 
of the Soomali tribe, shall be considered as piracy, and that after four months 
from this date all those of my people convicted of being concerned in such an act, 
shall be punished the same as pirates.' " 

* These islands lie along the coast, which extends between Kateef and Grane 
(orKoweit) in a north-westerly direction. This country is called Burr-el- Adan, 
and is frequented by Bedouin tribes. Jezirat-Boo-Ali is the first large island to 
the north-west of Kateef, and contiguous to the mainland. About eight miles to 
the eastward of it lies Gunnah, now called El Jinnali on the charts. 

Y 2 



324 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

plans the British vessels might think fit to adopt, and spoke in 
somewhat boastful terms of the deed he had done. The bold 
and resolute conduct of the Commodore, however, quickly 
brought the chief to his senses ; for notwithstanding the 
strength of his position, and the numerous shoals that sur- 
rounded it — so difficult of access that the 'Coote' could not 
approach within five miles of it, and even the schooner 'Con- 
stance,' after threading her way through an intricate channel, 
with frequently only six inches of water under her keel, was 
unable to get within effective range of her guns — daylight of 
the morning succeeding their arrival found the town and 
vessels of the Amayir chief closely fronted with a formidable 
line of gunboats iu battle array, all ready to pour forth their 
contents should resistance be offered, or satisfaction denied; 
and the insolent tone of contumacy hitherto held by the 
haughy pirate, was instantly changed into one of profound 
submission." The Chief hastened to wait upon Captain 
Kemball to pray for mercy, which was accorded to him on 
surrendering his great baghalah, which, in the following 
October, was redeemed by the payment of 2,059 " Mohamed 
Shah rupees," and the deposit of property to the amount of the 
balance of the value of the bagarah, the capture of which had 
brought down this punishment upon him. " Thus were 
brought," says Captain Kemball, " to a successful conclusion, 
without loss of life or bloodshed, the operations against 
Humeed bin Majdull, which, though short in duration, when 
we consider the terrific heat of the sun in the month of June, 
the risk incurred by the vessels, and the exposure to which 
their crews were of necessity subjected, must be pronounced to 
have been both arduous and harassing." In their despatch to 
the Bombay Government of the 22nd of April, 1846, the Court 
of Directors said of this affair : — " We concur in the praises 
bestowed by Major Hennell and by your Government, on 
the gallant conduct and skilful arrangements of Commodore 
Hawkins, by which the confidence of Sheikh Humeed bin 
Majdull, in the inaccessibility of his coast was destroyed, 
and his submission to your demand for reparation, for the 
plunder of the Kharrack boat, was obtained without firing 
a shot." 

In the summer of 1846, Abdoolla bin Saeed, the Wahabee 
Governor of Kateef, who was at war with Mahomed bin 
Khaleefa, the Bahrein Sheikh, whose dependent the Amayir 
chief was, addressed an insolent letter to the Political Resident, 
informing him that unless he took measures to expel Humeed 
bin Majdull from Gunnah, and forced him to restore several 
boats he had seized belonging to his people, he would let loose 
the Bedouin coast tribes under his authorit}^ : in reply, Colonel 
Hennell despatched two cruisers to honour him with a visit, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 325 

and to warn him that should he dare to carry his threat into 
execution he might expect the treatment that awaited all those 
who attempted to prey upon British, or other legitimate, com- 
merce in the Gulf. In the following year, the intervention of 
Commodore Lowe, in the ' Elphinstone,' prevented the outbreak 
of hostilities between the troops of Esai bin Tariff, an ally of 
Mahomed bin Ahmed, ex-chief of Bahrein, and those of 
Mahomed bin Khaleefa, the reigning Sheikh of that island, 
until the permission of the Resident being obtained, a battle 
took place, which resulted in the death of the former chief, 
and the ruin of the cause of Mahomed bin Ahmed.* 

In 1350 some Bedouins, owing allegiance to the Sheikh of Bah- 
rein, committed an act of piracy, upon which Commodore Porter, 
who had succeeded Commodore Lowe in the command of the Per- 
sian Gulf squadron, proceeded to the island, and exacted compen- 
sation to the Nacodah and crew to the value of the plundered 
cargo; it was much to the interest of this powerful chief to 
keep on good terms with the English, for not only had the 
Resident, under instructions from Bombay, intimated to him in 
September, 1849, that although his Government declined to 
take him specifically under its government, yet the squadron 
would prevent any attack on Bahrein from the Wahabee and 
other confederated chiefs, but, in the previous June, one of the 
cruisers conve} T ed back to the island some of the most influential 
of the merchants, who, disgusted at the Sheikh's arbitrary pro- 
ceedings, had quitted Bahrein and taken up their quarters at 
Kenn. Notwithstanding these favours, Mahomed bin Khaleefa 
exhibited the petulance and arrogance characteristic of all 
these ignorant Arab chiefs, for, scarcely had he given satisfac- 
tion to Commodore Porter in 1850, than, irritated at some 
slight cause, he sent messages to Colonel Hennell. of the 
most "insulting and unbecoming character," applying to the 
British Government as well as to the Resident personally. A 
ship-of-war was at once despatched to Bahrein to demand 
explanations, and the Sheikh, repenting his ebullition of anger, 
deputed his brother, Sheikh Ali, to Bushire, to offer his humble 
apologies. The Resident, in reply dated October, 1850, ex- 
pressed his willingness to forgive all expressions as regarded 
himself personally, but to such as " bore reference to the 
British Government as well as to himself, Colonel Hennell con- 

* The Uttoobees of Bahrein were always among the least predatory of the Arab 
tribes of the Gralf, the great pecuniary interests involved in the maintenance of 
the peaid fisheries probably acting as a restraining influence. However, oc- 
casionally the cloven hoof of Bedouin lawlessness would show itself, but the only 
instance of importance was in 1834, when the sous of Sheikh Abdoolla bin 
Ahmed ill-treated and insulted the Native British Agent. As the father afforded 
no reparation, the Indian Naval squadron appeared at Bahrein, when the Sheikh 
restored the money that had been extracted from the Agent, ami presented him 
with a khelut, or dress of honour, on board the Commodore's ship. 






326 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

sidered it duo to the dignity of the former that, on the first 
occasion of the Commodore's proceeding to Bahrein, the 
Uttoobee Chief should visit him, and personally express his 
regret that anything incautiously spoken by himself, in a 
moment of irritation, should have been considered offensive 
or disrespectful to the British Government." To this sugges- 
tion a ready consent was given by Sheikh Ali on the part of his 
brother, and, in due course, Sheikh Mahomed bin Khaleefa 
proceeded on board Commodore Porter's pennant ship, and 
made the amende honorable to the majesty of the British 
Government. 

Humeed bin Majdull, the Amayir Chief, was a true Bedouin 
of the Ishmaelite type, whose hand was against every man ; in 
him piracy was bred in the bone and perforce manifested itself 
in the flesh. The severe lesson he had received in 1846, had not 
taught him prudence, or the conviction that it was vain to war 
against the invincible British Government. In 1854, he was as 
aggressive and insolent as ever, and it was found necessary to 
have recourse to what a French diplomatist once called saignee, 
a little blood-letting, before the body politic could be restored to 
a healthy condition. Humeed bin Majdull — otherwise known 
among his compeers as " Sahail bin Ateesh," or "the Sun of 
the Morning Star." because he eluded the cruisers, and was said 
to be a myth — had captured a large baghalah, and replied to 
the repeated remonstrances of the Political Resident, who went 
there in person to demand its restitution, by deflant messages 
and a refusal to yield up what he had gotten b} r his strong arm 
in the manner of his ancestors in the days before the Company 
assumed the police of the Persian Gulf; he even went so far 
as to tell Captain Kemball that the territory belonged to the 
Sultan of Turkey, and pointed to the Turkish flag flying over 
him as affording protection from the British demands. The 
Political Agent now applied to Bombay for instructions, and 
was directed to employ force. Accordingly the matter was 
placed in the hands of Commodore Robinson,* and, in November, 
1854, that officer sailed for El Kateef, in his flagship, the ' Clive,' 
accompanied by the 'Falkland,' Commander Hewett ; 'Tigris,' 
Lieutenant Foulerton (an active officer who had been Second 
Lieutenant of the ' Coote,' in 1846, when Commodore Hawkins 
brought Humeed to his senses); and 'Constance,' Lieutenant 
Crane. The Arab chief had established himself and his 
piratical crew, consisting of no less than two thousand des- 
perate and w T ell-armed men, at Anich, near El Kateef, where, 
owing to the water being so shoal that ships' boats could not 
approach within eight miles of his position, he thought he was 
safe from all attack. He counted, however, without his host, 

* Commodore Porter's term of service expired in April, 1852, when he was 
succeeded bv Commodore G. Robinson. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 327 

when that host was the British seaman. Commodore Robin- 
son's instructions from Bombay were that the baghalah was to 
be destroyed, but that the men were not to land, as the Arabs 
were in such great force ; but the Commodore, having 
ordered away all the boats of the squadron manned and armed 
with their guns, placed Commander Hewett in command and 
gave him carte blanche to do what he thought necessary. 
There were the enemy, there was the baghalah, and he knew 
that Commander Hewett would do his duty and teach the Arabs 
a lesson if any man could. 

The attack was made in twelve boats, containing two hun- 
dred seamen and marines, and eight guns — two 12-pounders 
and six 3-pounders— and one rocket-boat. 

The baghalah, the object of the attack, was high and dry on 
the beach, and round it the Arabs had constructed a sand-bag 
battery, from which they maintained a heavy fire upon the 
boats which were pounding them with shot and shell, Lieu- 
tenant James,* of the 'Give,' being particularly effective with 
his 12-pounder in the launch of that ship. Presently the 
receding tide left the heavier boats high and dry, when Com- 
mander Hewett formed them with their bows towards the 
enemy, who. thinking that now they would fall an easy prey to 
their numerical superiority, swarmed out to the attack. But 
they were met by a heavy fire of grape and canister from the 
guns, while, animated by their leaders, the seamen and marines 
maintained a continuous musketry fire, which forced the enemy 
to retire to the protection of the baghalah. When the tide 
made again, the Arab Sheikh sent a flag of truce, which Lieu- 
tenant Foulerton brought to Commander Hewett, who de- 
manded the surrender of the baghalah, which was at length 
agreed to. The boats then proceeded to the squadron, and, on 
the following morning, returned and burnt the baghalah. 

The Arabs, who never anticipated that the boats would carry 
guns, and considered their position perfectly impregnable, ex- 
cept against a land attack by a large force, were struck with 
consternation at the rockets and canister. An eye-witness 
writes that "a shell was seen to fall close to a group, when one 
of them immediately ran and picked it up, and was carrying it 
to his comrades when it exploded in his grasp, and blew him 
to pieces, with three or four more who had crowded round him 
to look at the fuse burning. Speaking of the shells, they 
called them ' babre Chatties,' and the rockets, which they could 
not understand, they called ' Devil's tails.'" The Expedition 
was admirably planned and executed, and, while the British 

* Mr. H. H. James was First Lieutenant of the ' Clive' and ' Falkland,' when 
carrying the Commodore's broad pennant in the Persian Gulf between 1851-56, 
and worked up the crews of both ships to a high state of eiiiciency. 



328 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

loss was small, only a few men being wounded,* the Arabs 
suffered heavily, and the bearer of the flag of truce from the 
Sheikh, in true Bedouin phraseology, owned that "they had 
eaten lead like hail." The ' Falkland ' soon after sailed for 
Bombay, where she arrived on the 15th of January, 1855, and, 
a few months later, after a short further service in the Gulf, 
Commander Hewett proceeded to England on medical certificate, 
where he died on the 8th of December : in him the Indian Navy 
lost one of its most gallant and distinguished members. Com- 
modore Robinson also returned to Bombay in the following 
March, whence he proceeded to England, and retired after 
thirty-one years' service. The Bombay Government, by order, 
dated the 25th of June, 1855, in the handsomest terms 
thanked Commodore Robinson, Commander Hewett, and 
the officers and men engaged in the Expedition to El 
Kateef. 

Turning now to the Beni Yas Arabs, we find only two 
important instances of the violation of the annually renewed 
Maritime Truce. In the autumn of 1850, an act of piracy was 
committed by some subjects of Sheikh Syeed bin Tahnoon, 
who, in 1845, succeeded to the chiefship on the assassination of 
Khalifa bin Shakhboot, the able and, for an Arab Sheikh, 
honourable chief, who measured the strength of his squadron 
against the ' Elphinstone' in 1834. Upon this becoming 
known, the Commodore despatched the Hon. Company's brigs, 
'Tigris,' Lieutenant Manners, and 'Euphrates,' Lieutenant 
Tronson, to Abu Thubi, to demand from the Sheikh the pay- 
ment of 600 dollars as " deah," or price of blood, for the two 
Joasmis slain, together with the surrender of the captured 
vessel with all her stores. Nothing could exceed the skill and 
boldness displayed by these two officers, who took their vessels 
through the intricate channel and shoals that guard the 
entrance to the port, bringing them within effective range of 
the strong fort of this large town, which, with its twenty 
thousand inhabitants, was the most populous on the coast. 
Sheikh Tahnoon and bis people had hitherto considered that 
their ships and habitations were safe from the visits of a 
British man-of-war, and their astonishment at seeing the 
'Tigris' and 'Euphrates' anchored off them, with ports open 
and guns shotted, all ready to open fire, created an extra- 
ordinary impression. The Sheikh "caved in" to the demands 
of Lieutenant Manners, and promised compliance, " without 
hesitation or demur," says the Political Agent. The boats and 
stores were immediately surrendered, and the 600 dollars were 
paid within a few weeks. 

* There were many narrow escapes, one man receiving a ball through the top 
of his hat, and another one in the loom of his oar between his hands whilst 
pulling, which, but for the oar, would have lodged in his body. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 329 

Notwithstanding this lesson, the Beni Yas chief, in March, 
1852, sent out an armed vessel, and seized a bagarab. belonging 
to a Debaye merchant of Abu Thubi. The Resident, on 
hearing of this infraction of the Maritime Truce, immediately 
wrote a letter, demanding the immediate restitution of the 
captured property and individuals; and Commodore Robinson, 
who had just succeeded to the command of the Persian Gulf 
squadron, sailed for Abu Thubi, with a view, in the event of 
contumacy being displayed by the delinquent chief, "to give 
weight by his presence to the requisition proposed against him, 
and to warn him of the consequences which must ensue from 
such a wilful disregard of his engagements with the British 
Government." The Beni Yas chief was amenable, as before, 
to reason, when it assumed a material shape, and both the 
property and prisoners were restored without demur. 

Our faithful ally, the Imaum of Muscat, or more properly, 
" Seyyid " Said, had often cause to congratulate himself on his 
ancient and oft-exhibited friendship for the English, particu- 
larly on those critical occasions when the services of the Indian 
Naval squadron were called into requisition to save his 
kingdom from anarchy and secure his unstable seat upon the 
throne. His Highness's sovereignty over portions of his rest- 
less Bedouin subjects, was often limited to the extraction of a 
fluctuating amount of revenue. 

On the 31st of Ma}^, 1829, a British ship, the 'Oscar,' being 
wrecked a few miles south of Ras Roos,* on the Jaalan coast, 
was boarded by some Beni-Boo-Ali Arabs, who plundered her 
of cargo to the value of .£80,000. In consequence of represen- 
tations made to the Bombay Government by the underwriters 
in India, Commodore Collinson sailed in the ' Termite,' 
accompanied by the ' Fly ' schooner, having on board the 
Resident, for Muscat, where was already assembled a squadron 
of three of the Company's vessels of war from Bombay. A 
portion of the cargo, consisting of Cashmere shawls, which had 
found its way to Muscat, was recovered, and, on the 19th of 
October, the British squadron sailed for Sohar, accompanied by 
the Imaum, who was most anxious for restitution of the 
property, with two of his frigates ; but after a minute investi- 
gation, no trace of any plundered cargo could be found. 
From this place the Commodore and Resident proceeded to 
Khor Jerameh,f where they had an interview with Mahomed 
bin Ali, the famous chief of the Beni-Boo-Ali tribe. The 

* In 1852 the British ship ' Centaur' was wrecked at this place ; the Bedouins, 
according to their invariable custom, plundered her, but one of their vessels took 
the crew to Muscat. 

t This place, called also Bunder Jerami, is used hy native vessels as a har- 
bour of refuge — in 1846 the Hon. Company's surveying brig, ' Palinurus,' found 
thirty-five baghalahs anchored here — but the town which is said to have formerly 
existed on the south-western side, has long been abandoned for want of water. 



330 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 






Sheikh, after some persuasion, was induced to own to the 
possession of a few shawls, which, with some 1,200 dollars, he 
gave up to the British officers ; but in consequence of the tribe 
residing in the interior, and, therefore, being inaccessible to a 
naval force, the Commodore and Resident both decided it would 
be unwise to land the seamen and attempt coercive measures. 
The squadron therefore returned to Muscat and thence to the 
Gulf. 

On the 15th of December of this year (1829), having con- 
cluded a treaty with the Bahrein Sheikh, with whom he had 
been at war, the Imaum left his nephew, Mahomed bin Salem, 
as his Wali, or viceroy, and proceeded to Zanzibar, for the 
purpose of suppressing a rebellion at Mombasa; but no sooner 
had he quitted Muscat than some of his chiefs rose in arms, and 
Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur made a warlike demonstration. The 
Imaum's deputy sent off a fast sailing vessel to bring back his 
uncle, and appealed for help to the Bombay Government. 
Accordingly, acting under instructions received through the 
Resident in the Gulf, the Commodore immediately despatched 
a ship-of-war to Muscat, with orders to assist in the defence of 
that place, and also made arrangements to proceed with the 
remainder of the squadron directly there was imminent danger 
of the town being attacked. At the same time measures were 
taken to prevent any of the maritime Arab chiefs from 
menacing the territories of our ally. The Imaum returned to 
Muscat on the 8th of May, 1830, all his plans for the reduction 
of Mombasa* having failed, and he was now equally unsuc- 
cessful against Sohar, and found himself obliged to cede that 
town and other districts to his rebellious cousin, Humood bin 
Azan, whose father had transferred Sohar to Seyyid Said. 
Early in 1832, the Imaum again quitted Muscat for Zanzibar, 
but his departure was the signal for fresh disturbances, and 
his son, Seyyid Hillal bin Seyyid, and nephew, were treacher- 
ously seized and thrown into prison by Saood bin AH, chief of 
Burka. As it was the British policy to preserve the integrity 
of the Imaum's territories, the Persian Gulf Squadron once 
more sailed for Muscat, and letters were addressed to the 
Sheikhs of Abu Thubi, Shargah, Sohar, Soweik, and Burka, 
intimating the determination of the British Government to 
support their ally, and directing the last-named chief to release 
his prisoners. Saood bin Ali, who was visited by a vessel of 
war, complied with this demand, and a cruiser was left at 
Muscat, which had been gallantly held by the Imaum's 
daughter, who personally saw to the defences of the place, and 
addressed letters to the British authorities at Bombay and 
Bushire, requesting the assistance which was so promptly 

* It was not until his visit to Zanzibar in 1837 that the Imaum succeeded in 
establishing his authority over Mombasa. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 331 

afforded. The Imaum returned to Muscat on the 10th of 
September, "and," says Captain Kemball, "the demonstration 
made in his Highness' s favour by the visit of the British vessels 
of war to the coast of Batriah, and their appearance at Muscat, 
was undoubtedly attended with highly beneficial consequences 
to the interests of his Highness." Indeed so weak was the 
hold of our ally upon Oman at this time that, according to the 
same high authority, it was only the timely assistance thus 
afforded that " prevented his immediate downfall." 

In 1836, Seyyid Said again attacked Humood* at Sohar, in 
conjunction with the Wahabee general of Faisul,f who had 
shortly before succeeded to power as Wahabee Ameer ; but, 
hearing of the treacherous intentions of his ally, he relinquished 
the siege, and, says the native historian of Oman, a cruiser of 
the Indian Navy brought Humood to Muscat, who gave " a 
written promise that he would not stir up strife against the 
Seyyid and his children" during the absence of the Imaum at 
Zanzibar. 

In the year 1845, when his Highness was absent at Zanzibar, J 
having left affairs in the hands of his son, Seyyid Toweynee, 
a weak and irresolute prince, Muscat was on the point of sur- 
rendering to a Wahabee army, when the squadron made its 
appearance off the Batnah coast, and, though not participating 
in the hostilities, " manifested the interest felt by the English 
in their ally the Imaum." This intervention, coupled with the 
promise by Seyyid Toweynee, of the payment of an annual 
tribute of 5,000 German crowns, which his father had 
sanctioned, brought about a cessation of hostilities and the 
withdrawal of the forces of the Wahabee leader, who, in reply 
to a communication from the Resident, expressed his great 
friendship for the British Government. 

Again, in 1852, on the departure of Seyyid Said for Zanzibar, 
the Wahabee Ameer sent his son, Abdullah, demanding the 
cession of Sohar and the payment of a preposterous tribute ; 
and had it not been for the intervention of the British Resident 
and the presence of a sloop-of-war, the chiefs of Sohar and the 

* About 1850, Humood, by an act of treachery, fell into the bands of bis 
cousin, who confined him in Muscat, where be died shortly alter, probably of 
starvation, according to the custom in Oman. 

t When the Egyptian army overran the whole province of Nedjd in 
1838, Faisul surrendered himself a prisoner, but returned to Eiadh in 1843, 
when he re-established his power, but addressed letters to the chiefs of Oman and 
the British Resident in the Persian Gulf, expressing a desire for the renewal of 
the amicable relatious that existed between his father, Toorkee, and the British 
Government. 

X The Imaum took up bis residence principally at Zanzibar after the year 
1840. In April, 1840, Captain Hamerton, of the 15th Bombay Native Infantry, 
was appointed first Political Agent at Muscat ; subsequently he was appointed 
Consul by the Home Government, and proceeded to Zanzibar, where be con- 
tinued to reside up to his death in 1857. 



332 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tribes on the Batnah coast, as whose champion Abdullah made 
his appearance, would, most probably, have joined forces 
against the imbecile Toweynee. As it was, the Muscat Govern- 
ment got off easily by agreeing to pay the Wahabee Ameer, 12,000 
crowns, besides all arrears. Thus it appears, from this retro- 
spect of the affairs of the Asiatic dominions of the linaum. that 
our ancient ally, or his deputies, had often cause to hail the 
advent of one of the Company's ships of war, as the deus ex 
machind which could alone ensure the integrity of his 
dominions. 

Seyyid Said died at sea, off the Seychelles, while on his 
passage to Zanzibar, on board his frigate, the " Victoria," on 
the 3 9th of October, 1856, at the age of sixty-five, after a 
reign of fifty-two years, the first seventeen being in conjunction 
with his brother, Salim. The body was conveyed to Zanzibar 
for interment, and his death was lamented by all his subjects. 
Seyyid Said left fifteen surviving sons, three of whom were 
acting as his Walis, or governors, over the three chief towns 
and districts of his principality. These were Toweynee, the 
eldest, at Muscat ; Majid, the fourth, at Zanzibar ; and Toorkee, 
the third, at Sohar. Majid agreed to pay Toweynee an annual 
subsidy of 40,000 crowns ; but having subsequently refused to 
carry out the stipulation, Toweynee, early in I860, equipped 
a powerful Expedition to coerce his brother. Under instructions 
from Government, the Hon. Company's steam-frigate ' Punjaub' 
sailed from Bombay for Muscat, and off Ras-ul-Had Com- 
mander Foulerton encountered the Omanee squadron of seven 
ships of war, having on board a large military force. Major 
Russell (now Sir E. L. Russell, K.C.S.I.J, the Political Agent, 
communicated with the leader, and informed him that the 
Expedition would not be permitted to proceed, and, accordingly, 
the fleet returned to Muscat, re infecta. 

Eventually, both parties agreed to submit the question in 
dispute to the arbitration of the Indian Government ; and the 
Governor-General, Lord Canning, appointed a Commission 
under the presidenc} 7 of Brigadier (now General Sir) William 
M. Coghlan. Resident at Aden, to inquire into the merits of 
the case. On the grounds that the succession in the Imaum's 
family rested on election, and that Majid was duly elected 
their ruler by the people of Zanzibar, the Viceroy, on the 
recommendation of the Commission, confirmed him and his 
successors on the musnud, but directed him to pay to the ruler 
of Muscat an annual subsidy of 40,000 crowns, together with 
80,000 crowns, the arrears for two years. This compromise 
was accepted by both parties early in 18(52, and has remained 
ever since in force. 

In this work we have no concern with Persian Gulf politics, 
or the contentions of the rulers of Muscat, beyond this year, 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 333 

1862, when the abolition of the Service was decided upon by 
the Home authorities ; but, before that period, the Indian Navy- 
was of essential assistance to the Sultan of Zanzibar, in enforcing 
his claims as the legitimate successor of his father, Seyyid Said, 
in his African possessions. Burghash, fifth son of the late 
Seyyid Said, who was lately the honoured guest of the British 
nation in London, was disinclined to concur in the decision of 
the British Government, and, in 1859, rose in rebellion against 
his brother Majid, when the services of the Hon. Company's 
steam frigate 'Assaye,' Commander G. N. Adams, were called 
into requisition by Colonel (now Major-General) C. P. Rigby, 
her Majesty's Consul- General and Political Agent at Zan- 
zibar. Owing to the inability of Sultan Majid to subdue 
his brother, the Consul informally made a call for assistance 
on Commander Adams. Volunteers to lead the native troops 
were called for, and landed from the ' Assaye ;' but when the 
rebellion assumed larger proportions, and the loss in killed and 
wounded on both sides was heavy, Commander Adams refused, 
without a formal requisition, to permit his officers and men to 
take part in the operations, as, had any of them been killed, he 
would have been liable to a court-martial. The Political Resi- 
dent, finding that nothing could be done without British aid, 
accordingly made the necessary official demand, upon receipt 
of which Commander Adams organized the following force 
from the ' Assaye,' under Lieutenant Wood, and from Her 
Majesty's gunboat 'Lynx,' which happened to be at Zanzibar : 
— Europeans, ' Assaye,' one hundred and thirty ; ' Lynx,' thirty ; 
provision-carriers and commissariat, under Purser W. John- 
ston, twenty ; and between thirty and forty coal-trimmers, from 
the ' Assaye,' to drag the field-pieces and carry rocket-tubes 
and ammunition. 

The rebels had loop-holed and armed a large country-house 
and stockaded the grounds, which the Sultan's troops made 
repeated but ineffectual attempts to storm. The small British 
column soon shelled the enemy out of their stronghold, when 
Seyyid Burghash fled into Zanzibar, and took up his quarters 
in the women's apartments in a large mansion near the Sultan's 
residence. Commander Adams immediately sent the Marines, 
Engineers, and all the sick Europeans who volunteered for 
service, and indeed every man he could muster, under Lieu- 
tenant H. Carey, to assist in blockading the house. Seyyid 
Burghash, finding every avenue of flight closed to him, tried to 
escape by a plank he threw across the street to the opposite 
house : but the sacks of straw placed on the plank, to afford 
protection from the fire beneath, were so riddled with bullets, 
that he gave up the attempt. Next morning, when every pre- 
paration was made to storm the house, which was a large 
defensible building, Commander Adams sent a cousin of the 



334 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Seyyid's to him, to induce him to surrender, as he wished, if 
possible, to avoid the necessity of assaulting a place filled with 
women. Burghash, seeing that the game was up, surrendered 
himself to Commander Adams, who made him over to Sultan 
Majid ; and after a durbar, held the same day, he was delivered 
up, together with forty of the most desperate of his followers, 
to Commander Adams, who conveyed him to Muscat, whence 
he was removed to Bombay. 

The following is a copy of the despatch addressed by 
Colonel Rigby to Commander Adams, at the request of the 
Sultan : — 

" British Consulate, Zanzibar, October 20, 1859. 

"Sir, — I am requested by his Highness the Sultan of Zan- 
zibar to convey to you, and the officers and men under your 
command, his warmest thanks and acknowledgments for the 
important services you have rendered him during the late 
rebellion of his brother, Seyyid Burghash. His Highness is 
fully sensible that it is chiefly owing to the prompt assistance 
afforded him by the British seamen that this island and town 
have been saved from anarchy and ruin, and the capture of his 
brother, Seyyid Burghash, effected without bloodshed. The 
conspicuous gallantry of several of the young officers of the 
' Assaye,' who were present at the attack of the strong posi- 
tion occupied by the rebels, is talked of with admiration by all 
classes; they remained for several hours under a heavy fire, 
serving the guns and rockets, in advance of all his High- 
ness's troops, and endeavoured to induce the Belooches and 
Arabs to storm, and also assisted in carrying the wounded out 
of fire. 

"His Highness particularly desires me to express his sincere 
thanks to Lieutenants Wood and Davis, who commanded the 
detachments from the 'Assaye,' and also Lieutenant Carey, 
who commanded the party to which Seyyid Burghash sur- 
rendered. 

" I shall have great pleasure in bringing to the notice of 
Government the steady good conduct of your men during the 
whole period the 'Assaye' has been at this port, as also the 
cheerfulness with which they undertook a long march into the 
interior of the island, and by their discipline and good conduct 
whilst employed on shore, have maintained the high character of 
the British name amongst all classes of people here." 

The following is the resolution of the Bombay Government, 
dated the 3rd of December, 1859, in acknowledgment of the 
services rendered by Commander Adams and the officers and 
men of the ' Assaye' : — 

" Resolved — The Right Hon. the Governor in Council is of 
opinion that the officers and men who were detached to render 
assistance to Seyyid Majid, the Sultan of Zanzibar, against the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 335 

rebels under Seyyid Burghash, in accordance with a requisition 
of Her Majesty's Consul and Agent, Colonel Rigby, rendered 
valuable service, and are deserving of high commendation for 
the spirit and intrepidity with which they did their duty. His 
Lordship in Council also concurs with the Commander-in-chief 
of the Indian Navy in considering that Commander Adams 
deserves the approbation of Government for the alacrity and 
judgment with which he complied with the requisitions of Her 
Majesty's Consul." 

Seyyid Burghash remained in exile at Bombay until he pro- 
mised to forbear from again fomenting disturbances in Zanzibar, 
when he was allowed to return. He loyally kept his word, 
and, on the death of his brother in 1870, quietly succeeded to 
the throne. 

We will now resume the history of the Indian Navy from the 
year 1856, merely observing that in breaking the continuity of 
the narrative as detailed year by year, our object was to give a 
connected record of the dealings of the Service, between the 
years 1825-55, with the Arab tribes of the Persian Gulf and the 
rulers of Muscat. 

We now enter upon a not unimportant phase of the ser- 
vices of the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf, namely, that in 
which they were brought into actual collision with the native 
Power which exercised a preponderating influence in that 
portion of the East. 



CHAPTER VII. 
The Persian War. 1856—1857. 

The Casus Belli— The Declaration of War— Departure of tlie Expedition for the 
Persian Gulf— The Landing in Hallilah Bay— The Bombardment and Sur- 
render of Bushire — Suicide of General Stalker and Commodore Ethersey — 
The Bombardment and Capture of Mohamra— The Expedition to Ahwaz — 
Conclusion of the Persian War, and Government General Orders thereon — 
The Distribution of Honours. 

SO long ago as the latter part of 1853, and immediately after 
the conclusion of the Burmese War, matters in Persia, 
owing partly to the intrigues of Russia, appeared so threatening 
that, on the 26th of December, 1853, the 'Auckland,' Com- 
mander Macclonald, was despatched to the Persian Gulf. 
Bushire, also, was in such a ferment that the ' Clive,' flag-ship 
of the Indian Naval squadron, remained off the port to protect 
British interests, and the reports from the Resident, Captain 
Arnold Kemball, were of so alarming a character, that the 
Marine Department received orders to report upon the number 
of ships available in the event of an emergency. On the 
arrival of the 'Auckland' at Bombay, on the 11th of February, 
1854, from visiting Bushire, Bassadore, and Muscat, the advices 
were considered so far from reassuring, that the Government 
despatched to the Persian Gulf, on the 16th of February, the 
' Akbar,' Commander Balfour, and schooner ' Constance,' Lieu- 
tenant Stradling. These fears were, however, temporarily 
allayed by the receipt of a despatch from Mr. Thompson, H.M.'s 
Charge d'Affaires at Teheran, dated the 25th of January, 1854, 
in which he announced that the Shah had declared to him that 
strict neutrality would be observed by Persia in the war 
between Russia and Turkey. The following were the move- 
ments of the ships of the Indian Navy, in connection with 
Persian affairs, during the years 1854 and 1855. 

On the 26th of March, 1854, the ' Tigris,' Lieutenant Dakers, 
who died soon after his return, arrived from the Persian Gulf 
with despatches from Bushire ; five days later, the ' Ajdaha,' 
Commander Barker, sailed, and, after visiting Bussorah, Bu- 
shire, Bassadore, and Muscat, cast anchor in Bombay harbour 
on the 26th of May. Meantime, the 'Akbar,' Commander 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 337 

Balfour, had arrived also from Bussorah, on the loth of April ; 
and, on the 8th of Jul}', the ' Ferooz,' Commander Drought, 
returned from visiting Bushire, Bassadore, and Muscat. On the 
24th of November, the 'Ajdaha,' with the remains of JSir 
Frederick Fitzclareuce, the late Commander-in-chief, sailed 
from Bombay for Suez, for the purpose of conveying up the 
Gulf the Hon. C. A. Murray, the British Minister and Envoy 
at the Court of Teheran, and, on his Excellency's arrival at 
Suez on the 26th of December, she left for Bushire, whence 
Mr. Murray found his way, via Bagdad, to the Persian capital, 
where he found anything but a cordial welcome, while the 
'Ajdaha' proceeded to Bombay, where she arrived on the 2nd of 
April. On the 17th of May, the 'Victoria,' Lieutenant Adams, 
arrived from Bushire, when that officer, taking command of the 
' Queen,' sailed on the 2nd of June for the Gulf, whence she 
returned on the 4th of October; and, on the 25th of July, the 
'Falkland,' Commander Hewett, arrived at Bombay, bringing 
intelligence that the Shah had declared his intention to main- 
tain a strict neutrality in the war between Russia and Turkey. 
On the 16th of August, the 'Falkland,' now commanded by 
Lieutenant Manners — Commander Hewett having proceeded to 
England on three years' sick leave — again sailed for the Gulf, 
and that officer, removing to the 'Give,' brought her to Bom- 
bay on the 29th of October, 1855. On the following day, the 
'Assaye,' Commander J. W. Young, sailed for the Persian 
Gulf, and, on the 16th of January, 1856, the ' Semiramis,' 
Lieutenant Etheridge, which had been on a cruise round the 
Gulf, arrived at Bombay, bringing copies of the correspondence 
between Mr. Murray and the Persian Government, and a 
request from the Envoy for the immediate despatch of a steamer 
to Bushire. Accordingly, three days after her arrival, the 
'Ajdaha,' Lieutenant Worsley, with a detachment of European 
artillerymen on board to act as marines, sailed for the Gulf. 
The ' Semiramis,' now under Commander Alan Hyde Gardner, 
also proceeded thither on the 11th of April; and the ' Give,' 
which had returned to the Gulf, arrived from Bushire on the 
9th of May. The ' Victoria,' Lieutenant Giles, proceeded to 
the Gulf on the 28th of May, followed, on the 16th of August, 
by the 'Assaye,'* temporarily commanded by Lieutenant 

* The ' Assaye,' Commander Young, had meanwhile been employed on other 
service. She had returned to Bombay on the 9th of March, and on the 16th of 
April, sailed for Calicut, the savage tribe of Sourahs having risen in insurrection at 
Pula Kimedy, a zemindaree of Uanjam. From thence she proceeded to Madras, 
where she arrived on the 7th of May ; embarking the 31st Madras Native Infantry, 
she sailed again on the 12th for Vizagapatam, where the regiment was landed. 
On the 19th of May she again cast anchor in Madras roads, and on the 2nd of 
June, arrived at Bombay. Commander Young was now appointed Master- 
Attendant in place of Captain Montriou, deceased, and Lieutenant Nisbett was 
placed in temporary command of the ' Assaye.' 

VOL. II. Z 



338 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Nisbett, which returned on the 15th of September, after visit- 
ing Bushire, Bassadore, and Muscat ; two days later arrived 
the ' Ferooz,' Commander Rennie, which had been ordered 
round from Calcutta on the prospect of hostilities, followed, on 
the 20th, by the 'Berenice,' Lieutenant Chitty, which had not 
been round from the eastward since she left Bombay forBurmah 
in February, 1852. The 'Ajdaha' returned from the Persian 
Gulf on the 7th of September, and, on the 19th, the 'Ferooz' 
sailed for Bushire with despatches for the Political Resident, 
Commander Felix Jones, I.N.,* and conveyed some military 
staff officers to make preparations for the Expedition that was 
now resolved upon. On their arrival at Bushire, these officers 
landed in the town, and proceeded to the Resident-}', when 
Commander Jones directed them to return, as, on account of 
the excited state of the population and the presence near the 
town of a body of Persian troops, he could not be answerable 
for their safety. Commander Rennief proceeded on shore with 
despatches for the Resident, and then sailed for Bassadore, 
where the staff officers were landed, and the ' Ferooz' returned 
to Bombay. 

The necessity for the hostilities that were now imminent may 
be described in a few words. Notwithstanding treaties and 
protestations, the Persian Government, with singular faithless- 
ness, in December, 1855, had announced its intention, in the 
Teheran Official Gazette, to despatch a force to Herat, on the 
pretext that Dost Mahomed, the Ameer of Afghanistan, had 
been instigated by his "neighbours" to possess himself of 
Candahar. This threat was carried into execution, and, after 
a gallant resistance of many months, Herat was captured on 
the 25th of October, 1856. * On the 20th of November. .Air. 
Murray struck his flag at Teheran, and, on the 5th of Decem- 
ber, withdrew to Bagdad ; meanwhile, on the 1st day of 
November, the Governor-General issued his Declaration of 
War, in which he stated that, remonstrances having failed, 
"a force has been directed to assemble at Bombay, and will 
embark as soon as the necessary arrangements shall have been 
completed. The further operations of the force, after it shall 
have reached the Persian Gulf, will be guided by such instruc- 

* Commander Felix Jones received temporary charge of the Political Agency 
in Turkish Arabia, from Colonel Rawlinson on the 1st of April, 1855, and, from 
the 2nd of May was appointed Acting Resident of Bushire, in succession to 
Captain Kemball, which was made substantive from the following 31st of July, 
and certainly, if intimate knowledge of the languages and customs of the 
Persians and other races, was any qualification for the post, no better man could 
have been selected from any branch of the public service. 

t We remember, being then a midshipman on board the ' Ferooz,' how this 
judicious, as well as gallant, officer, who had " an eye to business" whenever 
any fighting was on the tapis, took advantage of this last opportunity of 
reconnoitring Bushire, to take careful soundings both in going ashore and 
returning, to be of use in eventualities. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 339 

tions as the progress of events and the policy of the British 
Government may demand."* 

During the month of October, Bombay dockyard resounded 
with the din of preparation as ships of war and transports 
were fitted out; the former to undertake warlike operations, 
and the latter to carry the Expeditionary army with the neces- 
sary stores and supplies. On the 15th of October, Sir Henry 
Leeke issued orders that the following steamers were to be pro- 
visioned and fill up with water for five months, for the number 
of troops stated against their names, in addition to their own 
crews: ' Assaye,' four hundred Sepoys; ' Semiramis,' three 
hundred Sepoys ; ' Ajdaha,' three hundred Europeans ; 
' Victoria,' two hundred Europeans ; and ' Hugh Lindsay,'t one 
hundred and sixty two Europeans. In addition to these eight 
steam-frigates and sloops, the naval part of the Expedition, 
which was exclusively drawn from the Indian Navy, was to 
consist of the ' Falkland,' ' Clive,' and ' Euphrates' (surveying 
brig), under command of Lieutenant Constable, who was 
specially appointed surveyor to the Expedition, with Lieutenant 
Sweny as his assistant. There were also the following iron 
steamers, which were of great service, owing to the small 
draught of water: 'Comet,' Commander Selby, which was 
employed on the Tigris, between Bussorah and Bagdad ; 

* The attack on Herat was justly made a casus belli for the following reasons. 
On the 25th of January, 1853, certain articles of agreement were concluded be- 
tween Colonel Shiel, at that time H.M.'s Envoy at the Court of the Shah of 
Persia, and his Highness the Sudar Azim, or Prime Minister, by which the 
Persian Government engaged not to send troops to Herat on any account, unless 
foreign troops — that is, troops from the direction of Cabul, or Candahar, or other 
foreign country — should invade Herat. In the event of troops being sent, the 
Persian Government engaged that these troops should not enter the city of Herat, 
and that, on the return of the foreign troops to their own territory, the Persian 
forces should be immediately withdrawn from the neighbourhood of Herat to 
Persian soil. The Persian Government also engaged to abstain from all inter- 
ference whatsoever in the internal aifairs of Herat, and relinquished all pretension 
to acknowledgment of allegiance on the part of the people of Herat. It was at the 
same time stipulated that so long as there should be no interference of any sort what- 
ever on the part of the British Government in the affairs of Herat, the engagements 
contracted by the Persian Government should remain in full force and effect. On 
the other hand, it was agreed in the name of the British Government that, if any 
foreign powers, such as the Afghans or others, should wish to interfere with, or 
to take possession of, Herat, the British Government on the requisition of the 
Persian Ministers, would not object to restrain such foreign powers by friendly 
advice, so that Herat might retain its independence. While the British Govern- 
ment faithfully adhered to the obligations which it accepted under the agree- 
ment of January, 1853, the Government of Persia manifested a deliberate and 
persevering disregard of the reciprocal engagements by which at the same time 
it became bound, and endeavoured to subvert by force the independence of 
Herat, which was the declared object of the agreement in question. Before the 
year 1853 was over, the Persians, with characteristic treachery, strove to ignore 
their engagements by annexing Herat, while the English Embassy was insulted. — 
(Vide Proclamation of the Governor-General of the 1st of November, 1856.) 

t The 'Hugh Lindsay,' commanded by Acting-Master Darke, was brought 
round from the eastward to be employed as a transport. 

z 2 



340 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

'Napier.' Acting-master McLaurin ; 'Planet,' Acting-master 
Fletcher; and 'Assyria,' Acting-master Neal. 

Sir James Outran), who was in England, was nominated to the 
supreme command, Major-General Stalker proceeding in charge 
of the first division of five thousand men. Sir Henry Leeke, 
at his own request, was authorised to command the Indian 
Navy squadron, but was instructed to return immediately after 
the capture of Bushire. It was certainly a most unfair act of 
Government to send an officer to supersede the Commodore 
of the Persian Gulf squadron, and a great slur upon that 
officer, than whom a more gallant and high-minded sailor did 
not exist in any Service. Sir Henry Leeke was not an Outram, 
or he would not thus have consented to pluck from Commodore 
Ethersey the chance of distinction thus almost placed within 
his grasp; and it is well known that the latter felt keenly what 
was virtually an act of supercession, and in no small degree it 
prompted him to the commission of the rash act which shortly 
after terminated an honourable and not undistinguished career. 
The appointment of Sir Henry Leeke was the more unjustifi- 
able as it was owing to the extreme pressure brought to bear 
upon him that Captain Ethersey held the post of Commodore 
in the Persian Gulf. On Commodore Robinson's return to the 
Presidency, in March 1855, the Bombay Government, appre- 
hending difficulties with Persia, offered the post to Captain 
Ethersey, then Superintendant of the Indus flotilla ; but he de- 
clined it, owing to his broken health, which had decided him to 
proceed to England and resign the Service. Government, how- 
ever, which had the highest opinion of his capacity, urged him 
to reconsider his decision, and, in an evil hour, he sacrificed 
the prospect of repose he had so well earned by long and 
meritorious service, and acceded to the request alike honourable 
and flattering to him. Accordingly he was gazetted to be 
Commodore of the Persian Gulf Squadron from the 12th of 
April, 1855, and, hoisting his broad pennant on board the 
' Clive,' assumed charge from the 17th of June, Commander 
Daniell succeeding him on the Indus. Sir Henry Leeke 
assumed command of the fleet from the 8th of November, 
hoisting his flag on board the ' Assa} T e,' his assistant, Captain 
Powell, being appointed to officiate as Superintendent during 
his absence. 

The following were the ships and commanding officers of the 
Indian Navy squadron employed in the Persian War : ' Assaye,' 
flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Henry J. Leeke, Captain Griffith 
Jenkins (Captain of the Fleet), and Acting-Commander G. N. 
Adarns ; ' Falkland,' Commodore Ethersey and Lieutenant J. 
Tronson ; 'Semiramis,' Captain J. W. Young ; 'Ferooz,' Com- 
mander J. Rennie ; ' Punjaub,' Acting-Commander A. Foulerton; 
' Ajdaha,' Lieutenant M. B. Worsley ; ' Berenice,' Lieutenant 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 341 

A. W. Chitty ; ' Victoria.' Lieutenant E. Giles (and later, 
Lieutenant Manners); 'Give,' Commander Albany Grieve, who 
received command from Lieutenant Manners. Government 
chartered twenty-three transports,* having a tonnage of 20,432 
tons, also the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers 
'Precursor,' ' Pottinger,' and ' Chusan,' and three steamers 
of the Bombay Steam Navigation Company, the ' Sir J. 
Jejeebhoy,' 'Lady Falkland,' and 'Bombay' — the whole being- 
placed under the charge of Commander Macdonald, with a staff 
of Indian Navy officers as agents for transports. The greater 
portion of the troops, under the command of Major-General 
Stalker, embarked at Bombay, but some transports were 
despatched to Vingorla to convey H.M.'s 64th Regiment and 
the 20th Bombay Native Infantry, which had marched thither 
from Belgaum, and others to Porebunder, to embark the 3rd 
Cavalry, and to Kurrachee to ship the 2nd Belooch Battalion, 
2nd Europeans, and a battery of Artillery.! 

On the <Sth November, the ' Punjaub,' ' Victoria,' ' Semiramis,' 
' Ajdaha,' and ' Berenice,' with a division of transports, sailed 
for the Persian Gulf; on the 11th, the ' Give' sailed, convoying 
a second division ; on the 13th, the 'Assaye' and 'Ferooz,' with 
other ships; and finally, on the 15th, the 'Euphrates.' The 
'Assaye' and a portion of the Expedition called at Muscat, and, 
by the 24th of November, the whole force had reached the 
appointed rendezvous off Bunder Abbas. Thence they made 
sail for Bushire, on the 26th, in three divisions. On the 29th 
of November, the ' Ferooz,' towing two transports, and the 
' Falkland,' Commodore Ethersey, arrived off the town, thus 
affording to the Governor the first certain information of the 
approach of an armed British force. The Governor imme- 
diately addressed an official inquiry to Commander Felix Jones 
as to the destination and object of the ships in Persian waters, 
to which the Resident, who had repaired on board the ' Assaye,' 
which arrived at Bushire a few days later, replied on the 3rd of 
December, after holding a conference with General Stalker and 
Sir Henry Leeke — that his functions in connection with Persia 
had ceased, and that it lay with the " Sirdar General Sahib" 

* The following is a list of the twenty-three transports : —For Artillery — 
' Rajah of Cochin,' ' Melbourne,' ' Madge Wildfire,' ' Sibella,' ' Dakota,' ' Merse,' 
' Mirzapore.' For Light Cavalry — ' Abdulla,' ' Bayne,' ' Alabama,' and ' Fairlie.' 
For the Poona Horse— ' Arthur the Great,' 'Thames City,' and 'Clifton.' 
For Infantry, the bulk of which were to embark in the steamers and ships-of- 
war — 'Result' and 'Maria Gray.' For Stores— ' Futtay Salam' and ' Philo.' 
Coal hulks—' Bride of the Seas,' ' British Flag,' ' Somnauth,' ' Defiance,' and 
Rhoderick Dim.' 
t The first Division of the Expeditionary force numbered five thousand six 
hundred and seventy combatants, (of whom two thousand two hundred and 
seventy were Europeans), three thousand seven hundred and fifty camp fol- 
lowers, with eleven hundred and fifty horses and four hundred and thirty 
bullocks. 



342 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

to answer the Governor's queries. This the General did by 
sending, together with Commander Jones's letter, a copy of 
the Declaration of War issued by Lord Dalhousie on the 
1st of November. No answer was received to these communica- 
tions, and, on the following day, the 4th of December, the 
British flag was hoisted at Kharrack, after an interval of 
sixteen years, under a Royal salute from the guns of the 
' Ferooz.' 

The first operation to be undertaken was the capture of 
Bushire, and, on the 6th of December, most of the transports, 
which had been scattered by the head-winds, having rejoined 
the fleet, dropped clown to Hallilah Bay, about twelve miles 
south-east of Bushire, which had been selected by Commodore 
Ethersey as the best site for the landing of the troops, the coast 
between this point and Bushire presenting an unbroken line of 
cliff, which, though of no great height, was quite insurmount- 
able for artillery, while in the bight formed by Hallilah Bay, 
the land slopes gently upwards from a fine broad beach. On 
the morning of the 7th of December, the sea being smooth and 
the weather favourable, the disembarkation commenced under 
cover of the fire of a division of eight gunboats, armed with 
24-pounder howitzers, under Lieutenant Stradling, and the 
guns of the 'Ajdaha,' which had the honour of firing the first 
hostile shot in this war, directed on a body of the enemy who 
had taken post in a date-grove about two hundred yards to the 
left of the beach. This force, which was supported by a larger 
column, retired, but not before they had suffered some loss 
from the shells, one of which killed a leading Persian chief. 
On the yth of December the disembarkation of the troops was 
completed without loss or hitch of any kind. General Stalker 
does justice to " the officers and seamen for their unwearied 
exertions in landing troops, which, owing to the absence of 
any other boats than those of the fleet, was a work of much 
labour, occupying the greater part of three days and two nights." 
On Sunday, the 9th, the troops, with three days' provisions in 
their havresacks, advanced upon the fort of Reshire, about 
four and a half miles below Bushire, a strong work, having 
thick walls, a dry ditch forty feet deep, with a redoubt in front 
scarped on the sea face. The 'Assaye' opened fire with admir- 
able effect, with her 8-inch guns, at a range of 1.700 yards, 
being unable to make a nearer approach ; and after the greater 
portion of the enemy had retreated, the British troops stormed 
the position. In this advance, Brigadier Stopford of the (-54 th, 
and Lieutenant-Colonel Malet of the 3rd Cavalry, were killed, 
and three officers were wounded, of whom two died. Mean- 
while Commander Jones had proceeded to Bushire in the 
' Assyria,' bearing a summons to the Governor to surrender, 
and offering most favourable conditions; but his flag of truce 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 34 3 

was fired upon from the town, and he returned to the ' Assaye,' 
which, with the rest of the fleet, had arrived before Bushire. 
An apology from the Governor followed, regretting the act, 
which he attributed to the ignorance of an artilleryman, and 
begging for twenty-four hours' delay, which the Admiral 
promptly refused. 

The anchorage was buoyed during the night of the 9th, by 
the boats of the fleet, and, at eight on the following morning, 
the ships of war took up their positions off the defences of the 
town with springs upon their cables, while the army approached 
on the land side. A redoubt, commanding the wells on the 
plain, from which Bushire derived its supply of water, was 
shelled in the morning by some of the gunboats, and its gar- 
rison forced to retire into the town. The engagement then 
commenced between the ships and the defences, and continued 
for four hours, when, at noon, the enemy ceased firing and 
lowered the Persian colours. 

Sir Henry Leeke, writing from his flagship off Bushire, on 
the 10th, describes in the following terms the part taken by 
the squadron in the attack on Reshire on the 9th and the bom- 
bardment and capture of Bushire on the following day ; but, 
unfortunately, he did his best to bring ridicule on a successful 
day's work by comparing one of the Persian batteries to " a 
miniature Malakhoff." He says: — "On my nearing the fort, 
(Reshire) we saw it full of Persian soldiers, who were drawn 
up ready for the attack. At this moment I was about J, 700 
yards from them when we commenced firing shell, man}^ drop- 
ping within the trenches and committing much slaughter, 
obliging the Persian troops to fly, with the exception of about 
eight hundred, who made a resolute stand, and were driven out 
by the troops in one of the most brilliant and gallant charges 
I ever witnessed. Here the troops halted for the night. I 
then pushed on for the roadstead ; and at daylight this morning, 
seeing the Persian Army drawn up near the walls (their centre 
supported by a high fortified tower and redoubt), I ordered 
the ' Falkland,' sloop, ' Ajdaha,' steam-frigate, ' Berenice ' and 
' Victoria,' steam-sloops, under the command of Lieutenants 
Tronson, Worsley, Chitty, and Giles, and eight heavy armed 
gunboats, under Lieutenant Stradling, to place their ships in 
position to attack it. This was done in a most gallant way ; 
and in the course of an hour I had the satisfaction to see the 
whole of the Persian troops in full retreat to the town, but in 
perfect order and with great coolness supported by their artillery. 

" A boat with a white flag was now seen approaching the ship, 
and, on one of the chiefs arriving on board, a request was made 
by the Governor of the town for a delay of operations for 
twenty-four hours to offer terms. This I instantly refused, in 
consequence of his having fired on one of our small steamers 



344 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

bearing a flag of truce the day before. Half an hour was given 
him to get out of the way of our shot; and the ships having 
been placed in line of battle, my flag-ship in the centre, the 
action commenced, and continued on both sides for two hours, 
when, observing two batteries outside the town, one a kind of 
miniature Malakhoff, harassing the ' Semiramis' and ' Ferooz,' 
I directed our fire towards them, and in three hours they were 
perfectly silenced and the guns dismounted. A tower on the 
north-west angle of the fort, and a masked battery below the 
Residency flagstaff outside the walls, kept up a constant 
and steady fire upon the ^Semiramis ' and 'Ferooz.' It was 
necessary to silence them also ; and seeing that both ships were 
much damaged by their steady aim, the foremost guns of this 
ship were ordered to be directed towards them, and in the course 
of an hour both batteries ceased firing. I was now anxious to 
make an opening in the wall of the town, that the troops might 
have nothing in their way if General Stalker on his arrival 
determined upon carrying the place by assault. Our fire was 
therefore directed to the south-west angle, and the breach com- 
menced by knocking down a part of the town, and the embra- 
sure in which a gun was mounted, as well as the lower part of 
the wall. The fire from the batteries at this time gradually 
slackened, and at this moment the flagstaff in the town was 
hauled down in token of submission and the place surrendered. 
The Army was by this time close to the town ; and it was a 
source of the greatest pleasure to me to feel that we had cleared 
away every obstacle that presented itself on their onward march, 
the more so as they had lost so many gallant fellows the day 
before when storming the Fort of Reshire. The ships of the 
fleet have suffered considerably in their hulls, masts, and rig- 
ging from the fire of the enemy's guns ; the ' Semiramis ' and 
'Ferooz' have some shot through them, but nothing to prevent 
all being ready for sea in a day or two. I am most happy to 
add that no person has been touched, nor has any casualty 
occurred during the four hours and a half we were under fire. 
How this has happened is miraculous, for the grape-shot which 
fell at every instant around and abreast the gunboats and the 
round shot over and about our ships were very severe, and 
proved that our enemy were more formidable than they were 
supposed to be even by those who had known the town 
years before, there being fifty-nine guns mounted on the 
batteries. 

" It now becomes a pleasing part of my duty to bring to the 
notice of your Lordship in Council the vety great assistance I 
have received from Commodore Ethersey (who met me off the 
island of Kishin, and from his knowledge of this place gave me 
much valuable information), Captains Jenkins and Young, 
Commanders Macdonald (in charge of all the transports), and 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 345 

Kennie, and Acting-Commanders Fonlerton and Adams (the 
latter the captain oF this ship), the officers, petty-officers, and 
seamen of the fleet under my command ; nor can I ever forget 
their gallant conduct in this day's battle, or their cheerfulness 
and activity in carrying out my orders and in moving their 
ships into position abreast of the batteries; and I am sure the 
Government will think with me that this was no easy task to 
perform, for most of the vessels drew from fifteen to sixteen feet 
of water, and we had to take them (at high water) some way 
through soft mud to get near enough to the forts, and this under 
a heavy fire. "Where all have so ably and gallantly performed 
their duty, it is difficult to particularise individuals, but I 
desire to express my warm thanks to Captain Griffith Jenkins, 
the first captain of the ship, for the very great assistance he 
has afforded me throughout the whole of the operations, and 
particularly during the action. He was the first officer — 
assisted by Major Hill of the Engineers, and Lieutenant Clark- 
son, the first lieutenant of my flag-ship— to enter the town and 
hoist the British flag. In conclusion, may I again request your 
Lordship's notice of the gallant officers who have given me so 
much assistance and support during the time I have been fitting 
out the Persian Gulf Expedition. By their exertions nearly 
ten thousand persons, with all their camp equipage, provisions, 
p;uns, and stores, and eleven hundred horses, have been landed 
on the shores of Persia without the slightest accident, and, with 
the exception of five horses, without a casualty of any sort; and 
by to-morrow evening the troops will have their tents pitched, 
cooking things ready, and every arrangement to give them com- 
fort and shelter in the cold weather and rains of the winter. 
The Indian Navy, being a service of seniority, precludes promo- 
tion, and unlike their brethren of the Army, they can gain 
nothing of advancement to a higher rank ; but if, in bringing 
to the notice of your Lordship in Council their meritorious con- 
duct upon this as well as every other occasion, I have the good 
fortune to render a service to those who have so thoroughly 
done their duty, it will be a source of the greatest gratifica- 
tion."* Thus, after a bombardment of less than five hours, fell 

* The following despatch from Commander Felix Jones, I.N., Political Agent, 
to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, dated the 13th of December, 
1856, gives some further details of the capture of Bushire : — 

" My last despatch made known my retirement from Bushire. I now continue 
the report of my proceedings to the present date in connection with the Expe- 
ditionary force in this Gulf. On the 20th of November a detachment of the lint 
(' Ferooz,' steam-frigate, towing two merchant ships, and corvette 'Falkland'), 
first hove in sight of Bushire, and dispelled the prevailing idea that the force 
would not quit the shores of India. This illusion I had been able to maintain 
perfect to the last moment, though the object I had contemplated of an imme- 
diate descent on the coast i'ailed, from the fleet being scattered in various pai ts of 
the Gulf. It was not, indeed, until the 6th inst., that they were sufficiently 
collected to admit of direct operations being commenced ; but in the meantime 



346 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAYY. 

Bnshire, which General Stalker described, in his despatch, as 
" infinitely stronger than I had any reason to believe from the 

the island of Kharrack was occupied and formed into a military depot, as reported 
in my despatch to Major-General Stalker, under date of the 4th inst. The day 
subsequent to the arrival of the first ships, the Governor of Bushire wrote to me 
officially on the subject of the display before the town ; but, as I was then about 
proceeding to meet the General some miles off at sea, an answer to his inquiries 
was delayed, as shown in the accompanying letters. On the 3rd of December 
the Governor-General's Proclamations were sent to him officially, with the 
sanction of the Major-General commanding the forces. To these there was no 
reply. On the 6th inst. the fleet moved down to Hallilah Bay, which Com- 
modore Ethersey had pronounced the best suited for the debarkation of the force, 
and no spot could have been better selected. Dispositions were made for landing 
the force on the following morning, when it was effected in admirable order, 
though not unobserved by the enemy, small parties of whom were driven from 
their lurking places in the date groves by the fire of the gunboats and well- 
directed shot from the steam-frigate ' Ajdaha,' commanded by Lieutenant 
Y\ orsley. Shortly after noon the force was enabled to advance from the beach 
and take up an extended front before the enemy, seen at intervals watching our 
movements, a few miles in advance. Great difficulties, however, had to be con- 
tended with in landing the cavalry horses and artillery equipage, from a paucity 
of native boats, which I had failed in procuring from the Arab coasts, owing to 
the impracticability of dealing with the people in moments of emergency and 
need. These difficulties were, however, readily surmounted by the skill and 
activity of the Indian Naval officers and men, whose exertions on this occasion 
merit the highest praise. These exertions were fully appreciated by their asso- 
ciates in arms, not less active in their endeavours to get at the enemy with the 
least possible delay. Forty-eight hours sufficed to put the troops in motion 
northward, the ships-of-war, led by the Admiral, advancing along the coast to 
their support. This was on the morning of the 9th, and by noon the enemy were 
observed to be in force in the village of Beshire. Here, amidst the ruins of old 
houses, garden walls, and steep ravines, they occupied a formidable position; but, 
notwithstanding their firmness, wall after wall was surmounted, and finally they 
were driven from their last defence (the old fort of Beshire), bordering on the 
cliffs at the margin of the sea. This was carried at the point of the bayonet, the 
enemy then only flying in despair down the cliffs, where many met their death in 
their endeavours to escape through the ravines of the south. The nature of the 
ground, however, rendered pursuit difficult to the horses, though many were cut 
up in a chase of some distance. Details of this spirited affair will be given by the 
proper officers ; I shall, therefore, merely observe that the enemy received at first 
a lesson he will not readily forget, for the tribe families of Dashti and Tungestoon 
comprising its ranks are regarded as the most brave as well as the most skilled in 
the defence of posts, like Beshire, where regulars cannot work with full effect. 
Brigadier Stopford, C.B., met his death here, and other loss was experienced. 
1 lie wounded were received into ships the same evening, and provisions were 
thrown into the fort from seaward during the night. It had been agreed that I 
should proceed in person to the town of Bushire, in a small steamer, with a flag 
of truce, bearing the accompanying copy of a summons to surrender, with the 
terms offered to the garrison. While the above was enacting, I proceeded on this 
errand with the humane object also of receiving such of the merchants and 
townspeople as might be desirous of shelter in the fleet. This was quite in 
accordance with the wishes of the Government of India in regard to the in- 
habitants of Bushire ; and the Major-General, the Admiral, and myself were 
induced to believe that my presence near them might tend to avert much blood- 
shed. In this, however, we were disappoin'ed, for on passing through the 
intricate channel leading to the town, two batteries, at a distance of 500 yards, 
opened upon the ' Assyria,' bearing the flag of truce, in defiance of all usages of 
war Deeming it might be a mistake, I caused the vessel to stop, but a second 
ami third shot passing close to us, I was compelled to retrace my steps, and even 
then two more guns were discharged. I could scarcely account for this conduct, 
having taken some pains to explain the meaning of a flag of truce, in the event of 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 347 

information I had received." Speaking of the services of his 
personal staff, the General says of Mr. Purser Johnston, of the 

warfare, before quitting the town ; but, while relating the circumstance to Rear- 
Admiral Sir Henry Leeke, a flag of truce from the shore was reported, and the 
bearer (Mirza Ismail, collector of customs in the town) came off with a written 
apology from the Governor, who, with the chief officers of the garrison, was 
stated to have been outside of the walls examining into the condition of the 
exterior defences at the time ; every regret was expressed ; the act was attributed 
to the ignorance of the artillerymen, with hopes that it would be overlooked. 
To this the Admiral and myself replied that, so far as we were personally 
concerned, we were willing to credit the statements of the Governor, and accepted 
the apology, though the act itself, in whatever way originating, must stigmatize 
the Persian Government and its officers in the eyes of all civilized States. Mirza 
Ismail returned with a summons to the shore. While this was going on, a note 
from the Major- General commanding announced his intention of advancing on 
the town the following morning, and the Admiral disposed his fleet in order of 
battle, for first dismantling the newly-erected outworks, and then moving with a 
view of breaching the south wall of the town. The following morning, as the 
tide served, the ships were in the positions assigned to them. A second flag of 
truce had come off, begging twenty-four hours' delay, but this was promptly 
rejected, and at near eight o'clock the signal was hoisted to engage. Shot and 
shell were aimed at the redoubt south of the town, but with little effect, owing 
to the great range, though eventually the enemy assembled there to oppose the 
troops were dislodged, and beat a retreat with their guns into the town. The 
ships, in the meantime, had moved upon the town, and such was the ardour 
displayed to get close to the works, that every ship was laid aground at the turn 
of high water, and for four hours continued to cannonade the defences, which 
were active in replying the whole time. Many of their guns, however, were not 
of sufficient calibre to reach the ships, but the perseverance of the Persian 
gunners in firing from the more heavy pieces was admired by every one. Their 
shot told very often on the hulls of the ' Victoria,' ' Falkland,' ' Semiramis,' and 
'Ferooz,' which latter vessels, under Captain John Young and Commander James 
Rennie (if comparisons are admissible where all exerted themselves alike) had 
the posts of honour for the day. Details of the affair it is unnecessary for me to 
enter upon. It will suffice for me to report that, some of the guns being silenced, 
on the approach of the army, under Major-General Stalker, C.B., to breach the 
wall on the gate side before the assault, the Persian flagstaff was felled in token 
of submission. This was at noon. The Persian flag has since been recovered by 
myself, and presented as a joint trophy to the chiefs conducting the combined 
operations in this Expedition, who, with every officer and man in it, whether 
soldier or sailor, have certainly won for themselves an honourable name. After 
surrender, some little hesitation was shown on the part of the Governor and 
garrison to come out of the town : an assuring note, coupled with the threat of 
an assault in half-an-hour, was, however, sent in by a freed captive ; and on 
the expiration of the time that officer was seen issuing with his suite from the 
gate. I moved forward with a party to receive and conduct him to head- 
quarters, where, after tendering his sword, he met with a gracious reception from 
the Major-General and Rear-Admiral commanding the forces. Shortly after- 
wards the Sirhang, or Commandant, submitted, the entire garrison at the same 
time laving clown their arms on my proceeding into the town with assurances of 
safety from the Major-General Commanding-in-chief. The British colours were 
then hoisted at 4.30 p.m. on the Residency flagstaff by Lieutenant Clarkson, of 
the Indian Navy, the troops under orders to garrison the town moving at 
sunset into the place." 

After the capture, the following Proclamation was issued by Major-General 
Stalker, C.B., commanding the Persian Field Force : — 

"The town and outworks of Bushire, after a four hours' cannonade, having 
surrendered unconditionally to a combined naval and military force assembled 
before the place, were formerly taken possession of in the name of Her Majesty 
Queen Victoria, yesterday afternoon. The British colours were hoisted at the 
Residency flag-staff in the town at 4.30. p.m., the topmast of His Majesty the Shah 



348 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

' Assaye,' who, with Lord Dunkellin, of the Coldstream Guards, 
and Major Taylor, of the Persian Embassy, was attached to 
him : — "To Mr. Johnston's knowledge of the country and its 
inhabitants, with the unwearied zeal he has exhibited, I am 
much indebted." 

The night before the attack on Bushire, Commander Rennie 
sent Acting-Lieutenant Sconce, of his ship, in a boat with 
muffled oars to buoy a fourteen-foot channel off the batteries ; 
and that officer performed the task in an admirable manner, and 
enabled the 'Ferooz'to advance three hundred yards within 
the other ships. On the capitulation of Bushire, the Governor 
and his staff were sent on board the ' Punjaub,' as prisoners of 
war, and the ' Semiramis' left for Bombay, where she arrived 
on Christmas Eve. Sir Henry Leeke sailed from Bushire in the 
' Assaye,' three days after the capture of the town, bringing 
with him the three principal prisoners and the captured flag. 
"While running down the Gulf for Bassadore, an Arab chief 
boarded the 'Assaye' for the purpose of proffering the aid of 
his tribe to the English, as, he said, all the people of the coast 
would prefer the British rule to that of the Shah. In the course 
of conversation with him. it transpired that a well-equipped 
Persian division of three thousand men was assembled near 
Lingah, with the intention of crossing to the Island of Kishm 
and attacking the depot station at Bassadore. Dismissing the 
Sheikh with fair words, Sir Henry steamed on, and, soon 
coming abreast of the Persian camp, opened upon it with his 
heavy guns. The fire was immediately returned, but the havoc 
caused by the 8-inch shell crashing through the camp, and 
knocking over horses and men, soon caused the enemy to retire, 
which they did in good order. The safety of Bassadore was 
henceforth assured by the presence of the ' Punjaub,' and a 
force of marines was entrenched on shore. On the arrival of 
the 'Assaye' at Bombay, Sir Henry Leeke hauled down his 
flag and resumed the duties of Commander-in-chief; though his 
appointment to a command on active service was made by Lord 
Elphinstone it was discovered that the proceeding was directly 
in contravention of the orders of the Court of Directors made 
six years before. On the 19th of January, Captain Jenkins 
assumed the duties of Assistant-Superintendent, and Acting 
Commander Adams remained in command of the 'Assaye.' 

of Persia's flag-staff having been felled in token of submission. This occupation 
of Bushire on the mainland of the Persian territories was announced officially 
this day, with a salute of twenty-one guns from the fleet, the ships being dressed 
in the usual form. God save the Queen." 

Captain Felix Jones, with his Assistant, Lieutenant Disbrowe, was engaged 
after the occupation in giving confidence to the towns-people, securing the maga- 
zines, granaries, and other public stores, endeavouring to re-open the bazaars, 
and in adopting measures for the public safety, as well as in taking steps for ob- 
taining supplies. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 349 

Meanwhile, Sir James Outram had arrived from England, 
and, on the 17th of January, proceeded with his staff to the 
Persian Gulf on board the ' Semiramis.' The transports had 
returnejd to Bombay in large numbers, and, with fourteen addi- 
tional ships,* commenced embarking the Second Division of the 
Army, consisting of the 78th Highlanders, 26th and 23rd 
Bombay Native Infantry, a Light Infantry Battalion, specially 
organized, of eight hundred men ; 14th Dragoons, 1st Scinde 
Horse, a troop of Horse Artillery, and two Light Field Bat- 
teries. This division, organized into two brigades, was placed 
under the command of Brigadier-General Henry Havelock, C.B., 
of the 13th Regiment Light Infantry, an officer to whom 
might be applied the description Homer puts into the mouth of 
Minerva when upbraiding the valiant Diomedes : — 

" Whose little body lodged a mighty mind !" 

Under Government Orders of the 13th of January, the 
Expeditionary Field Force, Lieutenant-General Sir James 
Outram, K.C.B , in command, was divided into two Divisions, 
under Generals Stalker, C.B., and Havelock, C.B. ; Brigadier- 
General John Jacob, C.B., commanding the Cavalry Division. 
Colonel (now General Sir) Edward Lugard, C.B., of the 29th 
Regiment, was Chief of the Staff, and the Brigadiers were : — 
General Stalker's Division, Brigadiers N. Wilson, K.H., and 
R. W. Homier ; Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. Trevelyan, Artillery, 
and Lieutenant-Colonel Tapp, Cavalry. Second, or General 
Havelock's, Division, Brigadiers W. Hamilton, and J. Hale ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel G. Hutt, C.B., Artillery, and Colonel C. 
Stewart, Cavalry. Among the officers of the Head-Quarter 
Staff was Lieutenant W. Pengelley, I.N., appointed to the Land 
Transport Corps, under Major Curtis, at the express request of 
Sir James Outram, who wrote, saying he considered his services 
" indispensable." Here Lieutenant Pengelley's experience in 
the Crimean War made him of great value. 

On the 28th of January the 'Ferooz' arrived at Bombay, 
towing two transports from Bushire, and sailed again on the 
9th of February. The ' Semiramis' arrived at Bushire on the 
26th of January, with Sir J. Outram, who marched inland on 
the 3rd of February with his entire force— except a small 
detachment, assisted by a party of seamen from the ships-of- 
war to work the guns— and, on the 5th, occupied the enemy's 
entrenchments at Boorazjoon, about forty-six miles from 
Bushire, without opposition. The return march was com- 
menced on the 7th, and, on the following morning, the two 

* The following were the fourteen additional transports: — 'Ocean Monarch,' 
' Hamoody,' ' Nadir Sliah,' ' Golden Era,' ' Fazl Kereem,' ' Lord George Ben- 
tinck,' 'Carmenta,' 'Hibernia,' 'Eliza,' ' Saldanlia,' ' Raby Castle,' 'Belgravia,' 
' Tornado,' and ' Thomas Campbell.' 






350 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

armies came into collision at Khoosh-aub, when the Persians 
were totally defeated, with a loss of seven hundred killed, that 
of the British being only ten killed and sixty-two wounded. 
The brunt of this action was borne by the horse artillery and 
the Scinde Horse, which made two brilliant charges. 

On the 17th of February, the ' Assay e' sailed for the Persian 
Gulf, followed by the 'Victoria' on the 22nd, and by the 
'Ajdaha' on the 3rd of March. 

Sir James Outram, pending the arrival of all his reinforce- 
ments, made active preparations to attack Mohamra, where a 
Persian army, thirteen thousand strong, was ascertained to be 
assembled under the command of the Shahzada, Prince Khanla 
Khan; at this point, situated at the junction of the Karoon 
with the Shatt-ul-Arab, or main stream, the enemy had erected 
batteries of solid earth twenty feet in thickness and eighteen 
feet in height, with casemated embrasures, armed with heavy 
guns, which commanded the passage of the latter river. 

Two unhappy events, however, occurred before the departure 
of the Expedition to attack this stronghold. On the 14th of 
March Major-General Stalker, a soldier who had seen consider- 
able service, committed suicide by shooting himself through 
the head with a pistol, and, on the 17th, only three days after 
this melancholy event, Commodore Ethersey, now commanding 
the naval portion of the Expedition, committed suicide under 
precisely similar circumstances, the verdict of the Court of 
Inquest being that he died by " his own hand whilst suffering 
under mental aberration." 

The sad state of nervous depression to which Commodore 
Ethersey had been reduced, was fully stated in the evidence 
given by Commander Felix Jones, before the Court of Inquest. 
If there was one officer more than another who commanded the 
respect and confidence of the entire Service, as in every way 
calculated for a high command by reason of his antecedents, 
great experience, and indomitable courage and resolution, it 
was Richard Ethersey, " Grim Dick," as he was called ; but 
failing health had unstrung that iron nerve, and he, who, some 
ten years before, would have rejoiced at the opportunity of 
earning distinction at the cannon's mouth, shrunk from re- 
sponsibility and was full of chimerical fears. 

On Commodore Ethersey's death, Captain J. W. Young 
assumed the command of the squadron, and, soon after, hoisted 
his broad pennant on board the 'Ferooz,' when Commander 
Selby, who, as Surveyor of Mesopotamia, had been stationed on 
the Tigris in the river steamer ' Comet,' assumed command of 
the ' Semiramis ' before the commencement of the ensuing 
important operations. Sir James Outram intended to proceed 
to the attack of the earthworks at Mohamra immediately upon 
his return from Boorazjoon, but was delayed by the non-arrival 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 351 

of reinforcements, owing to tempestuous weather, and lie 
deemed it essential to leave a strong garrison at liusliire. 
Meanwhile the troops began to arrive, and, early in March, the 
' Assaye,' ' Ajdaha,' ; Falkland,' ' Berenice,' (with General Have- 
lock and his staff), and several transports, sailed in quick suc- 
cession for the Shatt-ul-Arab, with troops. On the 18th of 
March, Sir James Outram left Bushire in the ' Ferooz,' that 
tried soldier, Brigadier-General John Jacob, C.B., remaining in 
command of the garrison, with only the ' Euphrates,' Lieutenant 
Constable, to assist him. The position of this force was one of 
considerable danger and difficulty, as it was known that a large 
Persian army was within forty miles of Bushire, and might, 
probably, take advantage of the absence of the greater portion 
of the Expedition, to make an attack. Still more anxious was 
the position of Lieutenant Constable. This officer, having 
stripped his brig to her lower-masts, took her over the two and 
a-half miles of shoal water between the town and anchorage, 
and up the creek which runs until it loses itself in the swamp 
behind Bushire. He then re-embarked everything on board, 
crossed top-gallant yards to make a brave show, borrowed three 
32-pounders from the 'Give,' and took up his station on the 
left flank of the British entrenched camp. Had the Persian 
attack, which was daily anticipated, realty taken place, the 
position of Lieutenant Constable and his little brig would have 
been a critical one, as retreat was impracticable without de- 
serting his ship. 

By the 24th of March, the entire force destined for the 
attack on Mohainra, assembled in the Shatt-ul-Arab,* and, on 

* Captain Adams writes to us of the ' Assaye's' doings at Bushire and at Ma'amer, 
the rendezvous in the Shatt-ul-Arab : — " Taking the ' Assaye' into action at Bushire 
I was ordered by Sir Henry Leeke to carry her as close as I could without 
grounding. I took her close in and anchored with three inches of water under 
her keel, and reported to the Admiral that it was as close as I could get her. 
During the bombardment I remained on the bridge, the Admiral and Captain 
Jenkins being on the quarter deck. The ' Assaye' grounded, and then learning 
their magazines were on the other side of the town towards Hallilah, we listed the 
ship to give good elevation and had the luck to blow up one or more powder 
magazines. The Admiral, Captain Jenkins, and Clarkson went on shore, 
leaving me to get the ship off, which I did. At Ma'amer, previous to the 
bombardment of Mohamra, General Havelock and a lot of troops had come in 
advance, but owing to Bushire being threatened, they got short of provisions, 
so we knew not what was to be done as we had strict orders not to land on Turkish 
soil for fear of compromising our Government. I offered to supply his troops 
with salt and fresh provisions on alternate days, and rigged a stage with spare 
spars and booms, and having moored our large boat at the end, sent Johnston, the 
purser, and a lieutenant, to see that no one landed, and bought any number of bul- 
locks and sheep. Havelock dined with me one Sunday with Chitty and his staff, and 
was delighted with our 68-pounders and the ' Assaye' in general. I was to have 
dined with him in the ' Berenice,' but half an hour before dinner time, I received 
a despatch ordering the Cavalry and Horse Artillery to Bushire instantly. As 
the tide served I ordered Worsley to one transport, Tronson to another, Clarkson 
to a third, and so on, with men to get them under weigh, and in less than three- 
quarters of an hour, they were all sailing down the river with pilots from our 



3j2 history OF THE INDIAN navy. 

that day, the fleet, with transports in tow, moved up the river 
without molestation to the appointed rendezvous, opposite a 
tope of trees about three and a-half miles below the forts, where 
the final arrangements for the attack were completed. The 
river at this point is about 300 yards wide, and the enemy's 
position at Mohamra was clearly visible from the decks, though 
groups of officers went aloft to the tops, whence they eagerly 
scanned the works which they were to attack on the morrow. 
That these fortifications were of a truly formidable character 
was known from the best sources, as not only were they 
familiar to Commander Selby, but Captain Maisonneuve and 
the officers of the French fifty-gun frigate * Sybille,' who had 
just returned from inspecting them, warned the British officers 
at Bushire that they were of very great strength, and freely 
expressed their opinion that the force then assembled in the 
Roads, was inadequate to bombard and capture the works. 

Sir James Outram, who was not given to exaggeration, gave 
the following description of these fortificat ions after their capture: 
— "For some months past the Persians had been strengthening 
their position at Mohamra. Batteries had been erected of great 
strength, of solid earth, twenty feet thick, eighteen feet high, 
with casemated embrasures, on the northern and southern 
points of the banks of the Karoon and Shatt-ul-Arab, where the 
two rivers join. These, with other earthworks armed with 
heavy ordnance, commanded the entire passage of the latter 
river, and were so skilfully and judiciously placed, and so 
scientifically formed, as to sweep the whole stream to the 
extent of the range of the guns up and down the river and 
across the opposite shore; indeed, everything that science could 
suggest, and labour accomplish in the time, appeared to have 
been done by the enemy to effectually prevent any vessel 
passing up the river above their position ; the banks, for many 
miles, were covered by dense date groves, affording the most 
perfect cover for riflemen ; and the opposite shore, being neutral 
territory (Turkish) was not available for the erection of counter 
batteries. The accompanying rough sketch will, I fear, give 
your Excellency but a faint idea of the great strength of the 
Persian position, and the difficulty of successfully attacking 
them in it without very considerable loss. I could have landed my 
troops on the island of Abadan, which was strongly occupied by 
the Persians ; and there is no doubt that, after defeating them, 
the southern battery would eventually have fallen to us. But 
the several batteries on the northern bank of the Karoon com- 
manded the entire southern bank, as well as the stream of the 
Shatt-ul-Arab ; and it would have been a serious and an ex- 

yessels. I went and reported to Havelock, who had received a similar despatch} 
that all the transports were on their way, at which he was pleased, and his 
BiuiT commiserated me on losing my dinner." 






HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 353 

tremely difficult operation to have crossed the rapid current of 
the Karoou in the face of the enemy, had the means existed for 
doing so. But, until our small steamers and boats could round 
the southern point, and join us, we should have been helpless. 
After mature deliberation, I resolved to attack the enemy's 
batteries with the armed steamers and sloops-of-war, and, so 
soon as the fire was nearly silenced, to pass up rapidly with the 
troops, in small steamers towing boats, land the force two miles 
above the northern point, and immediately advance upon, and 
attack, the entrenched camp." 

At nine p.m. on the 24th March, a boat with muffled oars, hav- 
ing some of the heads of departments on board, proceeded up the 
river to choose a position for a mortar battery, and, when close 
under the forts, having ascertained that the island on which it was 
said a mortar battery could be erected, was a swamp, they re- 
turned without being fired at. But the ingenuity of Commander 
Rennie came to the rescue with the proposal of a mortar raft, 
and, in defiance of the engineers, who said the first shot would 
smash it, a raft was constructed during the night, under Com- 
mander Rennie's directions, of casks and studding-sail booms 
securely lashed together, and, being manned by the Bombay 
artillery, and armed with two 8-inch and two 5|-inch mortars, 
was towed up to its position opposite the northern fort, by the 
steamer ' Comet.' 

The 25th of March was occupied in trans-shipping troops, 
horses, and guns, into the small steamers and boats, and, says 
Captain Hunt, of the 78th Highlanders, " the blue-jackets of 
the Indian Navy worked with a will, and helped their red-coated 
brethren through every difficulty — the way in which the horses 
were handled by them being particularly remarked, and the 
animals themselves seemed to know they were in proper hands." 
At nightfall the enemy brought some field-pieces down opposite 
the ships, and opened fire on the ' Assaye,' which vessel soon 
silenced them with her 68-pounders ; they kept up a picket fire, 
however, all night, and, on the following morning, several of 
their cavalry were seen moving about amongst the trees, dressed 
in a light blue uniform with white belts. 

The morningof the 26th was magnificent, and the sky cloudless, 
with just sufficient wind to blow the smoke clear of the ships so 
that a good aim could be taken by the captains of the guns, who 
probably threw few shots away. As a spectacle, the action that 
ensued was grand and effective. The scene, as the ships, with 
ensigns hoisted at each masthead as if en fete for some great 
national holiday, simultaneously opened their broadsides, was 
brilliant to a degree ; and as, during the progress of the bom- 
bardment, the hearty British cheers of the seamen announced 
to their comrades in the transports that a magazine had ex- 
ploded or some battery been silenced, the enthusiasm would 

VOL. II. A A 



•°>-H HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

rise to fever heat. Perhaps other memories were aroused in the 
minds of the more cultivated or thoughtful of the combatants. 
These cradle-lands of the human family had, from before the 
days of Semiramis, Alexander, and Trajan, witnessed some of 
the most momentous and sanguinary struggles known in his- 
tory, and now, on the same classic ground where Babylonian, 
Assyrian, Persian, Greek, and Roman, had struggled for 
mastery, for the first time the cannon of Britain roused the 
echoes and taught the people that another power from the far 
west claimed the heritage of sovereignty, once held by those 
mighty nations of antiquity. Before that eventful day had 
closed, that great soldier, Sir James Outram, equal to the best 
of his predecessors, had "watered the horses" of Britain in 
the stream that flowed past the site which tradition has 
handed down from countless ages as the home of our first 
parents, the Garden of Eden. 

All the arrangements being complete, at daylight on the 2(5th, 
the men-of-war, having got steam up, weighed, and proceeded 
up to the attack. The following were the ships engaged : — 
' Ferooz,' Commander Rennie, with Commodore Young's broad 
pennant at the main ; ' Semiramis,' Commander Selby, towing 
the ' Clive,' Commander Grieve ; ' Assaye,' Acting-Commander 
Adams ; 'Ajclaha,' Lieutenant Worsley ; 'Victoria,' Lieutenant 
Manners, towing the ' Falkland,' Lieutenant Tronson. While 
the ships of war proceeded to silence the batteries, the trans- 
ports, consisting of nearly fifty ships and steamers, remained at 
their anchorage. The mortar raft opened fire at daybreak, and 
the 8-inch shells were very effective, though, owing to the 
distance being over 1,000 yards, the shells from the 54-inch 
mortars fell short. During the five hours the mortars were 
playing on the enemy's works, they discharged one hundred and 
two shells in and about the forts, being at the rate of one every 
three minutes. At six a.m.. the ' Semiramis,' followed by the 
'Ajdaha,' 'Clive,' 'Victoria,' and 'Falkland,' having taken up 
the stations allotted them by Commodore Young, within 800 
yards of the batteries, opened fire as they came up. Half-an- 
hour later the ' Ferooz ' and 'Assaye,' passing the south fort, 
took up good positions about 300 yards from the north fort, 
the strongest work, and began firing 8-inch shell, which were 
quickly and hotly returned by the enemy. 

After a heavy cannonade had been maintained for more than 
an hour, at 7.45 a.m. Commodore Young hoisted the "close" 
pennant on board the ' Ferooz,' when that ship and the 
'Assaye' gallantly took up positions within sixty yards of the 
earthworks, the other ships being in line astern. The 'Victoria,' 
Lieutenant Manners, being in advance of the other division, 
owing to her light draught of water, took up her station astern 
of the ' Assaye,' thus becoming the third ship in the line; she, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 355 

however, grounded 200 yards from the mouth of the Huffer Creek, 
and thus became exposed to a concentrated fire, receiving eighteen 
shots in her hull, whilst the rigging was much cut away. The 
* Ajdaha,' ' Semiramis,' 'Falkland/ and ' Olive,' were soon in 
position, and a heavy fire was maintained on both sides with 
great spirit. All the ships anchored, except the ' Assaye,' 
which was unable to do so owing to her great length (280 feet), 
but Commander Adams manoeuvred his ship with the seaman- 
like skill for which he was distinguished. It being ebb-tide, he 
steamed close to the ' Ferooz,' and then dropped till he could 
rake the Huffer face of the northern fort ; then going ahead he 
repeated the manoeuvre until the termination of the action, 
when he anchored off the fort. The manner in which he 
worked his ship in a tide-way, and engaged the Persian bat- 
teries at pistol-shot range, excited the admiration of all be- 
holders.* Equally inspiriting was the way in which the 
squadron was led into action by the gallant Commodore, who. 
in the heat of the bombardment, received in his face the blood 
and brains of a seaman killed at his side by a round shot, 
while Commander Rennie fought the ' Ferooz,' the leading ship, 
with the coolness and judgment that were expected of an 
officer of his character and experience. 

The ' Semiramis,' 'Ajdaha/ and ' Victoria' were handled with 
the celerity and precision under fire, in a crowded stream, that 
might have been anticipated from the antecedents of the expe- 
rienced officers who commanded them ; while the beautiful 
spectacle presented by the sailing sloops-of-war, ' Clive' and 
' Falkland,' as they simultaneously furled all sail and fired a 
broadside into the opposing batteries, drew forth expressions 
of admiration from the nautical spectators in the transports, 
and alike demonstrated the skill of Commanders Albany 
Grieve and Tronson, the smartness of the officers and crews, 
and the high class of practical seamanship that obtained in the 
Service. 

About ten o'clock, the magazine in the north fort blew up 
with splendid effect, when deafening cheers rang from eacli 
ship, and the seamen worked the guns with renewed vigour. 
This explosion was quickly followed by three others, and from 
this time the enemy's fire slackened. At one o'clock, the for- 
midable works having been completely silenced, the ' Berenice ' 
— having General Havelock on board, and crowded with the 
Highlanders — and steam transports moved up, and landed the 

* Colonel Barr wrote to Commander Adams: — "The gallant way in which 
you took the ' Assaye' into action at Mohamra, and the determination with 
which, at pistol range, you engaged the northern fort, I have often spoken of with 
many others, who were, like myself, eye-witnesses of the affair, and I never heard 
but one opinion expressed, viz., that your handling of the ' Assaye' was most 
admirable, and the pluck with which you attacked and overthrew the batteries 
was heart-stirring to witness." 

AA 2 



356 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

troops a mile above the northern fort, the seamen cheering as 
they passed, and the 'Ajdaha' covering the landing. The 
scene at this time is admirably described by Captain Hunt of 
tin- 78th Highlanders: — "The practice from the ships on the 
enemy's works was admirable, and the effects of the fire soon 
became apparent ; the embrasures and carefully rivetted 
parapets rapidly losing their original shape, and the crash of 
the hilling date trees around affording ample proof of the storm 
of shot. For about three hours the Persian artillerymen stood 
manfully to their guns; but their fire then slackening, the 
signal was seen flying for the infantry to move up and dis- 
embark. The 'Berenice' steamer, carrying the Highlanders, as 
well as a company of sappers, and General Havelock and the 
staff of the Second Division, led the column, her decks crowded 
to the uttermost, there being barely standing room for the men 
on board, and the bridge between her paddle-boxes quite as 
fully occupied by their officers. The passage of a ship under 
such circumstances, within 100 yards of heavily-armed batteries 
was an operation attended with great anxiety, which those 
alone who have been similarly situated can possibly understand. 
Some of the best troops in the world were helpless for the 
moment, crowded like cattle in a pen, and so massed that a 
single round shot must make fearful havoc. The most provi- 
dential fortune attended the ' Berenice ;' though struck several 
times in the hull, and with rigging cut, the decks escaped. Her 
commander, Lieutenant Chitty, Indian Navy, steered the ship 
himself; and, to avoid all chance of running ashore, and thereby 
delaying the troops, taking her on the battery side of the first 
frigate that approached (the ' Semiramis,') and between her and 
the ' Ferooz." The crews of these vessels cheered loudly as 
every fresh freight of red-jackets came up, and while one broad- 
side redoubled its fire to prevent attention to the masses passing, 
the seamen, jumping on the engaged guns, let the enemy hear, 
loud above the roar of the action, their wild welcome to their 
brethren of the shore." 

The enemy, after being driven from their batteries by the 
overwhelming fire of the ships at such a short range, again 
returned to them, and, with admirable pertinacity, opened fire 
with jingalls and musketry from the batteries and some breast- 
works, which was replied to by the ships with grape and 
canister, fired right into the embrasures. Their fire being 
almost silenced, parties of seamen from the 'Semiramis,' 'Vic- 
toria,' ' Clive,' and ' Falkland,' stormed the southern forts, and, 
at the same time, a detachment from the 'Assaye' occupied, 
without opposition, the northern fort, her gallant and dashing 
first-lieutenant, the late Mr. Clarkson, hoisting the Union Jack, 
as he had done at Bushire. The troops, meanwhile, had been 
landed, and, advancing through the date groves and across the 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 357 

plains, entered the entrenched camp of the enemy, who fled, 
taking with them five guns, while they left behind sixteen guns 
and one mortar, and the whole of their stores and ammunition ; 
that so few guns were found in battery was due to the enemy 
throwing them into the river and creek. The scene at the 
forts was revolting in the extreme ; dead and wounded horses, 
guns, carriages, powder-cases, all being mingled in hideous 
confusion, while dead and dying soldiers lay about the guns in 
groups, bedabbled with blood, and rent and torn by the grape- 
shot and shell. At the termination of the action, Sir James 
Outram, with his staff, and Captains Rennie and Kemball, re- 
paired onboard the 'Assaye,' where prayers were offered up to 
Almighty God in acknowledgment of the victory, by the Rev. 
G. P. Badger, of the General's staff. 

The Persian Army, thus beaten and dispersed with a loss, 
according to their own confession, of three hundred killed, 
including their most gallant leader, Agha Jhan Khan, General 
of Division, amounted, says Sir James Outram, "to thirteen 
thousand men of all arms, with thirty guns," and their defeat 
was achieved by four steam-frigates, one steam-sloop, and two 
sloops-of-war, the troops embarked in the transports numbering 
four thousand eight hundred and eighty-six men, though, as 
General Havelock says in one of his letters, "the gentle- 
men in blue had it all to themselves, and left us naught 
to do." 

The British loss was only ten killed and thirty wounded, of 
whom only one, Lieutenant Harries, of the ' Semiramis,' was 
an officer. That the casualties were so few, was owing to two 
circumstances ; one, a " happy thought " of Commander Ren- 
nie' s, that of placing round the bulwarks of the several vessels 
trusses of pressed hay, in which the musket-balls of the Persian 
matchlockmen lodged without injury to anyone; thus three 
hundred bullets were found buried in the sides of the 'Ferooz,' 
and vast numbers were shaken out of the hay-trusses; the second 
was due to the fact that the elevation of the enemy's guns was 
altered, and their arrangements unsettled at the last moment, 
by the bold step of closing on the batteries, by which the loss 
of the ships, engaging under a point-blank fire, at a range 
varying between 60 and 300 yards, was greatly reduced. 

The north battery mounted eighteen guns, and the south 
fort, on the opposite bank of the Karoon, also commanding the 
river, had eleven, while a small fort, between the north battery 
and the town of Mohamra, mounted eight or ten guns ; the 
entrenchment connecting this work with the north fort, was 
crowded with men, who kept up a heavy fire throughout 
the action, and the havoc wrought in their ranks by the 8-inch 
shell, was plainly apparent in the broken arms and appoint- 
ments and the patches of blood in all directions. Besides the 



358 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

above, there were, says Captain Hunt, " several minor batteries 
of from two to four guns on either bank, and just outside the 
west face of the town, on the right bank, was a very carefully 
made and strong work for ten guns." These batteries were 
worked by six hundred regular artillerymen, exclusive of the 
other arms of the Service. 

The following graphic account of the action at Mohamra, by 
Lieutenant A. Stifle, appeared in the "Bombay Gazette" of the 
2nd of June, 1857 : — " The accounts published in the local papers 
of the naval battle at Mohamra seem to me in many respects so 
imperfect that I think a naval mau's view of the affair, which 
does not yet seem to have been presented to the public, may be 
of sufficient interest for insertion in your paper, though at so 
late a period. In the first place, too much cannot be said in 
praise of Commodore Young's admirable plan of protecting the 
vessels by a breastwork of screwed hay-bales, which were quite 
bullet proof. This he alludes to very modestly in his despatch, 
which, by the way, is throughout a remarkable contrast to the 
bombastic style of the celebrated despatch from the last 
Commander-in-chief, off Bushire, and which is still fresh in all 
our memories. Of this arrangement the sole credit is, I believe, 
due to him, and without it the loss of life must have been ten- 
fold what it was ; indeed, I believe that the men could never 
have stood to their guns under the close fire of grape and mus- 
ketry they were subjected to, as the steamers, excepting the 
' Semiramis,' have no musket-proof bulwarks, but only single 
thin plank, scarcely breast high, the 'Assaye' only having 
hammock nettings, the proper barricade of a ship-of-war. The 
effect of numerous casualties on the morale of an untried ship's 
company would have seriously lessened our chances of success. 
One thing appears altogether to have escaped notice. At the 
rendezvous, forty or fifty miles from Mohamra, lay thirty-eight 
large ships and steamers, crowded together in a narrow and 
rapid river. The whole were taken in tow, each steamer towing 
two or three ships, some of them upwards of two thousand tons, 
in an incredibly short time, without the slightest confusion or 
accident, and proceeded up the river safely. It was a fine 
sight. The smoke of the steamers spread over the country like 
a pall. Horsemen could be seen galloping along the banks 
to bear the news to the Persians that the great English Fleet 
was on its way. About twenty miles below Karoon the Persians 
had constructed a redoubt, but this was found on our approach 
to have been abandoned. The only vessel late at the rendez- 
vous was the 'Assaye,' which vessel had parted her hawsers, 
having two of the most unwieldy transports to tow, and she did 
not, arrive till next morning. The mere presence of this ship 
(the 'Assaye') in the river shows great spirit in her officers, 
for the late Commodore and the General, both I believe, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 359 

declined the responsibility of ordering so large a vessel to 
proceed thither, and it was entirely on her Commander's own 
responsibility that she was taken over the bar. Who shall say 
what might have been the consequence of the absence of this 
vessel, with her powerful broadside, daring the attack? To 
Lieutenant Sweny, of the surveying brig, which Government 
with praiseworthy liberality attached to the Expedition, who 
carefully buoyed the channel, the success of this experiment, 
for such it was, may be attributed. On the 24th of March, 
then, the whole fleet dropped anchor about two miles from the 
forts. The 'Assaye,'on her arrival, proceeded half a mile in 
advance to reconnoitre. The next day, while the troops and 
artillery were being embarked in the light steamers and boats 
and a mortar-raft was being prepared, the plan of attack was 
arranged on board the ' Ferooz,' and an eminently judicious 
one it proved At least, I can state there were no two opinions 
about it in the fleet, which is an exceedingly rare thing in naval 
matters. It was by no means the case at the attack on Bushire, 
or rather there was only one opinion on that occasion also, 
viz., that, as far as depended on the Chief, it was shockingly 
mismanaged. The ' Semiramis' towing 'Olive,' the ' Ajdaha,' 
and 'Victoria' towing ' Falkland,' were to engage the forts 
from the opposite side of the river, at a range of 900 to 
1,000 yards, to distract the enemy's fire; and as soon as 
the batteries were somewhat damaged, the 'Ferooz' and 
' Assaye' were to run up close to the north fort and complete its 
demolition, the first division then coming also to close quarters. 
Had the squadron run at once under the batteries while yet 
intact, and the gunners cool and uncowed by the effect of the 
8-inch shell, the leading ships must have suffered very severely, 
perhaps have even realised the prophecy of the captain of the 
French frigate ' Sybille' who had visited the place before, and 
was convinced we should lose three steamers at least. That 
night the mortar battery was towed up to its position, and was 
to commence at dawn. After sunset, on the 25th, the Persians 
brought down two field-pieces abreast of the ' Assaye,' and 
opened fire on her, which was effectually returned from that 
vessel. The cannonade, which was neither heavy nor sustained, 
ceased in about an hour. No injury was done to the ' Assaye.' 
At daylight, next morning, the 2tith, while the steamers were 
weighing, the first boom from the mortar-raft, the existence of 
which was quite unsuspected by the enemy, announced the 
commencement of the struggle. This first shell was a lucky 
one, for a prisoner subsequently stated that it burst on the 
parapet of the north fort, wounding among others the Amir-o- 
panj, or brigadier. The Persians replied ; and the mortar-men, 
although they were protected by a boat filled with hay, which 
was anchored in front of them, must have had a hot time of it 



3 GO HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

until the approach of the first division, which, in the order above 
mentioned, now steamed np to the attack. At about six o'clock 
they anchored in close order in line a- head, and opened a deli- 
berate well-directed tire. The enemy's batteries opened along 
the whole line of defence, and with considerable effect on the 
hulls and rigging. The roar of the guns was tremendous, and 
the slu-lls could be seen bursting in and among the defences in 
all directions. Many Arabs at first were seen sitting on the 
Turkish banks, coolly smoking, and watching the proceedings ; 
but some Persian shot flying over the ships, and lodging in the 
bank close to them, soon sent them off. In half an hour the 
' Ferooz/ followed by the ' Assaye,' slowly passed the south 
fort and opened a tremendous fire on the north fort. It was a 
beautiful sight. The ' Ferooz's ' ensign staff, shot away, was 
hanging over the stern, and the white ensign from her main- 
mast head also came floating down, but others were quickly 
hoisted. The rattle of musketry was now joined to the roar of 
the guns, the enemy keeping up a well sustained fire from a 
long mud wall and the parapets of the forts, which was replied 
to by small armed parties of riflemen and infantry, who were 
stationed on board each vessel. The first division lost no time 
in joining the ' Ferooz' and 'Assaye,' the steamers forming in 
line ahead in the following order, two to three hundred yards 
from the forts : — ' Ajdaha,' ' Ferooz,' ' Assaye,' ' Semiramis,' and 
' Victoria,' the 'Give' and ' Falkland' engaging the south fort ; 
the latter ship, which had been somewhat prematurely cast off 
by the ' Victoria,' making all sail, while under fire, in splendid 
style. The effects of the well directed fire at so short a range, 
were soon visible. The forts, whose parapets were twenty feet 
thick, were reduced to heaps of mud, and most of the guns 
buried in or choked with the ruins of their casemated embra- 
sures. The signal for the small steamers and vessels with the 
Army to advance was now made, Captain Rennie pulling down 
through the fire to accelerate this movement. The way in 
which the vessels were brought up, crammed with troops, was 
beautiful. The forts were not yet entirely silenced ; and a field- 
piece had been quietly brought down half a mile below the 
south fort to fire at them as they came up ; but fortunately 
very little damage was done, owing to the fact that all these 
vessels were also barricaded with hay-bales. The 'Berenice,' 
which had fifteen hundred men on board, was struck repeatedly. 
Such of the merchant captains as possessed a piece of ordnance 
fired away at this field-piece, and most of them lay claim to the 
honour of dismounting it, although it seems to have been soon 
put up again, and was not silenced till the 'Falkland' had fired 
several broadsides into the date-trees where it was hidden. 
The fight was now over. Just on the approach of this second 
fleet, the first magazine exploded. The effect was electric — a 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 3G1 

cheer ran along the whole line; several other explosions fol- 
lowed, and the Persian army could be seen from the mast-heads 
over the date-trees in full retreat. The 'Ferooz' and 'Ajdaha' 
were now to cover the disembarkation of the army, which took 
place about a mile to the northward of the Huffer creek. This 
was effected in admirable order, the steamers lying alongside 
the banks, and disgorging their living freights without the 
intervention of boats. The army at once advanced through 
the date-groves to attack the enemy ; but they had been fore- 
stalled, for the work was done and most effectually. As the 
General in his despatch to the Commodore most fairly observed, 
" nothing was left for the army to do but to take possession of 
the entrenched camp." The ' Semiramis' at this time had 
steamed into the Huffer Canal to silence a battery which still 
fired with one gun, and suffered some loss ere this was effected. 
A few devoted men still kept up a fire of musketry, but were 
eventually dislodged by storming parties. Of this part of the 
action I cannot give any details, having been at some distance. 
The total loss was five killed and eighteen (including one 
officer, Lieutenant Harries) wounded. The loss inflicted on the 
enemy was severe, both in men and materiel of war, but this is 
as nothing to the effect on the morale of their force. How 
totally it was disorganised was signally shown a few days 
afterwards at Ahwaz. For this was a defeat which even Per- 
sian ingenuity could not torture into a victory. The Persian 
forts had been constructed at their leisure ; nothing had been 
omitted which could render them stronger with the means at 
their disposal. The shell-pits dug all over the forts, point, I 
think unmistakabl}', to Russian supervision. Artillerymen 
were sent from Teheran to man the guns, and the Shazada had 
already commenced a despatch announcing our defeat. With 
all confidence they awaited our approach, believing the steamers 
would be instantly sunk by their fire. They stood to their 
guns well, and were very successful in burying them or throw- 
ing them into the river. Twenty-one guns, the number 
taken, was a small proportion I imagine of the force used 
against ns." 

The attack of earthworks, twenty feet thick, mounting over 
forty guns, and manned by regular artillerymen sent from 
Teheran, by a squadron of steamers and sailing ships, carrying 
in all thirty 8-inch guns and thirty-six 32-pounders, of which 
only one half were engaged owing to their being mounted on the 
broadside, was an act bordering on temerity, and was regarded 
as such by so competent an authority as the Captain of the 
' Sybille,' who, after examining both the batteries and the 
means by which they were to be reduced, predicted a sanguinary 
repulse. Had a victory been achieved with the loss of half the 
ships, and a long "butcher's bill," the world would have 



302 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

applauded the feat as worthy the countrymen of Nelson and 
Cochrane; but we maintain that still greater is the credit due 
to Commodore Young and his coadjutors in that, with so small a 
force, they achieved a signal victory with insignificant loss. 
The result speaks for the discipline and admirable gunnery 
of the ships' crews ; and for this the officers of the Indian 
Navy, who trained their men. mostly recruited for three years 
from merchant ships in Bombay, are entitled to great commen- 
dation. 

Commodore Young, writing from the 'Ferooz,' on the 27th of 
February, gives the following details of the action : — 

"Having observed the mortars placed on the raft, constructed 
under the superintendence of Commander Rennie, of the 
'Ferooz,' and anchored on the evening of the 25th inst. in the 
channel to the westward of Dubber Island, had opened fire, the 
Indian Naval Squadron under my command got under weigh, and 
ran up the river until opposite the forts defending the channel 
leading to Mohamra, in the following order : — the ' Semiramis,' 
with the 'Clive' in tow, followed by the ' Ajd aha,' proceeded 
up the western channel to support the mortar battery ; the 
'Ferooz,' ' Assaye,' and ' Victoria,' the latter with the 'Falk- 
land' in tow, remaining in reserve until the fire of the forts 
was deranged. This was soon accomplished, on which the 
vessels in reserve entered the eastern channel, the 'Ferooz' 
opening her fire on the south fort at less than point-blank 
range, as she passed to take up her position against the north 
fort, and sufficiently in advance to receive support from the 
' Assaye,' immediately astern of her. The division of the ships 
in the western channel was then recalled, and joined in close 
attack; the 'Semiramis' and 'Victoria,' the latter with the 
'Falkland' in tow, engaging the south fort, as well as the 
inland one on the north side. Besides the fire maintained on 
the forts, frequent discharges of shell and grape were made in 
the direction where it was supposed the enemy's entrenched 
camp was situated. So effective was the fire from the ships 
that, in less than three quarters of an hour from its commence- 
ment, the batteries were only able to reply from three or four 
guns. At this period (7.45 a.m.) of the engagement, the 
'Ferooz,' flying my pennant, hoisted the rendezvous flag at her 
mast-head, which was repeated by the other vessels engaged, 
being the preconcerted signal for the troop-ships to advance. 
This movement on the part of the vessels in question not 
being made with such celerity as could be desired, Commander 
Rennie, of the ' Ferooz,' volunteered to proceed through the 
fire, to accelerate their advance, which was accomplished in 
excellent order, although at the time the fire from the batteries 
was far from being silenced. From between nine and ten 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 3l'>3 

o'clock five heavy explosions, in different parts of the fort i - 
fications, indicated the overwhelming nature of the attack, and 
led me to suppose that the resistance hitherto offered could not 
much longer continue. I was therefore anxious to have the 
troops landed as expeditiously as a clue regard to their security 
would allow, so that a combined and simultaneous movement 
by the naval and military forces might be made with the 
certainty of a successful issue, and with this view passed up 
the river, until close to Jaber's Fort, where the disembarkation 
was effected easily, and without interruption. After the bat- 
teries had ceased firing artillery, a fire of musketry was opened 
from them, as well as from breastworks in their vicinity, and 
maintained with great spirit for some time, when storming 
parties were landed from the ' Semiramis,' ' Olive,' ' Victoria,' 
and 'Falkland' who drove before them the last of the enemy, 
and took possession of their works and guns. Considering the 
strength of the fortifications, both as regards position and con- 
struction, with a numerous garrison, and the large number of 
guns which could be brought to bear on the ships, in con- 
sequence of their closeness to the enemy's defences, which were 
likewise strengthened by breastworks occupied by large bodies 
of small-arm men, whose fire at times was annoying, I am 
thankful to say that the casualties sustained by the squadron 
during the engagement amounted only to five killed and eighteen 
wounded. 

"Before concluding, I feel it to be the most pleasant part of 
my duty to bring to your notice the great gallantry and cool- 
ness displayed by every officer and seaman under my command 
during the operations so successfully carried out. The im- 
portant services rendered by Commander Rennie, of the 
'Ferooz,' are a further and honourable addition to an already 
well-established reputation. Commander Selby, to whose local 
knowledge T am much indebted, elicited my warmest admiration 
by the dashing manner in which he carried the ' Semiramis ' 
into the channel leading to Mohamra, between the forts on 
either bank. To the excellent way in which Commander 
Grieve, of the ' Clive,' Acting-Commander Manners, of the 
' Victoria,' and Lieutenant-commanding Tronson, of the 'Falk- 
land,' and Worsley, of the ' Ajdaha,' handled their respective 
ships, and to the closeness and precision of their fire, much of 
the success of the day is to be attributed. Special commenda- 
tion is due to Commander Adams, of the 'Assaye,' for the 
gallant and most efficient manner in which he seconded my 
attack on the northern forts. The conduct of Lieutenant 
Chitty, of the 'Berenice,' also calls for my approval, for con- 
ducting his vessel, under shelter of the ships of war. past the 
batteries, with about fourteen hundred troops and followers on 



364 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

board Commander Nisbett,* Agent for Transports, by the 
assiduity with which he had my arrangements carried into 
effect, was of material assistance." Commodore Young then 
speaks approvingly of the zeal and intelligence displayed by 
Acting-Masters McLanrin, of the ' Napier ;' Holland, of the 
'Comet;' Fletcher, of the 'Planet;' Neal, of the 'Assyria;' 
Davies, of the ' Ethersey,' flat : and Darke, of the ' Hugh 
Lindsay.' Also last, but certainly not least, he eulogises his 
Flag-Lieutenant, Mr. Sweny, " who," he says, "besides buoy- 
ing off the channel across the bar of the river, was invaluable 
to me in communicating orders to the ships of war and trans- 
ports. His coolness during the action, when performing the 
office of flag-lieutenant, was conspicuous." 

Colonel (now General Sir) Edward Lugard, C.B., Chief of 
the Staff, wrote to Commodore Young, "expressing in warm 
terms the appreciation of Sir James Outram of the great service 
rendered by the Indian Navy, in reducing the strong batteries 
which the enemy had erected on the left bank of the Euphrates 
to defend their position at Mohamra, and so gallantly and 
effectually performed by the armed steamers and sloops-of-war, 
' Ferooz.' ' Semiramis.' 'Assaye,' ' Ajdaha,' 'Victoria,' 'Clive, 
and 'Falkland,' with their brave crews, commanded by Captains 
Rennie, Selby, Grieve, Manners, Adams, and Lieutenants 
Tronson and ^Yorsley, that nothing was left for the army to do, 
after being conducted by the navy past the silenced batteries, 
than to land and take possession of the enemy's entrenched 
camp. The Lieutenant-General tenders to you, your officers 
and crew, his best thanks for your services and his hearty con- 
gratulations upon the successful issue of the undertaking: he 
further begs you will thank Lieutenant Chitty and Mr. Holland 
for the important services they rendered in the ' Berenice ' and 
1 Comet,' and also the Masters commanding the several steamers 
and transport ships, for their zealous assistance throughout the 
Expedition."f 

On receipt of the despatches of Sir James Outram detailing 
the bombardment and capture of Mohamra, the Governor- 
General in Council issued a notification, under date, " Fort 
William, 22nd of April, 1857," from which we extract the fol- 
lowing passages : — "The engagement was on the side of the 
British arms a naval one, no land force, with the exception 
of one mortar battery, having taken an active share in it. The 

* Commander Nisbett was appointed Chief Agent for Transports, in place of 
Commander Macdonald, who proceeded on shore sick. 

t The following is a list of the principal Ordnance stores abandoned by the 
enemy : — Sixteen guns, one mortar, one hundred and thirty-two tents, 36,000 
rounds of gun ammunition, 3,600 loose shot or shell, 14,400 lbs. of powder ; also 
4,000 loose shot or shell were collected and brought in, while 144,000 lbs. of 
powder were destroyed by the explosion during the action. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 3(55 

manner in which the task was performed is most honourable 
to the Indian Navy. 

"That the officers, seamen, artillerymen, marines, and others 
of the squadron did their duty with intrepidity and ardour is 
the smallest part of the praise which is owing to thetn. The 
plan of the naval attack, which was to be carried out in shoal 
and narrow waters, and in a rapid current, by steamers of 
heavy draught, some of them encumbered with vessels in tow, 
and the thoroughly successful execution of every part of it 
without miscarriage or confusion of any kind, in the face of 
strong defensive works at point-blank range, have given proof 
of a cool judgment, a well-ordered discipline, and a skilful 
management, of which Commodore Young and the officers and 
men under his command may well be proud. 

"The cordial thanks of the Government of India are emi- 
nently due to Commodore Young and to those who shared that 
day's work with him ; and the Governor-General in Council will 
have pleasure in expressing to the Hon. Court of Directors his 
hearty approbation of the conduct of all concerned. It will be 
his agreeable duty to bring to the especial notice of Her 
Majesty's Government and of the Hon. Court of Directors, the 
meritorious services of those whom Commodore Young has 
named in his despatches of the 27th of March. 

'• The disembarkation of the troops above the forts took place 
under the able direction of Brigadier-General Havelock, C.B., 
rapidly and in good order ; but before the landing was effected 
success was already complete. The whole Persian army was 
in full retreat, leaving in our hands seventeen pieces of ord- 
nance, their tents, baggage, stores of all kinds, and large 
magazines of ammunition and provisions. An accurate return 
of casualties has not yet been received. These were confined 
to the squadron, and it is believed that the number does not 
exceed six killed and thirty wounded." 

On the 28th of March, Commodore Young, his health having 
failed him, resigned the command of the squadron to Com- 
mander Kennie, and sailed for Bombay, whence he proceeded to 
England on sick-leave. 

The 27th and 28th of March were employed in removing 
the guns, collecting the stores, and landing supplies for the 
troops ; also in coaling and provisioning the armed steamers 
'Comet,' 'Planet,' and ' Assyria,' which were to be employed in 
conveying the troops for an Expedition up the Karoon river to 
Ahwaz, as owing to the total absence of baggage cattle, this 
was the only available means of transport.* Sir James Outram 

* At this time Lieutenant Pengelley, Indian Navy, Senior First Assistant to 
Major Curtis, Director of the Land Transport Corps of the Persian Expedition- 
ary Force, was employed in collecting baggage-cattle. The following is the 
report of Major Curtis to the Quartermaster-General of the Army, of the 23rd 



3u() HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

entrusted the chief command of this Expedition to Commander 
Rennie, the other officers associated with him being Captain 

of December, 1857, detailing Lieutenant Pengelley's services from the date of 
his arrival at Bushire in the 'Semiramis' in January, 1857, to the 28th of 
October, when his duties ceased, and he was appointed Naval Assistant to the 
Military Auditor General at Bombay : — 

'1 have the honour to request you to submit to his Excellency the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, the accompanying original route of a detachment of this Corps, 
whirh proceeded from Bagdad to Marghil, via Hillah and Semowa, in July and 
Augu.-t last, under the command of Lieutenant Pengeliey, I.N., then First Assist- 
ant Director of the Land Transport Corps ; also Lieutenant Pengelley's letter to 
me, No. 106, of the 30th of October, (the date on which he last did duty as an 
Assistant-Director) for the route was received a few days ago. (A map of the 
country traversed is annexed to Lieutenant Pengelley's route.) In presenting 
this route to his Excellency, I trust I may be permitted at the same time to bring 
Lieutenant Pengelley's good services, whilst under my command, to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief's notice. On the formation of the increased establishment of 
the Persian Expeditionary Force in January last, this officer of the Indian Navy 
was specially appointed to the Land Transport Corps, owing to his having had 
experience in a similar situation in the Turkish Contingent, and to his having 
served in Syria and Asia Minor. Lieutenant Pengeliey, immediately on his 
arrival at Bushire in the ' Semiramis,' in January, was sent into Turkish Arabia 
with very extensive powers, to control our several agencies there. He super- 
vised our departmental operations in the neighbourhood of Bussorah, Sook-es- 
Shuyuk, and afterwards at Bagdad, and then proceeding to Mosul, he under- 
took, and ably carried out an executive charge. The peace with Persia found 
him making great preparations for an extension of our agencies throughout 
Turkish Ivoordistan ami Asia Minor, and had we received the reinforcements 
from Bengal and Madras, which we then expected, and this extension was in- 
tended to meet the requirements of, I never doubted but the result of his exer- 
tions and local knowledge, would have proved satisfactory. In July last I received 
orders when at Bagdad to send all the mules still remaining to Kurraehee, and 
my orders seemed to me to point out that the service should be performed with 
the least possible delay. Tlie mules were then out grazing. The establishment 
had been reduced to a very few men, and it was clitHcult in a short period to 
obtain others, besides which the Turkish authorities chose to throw as many 
obstacles in our way as they could, and only consented to the men quitting tue 
Turkish dominions for India, when the Political Agent pressed them with a 
remonstrance of the strongest nature. Lieutenant Pengeliey, however, by great 
exertion, was enabled to get the detachment ready to march in eight days, and 
alter being detained several more by the Turks, he marched on the evening of 
the 18th, having received the order on the 6th. The route mentioned is an 
account of that journey ; it is written with becoming modesty, but one can under- 
stand that a single English officer marching with a large detachment of mules 
through so lawless a country as Turkish Arabia, where he had to provide for all his 
own wants, find guides, propitiate marauding Arab tribes, resist impositions and 
shameful exactions, at the same time play out a never-ending game with the 
governing powers and its peculating subordinates, must have shown great tact, 
ability, and perseverance to have brought his charge in safety to the port of 
embarkation. The distance traversed seems to have been three hundred and 
forty-two miles, divided into sixteen marches, giving an average of twenty-one 
miles three furlongs per day, besides which there were detentions at Hillah, 
where Lieutenant Pengeliey had to take up some forage that ought to have been 
ready for him, but was not ; at the Amoo, in which rapid stream twenty-six 
mules were lost, and at Semowa, where he had to purchase forage, under delays 
and disadvantages arising from Turkish official peculations. I consider that 
Lieutenant Pengeliey has performed very essential services during the time he has 
belonged to the Transport Corps, and that they were greatly enhanced by his 
generous acceptance of any responsibility ; also his unselfishness and his devotion 
at all times to public interests, of which I may instance as an example, his under- 
taking the difficult march from Bagdad to Marghil in a delicate state of health, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 3G7 

Kemball, Political Agent at Bagdad and Consul-General in 
Turkish Arabia, in political charge ; Captain Hunt, 78th High- 
landers, commanding the military detachment; Captain Wray, 
Deputy Quartermaster-General: Captain Malcolm Green, Mili- 
tary Secretary to Sir James Outram ; Lieutenant Baigrie, Com- 
missariat Department; and Lord Schomberg H. Kerr, attached 
to the Persian Mission. 

Sir James Out ram's instructions to Commander Rennie were, 
" to steam up to Ahwaz, and act with discretion according to 
circumstances," and should the Persian Army, known to be 
there in considerable strength, make a determined stand, he 
was to return after making a reconnaissance. Commander 
Rennie, who had been specially selected to command the Ex- 
pedition on account of his great reputation not only for dash, 
but for that which has been described as " the better part of 
valour," increased that reputation, and still further showed that 
had opportunity ever placed in his way a chance of making 
some great coup on a larger stage, he would have made the 
world ring with his name. He can scarcely be classed with 
those described by Shelley as, 

" inheritors of unfulfilled renown," 

because in China and Burmah, and in the recent operations, 
he had already achieved a reputation. Of athletic frame, iron 
constitution, and courage of the description defined by Napo- 
leon, as " two o'clock in the morning valour," those who knew 
him best also gave him credit for possessing that combination 
of qualities which is denominated " genius," when opportunity 
affords an arena for its display. 

Commander Rennie's report to Sir James Outram is brief 
and meagre as to details, and. as in the case of his despatch on 
the Expedition to Lamena, in Burmah, in conjunction with 
Captain Fytche, when he gave all the credit to that officer, so on 
this occasion he says, "it is to Captain Kemball who planned, 
and to Captain Hunt who executed, this bold stroke, that 
thanks are more especially due." 

Ahwaz is situated on the left bank of the Karoon river at a 
distance of about one hundred miles from its junction with the 
Shatt-ul-Arab. Close to the town, which is surrounded by an 
old wall, and has about three thousand inhabitants, two ruinous 
bunds, or dams, are thrown across the river, through which the 
water rushes with great rapidity ; these bunds, which are 

which many would have made an excuse for avoiding it. Should his Excellency 
take a favourable view of this officer's performance of his duties, I respectfully 
trust that he may be recommended to the favourable notice of the Right Honour- 
able the G-overnor-in-Council, and that a communication of his merits whilst 
serving with the army may be made to that department of State to which he 
mure particularly belongs." 



3(18 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

situated one above and the other considerably below the town, 
are impassable for boats drawing more than a few feet of water, 
while the strength of the current renders the passage of any 
boat a matter of great difficulty. The Karoon had been sur- 
veyed by Commander Selby some fifteen years before, and 
Captain Wray testifies, in his report to Colonel Lugard, to the 
perfect accuracy of the map drawn up by that officer. At 
Aliwaz the river is from 90 to 140 yards wide, with several low 
islands in the centre; as the Karoon bends at this point, the 
position is very strong, and a Persian Army of seven thousand 
men, with five or six guns and a swarm of Bukhtiaree horse- 
men, occupied a ridge a few hundred yards above the bank. 
To encounter this large force Commander Rennie had under his 
orders three hundred men from the (54th and 78th Regiments, 
three steamers, three gunboats, each carrying two 24-pounder 
howitzers, and three ships'-boats* with guns and European 
crews. 

The following extracts from Captain Kemball's despatch to 
Sir James Outram, give details of the Expedition : — 

"I have much satisfaction in announcing to you the complete 
success of the Expedition which left Mohamra about mid-day 
on the 29th ult., under the command of Captain (Acting Com- 
modore) Rennie, Indian Nav} T , and of which the political 
direction was committed to my charge. After quitting Mo- 
hamra, the first traces we discovered of the enemy were at a 
point about thirty miles up the river, to which our attention 
was directed by the remains of fires, shreds of clothing, &c, 
indicating a recent bivouack. There we anchored for the night, 
a little before sunset. About two p.m., on the following day, 
we again fell upon the track of the enemy at Labaort-el- 
Humeyrah, where they appeared to have bivouacked in compa- 
rative order, and, having parked their guns, we were enabled to 

* Nominal roll of officers and men engaged at Ahwaz : — Lieutenants Crockett, 
Carey, and Tozer, Naval Aides-de-Camp. Armed steamer ' Comet.' — Com- 
mander W. B. Selby, I.N. ; Acting Master Holland ; Acting 1st Class Second- 
Master Salmon ; Assistant-Surgeon VV. Wood, M.D. ; twenty-one seamen and 
sixteen Natives. Armed steamer ' Planet.' — Acting Master Fletcher, in charge ; 
Acting Master Keen, six Europeans, and thirteen Natives. Armed steamer 
'Assyria.' — Acting Master Neale in charge; Acting 1st Class Second-Master 
Fivey, five Europeans, and twelve Natives. No. 6 gunboat. — Lieutenant Edwards, 
Midshipman Burn, and sixteen seamen. No. 5 gunboat. — Mate Hewett, Mid- 
shipman D'Arcy, and fourteen seamen. No. 9 gunboat. — Lieutenant Lakes, 
Midshipman Finnis, and fourteen seamen. 'Falkland's' cutter. — Midshipman 
Law and eleven men. ' Ferooz's' cutter. — Midshipman Booth and eleven men. 
'Assaye's' cutter. — Midshipman Scamp and nine men. Assistant-Surgeon Asher, 
of 'Ferooz,' in medical charge of gunboats and cutters. Mr. Sims, 3rd Class 
gunner of ' Ferooz,' temporarily attached to steamer ' Planet.' Nominal roll of 
officers under the command of Captain Gr. H. Hunt, 78th Highlanders : — H.M.'s 
64th Begiment, one hundred and fifty men, Captain Goode, Lieutenant Haldane, 
Ensign Pack, Assistant-Surgeon Lundy. 78th Highlanders, one hundred and 
fifty men, Captain Hunt, Captain McAndrew, Lieutenants Cassidy, Fiulay, and 
Barker. 












HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 33i> 

determine their number to be five. In our further progress 
towards Ismailiveh, where we came to an anchor at eight p.m., 
we, for the first time, entered into communication with the 
inhabitants of the country, from whom we learnt that the Per- 
sian Army had passed up the opposite bank on their >way to 
Ahwaz two days before, and that, at Subaut, they buried Agha 
Jan Khan, killed at Mohamra. Leaving Ismailiyeh at five a.m. 
on the 31st of March, we reached Oumarra about three p.m., 
where we ascertained positivel}' that the Persian Army had 
reached Ahwaz the previous morning. Time being of im- 
portance, the vessels resumed their progress towards Ahwaz, 
now distant only fifteen miles, at three a.m., on the 1st of 
April. At seven we first observed the enemy's cavalry vedettes 
(who retired at our approach) stretching along the right bank ; 
and, having made good our advance to within two and a half 
miles of their position, we could clearly discern their battalions 
of infantry, with a large body of horse on the right flank, 
crowning a low range of hills of sandstone formation which 
trended westward in a direction at right angles to the river. 
Here, in the view of the Persian force, we overtook a boat 
carrying a disabled gun, and took possession. Some time was 
now occupied in reconnoitring the country, and, there being 
reason to believe either that Ahwaz had been totally aban- 
doned, or was so weakly garrisoned as to be liable to a 
coup-de-main, an attack upon the town was speedily deter- 
mined on. 

" The details of the plan will doubtless be reported to you by 
the naval and military commanders ; but I may be permitted to 
observe that its adoption fully justified the previous reputation 
of Captain Rennie for daring and intrepidity, while the judicious 
disposition of the small force under the command of Captain 
Hunt, of H.M.'s 78th Highlanders, insured its successful execu- 
tion. The gunboats having taken up the position assigned to 
them under the shelter of an island within range of the enemy's 
camp, the troops landed, and were formed up in a manner to 
assume the appearance of fifteen hundred men rather than three 
hundred, to which number they were in fact limited, and, at the 
same time, Captain Rennie proceeded in person in the ' Comet' 
(Captain Selby commanding) to support the former, and, as far 
as possible, to cover the march of the latter. As we advanced, 
the last of the enemy's pickets were seen to retire on the main 
body. The battalions on the heights gradually disappeared, 
and, one hour later, when the occupation of the town had been 
effected, we descried the whole Persian Army, with their rear 
not twelve hundred yards distant from us, in full retreat on 
Dizful. Among the wheeled vehicles the private carriage of 
the Shazada was clearly discernible.,. I must not omit to men- 
tion that twice, as the troops proceeded, the enemy endeavoured 

VOL. II. BB 



370 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

to bring a gun to bear on them, and, as often, the steady and 
accurate fire of the gunboats compelled him to relinquish the 
attempt.* 

"On our approach to the town, a number of the inhabitants 
came out to meet us, with proffers of entire submission and 
devotion to the British Government. They conducted us to 
the different stores of grain and flour, and further delivered up 
to us two hundred and thirty sheep, some fifty mules, and one 
hundred and fifty new stand of arms in cases, and having the 
Tower mark. The sheep, arms, and mules, Captain Rennie 
caused to be shipped on board of the steamers, but the grain I 
distributed among the people and outside Arabs. 

" Situated as they were in a position remarkably strong by 
nature, the precipitate retreat of the Persian Army before a 
mere handful of British troops, can only be explained by the 
panic inspired by the defeat at Mohamra, by their inability, 
from the want of boats, to effect the passage of the river, by 
the bold front assumed by the Expedition, and, finally, by the 
fact, which would have weighed probably with better troops 
than themselves ignorant of our deficiency in field guns, that 
the occupation of Ahwaz enabled us to turn their flank, and 
thus effectually to rake their position. The advantages accru- 
ing to us cannot, 1 think, be overrated. Already had they 
commenced to entrench themselves, and had made arrange- 
ments for the arrival of reinforcements, and for the supply of 
stores and provisions from Sinister and Dizful ; as it is, the 
loss of their grain at Ahwaz, which in the interim would have 
maintained the Army for fifteen or twenty days, will not only 
occasion much loss and suffering on their retreat, but, by driv- 
ing them to a distance, will destroy their political status in the 
country, and, for the present at least, deprive them of any con- 
trol over the inhabitants." 

The Expedition remained at Ahwazf on the 2nd and 3rd of 

* Captain Hunt, in his little work, especially refers, in terms of admiration, 
to the coolness and accuracy of fire of Air. G. B. Hewett, a yery gallant young 
officer. 

f Special interest attaches to this expedition in the ancient province of Susiana, 
as being the scene of Alexander's march on his return from India. Sir Henry 
Rawlinson, in his " Memoir of a March from Zohab to Khusistan," (Vol. IX. of 
the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society), in-order to reconcile the con- 
flicting statements of the ancient geographers, has assumed that the Karoon is the 
Eulceus ; the river of Dizful, the Coprates ; the Kirkhah, the Choaspes ; and the 
united arms of the Karoon and Dizful rivers, the Pasitigris. The continual 
changes which have occurred in the course of the various rivers of Khuzistan, 
render it a well-nigh impossible task to identify these streams from the accounts 
given by Quintus Curtius and other historians of Alexander, of the entrance of 
Nearchus into Susiana, and Dr. Vincent is at fault when he attempts to identify 
them with Arrian's account. Mr. A. H. Layard, in his " Description of the 
Province of Khuzistan," (Vol. XVI., Journal of the Royal Geographical Society), 
enters into a learned dissertation ojp this point, and assumes with Professor Long 
(Vol XII. of the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society), " that the Shapur is 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 371 

April, and, on the 4th, returned to Moharara. " Thus closed," 
says Captain Hunt,"* " the operations of a most successful raid, 
adding another laurel to the gallant sailor who conducted it: 
and the little party, both blue and red jackets, and of all arms, 
associated on the service (especially on the ' Comet') separated 
with regret and will not readily forget the Expedition up the 
Karoon." Sir James Outram says, in his Report to Govern- 
ment, of the conduct of this Expedition: — "Your Excellency 
will learn how admirably my instructions have been carried out, 
and the complete success which has attended the energetic and 
judicious measures adopted by all concerned ; indeed, it is 
impossible to calculate upon the advantages that must ensue 
from the successful result of this Expedition, in the effect 
it will have upon the Arab tribes, who, in crowds, witnessed 
the extraordinary scene of a large army of seven thousand 
infantry, with five or six guns, and a host of cavalry, pre- 
cipitately retreating before a detachment of three hundred 
British infantry, three small river steamers, and three gun- 
boats. 

" I feel that I cannot sufficiently express to your Excellency 
the great obligation I am under to the several officers and men 
of the Expedition. Captain Rennie, Indian Navy, whose gal- 
lant conduct at the bombardment of Mohamra I so recently 
recorded, has again earned my highest praise and warmest 
thanks for the able manner in which he has conducted this 
Expedition. Captain Kemball, who, on this, as on every, occa- 
sion of difficulty and danger upon which I have required his 
services, has rendered me most valuable assistance, materially 
contributed to the success of the Expedition by his counsel and 
energy. Great praise is also due to Captain Hunt, 78th High- 
landers, who so successfully carried out the military operations ; 
to Captain Wray, Deputy Quartermaster-General, and Captain 
M. Green, my military secretary, for the part they so ably per- 
formed ; and to all the officers and men employed in the Expe- 
dition. I have to thank them all, and beg to recommend those 
specially named to your Excellency's notice." 

On the day of the return from Ahwaz, news was received, to 
the great disappointment of the Expeditionary force, of the con- 
clusion of peace at Paris, on the 4th of March. Sir James 
Outram immediately despatched the ' Comet' to Bagdad, where 
Mr. Murray, the British Minister, had taken up his residence, 
and, on the 39th of April, the ' Planet' also proceeded thither 
with despatches. On the 9th of May, Sir James issued orders 

the E ulceus, and that the united waters of the Shapur, Karoon, and the river of 
Dizi'ul, were also known by that name as well as by the name of Pasitigris." 

* This gallant officer accompanied General Havelock to Calcutta on the out- 
break of the Indian Mutiny, and died of cholera at Monghyr in the following 
August. 

B B 2 



372 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

breaking up the Field Force, and the greater portion of the 
army returned to India, Brigadier-General John Jacob, C.B., 
being left in command of the troops stationed at Bushire and 
Kharrack, until the terms of the conditions of peace had been 
carried into effect. Acting Commodore Rennie also remained 
in command of the Persian Gulf Squadron, which was tempo- 
rarily maintained at a considerable strength. The ratifications 
of the treaty of peace with Persia, were exchanged at Bagdad 
on the 2nd of May, when the Governor-General directed that a 
royal salute should be fired from the ramparts of Fort William, 
as well as at every principal military station in India. Lord 
Canning issued a General Order from which Ave will extract the 
passages in which his Lordship enumerates the events of this 
brief, but admirably conducted, war, and expresses his acknow- 
ledgments to the officers and men of the Indian Navy engaged 
therein : — "The surrender of Bushire on the 10th of December, 
after a brief and ineffectual opposition ; the operations against 
the Persian entrenched camp at Borazgoon : and the complete 
victory obtained over the Persian Army at Khooshab on the 
8th of February, the bombardment and capture of Mohamra on 
the 26th of March, and the brilliant attack by a few hundred 
men, against Ahwaz, on the 1st of April, followed by the pre- 
cipitate flight of the whole Persian Army serving in that 
quarter, have signally instanced the vigour, the enterprising 
spirit and the intrepidity with which the operations against 
Persia, both by sea and land, have been directed, and have 
earned for those who had a share in their execution, the cordial 
approbation and the thanks of the Government of India. 

" The Indian Navy has taken a conspicuous part in the 
operations which have now been brought to a termination, and 
the Governor-General in Council must not omit to put on 
record the high sense which he entertains of its most valuable 
and important services. To Rear-Admiral Sir H. Leeke, K.H., 
Royal Navy, the Governor-General in Council begs again to 
offer his sincere acknowledgments for the promptitude and 
energy with which he gave his assistance in landing the troops 
at Hallila Bay, and in attacking the fortifications at Bushire. 
To Captain Griffith Jenkins, Captain of the fleet ; to Acting- 
Commander Adams of the ' Assaye' ; and Lieutenant Clarkson 
of the same vessel ; to Captain Young, Commanders Rennie 
and Macdonald, and Acting-Commander Foulerton, much praise 
is due for their gallantry on the same occasion. The Governor- 
General in Council, however, desires specially to record his 
admiration both of the skill and energy displayed by Acting 
Commodore Young, I.N. (upon whom the command of the Gulf 
Squadron devolved on the lamented death of Commodore 
Ethersey) in the conduct of the difficult naval operations 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 373 

against Mohamra, and of the signal success with which they 
were crowned. 

" The Governor-General in Council has further remarked, 
with the highest gratification, the distinguished conduct of 
Commander J. Rennie, who, since the departure of Captain 
Young, has most efficiently commanded the naval forces in the 
Persian Gulf. In the enterprising advance upon Ahwaz, the 
signal success obtained was due, in a very large measure, to the 
judgment and resolute gallantry of this able officer. The 
acknowledgments of the Government are also due to Com- 
mander Selby, of the ' Semiramis :' Commander Grieve, of the 
' Clive;' Acting-Commander Manners, of the 'Victoria;' and to 
Lieutenants-Commanding Tronson, of the ' Falkland,' and 
Worsley, of the ' Ajdaha,' who contributed largely to the success 
of the day ; and the special thanks of the Government are 
claimed for Commander Adams, for the efficient manner in 
which he seconded the attack on the northern forts at Mohamra. 
Acting-Commodore Young has commended the conduct of Lieu- 
tenant Chitty, commanding the ' Berenice ;' of Commander 
Nesbitt, agent for transports ; and of Acting-Masters Com- 
manding McLaurin, of the 'Napier;' Holland, of the 'Comet;' 
Fletcher, of the ' Planet ;' Neale, of the ' Assyria ;' Davies, of 
the ' Ethersey,' flat ; and Darke, of the ' Hugh Lindsay,' for 
the effective aid which they respectively rendered in the attack 
on Mohamra ; and the Governor-General in Council has great 
pleasure in acknowledging their good services. 

"Finally, the Governor-General in Council wishes to offer 
his hearty thanks to all the officers and non-commissioned 
officers, of whatever designation, and to all the soldiers and 
sailors of the force, for the bravery, the endurance, and good 
conduct which they have displayed during the several opera- 
tions in which they have been engaged. It will afford the 
Governor-General in Council the highest gratification to re- 
commend the arduous and successful services of the military 
and naval forces on the coasts, and in the interior of Persia, to 
the most favourable consideration of the Honourable Court of 
Directors and Her Majesty's Government." 

On the 2nd of October, 1857, Bushire was evacuated, and, 
soon after, the troops stationed at the island of Kharrack also 
retired. On the 16th of October, the ' Ferooz,' under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Tronson, arrived at Bombay from Bushire, 
via Kurrachee, having on board Brigadier-General John Jacob, 
C.B., commanding the Field Force left at Bushire until the 
execution of the terms of the treaty concluded at Paris on the 
4th of March, 1856, with his staff and some European and 
Native troops. In General Jacob's* General Order of the 18th 

* This noble soldier and remarkable man, who, in many points of character, 
resembled Sir Charles Napier, died on the 6th of December, 1858, at Jacobabad 



374 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of August, 1857, issued at Bushire on the breaking up of the Field 
Force, he refers in the following terms to the services of the 
officers of the Indian Navy acting in co-operation with him : — ■ 
" The Brigadier-General's deep acknowledgments and warm 
thanks are most worthily due to Captain Jones, of the Indian 
Navy, Political Resident of Bushire ; to his Assistant, Captain 
Disbrowe, and to Captain Rigby, Superintendent of Police, &c. 
Under Captain Jones, in the town of Bushire, in their respective 
degrees, their services and ready and effective aid and support, 
have been, from first to last, of the greatest value, while the 
value of their services, however high in itself, has been en- 
hanced by the cordial and obliging manner in which they have 
at all times been given. To Commodore Rennie, the head of 
the naval force, has fallen a most important, varied, and most 
laborious task in connection with the Persian Field Force, and 
the duties have been performed in a manner worthy of the high 
reputation of this distinguished officer. The Brigadier-General 
begs to offer to Commodore Rennie his warmest thanks and 
acknowledgments, and to express how highly he appreciates his 
services and those of his lieutenants, who, in their respective 
capacities, are worthy of the like commendation. Among those 
officers, the Brigadier-General may particularly mention those 
whose exertions have especially come under his general notice : 
— Lieutenant Mason and Lieutenant Brazier; the duties of 
Lieutenant Mason, as harbour-master at Bushire, have been of 
the most laborious and troublesome nature. They have been 
admirably performed, and the services of this officer* have been 
most valuable to all departments of the Army." 

The Governor-General, also, on the occasion of the evacuation 
of Bushire, published, on the 6th of November, a notification of 
thanks in which he says: — "Captain Felix Jones, of the Indian 
Navy, Political Resident, and Civil Commissioner of Bushire, 
has, together with the officers under his orders, earned the 
best thanks of the Governor in Council for the mode in which 
his charge has been administered. The various duties which 
have fallen to Commodore Rennie, Indian Navy, since the ces- 
sation of hostilities, have been scarcely less important than 
those previously discharged by him ; and through the ability 
and zeal of himself and the officers under his command, they 
have been performed in a manner to call for the marked 
approbation of the Governor-General in Council." 

in Scinde, the city lie had created in the desert, and which was named after him. 
His name is chiefly known in England in connection with the rifle and conical 
ball he invented, and the famous horsemen he organized into a regiment of 
irregular cavalry ; but in India he earned a great reputation as a brilliant soldier 
and administrator, one of the most remarkable of the school of soldier-statesmen 
of which Lawrence, Outram, Nicholson and Edwardes were such shining lights, 
men equally able with the sword and pen. 

* This able young officer, it would appear, inherited some of the talent of his 
great-uncle, the mighty Nelson, after whom he was named. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 375 

As has invariably been the case when the question of 
honours came up for consideration, the services of the Indian 
Navy received inadequate recognition. Sir Henry Leeke was 
made first a C.B., and then a K.C.B., for the bombardment of 
Bushire, though he left the Gulf a few days after that event. 
Surely it was too great a reward for such a service, though we 
have seen it paralleled more recently in the Abyssinian War, 
when the Rear-Admiral in command was awarded a similar 
honour, though he never saw a shot fired. Nelson, we know, 
preferred a " K.B." to a baronetcy, as a reward for his memor- 
able conduct as second in command to Sir John Jervis at St. 
Vincent, but then in his day, as now, baronetcies were conferred 
upon Lord Mayors ethoc genus omne, for entertaining royalty at 
civic banquets and similar "services." The Companionship of 
the Bath was conferred on Captains Griffith Jenkins and John 
W. Young* and, through the good offices of Lords Dalhousie 
and Panmure, upon Commander Rennie for Ahwaz and his 
general good service throughout the war. The latter officer 
retired from the Service of which he was so distinguished an 
ornament, on the 4th of March, 1858, when he was appointed 
Superintendent of the Bengal Marine in succession to Captain 
Rogers, I.N., who had received the appointment as a reward for 
his services in the China War of 1840-42. But other deserving 
officers of the Indian Navy received no recognition, conspicuous 
among whom was Acting-Commander Adams. It was an act 
bordering on temerity on the part of this officer, to take a ship of 
thelength of the ' Assaye,' to Mohamra, and manoeuvre her so high 
up a rapid stream, but it was worthy of his reputation in the Ser- 
vice, which was still further enhanced by the skill and gallantry 
he displayed on this memorable occasion. Acting-Commander 
Adams, however, received no reward, on the ground, as he was 
officially informed by the Secretary of State for India, " that 
his rank in the Indian Navy was only that of Lieutenant in the 
operations against Persia, when he had the good fortune to 
distinguish himself by his gallant conduct, and that the statutes 
of the Military Order of the Bath do not authorize the grant of 
the junior, or Third Class of its honorary distinction, upon any 
naval officer below the rank of commander." But the injustice 
of thus denying the C.B. to Acting-Commander Adams is 
obvious, when we find that the artillery officer in command of 
the mortar raft, and two military officers of the same relative 

* The following is the Order : — 

" War Office, February 24. 

" The Queen has been graciously pleased to make and ordain a special statute 
of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath for the appointment of Captain 
Griffith Jenkins and Captain John Wellington Young, of the Indian Navy, to be 
extra members of the Military Division of the 3rd Class, or Companions of the 
Most Honourable Order of the Bath." 



376 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

rank, received that distinction, viz., Captain Kemball,* whom 
no one will deny was well deserving the honour, and Captain 

* Some notice of this now famous officer is not out of place here, as from the 
year 1842 up to the date of the abolition of the Indian Navy, he was brought 
into intimate relations with the officers of the Service, and his name has frequently 
appeared in the preceding pages, t aptain Arnold Burrowes Kemball was 
educated at Addiscombe, and entered the Bombay Artillery on the 11th of 
December, 1837. He saw service in the Afghan Campaign in 1839 at Ghuznee, 
and in 1842 was appointed Assistant Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; 
after ten years' service he became Political Resident at Bushire, and in 1855, 
was transferred to Bagdad as Consul-General and Political Agent in Turkish 
Arabia. He received the thanks of Sir James Outram and Acting-Commodore 
Rennie, for his services up the Karoon, and Lord Canning, in his notification of 
the 18th of June, 1857, thanked him for his services " afforded on every occasion 
of difficulty and danger, and especially in the brilliant expedition against Ahwaz." 
He remained thirteen years at Bagdad, showing himself a worthy successor of 
such men as Taylor, Rich, and Rawlinson. In 1866 he was nominated a Knight 
of the Star of India, and in 1874 was promoted to General Officer's rank, ante- 
dated to March, 1868. Sir Arnold was elected to attend upon the Shah during 
that potentate's visit to England in 1873 ; and from April, 1875, he was employed 
on the Turco-Persian Boundary Commission untd the summer of 1876, when he 
wa3 sent as British Commissioner to the Turkish Army, and accompanied Abdul- 
Kerim through the Servian Campaign. On the outbreak of war between Russia 
and Turkey he was despatched by the Foreign Office to the Turkish Army in 
Asia Minor as British Commissioner. After the battle of Zaidakan he only 
escaped death or capture at the hands of the Cossacks, who chased him and 
Captain Norman for twenty-five miles, by the speed of his charger. The ' Times' 
Correspondent with Mukhtar Pasha's Army, says of him : — " The position 
occupied by Sir Arnold Kemball is one of great importance, requiring much tact 
and discretion, a thorough knowledge of Oriental character, coupled with a keen 
appreciation of mditary difficulties. I doubt if there is another officer in Her 
Majesty's Army qualified to hold the post. A soldier by training and profession, 
yet a diplomatist from a thirteen years' experience as Consul-General at Bagdad, 
Sir Arnold possesses all the qualifications for his present responsible appointment. 
He possesses a thorough knowledge of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish, and can 
converse or correspond with equal fluency in either of these languages, while 
from his intimate knowledge of the customs of the people, he is able to gain their 
confidence. Sir Arnold is well content to sleep on the hill side, wrapped in a 
Turkish officer's coat, to share the greasy and unnutritious food found in Turkish 
camps, to stand by the side of Turkish troops under a fire that our younger 
soldiers of Abyssinia and Ashantee do not dream of. It needs the constitution 
of a strong man to stand a ride of 259 miles in five consecutive days, with changes 
of temperature from snow-clad hills 9,000 feet above sea level to the dry and dusty 
plains of the Passin River. It needs a man with manly vigour to ride all day and 
write all night ; it needs a General with something more than his country's 
reputation at heart to travel about, occupying the position Sir Arnold 
Kemball does occupy here, unattended by an Aide-de-Camp, often accompanied 
only by a single Mahomedan horse-keeper, trusting to luck for his food and to 
the cold hill-side for his bed. By all this, by his simple unaffected manner, his 
unostentatious style of living, his warm sympathy for the Turkish soldiers, his 
severe condemnation of the conduct of many of their own officials, his indomit- 
able energy and perseverance, his cheery spirits, and his gallant bearing on the 
field of battle, Sir Arnold has knitted to himself all with whom he has been 
thrown into contact, and while upholding in a pre-eminent degree the character 
of the British soldier, has never in the slightest degree given the Turkish officers 
reason to believe that his mission was to help them, or in any way to compro- 
mise the neutral position of our Government." This eulogium on Sir Arnold 
Kemball is not overdrawn, and we, retaining a pleasant memory of a pleasant 
Christmas passed under the roof of the Bagdad Residency in the year 1855, can 
vouch that to his other virtues he adds those of geniality and old-fashioned 
Indian hospitality. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 377 

Taylor, also of the Political Department, Loth of whom, on 
the 19th of January, 1858, were made brevet-majors, and re- 
ceived the C.B., as rewards for their services in Persia. Lieu- 
tenant Adams received his promotion to the substantive rank of 
Commander by the sudden death of Commander Albany Grieve, 
on the 17th of January, 1858, two days before Captain Kem- 
ball's promotion to brevet rank, and yet the officer who, 
immediately after the action at Mohamra, was publicly thanked 
by Commodore Young on the quarter-deck of the ' Assaye,' for 
having taken that ship within pistol-shot of the northern fort, 
the most formidable of all the Persian works, was denied the 
C.B., on the pretext that he was only a Lieutenant. We stig- 
matize this excuse as a pretext, because Lieutenant Vaughan, 
R.N., of the ' Shannon,' was gazetted a C.B for services per- 
formed during the Mutiny ; true, Lieutenant Vaughan was first 
promoted to the rank of Commander, but because the Indian 
Navy was a seniority Service, and officers could not receive 
promotion for gallantry, was this disadvantage actually to be 
used against them as a bar to the honours of the Bath ? Wh}' 
did not the Authorities, following their own precedent in the 
case of Captains Kemball and Taylor, confer the Order on 
Lieutenant Adams on his promotion? These officers actually 
obtained their commissions as captains in February, 1851, 
whereas Lieutenant Adams was seven years their senior, his 
commission, ranking him with a captain in the Army, bearing 
date the 23rd of February, 1844. But what can be said for 
the system which actually denied the honours of the Bath to 
the Commander of the ' Assaye,' and conferred it on the 
officer commanding the Cavalry Brigade at Bushire, who 
arrived there after its capture, and never saw a shot fired ! 

To mark, as it were, the slight as applying generally to 
the Service, the C.B. was also denied to Commander Felix 
Jones, Chief Political Authority in the Persian Gulf, whose 
rank and services alike qualified him for the distinction. What 
does the gallant Commander of the Expedition himself say on 
these points? Writing to the Adjutant-General of the Bombay 
Army, under date the 11th of January, 1859, Sir James Outram 
says : — " I also beg to bring to his Excellency's notice, that two 
most deserving officers of the Indian Navy have obtained no 
reward, whose services I hope he will agree with me in con- 
sidering well worthy of recognition, Captain Felix Jones, Resi- 
dent at Bushire, and Commander G. N. Adams, who commanded 
the 'Assaye' at Mohamra."* The distribution of honours in 

* Colonel (now General the Eight Hon. Sir Edward) Lugard, wrote as follows 
before Commodore Young received the honour of which no shuffling or pretexts 
could deprive him : — "As on all such occasions, there are, I regret to say, man} 7 
names of most deserving officers omitted, and I would gladly and willingly 
divide my share amongst them. John Young and Adams, I.N., ought to have 



378 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

this method is farcical, and the excuses for the denial of justice 
not very creditable to those concerned, for whereas Lieutenant 
Adams is informed that no officer under the rank of Commander 
is eligible for the Bath, Commander Campbell, after the Bur- 
mese War, is denied the Order on the grounds that his rank 
renders him ineligible! Commander Adams, as we have seen 
in a preceding chapter, has, since that day, added to the obli- 
gations under which he has placed the Government by his 
prompt and judicious conduct at Zanzibar in 1859, on the 
occasion of the defeat and capture of the present Sultan, 
Seyyid Burghash, when in rebellion against his brother, but 
though he again received the thanks of the Bombay Govern- 
ment, the Ministry have never gratified the gallant old sailor 
by some honorary distinction, but have left him and Captains 
Campbell and Jones, to live on with the rankling feeling 
that they have been slighted because they belonged to a Service, 
which, though confessedly it did its duty under all circum- 
stances, unhappily had no influence. 

Scarcely was the Persian War over, than this country found 
itself involved in a life and death struggle for the retention 
of India, while all the world looked on with breathless 
interest. A considerable portion of the Service found a fresh 
field for distinction in the dramatic scenes of the Indian 
Mutiny. 

been C.B.'s and I shall get Outrarn to write about it." Outram, we see, did 
"write about it," but without effect so far as Adams was concerned. Of the 
Service Sir Edward Lugard writes to us under date the 16th of April, 1877 : — 
" Many gallant members of the Indian Navy I felt proud to call my friends." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

1857—1858. 

The ' Auckland ' in China — The True Story of the Occupation of Perim by 
Lieutenant Templer in the 'Mahi' — The 'Lady Canning' at the Outbreak 
at Jiddah — Appointment of Captain G. Gr. Wellesley, C.B., R.N., in succession 
to Sir Henry Leeke — Conclusion of the Records of the Bombay Marine Battalion. 

BEFORE commencing a narrative of the services rendered by 
the Indian Navy during that great crisis of our rule in 
India, the Sepoy Mutiny, we will detail other events of import- 
ance in the history of the Service of a prior date. 

In 1856, Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, commanding in 
Chinese Waters, having made a requisition for the services of a 
ship of the Indian Navy, the ' Auckland ' was selected for that 
duty. On the 31st of July, Commander H. A. Drought was 
transferred from the ' Ferooz ' — in the command of which he 
was succeeded by Commander J. Rennie — to the ' Auckland,' 
and, although he only received the notice that his ship was 
required for active service on Saturday evening, he sailed on 
the following Tuesday for Singapore. The following were the 
officers of the ' Auckland ' :— Lieutenants Davies and Hunter ; 
Acting-Lieutenants De Belin and Philbrick ; Purser Williams ; 
Assistant-Surgeon Barnett; Midshipmen Lowis, Du Boulay, 
Parker, Beddome, and Brownlow. Her crew were a fine body 
of men, and for marines she was supplied with a detachment of 
the Bombay European Artillery. Under the orders of Captain Sir 
William Hoste, the Senior Naval Officer on the Straits Station, 
the principal duty of the ' Auckland ' consisted in keeping down 
piracy, cruising about the coasts of Borneo, and affording pro- 
tection to the British Settlement of Labuan. Sarawak, the seat 
of government of Rajah Sir James Brooke's little kingdom, was 
visited during one of these cruises, and a salute from the 
'Auckland's' 68-pounders thundered forth in honour of the 
Rajah. Sir James was absent from his capital at the time, 
and, having the key of the powder magazine in his pocket, the 
salute could not be returned, a circumstance which gave rise to 
considerable merriment on the return of the Rajah, who has- 
teneh back to show his visitors the courtesy and hospitality for 






380 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT. 



which he was celebrated. The ' Auckland' was also present at 
Bankok during the ratification of the treaty between Her 
Majesty and the King of Siam. 

In December, 1856, soon after the outbreak of hostilities with 
China, the ' Auckland ' was ordered to Hong Kong tore-inforce 
the squadron under the immediate command of Kear-Admiral 
Sir Michael Seymour. Her first service on this station was 
against piratical and Mandarin junks, assisted by the 'Eaglet,' 
a small hired steamer, commanded by Mr. Ellis, Master, R.N., 
when the ' Auckland ' destroyed five heavily-armed junks at 
Lantao, mounting sixty-four guns, and burnt and destroyed 
two batteries mounting thirty guns. One battery was blown 
up by a shell fired by Commander Drought, who waited until 
he could train the pivot-gun by a flash from the battery, it 
being too dark to take proper aim. In this affair one seaman 
was killed, and Lieutenant De Belin was severely scorched by 
the blowing up of a junk, the Chinese having laid a train which 
exploded as the party under his command boarded. 

For this service the following letter was addressed to Com- 
mander Drought by the Commander-in-chief, dated, " H.M.S. 
'Calcutta,' at Hong Kong, 17th February, 1857. — I have read 
with much pleasure your letter of yesterday's date, reporting 
your proceedings in cruising after piratical and Mandarin junks, 
between the 13th and 10th instant, which resulted in the 
destruction of five heavily-armed junks at Lantao, and of a 
battery mounting thirty guns. 

"I have to express to you my entire approval of your con- 
duct and that of your officers and ship's company on this 
occasion, which I shall not fail to bring to the notice of his 
Lordship the Governor-General of India." 

Thanke were also given to Commander Drought, his officers 
and men, by the Court of Directors, and by the Lords of the 
Admiralty through the Bombay Government. 

The 'Auckland' soon after engaged a fleet of eighty Man- 
darin junks, at Second Bar Creek in the Canton River, which 
came down in line of battle to attack her, and, after a smart 
action, she sunk many of them, when the remainder beat a 
retreat. The 'Auckland,' also, assisted in the capture of eight 
Chinese vessels and seventy-two prisoners, and took and burnt 
a piratical junk at Chung-Chow Island. On the 1st of April, 
1857, during her last cruise upon this station, a Mandarin junk 
was observed in the Bay of Toong Chung. The 'Auckland' 
came to an anchor off the Bay, and all the boats were manned 
and armed and despatched to cut her out, under the command 
of the First-Lieutenant, Mr. Davies, an officer remarkable in the 
Service for his gallantry and great personal strength. "When 
about ten yards from the junk, a battery on the beach, which, 
up to that time, had reserved its fire, opened upon the ad 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 381 

vancing boats with grape and canister. Lieutenant Davies 
immediately ordered the second cutter and gig, under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Philbrick, to take possession of the junk, 
whilst he proceeded with the launch and first cutter to storm 
the battery. The Chinese stood well to their guns while the 
storming party was wading on shore, wounding Mr. Purser 
Williams (a volunteer) and three seamen. A volley of mus- 
ketry, however, and an impetuous charge, drove the Chinese 
from their guns, and the party took possession of the battery 
and held it until the junk was observed to be underway, when 
they embarked in the boats and assisted to tow her out. 
During this time three other batteries kept up a heavy fire on 
the junk and the two boats towing her, which was returned 
with the junk's guns and with small arms. Mr. Lowis, Mid- 
shipman, received a severe wound in one leg by a musket-ball 
whilst gallantly turning the junk's guns on the shore batteries, 
and two seamen were wounded. One Mandarin, a very cor- 
pulent man, was observed encouraging his men by words and 
example, when a round shot struck him and tore him into frag- 
ments. The Chinese were remarkably well armed. Several 
spent shot struck the boats as they were returning to the ship, 
and one struck an oar out of a seaman's hand while in the act 
of pulling. 

The Commander-in-chief expressed to Commander Drought 
his sense of the service rendered on this occasion, in the follow- 
ing terms, under date, "II. M.S. 'Calcutta,' at Hong Kong, 3rd 
of April, 1857:— I have read with much pleasure your letter 
of proceedings, dated the 1st instant, reporting the capture of a 
Mandarin war junk in Toong-Chung Bay. 

" In conveying my thanks for this service, I have to request 
you will express to Lieutenant Davies and the officers and men 
employed in the boats, my marked approval of their gallant 
conduct, which I shall not fail to bring to the notice of his 
Lordship the Governor-General of India." 

H.M.S. ' Inflexible' having arrived from England to take the 
place of the ' Auckland,' the latter vessel left Hong Kong on 
the 6th of April, 1857, to resume her station in the Straits of 
Singapore. It was found necessary to leave behind, in the 
hospital ship, Mr. Lowis, the gallaut young officer severely 
wounded in the leg in the action in Toong-Chung Bay, as it 
was found that amputation of the limb would be necessary. 

The following complimentary letter was addressed to Com- 
mander Drought by Sir Michael Seymour,* on the 3rd of April, 
on the 'Auckland' quitting the China station: — "As the 
arrival of H.M.'s steam-sloop ' Inflexible,' and the daily ex- 

* Writing to us on the 19th of April, 1877, Sir Michael Seymour says : — " I 
well remember the good services of the ' Auckland ' and her zealous and gallant 
captain in 1857." 



382 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

pected arrival of further reinforcements, enable me to dispense 
with the services of the ' Auckland,' I enclose you an order to 
return to Singapore, where your presence appears to be much 
required. 

" Before leaving, I have to express my sincere thanks for the 
valuable assistance you have rendered since you have been 
under my command, which I shall bring to the notice of his 
Lordship, the Governor-General of India, as well as the Com- 
mander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, and I beg you will convey 
to your officers and ship's company my high sense of their 
gallantry and good conduct." 

At Singapore, Lieutenant Davies exchanged with Lieutenant 
Carew into the ' Zenobia,' commanded by Lieutenant Batt, and 
proceeded in her to Madras and Bombay, whence, on the 18th 
of May, the 'Zenobia' sailed for Calcutta. 

The stay of the ' Auckland' at Singapore proved to be brief. 
The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny necessitated the recall of all 
the steam vessels of the Indian Navy at out-stations, and, in 
May, the 'Auckland' proceeded with despatches from Lord 
Elgin to Lord Canning at Calcutta, where every officer that 
could possibly be spared and all her European seamen, saving 
those absolutely necessary to steer the vessel while employed 
transporting troops, were sent to Barrackpore to assist in main- 
taining order. 

During the year 1856 an addition was made to the Indian 
Navy, in the ' Coromandel,' a steam troop-ship, of 1,026 tons, 
which left England on the 5th of August, 1856, in command of 
Captain Campbell. The ' Coromandel' arrived at Madras on 
the 2nd of December, 1856, and was employed carrying troops 
between that Presidency, Rangoon, and Calcutta, until October, 
1857, when the ship was docked at Calcutta. In April, 1857, 
a steamer of 527 tons and 160 horse-power, christened the 
' Lady Canning,' was launched at Bombay dockyard, and, soon 
after, proceeded up the Persian Gulf, under the command of 
Lieutenant Peevor. In this year, also, two troop-ships were 
purchased into the Service, the ' Dalhousie,' of 1,022 tons, and 
the ' Prince Arthur,' 1,246 tons. 

In March, 1857, Captain (now Admiral) George Greville 
Wellesley, C.B., R.N., a nephew of the great Duke of Welling- 
ton, was appointed Commodore and Commander-in-chief of the 
Indian Navy, for the usual term of five years. Commodore 
Wellesley arrived at Bombay on the 7th of July, when he assumed 
charge of the Service from Sir Henry Leeke. Sir Henry was in- 
ferior in his public capacity to either his predecessor, Commodore 
Lushington, or his successor, Commodore Wellesley. It was 
many years since he had commanded a ship at sea, and his 
service afloat had been uneventful ; he was neither distinguished 
as a sailor or administrator, and, for the rest, was an amiable, 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 383 

kind-hearted gentleman, not more unfitted for his post than 
most men possessing these virtues as their chief recommenda- 
tions to high command. Though weak, he was not unpopular 
in the Service, but we are not aware that any one regretted his 
departure, save those bound to him by acts of personal kind- 
ness. 

In 1856 the Home Government issued orders for the reoccu- 
pation of the island of Perim, and for the construction of a 
lighthouse on the most commanding point, so that vessels 
should be able to pass the Straits at any hour of the day or 
night. As a military position, it was considered that the island 
could never be of any real importance, chiefly from the want of 
water, while its guns could only command the northern chan- 
nel of one and a half miles, the strait on the African side of 
the island having a breadth of eleven miles, so that a fleet could, 
by hugging that shore, avoid the fire of ordnance of the heaviest 
calibre. From the year 1795, when a British force under 
Colonel Murray evacuated Perim,* after an occupation of a few 
months, up to the year 1857, the island never occupied the 
attention of the Indian or any other Government. In conse- 

* In an early chapter we have spoken of the temporary occupation of Perim 
by pirates, who, after having, with much labour, dug through the solid rock 
to a depth of fifteen fathoms, in a fruitless search for water, abandoned their 
design and removed to Mary's Island, on the east coast of Madagascar. In 1738, 
after the French bombarded Mocha, on account of some outrages which had been 
perpetrated by the Dowla, or Viceroy of the Imaum of Sanaa, on a Prench 
merchant vessel at that port, they landed on the island. The next to occupy 
Perim were the British, who, in April, 1799, sent a small squadron witli a 
detachment of three hundred men, under the command of Colonel (afterwards 
General Sir) John Murray, who had been appointed British Commissioner to 
execute this Service ; and on the 3rd of May, the island of Perim was formally 
taken possession of on behalf of the East India Company. No opposition of any 
sort was made to our occupation of Perim, and during the short time the garrison 
remained there, they were regularly supplied with provisions from Mocha, the 
chief maritime town of the Imaum of Sanaa. From that period till the 1st of 
September following, the troops continued in possession of Perim ; but, finding 
that the island yielded no fresh water, and that the Straits could not be com- 
manded by batteries on the shore, Colonel Murray proceeded to Aden, and, in 
the following March, returned to Bombay. The first European to visit Perim 
was Albuquerque, who is said to have landed here in 1513, on his return from 
the Bed Sea, and having erected a high cross on an eminence, he called the island 
Santa Cruz. 

Arrian, who flourished about A.D. 140, in his " Periplus Maris Erythrcei," or 
circumnavigation of the Erythraean Sea, as the Indian Ocean was called, styles 
Perim the island of Diodorus. It would seem that the merchant vessels of the 
Roman Empire navigated the Bed Sea, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf, which 
were all known as the Er\ thrcean Sea, and proceeded as far south as Madagascar, 
and east as the Malabar Coast, of which Arrian gives an account, lie also 
describes the shores of Asia from the mouth of the Indus to the river Ivaroon, 
including Bardis (Cape Jask), the river Anamis (Minao) —where took place, 
according to Arrian's " History of the Expedition of Alexander the Great and 
his conquest of Persia," the meeting between the Macedonian King and his 
Admiral, Nearchus — the islands of Oarakhta (Kishm) and Pylora (Polioi). and 
other places, to the city of Susa in Susiana (Khuzistan), where Alexander effected 
a junction with his adventurous admiral. 



384 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

quence, however, of the increasing steam-navigation of the Red 
Sea. the attention of the Bombay authorities had frequently 
been directed by officers of the Indian Navy and shipmasters to 
the desirability of erecting a lighthouse on the island, so as to 
render safer the passage of the Straits, as, owing to the slight 
elevation of its shores, ships oftentimes could not distinguish it 
at night, and the currents were an additional source of incon- 
venience. These considerations and others of a political cha- 
racter of still greater urgency, brought to the attention of the 
Government by the vigilant and sagacious Political Resident at 
Aden, at length induced the authorities to give the necessary 
orders for its reoccupation, and, as the sequel will show, none 
too soon to avoid its occupation by the French, which would have 
caused serious complications, as our neighbours were guided 
at that time by the restless policy of Napoleon III. An Ameri- 
can ship brought the news to Aden that a French brig-of-war, 
called the 'Narcisse,' was coming from Zanzibar for the express 
purpose of taking possession of the island of Perim, and when 
that ship made her appearance at Aden, the story received such 
confirmation, that Brigadier Coghlan acted with a decision and 
a happy judgment worthy of all praise. 

The Brigadier had repeatedly brought to the notice of the 
Bombay Government how desirable it was to prevent the 
possibility of the occupation of Perim by any Power which 
might, in the event of hostilities, imperil our Eastern posses- 
sions. The wisdom and foresight of this advice has been 
placed beyond cavil, since the opening of the Suez Canal has 
made the Red Sea the great highway of the East, and Perim, 
in the Straits of Babelmandel, the key to its waters; moreover, 
with the modern development of cannon, it is impossible to 
place a limit to the power of artillery, and the commodious 
harbour will easily shelter a squadron of ironclads. 

Early in January, 1857, Brigadier Coghlan directed Lieutenant 
C B. Templer, commanding the ' Main,' to proceed with all 
despatch to take possession of the island of Perim, but not to 
fire a salute or go through any formalities beyond hoisting the 
British flag, so that it might clearly be understood that we 
merely reoccupied the island. Fifty sappers under Lieutenant 
(now Colonel) J. M. Greig, of the Bombay Engineers, and a 
party of artillerymen, under Lieutenant Billamore, of the Bom- 
bay Artillery, followed in baghalahs, for the purpose of erect- 
ing the necessary buildings and permanently occupying the 
island. 

In response to a request we recently addressed to him, Sir 
William Coghlan has given the following narrativeof the circum- 
stances attending the reoccupation of Perim ; and this authori- 
tative statement will dissipate, once for all, the oftentimes 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 385 

dramatic, and wholly imaginary, incidents with which the plain, 
unvarnished tale is embellished, as we ourselves have often 
seen in works of travel. Sir William writes:— "Our final 
occupation of Perim would take us back to 1799, a period to 
which your question does not refer. You mean the re- 
occupation in January, 1857, that term being employed 
diplomatically as giving some colour to our proceeding. In 
reality we had no legal claim to the island either in 1799 or in 
1857 ; we occupied and re-occupied. Now with regard to my 
share in the second occupation, I am familiar with some of the 
stories which are current as to its mode, and I have several 
times, when an unusually extavagant one has come before me, 
half resolved to spoil it by stating the facts, for I chafed under 
the imputation of the clever trick with which I was credited, but 
this good resolution was never carried out, and my alleged 
smartness continues as the stock-story related on board every 
steamer that passes the Straits, with divers variations accord- 
ing to the imagination of the narrator. Now, as I shall show, 
there was no trick at all in the proceeding, which was one of 
prompt and (I may say it) of intelligent action, and nothing more. 
" Under the title of ' Political Resident and Commandant,' I 
administered the government at Aden from 1851-63. During 
the years 1855-56, the French were remarkably busy in the 
Red Sea ; they had their vessels of war poking about every 
hole and corner of its southern end, and outside as well as 
inside the Straits, in search of a suitable spot for a settlement. 
They tried the Camarans first, afterwards the village of Obokh* 
and various other places I do not now remember. Of course it 
was my duty to keep a watchful eye on their proceedings, and 
to report them to Government. I was anxious about Perim. 
It would have been a great mortification to the British Govern- 
ment to have had the French flag flying there. Hence I ad- 
dressed the Government at Bombay in urgent terms. I have 
no copy of my letter, but a private letter of Lord Elphinstone's 
to me," dated Bombay, the 3rd of October, 1856, says:—' Your 
report about Perim is also a most interesting one, and I have 
sent it home by this mail to the Secret Committee, with a very 
strong recommendation that we may be allowed to occupy the 
island, which, in the event of the ship canal being made through 
the Isthmus of Suez, must become a place of very great im- 
portance.' There you have the origin of the re-occupation (as 
we termed it). On the 17th of December, 1856, Lord Elphin- 
stone wrote me a confidential letter, enclosing the Secret ( lorn- 
mittee's despatch in reply, directing the occupation, which was 
accomplished, I think, on the 12th of January, 1857, by Lieu- 
tenant Templer, in the ' Mahi.' 

* The French have purchased Obokh, in Lat. 11° 58' N. Long. 43° 14/ E., 
two leagues west from Kas-al-Beer, which is forty miles due south from Perim. 
VOL. II. C C 



386 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

" But (hiring this interval (the 3rd of October, 1856, and the 
12th of January, 1857) 1 was made uneasy by a report, from 
reliable sources, that a certain French brig-of-war was preparing 
to start from Reunion, for the purpose of taking possession of 
Perim ! And sure enough on the 10th or 11th of January, 
1857, that vessel arrived at Aden, just as Templer was about to 
leave for the island, under the instructions which I had already 
issued to him on the authority of the Government at Bombay 
and the despatch of the Secret Committee. Instantly 1 packed 
him off, and the thing was done. The French captain made no 
communication to me as to Perim; all he said was that he was 
going to the Red Sea, and had put into Aden to repair some 
damage he had sustained in a gale off Guardafui. But for this 
accident, he would probably have passed Aden and got to Perim 
before Templer got there in the ' Mahi !' The ' Nisus ' was a 
heavy brig of eighteen guns (sailing only). She had sprung her 
bowsprit and foremast, and required some iron forgings, which 
could not be made on board. I cheerfully gave all the assist- 
ance asked for. I went off to the vessel and arranged that my 
arsenal should forge the iron bands according to model, and I 
had the satisfaction of seeing the Frenchman dismantle his 
wounded spars for the necessary repairs. 

" There you have, very briefly, the bare facts, with none of 
the fun of the various stories which have sprung out of them. 
The dinner to the French Captain and officers may have been 
given, though I have no particular recollection of it, but it is 
likely they did dine with me ; and as to the champagne, that 
also is likely, as I always kept a good brand. But there is no 
foundation for the story, that I first intoxicated my guest, and 
then ' pumped ' him, and sent off at dead of night to forestall 
him ! In reality, Perim was not named betwixt us. I had 
accomplished my object, and was satisfied, and the Frenchman 
was too late. In due time the little garrison was located, the 
requisite buildings erected, provisions supplied, and a light- 
house built. Perfidious Albion got roundly abused for a time, 
till her perfidy was obliterated by some other occurrence, and 
Perim remains a British possession. The Royal Navy had 
nothing whatever to do with the matter. Captain Pullen, in 
the ' Cyclops,' visited the harbour and surveyed it, after we 
had occupied it and settled ourselves ; he made a passing refer- 
ence to the survey which the officers of the Indian Navy had 
already completed, which was the survey made by Lieutenant 
Lamb, of the ' Elphinstone,' at my request." 

During the year 1858, the ' Mahi,'* now commanded by 

* The ' Mahi ' on one occasion sailed into Aden harbour with three baghalahs 
as prizes, all being larger than herself. On another occasion Lieutenant Nixon, 
having received notice that a party of slaves was confined in a fort on the 
African coast, off which he was cruising, despatched the writer, who was the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 387 

the late Lieutenant J. G. Nixon, and the ' Lady Canning,' under 
the late Lieutenant E. Peevor, were very successful in check- 
ing the slave trade in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. 

Two troop-ships, built in England, the 'Prince Arthur,' of 
1,24b' tons, and ' Dalhousie,' of 1,022 tons, were added to the 
Service in the year 1858, and two gunboats, of 300 tons, and 
sixty horse-power, and carrying three guns, were launched at 
Bombay, and named the ' Clyde' and ' Hugh Rose.' There 
was also a large fifty-gun frigate on the stocks, but it was never 
added to the Service. 

Encouraged by the Indian Mutiny, a sanguinary outbreak of 
Mohammedan fanaticism took place at Jiddah. On the night of 
the 7th of June, 1858, some Christians swam on board H.M.S. 
'Cyclops,' which, fortunately, happened to be lying in the 
harbour, bringing the intelligence that the inhabitants of the 
town, in the absence of Namick Pasha, the Governor, who had 

senior executive officer, (a) with Mr. Midshipman Dodd,(6) and two boats' crews 
of armed seamen, for the purpose of seizing thern. A rapid march of two or 
three miles, over the desert under a tropical sun, brought the party to the fort, 
and the surprise was so complete that the slave-dealers had not time to remove 
their helpless prey. A shot or two were fired on the advancing party from a 
6-pounder, planted in the open, which was captured, the Arabs retreating into 
the fort ; after a parley, the iron-studded door was thrown open, and a search 
being made, over thirty young female slaves were found and marched down to the 
beach, and taken on board the ' Mahi.' The career of the little schooner was 
abruptly brought to a close a few months later in this wise. She was chasing a 
large suspicious baghalah, to overtake which, as evening was closing in, a press of 
sail was carried, while every now and then the ' Mahi ' was yawed to fire a shot 
from her pivot 32-pounder. But, proverbially, "astern chase is a long chase," 
and the Arab craft, which was doubtless full of slaves, held on her course at all 
hazards. It was now almost dark, and the order was given to take a double 
reef in the fore-topsail, (c) but just as the men were laying out on the topsail- 
yard, a sharp crack was heard, and the foremast swayed aft. It was the bow- 
sprit which had gone short off by the " gammoning," and was now alongside the 
ship with all the rigging ; the next moment the fore and maintop-masts carried 
away, and the foremast was sprung in two places. To lay down from aloft was 
the work of a few moments on the part of the foretop-men, who slung themselves 
down the backstays without loss of life ; but the chase escaped, and we were left 
" re infectd" and almost a wreck, with what sailors call "a dirty night" coming 
on. The 'Mahi' made the best of her way to Berbera Creek, then a solitary 
anchorage, where we jury-rigged her and fished her foremast, and then saded for 
Aden, whence she proceeded to Bombay. We relate these incidents in the 
career of " a Company's Cruiser," not for their importance, for, either by the 
officers of the Service or the public, if they ever knew anything about them, 
they were never considered worthy the briefest paragraph in the Bombay papers, 
but simply as showing the ordinary nature of the duties fulfilled by the Indian 
Navy without record or thanks from Grovernment or any public body. 

(a) The brigs ' Euphrates ' and ' Tigris,' and schooners ' Mahi ' and ' Constance,' 
were officered by a lieutenant in command and three midshipmen, who kept all 
the watches and performed the duties of lieutenants in larger ships. These 
four small craft thus formed not only admirable schools for practical seamanship, 
but taught young officers habits of command and self-reliance. 

(b) Mr. Midshipman Dodd, a promising young officer, died a few mouths later 
of cholera. 

(c) The ' Mahi ' was square-rigged forward, and fore-and-aft-rigged on the 
mainmast. 

C C 2 



388 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

proceeded to Mecca with the greater portion of the troops, were 
massacring the English and French consuls and the Christians 
generally. At daylight Captain Pullen sent in the boats of the 
' Cyclops,' but, at the request of the Lieutenant-Governor, they 
returned without landing. On the return of Namick Pasha, 
the surviving Christians, twenty-four in number, including the 
heroic daughter of the French Consul, who had killed her 
father's murderer with her own hand, were sent on board the 
' Cyclops,' upon which the seamen and marines were landed, and 
rehoisted the British and French flags. Captain Pullen then 
proceeded to Suez, and, having received instructions from the 
Admiralty, and authority from the Emperor Napoleon to act for 
the French Government, returned to Jiddah, where he arrived 
on the 23rd of July. Here he found the ' Lady Canning,' 
Lieutenant Peevor, who had brought the Morocco Princes 
on a pilgrimage to Mecca, it being the Kourban Bairam, 
or Feast of the Sacrifice. Captain Pullen demanded, on the 
part of England and France, the immediate punishment of the 
authors and perpetrators of the late massacre, and granted ■ a 
period of thirty-six hours for the purpose, failing which he 
expressed his intention to open fire on the town. Meanwhile, 
the 'Cyclops' and 'Lady Canning' enforced a strict blockade 
of the port, for which purpose they took up their stations 
at a point about a mile distant, commanding the town, 
whence the guns could sweep the channels leading into the 
harbour. 

Early in the morning of the 25th of July, the time of grace 
— extended to forty hours— having expired, hostilities were 
commenced, the two ships opening fire with shot and shell 
from their 68 and 32-pounders. During the course of the day 
the armed boats of the ' Cyclops ' and ' Lady Canning ' pro- 
ceeded to burn and sink fifteen native craft, when it was found 
that almost all of them, though seemingly inoffensive trading 
vessels, were armed with guns. The bombardment was re- 
sumed at intervals during the 25th and 26th, and had the 
effect of driving all the inhabitants outside the walls. Alto- 
gether some hundreds of shot and shell and rockets were thrown 
into Jiddah, and, during the night, the boats of the ships 
approached nearer the town, and discharged some more of these 
latter missiles, which, it was afterwards ascertained, struck 
intense terror into the hearts of the people. It was thought 
that an attempt might be made to carry the ships by boarding 
during the night, as there was a large body of troops on shore, 
and many boats and native craft lying under the protection of 
the batteries, and, accordingly, strict watch was kept by guard- 
boats, but the Turkish Governor was deficient in enterprise, and 
no attempt was made to act on the offensive. On the afternoon 
of the 26th, a secretary of Namick Pasha came on board from 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 389 

Mecca, and said that the murderers, sixteen in number, were in 
confinement, but could not be executed until the sanction of 
the Sultan was received from Constantinople. Captain Pullen, 
however, demanded their immediate decapitation, but on the 
intercession of Namick Pasha, who had arrived from Mecca, 
and proceeded on board the ' Cyclops,' extended the time for 
renewing the bombardment to the 5th of August, in order to spare 
the pilgrims, who were crowding into Jiddah, on their return 
from Mecca, for the purpose of embarkation for their respective 
destinations. Eventually the town was saved from destruction 
by the arrival, on the 2nd of August, of five hundred Egyptian 
troops, under Ismail Pasha, who brought the Imperial firman 
conferring upon him the necessary powers. Accordingly, the 
murderers were executed, the English and French flags were 
saluted, and an indemnity was paid to the relatives of the 
victims. Shortly after satisfaction had been obtained, the 
'Assaye,' Commander Adams, arrived at Jiddah, for the purpose 
of protecting British interests, and remained there until re- 
lieved by H.M.'s ships 'Chesapeake' and ' Pelorus,' when she 
proceeded to Aden, towing the merchant ship 'Eranee,' pre- 
sumably the cause of the massacre. 

We will now continue the sketch of the history of the Bom- 
bay Marine Battalion until it became, after the abolition 
of the Indian Navy, the 21st Regiment Bombay Native Infantry, 
resuming it from the point where we had left oft*,* after 
the destruction of the detachment left at Kishm in Captain 
Thompson's ill-fated Expedition in 1820, and the signal re- 
venge taken on the Beni-Boo-Ali tribe of Arabs in the fol- 
lowing year, in which Expedition the remnant of the detach- 
ment also participated. 

The first notice of any importance relating to the Battalion, 
is the following extract from Government Orders : — 

" Bombay Castle, 24th of March, 1823. 

" The Honourable the Governor is pleased to augment the 
strength of the 1st, or Marine, Battalion, 11th Regiment Native 
Infantry, to one thousand privates, and to direct that the 2nd 
Battalion 12th Regiment, cease to be a Marine Battalion. His 
Excellency the Commander-in-chief is requested to take the 
necessary steps for transferring two hundred Sepoys of the 

* In pursuance of this instruction appears the following extract from the 
General Orders, by the Commander-in-chief, dated Bombay, Friday, 28th of 
March, 1823:— 

" The officer commanding in the Southern Concan will be pleased to cause the 
Orders of Government of the 24th instant, to be explained to the 2nd Battalion 
12th Regiment Native Infantry on parade, when two hundred Sepoys, Mussul- 
mans and Purwarees, are to have leave to volunteer into the 1st Battalion 



390 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

2nd Battalion 12th Regiment, who may be well calculated for 
duties on board cruisers and boats, to the 1st Battalion of the 
11th Regiment."* 

In the following year we find the accompanying references 
to the Marine Battalion. Extract from General Orders of the 
7th of June, 1824. " In conformity with the General Order by 
the Right Hon. the Governor-General in Council at Fort 
William, dated the 6th of May, 1824, and published to the 
Army of this Presidency on the 31st of May, the Honourable 
the Governor in Council is pleased to notify that the Regiments 
of European and Native Infantry are, from this date, divided 
into two, numbered as regiments, and finally separated as 
follows: — 11th Regiment Native Infantry to form 21st, or 
Marine, Regiment Native Infantry and 22nd Regiment Native 
Infantry. 

" The Hon. the Governor in Council is pleased to direct that 
as a temporary arrangement until the pleasure of the Hon. 
Court of Directors be known, the second extra Battalion be 
tranferred to the Line, under the designation of the 21st 
Regiment of Native Infantry. The entire number of European 
officers of the 21st, or Marine, Regiment, being removed to that 
corps, the present 21st Regiment will, until further orders, be 
termed the Marine Battalion of Native Infantry, and be com- 
manded by a major or captain, with an adjutant, interpreter, 
and quartermaster. 

" The Governor in Council is further pleased to autho- 
rize the 21st Regiment of Native Infantry being placed 
in regard to strength of establishment, and in every other 
respect, on the same footing as the other regiments of the 
Line." 

Three vears later appears the following extract from General 
Orders of the 26th of February. 1827:— "The Hon. the 
Governor in Council has received with great satisfaction, testi- 
monials of the highly meritorious services of a detachment of 
the Marine Battalion, while employed in the late war in the 
Burmese territory." 

The detachment so honourably noticed, served on board the 
Hon. Company's brig-of-war 'Vestal,' Lieutenant Guy, which 
was employed during the whole of the war in the Burmese 
Empire, under the immediate command of Commodore Hayes, 
who, in writing of their gallantry and good conduct, under 
date the 2nd of October, 1826, says of the Marine Battalion : — 
" The corps in question is one of the oldest in India, and has 
seen more arduous and more foreign service than any Native 

llth Regiment Native Infantry, or that number may be completed by a draft 
made in such a manner as will be most advantageous to both Battalions." 
* See Vol. I., p. 380. 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 391 

Regiment in the Company's Army. I have personally been 
acquainted with its merits-arid patient endurance for a period of 
more than forty years' duration." 

The honourable testimony borne by Commodore Hayes was 
forwarded by the Supreme Government, with their approval, 
through Major-General Wilson, Commanding the Presidency 
Division, to the Adjutant-General of the Bombay Army, accom- 
panied by the following letter from that officer, dated the 2 (3th. 
of December, 182b' : — " I derive very considerable satisfaction 
in transmitting to you for the purpose of being laid before his 
Excellency the Commander-in-chief, the accompanying docu- 
ments, setting forth in such honourable terms the bravery, 
military feeling, regularity of conduct, and useful services of a 
detachment of the Marine Battalion, belonging to this establish- 
ment, and employed during the Burmese War. Accustomed as 
I have been during the long period of my residence in this 
country, to witness the willingness with which the men of the 
Marine Battalion have always proceeded on any public service 
required of them, while the genuine proofs they have given of 
their fidelity and undaunted courage on so many occasions, have 
been received by Government with admiration, I naturally feel 
a peculiar interest in the corps, and therefore beg leave to 
solicit the favourable consideration of his Excellency the 
Commander-in-chief and Government toward the parties now 
concerned." 

The following details of the Marine Battalion, served 
throughout the Burmese War : — ' Teignmouth,' one jemadar, 
one havildar, one naique, one lance-naique, two drummers and 
fifers, and twenty-two privates. ' Thetis,' one colour havildar, 
one naique, and twenty privates. ' Prince of Wales,' one 
havildar, one naique, and sixteen privates. ' Mercury,' one 
havildar, one lance-naique, and eighteen privates. ' Ernaad ' 
(employed as a transport), one havildar, one naique, and 
twelve privates. The men composing these detachments were, 
we learn from published records, " from three to four years 
absent from their head-quarters, and they all rejoined with the 
most honourable testimonials from their several commanding 
officers. Of the details, three men were killed in action, several 
were wounded, and ten died on service (most of the latter from 
severe wounds and fatigue). 

In July, 1831, medals were received from the Adjutant- 
General of the Army, for distribution to the whole of the 
survivors of these detachments, and, with the exception of the 
detail on board the ' Ernaad,' which was not employed as a 
fighting-ship, they all received, by an order of the Supreme 
Government, additional batta of one quarter rupee per diem, 
from the date of their first reaching Burmah up to the period of 



392 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

their finally quitting the coast. A good proportion of the men, 
whose services are here recorded, were subsequently selected 
for promotion by the commandant of the Battalion. 

In conformity with instructions from the Supreme Govern- 
ment, a complete company was sent in December, 1834, to 
Socotra, under the command of Captain Baily, of the 5th 
Regiment Native Infantry, to protect a depot of coals ; the de- 
tachment suffered so much from sickness that, in June, 1335, 
it was relieved, with the exception of about sixteen men, who 
were considered well enough to remain. This relief, under the 
command of Captain Corsellis, of the 18th Regiment Native 
Infantry, suffered much loss, and casualties continued to take 
place until a change was made in the site of the canton- 
ments from the low land to the hills, a guard only being 
left over the stores on the coast. The force was finally with- 
drawn in November, 1835. 

On the 28th of May, 1838, a detachment, of the following 
strength, proceeded to the Island of Kharrack, forming a por- 
tion of the field force under Colonel Sheriff;— One subahdar, 
two jemadars, eight havildars, five drummers and fifers, and 
one hundred and twenty-three rank and file. In September, 
1839, a detachment, consisting of one havildar, two naiques, 
two drummers and fifers, and twenty privates, serving on 
board the ' Coote ' and ' Mahi,' took part in the capture of Aden. 
In June, 1840, the party, left at the Island of Kharrack, re- 
turned to Bombay in the ship ' Lord Castlereagh,' which was 
wrecked at the mouth of the harbour, and one jemadar, three 
havildars, three drummers and fifers, and thirteen privates 
were drowned. 

In 1813, the detachments in the 'Satellite' and 'Planet,' 
were engaged with the enemy during the attack on the 
Hyderabad Residency, prior to the Battle of Meanee ; and the 
detachments on board the 'Comet,' ' Nim rod,' and ' Meteor,' 
were present, with the officers and crews, under the command 
of Captain A. H. Nott, I.N., in the defence of the entrenched 
camp during the Battle of Dubba, near Hyderabad. 

In 1845, agreeably to instructions from Army head-quarters 
and by a Garrison Order, dated 29th of October in that year, 
a subahdar-major of the Marine Battalion was invested with 
the order of " British India," on which occcasion the whole 
of the troops in garrison paraded at five o'clock in review 
order. 

A detachment, consisting of two native officers, seventeen 
non-commissioned officers, and ninety-five privates, proceeded 
on service to the head-quarters of the Indus flotilla at Kotree in 
Scinde, on the 10th and 11th of January, 1846. Detachments 
of the Marine Battalion, consisting of ten non-commissioned 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 393 

officers and ninety-six privates, served on board the steamers 
of the flotilla during the Punjaub campaign of 1848 and 184 ( J. 
Also detachments participated in the operations of the second 
Burmese War, on board the 'Ferooz,' 'Moozuffer,' 'Berenice,' 
'Zenobia,' 'Medusa,' and ' Sesostris,' and in the Persian War, 
in the 'Ferooz,' 'Semiramis,' 'Assaye,' 'Ajdaha,' 'Punjaub,' 
' Victoria,' ' Berenice,' ' Clive,' and ' Falkland.' 

The detachments of the Marine Battalion serving in the 
Company's ships in the First and Second Burmese Wars, the 
Scinde War, the Punjaub Campaign, and the Persian War, 
received the medals awarded to the rest of the troops and 
seamen engaged.* 

* Since the abolition of the Indian Navy the only service seen by the Marine 
Battalion (now the 21st Native Infantry) was during the Abyssinian War, when 
a detachment of one hundred men was employed, but it was not actively 
engaged with the enemy. 



CHAPTER IX. 

1848-1863. 

Surveys undertaken from the Death of Sir Robert Oliver to the Abolition of the 
Service :— Lieutenant Selby on the West Coast of India ; Surveys in the Gulf 
of Cambay and on the Kattywar Coast by Lieutenants Grieve, Constable and 
Taylor ; of the Punjaub Rivers by Lieutenants Grounds and Stroyan ; of the 
Malacca Straits and Inland Waters of Pegu by Lieutenant Ward — Flying 
Survey of the Irrawaddy River by Commander Rennie and Lieutenant Heath- 
cote — Current Charts by Lieutenants Taylor and Heathcote — Survey of the 
Persian Gulf by Lieutenant Constable, assisted tiy Acting-Lieutenant Stiffe — 
Surveys of Commander Felix Jones in Mesopotamia — Lieutenant Carew 
and the Persian Gulf Telegraph Line — Surveys in Mesopotamia by Commander 
Selby and Lieutenants Coliingwood and Bewsher — Lieutenant Taylor's Survey 
of the Malabar Coast— Lieutenant Dawes' Journey into Central Arabia, in 
company with Colonel Pelly — Services of Officers of the late Indian Navy 
during the Abyssinian War — Lieutenant Taylor's Memorandum on Marine 
Surveys, and his Appointment as Superintendent of Mai-ine Surveys in India. 

THE surveying work of the Indian Navy, between the years 
1849-57, embracing the period of the administrations of 
Commodore Lushington and Sir Henry Leeke, contrasts favour- 
ably with the preceding decade, during which Sir Robert 
Oliver was at the head of the Service, when, owing to the 
peculiar views held by that officer, surveys were decried as 
useless, and their prosecution deemed a waste of public time 
and money. 

In October, 1850, Commodore Lushington proceeded, in the 
cutter 'Margaret,' to the Gulf of Cambay, a new survey of 
which was in contemplation, with a view chiefly of determining 
what alterations may have occurred in the currents, tides, and 
soundings since the survey of the Gulf, commenced by Com- 
mander R. Ethersey in 1837. In 1848-50, Lieutenant Selby, 
in the ' Taptee,' and the tenders 'Maldiva' and ' Card iva,' with 
Lieutenant A. D. Taylor, Assistant-Surveyor, and Mates M. A. 
Sweny, R. W. Whish, G. O'Brien Carew, and C. Forster, 
surveyed portions of the Laccadive Archipelago and Angria's 
Bank, made a chronometric survey of the Bombay Bank of 
soundings, a work of considerable labour, surveyed the entire 
approach to Bombay Harbour, and connected the North Canara 
with the Guzerat coast, including the tail of the Malacca 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 39") 

Banks.* On the 4th of November, 1850, Lieutenant Selby was 
appointed to the command of the old ' Palinurus,' Lieutenant 
C. Y. Ward being Assistant-Surveyor, with Mates Stroyan, and 
Sweny, and Midshipman E. R. May, accompanied by the cutter 
'Nerbudda,' commanded by Midshipman C. Forster, and trigono- 
metrically surveyed the coast from Cape Comorin to Bey pore, 
also portions of the Laccadive Islands, and the Sesostris Bank. 
He constructed a map of a constant circular current prevailing 
between the Malabar coast and the Laccadives, the non- 
publication of which, as appears in a letter from him to the 
Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, dated the 13th of 
October, 1855, caused the loss of one of the steamers of the 
Peninsular and Oriental Company. 

The peculiar dangers to which marine surveyors are liable 
may be gathered from the following incident, which occurred 
early in the year 1850. Mr. Midshipman Shairp, of the ' Tap- 
tee,' then commanded by Lieutenant Selby, was absent, on a 
fine calm day, in the jolly-boat, which was moored as a point 
for the triangnlation, within sight of the brig, when suddenly 
she disappeared. The ' Taptee' was off the Malabar coast, 
and, although every search was made for the jolly-boat by the 
other boats of the brig and hy about a hundred canoes which 
were despatched in all directions, no vestige of boat, crew or 
officer was ever found. The only hypothesis that appears pro- 
bable is that they were attacked by some of the " black fish." 
a species of whale, which have been known to chase boats, but 
the mystery was never unravelled. On the 1st of October, 
1850, Lieutenant Taylor was appointed Surveyor, in command 
of the pattamar, 'Pownah,' with Lieutenant Whish as Assistant- 
Surveyor, and Messrs. Barker, Stiffe, and Macaulay, Midship- 
men ; and in that vessel, with the ' Maldiva,' cutter, as tender, 
he surveyed the Gulf of Cutch and coast of Kattywar.f Tay- 
lor's survey, which was admirable, like all that officer's work, 
was on four sheets, of the scale of one inch to a mile, which 
was reduced to one sheet by Whish and Stiffe. In 1851, Lieu- 
tenant Rennie was engaged in the 'Euphrates,' with Lieutenant 
Constable as his assistant, surveying on the North Concan 
coast. 

Some idea of the frequent changes in the officering of ships, 
which formed one of the chief obstacles to their efficiency, may 
be gathered from the following postings of Lieutenant Con- 
stable, who during his career was chiefly employed in surveying 
duties, where changes necessarily were not so frequent. In 
August, 1851, he was in temporary charge of the new steam- 

* See Markham's " Indian Surveys," and Vol. XII. of the " Journal of the 
Bombay Geographical Society," where the results of the Survey are given. 

t See Taylor's " General Description and sailing Directions for the Coast of 
Kattywar," published at Bombay in 1855. 



396 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

frigate ' Zenobia,' which had not yet been commissioned, but, 
on the 1st of September, when his successor, Commander 
C. D. Campbell, took command of the receiving-ship 'Hastings,' 
on the death of Captain Hawkins, Lieutenant Constable was 
placed in charge of the 'Euphrates.' Again, on the 18th of 
September, he temporarily resumed command of the 'Zenobia,' 
only, on the 8th of October, to surrender her finally to Com- 
mander Ball (who remained in her until his death in the follow- 
ing year), and return to the command of the 'Euphrates,' 
which at this time was converted from a 10-gun brig-of-war 
into a surveying vessel, in which capacity she was employed 
until the abolition of the Service. Lieutenant Constable was 
engaged in the ' Margaret,' cutter, sounding off Bombay and 
surveying Choul Harbour, and, a little later, Commodore Lush- 
ington — who, as we have mentioned, had proceeded, in October, 

1850, to the Gulf of Cambay, to ascertain what changes had 
occurred since Commander Ethersey's survey — sent him in the 
' Nerbudda,' tender of the 'Euphrates,' to the Gulf of Cambay, 
to report as to what measures were advisable to render the 
navigation more easy, as the Gulf had been silting up since 
Ethersey's time, which made it difficult for native trading ves- 
sels to find the right channel. Lieutenant Constable, having 
completed his investigations, made his report; and, upon his 
return, learnt that, by an Order dated the 10th of December, 

1851, the ' Euphrates' had, during his absence, found a new 
captain in Lieutenant Rennie, an officer who had served his 
apprenticeship in hydrography under Sanders and Haines, and 
was not less eminent as a surveyor than as a seaman and 
officer. Finally, on the 9th of January, 1852, the ' Euphrates' 
sailed for Surat with these two officers as Surveyor and Assist- 
ant-Surveyor, the tender ' Cardiva' being in company, under 
Lieutenant W. H. Carpendale. The 'Euphrates' was employed 
surveying from the mouth of the Taptee to Danoo, and she re- 
turned to Bombay on the 12th of May following; the examina- 
tions were most minute and laborious, and fertile in results of 
importance. On the promotion of Lieutenant Rennie to Com- 
mander, and his appointment to the ' Zenobia,' from the 1st of 
September, 1852, Lieutenant Constable assumed command of 
the ' Euphrates,' and applied for Mr. Midshipman Stiffe as his 
Assistant-Surveyor. Though there was no precedent of an 
officer of so junior a rank holding such an appointment, with 
the extra batta of 175 rupees a month, the request was granted; 
and it is certain that, notwithstanding his age and small expe- 
rience, no better selection could have been made than that of 
this talented officer, whose scientific and other acquirements — 
as astronomer, linguist, artist, and surveyor — place him on a 
level with the most able and accomplished hydrographers pro- 
duced b}' this or any other Service. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 397 

The ' Euphrates' sailed on the 23rd of October, and prosecuted 
the survey of the coast from Vomani Point, the north-west ex- 
treme of the Kattywar coast, to Porebunder,* and returned to 
Bombay on the 4th March, 1853. Though this survey was executed 
with great accuracy and minuteness, Lieutenant Constable found 
himself now superseded by Commander Albany Grieve, who had 
arrived from Europe, and sailed in the 'Euphrates' as Assistant- 
Surveyor under that officer, when the survey of the remaining 
portion of the Kattywar coast, from Porebunder to Dili, was 
completed. This supercession affords an example of the evils 
of a strictly seniority service, for the work just completed by 
Lieutenant Constable was so admirable that the Court of Direc- 
tors, in a despatch to the Bombay Government, dated the 30th 
of May, 1854, expressed their thanks to that officer. Finally, 
on Commander Grieve being ordered to survey the maze of 
creeks and channels in the delta of the Indus,t Lieutenant 
Constable resumed command of the ' Euphrates,' with Mr. 
Stiffe as Assistant-Surveyor. 

In October, 1850, the Bombay Government received instruc- 
tions to despatch, with as little delay as possible, a naval officer 
of experience to join the Governor-General at Lahore, and 
accompany him as far as Peshawur, for the purpose of inspect- 
ing the whole of the rivers on the North- West frontier, with a 
view to their navigation as for as practicable. Lieutenant 
Grounds was selected for this duty, and, says the "Bombay 
Times," of the 25th of October, " a better selection could not, 
we believe, well have been made ; the officer just named, 
besides being a man of sound sense, ability, and attainments, 
is an excellent surveyor, and has had much experience in inland 
navigation on the Tigris and Euphrates." 

By a General Order of the Supreme Government, dated 
Simla, the 16th of October, 1851, the Governor-General noti- 
fied that "additional vessels having been provided, a regular 
communication by Government steam-vessels has been esta- 
blished between Kalabagh and Mooltan. A survey of the 
Upper Indus and of the River Jhelum has been for some time 

* The chart was drawn on the scale of one inch to the mile, and it is only 
within the last year or two that Government have had this survey lithographed 
in three sheets. 

t Lieutenant Stiffe has recently been employed on a resurvey of the mouths 
of the Indus, and his chart and report are now in the hands of the Admiralty. 
The survey was made in order to see what changes had occurred in the banks 
and channels. It may be mentioned as explanatory of the frequent resurve\ a of 
the Delta of the Indus, and other places mentioned in these pages, that the 
rapid changes which occur where sandbanks and channels are subjected to the 
action of rivers, are almost incredible. For instance, Lieutenant .St ill'e reports 
that the old main mouth of the Indus, as laid down by Captains Carless and 
Selby in their surveys, is now unnavigable, and that now employed for navigation 
is some miles distant. Captain Carless also mentioned, when the transport 
' Hannah ' was wrecked in this locality about 1840, that his ship, the ' Palinurns,' 
had anchored on the same spot in five fathoms of water. 



398 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

in progress, and the Governor-General has every reason to 
expect that in the course of the ensuing year, the regular com- 
munication with Kalabagh may be extended to Jhelum and 
Ealabagh on the Indus. 1 ' By Government Orders, Lieutenant 
Grounds was appointed Surveyor of the Punjaub Rivers, from 
the 12th of September, 1853, with Lieutenant Stroyan as his 
Assistant. 

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy had done good service by its 
surveys on the Bengal side. 

In 1840, on the retirement of Captain Lloyd, the office of 
Marine Surveyor in Bengal was abolished; but his assistant, 
Commander W. Fell, was employed, says Markham, from 
1811 to 1848, on board the brig ' Krishna,' in " completing 
detached surveys on the Coromandel coast, along the Pegu and 
Martaban shores, and on the north coast of Sumatra.* In 
1851, he was engaged in compiling a chart, in three sheets, of 
the whole of the Coromandel coast from Pulicat to Bimlipitam." 
In March of the following year, Commander Fell proceeded to 
Europe on sick leave, when he was succeeded in the command 
of the 'Krishna' by Lieutenant C. Y. Ward, who, in the energy 
with which he prosecuted the work, showed himself a worthy 
successor of Ross, Lloyd, and Fell. The following list, of the 
surveys executed by him, between the years 1851-1859, is 
furnished by Lieutenant Ward, at our request: — "Malacca 
Strait, from Pulo Penang to Strait of Singapore ; Preparis 
Channel, Rangoon River; Bassein River; Sittang River and 
inland waters of Pegu ; Mutlah River." 

The surveys conducted by Lieutenant Ward during the 
Burmese War, were of essential service. Early in February, 
1853, the ' Krishna' and ' Spy,'f under his command, had com- 

* In the Geographical Department of the India Office, there are printed sailing 
directions by Commander Fell for the coast of Pegu and Gulf of Martaban, dated 
the 4th of March, 1852, and MS. sailing directions for the north coast of 
Sumatra, from Acheen Head to Diamond Point. 

f The following anecdote affords an illustration of the dangers and disad- 
vantages under which the survey of Burmese waters, was conducted during the 
period of our hostilities with the King of Ava. A party under Lieutenant Ward, 
in the schooner ' Spy,' was engaged surveying on the Irrawaddy ; and, when off 
a place called Chingjao, the schooner's boats, three in number, under the charge 
of European officers, were engaged in placing flags and taking angles on both 
sides of the river. Mr. Lay was on the right bank, having placed his flag close 
to his boat, and Mr. Shepherd was on the opposite bank of the river, the 
schooner having dropped 300 or 400 yards below the boats. While thus engaged, 
two Burmese came down to the water's edge close to Mr. Lay's boat, and one of 
them handed him a paper similar to one before shown on board the schooner, on 
the 22nd of October, 1852, when she was surveying at Pantanno, which stated 
that the bearer, a good man and a Christian, was persecuted by the Burmese, 
and obliged to live in the jungle. Mr. Lay handed the man back his paper, and 
he immediately disappeared, when a volley of musketry was fired into the boat, 
wounding Mr. Lay severely in the head, and a Malay close to him received six 
gunshot wounds in different parts of the body ; the boat's crew, all being Malays, 
immediately jumped into the water, leaving their officer to fight it out. Mr. Lay, 
though severely wounded, returned the fire, killing one man and wounding two 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 399 

pleted the survey of the entrance, into the Irrawaddy by the 
Barague river ; and the report they brought was that " a good 
channel for ships up to 700 tons' burden exists at all seasons, 
with not less than three and a half fathoms." The ' Spy' dis- 
covered during the survey a fine channel into the Irrawaddy by 
the China-Buckeer branch, with some fifteen or twenty fathoms 
of water. Mention has already been made of the survey, during 
the Burmese War, of the Sittang River by Lieutenant Hellard, 
of the 'Ferooz,' with the boats of that ship. In February, 
1854, Lieutenant Ward arrived at Tonghoo, having accom- 
plished a more detailed and systematic examination of the 
Sittang River ; but, strange to say, this survey was never pub- 
lished, though he was more fortunate with his other labours, 
and his "Sailing Directions for the Straits of Malacca" appeared 
in " Horsburgh's Directory." 

Lieutenant (now retired Commander) Ward ranks among 
the first of the race of surviving Indian Navy surveyors. As 
one of those who assisted the late Captain Sanders in his survey 
of the south-east coast of Arabia — a band which included 
Lieutenants Constable, Fell, James, and Whish — he was em- 
ployed to compile the " Pilot of the Gulf of Aden, including the 
South-East coast of Arabia," which was published by the Ad- 
miralty in 1863. 

In the beginning of 1855, a year and a half after the termi- 
nation of the Burmese War, the King of Ava sent a com- 
plimentary mission to Lord Dalhousie, which was conveyed to 
Calcutta in the ' Zenobia.' In the following summer the 
Governor-General returned the compliment by the despatch, to 
the Burmese capital, of an Embassy consisting of the following 
officers : — Captain Phayre,* Commissioner of Pegu, as Envoy ; 
Captain H. Yule,f Bengal Engineers ; Dr. John Forsyth, Super- 
inteuding-surgeon in Pegu ; Major Grant Allan, of the Quarter- 
master General's Department and Special Deputy Commissioner 
on the Frontier; Commander J. Rennie, commanding the ' Zeno- 
bia,' to survey the Irrawaddy and report upon its navigation, 
assisted by Lieutenant J. A. Heathcote and Mr. Midshipman W. 
H. Ogilvy, of the Indian Navy ; and Mr. Oldham, Superintendent 
of the Geological Survey of India and President of the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal. Captain Willis, 84th Regiment, commanded 
the escort, consisting of the Light Company of the 84th Regi- 
ment, and a native officer and fifteen men of the 8th Irregular 

mortally. Mr. Shepherd, seeing that Mr. Lay was attacked, pulled across to 
his assistance, and was also fired at from both banks of the river, but without 
injury. Lieutenant Ward, thereupon, thought it prudent, for the present, to 
give up surveying the river trigonometrically, as the native boats' crews would 
not stand by their officers. 

* Now Major-G-eneral Sir Arthur Phayre, K.C.S.I., C.B., Governor and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Mauritius. 

f Now Colonel Yule, C.B., Member of the Council of India. 



400 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Cavalry. Besides the other officers of the escort, there were 
attached to the Mission, Captain Tripe, of the Madras Army, an 
accomplished photographer; Mr. C. Grant, artist; and Mr. R. 
Edwards, interpreter. The Mission, which was to make pre- 
sents to, and negotiate a treaty with, the King of Ava, em- 
harked on board the ' Sutlej ' and ' Panlang,' flats, in tow of 
the steamers ' Bentinck ' and ' Nerbudda,' and quitted Rangoon 
on the 1st of August, 1855. Some stay was made at Prome, 
Thavet-myo, and Mead ay, and crossing the frontier six miles to 
the north on the 11th, they proceeded to Pagan-myo, where 
they arrived on the 20th. Captain Yule, the secretary and 
historian of the Mission, visited the ruins of ancient Pagan, of 
which he gives a detailed account, and acknowledges the great 
assistance he received from Lieutenant Heathcote and Mr. 
Oldham in acquiring the necessary information. After visiting 
Old Ava, the Mission arrived at the capital, Amarapoora, on 
the 1st of September, and, on the 13th, was received in great 
state by the King, the procession on the river consisting of the 
escort of seventy-five soldiers of the 84th, in the steamer's 
boats, the officers of the Mission in other boats, and the 
Governor-General's letter, under Commander Rennie's charge, 
in the ' Zenobia's' pinnace, with the Company's Jack flying at 
the bow, and flanked by the gigs of the ' Nerbudda ' and 
' Bentinck,' with the 'Zenobia's' gig astern. On landing, the 
Mission, accompanied by the cavalry escort and the high Bur- 
mese officials, with seamen of the 'Zenobia' carrying the 
Union Jack and two gold umbrellas, proceeded in great state 
to the palace, where they conformed to the native custom — now 
happily abrogated— of advancing, without their shoes, to the 
foot of the throne of the " Golden-footed" monarch and " Lord of 
the White Elephant." On the 21st of October, Major Phayre 
had a private interview with the King ; and, on the 22nd, 
the Mission took its departure, on the return to British ter- 
ritory, and reached Rangoon on the 30th. During the passage 
of the Mission, Commander Rennie and Lieutenant Heathcote 
surveyed the course of the Irrawaddy, from the frontier to 
Amarapoora, and a large chart was constructed from their 
observations. The geographical positions of all places on the 
Irrawaddy, were fixed, and a sketch-survey was forwarded to 
Calcutta, and afterwards lithographed for use in navigation. A 
memoir to accompany this survey was also printed, and some 
forty copies were struck off. 
Lieutenant Heathcote,* in a paper which appears in Vol. V. 

* This distinguished and lamented officer, to whom the writer of these pages 
desires here to record his acknowledgments for the services always placed at his 
disposal, notwithstanding his heavy professional duties as manager of a Salvage 
Company, died on the 3rd of January, 1877, deeply regretted by his relatives, 
friends, and old brother officers. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 401 

of the " Journal of the Royal United Service Institution,"* and 
was read by Admiral Collinson at a meeting of the Institution, 
on the 22nd of February, 1861, gives the following account of 
the manner in which this running survey was made : — ' ; On the 
British frontier, where it abuts on the Irrawaddy, two boundary 
pillars are erected ; their relative position and distance from each 
other has been well ascertained, and the river within this bound- 
ary has been well surveyed. It was the duty of the surveyors of 
the Mission to produce as accurate a survey of the river to the 
north of this boundary, within the territories of the King of 
Burinah, as the time occupied in the passage of the Mission 
allowed them. The principle laid down for the execution of 
this duty was a combination of the three elements of time, 
speed, and transit bearings ; the result being checked and con- 
firmed by astronomical observations. The surveyors were well 
provided with instruments, and live chronometers were placed 
in a cabin of the largest flat, upon a stand purposely erected to 
avoid vibration or the effects of concussions, and to give every 
facility for winding and comparison. At each end of the roof 
of the flat, which was about fifteen feet above the water, and 
about 120 feet long, standards were set up to give a line of 
sight at right angles to the 'keel of the vessel. These were 
used to ascertain the rate of progress, by noting the interval 
between the passing by the two sets of standards of any fixed 
object on the bank when the vessel's course was perfectly 
straight.f A good prismatic compass was set upon the roof of 
the flat, and, starting from a given point, and noting time and 
speed, the transit-bearing of every point or object, especially 
those on the bank, with every other that was worth remark, 
was accurately noted. Objects in the interior were observed 
in the same way, and these observations, both backwards and 
forwards, were made as numerous as possible, so as to act as 
a check one against another. Time of arrival, and speed, at 
every point or object before observed, was again noted, the 
course being principally along either one bank or the other, to 
avoid the extreme strength of the mid-current. The eventual 
plotting of the chart was throughout kept constantly in view, 
and the connection between all the various objects carefully 
preserved. To avoid the errors to which observations of the 

* In No. 40, Vol. X. of this Journal, also appears a paper by this officer, 
entitled, " Collisions at Sea, and their Remedy by an Improved Svstem of 
Lights." 

t This method of computing speed was also adopted by Lieutenants Chippen- 
dall, R.E., and Watson, R.E., during their survey of the course of the Nile 
between Khartoum and Rigaf, while employed under Colonel Gordon's orders, 
between the 1st of October and the 29th of November, 1874. Lieutenant 
Watson describes the method in detail, as though it were a novel one. (See 
" Journal of the Royal Geographical Society," vol. xlvi., pp. 412-416.) 

VOL. II. DD 



402 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

speed, as tested by the standards, were liable from any acci- 
dental deviation from the vessel's straight course, these ob- 
servations were taken very frequently, and their results were 
very satisfactory, as the vessels steered as steadily as could be 
desired, the flat being towed alongside the steamer. The speed 
of the vessels over the ground, the progress being against the 
stream, averaged eighty or ninety yards per minute, in excep- 
tional cases ranging so low as thirty-five to forty, and so high as 
one hundred and sixty. The rate through the water was found in 
the ordinary way. A Burmese was at hand to give information 
as to the names of the villages, &c, and as every point could not 
be named (nor, if so, would it have been convenient to use 
their names), each point or other object was denoted by the 
degree of the prismatic compass by which it first came under 
observation. The vessels were always moored to the bank 
shortly after sunset. Then came observations of stars, with 
the artificial horizon for latitude and longitude ; and as our 
stay at the principal places en route generally extended to a 
day, very frequent opportunities were found for ascertaining the 
rates of the chronometers. Chronometer measurements were 
thus obtained under circumstances peculiarly favourable, and 
they were again checked on the return passage of the vessels. 
This survey does not pretend to mathematical precision ; it is 
merely a sketch-survey, rapidly taken under peculiar circum- 
stances. Perhaps the astronomical observations are its most 
valuable results; nevertheless, the sketch itself will be found 
to possess such a degree of accuracy as can ordinarily be ob- 
tained when the opportunities for surveying are no greater 
than those afforded by the passage up an almost unknown 
river for the first time in a steam vessel. At Amarapoora a 
trigonometrical survey of the water-approaches to the capital 
was obtained, as also a section of the river at a favourable 
point, and the discharge of water at the prevailing season." 

Between the years 1856-62, Lieutenant Heathcote was 
engaged upon the surveys of the Bay of Bengal. In the 
former year he made a survey of the western entrance of the 
Hooghly from Kaokali to the Pilot Station at the Sand Heads. 
"It was undertaken," says Markham, "because the Gaspar 
Channel, that commonly used, was becoming dangerous, owing 
to accumulations of sand, and threatening to obstruct the 
traffic to Calcutta. This survey, which required very great 
exactness, was performed in the surveying vessels, 'Krishna' 
and ' Spy,' and the chart was drawn on a large scale, showing 
the depth of water to feet. It was accompanied by a report 
upon all the channels of the Hooghly, comparing their present 
form with that which they showed upon the last surveys, and 
showing the amount of accumulation that had taken place. 
The work was connected with the stations of the Great Trigo- 



HISTORY OF THE IN T DIAN NAVY. 403 

nometrical Survey." Iti 1861, Lieutenant Heathcote was em- 
ployed by the Admiralty to compile a chart of the Bay of 
Bengal, showing the winds and currents during the south-west 
monsoon, worked out from a large number of logs of old India- 
men ; and the chart was sent to the India Office, and appears, 
together with the accompanying memoir, in the "Journal of 
the Royal Geographical Society " for 1862. This was a 
pendant to Lieutenant Taylor's chart of the currents of the 
Arabian Sea during the same season, compiled from a com- 
parison of upwards of a hundred logs of vessels of the Indian 
Navy, which was highly commended by Commodore Lushing- 
ton, and was published, with a memoir, in 1853. Lieutenant 
Fergusson, draughtsman at Bombay in succession to Captain 
Montriou, " also prepared three sets of charts, each set contain- 
ing a chart for every month in the year, showing the winds and 
currents of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian and China 
Seas, which were published in 1856." In 1858, Lieutenant 
M. A. Sweny, assisted by Lieutenant H. Jackson, continued the 
survey of the Coromandel Coast, from Point Calimere to Pulicat,* 
and the chart and memoir were sent in to Government in Novem- 
ber, 1860, when, with the exception of the coast about the mouths 
of the Mahanuddy, which was executed in 1869-70, the work 
wis completed which Captain Fell had clone so much to 
further, when, in 1851, he compiled the chart, in three 
sheets, of the Coromandel Coast from Pulicat to Bim- 
lipatam. 

An important episode in the history of Indian Navy Surveys, 
is that relating to the labours of Lieutenant (now Captain) 
C. G. Constable,! and his assistant, Lieutenant Stiffe, in the 
Persian Gulf. From 1851 to 1856, the former officer had been 

* See Captain Constable's Memorandum of the 3rd of March, 1862. 

t Lieutenant Constable entered the Service in 1839, and from 1844, when 
the surveys were recommenced, had been continuously employed in this duty. He 
assisted Captain Sanders in the years 1844-45 in his survey of the south-east coasc 
of Arabia, and in the Litter part of 1849 and early in the following year, while 
on furlough, proceeded to Egypt, where he drew a map for Sir James Outram, 
who was at that time employed on secret service for the Government, compiling 
a memoir on the resources, defences, and military capabilities of that country. 
For his work, which was voluntarily undertaken, and without remuneration, he 
received the thanks of the Supreme Government and of the Government of 
Bombay, besides being honoured with the friendship and esteem of that great 
man, Sir James Outram, who wrote as follows regarding him to Commodore 
Lushington : — " Baroda, August loth, 1850. My dear Commodore, I have 
been directed by Government to convey its thanks to Lieutenant Constable tor 
the valuable aid he gave me in Egypt in surveying and mapping. A very 
valuabie specimen of his handiwork being lodged with the Government, which 
I wish you could see, to satisfy you as to his superior qualifications as a surveyor, 
for I think I am bound to bring Constable's kind assistance to me to your notice, 
as well as to that of the Government, in the hope that you may feel inclined to 
advance so valuable an officer in the branch of the Service which he is so peculiarly 
calculated for. In this hope I take the liberty to bring Lieutenant Constables 
Egyptian services to your notice, and I shall be glad indeed, if by doing so, 1 

DD 1 



404 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

employed surveying on the west coast of India, either as assist- 
ant to Commander Kennie in 1852, and Commander Grieve in 
1853, or as surveyor in command. Under instructions from 
Sir Henry Leeke, dated the 24th of March, 1856, to "complete 
the deep sea soundings from Angria's bank to Cape Comorin," 
including an area of about 16,800 square miles, Lieutenant 
Constable was employed on this work, when, on the 11th of 
November, he was attached to the Persian Expeditionary force 
as Surveyor, in the ' Euphrates,' with Lieutenant Sweny as his 
assistant. No fitter person could have been found, either in the 
Service or out of it, as for many years he had turned his atten- 
tion to the hydrography of the Persian Gulf, and his knowledge 
of every creek and inlet was so profound as to have passed into 
a proverb among his brother officers. What more immediately 
drew the notice of the Government to him, was a paper he 
read before the Bombay Geographical Society, on the 21st of 
February, 1856, (published in their "Transactions," vol. xii. 
p. 98) entitled "Memoir relating to the Hydrography of the 
Persian Gulf and the knowledge we possess of that sea," in 
which he pointed out the numerous errors in the surveys of 
1821-28, made by Captains Guy and Brucks,* which had come 
to his knowledge during his service in the Gulf. 

On the capture of Bushire he was engaged making a minute 
survey of the town, harbour, and neighbouring country, as, on 
account of the jealousy all Easterns have of Europeans "writ- 
ing down their land," as they call it, it was necessary to com- 
plete the survey while the town was in our occupation. In 
order to secure this, he and his officers had to work throughout 
the hot season ; but they completed the task in time, though 
not without suffering considerably in health. Lieutenant 
Sweny was detached to buoy off the bar and channel of the 
Shatt-ul-Arab, for the passage of the fleet to bombard Mohamra, 
and thus enabled the ships-of-war, steamers, and transports, to 
ascend its waters without any casualties, which, owing to the 
paucity of Arab pilots, could not otherwise have been accom- 

can interest you in his favour. Very sincerely yours, Signed — J. Outeam." On 
his return from Egypt, Lieutenant Constable had applied to Commodore 
Lusliington for employment on the Survey, but bad been informed that there was 
no vacancy. Colonel Outram's letter, however, acted as the " open sesame," and 
a place was speedily found for Lieutenant Constable in the ' Euphrates,' as already 
mentioned. From this date until the abolition of the Service, he was always 
employed in the Survey Department. 

* It may be mentioned that many years before this, Lieutenant Constable bad 
brought to the notice of Government the errors in the old Persian Grulf charts, 
which he had examined and tested. Thus we find that on the 9th of December, 
1851, Commodore Lushington wrote to him acknowledging the receipt of " a 
most useful and interesting report on the hydrography of the Persian Gulf, 
pointing out in a clear and intelligible manner the errors in the present charts." 
Put he adds there was no vessel available for surveying duties, though when the 
Gulf survey could be undertaken, no one had greater claims for the command 
owing " to his long application and extensive knowledge of the Gulf." 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 405 

plished. On the conclusion of the war, Lieutenant Constable 
was ordered to correct* the survey of the Gulf, which occu- 

* Lieutenant Constable's instructions were briefly comprised in the following 
paragraph of a despatch, dated the 24>th of June, 1857, from the Court of 
Directors to the Government of Bombay. " It is very important that as soon as 
the demands of the Service will admit of it, one of the Indian Navy vessels should 
be employed in making a circuit of the Persian Guif, for the purpose of determin- 
ing correctly the latitudes and longitudes of the principal points." " In accord- 
ance with these instructions," says Captain Constable, in an official memorandum 
of his proceedings, " certain positions round the G-ulf were carefully determined, 
at such short distances apart as would admit of the interjacent coast-line being 
completed from the existing charts without material error, a vessel being thereby 
enabled to shape her course from one point to another with certainty. The new 
chart thus constructed, is a correct skeleton of the islands, and of the principal 
points and towns around the Grulf, with as much of the detail of coast-line (in 
the vicinity of the positions fixed) correctly triangulated as the time admitted, 
the remainder of the coast-line being adapted from the old charts. The latitudes 
and longitudes were mostly astronomically determined by reflecting instruments of 
the best class, and with the exception of a few observations, at shoals not dry, 
out of sight of land, they were exclusively made with the artificial horizon. The 
latitudes were determined by observations of the pole star, and by eircuiu- 
meridional altitudes of stars, and, when the altitude was not too great, of the 
sun. Care was taken to obviate any errors in the usual tables of refraction, by 
observing stars on both sides of the zenith, and, to compensate possible errors of 
construction, by using at the most important stations, three different instruments, 
viz., a reflecting circle, and two sextants. With the exception of some minor 
poiuts, the observations at each station were numerous and varied. The details 
of these observations, as well as those for meridian distances, were given in a 
register, which was forwarded with the chart to Government. The longitudes 
were determined chronometrically by means of seven chronometers. The obser- 
vations for time were altitudes of the sun all taken before noon, as near the same 
time and under the same circumstances as practicable ; and also, by the same 
observer, with the same instrument, viz., a Troughton's reflecting circle, so that 
inaccuracies arising from index error, inaccurate graduation, &c, were practically 
compensated. The general system pursued was to start from some well-deter- 
mined rating station, taking observations at several, not too distant, circum- 
jacent points, and return, without delay, to the starting-point, to obtain a mean 
rate for the interval, which was not to exceed ten or twelve days, the rating 
stations being connected with the fundamental positions by at least two in- 
dependent measurements. It was found possible, gradually, during the course 
of the chronometric observations between Kais (Kenn), Kishm, and Limoh, to 
connect these and the intermediate stations, also trigonometrically, thereby 
checking the observations. Numerous minor points, and all the principal hills 
and land-marks, were fixed trigonometrically from the astronomical positions. 
The variation of the compass, which is westerly, and had much decreased since 
the former survey, was everywhere carefully determined by azimiths observed on 
shore with a 7-inch Everest theodolite. No information being given on the old 
charts as the heights of mountains, islands, &c, much attention was bestowed 
on their accurate determination, elevations being observed by the 7-inch theodo- 
lite, and heights above mean level of the sea computed. During the surveying 
vessel's progress from one station to another, a great many soundings were taken 
to fill up gaps, and also test those exhibited on the old charts. The nature of the 
bottom was likewise everywhere noted, as it had been rarely recorded by former 
surveyors." 

In a letter addressed to Commodore Jenkins, commanding the Persian Gulf 
Squadron, dated the 27th of April, 1858, Lieutenant Constable gives the follow- 
ing details of the work up to that date : — 

" I arrived at Bushire from Bombay on the 25th of December, 1856, and was 
immediately sent up a narrow creek, where the vessel was stationed two miles 
inland of Bushire, as a floating battery for the protection of the left flank of the 
British camp, and was detained there until the 25th of April following. During 



406 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

pied him from April, 1857, to March, 1860, during which 
period he had the invaluable assistance of Lieutenant A. W. 
Stiffe, who, at his request, was appointed Assistant-Surveyor, 
his other officers being Midshipmen T. M. Lainbarde and H. 
Hewer. 

this period the vessel was also ready for action, but the boats were continually 
away, sounding and buoying the harbour to facilitate the landing of the army 
stores and troops. My assistant, Lieutenant Sweny, was despatched to the 
mouth of the Euphrates, which he sounded and buoyed previous to the entrance 
of the fleet of men-of-war and transports which went up to Moharura. The 
creeks in the vicinity of the brig were surveyed also at this time. As soon as the 
vessel was released from this position, the survey of Bushire Harbour and roads 
was commenced, and this was completed by the 5th of September. In the mean- 
time the brig was sent away with despatches to Mohamra, which took nearly a 
month. The strong north-west winds fill the air with dust for days together at that 
season (June and July), so much so, that often when lying at anchor in company 
with thirty and forty ships crowded together in this anchorage, only three or four 
nearest to us could be seen. The extreme heat of the weather, and, moreover, 
the paucity of officers — for besides Lieutenant Stifle, the Assistant-Surveyor, there 
are but two midshipmen — will sufficiently account for the time occupied. We 
sailed for Kharrack on the 15th, having been detained until then by our carpenter's 
services being required to fit up arm-racks in the transports. We had just com- 
menced a trigonometrical survey of Kharrack too, had erected the necessary 
station marks, and were engaged measuring the base line, when I received orders 
from Commander Eennie to break oil' and return to Bushire, from whence I was 
to sail and ascertain the latitude and longitude of all points, &c, around the 
Gulf. It is to be regretted, that although Kharrack has been twice in the 
possession of the British, our Government are still without a Marine Survey of 
it and the neighbouring island of Congo with its outlying reefs. The Persian 
Government is so jealous, that to survey those islands, whilst in their hands, is 
out of the question. We left Bushire on our cruise for fixing the positions on 
the 27th of September, and returned last Friday, having been absent nearly 
seven months. We have taken observations of two points of the Coast of Arabia, 
one sixty-seven miles north-west of El Kateef, the other at Cape Mussendom, 
and fixed the position of Biddulph's Islands, which lie on the Arabian side of 
the Gulf; with the above exceptions, our attention has been devoted to the 
Persian shore, considering it the wisest course to proceed systematically and 
finish one side at a time. The Persian coast, from Bushire down to the entrance 
of the Gulf, is nearly done, it remaining only to take observations at three or 
four more points. Our maxim is, ' Let what is done be well done.' As we sail 
from place to place, soundings are regularly taken and registered, so that from 
all I have mentioned, you will perceive that a large amount of data towards 
forming an entire new chart of the Gulf is in my hands, which it will require 
leisure to compile and reduce into uniform scale. At the towns where we have 
taken observations, the Sheikhs have treated us with the utmost kindness, giving 
us a room in their house, with carpets and pillows to sleep on, and food has been 
cooked for us. Never has any objection been made to our surveying operations, 
but every facility afforded. A natural curiosity has brought a hundred people 
around the instruments, but they never cause the least annoyance ; they are too 
well-behaved for that. When requested to sit quiet, because their moving caused 
the mercury in the artificial horizon to vibrate, they do so, and do not nmve 
until they are told they may do so. The duty over, we permit them to look 
through the telescopes, &c. ; then old men and children are equally delighted. 
On two occasions our boats have been swamped in the surf on the beach; the 
crew were insufficient to move them, but the Arabs hastened to their assistance 
and hauled the boats up, and saved everything belonging to them. One party I 
was able to reward with some money, but in the other instance, the accident 
occurring in front of the town of Conpoon, the sheikh was present and would 
not allow his subjects to receive a com. He said that they had only done their 
duty, and the English always assisted the Arabs when their boats are in 
distress." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 407 

Geological specimens were collected from various parts along 
the shores and islands, and presented to the Secretary of the 
Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Dr. Carter, a 
distinguished naturalist and formerly assistant-surgeon of the 
'Palinurus,' during the survey of the south-east coast of Arabia, 
conducted by Commander Sanders, which enabled him to draw 
up a valuable paper, which appears in the Journal of the 
Asiatic Society of Bengal. To ensure perfect accuracy in the 
identification of places by their Arabic names, Lieutenant 
Constable made a practice of proceeding on shore at every town 
and village on the coast, calling upon the Sheikh, or headman, 
from whom he would request information ; these chiefs, more 
familiar with the use of the sword than of the pen, would in- 
variably call in their meerza, or secretary, who, with " cullum- 
claun" at waist, transcribed in a book the Arabic name, or 
names, of the places under his lord's domination. Lieutenant 
Constable, on his arrival at Bushire, then solicited the assist- 
ance of that accomplished Arabic and Persian scholar, Captain 
Felix Jones, the Political Resident, who translated the Arabic 
into its English equivalent. 

In this thorough method was the examination of the Persian 
Gulf, and the identification of its sites, conducted by Lieutenant 
Constable and his talented assistant, Lieutenant Stiffe,* both of 
whom recognised the justice of the maxim enunciated by Admiral 
Beechey, in his address at the Anniversary meeting of the Royal 
Geographical Society, in May, 1856: — "A rapid reconnaissance 
of a coast might have been tolerated half a century ago, but 
such a survey cannot now be accepted." 

On the 22nd of June, 1858, Lieutenant Constable returned to 
Bombay in the ' Euphrates,' and again proceeded to the Persian 
Gulf in the ' Marie,' schooner, of 167 tons. On the completion 
of the survey, in March, 1860, Lieutenant (now Commander) Con- 
stable finally returned to Bombay, when he completed the new 
chart, which was published by the Admiralty in 1862, and so 
excellent was the workmanship, that Admiral Washington sent 
it to the International Exhibition of that year as a good speci- 
men of English chart drawing.! On his return to England, 
Commander Constable was employed writing the " Persian Gulf 
Pilot," a work filled with information which he had been collect- 
ing for twenty years, and which was published by the Admiralty 
in 1864. 

* Since the abolition of the Service, Lieutenant Stiffe has held the post of 
Director at Kurrachee of the Government Persian Gulf telegraph line. 

t Lieutenant Constable would appear to have inherited his talent as a 
draughtsman, from his father, John Constable, E.A., the distinguished English 
landscape painter. His assistant in the early part of the survey, Lieutenant 
Sweney, also, doubtless, owed some of his eminence as a practical seaman to the 
teachings of his father, who served as lieutenant in the 'Colossus,' seventy- 
four guns, at the Battle of Tk 



408 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Iii 1860, Lieutenant Whish, in the 'Mahi,' made a partial 
survey of a channel inside the great shoal called Yarron, oft' 
Bahrein, of which island he wrote a memoir, which appears in 
Vol. XV. of the "Journal of the Bombay Geographical Society;" 
and, in 1870, an accomplished surveyor — Mr. Girdlestone, for- 
merly midshipman of the Indian Navy — of the Topographical 
Survey Department, completed the survey of the reefs and 
channels between Bahrein and El Kateef on the mainland.* 

In the latter part of 1856, Lieutenant C. Forster, a talented 
and popular officer, who died in the year 1876, completed 
single-handed, in the ' Nerbudda,' cutter, in a remarkably brief 
space of time, all the deep sea soundings from the Bombay 
Bank, to seaward of what Commander Montriou and Lieu- 
tenant Taylor had done, as far as Cape Comorin. 

A prominent name in these pages, has been that of Com- 
mander Felix Jones, who, during the Persian War, in critical 
circumstances, filled the post of Political Resident at Bushire, 
with credit to himself and advantage to the Government. We 
have detailed his services to hydrography and geographical 
research up to May, 1847, when he returned to Mesopotamia, 
from Bombay, as Surveyor.! From that date to the spring of 
1853 he was assiduously engaged in adding to our limited geo- 
graphical knowledge of those regions, and extending our inter- 
course with the tribes of Arabs who roam over them. The 
ancient cities of Nineveh and Babylon, with the surrounding 
districts, and the system of canals — which formerly converted 
this wilderness into a smiling garden, affording grain to a vast 
population — were surveyed in these Expeditions, as well as 
numerous additions made to the knowledge of the modern topo- 
graphy of Turkish Arabia. Captain Jones' various maps and 
plans were published by Government and the learned Societies,! 
and for them and his numerous contributions of natural history 
specimens, as well as for the energy he displayed in the prose- 
cution of his public duties, he repeatedly received the thanks of 
the Home and Indian Governments. 

His expedition in 1844, in conjunction with Sir Henry Raw- 

* Mr. Midshipman Girdlestone, after the abolition of the Indian Navy, was 
employed up to 1868 in the Topographical Survey Department as Assistant- 
Surveyor, and, from that date to 1875, as Deputy-Superintendent in charge of 
the Khandeish Survey, on a salary of £1,400 a year. He writes to us : — "In 
1870-71, I was lent for a year to the Bombay Government, to fit out and start 
the survey of the reefs between Bahrein and El Kateef, and was in command of 
the ' Constance.' Having put the whole thing into proper shape, I returned to 
my own department in 1871." This young oflicer had graduated in the Survey 
Department under Lieutenant Williams at Sedasheghur in 1861. 

t Under date the 6th of February, 1852, the Surveyor of Mesopotamia was 
allowed, in addition to his pay, 150 rupees a month ; and by order of the 31st of 
May, 1859, his assistant was allowed four rupees a Cay batta. 

X The memoirs and maps will be found in the " Bombay Selections," No. 43 
(new series), and most of the memoirs also appear in the "Transactions of the 
Bombay Geographical Society." 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 409 

linson, for the purpose of collecting information respecting the 
boundary between Persia and Turkey, and his ascent of the 
Tigris from Bagdad to Samarrah, in the 'Nitocris,' in 1846, 
of which an account appears in Vol. XVIII. of the "Journal of 
the Royal Geographical Society," were followed by a journey 
he undertook, two years later, to determine the course of the 
ancient Nehrwan Canal, of which he publised a minute account, 
accompanied by a map and an interesting historical disquisi- 
tion on this remarkable relic of the Sassanian dynasty. " In 
April and September, 1850," says Markham, " Captain Jones 
surveyed the old bed of the Tigris, discovered the site of the 
ancient Opis, and made researches in the vicinity of the Median 
wall and Physcus of Xenophon. In 1852 he made a trigono- 
metrical survey of the country between the Tigris and the 
Upper Zab, including the ruins of Nineveh, fixing positions by 
meridian altitudes of the sun and stars, with chronometric differ- 
ences for longitude. The results of this work are recorded in 
the beautiful maps of 'Assyrian Vestiges.' in four sheets, and 
in a valuable memoir." Commander Jones also compiled a 
Memoir on the province of Bagdad, the city having been sur- 
veyed and mapped on a large scale by Mr. Midshipman Colling- 
wood,* under Captain Jones' orders, during his absence on 
other duties. In 1853, after twenty-five years' continous ser- 
vice, he was compelled to quit Turkish Arabia on sick leave for 
twelve months, and traversed Asia Minor to Constantinople, 
whence he proceeded to London. 

Captain Jones brought to England with him a map of Baby- 
lonia, in three sheets, with a detailed memoir of the country 
from Museyb, north of Hillah, down to the north-west end of 
the Sea of Nejf. As an instance of the carelessness with which 
such valuable records were treated in the India Office, it may 
be noted that these maps were lost in that department. 

While in London, Captain Jones received notice that the 
threatening condition of affairs in the East, where Persia exhi- 
bited hostile intentions towards Turkey and England, required 
his presence in Mesopotamia. Foregoing his leave, he returned 
to Bagdad via Asia Minor, and, on the 1st of March, 1855, was 
appointed Acting Political Agent and Con sill-General in 
Turkish Arabia, and nominated Agent to the Director-General 
of Land Transport in the Crimea, in which capacity his services 

* Mr. Collingwood writes to us : — " The survey of the city of Bagdad was com- 
pleted entirely by myself, and under very unpleasant restrictions, as it was to be 
done unawares. The Turkish Government were not to know anything about it, con- 
sequently Captain Jones could not move in the matter. He went away on some 
other duty, and I was left to survey the town as best I could, and under such 
difficulties that at times I had to note bearings and paces all over my white shirt, 
where best I could get the pencil at the time, and as you may imagine, had many 
narrow escapes of detection, and had to resort to all kinds of subterfuges, to lull 
suspicion." 



410 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN" NAVY. 

elicited official commendation. In October, 1855, he succeeded 
Captain Kemball as Political Agent in the Persian Gulf, and, 
two months later, when war with Persia was imminent, 
furnished his Government with plans and itineraries for the 
invasion of a country very little known to the Quartermaster- 
General's Department of our Army. For these he received an 
autograph letter from Lord Canning, conveying the "cordial 
thanks" of his lordship for the "forethought" he had displayed, 
and for the "clear and instructive manner in which he had 
conveyed to Government full and complete information." On 
the outbreak of war, twelve months later, Captain Jones was 
named Political Agent to the Persian Expeditionary Force, and 
his services in this capacity were of a high order, and elicited 
the euloginms of Sir James Outram. But, as would appear 
from the result, the fact of his being an officer of the Indian 
Navy must have acted as a bar to his receiving the honours 
freely awarded to other military and civil officers ; for the gal- 
lant Commander of the Expedition, who had notified to Govern- 
ment his meritorious services, remarked on the omission of his 
name from the list of those honoured with the Bath, that he 
had not received that "recognition of his war services," which 
was "undoubtedly his due." 

During the Indian Mutiny, Captain Jones again earned the 
repeated approval of the Indian and Home Governments, for 
the energy and success with which, in that crisis, he held in 
check the disposition of Persia and of the Arab maritime tribes 
of the Gulf, to intrigue against British supremacy and prestige 
in the East, and, while actively engaged against some of the 
more refractory of the Arab chiefs, the exposure brought on 
fever, which ultimately necessitated his quitting his post on 
twenty months' sick leave. In August, 1862, within two 
months of his arrival in England, his experience was sought 
in aid of the project for extending telegraphic intercourse with 
India, via the Persian Gulf, by the Indo-European line, in the 
promotion of which he had always taken great interest. Cap- 
tain Jones possessed all the requirements for contributing to 
the success of such an enterprise. Proficient in the Arabic 
and Persian languages, personally intimate with the chiefs and 
people, familiar with every locality of the Gulf and Mesopo- 
tamia, an accomplished draughtsman and land and marine 
surveyor, and the chief British political authority in the Persian 
Gulf, no man possessed equal claims to initiate the project of 
telegraphic communication. He, accordingly, decided to forego 
his leave for the purpose of preceding the Engineers, Colonel 
Stewart and Sir Charles Bright, in order to conciliate the Arab 
tribes, who viewed with jealousy any attempt to dispossess 
thein of their property in the soil at, and about, the stations 
marked out for the telegraph. By the end of February, 1863, 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 411 

Captain Jones was at Bombay, where he offered his services to 
the Governor, who, however, expressed himself as unable to 
avail himself of them, as, by an old regulation, officers must 
retire from civil employ on completion of thirty-five years' ser- 
vice, and he had already sent to Bushire, Colonel Pelly, the 
acting Political Agent at Zanzibar, a man of great and acknow- 
ledged ability. Thus Captain Jones' Indian career was brought 
to a close, and the Government did not even concede to him a 
public notification of approval for his long and meritorious ser- 
vices extending over a period of thirty-five years.* 

The Expedition for laying the marine portion of the Indo- 
European telegraph,f a Government line, consisted of a 
squadron of steamers and ships,:}: all the former being under 

* Eventually, Captain Jones was awarded compensation equivalent to nine 
months of his salary as Political Resident, but this was barely sufficient to cover 
his expenses in proceeding to India and back with his family, and the loss 
sustained by the forced sale of the furniture and stock of a large Indian Residency. 
Captain Jones has devoted the last years of his life to the service of a Govern- 
ment which, had lie been a Military man or a Civilian, would have recognised 
his services by the bestowal of some honorary distinction, and has recently com- 
pleted a map of Mesopotamia, in which his unrivalled knowledge of that country, 
and his beautiful draughtsmanship are displayed. 

t In 1863, the Turkish Government constructed a telegraph line which, 
leaving the European system at Constantinople, traverses Asia Minor, and passes 
through Mosul to Bagdad. In 1864 a line, on iron standards, was erected by 
the Indian Government from Bagdad to Fao, near Bussorah, which was sub- 
sequently transferred to the officials of the Porte. Before the despatch of the 
Expedition from Bombay, a land-line, 240 miles in length, had been erected along 
the coast from Guadur to Kurrachee by the Government of India. The wire 
from Bagdad to Fao, passing through a country where the Turks have little or 
no authority, was considered to be the most unsafe portion of the line, and a 
supplementary line was constructed by British officers, at the expense of the 
Persian Government, from the cable station at Bushire to Teheran, and thence 
to Bagdad. This line remained the principal one for telegraphic communication 
with India, until the spring of 1870, when a line was opened between London and 
Teheran, and the submarine cable between Suez and Bombay was also opened 
on the 6th of March, 1870, that laid in 1859 having failed a few days after com- 
pletion. An alternative cable to that of 1864 has also been laid from Bushire to 
Cape Jask, whence it is continued by land wire to Guadur. 

X The following were the steamers and officers of the late Indian Navy, em- 
ployed in the layine of this cable :— ' Coromandel,' (headquarter ship) Lieutenant 
G. O'Brien Carew, commanding. ' Zenobia' (towing the ' Kirkham,' with half the 
first section of the cable, 180 miles) the late Lieutenant T. C. R. Carpendale com- 
manding, first officer, Mr. C. King, late Midshipman, I.N. 'Semiramis,' (towing the 
' Marian Moore,' with the second section of the cable, 180 miles) Lieutenant W. 
T. Crockett, commanding, first officer, Lieutenant G. Leishman. ' Dalhousie ' 
(store-ship i, Lieutenant H. Morland, commanding. 'Victoria' (pilo! ship) 
Lieutenant W. P. Arnot, commanding, first officer, Lieutenant E. Dawes. ' Amber- 
witch ' (telegraph ship) Lieutenant A. W. Stiffe, commanding, first officer. Mr. 
T. B. Tolputt (late acting-master, I.N., and Sub-Lieutenant Anglo-Chinese !Sav\ ). 
' Clyde,' (for landing the shore end of the cable), Mr. David White (late Acting- 
Master, I N., and Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve), commanding. The sailing 
ships were the ' Marian Moore' and ' Kirkham,' with the first section of the cable, 
that between Guadur, on the Mekran coast, and Cape Mussendom, 360 miles • 
and the ' Tweed,' ' Assave,' and ' Cospatrick,' with the second section, that be! « een 
Cape Mussendom and Bushire, 400 miles, and the third section between Bushire 
and Fao, on the £hatt-ul-Arab, near Bussorah. The first to leave Bombay was 
the ' \ ictoria,' having on board Lieutenants St. John and Pearson, R.E., and 



412 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the command of officers of the late Indian Navy who had taken 
service iD the newly-constituted Bombay Marine. The steamers 
also formerly belonged to the Service, with the exception of the 
'Amber-witch,' which had been purchased at Liverpool for 
Government by Lieutenant Stiffe, and fitted out in London, 
under the supervision of that scientific officer, with every 
essential for a telegraph ship, and has since been permanently 
stationed on the line. Among the sailing ships employed in 
the Expedition, were the 'Punjaub' (re-christened the 'Tweed") 
and the 'Assaye,' so closely identified, like the steamers ' Se- 
miramis,' 'Zenobia,' and 'Victoria,' with some glorious pas- 
sages in the history of the old Service. Both these beautiful 
vessels had been converted into sailing ships, and nothing 
afloat could equal them for speed ; but, unfortunately, the 
' Assave ' was lost on the Irish coast on her vovage home from 
the Gulf. 

The Expedition sailed from Bombay on the 21st of 
January, 1864, with the exception of the 'Amberwitch' 
and the sailing ships 'Tweed,' 'Assaye,' and ' Cospatrick,' 
which had not yet arrived from England with the Per- 
sian Gulf section of the line, the naval conduct of the 
squadron being under Lieutenant Carew of the ' Coromandel,' 
which, as the head-quarter ship, conveyed the Director-General, 
Colonel Patrick Stewart, of the Bengal Engineers, a man of 
commanding talent, Sir Charles Bright, the engineer in charge, 
and the staff. The shore end of the cable was first laid at 
Guadur Bay, on the Mekran coast, and thence taken to lias 
Mussendom and Bushire, where repeating stations were esta- 
blished. The cable, which was paid out by the sailing vessels, 
towed by the steamers, was landed at Fao, near Bussorah, 
on the Shatt-ul-Arab, whence it was brought into communica- 
tion with the Persian line to Bagdad, Mosul, and Constan- 
tinople. On the 14th of April, the principal officers of the 
Expedition proceeded to Bagdad in the ' Comet,' commanded 
by the late Lieutenant Bewsher, I.N., and in Way, the work of 
laying the cable being complete, the Expedition returned to 
Bombay, when Lieutenant Carew, and the other commanding 

stores for the Persinn land-line, which sailed on the 27th of December, and 
embarking Colonel Desborough at Muscat, landed him at Elphinstone's Inlet, 
near Cape Mussendom, the island at the end of which was afterwards ii;ed as a 
station, the 'Clyde' being stationed there for its protection. A strange circum- 
stance occurred as the ' Dalliousie' was nearing Koce Mubarrek, at the entrance 
of the Gulf, at night time ; all the compasses commenced swinging, and some 
actually revolving, which continued for some hours, the steadiest being a com- 
pass Lieutenant Morland had on his watch-chain. Besides the officers of the late 
Indian Navy,, mentioned above as being employed in the Gulf at this time, Mr. 
Midshipman E. Kieholson was employed on shore on the Mekran coast, and 
Lieutenant "Warner (who recently died at Bagdad) commanded the schooner 
' Georgiana,' which was employed under the order of Colonel Belly, the Political 
Resident at Bushire. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 413 

officers, received the thanks of Colonel Stewart and Sir Charles 
Bright,* 

In 1855, on Captain Jones' appointment to the Resi- 
dency of Bushire, he was succeeded as Surveyor of Meso- 
potamia by Commander Selby, who had already rendered good 
service in connection with the survey of Mesopotamia in 
1840-41, when he examined the Karoon and Dizful rivers. 
On the 1st of September, 1853, he had commissioned the 
' Palinurus ' as Surveyor; but, in the following year, was 
transferred to the command of the steam frigate ' Ajdaha,' and, 
in 1855, hoisted his pennant on board the river-steamer 
' Comet,' employed in protecting British interests on the Tigris, 
as Surveyor of Mesopotamia, for which he was well qualified, 
by reason of his familiarity with the country, as one of the 
survivors of the old Euphrates Expedition.! 

In Lieutenant Collingwoocl and Acting-Lieutenant Bewsher, 
Commander Selby had able assistants, who made, says Mark- 
ham, "a trigonometrical survey of the region west of the 
Euphrates, including the Sea of Nejf, which is fed by that 

* Colonel Stewart wrote to Lieutenant Carew : — " I may say of the perform- 
ance of your duties, whether as senior naval officer with the Expedition, or as 
commander of one of the steamers most actively employed, that nothing could be 
more satisfactory, or results more completely successful." Sir Charles Bright 
wrote : — " The fact that with nine steamers and five sailing vessels engaged in 
laying the Persian Gulf telegraph cable, we have had no hitch, accident, or delay 
of any kind in carrying out the work in the various sections of the line, is of itself 
sufficient testimony of the efficiency with which the service has been performed 
by yourself and the other officers of the Bombay Marine appointed to the 
work." 

f Strange tales could Selby and his coadjutors tell of adventure among the 
turbulent and lawless tribes of Bedouins who range over these classic lands, their 
hand against every man, and regarding only the behest of him who can show 
himself their master. Notable among these adventures was one in June, 1811, 
of which Lieutenant Selby was the hero. While his steamer, the ' Assyria,' was 
taking iu wood at one of the stations on the banks of the Tigris, a party of 
Madan (or Marsh) Arabs, taking a fancy to a favourite dog of his, detained it, 
upon which he proceeded on shore with half a dozen men to demand its restitu- 
tion. After some high words were bandied about regarding the dog, this teterrima 
causa belli, the Bedouin robbers treacherously opened tire, upon which Selby, 
finding that his party were in a trap and himself being wounded, ordered them to 
fall back to the steamer. They obeyed, and he was last seen beaten down on his 
knee, and fighting desperately with a sword broken at the hilt, against a horde 
of savage foes. We knew him well — for only recently he has " gone over to the 
majority" — and he was not one given to speaking of his persotial achievements, 
though there was no need in this case, as he bore to the grave many scars of this 
desperate encounter, as well as some slugs which were embedded in his skull, and 
could only have been extracted at the cost of his life. He lay on the field all 
that day and the following night, and at length, when his men ventured on shore 
to give their gallant leader Christian burial, he was found to be yet breathing. 
Joyfully they carried him on board, and at length he rallied, but it required a 
furlough to his native land to restore him to health, and his iron constitution 
never quite recovered the shock. Commander Selby died on the 24th of May, 
1876, to the extreme regret of his brother officers, and lies buried at the Higher 
Cemetery, Exeter. He descended to the tomb without reward or recognition of 
any sort from the State, beyond the numerous Orders of Government recording 
thanks for his services. 



414 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

river, and embracing the classic sites of Meshed Ali, Birs Nun- 
rood, Kerbela, Kut'a, and Babylon, and the portion of Meso- 
potamia from Samarrah, on the Euphrates, to a point ten miles 
above Bagdad, on the Tigris. The former portion was com- 
pleted and sent home in 18i>1, with an elaborate memoir by 
Captain Selby. But both maps and memoirs were lost through 
some unaccountable carelessness. The original maps and field 
books have, however, been procured from Bagdad, and the 
maps have been redrawn by Lieutenant Colliugwood, and are 
to be engraved. Lieutenant Colliugwood* also surveyed and 
drew maps of the Shatt-ul-Arab from Bussorah to Marghill, 
and of the course of the Hindiyeh Canal, near Meshed Hoossein. 
It is feared that this valuable work is also irretrievably lost. 
Captain Selby and Lieutenant Colliugwood, while tracing the 
old bed of the Euphrates with great care, and surveying the 
Bahr-el-Nejf, were exposed to much harassing work amongst 
the marshes. They also sent in accurate plans of the irruptions 
from the Tigris, and showed that before long, if no efficient 
steps were taken to cheek the evil, that river would be as 
unnavigable as the Euphrates now is. The latter portion of 
the survey from above Bagdad to Tel Ibrahim, and from Tel 
Ibrahim to Samarrah on t lie Euphrates, was commenced in 
October, 1802. In the end of that year Captain Selby retired, 
and Lieutenant Bewsher, who then took charge of the work 
that had thus been begun, completed it in 1865. The maps 
(seven in number) have been engraved in two sheets, and 
Bewsher's memoirt contains an interesting account of the 
ancient canals, which can still be traced, and some details 
respecting the humbler modern system of irrigation. The 
ability and learning shown in this memoir are proofs that 
Lieutenant Bewsher would have been a worthy successor of the 
earlier surveyors; but he died of diseases contracted during 
the service, and the Government abruptly put a stop to the 
survey, leaving it incomplete, and with much work still to be 
dune." 

Lieutenant Collingwood also surveyed the city of Bussorah, 
which, owing to the jealousy of the Turkish authorities, he was 
compelled to effect by stealth, in the same manner as at Bagdad. 
He also surveyed the country between the Tigris and Eu- 
phrates, from Hillah to the ruins of Niffer, on the borders of 

* Lieutenant Collingwood, on Commander Selby proceeding to England, was 
appointed to the command of the ' Comet,' and to be Surveyor of Mesopotamia, 
from the 20th of April, 1861, until the 3rd of April in the following year, when 
Captain Selby resumed his duties, from which he finally retired at the end of the 
year. The former olticer, since the abolition of the Service, entered the India 
Oitice, where his talents and business capacity have rendered him a valued 
Government servant. 

t On the part of Mesopotamia contained between Sheriat-el-Beytha, on the 
Tigris, and Tel Ibrahim. — (" Journal of the Royal Geographical Society," 
vol. xxxvii., p. 160.) 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 415 

the Hindeyeh marshes, tracing down the old bed of the Tigris 
as far as Kut-el-Amara ; this he found distinctly marked, from 
the mass of ruins on each bank, like a range of hills, fully 
justifying the old Arab proverb, that "a cat could jump from 
house-top to house-top all the way from Bussorah to Bagdad." 
Lieutenant Collingwood writes to us: — " Captain Selby and 
myself surveyed a tract of the marshes of the Tigris to see 
if the Hudd was capable of navigation into the heart of the 
district, inhabited by the Albu Ma homed.,* a wild race of men, 

* Of the tribes who inhabit Mesopotamia, the principal are the Anizeh, the 
Shammar, the ThuOBah, and the Khuzail, of which the two former roam the 
Great Desert from Syria southwards to about the parallel of 31° N. Lat. ; the two 
latter, south of that parallel, and on both sides of the River Euphrates. There 
are also the large tribes of the Montefik, Albu Mahomed, and Beni-Lain, but 
they are fellah or cultivating tribes, and cannot be classed with the Bedouin 
above-named, whose life is purely pastoral, and whose occupation is plunder. 
These tribes, like the Persians, belong to the Shiah sect of Islam, whose principal 
places of pilgrimage are Ivaduiuein, about tour miles from Bagdad, and Meshed 
Ali, on the shores of the Bahr-i-Nejf, an inland sea supplied by the waters of the 
Euphrates. Meshed Ali is beautifully situated on the cliffs which form the 
eastern shore of the sea of Nejf. " Ages ago," says Captain Selby, " and before 
the waters of the Euphrates and Tigris had brought down from the mountains of 
Armenia the deposit which now forms the delta of i he t wo rivers, the Persian Gulf 
must have extended up to the Bahr-i-Nejf ai least, and now, when with narrowed 
limits it does not attain to within one hundred and sixty miles of this spot, the 
cliffs still remain, imperishable monuments of the wonderful geographical changes 
continually at work in our globe. Having, on a former occasion, examiued the 
stream by which the Bahr-i-Nejf is fed from the Euphrates, I determined, when 
the time arrived for the survey of the sea itself, to ascend it by the Shat Atshan, 
the channel through which its waters again return to the parent stream. Hiring 
a small boat of about ten tons at Bussorah, to enable us to pass the marshes, in 
which during the autumn eighteen inches of water only could be found, I ascended 
the Euphrates to about the parallel of VVurka, and there entered the embouchure, 
I may call it, of the waters of the sea of Nejf. Eor two days we had entirely left 
the haunts of man, and were tracking upward through as desolate a country as 
can be imagined. The left bank of the river a dense jungle, the haunt ouly of 
the lion, the hyena, and the wild boar ; the right a trackless waste, the view 
bounded by the wonderful wave of sand that, creeping onwards imperceptibly 
from the west, and at an angle of 60" with the horizon, anil having a height of 
about forty feet, is graduaUy wresting from man for ever such fertile plains west 
of the Euphrates as still are left." Commander Selby examined the country 
inhabited by the Albu Mahomed, situated in the delta formed by the junction of 
the Tigris and Euphrates at Koorna, where tradition places the Garden of Eden. 
The Albu Mahomed are Madan (or Marsh) Arabs, their whole wealth consisting 
in the milk of their immense herds of buffalo, which is made into ghee, a kind of 
clarified butter, and exported in great quantities to India and adjacent countries, 
and they also cultivate a little rice and wheat on the few spots of dry land in the 
marshes they inhabit. "To the Turkish Government," say^ Captain Selby, "the 
country of the Albu Mahomed was a terra incognita, for so great is the hatred 
borne, I may say, by all the Arab tribes to the Turk, that to examine the country 
scientifically was never contemplated by them. I had always a great desire to do 
so ; and as I had ingratiated myself in many ways with them, and had landed 
and visited Faasil, then Sheikh, I accepted an opportunity which ottered, and, 
accompanied by a kind friend and brother officer, my assistant, Lieutenant Colling- 
wood, left the banks of the Tigris, and, pursuing one of the numerous canals which 
are cut from the river for irrigation, arrived at the head-quarters of one whose 
very name was a terror to the whole country. The grace which marks the 
reception of a stranger by a Bedouin Sheikh was entirely wanting here ; and 
I could not but feel the truth of the saying of the Arab tribes in refer- 



416 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

among whom we were in daily dread of assassination, but by 
dint of determination at last, and with revolvers in our hands, 
we took by force some native boats to convey us back to the 
* Comet.' The report had gone forth on board the steamer of our 
dangerous position, and Holland was on the point of sending a 
force to rescue us, when we returned." 

The important task of continuing the revision of that portion 
of McCluer's old survey of the west coast south of Bombay, 
which had been begun by Montriou and Selby, on the appoint- 
ment of the latter as surveyor of Mesopotamia, was entrusted 
to the able hands of Lieutenant A. Dun das. Taylor, who, on the 
1st of September, 1853, was appointed to the command of the 
pattamar, 'Pownah,' as surveyor, with Lieutenant Sweny as 
his assistant. In this old craft, and, subsequently, in the 
pattamar, ' Bheemah,' assisted by Mr. Sweny and Midshipmen 
May, Bewsher, Williams, Lewis, Du Boulay, and Beddome, 
he performed as admirable work, between the years 1853-59, 
as any surveyor of his time. The survey, which was executed 
on a " trigonometrical basis, with bases measured on shore, is 

ence to the Albu Mahomed — ' Ungus min Khanazir' (' lower than the pigs.') 
I found Faasil encamped on the bank of a large stream, the head-quarters 
of the tribe, and here was his harem, a square enclosure about one hundred 
yards each way, on which were one hundred huts, that being the number 
of his wires and slaves, while his own hall of audience, built outside, was the 
largest I ever saw, and though constructed entirely of reeds and matting, was 
thirty yards long and six wide. My companion and myself found that we 
were the objects of continued suspicion and mistrust, and to such an extent were 
we watched that all we could do in the way of mapping the part of the country 
where we were, was done by placing a base line and obtaining angles and bear- 
ings by a prismatic compass. Nothing would have justified me in embroiling our 
Government with a Turkish tribe, and as an occurrence took place, which con- 
vinced me of the great distrust they entertained, and as to survey was impossible, 
I rejoined the steamer I commanded where 1 had left her in the river some eight 
miles distant. The occurrence to which I refer was this : — Faasil came to my 
tent one morning, as was his wont, and asked me to come and walk a little with 
him. We struck away from the encampment, and presently came to a grave. 
Faasil clutched me by the arm, and looking steadily at me, said, ' Kaptan, what 
is that ?' I at once detected the drift of his inquiry, so returning his fixed look, 
1 answered, ' That, Faasil, is a grave, where honest men sleep peacefully, and where 
rogues are unquiet.' ' It is well answered,' he said, turned and walked back to 
the encampment without another word passing between us. Among the provi- 
dential escapes I have had in my varied and wandering life, I have ever regarded 
this as the most signal. A faltering word, and probably the knife of the savage 
would have been deep in my breast." Captain Selby says of this truculent 
savage : — " I give one example of his stern justice. A woman was going to her hut 
with some milk, when two men accosted her. ' Oh, woman, give us of the milk.' 
She declined ; they took it from her and drank. She complained to Faasil. He 
sent for the men. ' This woman says you have taken milk from her.' ' No, 
wullah, Sheikh ; it is a lie.' ' Answer, woman, carefully ; did they take and 
drink it ?' ' They did.' ' Rip them open, said Faasil, 'and see.' It was done, 
and sufficient traces of the milk found to establish the truth of the woman's story. 
' It is well, woman,' said Faasil, ' that you have told the truth, or I would 
have killed you and your whole family ?' " Of his end Lieutenant Collingwood 
writes : — " Shortly after our escape, Faasil was slain by his own people, it was 
believed under the impression that he was a traitor, and had brought us there 
or at least had countenanced us in spying out the fat of the land." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 417 

included in six sheets of the coasts of the South Concan, 
Oanara, and Malabar." In 1857, Lieutenant Taylor surveyed 
the harbour at Carwar, the anchorages at Beypoor and Cochin, 
and, on the east coast, the Bay of Coringa, which had been 
surveyed by Lieutenant Warren in 1805, and Commander 
Fell in 1846. The Madras Government presented him with 
a sum of 2,000 rupees, and thanked him, as they did also 
Lieutenant E. R. May, who had been employed for some years 
on detached survey duty under their orders. 

On his return to England Lieutenant Taylor prepared for 
the Admiralty his " West Coast of Hindostau Pilot, including 
the Gulf of Manaar, the Maldivh and Lakadivh Islands," which 
was published by the Admiralty in I860. But his magnum 
opus in this important branch of literature, was his " India 
Directory," or sailing directions for the whole of the Indian 
Ocean, with observations, and charts of the winds, passages, 
and currents, published by the Messrs. Allen in 1874. 
This valuable and exhaustive work, for which the author 
only modestly lays claim that it is " founded " on the 
4i India Directory " of the late Captain Horsburgh, is, in 
point of fact, almost an original work, and the writer of 
these pages, who assisted him in an humble way in its 
preparation, can endorse Mr. Markham's testimony that 
" there is no man living who is so intimately acquainted with 
the anchorages on the Indian coast, from the mouths of the 
Indus to those of the Godavery, or who so completely under- 
stands their capabilities for improvement." 

On Lieutenant Taylor's return to England Lieutenant Wil- 
liams continued, in the ' Euphrates,' the examination of the 
small portion of the Malabar coast not yet surveyed. Having 
completed this, he arrived at Bombay on the 11th of May, 
1860, and, on the 15th of September, again proceeded to 
examine a portion of the coast of Ceylon. The 'Euphrates' 
returned to Bombay on the 4th of February, 1861, and, later 
in the year, was employed, with the ' Falkland,' Commander 
Fraser, in the examination of Sedasheghur as a cotton port 
during the monsoon. In September, 1860, Lieutenant C. Forster 
continued, in the steamer ' Assyria,' the survey of the rivers 
of the Punjaub, on which Commander Grounds and Lieutenant 
Stroyan had been engaged ten or twelve years before. During 
this year (1860) Lieutenant Whish made a complete survey of 
Bombay harbour, on several sheets, on a large scale, which has 
since been reduced and published by the Admiralty. He then 
proceeded to the Punjaub, and was engaged, with Lieutenant 
Forster, in the survey of the rivers in that province until his 
return to Bombay on the 11th of November, 1861. On the 
3rd of February following, he commissioned the ' Euphrates." 
with Lieutenant Williams as assistant-surveyor, but the 

VOL. II. EE 



418 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

abolition of the Service put an end to their labours, and those 
of the staunch little vessel, which for thirty-four years — first 
as a ten-gun brig-of-war, and then as a surveying vessel — 
had done so much in furthering the interests of India and of 
science. 

In the years 1859-60, Mr. Midshipman W. Marshall, of the 
1 Clyde,' gunboat, then stationed at the Andaman Islands, sur- 
veyed, unassisted, Port Blair, Middle Straits, and the Cocos 
Islands. The chart of the former has been published by the 
Admiralty, and the two latter were lithographed in India. 
Owing to the savage character of the Andamaners, the sur- 
veys were executed in boats fully manned and armed, with out- 
posts stationed in the jungle to prevent surprises. "Mr. Mar- 
shall discovered," says Markhara, " by several chronometric 
measurements taken between Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, 
that the Andaman Islands were placed eleven miles too far to 
the westward on the charts, and that the great Coco Island was 
placed six miles too far to the westward of Port Blair." After 
passing his examination for lieutenant, this energetic young 
officer,* asssisted Lieutenant Whish in the new survey of 
Bombay harbour, and then joined Lieutenant Williams, as 
assistant-surveyor, in the examination of Back Bay. 

In connection with the surveys of the Indian Navy, we 
should not omit the record of an important duty performed, 
after the abolition of the Service, by Lieutenant Edwin 
Dawes, an accomplished draughtsman and surveyor, who had 
been engaged in the ' Euphrates ' in the survey of Sedashe- 
ghur, under Lieutenant R. Williams, in 1861. 

When, in 1865, a mission was undertaken by Colonel Pelly,t 
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to Riadh, in Central 
Arabia, the capital of the Wahabee Ameer, Lieutenant Dawes, 
then commanding the ' Berenice,' was attached to it and 
rendered important services. The 'Berenice,' having Colonel 
Pelly on board, left Bushire in January, 1865, and steamed 
across the Gulf to Koweit. Colonel Pelly had intended to 
leave for the interior immediately, but by advice of Sheikh 
Yoosuf-bin Bidr, the horse merchant, at whose house the party 
stayed, he determined to send a messenger to inform the 
Wahabee Ameer of Nejd, Fysul-bin-Saood, of his intended 
visit. A very short letter from Fysul, which was neither warm 
nor pressing, came in due course, and, after spending some 
days in making preparations and collecting camels, the party, 
consisting of Colonel Pelly, Assistant-Surgeon Colville, the 

* Since the abolition of the Service, Mr. Marshall has been engaged in the 
survey and valuation, on an enormous scale, of railways, gas and water-works, 
docks, and other large properties for the purposes of parochial assessment, he 
having valued (as we have been informed) this class of property in nearly a 
thousand parishes in England and Wales. 

t Now Sir Lewis Pelley, K.C.B., K.C.S.I. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 419 

Residency Surgeon, and Lieutenant Dawes, finally left Koweit, 
on the evening of the 17th of February Assistaut-Snrgeon 
Colville was instructed to make geological and botanical 
notes, and Lieutenant Dawes was appointed geographer, in 
which capacity his talents as a scientific observer and ex- 
cellent artist, would find congenial employment. They were 
both specially directed by Colonel Pelly to use the utmost 
caution, considering the extreme danger of travelling among 
such bigoted Mahomedans. The natives of the party consisted 
ofaMosuli as Arabic interpreter, named George Lucas, who 
passed himself off as a Mahomedan, and called himself Abdulla; 
two sowars from the north-west of India, who acted as order- 
lies ; a chuprassie from Calcutta, two Persian servants, and a 
Portuguese cook, besides Arab camel men — in all about thirty- 
three people. All the party wore the Arab " kuffieh" and " abba/' 
though, of course, the Arab followers knew their leaders were 
English officers. The only tent was a small *' rowtie," and 
they took a limited amount of preserved provisions, without 
which they could scarcely have got on. Their guide was a 
Sliybeh, a most useful man, belonging to that singular tribe of 
people, whose origin is unknown, but who are the only human 
beings who can live on the Central Arabian desert in the hot 
weather. The party was also accompanied by Aali, a Sheikh of 
the Sebaa tribe, who agreed to assist them with his clansmen in 
the desert, but proved of no use, and, having nearly involved 
them in a skirmish with a tribe with whom he had a blood 
feud, finally disappeared at Riadh, after having done 
his best to get them into trouble with the Wahabee Ameer, 
by giving a mendacious account of their doings in the 
desert. 

Colonel Pelly made the excuse of the Ramadhan fast to go 
past their actual destination at Riadh, in order to visit Sedoos, 
where there is a column of which they had heard much at 
Koweit, This was their furthest western point. On the 4th 
of March the party passed through El Ayahah, the ruins of the 
town where Abd-ul- vVahab, the founder of the Wahabee sect, 
was born. On the following day they passed Dereeyah, march- 
ing through the earthworks thrown up by the Egyptian army, 
under Ibrahim Pasha, which defeated the Wahabees, captured 
their towns, and, for a time, broke their power. The party 
rode into Riadh in uniform, and remained there four days. 
During the latter part of their stay, matters looked very 
ominous for their safety, and, under Colonel Pelly's direct inns. 
Lieutenant Dawes' sketches were burnt, as in the event of 
matters coming to the worst, the party would have been com- 
promised by their detection. The English officers were well 
received by the Ameer personally, but, being blind and very 
infirm, he was much in the hands of Mahboob, the Wuzeer, an 

ee 2 



420 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

others of the household, who distrusted the British Mission, 
Mahboob being specially irate with Lieutenant Dawes, whose 
uniform he recognised as belonging to the Service which had bom- 
barded the Joasmi forts on the Arab coast more than forty years 
before. The Mission left on the evening of the 8th of March, 
and were not a little relieved to find themselves once more in 
the desert. Lieutenant Dawes had sunstroke on the journey 
to Riadh, and suffered much during the return march, from 
fever. Eventually, after passing through the Nafood, or dan- 
gerous shifting sandy hillocks, where formerly an entire 
Egyptian army perished, they arrived on the 17th of March at 
Hofoof, a beautifully fertile part of the district of El Hara, 
the party suffering greatly from want of water. On the 
evening of the 19th of March they arrived at Ojier, opposite 
Bahrein, where they found the ' Berenice ' waiting for 
them. 

Lieutenant Dawes' observations, except those for longitude, 
were all taken at night, on the housetop at Riadh, the artificial 
horizon having been prepared after dark, and sights were 
usually taken when the people were at evening prayers ; or, if 
accident prevented that, after the whole camp was quietly 
asleep. The chronometer, carefully rated at Koweit, was by 
John Poole, of Fenchurch Street, and, after being carried nine 
hundred miles on a camel, was found to be only A\' in error, on 
the return to Bushire. A map was prepared by Mr. Weller, 
cartographer to the Royal Geographical Society, from Colonel 
Belly's journal, and the principal points were fixed by observa- 
tions of the heavenly bodies, taken by Lieutenant Dawes, for 
which he was favourably recommended to Government by 
Colonel Pelly. This was the first, and only, occasion on which 
officers have visited Riadh in the character of Englishmen, or 
in uniform, and, indeed, they were the only European visitors 
to that town, with the exception of Mr. Palgrave, who travelled 
as a Syrian doctor. 

Early in the following year the ' Berenice' was burnt at sea, 
Lieutenant Dawes and his ship's company escaping only with 
their lives in the boats. When hostilities with King Theodore 
of Abyssinia were decided upon by the British Government, a 
pioneer Expedition was despatched from Bombay, on the 15th 
of September, 1867, which included some officers of the Service. 
It consisted of several staff officers and some troops,* under the 

* This pioneer force consisted of forty troopers of the 3rd Light Cavalry, one 
hundred men of the 21st Native Infantry (Marine Battalion) and fifty Sappers 
and Miners. The officers, all of whom embarked at Bombay, were Colonels 
Merewether, Phayre, and Wilkins, B..E. ; Majors Baigrie and Mignon ; Captains 
G-oodfellow, R.E., and Pottinger ; Lieutenants Jopp, R.E., and Mortimer, and 
Surgeons Lumsden and Martin. The men of the 21st, and twelve horses, 'em- 
barked in the ' Euphrates,' and the sowars of the 3rd and one hundred and fifty- 
four mules and fifty horses, in the * Coromandel.' 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 421 

command of Colonel W. Merewether, which, were embarked in 
the ' Coromandel,' Lieutenant G. B. Hewett, (an officer who had 
been favourably mentioned for his services in the Persian War, 
particularly at Ahwaz, where he attracted the notice of Captain 
Hunt of the 78th Highlanders, who mentions him in his work.) 
and the steamer, ' Euphrates,' Captain Dunn, with Lieutenant E. 
Dawes as transport officer. Besides these officers, the following, 
formerly in the late Indian Navy, were employed in connection 
with the Abyssinian Expedition : — Lieutenant T. C. R. Carpen- 
dale, in command of the ' Dalhousie ;' Lieutenant W. P. Arnot, 
in command of the 'Ferooz,'* with Mr. C. King (late midship- 
man, I.N.) as first officer: Acting-Master T. B. Tolputt, in 
command of the 'Earl Canning;' and Lieutenant W. Grant 
(lent by the Peninsular and Oriental Company, with whom he 
had taken service) employed for harbour duty in Annesley 
Bay. These ships and others, forming a great portion of 
the enormous fleet of two hundred sail, conveying the 
Bombay contingent of troops under the Commander-in-chief, 
Sir Robert Napier, were despatched under the direction of the 
Superintendent of the Bombay Marine, Captain J. W. Young, 
C.B., late of the Indian Navy, assisted by Lieutenant Morland 
and other officers of the Service.f 

At Colonel Merewether'st request, Lieutenants Hewett and 
Dawes made a rough chart of the place selected for landing 
the troops. Lieutenant Dawes assisted in disembarking the 
reconnoitring force and also the advanced brigade of the 
army under Sir Robert Napier, and officiated as harbour- 
master until the arrival of Staff-Commander May, R.N., 
who was appointed by the Admiralty. On the breaking 
up of the reconnoitring party, Lieutenants Hewett and Dawes, 
in common with the other officers, received the special 
thanks of Colonel Merewether. After being relieved by 
Commander May, Lieutenant Dawes was placed in charge of 
about 1,700 natives, collected from various parts of the Arab, 
Persian, and African coasts, who were partly employed on shore 
and partly in about one hundred and sixty native vessels. His 
duties were to assist the Engineer, Artillery, Commissariat, and 
Medical Departments, and to provide all the stone which was 
collected, to the amouutof some thousands of tons, for the pur- 
pose of constructing piers, building up the fore-shore, and 

* The ' Ferooz ' conveyed Sir Eobert Napier to Suez on the successful com- 
pletion of the Expedition. 

t Between the months of April and August in this year, another officer of the 
Service, Lieutenant Carew, had been employed in the ' Dalhousie,' on the 
Abyssinian coast, under the orders of Colonel Merewether, in connection 
with the preparations for the relief of the prisoners in the hands of Xing 
1 beodore. 

X Now Sir William L. Merewether, K.C.S.I., C.B., Member of the Council of 
India. 



422 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

forming an island in deep water, on which the condensers were 
raised. Several officers of the Royal Navy attempted to utilize 
natives, but, owing to want of tact and knowledge of native 
languages and customs, were unable to control them ; and, at 
length, Captain Tryon, Senior Transport Officer, was glad to 
leave their management in his hands. By his energy and 
business capacity he was able to save Government a large sum 
of money, in using his natives for ballasting a number of ships 
detained in the bay under heavy demurrage. Lieutenants 
Hewett and Dawes were recommended by the Lords of the 
Admiralty to the Supreme Government of India, for meritorious 
services, and the latter was also favourably mentioned to the 
Bombay Government by General Sir E. L. Russell, under 
whose orders he served at Annesley Bay. Lieutenant Dawes 
assisted in the embarkation of the troops, and was the last 
officer to quit Zoula,* which, on his departure, was immediately 
taken possession of by Egyptian troops, who not only mal- 
treated the natives on shore in order to extract their hard- 
earned money from them, but actually had a small steamer 
cruising outside the bay to pick up the native vessels for the 
same purpose. Lieutenant Dawes left Abyssinia for Bombay 
in broken health from excessive and unremitting labour ; and, 
for some inexplicable reason, Government rewarded him for 
bis arduous labour on the burning strand of Annesley Bay, 
by refusing him the batta allowed to all officers serving afloat, 
which so disgusted him that he resigned the Service.f 

* The neighbouring port of Massowah had been in possession of the Turks 
for more than two hundred years. It was latterly administered for them by 
Mehemet Ali, and about 1864 was ceded to the present Pasha of Egypt. The 
occupation of Zoula was an act of usurpation, of which this ruler has given many 
instances, though the gallant resistance of the Abyssinians under King John has 
taught him that there is a limit to their patience. 

f Lieutenant Dawes writes to us : — " Hewett was one of the reconnoitring 
Committee, with the reconnoitring Force under Sir W. Merewether. It con- 
sisted I think of Colonel Merewether, Commanding ; Major Goodfellow, R.E. ; 
Surgeon Lumsden ; Colonel R. Phayre, Quartermaster-General ; Major. R. 
Mignon, Commissariat ; and Lieutenant Hewett, I.N. These I think composed 
the Committee, though there were twice as many officers with the recon- 
noitring Expedition. When the Expedition was first planned, Morland of our 
Service, was appointed Principal Transport Officer of the Expedition, and I was 
to have been his First Assistant ; his pay was to have been Rs. 1,500 a month I 
believe, and, as far as I know, the appointment was actually made. I left Bom- 
bay, believing he would follow to take supreme charge of the Transport Depart- 
ment, but, shortly after arriving, I heard that Captajn Tryon, R.N., had been 
appointed Senior Transport Officer, and I became Harbour-Master. V\ hen 
Commander May, R.N., relieved me, I was made Bunder-Master, Morland 
looking after the Transport Department in Bombay. My duties were multifarious, 
and the work grew into a Department with about five European and twelve 
native inspectors and ' Muccadums,' a muster of about five hundred natives on 
shore, and about twelve hundred afloat in a fleet of one hundred and eighty 
native vessels. I never knew the exact number of hands afloat, as the nacodas 
were paid in a lump, and provided crews themselves. Besides these, I had a 
good staff of pearl-divers, who constructed the pier-head, and were splendid 
fellows. My Department assisted the Engineer, Commissariat, Quartermaster- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 423 

When we regard the good work clone by Messrs. Marshall, 
Dawes, Girdlestone, Chapman, and other young officers, it will 
not be gainsaid that they had in them the stuff from which 
are made surveyors and explorers of the type of McCluer, Ross, 
Moresby, Wood, and others of a later generation, whose names 
figure in these pages, and it is certain that, had not the 
Service been abolished, they would have rivalled the achieve- 
ments of those officers, and maintained the reputation of the 
Indian Navy as an alma mater of scientific talent. 

In 18(51, the charts, with the copper-plates, original drawings, 
and sailing directions, were transferred from the India Office to 
the Admiralty, and, on the 30th of August, in this year, a 
despatch from the Marine Department of the India Office to the 
Government of India, announced that "the surveys then 
incomplete should be furnished by the Indian Navy, and all 
future surveys and charts would proceed from the Royal Navy 
at Imperial expen.se.* 

We will close this final notice of the hydrographic labours of 
the officers of the Indian Navy, by a few observations on the 
general system adopted in the Service for carrying on, and 
registering the results of, the surveys, and the successive steps 
by which their control was, at length, placed under an officer of 
the late Indian Navy. 

In his " Memorandum on the Marine Surveys of India," sub- 
mitted to the Indian Government, on the 10th of March, 1871, 
Commander A. Dundas Taylor says : — "There was no Marine 
Surveyor-General to give a systematic organization to the 
work, or to know the merits of the surveyors and the time they 
should be allowed for each particular duty. It was a common 
practice for each new Commodore to stop the surveys begun 
under his predecessor. Thus Captain Moresby was drawn off 

General, and Medical Departments, with labour afloat and ashore, besides the 
continual work of providing stone for piers and for the fore-shore, and landing stores 
of all descriptions. Mine was the most economically worked of all the Depart- 
ments, as I had no interpreters or staff of clerks, all my office and pay work being 
done by one clerk and myself. You may imagine it was not very light, as when 
I paid up the men's arrears on board the ' Sir John Lawrence,' after the rest of 
the Expedition had left the Bay, I paid away I believe Es. 225,000, a good deal of 
which went, I fear, into the pockets of the Egyptian officials, who seized the place as 
our forces left, for they looted my men dreadfully, and I of course had no power 
to stop them. It would I have no doubt been much better for me if the original 
arrangement with Morland as Principal Transport officer had been adhered to ; 
as it was, the Boyal Navy got the kudos, besides a substantial addition to their 
pay, and I never even got the batta which the rest of the Bombay Marine re- 
ceived. Between two stools, naval and military, I came rather to grief, though 
Captain Tryon behaved very kindly in recommending me to the Admiralty, and 
Lord Napier also, in trying to get the batta allowed subsequently, but without 
avail." 

* See Beport of Mr. Trelawney Saunders, Assistant Geographer to the India 
Office, dated January, 1871. The number of charts and plans handed over to 
the Admiralty was two hundred and sixty-four, of which fifty-four were of 
value, the remainder being obsolete. 



424 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the survey of Chagos and Seychelles' groups ; Powell and 
Ethersey from the Gulf of Manaar and Coast of Ceylon ; Haines 
from the Arabian Coast; Carless and Barker from the African 
Coast, the latter leaving a portion at the very entrance to the 
Red Sea, which has remained unsurveyed for upwards of thirty 
years. I was more recently recalled from the Gulf of Cutch, on 
the accession to office of Sir Henry Leeke ; the result was that 
a part of the entrance of that Gulf still remains unexamined. 
Under such management it is only natural to find the work too 
often disjointed and incomplete.* The want of a permanent 
central office in India for the regulation of marine surveys, and 
for the deposit, reproduction, and publication of the charts, was 
another defect of the old system, and has caused the loss or 
suppression of many valuable documents, including Captain 
McCluer's original charts of the Malabar Coast on a large scale ; 
those also of the Red Sea, and others. From the same defect, 
each of the Indian JS T avy officers engaged on detached duty 
under the Governments of Bengal and Madras, handed in their 
work to the Presidency under which they were serving, and 
seldom forwarded copies of their work to the head-quarters at 
Bombay. Many of the originals are not now forthcoming, nor 
are copies of some to be found."t 

All this mismanagement and loss of manuscript surveys, 
made at great cost, might have been obviated by the adoption 
of the system which had always been in existence as regards 
land surveys, namely, the placing of the Department under a 

* Regarding the faulty conditions under which the officers of the Service con- 
tinued to work even up to the last. Lieutenant Taylor stated before the Bombay 
Geographical Society (vol. xv., 1860) that " in no one instance were the survey- 
ors supplied with means of carrying on simultaneously all the inquiries which 
one naturally expects from a scientific survey, when, at a trifling expense, such 
inquiries should have been pursued." Again, in an official memorandum addressed 
to the Hydrographer, Captain Washington, R.N., at the close of the Indian Sur- 
veys in 1862, it is also recorded " that no steamer had ever been fitted out for 
the Indian Surveys, and that the actual vessels on the Bombay side were ill- 
adapted for the service. The supply of instruments (October, 1860) was very 
deficient both in quantity and quality. The chronometers were not of the best 
class, being mostly old. No sextants fitted for accurate shore observations, and 
no pocket chronometers or watches, were to be had." 

f The following are some of the surveys made by officers of the Indian Navy, 
but never published : — 1. Large scale plan of Masireh Island and Straits, by 
Sanders and Grieve, 1846. 2. Plan of Makullah, by Haines, 1835. 3. Large 
scale plans of Ehor Jeramah, Bunder Kheiran, and Bunder Jezzar, by Lieutenant 
Grieve, 1848-9. 4. Plan of the Deimaniyeh group, by Commander Constable 
and Lieutenant Stiffe, 1858. 5. Chart of Soonjnianee and Xurrachee Bays, by 
Captain Carless, 1838. 6. Plans of Porebunder and Veraweel Roads, by Lieu- 
tenants Constable and Stiffe, 1853. 7. Bevt Harbo.ur ; corrections to 1859, by 
Lieutenant Taylor. 8. Captain Selby's Chronometric Measurements between 
Minicoy and the Malabar Coast, and chart of the currents of that part of the 
sea. 9. Chart of Hooringottah River, by Lieutenant Sweny. 10. Mouths of 
the Indus from Hajamri to Waree, by Captain Selby and Lieutenants Taylor 
and Stroyan. 11. Charts of Sittang and Irrawaddy Rivers, by Lieutenant 
Ward. 12. Shatt-ul-Arab, made by Captain Felix Jones and Lieutenant 
Collingwood. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 425 

Marine Survej^or-General. Commander Taylor and other 
officers had repeatedly urged the adoption of this course on the 
Government, but in vain. 

When, in 1861, the Indian Survey Department was placed 
under the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, in Whitehall, the 
late Admiral Washington, who was already overburdened with 
work, "confessed his inability to see how this new plan could 
be carried out." And the foresight displayed by Admiral 
Washington, was borne out by the event; for we find that, in 
1870, after nearly ten years of Admiralty management, at the 
request of the Viceroy of India, a civil engineer, Mr. Robertson,* 
was sent out to advise him on the ports of India, with a view 
to their improvement, although at this time the Government 
had at their command in England such unsurpassed marine 
surveyors as Constable, Taylor, Ward, Svveny, and others fully 
capable, from their familiarity with the coasts and the incidents 
of Indian navigation, to advise them on these points. " It is," 
says Taylor, "for the scientific mariner to point out the wants 
of his own service, and for the engineer to supply them. But 
the maritime affairs of India have no representative either in 
the Council or in the Administration in India, and thus questions 
relating to them are referred to landsmen alone." He con- 
tinues : "I search the Admiralty catalogues of charts in vain 
to find any really new charts of India for the last ten years.! 

They who rashly undertook to succeed ' the pioneers 

of navigation in the Eastern Seas,' have certainly not rendered 
a good account of their ten years' stewardship, much less have 

* Mr. Robertson was appointed in September, 1S70. During 1870-71, he 
examined the Madras anchorages on both sides of the peninsula, and in 1871-72, 
he was engaged on the Bengal and Bombay coasts, and also investigated the 
schemes for a ship canal between India and Ceylon, when he reported in favour 
of the late Sir William Denison's recommendation of a canal across the island of 
Rameswar, as opposed to the grander, but more expensive scheme of constructing 
one across the promontory of Rainnad, as urged by Sir James Elphinstone, M.P., 
and Commander Taylor. Mr. Robertson's examination was not very complete, 
as he did not visit the ports of Zyghur, Viziadroog and Carwar, being three of 
the eight principal harbours of Western India, and also Kolachel, a port on the 
Travan core coast near Cape Comorin. 

f We find by the Annual Report on India of 1869-70, that a survey of the 
rivers and creeks in Orissa, and another of the Chittagong coast, had been under- 
taken, but the former were consequent on the Orissa famine, and the latter was 
one of those recommended by Captain Constable and his coadjutors, in their 
memorandum of the 3rd of March, 1862, addressed to the Hydrographer of the 
Admiralty. "I may be pardoned," says Commander Taylor, "for saying that 
very little might have been expected from those who, having had Ceylon as a 
Crown colony for half a century, are not yet able to show us an accurate chart of 
the east coast of that island. The west coast of Ceylon was surveyed by vessels 
of the Indian Navy, paid out of the revenues of India. Thus, we find the ad- 
mirable new edition (1870) of ' Sailing Directions for the Indian Ocean,' by Mr. 
A. Gr. Findlay, F.R.G.S., obliged to confess that ' we have no good account of 
the east coast of Ceylon, but the discovery of two shoals, and the possible existence 
of others, make it desirable that it should be avoided, or approached with cau- 
tion.' And this is the fact, notwithstanding the existence of the splendid harbour 
and threat British naval station at Trincomalce on that east coast." 



426 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

they given to India such an extension of hydrographic know- 
ledge as she was entitled to expect." He then proposes his 
remedy, which is the common sense one of "the establishment 
of an Indian Hydrographic Office at Calcutta, under an ex- 
perienced hydrographer, who, as a practical surveyor and 
seaman, can bring a knowledge of the shores and harbours of 
India to bear upon his duties." He adds : " Fortunately the 
information acquired in the service of the late Indian Navy, is 
still to be had, and no other branch of the public service 
possesses equal qualifications." Commander Taylor then sub- 
mitted a list of the surveys requiring immediate attention, and 
of the lights that should be placed on the four thousand miles 
of coast of British India, there being only fifty at that date. 
In a valuable "Memorandum on the State of the Coast Survey 
in India in 1862," drawn up in that year by Captain Constable, 
in conjunction with Commanders Taylor and Ward, and Lieu- 
tenants Sweny and StifTe, for the information of Admiral 
Washington, the Hydrographic Department had already been 
informed of the surveys, twenty-two in number, that remained 
to be completed. 

Assisted by these papers, by Mr. Markham's valuable review 
of the surveys accomplished by the old Bombay Marine and 
Indian Navy, by a paper on "Indian Nautical Surveys," from 
the pen of Mr. Trelawney Saunders, Assistant-Geographer at 
the India Office, the Indian Government were able to come to a 
decision. Commander Taylor's paper on the "Harbours of 
India,"* dated August, 1870, read before the British Association 
at the meeting at Liverpool, in that year, his " Memorandum," 
already referred to, and his experience, well-known ability as a 
scientific observer, and familiarity with the whole subject, 
pointed him out as the most suitable person to organize and 
conduct the new Indian Marine Survey .f He was appointed 

* Commander Taylor also prepared for Dr. Forbes Watson a list of Indian 
ports and harbours, of which as many as six hundred and fifty-six are enumerated 
and described. Of these the three principal ones are Kurrachee, Bombay, and 
Carwar (or Sedasheghur), where, at Bell Cove, a century ago, the Company's 
ships used to careen. Other five ports which might be made serviceable, are 
Poshetra and Seria at the entrance of the Gulf of Cutch, Zyghur, or Spastri 
River, Viziadroog and Cochin. 

t Commander Taylor describes as follows the steps preceding his appointment 
as Surveyor: — "In the early part of 1871, the Secretary of State, in a despatch 
forwarding Mr. Markham's Memoir, &c, brought this important subject to notice, 
and requested the earliest and serious attention of the Government of India, ask- 
ing, at the same time, for opinions and suggestions as to the measures to be 
adopted for providing some etlicient substitute for the establishments formerly 
maintained for the survey of the Indian seas. The Government of India, before 
giving any decided answer, suggested that I should be sent out to India to assist 
in devising suitable measures to remedy the inconveniences pointed out. Tbis 
proposal was approved of by Her Majesty's Secretary of State, and I arrived in 
Calcutta in December, 1873. Under the direction of the Government, I pre- 
pared a review of all existing charts, or materials for charts, in Tndia or in hng- 
land, of the coast from Pakchan Estuary to Sonmiani Bay, as also of the islands in 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 427 

Superintendent on the 27th of July, 1874, and thus, at length, 
the reform for which he had long battled, was inaugurated 
under the auspices of an officer of the Service which had, for a 
etentury, carried out the surveys of Eastern seas. In December 
of that year, Commander Taylor proceeded to Bombay, accom- 
panied by Staff-Commander Ellis, R.N., and immediately 
operations were commenced by an examination of the Laccadive 
Islands and Kolachel in Travancore. The former was con- 
ducted by Staff-Commander Ellis in the 'Clyde' gunboat: and 
the latter by Mr. Morris Chapman, formerly a midshipman in the 
Indian Navy, in the ' Constance,' schooner, both vessels, it is 
scarcely necessary to say, having formerly belonged to the 
Service. Commander Taylor, having started the survey from 
Bombay, proceeded to Calcutta, where he was joined by three 
Navigating Lieutenants, and two Navigating Sub-Lieutenants 
of the Royal Navy, selected by the Admiralty at the request of 
the India Office, and by Mr. R. C. Carrington, of the Hydro- 
graphic Department, as draughtsman. Commander Taylor's 

the Bay of Bengal, and the Laccadives and Maldives ; also, a scheme to supplement 
and perfect existing charts, botli by working up materials, not then utilised, and 
by new surreys, and fully detailing for each the method in. and the agency by, 
which it should be carried out, and its probable cost. After full inquiry and 
consultation with the Marine authorities and others interested in the coasting 
trade and approaches to our coasts and harbours, I submitted a report of the 
measures which, in my judgment, were required. This report was substantially 
adopted by the Government of India, which accepted the responsibility of com- 
pleting and maintaining the charts of the Indian Coast, from Pakchan Estuary, 
at the southern extremity of Tenasserim to Sonmiani Bay, on the western limits 
of theSind coast, of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Mergui Archipelago 
and the Laccadives. It was also proposed that I should return to England via 
Bombay, that I might be available to furnish the Secretary of State with any 
further details which might be necessary, in order to finally arrange for the 
manner in which the services of officers of the Royal Navy might be secured. 
During my stay at Bombay, where I was detained nearly three weeks, as member 
of a Committee under the presidentship of Colonel Alexander Fraser, R.E., C.B., 
to report upon the Hydraulic Lift at Hog Island, I made it my duty to bring the 
question of missing original charts before many of the officers who had formerly 
served in local situations connected with the Dockyard and the Observatory, 
where the Indian Navy Draughtsman's Office was located. The result was that 
a great number of valuable documents were found at the time, a few of which 
I took to England, and deposited at the India Office ; amongst, them were 
original maps of Mesopotamia, which Captain Felix Jones, I.N., found of use in 
the compilation of his new great map of Arabia. But after securing these, from 
information received at the Store-keeper's Office, I reported to the Government 
of India a contemplated wholesale destruction of some three thousand old charts 
because of their being dust-stained, torn, and insect-eaten; my suggestion was 
(and fortunately it came in time to be carried out) that these charts should be 
sent to Calcutta to await my return. This proved a real treasure-trove ; many 
invaluable original charts were preserved from destruction, and now arc carefully 
stored at Calcutta and catalogued. Three or four originals, on a large scale, cf 
portions of Captain Moresby's Survey of the Red Sea were discovered, and copies 
of which have been forwarded to the Hydrographer. The proposal of the 
Government of India for the resumption of Marine Surveys, together with the 
scheme submitted based on my report, preceded me to England, and was there 
sanctioned by Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India in Council, in a despatch 
dated the 16th of July, 1871, and I was appointed Superintendent of Marine 
Surveys on the 27th of July of the same year." 



428 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

subsequent operations are detailed in his official report,* and 
we may predict, from what we know of the gallant and talented 
officer, that the Government of India will have no cause to 
grudge the modest annual expenditure of two lacs of rupees, to 
which Commander Taylor is limited. 

The hydrographic services of the officers of the Indian Navy, 
both of the last and present century, have ever been warmly 
acknowledged by successive heads of the Admiralty Hydro- 
graphic Department, especially by Admirals Washington and 
Richards. The latter gallant officer, in a letter dated the 21st 
of March, 1877, writes to us in high terms of his " knowledge, 
personal and otherwise, of the many eminent men of the Indian 
Navy who have contributed to our hydrographical labours ;" 
and the present Hydrographer, Captain F. J. Evans, C.B.,F.R.S., • 
says, in a communication, under date the 31st of March, " 1 am 
well acquainted with, and thoroughly appreciate their unsur- 
passed labours in the field of hydrography."! Such generous 
language will be welcome to the survivors of the band of 
Marine Surveyors produced by the late Indian Navy. We 
cannot conclude this record of the hydrographical labours of 
the Service, better than in the words of Sir Roderick Murchison, 
who said, in his anniversary address to the Royal Geographical 
Society, in 1862: — "The war services of the Indian Navy, as 
well as the beneficial and enduring results of its repression of 
piracy and the slave-trade, are well known. These services 
have been varied, honourable, and useful ; but in the eyes of 
geographers, the widespread and lasting utility of the excellent 
surveys made by officers of the Indian Navy, hold an equally 
prominent place." 

* " General Report of the operations of the Marine Survey of India, from the 
commencement in 1874, to the end of the official year 1875-76." Prepared for 
submission to the Government of India. By Commander A. Dundas Taylor 
(late I.N.) P.R.G.S., Superintendent of the Marine Surveys, Calcutta, 1876. 

t Among other officers of the Royal Service, Rear-Admiral Nolloth writes that 
this " history of the Indian Navy will be welcomed, not only by old Indians, 
but by many Royal Navy officers, who, like myself, in a humble amateur survey- 
ing way co-operated with some of your brother officers under circumstances 
leaving pleasant recollections of the Indian Navy." 






CHAPTER X. 
The Indian Mutiny, 1857—1859. 

Services of the Indian Navy daring the Sepoy Mutiny — The Indian Navy 
Squadron at Calcutta — The Seizure of the King of Oude at Garden Reach — 
Formation of the Indian Naval Brigade and Appointment of Captain C. D. 
Campbell as Senior Officer — Services of No. 4 Detachment, under Lieutenant 
T. E. Lewis, at Dacca and in Upper Assam; of Lieutenant W. H. W. Davies, 
against the Hill Tribe of Abors ; of Detachments Nos. 2, 7 and 10, under 
Lieutenant Gr. O'Brien Carew at Barrackpore, Jugdespore, and Alipore ; of No. 
1 Detachment, under Lieutenants Duval, Sweny, Warden and Hellard ; of 
No. 5 Detachment, under Lieutenant D. L. Duval, atGya ; of No. 11 Detach- 
ment, under Lieutenants T. H. B. Barron and H. Cotegrave, at Moozufferpore 
and Mooteeharee ; of No. 9 Detachment, against the Coles, in Chota Nagpore, 
under Lieutenant A. T. Windus ; of No. 14 Detachment, at Chvabassa, under 
Acting-Lieutenant H. W. H. Barnes and Lieutenant W. H. W. Davies ; of 
No. 3 Detachment, at Buxar, under Commander Batt — How Acting-Master 
G. B. Chicken gained the Victoria Cross — Services of Detachments Nos. 8, 12 
and 13, at Jessore, Julpigoree, and Chuprah, under Lieutenants H. Jackson, 
R. Gr. Hurlock, and C. B. Templer — Occupation of the Andaman Islands, 
and Services of No. 6 Detachment, under Lieutenant C. B. Templer, Acting- 
Lieutenant F. Warden, and Lieutenant S. B. Hellard — Government re- 
cognition of the Services of the Indian Navy during the Sepoy Mutiny. 

WE now come to a most important episode in the History of 
the Indian Navy, that in which they assisted in the sup- 
pression of the terrible Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, which con- 
stitutes, perhaps, the most momentous crisis in the annals of 
British rule in the East. It was almost the last, and, certainly, 
it was not the least important, of the long roll of services 
rendered by the Indian Navy during the two and a-half centuries 
of its existence. 

On the cessation of hostilities with Persia, most of the ships 
of the Indian Navy, and transports, returned to Bombay with 
the greater portion of the Expeditionary force. On the 7th of 
May, the ' Assaye,' Commander Adams, with transports, arrived 
from Mohamra with the 64th and 78th Regiments, which, on 
receipt of the alarming news from Bengal, were despatched to 
Calcutta without landing, on the 23rd of May, the day the 
'Semiramis' arrived from the Gulf; on the 28th, this ship, 
under Lieutenant S trad ling, who succeeded to the command on 
that day, sailed for Ceylon, whence she conveyed a wing of the 
37th Regiment* and a detachment of Royal Artillery — the 

* In October, the remaining wing of the 37th Regiment was conveyed to 
Calcutta by the 'Auckland,' which, on the 27th of that month, when about 
two hundred and fifty miles distant from Masulipatam, encountered a cyclone, 
which she weathered'in safety, owing to a strict attention to the theory of the 
law of these circnlar storms, on the part of Commander Drought. 



430 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



first, we believe, that had set foot in India for a century — to 
Calcutta, where she arrived on the 10th of June. On the 21st 
of May the ' Ajdaha,' Lieutenant Worsley, and, on the follow- 
ing day, the ' Punjaub,'* Commander Foulerton, arrived at 
Bombay from the Gulf, and, on the 25th, the latter sailed for 
Calcutta, whither, also, the ' Zenobia,' Lieutenant Batt, had 
proceeded from Madras. Thus, in the very earliest stages of 
the Mutiny, five of the finest steam-frigates of the Indian Navy, 
including the 'Auckland' from China, with crews inured to 
active service, were placed at the disposal of the Supreme 
Government, in addition to the officers and crew of the 
' Coromandel/f a new transport of 1,026 tons, brought out 
from England, in the previous year, by Captain C. D. Camp- 
bell, which arrived with troops from Rangoon in July. 

Commander Adams, who sailed from Bombay with a wing of 
H.M's 64th Regiment, considered the crisis so urgent that he 
passed Madras without coaling, and thus saved two days. He 
says: — '" The last shovelful of coals went on the fires as the 
' Assaye ' anchored off Fort William. We saluted the Viceroy 
with twenty-one guns, and there was no complaint of breaking 
windows from the inhabitants, who were only too glad of the 
protection afforded by the ' Assaye ' and H.M.'s 64th Regiment." 
Scarcely had he dropped anchor "on the 4th of June, than 
learning from the Governor-General that he was anxious to 
send treasure immediately to Bombay, the Commander of the 
4 Assaye ' volunteered to convey it, though he had not a ton of 
coals on board ; hastily procuring a supply from the depot of 
the Peninsular and Oriental Company, he started that night, 
for which act of promptitude he received a private letter of 
thanks from Lord Canning. Calling at Madras for treasure, 
and at Galle for coal, the 'Assaye' proceeded to Bombay, 
where she arrived on the 15th of June. 

Meanwhile, matters had come to an alarming pitch in the 
City of Palaces, where, owing to Fort William being almost 

* The ' Punjaub' did not participate in the action at Mohamra. On her 
return to Bombay after the fall of Bushire, she sailed for the Gulf on the 29th 
of January, returned on the 9th of March to Bombay, which she again quitted 
for the Gulf on the 20th, too late to see further service. The ' Berenice,' 
Lieutenant Chitty, left Bushire in the end of March for Bombay, where she 
arrived on the 10th of April. She again proceeded to Mohamra, whence she 
sailed on the 16th of May, and arrived at Bombay on the 28th, with Brigadier- 
General Henry Havelock and staff, towing a transport with the Light Battalion 
on board. General Havelock and staff, with Brigadier Wilson of the 64th 
Regiment, proceeded to Calcutta on the 1st of June, in the ' Erin,' which was 
wrecked about half-way between Colombo and Galle on the 8th of June, when 
General Havelock sailed in the ' Fire Queen' to Madras, where General Sir 
Patrick Grant embarked, and, on the 17th of June, arrived at Calcutta on his 
appointment as Commander-in-chief, in succession to General Anson. 

t The ' Coromandel' sailed from London on the 5th of August, 1856, and 
from the 2nd of December, when she arrived at Madras, had been employe I 
trooping between that place, Rangoon, and Calcutta. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 431 

denuded of European troops, in response to the demand for 
reinforcements up country, a chronic state of panic prevailed 
during the month of June, which would have been greatly 
intensified but for the sense of security afforded by the sight of 
the ships of the Indian Navy lying in the river, and, even 
more, by the presence of the greater part of their crews on 
duty on shore. 

Early in May, 1857, the European portion of the garrison at 
Fort William, consisted of only a weak wing of H.M.'s 53rd 
Regiment, but, on the 15th of that month, when rumours were 
rife at Calcutta of the outbreak at Meerut and Delhi, the 
Governor-General issued instructions for the remaining wing 
of the regiment to march in from Dumdum. All through that 
month and the early part of June, there was an uneasy feeling 
among the European inhabitants of Calcutta, which was some- 
what allayed when Lord Canning, after having refused their 
services in May, consented to their enrolment as a Volunteer 
Corps ; great confidence was also reposed in the presence of 
the sailors, parties of whom were landed from the ships in the 
river and mounted guard over the public buildings. At length 
the trepidation and alarm — which was chiefly rife among the 
Eurasian class of the community, the English and their families 
participating in it to a lesser degree — culminated on the 14th 
of June, a day well known as "Panic Sunday."* 

Mr. (now Sir John Peter) Grant, t one of the ablest of Lord 
Canning's councillors, described the situation at Calcutta, on 

* The late Sir John Kaye graphically describes the scene presented by Calcutta 
on Panic Sunday, in the third volume of his " Sepoy War." He says : — " On the 
14th of June, there was a great excitement in Calcutta. It was reported that 
the Sepoys at Barrackpore had risen in the night ; and soon the rumour ran that 
they were in full march upon Calcutta. There also went abroad the story, and 
ready credence grasped it, that the Oude people at Garden Reach were to rise at 
the same time, and to join in the threatened massacre of the Christian people. 
So the hearts of many failed them through fear, and some, terror-stricken and 
bewildered, left their homes, seeking refuge wheresoever safety could be found. 
From an early hour in the morning a great shudder ran through the capital, and 
soon the confused activity of panic flight was apparent. The streets, in some 
parts of the city, were alive with vehicles. Conspicuous among them were those 
great long boxes on wheels, known as ' palanquin carriages.' Within might be 
seen the scared faces of Eurasians and Portuguese, men, women, and children ; 
and without, piled up on the roofs, great bundles of bedding and wearing apparel, 
snatched up and thrown together in the agonised hurry of departure. Rare 
among these were carriages of a better class, in which the pale cheeks of the 
inmates told their pure European descent. Along the Mall on the water-side, or 
across the broad plain between the city and the fort, the great stream is said to 
have poured itself. The places of refuge which offered the best security were the 
foit and the river. Behind the ramparts of the one, or in the vessels moored on 
the other, a safe asylum might be found. So these fugitives are described as 
rushing to the gates of the fort, or disgorging themselves at the different ghauts, 
calling excitedly for rowing-boats to carry them to the side of ship or steamer. 
There was a prevailing feeling that the enemy were on their track, and that swift 
destruction would overtake them if they did not find shelter within the earthworks 
of Fort William or the wooden walls of the shipping on the Hooghly." 

f Afterwards Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal and Governor of Jamaica. 



432 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the 10th of June, in the following terms, in a private letter 
addressed to his lordship : — " We have as enemies three Native 
Infantry Regiments and a half, which are the very worst type 
we know; one, two, three (for no one knows) thousand armed 
men at Garden Reach, or available there at a moment; some 
hundred armed men of the Scinde Ameers at Dumdum ; half 
the Mahomedan population and all the blackguards of all sorts 
of a town of six hundred thousand people." 

On the 14th of June three Sepoy Regiments were disarmed 
at Barrackpore, and also the detachments at the Presidency 
and at Dumdum. The Governor-General being convinced of 
the complicity in the mutiny of the King of Oude, who then 
resided in a large palace at Garden Reach, and his intriguing 
minister, AH Nuckee Khan,* determined to seize him and his 
ministers, and so nip the mischief in the bud. On Sunday, the 
14th of June, while at church, Commander Foulerton, of the 
' Punjaub,' then senior naval officer, received a note directing 
him immediately to wait on Lord Canning. He at once pro- 
ceeded to Government House, and, on being ushered into the 
presence of the Governor-General, found there the Foreign 
Secretary, the late Mr. George Edmonstone,f the late Colonel 
Powell, 53rd Regiment, commanding the troops, Major-General 
(the late Sir) Richard Birch f Military Secretary, Colonel 
Cavenagh, Town-Major, and Major Herbert, commanding the 
Calcutta Militia, who were alone in the secret. His lordship 
explained to Commander Foulerton his object in sending for 
him, and directed him to take his ship down to Garden Reach, 
at daylight the following morning, and place her off the resi- 
dence of the King of Oude, when he was to land and assist in 
seizing the King, and to allow no one to leave the palace or 
grounds. Above all his Lordship enjoined implicit secrecy on 
all, as it was of the utmost importance no hint should be 
dropped of the projected coup. To this Commander Foulerton 
replied, that, unfortunately, the ' Punjaub ' had her floats off, 
and could not be got ready in time, but, he added, seeing Lord 
Canning's look of discomposure, he would take the ' Semiramis' 
down, also all the ' Punjaub's ' men in her boats. Lord Canning 
consented, and, the other officers having already received their 

* AH Nuckee Khan, the tool as well as Minister of the King, with whom lie 
was connected by marriage, being uncle of the first Begum and father of the 
second, had held the reins of otfice since 1848, some years before the British 
annexation of Oude under General Outram, and by his administration had 
plunged the country into a state of misery and anarchy. 

f Afterwards Sir George Edmonstone, Lieutenant-Governor of the North- 
West Provinces, of whom the Governor-General wrote in his Minute of the 2nd 
July, 1859, that he could " give this valuable servant of the Government no 
higher praise than to say that the performance of the duties which fell upon him, 
and which were heavily increased by the state of affairs, has been exactly what 
might have been expected from those who knew the character of his former 
service — it has been admirable." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 433 

instructions, dismissed Commander Foulerton with directions 
to call on him again that evening at nine o'clock. 

Having secured the services of a competent pilot, Commander 
Foulerton took him on board the ' Semiramis,' and, having 
informed Lieutenant Stradling that he would have to sail at 
daylight the following morning, directed him to stop all com- 
munication with the shore. He then proceeded to the ' Pun- 
jaub,' and gave orders to his first-lieutenant to have all the 
boats manned and armed in readiness to betaken in tow by the 
' Semiramis,' at daylight on Monday morning, but not to give 
any orders till after eight p.m., and to stop all communication 
with the shore. Commander Foulerton now proceeded to 
Government House and reported the arrangements he had 
made to the Governor-General, whom he found closeted with the 
same gentlemen as in the morning, He then went on board the 
'Punjaub,' and, a little before daylight, the 'Semiramis,' with 
the ' Punjaub's ' boats in tow, got under weigh and anchored 
off the palace of the King of Oude. The pilot at first ob- 
jected to take the ' Semiramis ' down, as he had no orders, but 
Commander Foulerton warned him to refuse at his peril, and 
he obeyed. 

On arriving at Garden Reach, Commander Foulerton ordered 
Lieutenant Stradling to send his boats to the banks of the 
river and allow no one to leave the place, and himself landed 
with all his crew and closed in on the palace. A few minutes 
later, Colonel Powell appeared on the scene with five hundred 
men of the 53rd Regiment, some Artillery, and the Governor- 
General's Body-Guard, with which he surrounded the vast com- 
pound and enclosure, containing a perfect town of huts, where 
it was said the King had gathered some fifteen hundred armed 
followers. The affair was well planned and the surprise com- 
plete. When Mr. Edmonstone, accompanied by Colonel Powell 
and Commander Foulerton, made his appearance in the King's 
apartments, the poor tool of the mutineers, reduced by de- 
bauchery to a state of semi-imbecility, cried and begged not to 
be removed from his palace, denying all complicity in, or sym- 
pathy with, the rebellion. But his protestations were of no 
avail, and he was driven to Fort William, in a carriage escorted 
by the Governor-General's Body-Guard, while the Nawab Ali 
Nuckee Khan, Tikaet Rao, the Dewan of the Chief Begum. 
Ahsun Hoossein Khan, and his son, were removed to the ghaut 
and taken on board the ' Semiramis,' in her boats. Commander 
Foulerton, in a letter to us, describing his share in these critical 
events, says of the interview with the King : — " Mr. Edmon- 
stone, three or four others, and myself, went into the house and 
up to the King's bedroom. We were kept outside a short time; 
I suppose, till he was ready to receive us. We then went in 
and found him sitting on his bed, and some of his wives and 

VOL. II. FF 



434 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

people were present. Mr. Edmonstone told him to get ready 
to go on board the steamer. His wives were very noisy, and 
he was in great distress, and seemed very unwilling to go on 
board, upon which I told Mr. Edmonstone that I supposed we 
should have to hoist him in, and as there seemed to be some 
difficulty, Mr. Edmonstone sent one of the Body-Guard up to 
Government House, and a carriage was sent down for him. 
I took AH Nuckee Khan and two or three others on board of 
the ' Semiramis ' to Calcutta, and landed them at the Fort." 
The proposal of the gallant captain of the ' Punjaub,' an officer, 
like many of his profession, accustomed to " stand no non- 
sense/' to hoist the august sovereign of Oude on board his ship, 
by " a whip on the mainyard," with no more ceremony than 
would be observed in the case of a barrel of pork or a drunken 
sailor, must have amused, if it did not excite the horror of, the 
Foreign Secretary, accustomed to carry out the strict etiquette 
of Eastern Courts at all interviews with the dethroned 
monarchs of Delhi and Lucknow. 

In consequence of these events, Calcutta was in a state of 
panic for the next few days ; the most alarming rumours were 
rife of a simultaneous rising of all the natives, and a mutiny 
at Barrackpore ; a repetition of the deeds of Meerut and Delhi 
was uppermost in every one's mind, and gentlemen in the 
hotels, and officers on duty, slept with swords and revolvers 
under their pillows. Crowds of people took refuge on board 
the ships, and one night the gallant Commander of the ' Pun- 
jaub,' who generally slept on shore, on coming on board 
his ship, found that a lady was occupying his bed. 

The first Detachments of officers and seamen of the Indian 
Navy,* landed at Calcutta in June and July, were from the 
'Auckland,' 'Punjaub,' 'Semiramis/ 'Zenobia/ and ' Coroman- 
del/ and further bodieswere drafted up-country on the requisi- 
tion of Sir Frederick Halliday, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. 

In May, 1858, an important change took place in the control 
of the Indian Naval Brigade employed in assisting in the sup- 
pression of the Mutiny, or holding military posts in order to 
free the British troops for service in the field. During the 
interval between June, 1857, and the 22nd of May, 1858, a 
period of twelve months, large numbers of officers and seamen, 
had been landed from the ships of the Indian Navy, and bodies 
of men, recruited from the merchant ships and trained and 

* The first portion of the ' Shannon' Naval Brigade, under command of the 
gallant Captain W. Peel, consisting of twenty-five officers, and four hundred and 
fifty seamen and marines, proceeded up-country from the ' Shannon ' on the 14th 
of August, 1857 ; four days later a second detachment of five officers and one 
hundred and forty men, recruited in Calcutta, quitted the frigate. The ' Pearl ' 
Naval Brigade, under command of Captain Sotheby, numbering one hundred 
and fifty-five officers and men, afterwards increased to two hundred and fifty, 
proceeded up-country on the 12th of September, 1857. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 435 

officered by the Service, were despatched up-country as fast as 
they were disciplined and supplied with arms and equipments 
from the Indian Navy depot at Fort William. These Detach- 
ments, of from one hundred to two hundred men, each with 
two or more 12-pounder howitzers, were scattered over Bengal 
without any proper supervision or means of obtaining pay or 
other assistance after their vessels had left Calcutta, and had, 
consequently, been transferred to the supernumerary list on the 
books of the flag-ship 'Akbar' at Bombay, thus causing the 
greatest confusion and delay when men died, or were discharged 
sick, or invalided home. In consequence of these and other difficul- 
ties resulting from the constant change of vessels of the Service 
in Calcutta, in May, 1858, the Supreme Government directed 
Captain Campbell, who had relieved Lieutenant Stradling in 
the command of the ' Semiramis,' in the preceding November, 
and was senior officer on the Bengal station, to report what 
measures should be adopted to meet the difficulty, and enable 
him to remain in Calcutta, and exercise proper control over the 
whole of the Detachments on shore, which numbered already 
upwards of five hundred men. It was fortunate for the public 
service that an officer so suitable in every way was at hand in 
Calcutta. Captain Campbell was an officer of great experience 
and considerable natural ability, and possessed in a remarkable 
degree the common sense and good judgment for which his 
countrymen are remarkable, while he was not destitute of the 
power to attract the regard of his subordinates, and disarm the 
hostility of those holding divergent views, characteristics 
which are not so generally met with in dwellers north of the 
Tweed. 

On receiving the orders of the Supreme Government, Captain 
Campbell submitted a proposal that one of the boats of his ship, 
the ' Semiramis,' should be detached from that vessel, and be 
placed on the strength of the Indian Navy, as the pennant-vessel 
'Calcutta,' and anchored off the Fort, and that he should be 
authorised to assume command, and hoist his pennant in her 
with a small native crew and office staff, and that the whole of 
the Detachments of the Indian Naval Brigade should be placed 
on her books, or supernumerary lists, for pay only, under his 
command, by which arrangement due discipline and proper 
order could alone be maintained in accordance with the Articles 
of War and regulations of the Service. The Supreme Govern- 
ment approved of his suggestions, and, under the orders of the 
Governor-General in Council, Captain Campbell made over the 
temporary command of the ' Semiramis' to Lieutenant Hurlock, 
who was soon after relieved by Commander W. Balfour,* and, 

* Commander W. Balfour returned to Bombay on the 16th of March, 1858, 
from reporting on the navigation of Indian rivers in conjunction -with Major 
J. H. Crawford, of the Bengal Engineers, and Mr. T. B. Winter, Marine En- 

FF 2 



436 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

on the 22nd of May, 1858, assumed command of the pennant- 
vessel ' Calcutta,' and of the Indian Naval Brigade in Bengal, 
suitable official quarters being provided in Fort William for his 
office and staff, to which Mr. Purser R. Mignon was appointed 
as Paymaster of the Brigade. 

The above proceedings, having been reported in due course 
by Captain Campbell to Commodore Wellesley at Bombay, 
were confirmed, but strong representations were made to the 
Supreme Government by the Commander-in-chief of the Indian 
Navy, through the Bombay Government, regarding the diffi- 
culty of preserving discipline amongst large bodies of seamen 
landed from their ships for service on shore for long periods, and 
Captain Campbell was called upon to define more clearly the 
footing on which the Indian Naval Brigade in Bengal would be 
placed, and the legal power by which its internal disci- 
pline was to be maintained. For this purpose he met the 
Military Member of the Supreme Council, General Sir John 
Low, and the Military Secretary to the Government of India, 
Colonel R. Birch, and pointed out that it was requisite that 
the Brigade should not be regarded as forming part of the 
Military force under the orders of the Commander-in-chief, but 
as simply landed under urgent requisitions from the civil 
power for the protection of the various localities and public 
property, and co-operating with the military forces as required 
from time to time by the local civil authorities, for whose 
assistance they were sent, and that when thus employed on 
shore, " on active service and full pay," they w r ere clearly 
amenable to the 34th Article of War, for "Mutiny," "De- 
sertion," and "Disobedience of orders of their Commanding 
Officers." Captain Campbell was quite aware that by thus 
considering the Brigade as under civil requisition, it would 
possibly debar the services of the officers and men from 
being mentioned in military despatches, but he considered it 
desirable that the force should not be made amenable to 
the military regulations, and subject to all the autho- 
rities under whom the officers of the Brigade might be 
placed at distant stations, where sooner or later affairs were 
liable to come to a dead lock between military and naval 
martial law. Commodore Wellesley was very naturally strongly 
opposed to the. continued withdrawal of so large a body of 

gineer. The Court of Directors had appointed them " for the special purpose of 
reporting upon the boats which are in actual use, and which are found to be best 
adapt id for the navigation of rapid and shallow waters in Europe." In further- 
ance of this object, the Committee visited the rivers Rhine, Rhone, Danube, 
Saone, and Seine, and carefully compared their personal investigations with 
published reports of the navigation of American rivers, and of the Tigris and 
Euphrates. The nature of their inquiries, and the conclusions to which they 
ltd, were clearly stated by the Commissioners in a Report which was printed by 
direction of the Court of Directors, and some valuable practical suggestions were 
offered regarding the best class of boats for navigating the rivers of India. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 437 

officers from their duties afloat, by which the vessels were 
crippled, and their efficiency for service seriously impaired ; but 
the Government of India overruled these objections under the 
great urgency of the times, as it was found that the natives 
came to regard the seamen with superstitious terror, while the 
force was easier handled and more available for special objects 
than regular European troops, which, moreover, could not be 
spared from the armies and columns operating in the field. 

For a considerable time the Indian Navy Detachment at 
Fort William, formed one-third of the European garrison, and 
took the guards at three of the gates, and the reliefs at the 
magazines, arsenal, and over the King of Oude. The admirable 
manner in which the first Detachments in Fort William and other 
stations up-country, performed their duty in protecting the civil 
power and guarding the treasuries and other important posts, 
when the European troops were withdrawn for service against 
the rebels, induced the Local Government of Bengal, which had 
no authority over the Indian Navy, the shore Detachments being 
under the Supreme Government, to form similar bodies of sea- 
men, under civil contract, to serve as Police Brigades, under 
officers of the Bengal Marine. These, latter, however, were totally 
unaccustomed to command European seamen in actual military 
service, and it became apparent that these bodies of men, 
when quartered at distant stations, not being amenable to 
martial law, or accustomed to strict discipline, were fre- 
quently uncontrollable, and had to be finally disbanded or 
replaced by Indian Naval Detachments.* This was not 
effected before great injustice and injury was done to the 
Service, owing to their being allowed to assume the title of 
" Naval Brigades," and adopt a uniform closely resembling that 
of the Indian Navy— by which much serious misapprehension 
arose, and their frequent misconduct was imputed to the men 
of the Covenanted Service. Captain Campbell, writing to us 

* It should, however, be said injustice to the Bengal Marine, that one or two 
of their Detachments, formed exceptions to this charge of indiscipline or ineffi- 
ciency. Captain Burbank did good and gallant service at Purneah on the 11th 
of December, and, later, against the rebellious Coles in Chota Nagpore, for 
which he received the thanks of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. The work 
thrown on Mr. Howe, the Superintendent of the Bengal Marine, and on his 
successor, Captain Rennie, I.N., was immense and varied, and it was periormed 
with the success that might have been anticipated as regards the latter officer, 
from his antecedents and past service. Lord Canning says in his " Minute on 
the Services of Civil Officers and others during the Mutiny and Rebellion :" — 
" The calls for exertion and watchfulness in the Marine Department have been 
constant, from the time when the transports with English troops began to arrive, 
up to the present moment, when the despatch of supplies and stores by the inland 
steamers is only just slackening. To Mr. Howe, in the first instance, and to 
Captain Rennie, from the time when he took up his appointment at the begin- 
ning of 1858, great praise is due for the manner in which the duties of the office 
have been discharged. I trust that the services of these two officers will receive 
notice from Her Majesty's Grovernment." 



438 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

on this point, as to which, being the officer in chief command, 
he naturally felt much concern, says: — "No attention was 
paid to my representations on the subject, and I feel that grave 
and lasting injury was caused by allowing these Police 
Brigades to be called Naval Brigades."* 

Throughout his connection with the Supreme Government, 
the correspondence, official and semi-official, Captain Campbell 
maintained with the successive Home Secretaries, Mr. (now 
Sir) Cecil Beaclon, and Mr. (now Sir) William Grey,f was of 
the most unreserved and friendly character, the public interests 
being the paramount consideration with all parties, though 
the relations were of a somewhat delicate and novel character. 

We will now trace the services in detail of the Detachments 
of the Indian Navy, each of which had a distinguishing number, 
as far as we are able from incomplete records, for which we are 
indebted to Captain Campbell, to the officers concerned, or, 
where these are deceased, to their representatives, and to other 
sources printed or unpublished. 

Very good service was performed at Dacca on. the 22nd of 
November, 1857, by No. 4 Detachment and two armed pin- 
naces, commanded by Lieutenant T. E.Lewis, First-Lieutenant 
of the ' Punjaub,' of which we gather details from an account 
by a gentleman, a member of the small local Volunteer force 
of Europeans and Eurasians, who was present on the occasion. 
The Detachment, which reached Dacca in August, numbered 
eighty-five seamen, and the following officers: — Lieutenant 
Lewis, Acting-Master Connor. Midshipmen W. Cuthell, and A. 
Mayo, of the ' Punjaub,' and Mr. Brown, boatswain. The men 
were trained to the utmost pitch of efficiency by their gallant 
Commander, an officer remarkable for military attainments 
which would have qualified him for the post of adjutant of 
Artillery or Infantry. 

At a late hour on Saturday night, the 21st of Novem- 
ber, a letter, forwarded by express, was received at Dacca, 
announcing the fact that the detachment of the 34th Regi- 
ment Bengal Native Infantry, stationed at Chittagong, had 
mutinied, and that, after burning their lines and destroying a 
great deal of property, they had marched off, apparently to 
join the 73rd Native Infantry and Artillery at Dacca. The 

* It appears that this practice of passing themselves off as officers of the Indian 
Navy, is still practised by certain individuals who have no right to the title, to 
the detriment of the reputation of the old Service. Lieutenant H. Ellis (late 
I.N., (now Master-Attendant at Singapore) writes to us, under date, the Sth of 
September, 1877 : — " People in the Straits are all under the idea that the Indian 
Navy means the Bengal Marine. I assure you there were several of these Bengal 
Marine men down here when poor Burn and I first came, who always signed 
themselves I.N., and had it on their cards. I have often been so much annoyed 
that I make it a point never to talk about the Service." 

f Late Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces and Governor of 
Jamaica. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 439 

head-quarters of the Regiment which thus commenced the bold 
game of rebellion, had been ignominiously disbanded at Bar- 
rackpore, on the 2nd of May, for the Miingul Pandy outrage on 
the 29th of March, when the first blood of the mutiny was shed; 
but as soon as the three companies quartered at Chittagong, 
heard of the disgraceful conduct of their comrades, they 
addressed to the Government a memorial, in which they de- 
clared they would remain " faithful for ever." The Sepoys at 
Dacca were known to be in league with the 34th Native 
Infantry at Chittagong ; and it became apparent that the news 
of the latter having mutinied, would be received by them 
through the post the next day, so that it was desirable to 
disarm them forthwith. Accordingly, Mr. Carnac, the offici- 
ating Collector and Magistrate, called a council of war, com- 
posed chiefly of civilians, to divide with him the responsibility 
of the measure. Lieutenant Lewis and the two subalterns in 
command of the Native troops were present, and, though the 
non-combatants were in a majority, it was finally resolved to 
act as the circumstances of the case imperatively demanded. 
The necessary arrangements were, therefore, made ao quickly 
and secretly as possible for disarming the Sepoys at daybreak 
the next morning. The Volunteers were individually sum- 
moned from all parts of the city and station, and ordered to 
meet at the Bank at four o'clock on Sunday morning. The 
position was calculated to inspire some degree of anxiety. The 
detachment of the 73rd Native Infantry numbered three hun- 
dred men, who were supported by fifty Native Artillerymen, with 
two field-pieces and a well-stocked magazine of ammunition. 

The Volunteer named before says : — " Against three hundred 
and fifty men with their 9-pounder field-guns, backed by a 
large and disaffected Mahomedan population, our great stand- 
by and tower of strength were the sailors of the Indian Navy, 
about ninety in number, and their two small howitzers, which 
they dragged along with them as children would their pet toys. 
They were as fine and trustworthy a handful of men as anyone 
would wish to command ; well conducted, well under control, 
well drilled, steady under arms, full of spirit and confidence, 
and like all British tars, with no end of " go" in them. Three 
months of constant and careful training had made them equal 
in every practical quality to as many old and experienced 
soldiers, and as, shortly after their arrival in Dacca, they were 
armed with the Enfield rifle, in the use of which they had been 
thoroughly instructed, it may well be imagined that they were 
regarded by the English residents with considerable con- 
fidence. Still, if they had to fight, there would be four to one 
against them, and, for so small a body, those would be great 
odds. 

" The Volunteers, though embodied solely for defensive pur- 



440 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

poses, were yet prepared to go wherever, and do whatever they 
were ordered. Composed of a few Englishmen, of a sprinkling 
of Armenians, but principally of Eurasians, or half-castes, of 
men belonging to all classes, and of all ages and professions, it 
was not deemed advisable to expose them, except in case of 
extreme necessity, to the risks and clangers inseparable from 
actual conflict with the Sepoys. Yet they were well drilled and 
confident in themselves, although so few in number, and might 
have been safely entrusted to perform more hazardous duties 
than they were required to do on this occasion. 

"At half-past four o'clock ou Sunday morning, the 22nd of 
November, about thirty Volunteers had assembled at the 
Bank. Not more than a hundred yards off was a guard of 
fifty Sepoys over the Treasury, which, it was said, contained at 
the time twelve lacs of rupees (£1 20,000), and, a couple of 
hundred yards distant, on the other side of the Treasury, was 
the house occupied by the sailors as a barrack. These build- 
ings were situated in the centre of the Civil Station, between 
which and the Sepoy lines, a distance of about a mile, was the 
native city, chiefly inhabited by a large and fanatical Ma- 
homedan population. It being necessary to disarm the Trea- 
sury guard first, it was clearly of the utmost importance that it 
should be accomplished without firing a shot, which would have 
alarmed the main body of the Sepoys on the other side of the 
city. This was managed with great success. The Volunteers, 
according to agreement, reached the Treasury at a quarter to 
five o'clock, when the sailors, after disarming the guard, were 
in the act of marching out of the gateway. Not a hitch had 
occurred, and the work had been done as quietly as possible. 
It now devolved upon the Volunteers to act as a guard over the 
Treasury, and to prevent the disarmed Sepoys from leaving 
the large enclosure in which it was situated; while the sailors, 
about eighty strong, accompanied by a few civilians and 
Volunteers, and the two officers who nominally commanded 
the Native troops, made the best of their way through the 
city to the Lall Bagh, where they hoped to catch the Sepoys 
napping. 

" The Lall Bagh was a large enclosure, which had formerly 
been a garden attached to the fort and palace, now in ruins, 
belonging to the Mahomedan rulers of Eastern Bengal. Im- 
mediately to the right, on entering the gateway, was a large 
tank, and to the left a high embankment, between which ran a 
narrow road, about forty yards long, which it was necessary to 
pass before one could be said to be fairly in the Lall Bagh. In 
the centre of the enclosure were two large, high, solid, stone- 
built structures — a tomb and a mosque, each with a dome in 
the centre, and minarets at their four corners, which were still 
occupied by the Sepoys as barracks. These two buildings 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 441 

were directly in a line with one another, and had a space of 
about fifty yards between them, while the distance from thern 
to the front and rear of the enclosure was one hundred yards 
either way. Upon the high and broad embankment to the left, 
which extended the whole way along the west or city side of 
the Lall Bagh, were built, crosswise, several ranges of barracks, 
which were loopholed for defence, and commanded the mosque 
and tomb in the centre. Only two or three of these barracks 
were occupied as dwelling places by the Sepoys, though all of 
them were so far completed as to be capable of being stoutly 
defended. The wall by which the Lall Bagh had been en- 
closed to the right had fallen into ruins, and had gaps in it in 
several places. Lastly, to the right of the tank, not far from 
the gateway leading into the enclosure, was the Sepoys' hos- 
pital, and, here and there, dotted over the green, were a few 
trees and bushes, which however were not thick enough to 
afford any shelter. 

" Such was the position occupied by the Sepoys, who, unfor- 
tunately, were not unprepared for the visit which the sailors 
were about to pay them. How they became informed of it, or 
whether they had been informed at all, and were about to 
assume the offensive, was only a matter of conjecture ; but it 
is certain that the sailors on their arrival found the Sepoys 
drawn up in line ready to receive them. The mosque was 
strongly occupied, and formed their centre, and on either side 
of it was drawn up the main body, with the two 9-pounder 
guns masked in the rear. The sailors marched into the enclo- 
sure in columns of sections, and had not formed line, when the 
officer who commanded the three companies of the 73rd Native 
Infantry, and the Lieutenant in command of the Native Artil- 
lery, rode forward to persuade the men to lay down their arms 
peaceably, and to assure them of protection if they would only 
obey orders. But they had not gone many yards when the 
Sepoys prepared to fire a volley, which at once put an end to 
all further attempt at conciliation, and which, fortunately, was 
fired too high to do any harm. The sailors were then in line, 
with their two howitzers on their left, and a volley from their 
Eufields, which did execution, was the prompt reply. Before 
the smoke cleared away, and without waiting to load, the order 
was given to charge ; but the Sepoys, who had no relish for 
the sailors' cold steel, gave way at once, and rushed to occupy 
in greater force the buildings around them, especially the 
barracks on the embankment. The sailors followed, bursting 
open the doors and driving the Sepoys out, or, wherever they 
had the opportunity, shooting or bayoneting them. Once an 
entrance was obtained, the Bandies bolted, and only stood their 
ground behind the loopholed walls, whence they could fire with 
safety at the sailors while engaged in forcing their way into 



4 12 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the buildings. Another party was employed in attacking suc- 
cessively the mosque and tomb in the centre of the Lall Bagh, 
while the howitzers were hotly engaged in the endeavour to 
silence the Sepoys' 9-pounders. In clearing the mosque and 
tomb, many of the Sepoys, who were unable to escape in time, 
were found huddled up beneath their beds, and received their 
' quietus.' Others were ' prodded ' out at the point of the 
bayonet, and run through when endeavouring to get away. 
The sailors did most of their work with the ' cold steel,' and 
rarely stopped to load ; they never asked or received quarter 
from their opponents, and they granted none in return. Thus, 
with few exceptions, all put hors de combat were killed. When 
the Sepoys were brought to bay, it became a hand-to-hand, life- 
or-death struggle, in which the victor only survived. It is 
difficult now to realise the temper of those stern times ; but it 
may well be imagined how fiercely a handful of Englishmen 
would fight for their lives against fourfold their own number 
of Sepoys, with ' Cawnpore !' ringing in their ears for a battle- 
cry. 

" After about half-an-hour's hard fighting, the buildings were 
carried, though not without considerable loss to the sailors, 
who especially suffered when clearing the loopholed barracks 
on the embankment. As a last hope, the Sepoys made a stand 
around the 9-pounder gun, which they had still at work, and 
the sailors now prepared to charge down upon it from the top 
of the embankment, where they remained under cover to reform 
after capturing the barracks. A young midshipman* who was 
awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct on this 
occasion, placed himself at the head of about twenty of his men, 
and led them at full speed, and with a loud 'hurrah!' straight 
upon the gun. At almost the same moment, the party of 
sailors that had cleared the mosque and tomb appeared in view 
on the left flank of the Sepoys, who, together with the artillery- 
men, instantly broke and fled, abandoning the gun, which they 
left loaded, and which was at once turned and fired after them, 
while the howitzers played upon them from the centre of the 
enclosure and flanked them in their flight. 

" The fight was now fairly won. In less than three-quarters 
of an hour the sailors had beaten shamefully four times their 
own number of Sepoys out of a very strong position. Only 
three prisoners were taken, of whom two were wounded ; and 
when the action was over, forty-one Sepoys were lying dead in 
the Lall Bagh. Of the sailors, three were killed and sixteen 
wounded, one of whom subsequently died, nearly one man in 
every four having been hit. Altogether, it will probably be 
admitted, this was a sharp morning's work before breakfast in 
the usually quiet city of Dacca. It was all over in an hour. 

* Mr. Arthur Mayo, a gallant and accomplished young officer. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 443 

Not a Sepoy remained alive in the place, excepting the three 
who had been taken prisoners, and two of these were wounded. 
That so much had been accomplished with comparatively so 
small a loss on our side, was deemed worthy of sincere con- 
gratulation by everyone. The station was now perfectly safe, 
for no one anticipated that the mutineers from Chittagong 
would pay it a visit after the utter defeat of their brethren of 
the 73rd Native Infantry. Still, every precaution was adopted. 
Sailors and Volunteers remained on duty throughout the day 
and the following night ; and, for some days and nights after- 
wards, guards and patrols were active and vigilant both in and 
around the city and station, but nothing further was seen of 
the defeated and disbanded Sepoys, nor did the mutineers of 
the 34th Native Infantry approach Dacca. The former were 
flying northwards, it was reported, many of them mounted on 
ponies, and in less than three weeks after their defeat, the 
wretched remnant that still survived were hunted through the 
jungles of Cachar into the desert wilds of Bhootan, where 
eventually they either became slaves or else perished 
miserably. 

" The morning after the fight, Monday, the 23rd of November, 
the three Sepoy prisoners were taken before the Zillah judge, 
who summarily sentenced them to be hanged on the following 
day. There was not the least doubt or hesitation about it; 
and Lord Canning's celebrated Five Acts, which conferred upon 
every civilian in the country the powers usually exercised 
under martial law by a General Drum-head Court, fully war- 
ranted the procedure. At the appointed hour, the ground being 
kept by the sailors and Volunteers, the three Sepoys were 
escorted under the ugly and grim-looking beam by a strong 
guard of Native police. A dense spectre-like multitude, dressed 
in white, had assembled from the city, and occupied every 
point from which a view could be obtained of the drop. A 
dead silence prevailed among the vast multitude of people, who 
could be seen in every direction as far as the eye could reach. 
The magistrate read and explained to each of the three men 
their crimes and sentences, but they said nothing ; the sharp 
cold of a chilly November morning made them shiver, and the 
near approach of death had apparently struck them dumb with 
terror. The two wounded men had to be assisted up the drop ; 
the other, a Hindoo, went up the ladder unaided, and met his 
doom with much fortitude. He at the last moment preferred a 
request to the magistrate that his body should not be buried, 
but be thrown into the river. He was told that his request 
was granted. When the bolt was drawn, and the three men 
were seen suspended in the air, a low long-continued moan 
arose from the hitherto silent multitude, which soon afterwards 
dispersed as quietly as it had assembled. This was the last 



444 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

act of the mutiny at Dacca. For seven long months the 
European inhabitants had been sleeping with revolvers under 
their pillows and with their guns loaded by their bedsides, 
ready for immediate use. All care and anxiety were now 
removed."* 

This success broke up an intended junction of the mutineers 
with those of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, at Chittagong, 
who were marching on Dacca. Having received the news of 
the action, they halted irresolutely, tried to cross the river 
above Dacca, were opposed by a gunboat, judiciously despatched 
by Lieutenant Lewis for the express purpose, and finally dis- 
persed into the jungles, where they perished miserably for want 
of food, or were hunted down by the Sylhet Light Infantry. 
If the Indian Naval Detachment had been repulsed in their 
attack on the mutineers' position, and had been obliged to 
retreat, a general massacre would probably have ensued, for in 
their rear lay the city of Dacca, with a large fanatical Moham- 
medan population in a very excited state. A copy of the 
following letter of thanks, addressed to Captain Campbell, was 
received by Lieutenant Lewis, who was himself wounded in 
this action, signed by Mr. Beadon, Secretary to Government, 
dated the 4th of December, 1857 :— " The Governor-General in 

* Lieutenant Lewis says in bis despatch : — " The Treasury, Executive 
Engineers, and Commissariat Guards were disarmed without resistance. We 
then marched down to the Lall Bagh ; on entering the lines the Sepoys were 
found drawn up by their magazine, with two 9-pounders in the centre. Their 
hospital and numerous buildings in the Lall Bagh, together with the barracks, 
which are on top of a hill, and are built of brick and loopholed, were also 
occupied by them in great force. Immediately we deployed into line, they opened 
fire on us from front and left flank, with canister and musketry. We gave them 
one volley, and then charged with the bayonet up the hill, and carried the whole 
of the barracks on the top of it, breaking the doors with our musket-butts, and 
bayoneting the Sepoys inside. As soon as this was done, we charged down hill, 
and taking them in flank, carried both their guns and all the buildings, driving 
them into the jungle. While we were thus employed with the small-arm men, 
the two mountain-train howitzers, advancing to within 150 yards, took up a 
position to the right, bearing on the enemy's guns in rear of their magazine, and 
uulimbering, kept up a steady and well-directed fire. Every one, both officers 
and men, behaved most gallantly, charging repeatedly, in face of a most heavy 
fire, without the slightest hesitation for a moment. I beg particularly to bring 
to notice the conduct of Mr. Midshipman Mayo, who led the last charge on their 
guns most gallantly, being nearly twenty yards in front of the men. I regret to 
say our loss has been severe, but not more, I think, than could have been ex- 
pected from the strength of the position and the obstinacy of the defence. Forty- 
one Sepoys were counted by Mr. Boatswain Brown dead on the ground, and 
eight have been since brought in desperately wounded. Three also were di-owned 
or shot in attempting to escape across the river. I enclose the list of killed and 
wounded. Dr. Best being ill, Dr. Green, Civil Surgeon, accompanied the de- 
tachment into action, and was severely wounded. I was ably seconded by Mr. 
Connor, my second in command. Lieutenant Dowell, Bengal Artillery, volun- 
teered and took command of one of our howitzers, which he fought most skilfully 
to the end of the action. We were also accompanied by Messrs. Camac, C.S., 
Macpherson and Bainbridge, and Lieutenant Hitchins, Bengal Native Infantry, 
who rendered great assistance with then- rifles, and to whom my thanks are 
due." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 445 

Council, while deeply regretting the loss which the Detachment 
has sustained, is happy to recognise the excellent services it 
has rendered on this occasion ; and His Lordship in Council 
desires me to request that you will convey to Lieutenant Lewis, 
and to the officers and men under his command, the thanks of 
the Government of India for the gallant manner in which they 
performed their duty. His Lordship in Council notices, with 
approbation, the conduct of Mr. Midshipman Mayo in leading 
a charge against the enemy's guns." The Bombay Government 
also, under date the 12th of January, 1858, issued the accom- 
panying complimentary order, signed by Mr. (now Sir) Henry 
L. Anderson, Secretary to Government: — "I am directed to 
inform you that the Right Honourable the Governor in Council 
has perused with heartfelt pleasure the record of the gallantry 
displayed by Lieutenant Lewis and the officers and men of the 
Detachment of the Indian Navy at Dacca; and His Lordship 
in Council has no doubt that the services performed by Lieu- 
tenant Lewis and his men will be appreciated by the Right 
Honourable the Governor-General in Council." 

Immediately on receipt of intelligence of these events, Lord 
Canning despatched Jo Dacca, in a steamer and flat, three 
companies of li.M.'s 54th Regiment, and on that and the 
following day, two Detachments of seamen, with guns, also 
proceeded to Dacca, whence they were pushed on to Rungpore 
and Dinagepore, and, on the 4th of December, the Detachment 
of the 54th Regiment also left for Sylhet. It is almost impos- 
sible to exaggerate the magnitude of the service rendered to 
the State by Lieutenant Lewis at Dacca, but Sir Frederick 
Halliday, in his Minute, has only done justice to the oppor- 
tuneness of his arrival and the brilliant service performed by 
his handful of seamen.* 

Government considering it advisable, at a later date, to 
strengthen both Dacca and Sylhet, three companies of H.M.'s 
19th Regiment were despatched to Dacca, and, on their arrival, 
in August, 1858, the greater portion of No. 4 Detachment was 

* The Lieutenant-Governor — a man not given to exaggeration, and himself 
described by Lord Canning, in his Minute of the 2nd of July, 1859, on the " Ser- 
vices of the Civil Officers and others during the Mutiny," as " the right hand of 
the Grovernment'of India," — saysjof the position of affairs at Dacca : — " Unlike most 
other Divisions of Bengal, where in case of any outbreak, a temporary divergence 
of troops intended for the Upper Provinces was sufficient either altogether to 
prevent any outbreak, or at least to avert the more serious consequences, tl ii> part 
of the country was far removed from any possible resource of this kind. All des- 
patch of aid must, therefore, be quite independent of any other movement, whilst 
the only means of despatch was by a circuitous water route. The presence of the 
sailors prevented any serious consequences that would have been otherwise certain 
to arise from the mutinous outbreak which afterwards occurred, and which but 
for their presence would probably have happened at an earlier and more embar- 
rassing time, and I ueed hardly say, been attended with much more serious con- 
sequences." 



446 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

pushed on to Sylhet. During the stay at Dacca, the Detach- 
ment lost some men of fever. 

Lieutenant Lewis proceeded to Sylhet during the height of 
the monsoon, Acting-master Connor being left behind at Dacca 
with a small party, chiefly time-expired men, the complement 
of the Sylhet force being made up to a hundred by new hands 
from Calcutta. Lieutenant Lewis writes from Sylhet on the 
20th of August, 1858 : — " We arrived at Sylhet after a most 
disagreeable passage of eleven days from Dacca, pulling boats 
over paddy fields amongst legions of musquitoes and flies. We 
have very good quarters here, everybody very civil, and willing 
to do all they can for us ; the Sylhet Light Infantry turned 
out and received us with military honours, great cheering, &c. 
It has been pouring down ever since we came here. They had 
made no arrangement for an hospital for us, notwithstanding 
that I wrote to them about it when we were first ordered here. 
We shall have to build one, which will take a long time I am 
afraid." On the 13th of November he writes : — " I have only 
fifty of my old men left, their terms of service are gradually 
expiring, but they do not seem particularly anxious to be dis- 
charged. The men suffer very severely from fever, and we 
have always a large number sick and convalescent. The 
Doctor tells me he does not consider more than seventy of the 
men are fit for service now; in consequence I have established 
a small canteen, which answers capitally, and we have a 
theatre, built by subscription of the residents, who are a very 
good set of fellows, and so, the sickness excepted, it is a very 
good station." In January, 1859, Lieutenant Lewis was directed 
to proceed to Dibrooghur, on the extreme North-East Frontier 
of Assam, to relieve Lieutenant Davies' Detachment, which had 
been quartered there since the 2nd of October, 1857, and, in 
the following month, he proceeded against the Abor* hillmen. 
The Detachment engaged numbered sixty-two petty officers and 
seamen, and the following officers : — Lieutenant T. E. Lewis, 
in command, Lieutenant W. H. M. Davies, whose Detachment 

* Dr. McCosh, who had medical charge of Q-oalpara and Gowhatty, published 
in 1837, an instructive work on the " Topography of Assam," which was enriched 
by the observations of Captain (afterwards General Sir) F. Jenkins, who was 
employed on a special mission to Assam in 1839, and at this tune (1859) was the 
Agent of the Governor-General and Officer Commanding on the North-East 
Frontier. The Abors, Bor Abors, and Mishmees inhabit an extensive range of 
mountainous country along the southern side of the great Himalayan chain 
bordering on Thibet and China. Speaking of the state of affairs in Upper Assam 
at tliis time, Sir Frederick Halliday says in his " Minute on the Mutinies as they 
affected the Lower Provinces :" — " To reach the furthest stations in Upper Assam 
occupies almost as long a time as a journey to England ; add to this the neigh- 
bourhood of numerous and formidable tribes of savages, with some of whom we 
are always more or less in collision, and the comparatively recent occupation of 
the Province (since the Burmese War of 1826), and it will be acknowledged that 
these in themselves afford no inconsiderable cause of anxiety." 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 447 

stationed up here had returned to Calcutta on the expiration of 
their terra of service, Assistant-Surgeon White, and Mr. Mid- 
shipman Mayo. 

The following is the report of their operations, by Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel S. F. Hannay, Commanding the 1st Assam Light 
Infantry, dated Gowhatty, Pashee Ghat, 28th February, 1859 : 
— "I have the honour to acquaint you that the Expedition* 
under my command reached the vicinity of Pashee Ghat on 
Saturday, the 26th inst., and on Sunday morning, the 27th 
in st., I proceeded from that point with a party to the attack of 
Pashee and the adjoining Meyong Abor village of Romkang, 
which was effectually carried out, and these two positions taken 
and completely destroyed by four p.m., when I returned to the 
camp established at Pashee Ghat. I beg to state that the 
resistance made by the Abors to our advance was most ob- 
stinate and determined ; which they were enabled to do, from 
their thorough knowledge of the ground, their peculiar skill as 
marksmen, and their formidable barricades and stockades, 
eleven in number, from the river bank, nine of which the enemy 
defended, and in three instances it was necessary to use a 
12-pounder howitzer gun to open the way for the assault. The 
enclosed list of killed and wounded (Europeans and Natives) 
will show that we had to contend against a formidable enemy, 
armed with a powerful weapon in skilful hands; the strong 
nature of the defences keeping the attacking party unavoid- 
ably exposed, not only to the fire from the front, but from both 
flanks, and from trees and heights occupied by the enemy. 
However, all went down before the gallantry of the troops. 
The village of Romkang and three strong positions were car- 
ried at the point of the bayonet by our gallant band of Euro- 
peans, Indian Navy, and the advance guard under Lieutenants 
Lewis and Davies, with Mr. Midshipman Mayo. The position 
of Pashee was taken by Major Reid and myself, the main body 
of Native troops, with the local Artillery and a 12-pounder 
howitzer gun. In such jungle positions, and with the pre- 
vailing practice of carrying their wounded, the loss of the 
enemy cannot be ascertained ; but they must have suffered con- 
siderably, particularly in the defences of Romkang, where the 
conflict was hand-to-hand. I. beg leave to express my utmost 
satisfaction with the conduct of the troops engaged, European 
and Native. I would especially notice for your information, 
and that of the Right Honourable the Commander-in-chief, the 

* Europeans, Indian Navy — Sixty-two men, three officers, one assistant- 
surgeon. Assam Local Artillery — Thirty-five men, one European officer, two 
12- pounders, two mortars. 1st Assam Light Infantry Battalion — one hundred 
and sixty rank and file, one European officer, one European non-commissioned 
officer. One hundred and fifty auxiliaries. 



448 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

very gallant conduct of the Indian Naval Brigade, under Lieu- 
tenant Lewis, I.N., with Lieutenant Davies and Mr. Midship- 
man Mayo, I.N. Lieutenant Lewis had a narrow escape, an 
arrow fired at a very short distance lodging in his cap pocket. 
Lieutenant Davies, who gallantly led the advance guard 
throughout the whole of the operations of the day, was, I am 
sorry to say, severely hit in the left breast and left arm. Mr. 
Midshipman Mayo also, a gallant young lad, who was promi- 
nently forward on all occasions, was slightly wounded in the 
finger. I beg to report that the conduct of these officers was 
most gallant and exemplary ; and I have to add also the highly 
meritorious conduct of Mr. Assistant-Surgeon White, whose 
devotion and attention to the wounded in positions of great risk, 
was beyond all praise." In conclusion, Colonel Hannay men- 
tioned the gallantry displayed by Major Reid, and the exertions 
of the Assistant Commissioner, Captain Bivar. 

Lieutenant Lewis's report on the services of his men on the 
27th February, is in the following terms: — "The advanced 
guard of Europeans and 1st Assam Light Infantry was com- 
manded by Lieutenant W. H. M. Davies, I.N., temporarily 
doing duty with the brigade under my command, followed by 
the rest of the Brigade, under myself and Mr. Midshipman 
Mayo, I.N., then the guns and 1st Assam Light Infantry. For 
about two to three miles the march was unmolested, and slight 
opposition was then experienced at the felled trees in the plain, 
but at the stockade No. 4 the enemy offered a determined 
resistance; concealed in the jungle on both sides, they poured 
showers of arrows upon us, as also from the stockade in front. 
A mountain howitzer was brought up by Major Reid, several 
rounds of grape was poured into the stockade, and then, by 
desire of Colonel Hannay, the whole of the Europeans came to 
the front and carried the stockade. We then pushed on till we 
came to No. 5, a very strong stockade on the opposite high 
bank of a small river ; part of the Indian Naval Brigade was 
extended under cover to keep down the enemy's fire. Major 
Reid again brought up the howitzers, and after several rounds 
of grape, the Indian Naval Brigade crossed and carried the 
stockade. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting 
the guns up the steep bank, and by the permission of Colonel 
Hannay, I then pushed on with Lieutenant Davies, I.N., the 
brigade and a sub-division of the Assam Light Infantry to the 
next stockade, marked No. 6. Part of the men kept down the 
fire of the stockade, and a charge was then made, and it was 
carried by the Brigade, supported by the sub-division of the 
1st Assam Light Infantry. We then enfiladed the stockade 
marked No. 10 with the fire of our Enfields, and drove the 
enemy out, the ground not being passable between them. 
Leaving a party of the 1st Assam Light Infantry to hold 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 449 

the ground until the main body came up, I went on up the 
road to Romkang, and carried the stockades marked Nos. 7 
and 8. 

" At No. 8 the resistance was most desperate, by far the 
worst of any Ave had met. The hill was here extremely pre- 
cipitous, and they rolled down stones upon us, as well as 
showers of arrows. Even when we charged and got up to the 
stockade, they thrust their spears and shot their poisoned 
arrows through slits in the stockade, and it being defended by 
palisades at right angles with the stockade, and half way up, it 
could not be climbed over ; we had gradually to break down a 
portion of the stockade to get in. Lieutenant Davies was here 
severely wounded, through a slit in the stockade, by poisoned 
arrows, in two places, and Mr. Midshipman Mayo slightly 
wounded in the same manner. On getting in, all opposition 
ceased, the enemy abandoned No. 9 without a blow, and we 
were in possession of the village of Romkang at two p.m., after 
five hours of uninterrupted hard fighting. After having set fire 
to and completely destroyed the villages, I returned down the 
hill, destroying the stockades as we came, and rejoined the 
main body under Colonel Hannay in Pashee, which place they 
had taken while we were engaged at Romkang. The whole 
force then returned to the Ghat at Pashee, which we reached 
about seven p.m. Lieutenant W. H. M. Davies, I.N., and Mr. 
Midshipman Mayo, I.N., exhibited throughout this long affair 
the most daring courage, and on every occasion of storming these 
numerous stockades they were in the front. The men of the 
Brigade behaved most admirably throughout, and followed close 
up to their officers at every stockade. Our loss lias been very 
severe, I am sorry to say, and amounted to more in wounded 
than the third of the men engaged." 

The fighting throughout the day was desperate, and all dis- 
played conspicuous courage, especially the three officers, two of 
whom were wounded, and Lieutenant Lewis, the third, had a, 
narrow escape. Of the seamen, four were killed and twenty- 
one wounded, the wounds being chiefly caused by arrows, the 
barbs of which were steeped in "aconite" poison, of the nature 
and effects of which Captain Lowther, of the Assam Battalion, 
sent a report to the Agricultural Society of India.* The path 
at the foot of the hills was found planted with pioijies, or small 

* At a meeting of the Medical and Physical Society of Bengal, on the 7th of 
July, 1827, a paper was communicated by Dr. Breton, giving the results of 
certain experiments he had made as to the nature of the poisons in use by the 
Nagas, a tribe of hillmen. He said that the poison is a vegetable gum, obtained 
by making incisions into the bark of a large tree. The Nagas mix it with tobacco 
water to the consistency of paste, with which they smear the points of their 
arrows. By experiments on animals, Dr. Breton proved its deadly effects, lie 
said the people are reluctant to indicate the tree from which the gum is ex- 
tracted. 

VOL. II. GG 



450 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 






poisoned stakes, so that the elephants carrying the ammunition 
and mountain-guns were lamed. Lieutenant Davies was 
wounded in the shoulder, arm, and breast, the latter a very 
severe wound, from which he has continued to suffer ever since, 
the bone coming away many years afterwards. On receiving 
this last wound. Lieutenant Davies pushed the muzzle of his 
revolver through the interstices of the stockade and shot his 
assailant dead. 

Lieutenant Lewis gives some interesting details of the Expe- 
dition in a private letter. Writing on the 11th of March, he 
says : — " We returned to Dibrooghur from Pashee Ghat on 
Monday last, the 6th of March, having been away just three 
weeks, and 1 was very glad to get back, as it was terrible rough 
work about those hills marching in the rain, and encamping on 
sand-banks in small paul tents, leaking when it rained, and 
sand blowing in when it did not. The day after the fight no 
end of Abors came in ; they were not the villagers we had been 
fighting with, but other villagers, supposed to be friendly ; they 
told us that there were all the fighting men of twenty-two 
villages assembled in the stockades that we took, making at the 
very lowest computation thirteen hundred men we had against 
us. If there is going to be much more fighting like the last up 
here, the} 7 certainly must have European troops of some kind 
always here : the Assam Light Infantry are of no use against 
such enemies as the Abors, provided they always fight the 
same. It is the first time the Government have ever had any 
collision with these tribes, and I am rather inclined to think 
they will not give quite so much trouble the next affair. I do 
not think the Assam Light Infantry would ever have taken the 
stockades if we had not been there ; they would have come to 
great grief, as they are just like so many sheep under fire, 
yelling and firing in the air, and sitting down in the pathway. 
I had a very narrow escape at the last stockade, where Davies 
and Mayo were wounded. While I was trying to break in the 
door, an arrow was shot through a chink which went into my 
cap pouch ; fortunately, it was one of the ' Punjaub's ' Bombay 
ones, the leather of which is like a board. The arrow went 
through two parts, and nearly through a third, and brought up 
against the leather waist-belt; if it had been one of the new- 
pattern pouches, I should have been dead in less than five 
minutes, as it was right over the spleen. Davies is going on 
pretty well, Mayo all right; one man wounded, I am sorry to 
say, died to-day, I hope we are not going to lose any more, 
there are four more that cannot be considered out of danger. 
It certainly requires good men for the work, as, if you got 
repulsed at a stockade, you would suffer tremendously in the 
retreat if there was a muster of tribes like the last; besides, it 
would most likely have the effect of raising the whole of the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 451 

hill tribes, who were only waiting to see which was goiug to 
win. Colonel Hannay has mentioned us very handsomely in 
his despatch; it was a very fortunate thing he kept our doctor 
(White) on, as, when he arrived here, he found he was ordered 
to return. There is only one doctor here, and it' anything 
happened to him, it would be a very long time before another 
could be got. I should think this ought to be one of the 
very last stations where Europeans should be left without a 
surgeon." 

The following orders express the approbation of the gallant 
conduct of Lieutenant Lewis and his officers and men, enter- 
tained by the Governor-General and Lord Clyde. Extract from 
Governor-General's order, No. 656, of 1859 : — " His Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council is pleased to direct the publi- 
cation of the following letter from the Deputy Adjutant-General 
of the Army, No. 99, of the 8th ultimo, with enclosures, report- 
ing the successful operations of Lieutenant-Colonel Hannay 
against the Meyong clan of the Abors. His Excellency in 
Council concurs with the Commander-in-chief in the approba- 
tion expressed by his lordship regarding these operations. 
'No. 99, from Major H. N. Norman, Deputy Adjutant-General 
of the Army, dated Delhi, the 8th of April, 1859. To the 
Secretary of the Government of India, Military Department : — 
"I am directed by the Commander-in-chief to transmit for the 
information of His Excellency the Governor-General in Council, 
a letter dated the 11th ultimo, No. 107,* from Colonel F. 
Jenkins, Agent to the Governor-General and Commanding 
North-East Frontier, enclosing a report from Lieutenant- 
Colonel S. F. Hannay, of his recent successful operations 
against the Meyong clan of the Abors. Lord Clyde desires to 
express his approbation of the manner in which these opera- 
tions were conducted, and of the gallantry of those engaged in 
them, but especially of the detachment Indian Naval Brigade, 
under Lieutenant Lewis.' ;! The Governor of Bombay also, 
in a resolution communicated to the Commander-in-chief, 

* The following is a copy of the above letter, addressed by Colonel F. Jenkins, 
to Major Boss, Assistant Adjutant-General, Barrackpore : — " Sir, — I have the 
honour to submit for transmission to the Right Hon. the Commander-in-chief, 
in original, a letter, No. 41, of the 28th ult., from Lieuteuant-Colonel Hannay, 
accompanied by a sketch map and six enclosures, reporting the complete success 
of the detachment under his command in carrying, by assault, on the 27th ult., 
the sir >ng stockaded position of the confederated Meyong clans oi' Abors, and 
the destruction of two of their villages. I have pleasure in drawing notice to the 
high satisfaction expre.-sed by Colonel Hannay at the conduct of the whole of the 
troops under his command, and particularly with the gallant manner in which 
the attack was led by the Naval Brigade, under the command oi Lieutenant 
Lewis, I.N." 

"Forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army for submission to the Bight 
Hon. the Commander-in-chief by his Excellency's obedient servant, 

" J. 13. Heabsbt, 
"Major- General Commanding Presi lenej Division." 

GG*2 



4f>2 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Indian Navy, expressed bis acknowledgments in the following 
term 8 : — " Ilis Lordship in Council has received with great 
satisfaction this account of the success of a small force of the 
Indian Navy, under the command of Lieutenant Lewis, in an 
attack upon stockades in Upper Assam, notwithstanding a most 
determined resistance, as evidenced by the considerable loss 
sustained. His Lordship in Council requests that Commodore 
Wellesley will explain to Lieutenant Lewis and his brave 
comrades, that more special and public recognition of this 
service is only withheld because it will be more appropriately 
given by the Government under which the force was imme- 
diately employed." 

But the gallant commander of the Naval Brigade, who had 
been wounded at Dacca, and again on this occasion, received 
no reward, and died plain Lieutenant Lewis, while Lieutenant 
(now retired Commander) Davies, familiarly known in the Ser- 
vice as "Pat" Davies, has been permitted to linger on in 
constant suffering from his wound, after having served his 
country with brilliant courage and devotion at Mooltan, in 
Burmah, China, and India. Had either of these officers been 
in the Royal Service, it is not too much to say that they would 
have received promotion and the C.B. 

Before this service performed in Upper Assam, Lieutenant 
Davies had been engaged with the same enernj\ After ex- 
changing, at Singapore, out of the 'Auckland,' with Lieutenant 
Carew of the ' Zenobia,' the latter ship proceeded to Madras, 
and in May, on matters in Bengal beginning to look serious, 
was employed transporting the Madras Fusiliers, under 
Colonel Neil, to Calcutta. On her arrival here, Lieutenant 
Batt was forced to invalid ternporarity, and Lieutenant Davies 
assumed command for six weeks, until Commander Stephens 
arrived from Bombay to take charge. On the 4th of June, 
being then in command, Lieutenant Davies received the follow- 
ing private note from the Secretary in the Home Department: 
■ — " Confidential. Home Office, June 4, 1877. My dear Sir, — 
The Governor-General desires that as long as the 'Zenobia' 
remains in port — and she is not to sail till further orders — she 
may be moored off the Mint, and that an evening gun may be 
fired every day in the direction of Calcutta. Yours faith- 
fully, Cecil Beadon." 

On the 10th of September, Commander Stephens, of the 
• Zenobia,' then Senior Naval Officer at Calcutta, having re- 
ceived an application from the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, 
for an officer for special and urgent service, placed his First- 
Lieutenant at the disposal of Sir Frederick Halliday. Early in 
September, 1857, intelligence had reached Calcutta of a plot* — 

* SirF. Halliday, the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, writes: — " The wide- 
spread effects of the disturbances in the North-West have been communicated 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 453 

in which the young Rajah of Assam, residing at Jorehaut, was 
concerned — being concocted at Dibrooghur, in Upper Assam, 
the head-quarters of the 1st Assam Light Infantry, numbering 
nine hundred and fifty of all ranks, under the command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel S. F. Hannay, and sixty Native artillery, 
Hindostanees, with four 6-pounder field guns and two Im- 
pounder howitzers, under Major David Reid. Lieutenant 
Davies was immediately despatched from Calcutta with a De- 
tachment,* consisting of Acting-Masters M'Can and Havers, 
and one hundred and ten seamen, who had been hastily enlisted 
and drilled, and, passing through Dacca and Gowhatty. arrived 
at Dibrooghur on the 2nd of October, when confidence was 
somewhat restored among the small band of planters, who 
hailed the sailors as their deliverers, and entertained them 
liberally.! It speaks highly of the power to command men, 

even to this distant part of our dominions, resulting in at least a partial disaffec- 
tion of the local troops, and, in connection with this a conspiracy, having for its 
object the subversion of our rule, and I am convinced that had it not been for 
the judicious measures of the authorites on the spot, and the prompt despatch of 
assistance from the Presidency, that an insurrection would have broken out, 
damaging not only to the tranquillity of the province itself, but also perilling the 
safety of the whole of our Eastern frontier. It was not for some time after the 
occurrence of the first outbreak in the north-west that any cause for apprehension 
showed itself in Assam. In July, the acknowledgments of the Governor-General 
•were transmitted to the 1st Assam Light Infantry at Dibrooghur for the offer of 
service which they had made to Government. How valueless these professions 
of loyalty have usually been, the experience of the past few months has but too 
plainly shown, but there was then but little reason for distrusting these local 
corps, and at that time little doubt of their fidelity was entertained. Indeed, in 
July, and for some time afterwards, the Governor-General's Agent, Colonel 
Jenkins, was more apprehensive of any danger that might arise from the probable 
breaking out of the 73rd Native Infantry at Julpigoree, and of the effect likely to 
be produced on the Bhootan and other frontier tribes. It was not till September 
that an uneasy feeling began to display itself amongst the men of the 1st Assam 
Light Infantry at Dibrooghur. From carefully conducted inquiries, Colonel 
Hannay, commanding the battalion, found that the excitement was produced by 
letters from Arrah and Jugdespore, addressed to men, of whom there were many 
in the regiment, enlisted in the Shababad district. The company of artillery at 
Dibrooghur was also composed of Hindoostanees, of whom there were a con- 
siderable number in the 2nd Assam Battalion in Gowhatty, though in a le>s 
proportion than in the 1st. It was about the same time discovered by the 
authorities that these men, Native officers and others, were in communication 
with the Sarung Bajah residing at Jorehaut, m whose house, whilst proceeding on 
furlough, they were reported to have held meetings by night. The men of the 
old disbanded Assam Militia had also been tampered with." 

* This appears to have been the only Detachment commanded by an officer of 
the Indian Navy, raised and despatched under the authority of the Lieutenant- 
Governor of Bengal, like the other " Police Brigades," the Indian Naval Brigade 
being under the exclusive orders of the Supreme Government. 

f A correspondent of a Bengal paper writes from Dibrooghur, under date the 
10th of May, 1858 : — " At present we feel tolerably secure, as there are upwards 
of one hundred and fifty men of the Naval Brigade in the province, fifty-six of 
whom are at this station. Nearly all the men have ponies, such as they are, and 
at all hours of the day you may see them galloping madly about at a neek-or- 
uothing pace. The cutcherry has been converted into a temporary barrack i ■;• 
their accommodation, at one end of which they have fitted up a theatre. 1 
attended a performance there the other night, and was not a little amused ; the 



454 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

possessed in an eminent degree by Lieutenant Davies, that he 
was enabled to render efficient, and maintain discipline among, 
a body of men whom he himself describes as recruited from 
among the desperate characters and loafers of Calcutta. By 
their timely arrival, the Detachment, which had four 12-pounder 
howitzers, were doubtless instrumental in saving the lives and 
property of the Assam Tea Company, as, at a later period, the 
mutineers from Dacca succeeded in penetrating the Goalpara 
district, when they plundered Bugwah and the bazaar at the 
Kurribarree Thannah.* 

Some of the plotters of the Assam Light Infantry, for they did 
not break out into open mutiny, were tried and sentenced to death ; 
but the sentence was commuted to transportation to the Andaman 
Islands. Before the close of the year, the want of European 
troops in Upper Assam became very pressing, as, owing to the 
inroads of flying columns of mutineers, Lieutenant Davies' 
Detachment was totally inadequate to maintain order at all the 
out-stations in such a vast and inaccessible territory : accord- 
ingly, an appeal being made to Government by Colonel 
flannay and the Chairman of the Assam Tea Company, on the 
last day of the year, a second Detachment of one hundred sea- 
men was despatched from Calcutta, whose presence restored 
confidence among the planters throughout the province. But 
before the arrival of this party, the gallant First-Lieutenant of 
the ' Zenobia' had undertaken an Expedition against the A bora 

On Lieutenant Davies being relieved of the custody of his 
prisoners, by their despatch to the Andaman Islands, he marched 
against a tribe of these hillmen, who had come down from their 
fastnesses and ravaged a village, distant about three hours' 
journey from Dibrooghur, killing many of the inhabitants. The 
force consisted of a party of seamen, under Lieutenant Davies. 
and 115 Goorkhas of the Assam Infantry, under the com- 
mand of Captain Lowther, and was too small to attain the 
desired object. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Davies embarked the 
force in canoes and went up the rapids of the Dehony River, a 
distance of twenty miles, when he landed and attacked a Boor- 
maun village, which was burnt after a stout resistance, the enemy 

women's parts are taken by huge, strapping, broad-shouldered he-fellows, with 
anything but feminine voices. However, in the jungle one is not disposed to be 
over fastidious. We have no ballet as yet, but I do not despair of our attaining 
even that last touch of civilization." 

* The peril must at this time have been imminent, for when, on the restora- 
tion of tranquillity, the tea-planters of Upper Assam presented to Captain 
Holroyd, Assistant-Commissioner at Seebsaugor, a testimonial of silver plate, 
the inscription on the salver recorded that to his zeal and courage was due *' the 
unravelling of the plot of the mutineers to massacre all the Europeans in the 
province." The gratitude of these planters did not, however, extend to the pre- 
sentation of any testimonial or vote of thanks to the gallant officer whose <>f >)""'- 
tune arrival saved their lives and property, and who freely fought and bled for 
them. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 455 

firing poisoned arrows and spears, and rolling down heavy 
boulders* from the tops of the high cliffs forming the banks of 
the river. The position of the small force was an exceedingly 
critical one. On both banks of the river they heard the enemy's 
war-cries, the natives in the forest signalling the advance of 
the force to those on the cliffs, while they fired on them showers 
of poisoned arrows with iron barbs, but would not show in the 
open. Some natives of the rear-guard carrying provisions, were 
killed and disembowelled, which created such a panic among 
the remainder that they fled, and the Detachment was without 
food for nearly forty-eight hours. After capturing the Boor- 
maun village, Lieutenant Davies encamped behind the huge 
boulders on the strand of the river, in which the canoes were 
moored with a small guard. All night the enemy fired arrows 
and spears, giving the camp no rest, and, in the morning, Lieu- 
tenant Davies, who had put his coat on the top of his rifle, 
which was stuck in the ground, found it riddled with arrows. 
To induce the natives to quit the jungle, Lieutenant Davies, 
having sent the force on in the morning, remained behind in 
concealment, with Sergeant-Major Carter, of the 1st Assam 
Light Infantry, and a few sailors and Goorkhas, all crack shots. 
The feint proved successful, as the natives, seeing their foes in 
full march, came out into the open, when a volley brought down 
the foremost of them, including the chief. In this Expedition, 
several men of the British force, both Europeans and natives, 
were killed, and a large number were wounded. Lieutenant 
Davies performed an act for which an officer was promoted in 
the sad case of the late Commodore Goodenough: he sucked 
the wounds of several of his men who had been hit by poisoned 
arrows, and thus probably saved their lives. Captain Lowther, 
in a report to the Agricultural Society of India on the "aconite 
poison" used by these Abors, says: — "Out of twenty-five 
wounded Europeans, only four died, one of these men in half 
an hour." 

The Abors suffered severely, and sixty-four men were ascer- 
tained to have been killed and a large number were wounded. 
At the foot of the hills the force was joined by Captain Bivar, 
the Assistant-Commissioner, who remained there with the 
reserve and a depot of provisions, much needed by the starving 
party, and then the whole column returned to Dibrooghur. On 
the 4th of February, 1859, Lieutenant Lewis arrived at Dibroo- 
ghur with No. 4 Detachment from Sylhet, and Lieutenant 
Davies' party, whose term of service had mostly expired, re- 
turned to the Presidency. He, however, remained behind, and 
accompanied the second Expedition of February, already 
detailed, which resulted in the submission of the tribe. 

* The method adopted was to tie the boulders in their places, with strips of 
bamboo, which they .cut when they saw their enemy underneath. 



456 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Soon after this affair, Lieutenant Davies returned to Calcutta, 
and was ordered to England for the recovery of his health, He 
was on the point of sailing when, learning that an officer was 
urgently required at Chyabassa, he volunteered, and, proceeding 
thither, took command of No. 14 Detachment from Lieutenant 
Burnes. He remained at Chyabassa a few months, suffer- 
ing severely from his wound, which, on his return to Calcutta 
when the Detachment was withdrawn, in July, 1859, assumed a 
dangerous character, and, sloughing having supervened, he was 
forced to proceed to England. Lieutenant Lewis and Mr. 
Midshipman Mayo — who received the Victoria Cross for his great 
gallantry at Dacca in leading a charge against the enemy's 
guns — were also in such shattered health that they were com- 
pelled to leave India, the former to die in his native land. 

One of the first Detachments of the Indian Naval Brigade to 
land for service at Calcutta, if not the first, was No. 2 Detach- 
ment, drawn from the ; Auckland,' which had done such good 
service in China, and commanded by Lieutenant George 
O'Brien Carew, First-Lieutenant of that ship. In consequence 
of representations made by this officer to a member of the 
Governor-General's Staff, that there was on board his ship a 
body of seamen drilled to use the field-piece and rifle equally 
well, a party of a hundred sailors and marines — Bombay Euro- 
pean artillerymen — with Midshipmen H. W. Brownlow, of the 
' Auckland,' and H. G. F. Cotgrave, of the ' Semiramis,' was 
drafted for duty on shore under his command, and proceeded to 
Barrackpore, where it was attached to No. 20 horse field-battery 
(Capt. Hungerford's). Lieut. Carevv's first duty was to disarm the 
native artillerymen belonging to the battery, and then he set 
to work drilling his men, who soon became thoroughly efficient 
under their smart commander, who had always been regarded 
as a promising officer at the Gunnery Establishment at Butcher's 
Island. He says : — " I felt quite at home with the battery, but 
one hundred and twenty horses belonging to it I left entirely 
in the hands of their captain, who was attached to the battery 
with me, and it was agreed between us that he should drill and 
manoeuvre when limbered up, but when unlimbered for action 
I should take command, being the senior officer." It was pre- 
dicted at the time that this arrangement of a divided command 
" would never work," but where, as in this instance, the parties 
concerned subordinated professional jealousies to the public 
weal, it did work without a jar or hitch, a circumstance which 
should be placed on record to the credit of both officers. Lieu- 
tenant Carew always had a fear that the native drivers might 
bolt over to the enemy with the horses, and was therefore much 
relieved when Major Liardet, of the Royal Artillery, brought 
him a bullock battery in exchange for No. 20. He writes : — 
" It was a scene of great confusion when the English drivers 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 457 

first took the place of the natives. The order to mount \v;is 
given and obeyed, but two-thirds of the saddles were in 
the next instance vacated, as the horses, unused to English 
drivers, who were very much heavier men, would have none of 
them." At length the native drivers took the battery from the 
square in which it had been parked, and it was made over to 
the Royal Artillery on the Grand Trunk Road, when the sailors 
gave their old battery a parting cheer. 

During this critical time it was well that the large station 
of Barrackpore. within sixteen miles of Calcutta, was com- 
manded by that fine old soldier, General Sir John Plearsey, by 
whose bold bearing and able measures mutiny was stamped 
out at its inception. Lieutenant Carew's position was one of 
great anxiety until the arrival of H.M.'s 84th Regiment from 
Burmah, and other troops of the China Expedition, and he then 
had the unpleasant duty of blowing from his guns some of the 
mutineers. He says of this time : — " Very many an anxious 
night have I spent by my battery ready at a moment to limber 
up and march against the men whom we all knew were only 
waiting the signal to attack us. Now all anxiety was past, 
and stern retaliation upon those who caused it, was left for my 
battery to make ; but even while I admitted the justice of the 
punishment, I could not but feel admiration for the coolness 
and courage displayed by the men who, lashed to my guns, 
with the portfires lighted ready at the word to destroy them, 
could await that moment without the play or twitch of a nerve 
or muscle in face or body.* 

In April, 1858, Lieutenant Carew, after repeated applications, 
received permission to proceed up country, and was directed to 
join Brigadier Corfield, who was then operating in the Jugdes- 
pore district. His force consisted of one hundred and ten men, 
drawn partially from the old hands in No. 2 Detachment — to 
the command of which Lieutenant A. T. Windus succeeded — 
and recruited to its full strength of one. hundred and ten 
effectives, by a draught of seamen from the Indian Naval depot 
in Fort William. The officers were Midshipmen BrownJow and 
Cotgrave, and the Detachment, officially known as No. 7, was 
supplied with two 9-pounders, from the arsenal, and with two 
52-inch mortars, on their arrival up country. The Detachment 

* He gives the following as an instance : — " On the second occasion of my 
having to execute some of the native officers, while waiting for the conclusion of 
General Hearsey's address to the assembled troops, one prisoner lashed to the 
gun nearest to me, said in a calm tone, ' Sir, may 1 speak to the adjutant of my 
regiment?' I immediately despatched one of the gun's crew to make known his 
request. Upon the adjutant a: riving, he thanked me for coming, and said, 
' There are some rupees due to me for pay. Will you send them to my wife?' 
mentioning her village. To which the adjutant replied, ' IS'o ; all property of a 
mutineer is forfeited to Government.' 'True,' said the prisoner; ' but this was 
due before I became a mutineer.' The next moment I saw the signal from the 
Major of Brigade, arid gave the word that sent liini to eternity." 



458 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

proceeded by rail about one hundred and twenty miles, when 
they began the march up country, being provided with bullock 
carts for the baggage. 

The country was swarming with rebels who, on the 23rd of 
April, had achieved a great success* in the Jugdespore jungles, 
having annihilated a small British column and captured 
two guns. The safety of Arrah was threatened by the enemy, 
who advanced within two miles of that place. At Chuprah 
precautions were taken to guard against a possible attack, and 
the presence of the Company's armed steamers, ' Jumna ' and 
'Megna,' had a good effect, the latter having fired into and dis- 
persed more than one body of the enemy preparing to cross the 
Ganges into the Shahabad district. On the 30th of April, the 
safety of Arrah was assured by the arrival of a portion of 
Brigadier Douglas' force, and reinforcements were pushed on 
to Sasseram from Calcutta, so that, on Lieutenant Carew's 
arrival at that station, he found assembled there H.M.'s 6th 
Regiment, half a battery of Royal Artillery, a portion of Cap- 
tain Peel's Naval Brigade, under Lieutenant Hay, R.N., and 
some Sikh cavalry and infantry. Sir Edward Lugard, having 
made the necessary preparations for attacking the rebels in co- 
operation with Brigadier Corfield's column, on the 6th of May 
marched upon Jugdespore, from which the enemy were dis- 
lodged. But, though driven from their position, the rebels still 
held together in the extensive jungle which surrounds Jugdes- 
pore, and, on the 11th, Sir Edward — having opened communi- 
cations with Brigadier Cortield, who, by his direction, had moved 
from Sasseram to Peeroo with seven hundred and fifty men of 
H.M.'s 6th Regiment, sixty Sikhs, and one hundred and three 
officers and men of Carew's Battery — again attacked them, 
the Brigadier making a simultaneous assault from the 
south.f 

* The redoubtable chief, Koer Singh, had been driven out of Azimghur by 
Sir Edward Lugard about the 13th of April, and had again been defeated on the 
20th by a column, under Brigadier Douglas, which pursued him to the banks of 
the Ganges and captured his guns ; but a large party of rebels having crossed the 
Ganges at Sheopore and made their way to the jungles of Jugdesjjore, on the 
22nd of April, Captain Le Grand, commanding the troops at Arrah, marched 
thence by night with one hundred and forty men of H.M's. 35th Regiment, fifty 
European sailors belonging to the Bengal Marine, with two guns, and one hundred 
Sikhs, for the purpose of attacking the enemy before they had recovered from 
their recent defeats. The force entered the jungles, but being seized with panic, 
returned to Arrah, having lost one hundred and forty-one Europeans out of two 
hundred, including three officers, and the guns and ammunition. The Sikhs 
alone behaved well in this disgraceful flight. 

t The followiug is Brigadier Corfield's despatch, addressed to the Chief of the 
Staff with Brigadier-General Sir Edward Lugard, under date "Camp Peeroo, 
May 12, 1858: — I have the honour to report for the information of Brigadier- 
General Sir Edward Lugard, K.C.B., that yesterday, after I had detached my 
cavalry and two 9-pounder guns of the Royal Artillery with you, on hearing firing 
in the direction of Juttowra, I immediately proceeded with the following force 
towards the jungle: — H.M's. Gtli Regiment, with drafts, seven hundred and fifty 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 459 

The following is Lieutenant Carew's despatch to Captain 
Campbell, dated "Camp, Sasseram, 25th May, 1858," detailing 
the part taken by his battery in the action of the llth of May : 
— "I have the honour to report to you, for the information of 
his Excellency the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, 
that the Detachment under my command, as follows, one lieu- 
tenant commanding, two midshipmen, one assistant-surgeon, 
and ninety-nine men of all ranks, two 9-pounder guns, field- 
pieces, and two OTj-inch mortars, moved out from this station on 
Sunday, the 9th instant, with the force under the command of 
Brigadier Corfield, for the purpose of co-operation with Sir E. 
Lugard against Koer Sing in the Jugdespore district. After a 
march of forty miles the force encamped at Peeroo on the llth. 
At two p.m. on the same day, heavy firing being heard in the 
direction of a thick jungle, we were ordered to advance. We 
found the enemy entrenched in front of some villages, and 
about two miles in the jungle. I immediately opened tire with 
my artillery, and the infantry advanced in skirmishing order, 
the nature of the ground not permitting any other formation. 
After a continuous fire of four hours, and having with shell 
fired the villages in their rear, the entrenchments were stormed, 
and the enemy driven into the deep jungle. I advanced the guns 
till the burning villages obliged me to halt. I here found my 
left flank exposed to the enemy's fire. It was silenced by a 
party under Mr. Cotgrave, Midshipman, who, with Midshipman 
H. Brownlow, gave me every assistance during the day, and 
performed their work well. The force returned to camp at 

strong; Indian Naval Brigade, two 9-pounders, one 5.|-inch mortar, and one 
hundred and ten men ; Sikh Battalion, sixty men. After advancing about two 
miles, and just at the entrance of the jungle, the enemy opened fire upon me, 
on which I advanced three companies of infantry in skirmishing order, and opened 
fire with my guns. After considerable opposition, I brought up my right shoulder, 
driving the rebels towards my left, in the direction you had proceeded in with 
the cavalry and artillery ; all firing on my right then ceased, as I had arranged 
with you that I should not advance into the jungle unless I heard long continued 
firing in the Juttowra direction. I then halted to watch the outlets of the jungle 
on this side ; about half-an-hour afterwards the rebels again appeared in force, 
moving from our left front towards the position they first occupied. On this I 
advanced, and reinforcing the skirmishers, closed round the village and stormed 
it. The rebels then retreated into other villages close at hand. 1 pursued them 
steadily, burning each village as I took it. At sunset I recalled my skirmishers, 
and was returning to camp, when the Brigadier-General's message to advance on 
Juttowra reached me. I have the honour to enclose a return of my casualties ; 
it is impossible to estimate correctly the loss of the rebels, but I have every 
reason to believe it must have been heavy, more particularly on my left. I beg 
to state that I have every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the officers 
and men engaged both with the infantry under Major Stratton, H.M.'s 6th 
Regiment, aud the Indian Naval Brigade, under Lieutenant Carew, who worked 
their guns admirably. The small detachment of Sikhs under Lieutenant Earl 
behaved with their usual gallantly. The Deputy-Magistrate of Sasseram, Mr. E. 
Baker, accompanied me, and was of the greatest assistance, and Lieutenant 
Staunton, of the Engineers, who, in the absence of my staff officer, kindly con- 
sented to olliciate as my orderly officer, was of the greatest use to me." 



4G0 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

eight p.m. I have every reason to be satisfied with my men, 
as they had performed a march of fourteen miles in a burning; 
sun, and before there was time to obtain a meal had again to 
march against the enemy through a sun that struck seven of 
H.M.'s 6th Regiment death* I did not hear a complaint from 
any one of them. The Brigadier commanding was pleased to 
say they served their guns admirably. On the morning of the 
12th, under instructions from the Brigadier commanding, I pro- 
ceeded with my Detachment to destroy certain villages pointed 
out, which service was performed without loss, the enemy 
retreating to the jungle on our approach." The Detachment 
lost three men from the effects of exposure to which they had 
been subjected during the day's operations. 

* Lieutenant Carew writes : — "Those who 'were in the field during the month 
of April, 1858, must well remember it from its excessive heat and the loss it 
caused in men. We would start about half-past three in the morning and arrive 
at the new encampment at nine or ten, but tents were but little protection, as it 
was the atmosphere and not the actual sun that killed the men. From intense 
heat they died in two or three hours of heat apoplexy. The debilitating effects 
of this great heat was felt by the strongest, and I believe that it was only the 
hope of our soon meeting the enemy that kept many of us from despondency. 
The Colonel of H.M's 6th Regiment was found dead in his tent one day, and it 
was said that no one had seen him die, so sudden was it. After some days' 
marching we arrived at a place called Pceroo. Here we pitched our camp, and 
sought the rest which a fourteen miles' march in such weather required, but this 
proved to be the la>t earthly rest for many, for before we could procure the much 
needed breakfast, the assembly sounded, and we marched out to attack the enemy. 
Our line of march was marked by the dead bodies of our men who were struck 
down by the noonday sun. We found the enemy occupying an entrenched 
position in the jungle, and engaged him till sunset, when having fired the houses 
in rear with shell, the position was stormed, and we marched back to camp. 
The neighbourhood of the enemy reanimated the men, and did them good, and 
being anxious to keep up the excitement, I obtained permission from Brigadier 
Corfield next day to take as many of them as I could spare from duty to attack 
certain villages. We marcbed out before sunrise for that purpose, and by sunset 
had destroyed four ; the absence of proper food, and the exposure of the last two 
days, made me ill. Jaundice and congested liver obliged me to keep to my 
charpoy, where I was tended and cared for by a Lieutenant Poulson of Dineley's 
Battery. We had been always together on the line of march, and the same 
tope of trees was shared at the bait ; he was my great stay in my present 
disabled condition, and I was deeply grieved when news was brought to him of 
the death of Dineley. the Captain of his battery (a man much beloved) ; a 
settled despondency took possession of him upon learning it, and I was too ill to 
give him all the consolation I could have wished. He would shake his head and 
reply to my efforts to comfort him that he would follow Dineley before long. 
Some few days after this conversation he was sitting by my charpoy trying to 
cheer me in my sickness, when his servant came to report his dinner ready ; he 
put his hand on my shoulder and said, smiling, ' I shall be back, old fellow, 
in a few minutes, it's only ration beef for dinner.' Presently, in about ten 
minutes, the doctor of his battery came hastily in, and inquired for mine. I 
told him he had gone to hospital, and asked, — 'Anything serious ?' ' Yes, poor 
Poulson is down io day.' Upon hearing this, I insisted upon being conveyed to 
his tent, which was next to mine, and I got there to find him dying of beat 
apoplexy. I spoke to him but he did not know me. His body was carried past 
the door of my tent to be buried within four hours of that time. ' He had gone 
to join his Captain.' At this time the doctor told me we were burying fifteen 
men a day from apoplexy and liver complaint." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 401 

The terrible heat of an Indian summer proved more 
fatal than the sword of the enemy, to the Europeans during 
the march from Sasseram to Peeroo and the subsequent oper- 
ations, and many officers and men died from heat apoplexy, 
including the Colonel of the 6th Regiment and the captain 
and subaltern of the Battery of Royal Artillery. Lieu- 
tenant Carew also was taken ill with fever, and, after vainly 
struggling against the disease, was forced, on the 28th of May, 
to resign the temporary command of his battery, to Mr. Mid- 
shipman Cotgrave,* and Mr. Brownlow also left, suffering from 
illness which proved fatal. 

Brigadier Corfield, in forwarding to Captain Campbell, from 
Sasseram, the proceedings of the Medical Board invaliding 
Lieutenant Carew, observed : — " I take this opportunity of re- 
questing that on the expiration of his leave, Lieutenant Carew 
may be allowed to take command of the party he has left here, 
as he has proved himself both a most useful and zealous officer, 
and his men are in a fine state of discipline. I enclose extract 
of the order permitting Lieutenant Carew to proceed in anti- 
cipation." Mr. Chapman, Under Secretary to the Government 
of India, wrote, under date the 17th of June, 1858, "to express 
the satisfaction of the Honourable the President in Council at 
the share taken by the Indian Naval Detachment at Sasseram, 
under command of Lieutenant Carew, in the combined attack 
upon the rebels in the jungles of Peeroo on the 11th and 12th 
ultimo, under the orders of Colonel Corfield, commanding at 
Shahabad." 

Captain Campbell, in forwarding to Commodore Wellesley 
copies of Lieutenant Carew's despatch of the 25th of May, and 
Brigadier Corfield's report on the high state of discipline to 
which that officer had brought No. 7 Detachment, expressed a 
hope that the Commander-in-chief would approve the conduct 
of the officers and men under Lieutenant Carew's orders, and 
that he would lay the correspondence before the Governor of 
Bombay. Commodore Wellesley wrote, as requested, to Lord 
Elphinstone, and the result was a letter, under date the 30th 
of June, 1858, expressing the high approval of his Lordship 
in Council. 

Lieutenant Carew was sent down in a dawk gharree to Bar- 
rackpore, where he was received by Lieutenant Windus, com- 

* Mr. H G. F. Cotgrave will be long remembered by his friends and ship- 
mates as a fine seaman, a man of iron nerve and great personal strength. His 
life was one of strange adventure by flood and field, dating from the time when he 
was washed ashore, one of the few survivors of the wreck of the ' Prince 1 at 
Balaclava. Possessing a handsome face and grand physique, lie was much beloved 
by his brother officers, who mourned the sad end he came to in Australia. Fall- 
ing from his horse in the bush, his foot caught in the stirrup, ami he w.is kicked 
to death. Mr. Brownlow was also popular in the Service, and, during his brief 
career, saw considerable service. 



4G2 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

manding No. 2 Detachment quartered there, and Sir John 
Hearsey took him to his own house, where he was tended 
with assiduous care by the family of the gallant General, one 
of whose daughters became his wife. When sufficiently 
restored to enable him to undertake the voyage to England, 
Lieutenant Carew was about to appear before a Medical Board, 
when the following letter from Captain Campbell, dated the 
22nd of June, 1858, decided him to put off his visit to England, 
and resume his duties: " My dear Carew,— Is it possible for 
you to do any duty? We are hard up for officers, and if you 
could get patched up so as to do duty at Barrackpore, however 
little you could do, it would be of the greatest importance 
to the public service, as Lieutenant Wind us is off to Chya- 
bassa, and I want an officer to take charge at Barrackpore, so 
that I can send an officer to Sasseram from the ' Auckland.' 
At present, I am at my wits' end ; you can make what use of 
this you see good, and I can, of course, appoint you only as 
fit for duty on the spot, and not to march out, if you can 
induce the medical officer to allow you to buckle on your sword 
once more, and try how you get on at Barrackpore." Accord- 
ingly, Lieutenant Carew replied affirmatively to this pressing 
invitation, and remained at Barrackpore till Xo. 2 Detachment 
was no longer required, when he marched with it to Fort 
William, and returned the six guns to the arsenal. 

Before leaving, he called on Brigadier Christie, commanding 
the station, who expressed himself highly satisfied with the con- 
duct of his men, as also did Colonel Knox of H.M.'s 67th 
Regiment. The former said : — " I will most certainly write 
to Captain Campbell, the senior naval officer, when the order 
comes for the breaking up of your Battery. I will then repeat 
to him what I told you the other day, viz., that nothing could 
have exceeded the good behaviour of the Naval Brigade of this 
station since they have been under my command, now upwards 
of four months. During that time not a single man has been 
brought before me for misconduct, a more orderly, cleanly, 
respectful set of men I have never had under my command 
and I can only further add, I shall be very sorry when the 
order comes for your brigade to leave Barrackpore." Colonel 
Knox also wrote : — " Agreeably to order, I send you a memo- 
randum about your departure. We are all sorry you and your 
men are going — a finer or a better conducted set of fellows it 
has never been my lot to serve with in garrison. I wish I had 
the pick of some of them to fill up my Grenadier Company 
with, £5 might tempt some." 

Upon leaving Barrackpore, Lieutenant Carew proceeded to 
Fort William, where he assumed command of No. 10 Detach- 
ment of the Indian Naval Brigade, consisting of one hundred 
men, raised to guard Alipore jail, which contained a large 



j 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 403 

number of convicted mutineers awaiting transportation for life 
to the Andainans, an anxious duty, as the prisoners were 
desperate characters. His officers were Lieutenant R. Carey 
and Acting-Lieutenant H. \V. H. Burnes, who, soon after, 
proceeded with No. 14 Detachment, and operated in the jungles 
of Singhboom, against the rebel Coles. Other officers serving 
with this Detachment, at various times, were Acting-Masters 
W. Shum, E. D. Green and II. V. Lillycrap. The charge of 
Alipore jail had been taken over from the military by Lieu- 
tenant R. G. Hurlock, who, in September, 1858, marched from 
Fort William with No. 10 Detachment, of eighty seamen, 
and Mr. W. Bertram, gunner,* and remained until relieved by 
Lieutenant Carew. In September of the following year, upon 
again making over charge of the jail to a military force, who 
were sent to relieve him, Lieutenant Carew received the fol- 
lowing letter from Mr. Montresor, the snperintendant of the 
jail, under date, Alipore, 10th September, 1858 : 

" Sir, — It having been intimated to me that the Brigade under 
your charge is to be relieved by a detachment from the Fort 
on Monday next, I have the honour to request you will accept 
yourself, and convey to the junior officers and men under your 
command, my best thanks for the very able manner in which 
the duties of guarding the Alipore jail have been performed. 
At no time during the course of my official career have I ever 
met with so orderly, respectful, and respectable a set of men 
as have composed the Brigade under your command. The 
duties, irksome as they have often proved to be, have been 
performed by officers and men cheerfully and without a mur- 
mur, and it is no little criterion of the discipline and good 
feeling of the men when I state that during the six months 
I have been Magistrate of Alipore, I have not only had no 
signs of disturbance amongst the men and natives, but I have 
actually not had a complaint of any kind against them."f 

Lieutenant Carew assumed command of theNaval Depot, 
now stationed at Dumdum, and remained there till he went 
to England on medical certificate. 

On proceeding sick to the Presidency from Sasseram, on the 
28th of May, 1858, Lieutenant Carew was succeeded in the 
command of No. 7 Detachment, by Senior Lieutenant II. W. 

* Lieutenant Hurlock had no commissioned officers with him at Alipore. He 
left Calcutta with a First-Clasa Second-Muster, but shortly after his arrival at 
Alipore this officer was arrested under instructions from tin' Royal Navy authori- 
ties, he being a midshipman and a deserter from It. M.S. 'Sparrow-hawk.' 

t Lieutenant Carew also received, through Captain Campbell, a copy of a 
letter dated " Council Chamber, October 1, 1852," and signed by Mr. J. D. 
Gordon, Officiating Under Secretary to the Government of India, stating " that 
the Governor-General in Council considers the high terms in which the Super- 
intendent of the Alipore jail has expressed his sense of the good conduct of the 
Indian Naval Guard lately on duty at Alipore, reflects great credit upon the 
officers and men composing it." 



464 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Ethoridge, who received over charge in July. The Detachment 
garrisoned a small fort guarding the ferry over the river Soane 
at Dehree, close to the Great Trunk Road, and parties were 
constantly employed in large covered boats, protecting the 
fords right and left of Dehree, and preventing the rebels from 
crossing the river. Lieutenant Etheridge frequently proceeded 
in chase of bodies of rebels, who succeeded in eluding pursuit, 
and, in March, 1859, was relieved by Lieutenant M. P. Tozer, 
in command of the Detachment, which numbered about one 
hundred and twenty seamen — the other officers being Acting 
Masters Braybrooke and Poole, and Mr. T. Wilson, gunner. 
On one occasion, fifty seamen of No. 7 Detachment marched 
in company with a flying column of one hundred and fifty men 
of H.M.'s 77th Regiment and one hundred Beloochees, under 
Major Kent, but the mutineers moved with the lightest of 
light baggage— musket, ammunition, and a bundle of rice per 
man — and succeeded in effecting their escape. In May, L859, 
Lieutenant Tozer proceeded with No. 7 Detachment to Dumdum, 
where it was paid off and disbanded. 

On the 11th of July, 1857, about the time when parties of 
seamen were landed from the ' Punjaub,' ' Auckland,' and 
* Zenobia,' Lieutenant D. L. Duval, of the ' Coromandel,' was 
directed to proceed to Fort William, with one hundred seamen, 
and Midshipmen C. A. Wray and R. Scamp, to reinforce the 
garrison at that critical time. This Detachment, known as 
No. 1, was highly commended for the good service it performed 
in guarding the gates of Fort William, and the State prisoners ; 
and, later on, it became the Depot of the Brigade, in which 
seamen were trained and drilled prior to proceeding up-country, 
in response to the pressing appeals poured in from all quarters 
for European troops ; the numbers of No. 1 Detachment, con- 
sequently, greatly fluctuated, and sometimes there were as 
many as five hundred men on the muster-rolls, though the 
strength was one hundred and fifty. Early in December, 1857, 
Lieutenant M. A. Sweny arrived at Bombay and took command 
of the Detachment, with Acting-Lieutenant F. Warden as his 
subaltern, and Lieutenant Duval proceeded to Gya with No. 5 
Detachment, but, in the following February, he was ordered on 
survey duty, and Lieutenant Windus assumed command until 
April, when he succeeded Lieutenant Carew at Barrackpore in 
charge of No. 2 Detachment. Lieutenant Warden now took 
command until November, when he relieved Lieutenant Templer 
in command of No. 6 Detachment, at the Andaman Islands, 
and was succeeded by Lieutenant Hellard, who was in command 
of No. 1, until its removal to Dumdum, in January, 1859, 
when Colonel (now General) Orfeur Cavenagh, Commandant at 
Fort William, wrote in the following terms to Captain Camp- 
bell, regarding the services and good conduct of the men 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 4G5 

during the eventful period they were under his orders : — 
u Sir. — The Brigade of the Indian Navy so long quar- 
tered in Fort William having ceased to exist, I deem it my 
duty to convey to you an expression of my opinion with respect 
to their conduct during their service in garrison. As regards 
the men, considering the frequent changes that occurred 
amongst them, it is sufficient for me to say that the cheerful 
alacrity with which they performed all the duties, at times 
very severe, entrusted to them was deserving of great praise. 
With regard to the officers, throughout the entire period of 
their stay in Fort William their conduct was such as to afford 
me the highest satisfaction. I always found them most atten- 
tive to their duties, and unwearying in their efforts to main- 
tain discipline amongst the men under their command, and I 
beg that you will tender to them my best thanks for the great 
assistance that I invariably received from them in all matters 
connected with the performance of their duty."* 

In December, 1857, Lieutenant Duval, with Midshipmen 
Wray and Scamp, was ordered to proceed to Gya, in Behar, 
with one hundred seamen and two guns. For a considerable 
time the whole of Behar had been in an unsettled state, and 
was the scene of military operations. On the 1st of August, 
in obedience to the orders of Mr. Tayler, Commissioner of 
Patna, the station of Gya had been abandoned by all the 
officials, though Messrs. Money and Hollings returned and 
saved the greater portion of the treasure, amounting to seven 
lacs of rupees. On the 16th, Gya was reoccupied without 
opposition, the prisoners having all escaped from the jails. 
Again, on the 8th and 9th of September, the rebels, after an 
action with Captain Rattray's Sikhs, succeeded in breaking 
open the jail ; but the arrival of a detachment of H.M.'s 53rd 
Regiment, on the 22nd of October, restored confidence. Early 
in January, 1858, their place was taken by Lieutenant Duval 
with No. 5 Detachment, and, at a later period, further parties 
of seamen were passed up-country to restore order throughout 
the districts under the rule of the Lieutenant-Governor of 
Bengal. 

Not long after Lieutenant Duval's arrival at Gya. his 1 >e- 
tachmentwas employed — in conjunction with two companies of 
H.M.'s 85th Regiment, which was then passing through Behar. 
and was directed to halt at Gya for the purpose — in dis- 
mantling the neighbouring fort of Tickaree, in which were 

* General Cavenagh writes to us, under date the 4th of April, 1877, in the 
following terms of his estimate of Indian Navy officers, formed under varying 
circumstances : — ''I enjoyed during the Mutiny an opportunity of making m 
acquainted with the zeal and efficiency displayed by many of your late brother 
officers, and, subsequently, when Governor of the Straits Settlement, 1 had some 
of them employed under my orders, who zealously fulfilled the duties of the 
different appointments to which they were nominated." 

VOL. H. H H 



466 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

discovered some gnns and ammunition. In April No. 5 Detach- 
ment was moved from Gya to Patna, in the neighbourhood of 
which the rebels were in great force, notwithstanding their 
defeat at Jugdespore, by Sir Edward Lugard and Brigadier 
Corfield, on the 10th and 12th of May, when Lieutenant 
Carew did such good service. 

On the loth of June, the rebels destroyed the Bikram 
Thannah, not more than sixteen miles from Patna; but 
they avoided the city, though, on the 25th of June, their leader, 
Jodhur Singh, destroyed a dawk bungalow ten miles from 
it. The Commissioner made arrangements for the defence 
of Patna, moving Lieutenant Duval's Detachment, with two 
guns, to the opium godown,* and posting his police so as 
to prevent a rising in the city; at the same time two 
companies of H.M.'s 10th Regiment arrived from Dinapore, 
and the treasure, amounting to eleven lacs, was removed into 
the fort. For the third time the jail at Gya was attacked on 
the 21st of June, when the Nujeebs — as the station guards in 
Behar were called — exhibited great cowardice, if not collusion 
with the rebels, a portion of the same force, while employed in 
escorting some prisoners to Shergotty, breaking out into open 
mutiny, and shooting the native officers and releasing the 
felons ; for this act, eighteen of them were hanged and twenty- 
three transported. On the treachery of the Nujeebs being 
proved by their recent conduct in connection with the prisoners, 
the magistrate of Gya, Mr. Money, directed their disarmament, 
which was carried out by the sailors and five companies of the 
Madras Rifles, which furnished the only reliable troops at Gya; 
the enemy, meantime, were moving about in considerable force 
between that place and Patna, and regularly collected the re- 
venue, while all government buildings and friendly villages were 
destroyed, and the police and others ruthlessly murdered. 

Lieutenant Duval writes semi-officially to Captain Campbell, 
from Gya on the 14th of August, 1858: — "About the 25th of 
June the rebels were about seven or eight miles from Patna, 
and I was ordered down with the two guns and the whole of 
the Detachment to the opium godown, about five miles from the 
fort at Bankipore. On the 2i)th, at 11.30 p.m., after I had 
made the arrangements for returning to our old quarters, I 
received a letter from the Commissioner, requesting me to pro- 
ceed without delay up the country to prevent the enemy 
crossing the Gunduck into Tirhoot or Chumparum. This was 
very hurried, but there was no help for it, so, on the evening of 
the 30th, we crossed the Ganges, and, after sixteen hours' 
boating, landed at a place called Hajeepore. On the morning 
of the 2nd of July, the whole of us started in ekhahs (a two- 
wheeled country gig) for Moozufferpore, thirty-four miles off, 

* See Sir Frederick Halliday's Minute (p. 27). 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 467 

which place we reached the same night at 9.30. after halting 
about half way for about five hours. It rained tremendously 
the first half of the journey, and we were drenched and dried 
again alternately three or four times during the day. We re- 
mained here two days, when it was expected that the rebels 
were likely to cross the Gunduck higher up into Chumparun) ; 
so away we went again on elephants and ekhahs for Mootee- 
haree, fifty-two miles from Moozufferpore.* We halted at two 
magnificent indigo factories, Mootepore and Barrah ; the latter 
was a perfect palace, and the men were very well cared for by 
the proprietors. The house was so large that though the men 
were stowed away in half of it, they were scarcely visible. We 
remained here two days, and at length reached Mooteeharee, a 
little place with only three or four Europeans, where we were 
stationed for eight days. I drove out one day and visited 
Segowlie, and the spot where poor Major Holmesf and his wife 
were murdered, and the house where Dr. Garstin's wife and 
child were burnt to death, the doctor and one child being out- 
side ; the infant was saved by the Ayah. From Mooteeharee we 
marched to the banks of the Gunduck, and then by boat to 
Patna, which we reached on Sunday the 18th of July. On the 
26th we again left Patna for Gya, and arrived here on the 30th. 
I am sorry to say we have a great deal of sickness and many 
fatal cases." 

Lieutenant Duval's Detachment was now augmented to two 
hundred men, with a complete field battery of six guns. Their 
services being in constant requisition, they were frequently 
broken up into small parties, and were continually on the move, 
until the return of the Detachment to Calcutta, in July, 1851), 
when Lieutenant Duval's health was so much affected by ex- 
posure that he was compelled to proceed home on sick leave. 

When the stations of Moozufferpore and Mooteeharee were 
denuded of all troops by the disarmament of the traitorous 
Nujeeb Guards, a Bengal Marine Police Detachment was sent 
from Patna for their protection, but these again were relieved 

* Both these stations had been abandoned in obedience to the order of the 
31st of July, 1857, of Mr. Tayler, the Commissioner of Patna, but the magistrates 
in charge — Mr. E. Lautour at Moozufferpore, and Mr. Raikes at Mooteehuro — 
soon returned of their own accord. It should be mentioned here, that the districts 
constituting the Patna division, under the orders of Mr. Tayler, were Shahabad, 
Patna, Behar, Sarun, Chumparum, and Tirhoot, and on the 30th of July, 1857, 
the day preceding that on which the abandonment of certain stations had been 
ordered by the Commissioner, martial law had been proclaimed throughout the 
entire division. 

f The murder of this officer at Segowlie, in Chumparum, by the 12th Irregular 
Cavalry, of which he was in command, was one of the most barbarous during that 
sanguinary period. Mrs. Holmes was the daughter of Sir Robert Sale, and 
her first husband, Lieutenant Sturt, of the Bengal Engineers, fell during the 
retreat from Cabul, under the melancholy circumstances familiar to those who 
have read Lady Sale's Journal and Vincent Eyre's graphic record of those 
disastrous events. 

HH 2 



468 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

by an Indian naval Detachment, known as No. 11, which, in 
July, 1858, left the depot at Fort William, under the command 
of Lieutenant T. Barron. The Detachment, consisting - of one 
hundred men and Acting-Masters S. S. Ridge and G. Gladwin, 
arrived at Gya in August, having passed through Berhampore 
■ — in the Nuddeah division, the military cantonment of Moor- 
shedabad — Bhaugulpore, and Patna, where they were detained 
a short time. Lieutenant Barron writes : — " We had a very 
tedious march from Patna to Gya, but got over it in four days. 
We brought with us two 12-pounder howitzers, which Lieu- 
tenant Duval had left behind on account of the roads being so 
bad. It was with great difficulty we managed it, and eight 
bullocks were left dead on the road. The Collector talks of 
sending a party to the River Soane, to disperse the pirates that 
infest the river. I am expecting to be sent to Shergotty with a 
detachment, as the Shannon's Brigade that were there, have 
left for Calcutta.* The whole of the first day's march, the men 
were wet through to the skin." 

In November, 1858, Lieutenant Barron's Detachment relieved 
the Marine Police Brigade at Moozufferpore, on the Little 
Gunduck, the chief town of the district of Tirhoot, Mr. Mid- 
shipman Cotgrave (with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant) march- 
ing, on the 27th of November, to Mooteeharee with thirty men, 
to relieve a party of the Marine Police stationed there. On the 
3rd of January, 1859, Lieutenant Barron writes of his men : — 
"A better behaved set I could not wish to have, and I hope 
that my next month's punishment-roll will be blank. It is 
rumoured that eight thousand rebels, Avith ten guns, have given 
our troops the slip out of Oude, and are not more than two 
hundred miles from us; if this is true, I hope No. 11 Brigade 

* The ' Shannon ' Naval Brigade arrived in Calcutta on the 14th of August, 
1858, and were received by the Europeans, official and mercantile, with all the 
honours that were so justly their due. The route to the river was lined by No. 1 
(the depot) Detachment of the Indian Naval Brigade, numbering at this time 
five hundred men, under Captain Campbell, and they were met on board the 
' Shannon ' by the General under whom they had served, the noble Outran), who 
had a kind word for every officer and man he recognised. On the 1st of 
September, the inhabitants gave a banquet at the Town Hall to the brigade, at 
which three hundred and fifty blue jackets and marines were present out of the 
five hundred and sixteen forming the force jDresent under Peel at Lucknow in 
November, 1857, and Sir James Outram made a characteristic speech. The 
' Pearl ' Brigade, under Captain Sotheby, which disembarked on the 12th of 
September, 1857, rejoined their ships in January, 1859, after fifteen months' 
most meritorious service, during which they formed the main portion of the 
Goruckpore field force under Brigadier Rowcroft. The Governor- General, as in 
the case of the ' Shannon,' issued a complimentary General Order to the Brigade 
on their passing through Allahabad, dated the 7th of January, 1859, and they 
were also specially thanked in General Orders, by the Commander-in-chief, Lord 
Clyde. The ' Pearl ' Brigade, which originally numbered two hundred and fifty 
nun, returned two hundred and five strong, but they only lost one man killed in 
action. The officers, as in the case of the ' Shannon,' were all promoted, and 
Captain Sotheby received the C.B. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 409 

will have a chance of distinguishing themselves." The seamen 
suffered much from dysentery, and four men died* at Moozuffer- 
pore, and Mr. McKinley, the gunner, at Mootceharee, whom 
he had described as a " steady, trustworthy officer, greatly re- 
spected by the men." The officers and men of the Detachment 
subscribed liberally to place a memorial over the remains of 
their shipmates. 

Lieutenant Barron reports on the 21st of February :—" Mr. 
Acting-Master Butland is away with a party of men escorting 
treasure to Patna, from whence he goes on to Arrah ; should 
another escort not be in readiness to relieve him at Patna. I 
expect he will be absent eight or ten days longer : Mr. Cot- 
grave with his detachment at Chumparum are all doing well." 
On the 6th of March he writes : — " This da}^ important intelli- 
gence has been received about the rebels. A Gowalah from the 
enemy's camp reports that they are a "lac" strong — men, 
women, and children included ; another reports that they have 
from eight to nine thousand fighting men, and that they have 
recrossed the Gunduck. Colonel Bright arrives here on the 
10th, with ten officers and three hundred and ten men of the 
ltfth, en route to Mooteeharee to protect the district. I am 
ordered by the Commissioner to have the guns in readiness to 
join him, and have therefore made the necessary arrangements 
for accompanying Colonel Bright's force." Lieutenant Barron 
was eager in seizing any pretext for delaying his departure to 
Calcutta, in accordance with the orders of Government, and 
writes on the 3th of March : — " I am sorry I cannot yet inform 
you as to when we are likely to return to Patna. Mr. Cotgrave 
has been detained at Mooteeharee with the Commissioner's 
approval, and the magistrate of the said place has been directed 
to inform you of the same. A copy of your order has been for- 
warded to the Commissioner by the Collector here, with a letter 
from me upon the subject. I mentioned having made the 
necessary arrangements for accompanying the guns with Colonel 
Bright's force, and Itrust you will not disapprove of my having 
done this, as the Collector has prepared carts for the ammuni- 
tion and baggage, which are now drawn up in front of the 
barracks. He has requested that we may not go down to 
Calcutta; and the residents are surprised at our going away 
when reports of the rebels are flying about." 

Lieutenant Barron was disappointed in his expectations of 

* On the 10th of January Lieutenant Barron writes : — " Dr. Macnamara 
cannot imagine what is the cause of the dysentery. No liquor can be bad, as all 
shops are shut to them. The rations have been changed, ami various other 
changes made, but still it creeps upon us. I have applied for a change ot' 
quarters, which mav have a salutary effect ; but it's not in Moozufferpore only 
that troops are sufl'ering, but also at Dinapore, Chuprah, and the stations round 
about it is the same. It may be the change of weather, for now the nights are 
■very cold and the atmosphere damp in the extreme." 



470 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 






engaging the enemy, and, soon after, marched to Mooteeharec, 
where he joined Mr. Cotgrave's detachment. He writes on the 
30th May :— " The men are in very good quarters. I have 
made the fort into an hospital for the sick, the remainder of the 
men are in the opium godown, which is large and roomy. I 
found Mr. Cotgrave's men well up in their drill, and every man 
in good health. The brigade is exercised for two hours every 
morning, in marching and rifle drill ; I have also taught them 
the bayonet exercise,* which they know perfectly, as also 
field-piece exercise. On the Queen's birth-day, I fired a 
Royal salute, and the residents and planters round about sub- 
scribed 260 rupees towards sports for the seamen, which went 
off very well. The Brigade has always had the good will of the 
residents, on account of the difference found between them and 
the police brigade stationed before them, who were to be seen 
lying drunk in the bazaars day and night." Writing in July, 
Lieutenant Barron says : — " The Commissioner wrote to the 
Magistrate, requesting to know whether we were required here 
any longer ; and the planters of the district were asked for 
their opinion. They, with the Magistrate, replied that, if we 
were removed, the rebels of the next district, Goruckpore, 
would immediately come into this." But the Government had 
decided to dispense with the services of the Indian Naval 
Brigade, and, soon after, No. 11 Detachment returned to 
Calcutta, and was broken up in September, 1851), the Commis- 
sioner of the Patna Division, Mr. Fergusson, reporting in high 
terms of the good conduct of the men and the zeal of the 
officers. Lieutenant Barron joined the ' Ferooz' as Senior 
Lieutenant, and participated in the China War of I860. 

Lieut. A. T. Windus, who succeeded to the command of No. 2 
Detachment at Barrackpore, in April, 1858, on Lieut. Carew's 
proceeding up-country, was directed to march to Chyabassa in 
Chota Nagpore, with No. 9 Detachment, to relieve the Police 
Brigade employed in that district. The Detachment consisted 
of the usual complement of one hundred seamen, with two 
guns, and the following officers : — Acting-Lieutenant W. F. 
Yates, Acting-Master W. Vincent, Acting Second-Masters D. 
Dunn, E. D. Green, and T. AVilliams, and Mr. Scott, gunner. 
Lieutenant Windus displayed great resource and skill in con- 

* Of the daily routine in camp lie writes : — " In the morning they are turned 
out to cott'ee at six o'clock, fall into drill at half-past, which lasts till nearly 
eight ; at ten they muster in a clean suit for the day. I then inspect barracks, 
visit the sick, and see that everything is right, after which those who are anxious 
to improve their knowledge of reading and writing repair to a tent, where 1 have 
had books, &c, placed, and a well educated man gives them lessons. Several 
attend daily and improve rapidly. Those who were drunkards appear to have 
given it up, for since the examples I made, now near two months ago, not a man 
has been in the slightest degree the worse for liquor. I am also glad to inform 
you that since the Brigade have been here not a complaint has been made against 
one man by the authorities or natives of the town." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 471 

ducting his Detachment, in the long and toilsome march 
through a difficult country, during the height of the monsoon, 
and not less energy during the subsequent operations against 
the savage race of Coles. 

At the commencement of the Mutiny, the various stations 
of Chota Nagpore and Cuttack — Hazareebagh, Ranchee, (or 
Dorundah), Purulia, Chyabassa, and Sumbulpore — were occu- 
pied by the Rhamghur Battalion, consisting of infantry, 
cavalry, and artillery, together with detachments of the 7th 
and 8th Bengal Native Infantry. On the mutiny of the regular 
troops and of the greater portion of the Ramghur Battalion, the 
officers of the latter raised a corps from the Coles and Sonthals, 
for service as police in Chota Nagpore, and they afforded great 
assistance to H.M.'s 5ord Regiment, a Police Brigade of seamen 
under Captain Burbauk of the Bengal Marine, and Rattray's 
Sikhs, in clearing Chota Nagpore of the insurgents, and re- 
occupying the above stations which had been abandoned. But 
the Coles, from among whom the new levies were raised, them • 
selves took up arms, and gave employment to the troops and 
No. 9 Detachment of seamen, sent up from Calcutta, under 
command of Lieutenant Windus. 

On arriving at Midnapore, he took on with him a party of 
twenty men, stationed there under Acting-Master Rose, and 
continued his march up-country. Some of the difficulties 
attending the march of Lieutenant Windus to Chyabassa, (lur- 
ing the height of the monsoon, when he had to carry his guns, 
ammunition, and three months' stores, over swamps, nullahs 
full of water, and rivers swollen almost to the dimensions of 
lakes, with a tide running like a mill-race, will be gathered 
from the following extracts from his letters. He writes from 
"Camp Dahajooree, Rajah of Lall Ghur's territory, the 17th 
of July, 1858:" — We have made twenty-six miles in three 
marches, which, including crossing a river, I consider good 
work. I am halting here for twenty-four hours, as we get free 
quarters from the Rajah. The officers are in tents, but the 
men are nicely housed with clean straw, and roast goats and 
kids ad lib. The roads* are horrible; no road in fact, only a 
track through a paddy-field swamp, with deep dips at about 
an angle of forty-five degrees, and two or three feet water at 
bottom, every two hundred yards. Yesterday's march was very 
heavy, and I came in like a scavenger. My horse is invaluable, 

* Captain Birch, Assistant Commissioner at Chyabassa under Major (now 
Colonel) Dalton, C.S I., Commissioner of Chota Nagpore, writes to Captain 
Campbell: — " The roads in these parts are impracticable for wheeled carriages 
during the rains, and the only carriage permissible are elephants. Just tell the 
General your men cannot march with carts. You may say on my authority that 
a few elephants up here will double the efficiency of the detachment, and are the 
least expensive carriage to employ and will save Government the pay of extra 
men for duty." 



472 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

and I don't know what I should do without him. He enables 
me to keep the whole line in hand, as it were. You would have 
been amused if you could have seen me yesterday, sitting on 
horseback, pounding along up to the shoulders in a coil of drag- 
ropes from the rear, with the chain ends hanging over the 
horse's flanks. However, we walked the carts out of the holes 
very sharp. If the ground was at all more swampy than it is, 
it would be impossible to move, for the carts sink up to the 
nave already. We have great trouble with the gharry drivers, 
who take every opportunity on a halt of bolting into the jungle 
with their bullocks, such is their horror of this trip. In con- 
sequence of this, my own personal share of shouting, screaming, 
breaking sticks into ribbands, twisting tails, &c, is marvellously 
increased." 

He writes from the banks of the Soubunreeka river, on Sun- 
day, the 25th of July, 1858 : — " I am writing under disadvan- 
tageous circumstances, the rain beating through the tent, and I 
am well drenched myself. The accounts of the difficulties of 
this march at this season have not been exaggerated, and it is 
astonishing how the stores and ammunition have been pre- 
served from damage, though what another twenty-four hours 
will do I know not. Our march the last three days has been 
through a rocky country, deep ravines and nullahs with large 
boulder stones, over which the water pours with tremendous 
fury. The first few days after the date of my last letter to you, 
the heat was intense, and a number of men were struck clown 
by the sun and fatigue, for it is impossible to march at night 
in this country on account of the roads and boa constrictors 
Cthese I consider a myth, but the natives and cartmen are hor- 
ribly afraid of them, and would bolt into the jungle if they 
were made to march of a night). Many have bolted, leaving 
bullocks, carts, and everything, and we have been obliged to 
make dhoolie-bearers do the duty. The officers work well, and 
I have every reason to be satisfied with their zeal in performing 
their duties. The last three days, the weather has suddenly 
changed, and, owing to this, I have had the opportunity of see- 
ing how totally incompetent anyone is to judge of the roads, 
&c, on this march, judging by fine weather reports. We have 
marched nearly ninety miles from Midnapore, but it was rather 
pleasant than otherwise during the fine days, except for the 
heat knocking our men up so, but now the road is a jungle 
track, the most fearful storms break over us, and the nullahs 
rise up to our necks in the act of passing them ; the rain is so 
tremendous that it beats one down, and takes the breath away 
like a very severe shower-bath, and, the ground being rocky, 
turns into a water-course, and every bank hurls a cataract on 
top of us. 

" We arrived on the banks of the Soubunreeka last night ; it 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 473 

looked bad enough then, but this morning, after violent rain all 
night, the sight of it made my hair bristle. The river is 
broader than the Thames at Greenwich, and runs about seveD 
knots, the water like pea-soup, and bringing down huge trees 
like straws ; the natives state it will be worse, so I am setting 
to work to cross at once. The river rose six feet whilst I was 
making a raft this morning. Our boat is no good for towing, 
and is not built for such a current. I tried to cross this morn- 
ing in her, but was whirled away like a peg-top in a moment. 
I have finished two small rafts, made each of two canoes lashed 
together, capable of taking two cart-loads. I made a larger 
one at first, which, when finished, I saw at once would not 
answer, as our boat could not tow it, so I consulted the natives, 
and made two small ones, which I load and trust entirely to 
them. I have made one trip over, and landed two cart-loads 
safely before breakfast, but we were carried down a long way. 
All is jungle the other side, but I shall have a little camp there 
before night. There is another river a mile off, so we have our 
hands full, and this river has again to be crossed four miles 
from Chyabassa, which is forty miles distant. I received the 
son of the Rajah of Dhell Bhoom, and he has given us supplies 
liberally. The men are all cheerful and willing. 

" Twelve a.m., the 25th of July. The river has risen 
forty feet, the rain is in water-spouts, and the boatmen won't 
cross, as the snags are coming down so fast. I am going to 
write to the Rajah, as there are no provisions for thecartmen or 
straw for the bullocks here." 

But the Soubunreeka was, at length, crossed, without the 
loss of a man, and Chyabassa reached in safety. For the 
energy and good management displayed in this march. Lieu- 
tenant Windus received the special thanks of Government. Ho 
writes from Chyabassa on the 3rd of August: — "I must give 
great praise to the men, as they worked well, and carried out 
all my instructions. The march certainly presented very gnat 
difficulties, but I believe we have nearly one half of the original 
cart-men who started with us. The others got frightened at 
the distance and hard work, and bolted into the jungle, so we 
had to drive the carts ourselves until we reached the next 
station, when we managed sometimes to get fresh ones, who 
would go one stage and then bolt in their turn. Strict dis- 
cipline was preserved, though there were some cases of looting 
by the camp followers (numbering nearly three hundred), who 
were caught red-handed, and castigated over a cart, in sight of 
the villagers, which did a great deal of good, and procured us 
much assistance from the Sonthals, for the news spread along 
the line of march, and we found provisions and coolies all ready 
for us in most cases, and the people quite confident ; whereas, 
I understand, the former party went through the country like a 



474 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

simoom. The proceedings I have heard of the camp at Chucka- 
derpore,* near here, have been disgraceful. 1 like Captain 
Birch, the Assistant-Commissioner, very much ; he assists me 
in all I want, and appears to be very glad I have arrived. I 
;un going to unload and overhaul all ammunition this evening, 
and have got my guns mounted. I am nearly driven frantic by 
applications for all sorts of things ; small payments for com- 
missariat supplies, elephants' food, money, extra gharries' pay, 
baker's flour, &c. You will scarcely credit that these con- 
tractors who are sent to ease the work, I should conceive, of the 
Commanding officer, are thrown on my hands, without a pice to 
procure what they contract to do, and they surround me all day, 
saying they are starving. Mr. Rose, from Midnapore, and his 
twenty men, I send on to Chuckaderpore with his convoy of 
provisions." 

Lieutenaut Windus writes from Chyabassa on the 5th of 
August : — " I am hard at workf fitting out a magazine, building 

* This refers to the conduct of the Police Brigade, about whom Captain Birch 
wrote in the following terms to Captain Campbell, under date the 24th of July, 
a few days before the arrival of Lieutenant Windus, who was sent to relieve 
them : — " If your Articles of War and the Civil Power can save the officers from 
being robbed occasionally by the men, and the natives from rape and murder, I 
shall not want more, but these little trifles are quite a pastime with the men we 
have, and the sooner the fun is put a stop to the better. I do not think that any 
of your officers can shoot a man for mutiny, or hang him for murder without a 
Court-Martial, and the Civil Power, at any time only able to deal with the latter, 
cannot touch a British subject in these parts ; the cost and expense to Govern- 
ment, and misery to the witnesses if a man must be sent to Calcutta to be tried, 
will very soon call for an enactment on the subject. I have now a murder case 
in hand against two Europeans, and I write feelingly. A court-martial is the 
only remedy that I can see, for I do not at all wish for extended powers myself 
as I have quite enough on my hands without the Europeans." Speaking of a 
rumour of the continuance of the Marine Police Brigade, Lieutenant Windus 
says : — " The state of things up here has been dreadful, and I can easily under- 
stand reports having come in from all sides to Government showing the little con- 
trol these Police Brigade officers have over their men, and the enormities com- 
mitted. The fact is a good many of the best men among them really wish to 
join us (I speak advisedly), but they want to have a week or two in Calcutta first 
and join in Fort William. As for the trash, they dread discipline, and we don't 
want them. I really hope it is not the case, as we only heard it from one of Mr. 
Moore's officers, who came over from Chuckaderpore this morning, and made an 
application to the Commissioner to go out to swear the re-volunteers in for 
another six months, but Captain Birch declines doing so until I hear from you 
officially on the matter. Mr. Moore is to be placed under my orders immediately, 
which, from all accounts, will not be very delightful news for him if I go out to 
the camp, and see a few of the amusements going on in that direction." 

f Of the difficulties in the commissariat line with which he had to contend, he 
says : — " I had three months' provisions, the consumption of which I reckon 
from the 1st of July, my salt provisions is as yet intact, but the great consumption 
has been of biscuit, the baker contractor not having beyond four or five times 
provided any fresh bread since we started. There is an oven out here very much 
out of repair, and whilst it is so, I am obliged to serve out biscuit, as there is 
only one native mason, who is constantly drunk. Fresh meat fails altogether 
sometimes and cannot be procured in the jungle at any price, but at any rate I 
think you will be satisfied of the importance of spirits, tea, sugar, and biscuit, 
being dispatched at a proper time before our present stock is consumed. There is 
nothing here and nothing to use as a substitute." 






HISTORY OF THE IXDIAX NAVY. 475 

sBeds, repairing inarch damages, and preparing to make the 
limbers. I hope to have the guns ready for exercising in a 
few days." Writing later, he says: — " As for the present we 
shall, in all probability, remain stationary at the two camps 
of Chyabassa and Chuckaderpore, I am going to inspect the 
latter, and lay out a proper place for a camp, cut away and 
gravelled, and improve the roads between, which will keep the 
men in health and exercise. The Commissioner, Major Ualton, 
with whom I see I shall get on very well, wants the Police 
guns and ammunition, and will make a requisition for them 
by and by. Tilings have gone on well at Chyabassa, and I 
am making the limbers very substantial, stout shafts, &c, box 
to open with double lid, and carry six mountain-train box 
contents. All ironwork we are very hard up for, and I would 
give anything for a good armourer and forge; the mens' accou- 
trements also want much repair at intervals. I have picked 
out a fine battery ground at Chyabassa, marked off 1,200 yards 
with a view to a range table, for which a few rounds will suffice, 
without waste of ammunition." On the 13th of August, he 
"writes from the same place: — "A number of the leading men 
of the Coles came in yesterday. I was requested to throw a 
few shells to overawe them, and they seemed to understand it. 
We had a field day. The Rajah is still lurking in the jungle 
with a number of men." In September, the Marine Police 
Brigade was broken up, to the relief of all concerned, and Lieu- 
tenant Windus took over their two guns, in addition to the two 
he had brought. He writes, under date the 27th of October, 
from the Camp at Chuckaderpore, having left Acting-Lieutenant 
Yates at Chyabassa, with thirty men:— "I have been now at 
Chuckaderpore Camp some days, and have made an excursion 
or two to protect the natives, whose crops have been cut and 
villages burnt by the rebels. We march at midnight to-night 
to attack a den of the robbers in one of their fastnesses in the 
jungle, and hope to surprise them. I shall take forty picked 
men and fifty Cole levies, who are smart little fellows, armed 
with percussion muskets, and are under my orders up here. 
The men are very well, a few knocked up with rheumatism, of 
which I get my share very severely occasionally." 

Early in November, Lieutenant Windus, taking with him 
Mr. Green and seventy seamen, made a successful dour against 
the Coles, in conjunction with Captain Birch, and some native 
levies. The enemy mustered about 5,000 strong in the jun- 
gles, though broken up into small detachments, each having 
a leader, the ex-Rajah of Porahaut, Urjoon Singh, being the 
principal chief. On starting to beat up the rebel quarters, 
Lieutenant Windus left a party, under Acting-Master 
Williams, at Chyabassa, with one gun, and, at the camp 
at Chuckaderpore, thirty seamen, and titty Cole levies, 



476 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

under command of Acting-Lieutenant Yates and Mr. Dunn. 
He writes to Captain Campbell, under date " the 11th of No- 
vember, Jungles near Aruntelyia, Porahat country :" — " I am 
now in the jungle with Captain Birch, seventy seamen and sixty 
Coles, and a mass of armed natives. Our chief magazine is 
still at Chyabassa, where we leave the hospital ; there are 
about twelve or fourteen sick on the average, which makes a 
hole in our little force, when it comes to be divided. We hear 
many reports from Palarmo, as to the flight of the rebels in 
that direction. The Commissioner believes there will be work 
for us when we have hunted out these rebels here." Again 
writing on the 22nd of November, from " Camp at Dorikala, 
jungles of Western Singhbhoom," where he was employed 
beating up the quarters of the rebels, he says : — " We are now 
split into three parties, two constantly on the move. The 
rebels are very active all round us, burning and looting, retir- 
ing when we advance, and breaking out afresh in another 
place. I have placed Yates in permanent charge of Chucka- 
derpore for the present, but have constant communication, and 
have a small depot here. Captain Birch left me yesterday with 
the Cole levies to hunt up some marauders in Porahat, and I 
have had to be on the qui vive ever since, as a few hours after 
he was gone, I received intelligence of a strong body of two 
or three thousand men approaching, having heard of our dimi- 
nution of force. I have taken all precautions, got native look- 
outs on the hills round, and a masked gun with canister 
defending our only approach. We are encamped in a very 
picturesque place, in an amphitheatre of hills surrounded by 
dense jungle. Urjoon Singh, the rebel Rajah, is encamped 
some sixteen or twenty-four miles oft* amongst the hills, as far 
as we know, but the paths are very intricate. I made a re- 
connaissance along the jungle path, leading, as is supposed, 
the nearest to his quarters, and found it blocked up with huge 
trees in one place, done by a large body of men evidently 
the same morning. I have lots to do,* and rode forty miles 
the day before yesterday to Chuckaderpore and back, and was 
not much the worse for it. I like the copper friction-tubes very 
much, and used them once or twice in practice for the edifica- 
tion of the Coles, who, we have since heard, spread a report 

* Though hard at work in the jungles and keeping up communications with 
his Detachments at Chuckaderpore and Chyabassa, the rigorous requirements of 
red-tape could not be denied, and we find him writing to Captain Campbell: — 
" My stationery and official document department is in sad confusion, and owing 
to the constant moying about, I shall not be able to send in abstracts for this 
month,"as we are all separated, and I am half distracted sending money about, 
and getting signatures for the Commissariat Department, who are in about five 
different places. I will make the abstract come all right for batta and good 
conduct. I shall have to send in an indent for stationery in a day or two. The 
coil of rope and entrenching tools, also the water skins and planks, have arrived 
at Chyabassa." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 477 

that wonderful men had come with guns which let themselves 
off, and I really believe they imagine our guns do sentry duty." 
Writing two days later from the same camp, Lieutenant 
Windus says : — ■" If the reinforcement comes up as you seem to 
think probable, carriage being easy at this time of year, I 
should recommend them bringing up about ten thousand rounds 
of Enfield rifle ammunition, and most particularly it will be a 
good opportunity to send up the proper trail carriages for the 
two police guns, also two spare axletrees and four wheels. 
By the bye, you will think I forgot to send you my road Re- 
port from Midnapore. I drew it out long ago, and you can 
have it whenever you please, but as it covers several sheets of 
foolscap, I did not send it. I made a draft of it for Captain 
Birch, with extra remarks on the roads, when required, from 
which he took the heads and sent in to Government with his 
Report. I really think that with all the arduous work we are 
now constantly engaged in, our officers and men are entitled to 
have their names sent in for the war medal.* "We are, and 
shall be, constantly employed driving out hordes of these rebels, 
but reports cannot be made of every trivial skirmish in the 
light of an engagement, though the work is excessive. 1 drove 
out a whole nest of these rebels yesterday, marching twenty- 
five miles to effect it, and am very much knocked up to-day 
with rheumatism from lying in a nullah. I think the real 
nature of our services will be seen by and by." Again he writes 
from the same camp on the 2nd of December: — "Captain 
Birch has just come back and joined me again. We hear my 
Expedition into the hills the other day caused great consterna- 
tion among the rebels. We are to be attacked by a large force 
to-morrow or next day, they say." On the 15th of December, 
he writes from the same camp in the jungles : — "1 am deeply 
concerned at having so soon to report again two more deaths in 
my little force. They were two of my old hands, who have been 
with me since leaving Fort William. 1 will settle the deceased 
estates as soon as possible. This fever is going the rounds, and 
I have now about twenty-five in hospital ; I have done every- 
thing possible with regard to hospital accommodation and 
medical treatment, and must abide the result, but it is very 
unfortunate occurring just at the time when we shall want 
every man we have, and not be strong enough then for the work 
cut out for us. I am preparing a party of fifteen men, under 
Mr. Williams, and one gun, to proceed with Captain Birch and 
one hundred Coles, into the jungles, with one month's pro- 
visions. He is going with this party to be in readiness to com- 
mence operations on the 1st of January. A larger number of 
our men would go, only there is such difficulty in carriage, as 

* This Detachment, with the others actually engaged with the rebels, received 
the war medal. 



478 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

there are no roads, and everything goes on elephants. I have 
had seven good elephants and twenty carts at my disposal for 
the last two months, and have plenty of work for them. I in- 
tended to have gone with the party myself at first, but find that 
I must necessarily make this my headquarters at present, for I 
should be cutting off all communication between myself and 
the bulk of the Brigade, also the accounts, commissariat and 
brigade, would be falling into arrears, and, as T hope many of 
the men now sick will be all right again soon, I shall be able to 
back up Captain Birch's movements with a strong force, if 
necessary." 

There is a blank in the correspondence at this point, as the 
gallant officer in command was himself struck clown with jungle 
fever and nearly lost his life. The surgeon, Dr. Bayn, writes to 
Captain Campbell on the 22nd of January, 1859, reporting him 
better, and adds : — " I have spoken to him about going away, 
but this he has no wish to do, and hopes to be able to work on 
until our campaign ends. Lieutenant Yates has been unwell, 
but is very much better now." Eventually Lieutenant Windus 
was forced to return sick to Calcutta, and both Major Dalton 
and Captain Birch reported in the warmest terms of the 
efficiency and good conduct of No 9 Detachment and the 
energy and zeal of Lieutenant Windus. The Government also 
thanked both officers and men, for their steadiness and dis- 
cipline in the jungle, not unworthy of veteran troops. Acting- 
Lieutenant Yates was left in command at the camp at Chuck- 
aderpore, and Acting-Master Williams continued in charge of a 
party engaged under Captain Birch in beating up the quarters 
of the insurgent Coles. On the 15th of February, 1859, Urjoon 
Singh, ex-Rajah of Porahat, in pursuit of whom Captain Birch, 
with the Naval Detachment under Lieutenant Windus, and the 
Cole levies under Lieutenant Reeves, had been in the jungles 
since the previous November, hearing of the arrival of a re- 
inforcement of one hundred seamen from Calcutta, under 
Acting-Lieutenant H. W. H. Burnes, and despairing of clearing 
himself from the toils of the hunters now closing round his lair 
in the jungles, surrendered himself a prisoner, and the in- 
surgent chiefs and their followers were either dispersed or 
captured.* 

* Major Dalton, writing to the Government of Bengal from Chuckaderpore 
under date the 21st of February, 1859, says : — " I have every reason to hope that 
the Singbhoom disturbances are nearly at an end, but with regard to the strong 
feeling in favour of Urjoon Singh, which I know still exists in some portion of 
the Colehan, and to the probability of our being necessitated to make a further 
demonstration of force in the Southern Province, before the disaffected of that 
part of the district submit in sincerity, pay their arrears of revenue, and give up 
proclaimed offenders, I do not think it advisable to propose that any portion of 
the Naval Brigade now doing duty here should be immediately withdrawn. Led 
by Lieutenant Beeves, the young soldiers of the Cole and Sonthal levy have vied 
with the sailors of the Naval Brigade in celerity of movement and pluck, and 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 479 

In January, 1859, Acting-Lieutenant Burnes proceeded to 
Chota Nagpore from Calcutta, with one hundred men (increased 
by some volunteers from No. 9 Detachment, which proceeded to 
Calcutta in July) and Acting-Masters Gladwin and Purrier; 
this force, known as No. 14 Detachment, was divided into two 
parties, stationed at Chuckaderpore and under canvas at 
Dorakala, distant twenty-two miles. The men were in a good 
state of discipline, and of their efficiency Lieutenant Burnes 
writes : — " I have never come across a better set of men." In 
May, Lieutenant W. II. Davies, who was suffering greatly from 
the severe wound in the chest he had received in Assam, 
arrived at Chuckaderpore from Calcutta, and assumed command 
of the Detachment. He writes; — "From Raneegunge to Chy- 
abassa is one hundred miles and a bad road. On my arrival I 
found Lieutenant Burnes in a bad state with fever and liver, 
but I am glad to say he is much better. Lieutenant Yates is 
waiting for the elephants from Raneegunge ; when they arrive 
1 will give them three days' rest and pack him and his Brigade 
off as soon as possible, and march this Brigade to Chyabassa, 
where they will have better quarters. The men seem to be an 
orderly set." No. 14 Detachment suffered severely from sick- 
ness during the monsoon, and the health of many of the officers 
and men was permanently affected. On the 2nd of August 
Lieutenant Davies writes : — " Mr. Purrier has been very ill 
since his arrival, with fever and spleen, and is now hardly able 
to put one leg before the other. Burnes gets fever now and 
then. We have had lots of sickness during the last month, ten 
in hospital daily. The men are getting on very well and give 
very little trouble. Captain Birch said to me the other day, 
they were so quiet he hardly knew they were in the station. 
We take a long march every morning, if tine, and parade in the 
evening." In October, Lieutenant Davies's wound became very 

have also displayed a steadiness unusual in a corps so recently raised. Lieutenant 
Birch has favourably noticed Mr. Williams and the men of the Naval Brigade 
who were with him. I beg to add my testimony to the general good conduct of 
the men of the Naval Brigade forming other Detachments, and to record that I 
am under acknowledgments to Lieutenant Yates for his willing co-operation with 
me in protecting wayfarers and unoffending villages from outrages, and in putting 
a stop to the marauding expeditions of the insurgents. In reply, the Secretary 
to the Government of Bengal writes, under date the 28th of February, 1859 : — 
" I am directed to state that the admirable arrangements by which the ex-Rajah 
of Porahat was induced to surrender, and the promptitude and zeal with which 
they were carried out, reflect the highest credit upon all parties concerned. To 
yourself as Commissioner, the Lieutenant-Governor offers his cordial acknow- 
ledgments for the judgment and unremitting energy which have characterised 
this, in common with the whole of your proceedings, for the pacification of the 
Singbhoom district, which may now be considered as complete. You are re- 
quested to intimate to Lieutenants Birch and Beeves, and to Mr. Williams, and 
the men of the Indian Naval Brigade, the high approval with which the Lieu- 
tenant-Governor regards the excellent service rendered by thern on the present 
occasion." 



480 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

bad, and Lieutenant Burnes had temporary command ; the 
former officer would not, however, invalid, but remained with 
the Detachment until their return to Calcutta, though only able 
to accompany them by palanquin dawk. Lieutenant Burnes 
writes to Captain Campbell from Raneegunge, on the 8th of 
January, 1860 : — " I have just arrived here with the advanced 
guard and stores, which will be returned to-morrow morning 
early, and Davies will be in about ten a.m. to-morrow ; T have 
marched twenty-five miles this morning, and feel as if I were 
going to have a return of fever and ague, but I hope I shall be 
all right in the morning. With the sanction of Davies I am 
making the arrangements for starting to Calcutta. The number 
of men is as follows : — Petty officers and A.B. one hundred and 
seven, two warrant officers, three officers. On their arrival at 
the depot at Dumdum, the Detachment was disbanded, and 
Lieutenants Davies and Burnes proceeded to England, where 
the latter eventually succumbed to the effects of climate and 
exposure.* 

Senior Lieutenant Batt did good service with No. 3 Detach- 
ment in the disturbed districts of the Patna division. He was 
in command of the ' Zenobia' at the time of the outbreak of the 
Mutiny, but proceeded on shore sick when Commander Stephens 
succeeded to the command of the steam-frigate. His health 
being improved by a residence of a few weeks on shore, in the 
latter part of July, 1857, he proceeded up-country with No. 3 
Detachment, consisting of one hundred men and four guns, with 
the following officers : — Midshipmen G. C. Parker, H. E. Han- 
nay, and R. Scamp. No. 3 Detachment embarked in the 
' Jumna,'f a small river steamer, and, on the way up from Cal- 

* This young officer was entitled to great credit for the care and trouble he 
took uuder conditions 90 novel to a naval officer, as providing for the wants and 
enforcing discipline among so large a body of hastily raised seamen on shore. 
He wrote at the time :— " Often I have ridden and sometimes had to walk 
thirty-six miles so as to keep the men properly fed, and even paid a man twenty 
rupees per month out of my own pocket to interpret for and assist me." 

f During the month of October, 1857, portions of the Detachment were 
frequently embarked in the ' Jumna ' to operate on the Arrah side of the Ganges. 
An officer of the ' Jumna ' writes on the 30th of October : — " On the 28th instant, 
the Commissioner of Patna sent us orders, and in consequence the officers of the 
Indian Navy, with their seamen, embarked for the third time. We were to 
proceed with the least possible delay to about fifteen or twenty miles beyond the 
Gogra river, and communicate with the people on the Arrah side of the Ganges. 
Should we learn that the mutinous detachment of the 32nd Native Infantry was 
approaching the banks of the Ganges, with the intention of crossing into Goruck- 
pore or Ghazeepore, we were to proceed on and do everything in our power to 
intercept them ; they were reported to be at Shapore factory, sixteen miles west 
of Arrah. After doing this service we were to proceed to the mouth of the Gogra 
and survey it carefully, and if able to enter it without fear of being shut in by the 
fall of the river, we were to proceed and report ourselves to Captain Sotheby, 
R.N., and he would avail himself of our services on the Gogra. Early on the 
29th of Oetober the ' Jumna' started, passed by Shapore at four o'clock the same 
evening and proceeded on to Perbutpore, where we anchored for the night. 
This morning we ran down for the purpose of surveying the Gogra, received two 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 481 

cntta was detained at Berhampore, a large military station, 
within six miles of the city of Moorshedabad, the aneient 
Mahommedan capital of Bengal, and the residence of the Nawab 
Nazim. As the native troops were rife for mutiny, Lieutenant 
Batt remained in the river until the arrival, on the 1st of 
August, of H.M.'s 90th Regiment, when the Detachment whs 
disembarked to disarm the 63rd Native Infantry and the 11th 
Irregular Cavalry. The latter, who, as everywhere, were the 
ringleaders in mutiny, were rather inclined to be troublesome, 
having hesitated three times before coming on to the parade. 
The disarming was effected by the 90th and No. 3 Detachment, 
and, on its completion, some of the carbines of the cavalry, 
who were also deprived of their horses, were found to be loaded 
with patent cartridges.* The Detachment proceeded to Dina- 
pore, and thence to Allahabad, where Lieutenant Batt embarked 
twenty-five men of the 1st Madras Fusiliers, under Lieutenant 
Barclay, and was proceeding up the Ganges to Cawnpore, when 
he received instructions not to pass the Fort of Kallykunka, 
but to go lower down the river, to cut out or destroy some 
boats, laden with Government stores, that had been seized 
and detained by the rebels. Lieutenant Batt sent a boat 
in charge of Midshipman Parker, to cut them out, but the 
enemy, who lined the banks in great numbers and occupied a 
thick wood close down to the river, opened so fierce a fire that 
Lieutenant Batt hoisted the signal for recall. The steamer and 
boats now advanced to the attack, and engaged the enemy for 
six hours, and, at length, they were shelled out of their positions, 
and the enemy's boats were all destroyed. The Detachment 
lost two killed and four wounded. Lieutenant Batt now re- 
turned to Allahabad, where Captain Peel was stationed with 
the Shannon Brigade. He writes : — " Captain Peel attached 
us to his Brigade, intending to take us up to Lucknow, but the 
Government would not sanction it, and we were ordered down to 
garrison Buxar." Subsequently he commanded at Buxar.f where 

pilots at Chuprah, and proceeded to Revelgunge and Monjing, whence, there not 
being sufficient water, we returned to Dinapore for further orders." 

* The Nawab Nazim, who throughout acted with loyalty, took this opportunity 
of disarming his own troops, and subsequently the fanatical Mahommedan popu- 
lation of Moorshedabad were disarmed. 

t In consequence of the disturbed state of the districts of Shahabad and 
Chuprah, on the abandonment of Goruckpore, the Arrah establishments were 
removed to Buxar. Readers familiar with the events of the Mutiny, will recall 
to mind the memorable defence of Arrah by Mr. Wake, Mr. Boyee, and el her 
Europeans, with the assistance of fifty Sikhs, against the Dinapore mutineers, 
and their relief by the gallant Vincent Eyre of the Bengal Artillery, with only 
one hundred and fifty European soldiers and three guns. Major Eyre, having 
received reinforcements, defeated the rebels under Koer Singh, and followed them 
up to Jugdespore, which was precipitately abandoned by the rebels. Shahabad 
was for a time cleared of the enemy, but later on it was again overrun by them, 
until the operations of Sir E. Lugard and Brigadier Curfield, already detailed, 
resulted in their dispersion. 

VOL. II. II 



482 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

he relieved the ; Pearl ' Naval Brigade, under Captain Sotheby, 
R.N. He writes to us : — "On my taking charge of the fort at 
Buxar, there was not a gun or a carriage of any description 
except the four 12-pounders I took with rae, so I set to work 
with the carpenters I had amongst my brigade, and the black- 
smiths from the village, and made two< field carriages and 
limbers, and drilled the men to the guns and use of the field- 
pieces. I found the fort in a very dilapidated state, and had to 
dig the moat out and repair the ramparts, &c." Their efficiency 
was soon put to the test, and the men proved themselves apt 
pupils of an experienced master. The alarms at Buxar were 
frequent, and the Detachment was constantly on the move and 
engaged in desultory operations against the rebels. 

In August, 1858, Commander Batt* performed some good 
service near Buxar, with forty of his men, and two guns. 
Brigadier Douglas writes to the Adjutant-General from Dina- 
pore, on the 30th of that month : — " I have the honour to for- 
ward herewith, for submission to his Excellency the Com- 
mander-in-chief, a report from Major Carr, Madras Rifles, 
commanding at Buxar, of a successful operation undertaken by 
him on the loth instant, which resulted in the complete defeat 
and dispersion, with heavy loss, of a very greatly superior body 
of rebels, who had threatened, and were about to attack, his 
advanced post at Doomraon." The following is Major Carr's 
report, dated Buxar, 16th August, 1858 :— " On the 11th, 
having been called on by Captain Broome, commanding Doom- 
raon, for assistance, as a large body of rebels were moving on 
his post, I immediately sent off a troop and a half of the military 
train, in all fifty sabres, and one hundred and twenty Sikh 
Cavalry, under Lieutenant Ryall, the whole commanded by 
Captain Nason, Military Train; I proceeded myself during the 
night with two companies of the 84th, on elephants, and fifty 
Madras Rifles. On the 12th the enemy, said to be from fifteen 
hundred to two thousand, eight hundred of whom were Sepoys, 
were reported to me to be posted in and around the village of 
Chowgain, about six miles off. I went out of Doomraon a short 
way in their direction, but finding the country so difficult for 
cavalry, for it was all enclosed, and having in all only about 
one hundred and fifty infantry, of whom one hundred only 
were Europeans, I returned, and sent into Buxar for the two 
Naval Brigade guns, which, with one other company of the 
84th, arrived at twelve at night; this they were enabled to do 
by the fortuitous presence here of some bullocks and some 
drivers of the Bengal Artillery, which have been detained here 
by the closing of the communications. Thus reinforced, on the 
morning of the 13th, as soon as I could get certain information 
of the rebels, I marched out in the direction of the enemy on 

* He attained the rank of Commander on the 21st of August, 1858. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 483 

the Chowgain road. When about four miles out, the rebels were 
reported in front, advancing in three large bodies; on reaching 
the end of the enclosures I saw one large body posted in a tope 
behind a rising ground, about 400 yards on ray left front ; I 
had a company of the 84th extended on that flank, and then 
advanced the guns which Captain Batt skilfully brought up. 
On the skirmishers advancing, the enemy began to retire, they 
were five or six hundred. Captain Batt then fired three shells 
at them, the last of which, set for 1,200 yards, fell amongst a 
number of them, killing two and wounding two others ; this 
sent them all flying. Just as I began to advance on this body, 
word was brought to me, that a body of seven hundred Sepoys, 
and a hundred and fifty sowars, were passing my right flank to 
get round in my rear ; I sent Captain' Nason with his men to 
stop them, which he did eventually, as he did everything en- 
trusted to him. As soon as I saw the rebels in front clear off, I 
retired along the road with two companies of the 84th between 
me and the enemy when I had got parallel with them ; at Cap- 
tain Nason's request 1 sent a gun, one company of the 84th, 
and half the Madras Rifles, to dislodge the rebels from a village 
they had. seized. On the approach of the gun, &c., they all 
fled, throwing away their clothes and shoes. Knowing that a 
third body was working round on my flank, I could not venture 
yet to let the cavalry pursue ; indeed I was told that the body 
on the left were getting round to Doomraon. I had sent a 
troop of Sikh Cavalry to stop them some time before, and they 
were reported to me as having halted, and I afterwards heard 
that, on the report of the first gun, they went towards Arrah 
plundering Jewninggunge on the way." After this affair Cap- 
tain Nason, commanding the Cavalry, distinguished himself by 
his pursuit of the enemy, whom he cut up handsomely. 

During their long stay up-country, the services of No. 3 De- 
tachment were frequently called into requisition to act as 
Artillery, but the rebels generally managed to elude pursuit. 
On the 27th of September, 1858, one of the officers, Acting- 
Master George Bell Chicken gained the Victoria Cross for an 
act of brilliant gallantry. Before going into action he avowed 
his determination to win the ''Cross for Valour," or perish in 
the attempt, and well he earned it, for with his sword he slew 
five men, when he fell covered with wounds. Captain Camp- 
bell appointed Mr. Chicken to the Service on the 31st of July, 
1858, and after doing duty at Fort William for eight months, 
on the 23rd of March, 1859, he left for Buxar to join No. 3 De- 
tachment, taking with him a party of seamen to replace the 
sick and dead of No. 7 stationed at Dehree. At this time 
Brigadier Douglas, C.B., was engaged with his field force 
keeping open the communications on the Grand Trunk Road 
to the westward of Diuapore, and Lieutenant-Colonel Turner 

II 2 



484 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

was in command of a small column, which, on the morning - of 
the 27th of September, 1858, halted at Khurona for breakfast 
before attacking the enemy, who were encamped in force at a 
small village called Suhejnee, near Peeroo. Mr. Chicken 
happened to be just then at Dehree, on his way to Buxar, and 
when Colonel Turner detached his Cavalry, consisting of fifty- 
four troopers of the 3rd Sikh Irregular Cavalry under Lieu- 
tenant Broughton, and sixty-eight men of Rattray's mounted 
police, under Lieutenant Baker, Mr. Chicken attached himself 
to the column. On nearing the enemy, Lieutenant Baker first 
retired, and, on clearing the village and jungle, suddenly 
wheeled into line and charged the mutineers, who soon broke 
and fled. In the charge, Mr. Chicken greatly distinguished 
himself, and, in pursuit of the flying foe, plunged into, and 
swam his horse through, a deep and wide nullah, and, galloping 
through the village of Kussowlie, dashed into the clumps of 
sugar-cane, and on through two miles of jungle and into the 
deep tangled recesses beyond. Some few of the best mounted 
sowars accompanied the daring sailor in his headlong ride for 
the bauble upon which he had set his heart, but when he had 
plunged 500 yards into the jungle, he found himself alone. 
Alone, did I say ! Rather not alone, but in the presence of 
twenty armed and desperate Sepoys. This, however, was the 
quarry which Mr. Chicken had come from Dehree to encounter, 
and he, accordingly, charged into the middle of them without a 
moment's hesitation. His sword fell rapidly as he laid about 
him right and left like a Paladin of old, and quickly four 
Pandies rolled over in the death agony, and yet a fifth fell 
desperately wounded. But here his career was cut short by 
blows and thrusts from a dozen musket stocks and bayonets, 
and, just as he fell from his charger, severely wounded, and was 
about to be despatched, four native troopers dashed into the 
melee, and having killed several of the mutineers, and dispersed 
the rest, rejoined the column at the skirts of the jungle, 
bringing Mr. Chicken with them. This officer and the four 
troopers were all wounded in the desperate fray, as were also 
their chargers, but, probably, they made little account of these 
honourable mementoes of a glorious day, for the sowars received 
the 3rd class of the " Order for Merit." 

Colonel Turner, in forwarding to the Assistant Adjutant- 
General, the despatch of Lieutenant Baker, speaks of the 
charge as being " as gallant as any made during the war." 
" The enemy," he says, " at the lowest estimate was seven 
hundred strong, well armed, and mostly old Sepoys of the 
56th, 47th, and 32nd Regiments Native Infantry, of whom a 
subahdar and eighty men were left dead upon the field, while 
the wounded, by native report, are stated to have been from 
twenty to thirty more. Indeed, a spy from Jugdespore was 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 485 

present at the muster after they had rallied, and states that 
there were a hundred and fifteen of the number missing." Both 
Lieutenant Baker and Mr. Chicken received the Victoria Cross* 
for their deeds of gallantry on this occasion. The Commander- 
in-Chief, Lord Clyde, through his Military Secretary, in a letter 
to the Secretary to the Government of India, dated " Head 
Quarters, Allahabad, 6th of October, 1858," writes as follows : — 
" I have the honour to request on the part of his Lordship, that 
you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right 
Hon. the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit per- 
formed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police 
Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium on 
account both of conception and execution. His Lordship is of 
opinion that the Victoria Cross should be awarded to Lieu- 
tenant Baker, and to Mr. Chicken, of the Indian Navy, and he 
will take immediate measures for the execution of his intention 
in this respect." But the gallant officer did not live long to 
enjoy his dearly -bought distinction, and, although he strove 
hard to earn a soldier's death, he was destined after all to lie in 
a sailor's grave. Mr. Chicken returned to Calcutta on the 30th 
of November, 1859, and, in the following March, was appointed 
to the command of the ' Emily,' of ninety tons and three guns. 
He proceeded to sea in May, but, soon after leaving the Sand- 
heads, the little schooner was overtaken by one of those 
tremendous gales that periodically strew the shores of the 
Indian Peninsula with a thick fringe of wrecks ; a steamer was 
sent to look after her, but neither the gallant Commander, nor 
his ship, nor his crew, was ever heard of more, and there can 
be little doubt that she foundered at sea with all hands on 
board. 

In October, 1858, Commander Batt resigned the command of 
No. 3 Detachment t to Mr. Midshipman R. Scamp, and pro- 
ceeded to England, on sick leave. For his services he received 
the thanks of the Supreme Government and of the Military 
Commanders at Patna and Buxar. Soon after Commander 
Batt's departure, Lieutenant H Jackson arrived from Jessore 
and assumed command of No. 3 Detachment, but the Bengal 
Government, making a requisition for the services of a surveyor 

* The following is the official record of the achievement : — " Mr. George Bell 
Chicken, date of act of bravery, 27th September. 1858. For great gallantry, on 
the 27th September, 1858, at Snhejnee, near Peeroo, in having charged into the 
middle of a considerable number of the rebels, who were prepared to rally and 
open fire upon the scattered pursuers. They were surrounded on all sides, but, 
fighting desperately, Mr. Chicken succeeded in killing five before he was cut 
down himself; he would have been cut to pieces had not some of the men of 
the 1st Bengal Police and 3rd Sikh Irregular Cavalry dashed into the crowd 
to his rescue, and routed it, after killing several of the enemy." 

t In June, 1858, Mr. Parker was sent to Bombay to pass his examination for 
lieutenant, and he arrived in charge of wounded soldiers and seamen on fcne 
12th of July, 1858. 



486 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

on the Coromandel coast, to assist Lieutenant Sweny, he 
resigned the command to Lieutenant Duval, who left Acting 
Lieutenant Cotgrave to take charge of No. 5 Detachment at 
Gya, and, in November, 1859, brought No 3 Detachment 
down to Calcutta for disbandment. On their quitting Buxar, 
a correspondent of an Indian paper writes : — " On the departure 
of No. 3 Naval Brigade, upwards of one half were hors de 
combat from fever, and the chaste obelisk which these gallant, 
well-conducted fellows raised in generous sympathy to the 
memory of their lost shipmates, and which adorns the Buxar 
burial ground, tells too truly how the brigade suffered." 

Mention has been made of Lieutenant R. G. Hurlock, as com- 
manding No. 10 Detachment at Alipore. On being relieved by 
Lieutenant Burnes, who was succeeded by Lieutenant Carew, 
in November, 1858, he was placed by Captain Campbell in 
command of No. 12 Detachment, raised to garrison Julpigoree, 
which numbered a hundred petty officers and seamen and the 
following officers: — Acting-Master C. H. Brown; Acting 
1st Class Second-Master J. Dolmage ; and Mr. Lackington, 
Gunner. The Detachment conducted itself in a manner to 
command the approval of the authorities, and the confidence of 
the planters, though suffering from great sickness and want of 
shelter. In April, 1859, the Detachment was disbanded, its 
services being no longer required, and Lieutenant Hurlock was 
placed in command of the depot at Dumdum, and, on being 
relieved there by Lieutenant Carew, proceeded in command of 
a Naval Guard, on board the ' Sesostris ' and ' Boanerges,' 
which conveyed prisoners to the Andaman Islands. In No- 
vember, 1859, Captain Campbell placed this young officer* in 
command of the ' Coromandel,' which participated in the China 
Expedition of 1860. 

No. 8 Detachment, which was stationed at Jessore, only 
consisted of fifty men, and was first placed under the command 
of Acting-Master Connor, who had served at Dacca under the 
command of Lieutenant Lewis, with No. 4 Detachment, and 
when that officer proceeded to Assam, remained behind with 
the time-expired men. As it was desirable that a commissioned 
officer should command the Detachment. Lieutenant H. Jackson 
proceeded to Jessore, and, in October, 1858, when Commander 
Batt went on sick leave to England, took command of No. 3 
Detachment at Buxar until he was ordered to join Lieutenant 
Sweny in the survey. On his departure Lieutenant Duval 
brought down No. 8 to Calcutta, leaving Acting-Lieutenant 

* Lieutenant Hurlock joined the Indian Navy in June, 1849, and thus had 
only ten years' sea time, but, as has before been observed, as characteristic of 
the Service, the entire period had been passed in continuous active service, 
without a day's intermission, and he had already gained a medal for Persia and 
Burmah, where he was employed for eight months in the boats of the 'Ferooz' 
on the rivers Irrawaddy, Suhvetn, and Sittang. 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 487 

Cotgrave to bring down his own Detachment (No. 5) from 
Gya. 

Good service was rendered by No. 13 Detachment, under the 
command of Lieutenant C. B. Templer, at Chuprah, the chief 
town of the district of Sarun, on the route from Dinapore to 
Goruckpore. No. 13 Detachment, which was despatched from 
Fort William on the 15th of December, 1858, consisted of a 
hundred seamen and the following officers: — Acting-Master 
J. M. Paul, Acting 1st Class Second-Master A. Powell, and 
Mr. Gibson, Gunner. The usual two 12-pounder field pieces, 
with two horses to each gun. were attached to the Detachment. 
Lieutenant Templer rendered good service at Chuprah, and 
when the services of the Detachment were no longer required, 
brought it down by boats to Calcutta, where it was disbanded 
on the 29th of September, 1859. Mr. Fergusson, the Commis- 
sioner of Patna, reported to the Government, on the 30th of 
January, 1860, of the Detachments in his Division, that " the 
assistance of the Brigade was very valuable, and on all occa- 
sions they performed their duties with the utmost zeal and 
alacrity. I consider the officers entitled to much credit for 
their good management under peculiarly difficult and unprece- 
dented circumstances." After paying off his Detachment, Lieu- 
tenant Templer proceeded to the depot at Dumdum, whence 
he was directed to take charge of three transports, conveying 
troops for the China Expedition of 1860, in which he partici- 
pated. 

In addition to the Detachments whose services have been 
detailed, there were four twin-screw gunboats stationed in the 
Ganges between Calcutta and Buxar, which were manned and 
officered by the Indian Navy, and armed with two 9-pounder 
brass guns. These gunboats, which rendered valuable service 
in preventing the rebels from crossing the rivers and keeping 
the banks and ferries clear of them with their guns, had no 
names, but were numbered from 1 to 4. They were com- 
manded by the following Acting-Masters, between October 
1858 and September 1859, when they were all put out of com- 
mission :— No. 1, Mr. C. S. Wanick ; No. 2, Mr. J. Stephenson ; 
No. 3, Mr. R. Salmon ; No. 4, Mr. J. Saunders. Lieutenant 
Lewis had also under his orders at Dacca two armed pinnaces, 
and there were four paddle-wheel river steamers of the local 
Marine, which were occasionally employed under the orders of 
Commander Batt, Lieutenant Duval, and other officers, and 
were of service in transporting the Detachments and patrolling 
the rivers. 

The services of No. 6 Detachment were not less meritorious 
than those of the others of the Brigade, while it was not only 
one of the largest, but was embodied for a longer period than 
any other. Between the 19th of November, 1857, when Cap- 



488 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tain Campbell, upon bis promotion to post rank, made over 
the command of the ' Coromandel' to Lieutenant Stradling of 
the ' Semiramis,' himself assuming command of that ship, to 
the 22nd of May, 1858, when he proceeded on shore to Fort 
William as Senior Officer in charge of the Indian Naval Bri- 
gade, he was engaged on an important mission. When the 
mutiny of the Bengal Native Army placed in the hands of 
the Government many thousands of rebels, the question of 
their disposition became one of pressing urgency. Lord Can- 
ning, accordingly, appointed a Committee to proceed to the 
Andaman Islands, and report upon their suitability for a 
convict establishment. The Committee consisted of Surgeon 
Mouatt, of the Bengal Army, Inspector of Prisons, an officer 
of great experience in the management of convicts, Lieutenant 
Heathcote, I.N., who was specially entrusted with the hydro- 
graphical duties, and Surgeon Play fair. 

The ' Semiramis,' Captain Campbell, sailed with the mem- 
bers of this Committee on the 23rd of November, 1857, for 
the Andamans, and, having visited Port Cornwallis, at the 
northern end of the North Island, which the Committee re- 
jected for its unsuitability, proceeded to Moulmein, where the 
' Pluto,' an iron steamer of light draught, was placed at their 
disposal, and Captain Campbell selected twenty well-trained 
seamen of his ship, whom he placed under the command of 
Mr. Midshipman Cotgrave, to proceed in her as a naval guard. 
The 'Pluto' sailed from Moulmein, with the Committee, on 
the 9th of December, and arrived in two days at Port Blair, 
also called Port Chatham,* situated at the south end of the 
South Andaman, a magnificent inlet, or harbour, in which are 
the three islands, called Ross, Chatham, and Viper. The 
European seamen, and twelve Burmese convicts, used to forest 
life, supplied by Colonel Fytche, the Commissioner of Moul- 
mein, set to work clearing the jungle in Chatham Island, the 
spot chosen by the Committee as the best site for the penal 
settlement, being the same as was adopted by Lieutenant 
Blair, f of the Bombay Marine, the eminent surveyor and first 
Governor of the convict settlement established here in the 

* Port Chatham, of the charts and Horsburgh's Directory, also known as Old 
Harbour and Port Blair, was first called Port Cornwallis (See Vol. I. p. 186), 
lint this name was subsequently given to the northern harbour, which has since 
retained it. 

t Speaking of Lieutenant Blair's report on the Andaman islands, laid before the 
Marquis Cornwallis in June, 1789, Dr. Mouatt says : — " It not only contained a 
minute and accurate account of the survey conducted under the superintendence 
of that able and enterprisiug officer, but it was also illustrated by a chart in 
which the situation of the most important localities was distinctly marked, 
accompanied with a plan of three harbours. The report merited and obtained 
much praise for the clearness with wliich it was written." — See Dr. Mouatt's 
Report published in 1859, in the 25th number of the " Selections from the 
Records of the Government of India." 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 489 

last century, of which fragments of brickwork were disen- 
tangled from the jangle. On the 30th of December, two boats' 
crews of the ' Pluto,' under command of Mr. Cotgrave, with 
the three members of the Committee, proceeded on shore at 
Interview Island, in the Middle Strait between the South and 
Middle Andaman, and were met by seven canoes, full of na- 
tives, who treacherously discharged a flight of arrows into the 
cutters, by which Lieutenant Heathcote was severely wounded 
in the thigh, one sailor was wounded in the back, and the 
hand of a second was pinned to the boat's gunwale. The sea- 
men promptly replied with a volley, when three natives were 
killed and fell overboard, one of them being a chief who had 
deliberately taken aim at Lieutenant Heathcote. The natives 
now retreated, but one wounded man was captured.* 

The Committee having thoroughly examined the islands, on 
their return to Calcutta reported in favour of Port Blair, or 
Chatham, a striking testimony to the sagacity of Lieutenant 
Blair, the discoverer, after whom it was named, as it was the 
site selected by him, and was used as the convict settlement 
between the years 1789-92, after which the establishment was 
removed to another site in the North Island, known as Port 
Cornwallis. On the 22nd of February, 1858, Captain H. 
Man, Executive Engineer at Moulmein, by directions of the 
Supreme Government, hoisted the British flag at Port Blair, 
under a salute of twenty-one guns from the 'Pluto,' and took 
formal possession of the Andamans in the name of Her Majesty 
and the Honourable East India Company, and, on the 4th of 
March, Captain Campbellt sailed from Calcutta in the ; Semi- 
ramis' with Dr. J. P. Walker, Superintendent of Agra jail, 
appointed Superintendent of Port Blair, and two hundred and 
fifty mutineers, being the first batch of convicts at this esta- 
blishment, Lieutenant C B. Templer, of the ' Semiramis,' 
was appointed to the command of the Naval Guard of fifty 
seamen, his officers being Midshipmen D. B. King and R. F. 
Finnis, who were soon after relieved by Acting-Master H. A. 
Wood, and Acting First Class Second-Master D. M. Morrison. 
Ross Island, as also Chatham Island, and other spots, were 
cleared of jungle by the convicts, of whom there were over 
two thousand at the end of 1858; but the difficulties attend- 
ing the first settlement were great, as there was only the 
primeval forest around, which had to be cleared before a tent 
could be pitched, or a hut erected, and the rains were tremen- 

* He was taken to Calcutta, but the garments of civilized life appeared irksome 
to him, he fell il), and, by Lord Canning's directions, was taken back and landed 
at the very spot where he had been captured, when he speedily divested himself 
of his habiliments and disappeared in the woods with a whoop of joy. 

f During the voyage, Captain Campbell visited Barren Island, situated in 
Lat. 12° 17' N. Long. 92° 54' E., and planted the British flag on the summit of 
the volcanic cone, 600 feet above the level of the sea. 



490 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

dons, while the adjoining mainland was inhabited by as relent- 
lessly savage a race as any on the globe.* 

Early in November, Lieutenant Terapler was relieved! of 
the command of the Naval Guard, known as No. 6 Detachment, 
by Acting-Lieutenant F. Warden, who brought a reinforcement 
of fifty men from the depot at Fort William, to make up the 
strength to one hundred. Early in 1859, about one hun- 
dred and fifty Punjabee convicts— who had formed a plan for 
murdering the Europeans, seizing the sailors' barracks, the 
Indian Navy schooner ' Charlotte,' 167 tons, and the ' Sesos- 
tris,' belonging to the Bengal Marine — succeeded in overpower- 
ing and wounding the sailor on sentry, when the main-guard 
turned out, and, after a short struggle, assisted by the convict 
Chuprassies, (or office-attendants) succeeded in overpowering 
these desperadoes. 

Acting-Lieutenant Warden was relieved in March, 1859, by 
Lieutenant S. B. Hellard, and No. 6 Detachment was made up 
to a strength of two hundred men, the officers being Acting- 
Master C H. Brown, Midshipmen C. S. Mainwaring, H. H. L. 
Gower, and Assistant- Surgeon Gamack. Dr. Walker resigned 
in September, 1859, and Major Haughton J succeeded to the 
post of Superintendent; his administration was most successful, 
and his efforts to maintain order were ably seconded, during 
the three years, between September, 185*9, and September, 
1862, by Lieutenant Hellard, who, as a reward for his zealous 
co-operation §, was appointed Assistant-Superintendent by the 

* Of seven hundred and seventy-three convicts landed between the 10th of 
March, and the 12th of June, 1S58, sixty-four died in hospital, one hundred and 
forty effected their escape, one committed suicide, and eighty-seven were executed 
for mutiny and running away. In the latter part of the year there were two 
thousand convicts in the Settlements, and the numbers rapidly increased until 
at the time of Lord Mayo's memorable and ill-fated visit, there were seventeen 
thousand five hundred souls, including six hundred and fifty females, distributed 
throughout the three islands in Port Blair, eight stations situated on the north 
and south sides of the harbour, and Port Mouatt on the western side of the 
island. 

t Lieutenant Templer received the thanks of the Superintendent of Port Blair, 
" for his zealous and cordial co-operation during the eight months that have 
elapsed since the formation of this Settlement," and the thanks of the Governor- 
General in Council was also conveyed to him by the Home Secretary, Mr. Cecil 
Beadon. On his return to Calcutta, Captain Campbell appointed him to the 
command of No. 13 Detachment, which he took to Chuprah. 

X Now Colonel Haughton, C.S.I., the same officer who so greatly distinguished 
himself by his memorable defence of Chareekar, during the terrible Afghan 
uprising against British authority in November, 1841, when he lost an arm and 
was otherwise severely wounded. Colonel Haughton was subsequently appointed 
Commissioner and Political Agent in Bhootan, where he was of essential service 
during the Bhootan war, and other operations in the Garrows and on the 
frontier. 

§ The following extracts from Major Haughton's letter to Mr. W. Grey, 
Secretary to the Government of India in the Home Department, dated the 14th 
of January, 1861, details the services rendered by No. 6 Detachment : — 
" Para. 14. Our store vessel, the ' Walter Morrice,' has had a shingle roof put 
upon her; moorings for vessels have been laid down off Chatham Island ; the 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 401 

Supreme Government on the 3rd of March, 1860. Major 
Haughton reported in the following terms of Lieutenant Hel- 
lard and the Detachment under his command, in a letter to 
the Supreme Government, dated the 14th of January, 1861. — 
" I have repeatedly had occasion to notice the services of the 
Naval Brigade, and I cannot allow the present occasion to 
pass without again doing so. I have never been associated for 
an equal period with any body of Europeans of whose conduct 
I could speak in higher terms, or whose services have appeared 
to me so eminently valuable. The Brigade has guarded the 
Settlement night and day, afloat and on shore, and it has at 
the same time furnished clerks, smiths, carpenters, bricklayers, 
engineers, shipwrights, &c, &c, for the Settlement service. 
This valuable aid could not have been obtained without the 
zealous co-operation of Lieutenant Hellard and the officers 
under him." 

On the 19th of June, 1861, Major Haughton again reported 
in the strongest terms of the able and zealous assistance 
rendered to him by Lieutenant Hellard, and, on the 16th of 
August, the Governor-General in Council recorded a Resolution 
that, from the following September, that officer should receive a 
special consolidated allowance of 600 rupees a month, "in 
consideration of the strong testimony borne to his good 
services." 

On the 28th of May, 1860, the Indian Naval Brigade (with 
the exception of No. 6, the Port Blair, Detachment,) the depot 
of which had been stationed at Dumdum, was broken up, the 

dangers in the harbour have been buoyed, and a re-survey of it nearly completed. 
The Middle Straits, which separate the Southern of the three principal islands 
from the Central one, have been examined, and found to afford a safe passage 
for steam vessels of moderate size, whereby a saving of one hundred miles to 
vessels following the ordinary course in the voyage to ana from Calcutta may be 
effected, but to render the passage available to strangers a minute survey is still 
required. 

" Para. 15. The boats of the Settlement, from the ignorance of the convicts to 
whose entire care they have been entrusted, had, at the close of the year 1859, 
got into an almost useless condition. There were four lighters of from five to 
thirty tons burden, nine built boats, all of which (three only in permanent charge 
of the Naval Brigade excepted) were unserviceable. Also five canoes. By the 
exertions of the officer commanding the Naval Brigade and his men, the whole of 
these have been repaired. 

" Para 16. The iron steam gunboat No. 5, wrecked during the hurricane of 
the 1st December, 1859, was floated over piece-meal by the Naval Brigade to 
Boss Island. After I had undertaken to rebuild her, when this task was 
commenced I almost despaired. A close examination disclosed the fracture of 
almost every plate and rib of her component fragments. The while had to 
be rebuilt, excepting only a small piece of the bow. By the exertions of the 
Naval Brigade Bhe was ready for launching at the close of the year, paint 
for her bottom being alone wanting. This has since arrived, and she will 
be launched next springtides. She has been justly named the 'Perseverance,' 
and I think thanks are due to Lieutenant Hellard and his men for having 
rescued and rendered available at a very small comparative cost a valuable 
vessel." 



492 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

pennant-vessel 'Calcutta' was put out of commission, and 
Captain Campbell proceeded to England, his health having 
suffered greatly by two years' residence in the precincts of Fort 
William, without a day's leave, an ordeal considered sufficient 
to tax the strongest constitution. The total force of the Indian 
Naval Brigade, employed between August, 1857, and May, 
I860, was as follows :— One captain, one commander, eighteen 
lieutenants, one purser, nine midshipmen, eighteen acting- 
masters, fourteen acting second-masters, sixteen warrant 
officers, and one thousand seven hundred and forty petty 
officers, seamen, and marines, the latter numbering about 
thirty European gunners of the Bombay Artillery, who had 
formed part of the Detachments under the command of Com- 
mander Batt and Lieutenants Lewis, Carew, and Duval. This 
force had two mortars, and thirty-eight guns, all 12-pounder 
howitzer mountain guns, complete with limbers and ammunition 
waggons, except Detachments Nos. 2, 3, and 5, which had 
9-pounder field-pieces, of the usual equipment, with bullocks 
and drivers. 

The following officers of the Brigade proceeded to England, 
either suffering from sickness or wounds : — Captain Campbell; 
Commander Batt ; Lieutenants Burnes, Carey, Carew, Duval, 
Davies, Etheridge, Lewis, Tozer, Warden, Wind us, and Yates, 
being eleven out of the eighteen Lieutenants serving on shore. 
Of these, Lieutenants Burnes, Carey, and Lewis ultimately died. 
Of the Midshipmen, Messrs. Brownlow, Gower, and Wray, died 
in England, Mr. Mayo was unable to return to duty, Mr. Han- 
nay resigned the service, and joined his father, Colonel Hannay, 
in Assam ; and Mr. Scamp, a promising young officer, who had 
done good service in Fort William, and at Gya and Buxar, was 
drowned at Calcutta on rejoining his ship. A large proportion 
of the Masters left India in broken health, but, not being 
covenanted officers, most of them were discharged on their 
services being no longer required, so that no record exists of 
their ultimate fate. Of the few who remained in the Service, 
Acting-Master Chicken, as already related, was drowned in 
May, I860. Thus, to the last, the Indian Navy maintained its 
baleful reputation as. perhaps, the most health-destroying of 
any Military or Naval Service belonging to a European Power. 
Those lieutenants and midshipmen who remained fit for duty 
proceeded to sea, and, as they had come to Bengal fresh from 
laurels gathered in Persia, so they now went to China, and 
participated in the war of 1860. It would be almost impossible 
for us to speak in too eulogistic terras of the admirable conduct 
of the warrant officers, petty officers, and seamen, who, by their 
discipline and valour in an unaccustomed arena, increased the 
renown gained on shore, in many fields from China to Aden, by 
the ancient Service so soon to pass away. But it is needless, 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 41*3 

with such testimonials to good conduct in quarters, and steadi- 
ness in the field, as are supplied by the letters of Colonel Knox, 
of the 67th, the Superintendent of Alipore jail. Colonel Haugh- 
ton, the Commissioners of Patna and Chota Nagpore, and the 
Military Commanders under whom they served in action. 
After taking their discharge, a large number of the seamen were 
so enamoured of soldiering, that they enlisted, strangely enough, 
into the mounted corps, the Horse Artillery and the Cavalry. 

The full meed of justice has never been awarded to the 
officers of the Indian Navy, who trained and led the Detach- 
ments of the Naval Brigade. Yet, beyond the War Medal, 
which those Detachments who were engaged with the enemy 
received, in common with the Army, and the two Victoria 
Crosses, to which the recipients would have been equally en- 
titled had they been private soldiers, not a solitary decoration 
was conferred on an officer of the Service. Properly to gauge 
the difficulties under which they laboured, it should be burne in 
mind that the men, with the exceptions of the Detachments 
under the command of Commander Baft and Lieutenants Lewis, 
Carew, and Duval, were recruited from the merchant ships in 
the Hooghly, and chiefly consisted of the most adventurous and 
turbulent spirits among the crews; also, that the time of training 
in Fort William, under those smart officers and strict disci- 
plinarians. Lieutenants Sweny, Warden, Duval, and Hellard, 
was very brief, and that, the supply of commissioned officers 
being limited, the Lieutenants had to depend for assistance, in 
managing their men, upon inexperienced mates of merchant 
ships, unacquainted with small-arm or gun drill, and unac- 
customed to the strict discipline of Martial Law. That such 
unpromising material as these seamen and subordinate officers 
should, when broken up into small parties, under the most 
trying circumstances, such as service in the deadly jungles of 
Chota Nagpore or the remote solitudes of Upper Assam, perform 
their duty with the orderly discipline of veteran soldiers, speaks 
more highly for the efficiency and devotion to duty of the 
officers of the Indian Navy, than could any words of eulogium 
on the part of a brother officer, who may be accused of par- 
tiality — a deadly sin in an historian. 

It is a thankless and unwelcome task to refer to the treatment, 
alike unjust and ungenerous, to which the Indian Navy was 
subjected by the Government, or to contrast it with that re- 
ceived by the Royal Navy. The 'Shannon' Brigade was formed 
on the 14th of August, 1857, and that of the ' Pearl' on the 14th 
September ; the former served exactly a year on shore, and the 
'Pearl' Brigade fifteen months. On the other hand, the Naval 
Detachments from the 'Punjaub,' 'Coromandel,' 'Auckland,' and 
' Zenobia,' were disembarked in June and July, 1857, and, in 
conjunction with the Queen's troops, which those ships brought 



494 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

from Bombay and elsewhere, assisted in saving from possible 
massacre and rapine the public of Calcutta, whom it is very 
easy for writers after the event, sitting in judgment in their 
arm-chairs, to accuse of needless panic, but who, with the deeds 
of Meerut and Delhi ringing in their ears, followed by the 
sudden seizure of the King of Oude and his powerful minister, 
from amidst a warlike and excited entourage, had some excuse 
for fear ; and the more so when they saw around them a vast 
and hostile population who openly gloried in the deeds of their 
compatriots up-country. In this time of doubt and expectation, 
the frowning batteries of the ships of the Indian Navy, in the 
river off Government House, the Mint, and other menaced 
points, and the welcome presence of the crews on shore, as they 
inarched with that easy swagger assumed by "Jack" on terra 
Ji.7'ma, which appeared to ridicule the very possibility of danger, 
restored confidence among the Europeans, and struck terror into 
the hearts of the plotters and budmashes of the community. 

It was felt in those months of June and July, and the 
thought reassured the timid, and nerved the hearts of the 
brave, that, in the last extremity, the wooden walls of England 
would afford shelter to their families, and the cannon teach her 
treacherous enemies that, though driven to their ships, the 
countrymen of Olive and Coote were determined to reassert 
their ascendency, and reconquer the empire added to Britain by 
the prowess of their forefathers. Absolutely even the name 
of the Indian Navy cannot be found in the pages of the 
" History of the Sepoy War;' by Sir John Kaye, though 
it will not be denied that good service was rendered by 
many of the Detachments — notably by those of Lieutenants 
Duval and Carew in Fort William and at Barrackpore, of 
Lieutenant Lewis at Dacca and in Assam, of Lieutenant 
Windus in Chota Nagpore, of Commander Batt at Buxar, of 
Lieutenant Davies in Assam, of Lieutenant Carew at Judges- 
pore, of Lieutenant Duval at Gya, of Lieutenants Barron and 
Cotgrave at Moozufferpore and Mooteeharee, and other officers 
at various distant points. From first to last the Indian Nava 
Brigade, numbering over eighteen hundred officers and men, with 
forty guns, served on shore nearly a period of three years, and yet 
what was the treatment they received ? On their embarkation 
on board their ships, the crews of the ' Shannon ' and 'Pearl ' 
were feted by the inhabitants of Calcutta, and received from 
the Governor-General in Council the honour of a General Order, 
thanking them for their services, a distinction which was also 
conferred upon all regiments on their return to England or 
their Presidencies, and even on the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry 
on their abolition. But the Indian Navy received no such 
recognition from Her Majesty's Viceroy, and, on being broken 
up, were suffered to return to their ships, or disperse, as if they 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 495 

had been convicts, whose period of service had expired. This 
unmerited neglect must have been intentional, for, whereas no 
honorary distinctions whatever were conferred on the officers 
for their services on shore, we find that every officer of the 
' Shannon ' Brigade, and, we believe, also of the ' Pearl ' Brigade, 
received promotion, all the midshipmen being made lieutenants 
on passing their examination, and the ' Shannon ' put to sea with 
no less than six commanders ; her Captain and First-Lieutenant 
also received, respectively, the K.C.B. and the C.B., and Captain 
Sotheby, of the ' Pearl,' the C.B., and more recently was 
advanced to the Knighthood of the Order. No officers, par- 
ticularly the noble Peel, more worthily earned their honours, 
and no particle of a spirit of unworthy jealousy animated their 
brethren of the Indian Navy on this score ; but why, we should 
ask, was not equal honour paid to the Indian Navy ? Why was 
the Brigade broken up without a word from the Governor- 
General, to whom the Service naturally looked for some 
expression of thanks ; and why did the inhabitants of Calcutta 
permit their quondam protectors, whose advent in the hour of 
their greatest peril, they welcomed with such heartfelt thank- 
fulness, to quit their shores without some public acknowledg- 
ment, or even a parting cheer? 

The answer is easy, though not a pleasant one to record. It 
was the fate that had ever befallen the Service, whether known 
under the name of Bombay Marine or Indian Navy. Ignored 
by the Supreme Government, neglected, alike, in Leadenhall 
Street and Westminster, despised by the Indian public, who 
prided themselves chiefly on that Native army, which, like a 
broken reed, pierced the hand that leaned upon it, the Indian 
Navy received no acknowledgment of any sort whatever. 
Almost equally strange is it to find that the officers of the 
Service made no complaints of this studied neglect, either by 
petition to Government or in the columns of the Press; probably 
they had learned the bitter lesson of the futility of all appeals 
for justice, and, in weariness of spirit, had come to regard with 
resignation that abolition of the Service which had been looming 
in the distance for many years, and the shadows of which were 
deepening fast. 

In 18G0* it was known that the Service was doomed, and the 

* The " Bombay Times " — which, as its present name of " The Times of India" 
implies, aspires, not unworthily, to the leading position of its world-famous pro- 
totype — thus writes of the position and prospects of an oilicer in the Service, in 
a leading article in August, 1860: — "The Indian Navy is a small collection of 
ships and steamers employed between the two extreme points of the Persian Gulf 
and the Chinese waters, centreing at Bombay as their head-quarters. The 
service on these ships is performed by men holding commissions as naval officers, 
and whose circumstances are supposed to resemble those of officers in the Royal 
Navy, their rank being similar, and their pay adjusted so as to render the 



496 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

wonder is, that the officers, aware of their impending fate, and 
disgusted with the treatment they had received, continued to do 
their duty with unabated zeal and success. As the " Bombay 
Times, ' : an able organ of the Indian press, referring to this 
condition of suspense, not inaccurately remarked: — "The 
position and circumstances of the Indian Navy would have 
demoralized any body of men in whom the sense of duty was 
not unusually strong, years ago/' It is a striking proof of 
their efficiency and professional knowledge, that, during the 
years 1857-60, when the ships were under-officered and uncler- 

advantages, taking tlie difference of climate and situation as to expense into 
consideration, pretty nearly equal in both. This is doubtless the general im- 
pression at home: and as tlie officers in the smaller service number amongst 
them men equal in science, enterprise, bravery, and all the other requisites of an 
efficient servant of the Crown, to the moot distinguished men in the Royal Navy, 
the impression that they are, unon the wuole, equally remunerated, certainly 
ought to be the true one. Tills lit.ile Service, at the present day, numbers some 
adventurous and world-known explorers, whose energy in the heat and parched 
plains of Africa may be held to equal that displayed by a few from amongst a 
much larger service, amid the no less deadly regions of the Northern Seas." The 
writer then contrasts the chances of promotion (no hypothetical case) between an 
elder brother who enters the Indian Navy, and a younger who goes into the Royal 
Service, and continues :—" The younger brother, although in no way superior 
in education or talent, yet what with his chances in the Crimea, or in the Baltic, 
or China Seas, attains in twenty-one years the rank of post-captain and the 
honours of C.B. The unfortunate elder one still plods on, a lieutenant of four- 
teen years' standing, making what head he may against a climate which sends 
him home on sick leave, if he can afford it ; and if not — to his grave. And his 
pay is so small that he cannot afford it, unless by borrowing the necessary funds. 
The " Royal " officer, in the same unhealthy seas, which he is rarely called to 
visit, has his allowances increased to more than the amount of those enjoyed by 
his Indian equal in rank, who has borne the burden and heat of the day. Num- 
berless other instances might be given of the difference between the circumstances 
of officers in the two Services. The Commander of a Royal ship is allowed 
freight on Government treasure, while the Indian Captain has none. On private 
treasure the proportion of freight allowed to the latter is so small as not even to 
balance the risk he is obliged individually to bear. The shore allowances of an 
Indian Naval officer are also shamefully inadequate to his expenses. In short, 
the whole subject of the pay and promotion of the Service is one requiring imme- 
diate and thorough revision. Amalgamation, to which the Indian Army is so 
averse, is what the Indian Navy look forward to with hope. We have heard a 
great deal in the last two or three years of the grievances of this and that branch 
of the Service, and of that other one ; but we doubt if amongst them all they can 
make out a case more urgently demanding relief. But one feeling pervades the 
Indian Navy ; and the discipline and efficiency of the Service under discourage- 
ments so profound, are equally honourable and marvellous. A sailor is not easily 
induced to take up the pen, but we do earnestly invite the officers of the Indian 
Navy to make an appeal to public opinion through our columns. Let the Service 
either be amalgamated with the Royal Navy, or put upon a footing of equality 
therewith. The suspense in which its officers at present stand ought not to be 
permitted to continue. The position and circumstances of the Indian Navy 
would have demoralized any body of men in whom the sense of duty was not 
unusually strong, years ago, and we cannot but be conscious of some indignation 
that Royal officers have been content, year after year, to command this gallant and 
distinguished little Service, without an effort to secure for it the status and the 
consideration to which it is entitled, and which we take the liberty to add, must 
be accorded it." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



497 



manned, a great portion of the officers and crews being with- 
drawn for service with the Naval Brigade, there was an absolute 
immunity from loss of any of the steam-frigates sent to sea in 
a condition most prejudicial to their safety and efficiency, the 
officers in charge of watches being midshipmen and acting 
lieutenants of six years' standing, and the crews hastily-shipped 
merchant seamen, strangers to the discipline and routine of 
a man-of-war. 



VOL. H. 



KK 



CHAPTER XL 
The Indian Mutiny, 1857—1859. 

Services of the Indian Navy during the Sepoy Mutiny in Western India — Trans- 
port of Troops by Lieutenants Chitty and Sweny during the South-West 
Monsoon on the Malabar Coast — Trooping by the other Ships of the Service — 
Mission of Captain Jenkins, C.B., to Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope — 
Bombay on the 13th of October, 1857 — Indian Naval Artillery Brigades at 
Bombay and Surat — Lieutenant Holt at Mooltan — Proclamation of the Queen's 
Sovereignty on the 1st November, 1858 — Operations against the Waghers 
— The Bombardment of Bey and the Services of the Indian Naval Brigade at 
the Siege of Dwarka. 

ON the Western side of India the officers and men of the 
Indian Navy did equally good service to the State, with 
those of their brethren who were more fortunate in having, as 
their field for exertion, the districts of Bengal, where mutiny 
and rebellion were, for a time, almost in the ascendant; but, 
though the hydra-headed monster of sedition was crushed 
promptly in the Western Presidency, and a general mutiny of 
Bombay troops was never threatened, yet it is surprising and 
inexplicable to find people of high authority denying that there 
was ever any mutiny, while facts, pointing to a contrary conclu- 
sion, stare them in the face. Thus the Secretary of State for 
India, Sir Charles Wood (now Lord Halifax) declared, in the 
House of Commons, that there had been no overt mutiny in the 
Bombay Army, and the Duke of Argyll, besides writing, to the 
same effect, in the " Edinburgh Review," published a pamphlet, 
in which he declared that " the breath of sedition never reached 
the Western Presidency." And these statements were made 
though mutinous Sepoys were blown from guns on Bombay 
Green, itself, and, on the 31st of July, 1857, the 27th Regiment 
of Bombay Native Infantry mutinied at Kolapore, in the 
Southern Mahratta country, and murdered three of their officers. 
Sixty-three men of the Regiment were executed by sentence of 
court-martial, and sixty-six were transported.* 

* For the incidents of the Mutiny in the Southern Mahratta County, see 
" Western India," by Major-General Sir George Le Grand Jacob, K.C.S.I., C.B. 
This officer, who was for many years Political Agent in Cutch, and commanded 
the Light Battalion during the Persian War, on his return to Bombay was in- 
vested by Lord Elphinotone, with the powers of a Special Commissioner, and 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 499 

In the suppression of this Mutiny the greatest assistance was 
rendered by the Indian Navy. In the months of July aud 
August, though in the height of the south-west monsoon, the 
'Berenice,' Lieutenant (Jhitty, and 'Victoria,' Lieutenant 
Sweny, were engaged carrying troops from Bombay arid 
Kurrachee, and landing them on that open and storm-beaten 
coast, at Viziadroog, Kalbadeir Bay, sixteen miles below Jyghur 
near Rutnagheri, and at Goa, for which permission was given 
by the Portuguese Governor-General, the Viscount de Torres 
Novas.* These officers made several voyages with troops, 
including portions of the 33rd and 86th Regiments and the 
2nd Bombay Europeans, and showed what gallant and skilful 
seamen can do when inspired by a sense of duty. Lord 
Elphinstone, in his Minute of the 18th of August, 1859, sp3- 
cially thanked Lieutenants Chitty and Sweny for the " good 
services they rendered in carrying the different detachments of 
European troops down the coast at the height of the monsoon, 
by which movement, under Providence, the peace of the 
Southern Mahratta country and of the Presidency was 
preserved." 

The first detachment of European troops was only just 
landed in time, as his lordship says, " to preserve the peace of 
the Southern Mahratta country and of the Presidency," as the 
mutineers of the 27th Native Infantry, on the 1st of August, 
the day after they broke out into revolt, marched off from 
Kolapore to join their comrades at Rutnagheri, but on descend- 
ing the Ghauts, found the road blocked by the European de- 
reached Kolapore on the 14th of August. Speaking of the persistent attempts of 
some authorities, and a portion of the Press, to deny the existence of any dis- 
affection in the Western Presidency, lie writes to us : — " The ' Saturday Review,' 
in reviewing a work on India in 1872, made out that Kolapore had since 1S4.-1 
remained quiet duriug the mutinies, barriug a local outbreak or two, aud the 
Rajah was rewarded for his fidelity with the Star of India, the said Rajah having 
been spared by me because he was only imbecile, while his brother, by another 
mother, aiso Rajah (for we treated them both alike) was at the head of the 
rebellion, and stirred the regiments in the Southern Mahratta country to mutiny, 
especially the 27th Native Infantry at Kolapore ; him I deported and spared the 
other, but he had no weight or influence in the country and never rendered me 
the slightest assistance." 

The 21st and 27th Regiments of Bombay Native Infantry were disarmed, and, 
by Order of the Governor in Council, No. 612 of 1858, it was ordered that " the 
numbers borne by the 21st and 27th Regiments Native Infantry are to be struck 
out of the Army List, and the regiments, when reconstituted, are to bear the 
numbers 30 and 31." 

* Of this act of " cordial and friendly co-operation," as Lord Elphinstone de- 
scribed it, his Lordship writes in his Minute on the services of civil officers during 
the Mutiny : — " I believe it is not generally known that, in permitting British 
troops to land at Goa during the monsoon of 1857, his Excellency was acting in 
opposition to his Council, and in violation of the Portuguese laws. He did not 
tell me so at the time, but in a private letter which I received from him some 
months ago, he mentioned that his conduct had been approved by the King's 
Government, and that a Bill of Indemnity had been passed absolving him from 
any penalties he might have incurred." 

KK 2 



500 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

tachment. "This landing," writes Sir George Jacob, "had 
been done for the first time, I believe, in Indian history, as it 
was previously considered a thing impossible to land on that 
coast during the height of the monsoon, Bombay and Goa 
being, during that season, the only ports available. Checked 
in this way, the greater number of the mutineers, under com- 
mand of a Sawunt Waree leader, betook themselves to the 
Waree jungles, where the insurgents of 1844-45 had given such 
trouble." 

On the arrival of the ' Berenice' at Rutnagheri, on the 8th 
of August, the European inhabitants, apprehensive of an insur- 
rection, all crowded on board her, but the disembarkation, soon 
after, of a Detachment of a hundred seamen and three officers 
from the ships of the Indian Navy on the coast, restored confi- 
dence, and they returned to their homes. This Detachment 
remained at Rutnagheri until the arrival of European troops 
rendered their presence unnecessary. 

Lieutenants Chitty and Sweny were among the few for- 
tunate recipients of a special letter of thanks from Her Majesty. 
Under date the 11th of June, 18(50, Sir Charles Wood wrote to 
them individually : — "The excellent service performed by you 
during the Mutiny and disturbances in India in 1857-58, in 
conveying the different detachments of European troops down 
the coast at the height of the monsoon, has been brought to the 
notice of the Queen ; and I have been commanded to convey 
to you the gracious approbation of Her Majesty of your con- 
duct during that critical period." 

When the Detachments of the Indian Naval Brigade in 
Bengal proceeded up-country under Commander Batt and 
Lieutenants Lewis, Carew, Davies, and Duval, more officers 
were required for the ships under the orders of the Supreme 
Government, and, in November, 1857, Commodore Wellesley 
despatched Lieutenants Sweny and Templer round to Calcutta, 
the former being relieved in the command of the ' Victoria' by 
Lieutenant Twynam, and Lieutenant Templer in the ' Main,' 
by Lieutenant Nixon. On arrival at Calcutta the latter joined 
the 4 Semiramis' as First-Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Sweny re- 
lieved Lieutenant Duval in command of No. 1 Detachment in 
Fort William, when that officer proceeded to Gya in command 
of No. 5 Detachment. With the able assistance of Lieutenant 
Warden, Mr. Sweny carried on the duties of organizing and 
drilling the Detachments in course of formation, until February, 
1858, when he was detached for duty under the Bengal Go- 
vernment and appointed to the command of the surveying brig 
' Mutlah,' which he retained until he returned to England on 
furlough, in April, 1861, after a continuous sea service in India, 
mostly on the survey, since May, 1845. 

The ' Zenobia,' Commander Stephens, arrived at Bombay 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 501 

from Calcutta, on fie 11th of October, and the ' Punjaub,' 
Commander Foulerton, on the 21st of September, and she 
proceeded to Kurrachee on the 8th of October, returning thence 
on the 18th, and again sailing for Vingorla on the 11th of 
November. The 'Ajdaha,' Commander Worsley, was also en- 
gaged transporting troops, and, on Thursday, the 1st of October, 
arrived from Kurrachee with the first intelligence of the 
storming of Delhi on the 14th of September, which was received 
in Bombay with great manifestations of delight, Lord Elphin- 
stone, who happened to be entertaining a large party at Go- 
vernment House, giving as a bumper toast, " General Wilson 
and his brave army." On the 20th of October the 'Ajdaha' 
proceeded to Mangalore, and, on the 9th of November, sailed 
for Aden, which was almost denuded of European troops by 
Brigadier Coghlan, who, with great forethought and no little 
courage, considering tin 1 , large native garrison, had despatched 
to Bombay the wing of H.M.'s <SC>th Regiment, and trusted to 
one battery of European Artillery, and the crews of the 
'Elphiustone' and 'Mahi,' which were held in readiness to 
march up to camp in the event of their services being required. 
The ' Lady Canning/ Lieutenant Peevor, arrived at Bombay 
from Viziadroog in the latter part of October, with sixty-six 
mutineers of the 27th Native Infantry, under sentence of trans- 
portation to Penang. in charge of a Detachment of H.M.'s 95th 
Regiment, and a party of the Indian Naval Brigade employed on 
that coast. In August, 1857, that arch-plotter, the Moulvie of 
Pooua, and eight accomplices, was brought from Tanna, and 
sent on board the guard-ship ' Akbar,' in Bombay Harbour, 
where he was kept in close confinement. 

An officer of the Indian Navy was enabled to fulfil an im- 
portant service to his country in the crisis of the Mutiny. Lord 
Elphiustone, who, at this critical time, displayed himself in his 
true colours as a. courageous and sagacious governor, selected 
Captain Griffith Jenkins, then officiating Assistant-Superinten- 
dent, to proceed to Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope, with 
full powers to solicit aid from those colonies, in men, horses, 
and money, for the Indian Government. Captain Jenkins at 
four hours' notice, sailed on the 30th of June, from Bombay, in 
the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer ' Pottinger,' 
Captain Stead, and arrived at Port Louis on the night of the 
19th of July. He left the steamer in the offing, and, landing, 
posted up to Government House on the neighbouring moun- 
tains: arousing the Governor out of his bed at past midnight, 
he placed before him the critical state of affairs in India. Sir 
James Higginson, who was ignorant of the outbreak of the 
Mutiny, immediately summoned his Council to meet him at 
daylight, and, with an energy becoming the crisis, succeeded in 



502 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

inducing them to place the resources of the colony entire!} 7 at 
the disposal of the envoy of the Indian Government.* ' "Within 
sixteen hours the 3ord Regiment and a half battery of Artillery, 
with guns and stores, were embarked in the 'Pottinger' and 
'Canning,' which Captain Jenkins chartered, and these ships 
had sailed for Bombay, where they arrived on the 4th of August, 
at a most critical moment. On the 25th of July, the Peninsular 
and Oriental Company's steamer 'Madras' arrived from Bom- 
bay, having on board Acting-Master D. J. Kennelly, I.X., as 
agent for transports, under the orders of Captain Jenkins, who, 
having, in the meantime, detained and chartered the Royal 
Mail steamer 'England,' bound from London to India, de- 
spatched her, with Mr. Kennelly as Agent, to East London in 
Cape Colony. On his way, Mr. Kennelly, acting on his instruc- 
tions, stopped at Algoa Bay, whence he proceeded to East 
London, where, on the 16th of August, he embarked the 89th 
Regiment, numbering thirty-three officers and seven hundred 
and one rank and file, on board the steamers ' England ' and 
' Ocean Wave,' and returned to Bombay, touching at Mauritius 
for coal.f These regiments arrived at Bombay on the 11th 
and 12th of September, and proceeded immediately to Gogo, 
en route to Ahmedabad. 

On the 27th of July Captain Jenkins sailed, in the ' Madras,' 
for Algoa Bay, where he arrived in a heavy westerly gale, on 
the 3rd of August. Landing a duplicate despatch, he sailed, on 
the following clay, for Simon's Bay, some four hundred miles 
distant, which was reached at one a.m., on the 6th of August. 

* As the powers conferred on Captain Jenkins were deficient as regards the 
!Navy, over which to this day the Government of India lias no authority, an 
anomaly which, for the good of the public service, ought no longer to exist, as it 
might cause disaster in critical times, Captain Jenkins appealed to Sir James 
Higginson to exercise the authority vested in him as "Vice-Admiral, and his 
Excellency accordingly wrote the following letter, dated the 26th oi July, though 
he said it was without precedent: — " Captain Jenkins, of the Indian Navy, is 
imployed by the Government of Bombay upon special service, the import- 
ance and emergency of which it is impossible to overrate, and I venture 
to solicit the active co-operation of any ships of the Royal Navy that 
lie may happen to fall in with, in turtherance of the object of the 

ission in which Captain Jenkins is engaged. An essential service may le 
rendered to Her Majesty's Government as well as that of India by such 
co-operation." 

t Mr. H. L. Anderson, Secretary to the Bombay Government, wrote to Com- 
modore "Wellesley, " that the Governor in Council concurs with you in con- 
sideiing that Sir. Kennelly has exhibited great zeal and activity in the 
proceedings which form the subject of the correspondence forwarded with your 
letter, more paiticularly in laying in provisions lor the soldiers at Port Elizabeth 
whtn directed by l.ieutenant-General Sir James Jackson not to do so, by 
which a delay of several days was avoided." When horses were required to 
mount the cavalry, Mr. Kennelly's services were once more called into requisi- 
ticn, and he was despatched ii cm Bombay to Melbourne, in the iron transport 
' \\ ar.ata,' under instructions from Commodore Wellesley, dated the 22nd of 
December, 1857, to make arrangements with Colonel Scobie, the re-mount agent, 
for tic despatch of -vessels to Bombay and other poits in India, with cargoes of 
horses. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 503 

Captain Jenkins immediately waited on Captain Sir William 
Wiseman, Bart., R.N., commanding H.M.S. ' Penelope,' and 
senior officer on the station, in the absence of the Commander- 
in-chief, Admiral Hon. Sir Frederick Grey. Sir William 
placed the resources of the Navy and of the dockyard at the 
disposal of Captain Jenkins, and together they immediately 
posted to Cape Town, where they arrived at eight a.m. the same 
morning, and waited on the Governor, Sir George Grey. His 
Excellency, with commendable patriotism, summoned his Par- 
liament, and placed before them the critical state of affairs, as 
communicated by Captain Jenkins, and the members unani- 
mously agreed to assist the Indian Government, and formed 
two volunteer corps to take the place of the troops, who 
proceeded forthwith to India, in transports and in Her Majesty's 
ship ' Penelope,' which, also, carried horses, four deep, on both 
decks. It was stated in Parliament, on the yth of December, 
1857, that the reinforcements despatched, from the Cape alone, 
to India, consisted of three regiments of Infantry, two batteries 
of Artillery, and one thousand horses, besides <£60,000 in specie, 
which Lord Canning assured Captain Jenkins arrived most 
opportunely at Calcutta, the treasuries up-country having been 
looted by the rebels. 

At Captain Jenkins' request, Sir George Grey not only 
ordered the transports conveying troops from England to China, 
but those which arrived with soldiers, destined for Australia and 
New Zealand, to proceed to Calcutta. 

All the contracts of the transports being from England to 
these colonies, Captain Jenkins framed new ones, which were 
counter-signed by the naval authorities. Three of the trans- 
ports, with the 95th Regiment and Artillery, proceeded to 
Bombay, the remainder to Calcutta, where they joined the 
division with which Sir Colin Campbell marched to the relief of 
Lucknow. Having left instructions for the rest of the trans- 
ports to follow, with all despatch, Captain Jenkins* sailed for 
Calcutta in the 'Madras,' embarking from Algoa Bay five 
hundred men of the 13th Light Infantry, commanded by Lord 
Mark Kerr. On his arrival he was received with the utmost 
kindness by Lord Canning, who approved and confirmed all the 
steps he had taken. After a brief stay at Calcutta, Captain 

* The following letter from Mr. R. W. Rawson, Colonial Secretary to the 
Government of the Cape, to the Secretary to the Bombay Government, under 
date the 25th of August, 1857, expresses the thanks of the Governor of the 
former colony : — "As the 'Madras' will leave Simon's Bay to-morrow for the 
purpose of embarking the head-quarters of H.M.'s 13th Light Infantry at Algoa 
Bay, his Excellency fells it due to Captain Jenkins, I.N., and to Mr. Kennelly, 
I.N., to request that you will inform his Excellency the Governor of Bombay 
that nothing could surpass the zeal and energy with which both these officers 
have executed their mission, and that their exertions in forwarding the dispatch 
of the troops, in the embarkation of which they have been concerned, are de- 
serving of the highest thanks and praise." 



504 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Jenkins sailed for Madras, and, having fulfilled a mission from 
the Governor-General to Lord Harris, proceeded to Bombay 
where, on his arrival, on the 19th of October, he was appointed 
Commodore of the Persian Gulf Squadron. 

Captain Jenkins was admirably qualified for the task he had 
performed thus successfully. Animated by a high sense of 
duty, great urbanity, which no amount of opposition could 
ruffle, coupled with a pertinacity that woidd take no denial, the 
Government could have made no better selection, in any branch 
of the public service, for the difficult task of convincing 
Governors, soothing the susceptibilities of Military and Naval 
chiefs, and, hardest of all, conciliating Members of Council and 
legislators, such as those of Mauritius and the Cape, whose 
political antagonism to the Government and party animosities, 
were held with a fervour, and, occasionally, expressed with a 
warmth such as is unknown in the Parliament of these islands, 
but is not without a parallel among our lively neighbours across 
the Channel. This rivalry was specially heated between the 
English and French factions at Mauritius, but the imperturbable 
suavity and calm pertinacit}' of Captain Jenkins overcame all 
obstacles, and not only the Council, but the merchants of the 
Island, vied with each other in offers of assistance, the latter 
actually attending in person at the wharf, and superintending 
the despatch of the coal for the use of the 'Pottinger.' 

It Avas the same at the Cape, where Captain Jenkins per- 
sonally addressed the Parliament, and so effective was his 
appeal, in which he earnestly pleaded for our hardly-pressed 
countrymen and countrywomen in India, and invoked the 
powerful name of the Sovereign, that, with a unanimity hitherto 
unknown, and which tended to heal a breach between the 
Governor and Legislature, they voted the loan of the whole of 
the money in the treasure chest, and placed the entire resources 
of the colony at his disposal. The following were the words 
expressed by the Parliament, as reported by Sir George Grey : 
— " We trust that the Governor will support the honour of our 
Sovereign and dignity of this colony, by such energetic 
measures as will prove to the world the strong union of all 
for our Sovereign." 

Captain Jenkins did not shrink from responsibility,* but used 
the authority reposed in him freely, in some instances not 
scrupling to exceed it in a manner that called iorth the surprise 

* Writing semi-officiallv to Lord Dunkellin, Military Secretary to Lord 
Canning, from the Cape under date the 11th August, detailing the steps he had 
taken, Captain Jenkins says: — "This may be rather beyond my authorized 
power, but I feel that I am serving a Government that will appreciate its ser- 
vants not flinching from any responsibility, and 1 do not do so. Should the 
Government hereafter deem that 1 have been too zealous I am prepared to bear 
the blame, though I trust in being honoured with its further confidence and 
approbation." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



505 



of Lord Canning, who. however, loyally stood by his represen- 
tative, whose steps in chartering ships, purchasing horses, 
employing agents, and incurring liabilities, were duly authorized, 
and his accounts, amounting to a veiw large sum, were passed 
in the lump, without audit or explanation as to items. Lords 
Canning and El phin stone, as well as Sir James Higginson and 
Sir George Grey, united in applauding Captain Jenkins' con- 
duct of a difficult mission, and, finally, the Secretary of State 
for India wrote, on the part of Her Majesty, a special letter of 
thanks. The following is the letter, signed by Sir Charles 
"Wood, on the part of the Queen, and dated " India Office, 11th 
of June, 1870:— The excellent service performed by you 
during the Mutiny and disturbances in India in 1857-58, while 
proceeding to the Cape and the Mauritius for reinforcements, 
has been brought to the notice of the Queen, and I have been 
commanded to convey to you the gracious approbation of Her 
Majesty, of your conduct during that critical period."' 

The late Sir George Edmonstone, then Secretary in the 
Foreign Department, wrote on the 5th of October, 1857 : — 
"The Governor-General in Council highly recommends the 
energy and good judgment with which you have executed the 
mission entrusted to you. The steps taken by you for diverting 
the passage of the troops who were proceeding from England 
to China and Australia, to British India, are approved." Mr. 
(now Sir) Henry L. Anderson, Secretary to the Bombay Go- 
vernment, conveyed "the commendation of Government for the 
tact, energy, and judgment, with which he had performed the 
duty assigned to him," and Lord Elphinstone, in his Minute of 
the 18th of August, 1859, expressing thanks to such officers as 
had rendered eminent service to the Government during the 
rebellion in Western India, mentions, in the following terms, 
the opportuneness of the arrival of the troops from Mauritius 
and the Cape: — " No one on this side of India is likely to have 
forgotten the relief which was experienced when the 83rd 
Regiment and Captain Bolton's Company of Royal Artillery 
arrived at Bombay. We had just heard ot the Mutiny of the 
27th Native Infantry at Kolapore ; the state of the Southern 
Mahratta country was daily becoming more critical ; the Euro- 
pean troops in the garrison of Bombay were less than three 
hundred strong. At this moment t lie arrival of an entire 
European Regiment and of fifty Artillerymen, was of incal- 
culable value. It enabled us to send off the whole of the 
European troops in garrison to Kolapore and Belgaum. The 
arrival of the 33rd was followed (about a month afterwards) by 
that of the 89th from the Cape of Good Hope, which was 
immediately despatched to Guzerat, which, up to that time, had 
been almost without European troops. Other regiments and 
batteries of Artillery were, subsequently, sent from the Cape of 



506 HISTORY OF TUE INDIAN NAVY. 

Good Hope, some of which, if I am not mistaken, had 
the honour of forming part of the force which relieved 
Lucknow." 

Captain Jenkins was indebted for his success, to the cordial 
co-operation of the Governments of Mauritius and the Cape, no 
less than of their Excellencies Sir James Higginson and Sir 
George Grey- — who actually placed at his disposal his own 
carriage horses for the service of the Artillery ; also to the 
assistance afforded him by Captain Sir William Wiseman, R.N., 
commanding at the Cape in the absence of the Admiral, Com- 
manders Cresswell and Purvis, R.N., Dr. Snell, of the 65th 
Regiment, whom he engaged at Mauritius as his Private Secre- 
tary, and who was useful, owing to his local knowledge of the 
Cape, Lieutenant Robinson, I.N., who was left in charge at 
Mauritius, Acting-Master Kennelly, who displayed great intelli- 
gence and activity, and, finally, to the Company's agents at the 
two colonies, who carried out his instructions, and afforded 
every assistance in their power. 

On the 16th of August, 1857, the 'Assaye' proceeded to the 
Mauritius, Commander Adams being furnished with a letter to 
the Governor, Sir James Higginson. At this time the garrison 
of Port Louis was scarcely more than sufficient for pressing 
necessities, as the French residents manifested signs of dis- 
affection, and the Imperial Government was intriguing for 
acquisitions in the Red Sea. The Governor, who had already 
sent to Bombay a regiment and some Artillery at the request 
of Captain Jenkins, now demurred to depriving himself of the 
services of the 4th King's Own, which had just arrived. He, 
therefore, informed Commander Adams that he did not think 
the General in command of the troops — the late General Mur- 
ray Hay — could spare a man, but the Captain of the 'Assaye' 
having shown that officer the urgency of the case, succeeded in 
inducing him to order the embarkation of a wing of the Regi- 
ment in a transport. The 'Assaye,' meantime, having coaled, 
proceeded to Bombay, where she arrived on the 17th of Sep- 
tember. After this, she was employed cruising down the coast 
to pick up transports, with troops from England, which she 
signalled off the outer light, and either took them into Bombay 
or to Kurrachee, whence they were pushed on to the Pun- 
janb by Sir Bartle Frere. 

The city of Bombay had its time of trial in this memorable 
year (1857), and there were many citizens who found relief 
when, the Presidency being, at times, almost denuded of troops, 
they could turn their eyes to the steam-frigates lying in the 
harbour, as a sure place of refuge, while the timid hearts 
welcomed the appearance of Jack ashore taking sentry duty in 
the Dockyard, where he was handy for an emergency, though, 
in the " piping times of peace," they had nothing but expres- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 507 

sions of disgust at the honest fellows chartering all the bug- 
gies on the Apollo Bunder, which, loaded inside and outside to 
an extent that betokened imminent danger of a break-down, 
were driven to some of those haunts in which the soul of Jack 
delights. 

That was an anxious day in October, at Bombay, when Drill 
Havildar Syud Hoossein, of the Marine Battalion, and Private 
Mungal Guddrea, 10th Regiment Native Infantry, who had 
been tried on the 13th of October, 1857, for sedition, were 
blown away from guns at a public parade on Bombay Green. 
The prisoners were convicted on the following charge : — " For 
having, on or about the night of the 3rd of October, 1857, 
attended a seditious meeting, held in a house in a part of the 
town of Bombay called Sonapore, and at that meeting, they, 
the said Drill Havildar Syud Hoossein and Private Mungul 
Guddrea made use of highly mutinous and seditious language, 
evincing a traitorous disposition towards the Government, 
tending to promote rebellion against the State, and to subvert 
the authority of the British Government. — The above being in 
breach of the Articles of War." Every preparation was made 
by the Military and Naval Authorities to meet any contingen- 
cies which might arise during the progress of the executions. 
r ihe wing of H.M.'s 95th Foot, stationed in the town barracks, 
was ordered to the parade-ground about four o'elock in the after- 
noon, and Captain Bolton's half battery of Royal Artillery from 
the Fort, occupied a semicircular position to the left of the 
95th. The Ordnance Department, with four guns loaded with 
canister and grape, took up a position in front of the 95th, and 
a body of three hundred seamen from the ' Assaye,' ' Akbar,' 
and others of the Company's vessels in harbour, armed with 
muskets and cutlasses, were ranged alongside the guns to afford 
them protection. The two prisoners, under an escort of the 
95th Regiment, were brought from their cells in the Fort, 
about four o'clock, and stood firm and erect in the midst of 
their guards. About half-past four, the 10th Native Infantry, 
the Marine Battalion, and the 11th Native Infantry, were 
marched on to the parade-ground, and drawn up on the right 
and left of the square. Hundreds of Europeans and many 
thousands of natives gathered together in the rear to witness 
the tragedy about to be enacted. The prisoners, after being 
stripped of their uniforms, were lashed to the muzzles of the 
guns, the signal was given, and in a moment the ground was 
strewed with fragments of their bodies. The shuddering spec- 
tators dispersed in silence, and the ghastly sight, doubtless, 
left an indelible impression on many dark-skinned traitors 
there present, hatching incipient treason. 

The surviving members of the European community in Bom- 
bay will, probably, not soon forget how much they owed to the 



508 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Indian Navy during the earlier months of the Mutiny, when, 
owing to the despatch of troops to Kurrachee to proceed thence 
up-country, the protection of the Presidency was mainly left 
to the ships of the Service lying in Bombay Harbour. At 
that time of alarm and distrust, large bodies of seamen* were 
kept prepared to land at a moment's notice whenever the pre- 
concerted signal was made, while strong detachments of blue- 
jackets were employed night and day doing duty ashore. The 
Government slept the sleep of security, happy in the knowledge 
that the Service, from Commodore Wellesley downwards, was 
equal to the occasion ; and it is certain that the Bombay Marine 
Battalion, whose traditions pointed to a service of nearly a 
hundred years in the Indian Navy, knew well that Jack ashore 
was no less formidable than Jack afloat, and that his officers 
were not likely to err on the side of leniency if brought into 
contact with mutiny and sedition. These experiences were, 
doubtless, communicated to their brethren on shore, who would 
form an estimate of the prowess of the British seaman, not less 
complimentary to him than that held by the Pandies on the 
Bengal side who dreaded the kilted Highlanders much, but still 
more feared the sailors, who. they believed, carried 12-pounders 
slung over their shoulders like carbines. But though the Go- 
vernment appreciated the prompt, and energetic readiness with 
which the officers of the Service undertook duties foreign to 
their employment, yet the Lieutenants in command of Detach- 
ments at Bombay and Surat, were subjected to the great injus- 
tice of receiving less pay than the Captains of the revolted 
regiments, with whom they ranked ! On the other side of 
India, the officers employed ashore were paid according to their 
relative military rank, and were thankful for this recognition 
of services rendered to the State. 

Thus, in Bengal, Lieutenants, or Acting-Lieutenants, com- 
manding Detachments received 400 rupees a-month, and other 
Lieutenants 300 rupees, while officers of the same rank serving 
on shore in the Western Presidency only received, in addition to 
their regular pay of 145 rupees a-month, 3 rupees batta per 
diem.f Midshipmen, who in all cases performed the duties of 
Subalterns of Infantry and Artillery, and mates of less than 

* In addition to the men-of-war's men from the Company's ships, Lieutenant 
II. Carey, first of the 'Assaye, 1 which lay guard-ship in the harbour, was 
placed in command of alaige body of volunteer seamen from the merchant ships. 
It was his duty to drill these men, and in the event of an outbreak, at a precon- 
certed signal, to collect them and take charge ot the dockyard, relieving the 
Kaval Brigade who were to move out and join the troops. 

t The accompanying are abstracts of the Service Oideis making these regula- 
tions, which were as unjust as they were opposed to common sense : — 

" 8th December, 1858, K o. 2689. 

" The officers and others of the Indian Naval Brigade serving on slioie in Ben- 
gal were Limited paj and allowances at t lie following rates : Lieutenants in corns 
n, and ol detachments 400 lupees per menstm being oil) rupees per month aa 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 509 

three years' standing, with whom they ranked, also received, 
in addition to their pay of 50 and 8 ) rupees respectively, 
only 3 rupees batta a-day, their pay amounting in the aggregate 
to 140 and 170 rupees per mensem, considerably less than an 
ensign's, a sum totally inadequate to enable them to meet their 
expenses on shore in a style becoming an officer and gentleman. 
In July, 1858, two Detachments, forming a Naval Artillery 
Brigade, were embodied from the crews of the ships of the 
Indian Navy, to be stationed respectively at Bombay and 
Surat. Each Detachment consisted of three officers and eighty 
petty officers and seamen; that quartered in the Fort of 
Bombay was under the command of Lieutenant J. Wood, 
First-Lieutenant of the ' Assaye,'.and the Surat Detachment was 
commanded by Lieutenant J. Sedley.* This Naval Artillery 

salary, including table money and batta, and 100 rupees per month as command 
allowance. To all other lieutenants, 300 rupees per month, including table money 
and batta. To the other ranks the usual batta for detached duty instead of war 
batta, in addition to their pay." " Government General Order, 7th July, 1858, 
No. 127, and Government Letter, 24th February, 1859, No. 299. The officers 
and men of the Naval Brigade formed for service at Bombay and Surat were 
granted the usual batta for detached duty in addition to their pay, but were 
refused the rate of remuneration granted to the Bengal Brigade." By Resolu- 
tion of the Governor-General in Council, of the 4th of August, 1841, published 
under date the following 24th of September, the following rates of batta to 
officers and men of the Indian Navy, were authorised in supercession of those 
formerly existing : — 

Captain ...... Us. 

Commander .....,, 

Lieutenant, Surgeon, and Purser . . „ 

Midshipman and Clerk „ 

Warrant Officers ....,, 

Petty Officers and Seamen „ 

* The following was the Government Order: — 

" Formation of Naval Artillery Brigade, Bombay Castle, July 7th, 1858. 
No. 700. The Right Hon. the Governor in Council has been pleased to direct 
the formation, from the officers and seamen of the Indian Navy, of a Naval 
Artillery Brigade, to be composed of two companies, (a third may be afterwards 
added), of the strength noted as follows, and to be stationed in the garrisons of 
Bombay and Surat: — For Bombay, one lieutenant, two midshipmen, eighty- 
one petty officers and seamen. For Surat, two lieutenants, one midshipman, 
one gunner, one assistant apothecary, eighty petty officers and seamen. With 
followers provided by the Commissariat, in the same proportion as to European 
soldiers. The officers and men of the Naval Brigade will receive, whilst em- 
ployed on shore, batta according to the rates laid down in the Naval Regulations ; 
the officers will also receive the house rent of their rank when not provided with 
public quarters, and the allowance for servants as on board ship ; the men will 
be quartered as soldiers of the army. Rations will be supplied by the Commis- 
sariat on the same scale exactly as furnished on board ship. The Naval Brigade 
is to be considered as under the authority of his Excellency the Commander-in- 
chief of the army, for all purposes of service, and the naval officers in command 
of companies, will be guided by the orders they may receive from the military 
officer in command of the stations in which they are quartered ; but they con- 
tinue to be subject at the same time to their proper Commander-in-chief in all 
questions relating to interior economy and naval discipline. The men of the 
Naval Brigade will not be brought on the Army Returns, but be borne in a 
supernumerary list on the books of the ' Akbar ;' and their pay and accounts will 
be arranged by the purser of that vessel, under the directions of the Commander- 



Per diem. 


L2 8 





7 8 





3 





3 





3 





4 






510 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN' NAVY. 

Brigade did not remain long in existence, and indeed it had no 
raison d'etre, for, as European troops kept pouring into the 
country in a manner that suggested to the minds of the dis- 
comfited rebels, the idea that the sea vomited forth transports 
filled with white soldiers, there was no lack of Artillery to 
supply its place. Accordingly, in December, 18^8, the Bombay 
Detachment returned on board ship, and that stationed at Surat 
was broken up early in May, 1859. being for the last three months, 
under the command of Acting-Lieutenant Bewsher, Lieutenant 
Sedley having been appointed to the command of the ' Clive,' 
which sailed on the 2nd of March for Zanzibar. 

On the 31st of August, J 858, the Bengal Regiments stationed 
at Mooltan broke out into open Mutiny, and Lieutenant G. T. 
Holt, of the Indian Navy, stationed there as Senior Naval 
Officer,* under the orders of Captain Daniell, commanding the 
Indus Flotilla, whose headquarters were at Kotree. was enabled 
to do good service to the State. On the forenoon of that day, 
the ()2nd and (39th Regiments of Bengal Native Infantry, and a 
Company of Native Artillery, broke out into open mutiny, and, 
after a severe action, were driven back with slaughter by the 
Bombay Fusiliers, detachments of European Regiments, and a 
troop of Artillery, which were stationed to guard this im- 
portant post. At the time of the outbreak, Lieutenant Holt, 
with his wife and child, was living a mile out of cantonments, 
having with him only a small guard of the Bombay Marine 
Battalion, who proved faithful to their salt. On learning what 
had occurred, Lieutenant Holt, with great presence of mind, 
sent a pressing order by a ferry-boat to all the ferries for a dis- 
tance of 150 miles down the Chenaub to remove all boats to 
the opposite side of the river, and thus prevented the mutineers 
crossing, or the neighbouring people from joining them. This 
ferry-boat, which was fiat-bottomed, reached Mithenkote, 150 
miles from Mooltan — at the junction of the five rivers, Sutlej, 
Chenaub, Jhelum, Ravee, and Indus — in twelve hours, having 
left the orders at each ferry for the withdrawal of the boats, a 
result she was enabled to accomplish owing to the wind blow- 
ing strong down the river at this time of the year, and the 
current running at the rate of seven or eight knots, while from 
her draught of only a few inches, she was enabled to take 
short-cuts in the bends of the river. Lieutenant Holt, then, 
with the small guard of the Marine Battalion, defended his 
house against the rebels for two hours, and eventually suc- 
ceeded in making good his retreat to cantonments with his 
family, though, unhappily, Mrs. Holt received such a shock 

in-chief of the Indian Navy. His Excellency the Commander-in-chief of the 
Army, and the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, are requested to issue 
all subsidiary orders that may be required." 

* Lieutenant Holt was also Assistant Magistrate and Port Officer at Mooltan. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 511 

from the horrors she witnessed during the desperate defence of 
their house, that she died from the effects within six weeks. 
After leaving his family in the Hospital, the previously 
arranged refuge for the non-combatants in case of an outbreak, 
Lieutenant Holt joined the troops, and participated in the 
operations that led to the utter extermination of the rebels.* 

The Commissioner of Mooltan specially recommended Lieu- 
tenant Holt and the Marine Guard, for the Mutiny Medal, 
direct to the Supreme Government of India, who granted the 
decoration, which was the more welcome as the gallant officer 
made no claim for it. 

We have referred to the mutinous conduct of Havildar Syud 
Hoossein of the Marine Battalion, which met with such con- 
dign punishment on Bombay Green, but the taint of sedition 
was confined to this man, and the good service rendered by the 
Marine Battalion on this occasion was worthy of all praise. 
According to the Regimental Records, it appears that "the 
Detachment of the Battalion on duty at Mooltan, consisting of 
a naique and seven men, with a small Detachment 11th Regi- 
ment Punjaub Native Infantry, was engaged in defending the 
Treasure Chest, when the Bengal Regiments broke out into 
open mutiny at Mooltan, and killed twenty-six of the mutineers, 
for which gallant conduct the naique was promoted to havildar, 
the privates were promoted to naiques, and the havildar and a 
lance-naique were awarded the Third Class Order of Merit." 

The arduous duty of transporting troops and stores during 
the Mutiny between Kurrachee and the different stations of the 
Punjaub, had been conducted by the officers and men of the 
Indus flotilla, under the superintendence of Captain Daniell, 
at Kotree. In June, 1860, Commander Macdonald proceeded 
to take over charge of the Indus flotilla, when the Supreme 
Government published a notification expressive of the satis- 
faction of the Governor-General in Council at the manner in 
which the officers and men of the flotilla, and other public 
departments, had accomplished their arduous duties during the 

* The following was the strength of the revolted regiments at Mooltan on the 
morning of the 31st August, 1858, with the number killed, and otherwise dis- 
posed of, up to 20th September : — 

Total number in cantonments on the morning of the 31st August . 1498 

Killed in the attack ...... 169 

Captured and shot . . . . . . .53 

Killed and thrown into canal . . . . .26 

Did not join the mutiny ...... 175 423 

Escaped from cantonments ...... 1075 

Found dead ........ 2 

Drowned ........ 106 

Killed in action ....... 193 

Captured . . . . . . . . 617 918 

Balance not accounted for . . . . . . 157 



512 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

past three years.* In the following year, on the occasion of 
Brigadier Colin Troup, C.B., vacating the command at Mooltan, 
he addressed to Lieutenant Holt, the Senior Naval officer at 
that important station, a letter of thanks for the " ready and 
efficient assistance" he had always received from him.f 

.Monday, the 1st of November, 1858, is remarkable in Indian 
annals as the day on which was proclaimed throughout India, 
the assumption by Her Majesty of the direct ride of our Eastern 
Empire, thereby consummating, by a solemn public Act, the 
extinction of the Government of the East India Company.^ 

* " To the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Military Department. — 
Sir, — The Government of India has recently had before it an aceount of the 
transport of the families of soldiers from Kurrachee to Peshawur and elsewhere 
in the Punjaub. Owing to the judicious arrangements made by the authorities, 
both civil and military, and the great care and attention paid to the comfort and 
wants of the families by the officers of the Indus Flotilla, and those in whose 
immediate charge they were placed, this difficult task was carried out with com- 
plete success. The approbation of the Government of Iudia has been conveyed, 
through the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjaub, to the functionaries of that 
province who are concerned, and I am now desired to request that the Govern- 
ment of Bombay may be moved to make the cordial approval of the Governor- 
General in Council known to the officers of the Sind Commission, of the Indus 
Flotilla, and of the Commissariat Department, who afforded such material aid in 
carrying out the measure. (Signed) R. J. H. Birch, Major-General, Secretary to 
the Government of India. Council Chamber, Fort William, 15th of June, 1860." 

f The following is a copy of the letter of Brigadier Troup, dated Mooltan, the 
5th of April, 1861 : — 

" Sir, — Being about to quit Mooltan to assume the command of the Fortress of 
Agra, I cannot leave the station without conveying to you my sincere thanks for 
the very ready and efficient assistance I have at all times received from you in 
your department during the two years I have been in command at Mooltan ; but, 
more especially during 1859-60, in carrying out the arrangements required for 
the passage to Kurrachee of the men of the Bengal Army, who took their dis- 
charge under the cperation of Government General Order, No. 883, of the 20th 
of June, 1859, and which alone enabled me to embark the whole of them without 
a single complaint having been made against any one of them. 

" Believe me it will afford me great satisfaction to hear of your welfare, for, 
from my intimate association with you for the last two years, 1 feel assured you 
will always strive to the utmost to perform your duty, with credit to yourself and 
with satisfaction to the State." 

Soon after, Lieutenant Holt resigned his appointments at Mooltan, and arrived 
at Bombay on the 11th of October. He joined the flagship ' Ajdaha,' and on the 
22nd of November, was appointed to the command of the ' Berenice,' Lieutenant 
Child succeeding him at Mooltan. In 1876 Commander Holt was appointed one 
of H.M.'s Nautical Assessors to the Board of Trade. 

X The following final despatch of thanks by the Court of Directors, to their 
servants in India, is of historical interest, but following their habit of ignoring 
their Navy to the last, no mention whatever was made of this the earliest of their 
established Services : — 

" Public Department, No. 147, of 1858. Our Governor-General of India in 
Council, — We have the satisfaction of transmitting to you, for promulgation in 
such manner as you may consider suitable, the copy of a Resolution unanimously 
passed by the General Court of the East India Company, held on the 3Uth ult., 
expressing the thanks of the Court to the servants and officers of the Company 
of every rank, and in every capacity. 

" We are, (Signed) F. Cttheie, 

"J. Eastwick. 
" London, September 1st, 1858. 

" Extract Minutes of a Special General Court of the East India Company, held 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 513 

The whole of the officers of the Indian Navy in port attended 
in full dress at the imposing ceremony of the Proclamation in 
front of the Town-Hall at Bombay, amidst an indescribable 
scene of enthusiasm on the part of the vast crowd there 
assembled, while the ships, gaily decked in flags, from truck 

at their house in Leadenhall Street, ou Monday, August 30th, 1858. A Pro- 
prietor, adverting to the fact of this being the last oceasion of the meeting of the 
General Court before the severance of the connection of the East India Company 
with the Government of India, and moving the Court, it was resolved unani- 
mously : — • Tliat the East India Company on surrendering, at the bidding of 
Parliament, those powers connected with the Government of the British terri- 
tories in India, winch it has long exercised as trustee for the Crown, desires to 
return its warmest thanks to its servants and officers of every rank and in every 
capacity for the fidelity, zeal, and efficiency with which they have performed 
their several duties, and offers to them its best wishes for their future pros- 
perity.' 

" To those who ai'e natives of India, the East India Company has the satis- 
faction of being able to give the fullest assurance, that in Her Majesty Queen 
Victoria they will find a most gracious mistress, not unmindful of their past 
services under that authority which has hitherto had the honour of representing 
British sovereignty in India, and ever ready to reward loyalty to the British 
Crown. The East India Company is convinced that the members of the Home 
Department of the Company's Government will maintain the high reputation 
winch that department now enjoys, and will continue, when enrolled in the 
direct service of the Crown, to command the esteem and confidence of their 
official chiefs, and of the public. Of its fellow-countrymen employed in India, 
under the Company's Government, whether as civilians or soldiers ; of those, 
especially, whose duty has recently subjected them to trials of unexampled 
severity, and who have done their duty so a imirably as to win for them the 
praise and sympathy of their Sovereign and their country, the East India Com- 
pany is proud to say, that their past conduct affords the strongest security that 
the Crown will possess no servants abler, none more devoted, than those who 
have been trained by the Company ; and without in any manner arrogating to 
itself what is due to men, some of whose names are honoured in every region of 
the civilised world, the East India Company trusts that in the page of impartial 
history it may be recorded as having presented, in the career which it has 
opened, both to the members of its own Civil and Military services, and to the 
gallant troops of Her Majesty and her royal predecessors, a field for the exercise 
of the highest qualities of the statesman and the soldier. In the humble hope 
that the Company's rule will prove to have been in the hand of Divine Pro- 
vidence, an instrument of good, and even of the highest good to India, the East 
India Company earnestly prays that it may please Almighty God to bless the 
Queen's Indian reign by the speedy restoration of peace, security, and order, and 
so to prosper Her Majesty's efforts for the welfare of her East Indian subjects, 
that the millions who will henceforth be placed under Her Majesty's direct, as 
well as sovereign, dominion, constantly advancing in all that makes men and 
nations great, flourishing, and happy, may reward Her Majesty's cares in their 
behalf by their faithful and firm attachment to Her Majesty's person and 
Government." 

The Supreme Government, in recording the above Resolution, added : — 
" The Right Honourable the Governor-General, speaking not only for the 
Government of India, but for all of every class who have acted under that 
Government, desires to record an assurance of the respectful thankfulness with 
which these parting words of goodwill and approval will be received by the vast 
community of the Indian Civil and Military Services. The Governor- General is 
satisfied, that amongst all, there is but one common feeling of acknowledgment 
of the just, considerate, and liberal treatment, which has ever characterised the 
great Company which has now ceased to govern the British territories in 
India. By order of the Right Honourable the Governor- General." 
VOL. II. LL 



514 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

to taffrail, "rainbow fashion," fired salutes, and illuminated 
in the evening. But the booming of their cannon was the 
death-knell not only of the good old Company, but of the Naval 
Service which had watched over its cradle, and now paid the 
last honours at its obsequies, while the fluttering of the bunting 
from every masthead and yard-arm, was emblematic of the fate of 
the gaily-bedecked Hindoo widow, as she ascends the funeral pyre 
at the lugubrious ceremony of the Suttee.* Similar observances 
were held at Calcutta, f Madras, and the capitals of the provinces. 

* The " Bombay Gazette " describes the celebration as follows : — " The booming 
of cannon, the strains of martial and national music, and the cheers of the multitude, 
after the reading of the Royal Proclamation on Monday, the 1st of November, 
showed unmistakably that an event of deep interest to our community had just 
been communicated. These were signals that the sceptre of Indian Government 
had been taken from the lifeless hand of the Company, after a long and famous 
career, and consigned to that of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great 
Britain and Ireland. Notwithstanding the brevity of the notice given, for which, 
we understand, the Bombay Government was in no way responsible, the official 
arrangements for promulgating in the Town-Hall the new reign of things with 
dignity and eclat, were highly creditable to all concerned. The "powers that 
be " were represented in the persons of the Governor, high naval and military 
officers, and legal functionaries ; and the sanction of religion, learning, and com- 
merce was given to the proceedings by the presence of several spiritual pastors, 
members of the polite professions, and the mercantile community. The natives 
far outstripped the Europeans in demonstrative enthusiasm ; they mustered in 
great force at the Town-Hall, but their loyal manifestations were observable 
everywhere from an early hour of the day, in the shape of preparations for the 
decoration and illumination of their houses. After the proclamation had been 
made, the motley stream of people were directed to the great centre of attraction 
— the Esplanade. No stranger who has once seen this pride of Bombay, under 
even ordinary circumstances, will soon forget it. Few towns in the world can 
boast anything grander than the view of the Fort from the Money School at 
sunrise, noon, or sunset. Let the distant reader then imagine how much this 
magnificent spectacle must have been enhanced when the entire range of 
diversified architecture, from point to point, was lit up with millions of lights, 
and an endless succession of rockets, Roman candles, and other triumphs of the 
pyrotechnic art. The men-of-war of the quondam ' Indian Navy,' now to be 
incorporated with the Royal Navy, was decorated in their best, from ' morn till 
dewy eve,' and at times gave out from the iron throats of their guns into- 
nation of their joy at the change, and in the evening they were illuminated from 
stem to stern, and from deck to high topgallant mast. We do not for one 
moment imagine that the chiefs, the officers, and the men of the Indian Navy, 
forgot their late paymasters the Company. In the evening, next to the men-of- 
war, the illuminated ships, ' Fearnought,' and ' Ellen Bates,' were the great 
sources of attraction in the Bay. To an advanced hour of the night the throng of 
carriages and pedestrians on the Esplanade, and the other favoured spots for 
witnessing the sights, proved how universal and lasting was the interest taken 
by all classes of the community, rich and poor, of every shade of complexion and 
creed, in the great incident of the day." 

f The following was the Order issued by Mr. Cecil Beadon, Officiating Secre- 
tary to the Government of India, of the celebration at Calcutta : — " Monday 
next, the 1st of November, having been fixed by the Right Honourable the 
Governor-General for proclaiming the assumption by Her Majesty the Queen of 
the Government of the British territories in India, it is hereby notified that this 
event will be proclaimed at four p.m. of that day, on the north steps of Govern- 
ment House. At the same time and place a proclamation by Her Most Gracious 
Majesty to the chiefs, princes, and people of India will be read. All Civil, 
Military, and Naval officers of Her Majesty and of the East India Company, are 
directed to attend, and all classes of Her Majesty's subjects are invited to be 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 515 

The policy of ignoring the Indian Navy was continued to the 
last, and not only was no mention made of the Service in H.M.'s 
Proclamation, but the Court of Directors, in their letter of 
thanks to their servants and officers, omitted all reference to 
their naval officers and seamen, an act of seemingly studied 
neglect which aroused feelings of resentment in their hearts, 
as equally with their military brethren they had borne the 
burden and heat of the day, by assisting in rearing the fabric of 
empire during the past two centuries. 

In the latter part of 1859 the Indian Navy assisted in some 
operations undertaken for the suppression of the Waghers, 
a piratical race who, from time immemorial, had made their 
haunts in the Peninsula of Okhamundel, on the coast of 
Kattywar. The last occasion in which the Service had been 
engaged against these freebooters was in 1820, when assisting a 
strong column of troops, which, under Colonel Hon. Lincoln 
Stanhope, stormed the fort at Dwarka. 

In 1858 the Waghers seized the strong fort in the Island of 
Beyt, and, on the 3rd of April, repulsed, with the loss of six 
killed and twenty-six wounded, including three officers, a force 
of two companies of the 10th Native Infantry and some men of 
the 16th Native Infant^ and Marine Battalion, which, while pro- 
ceeding from Kurrachee to Surat, in the ' Prince Arthur,' landed 
and attempted to carry the fort by escalade. The Waghers 
evacuated the place the same night, but, encouraged by the 
impunity which they enjoyed, owing to the British Government 
being engaged in the suppression of the Mutiny, in 1859 they 
reoccupied both the Island of Beyt and the strong fort at 
Dwarka, the Guico war's soldiers offering no resistance, and 
levied large imposts from the thousands of pilgrims who flocked 
from all parts of Hindostan to worship at the shrines for which 
they were famous — the great temple at Dwarka, dedicated to 
Krishna, being held in special veneration. 

In September, 1859, the Bombay Government fitted out an 
Expedition of which the military portion consisted of H.M.'s 

present on this occasion. All the troops of the Presidency will be paraded, and 
all the ships-of-war in the river will be dressed in honour of the event. The 
illuminations in honour of the assumption of the Government of India by Her 
Majesty the Queen will take place on the evening of Monday, the 1st of 
November next. Directions have already been given for the illumination of all 
public offices, buildings, and ships, and the President in Council again invites all 
loyal subjects of Her Majesty to join in celebrating the event." The proceedings 
at Calcutta were tame, but passed off well. At four o'clock the royal pro- 
clamation was read on the steps of Government House by Mr. Beadon. Directly 
the Home Secretary had finished reading, Mr. Halliday, the Lieutenant-Governor 
of Bengal, taking off his hat, commenced to cheer, which was taken up bv a 
dense crowd of Europeans and natives, gentlemen and servants, baboos and up- 
countrymen. As soon as it was dark the streets and roads became thronged with 
people. Whe illuminations were excellent, but the fireworks on the following night 
were a failure ; altogether the celebration was not equal to that at Bombay. 

LL 2 



516 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

28th Regiment, a Company of Artillery, a Detachment of 
Sappers, the 6th Native Infantry, and two hundred men of the 
Marine Battalion, the whole under the command of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Donovan, of II.M.'s 33rd Regiment. The Indian Navy 
furnished the Naval contingent, consisting of the 'Ferooz,' Com- 
mander Cruttenden, senior naval officer; ' Zenobia,' Com- 
mander Tronson ; ' Berenice,' Lieutenant Twynam ; ' Victoria,' 
Lieutenant Chitty ; 'Clyde,' Lieutenant Nixon ; and ' Constance,' 
Lieutenant Dickson; with the 'Lady Falkland' to carry the 
mails. On the 29th of September the squadron sailed from 
Bombay for Beyt, escorting the transports 'South,' 'Ramilies,' 
and ' Empress of India,' conveying the troops. Lieutenant 
A. D. Taylor, the eminent surveyor, who was familiar with the 
Kattywar coast, was specially appointed to the 'Ferooz,' to 
assist in the navigation of the Gulf of Cutch. 

The force arrived off Beyt, at the entrance of the Gulf, on the 
3rd of October. The following day was spoilt in reconnoitring, 
and the boats of the squadron — two from the 'Ferooz,' two from 
the 'Zenobia,' and one from the 'Victoria' — under the command 
of Lieutenant Chitty, were employed cutting out the native craft 
lying in-shore, while the ships took up a position within eight 
hundred yards of the south side of the fort. On the morning 
of the 5th of October, the 'Ferooz,' 'Zenobia,' 'Victoria,' 
' Clyde,' and ' Constance,' opened fire on the fort, a very strong 
and compact work, having lofty, massive towers, mounted with 
guns, and presenting an imposing appearance from the sea. 
The castle was bombarded all day, but, during the night, there 
was a cessation of firing. On the morning of the 6th, the 
bombardment was resumed with redoubled energy, and at length 
it was resolved to attempt the storm of the fort. Accordingly, 
at two p.m. the troops were landed, under a heavy fire from the 
enemy, the disembarkation being effected under protection of 
the guns of the squadron ; the boats' crews, with field-pieces, 
also landed and co-operated with the troops, whose advance they 
covered with their fire. The attempt to capture the place by 
escalade failed, owing to the very heavy fire poured upon the 
assailants from the curtains, wdiich had been extensively 
loopholed. The face of the wall, in wdiich was a great gap, 
caused by the bombardment, was protected with a chevaux de 
/rise of prickly pear, and it was resolved, after some con- 
siderable loss had been experienced, to withdraw the troops and 
continue the bombardment. At this juncture a white flag was 
hung out, and the chief offered to surrender the fort on con- 
dition of the garrison being permitted to march out with their 
arms. The commanders, however, demanded an unconditional 
surrender, upon which the flag w r as hauled down, and the ships 
recommenced the firing. Soon after dark the Waghers eva- 
cuated the fort, which was occupied on the following day. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 517 

A correspondent of the " Bombay Gazette " says : — " It was 
a marvel that the garrison had so long sustained the terrible 
fire poured into the place. The body of the chief, who must 
have fallen soon after the recommencement of hostilities, was 
found amid heaps of dead. The walls, which are amazingly 
strong, are earthworks, of from 18 to 40 feet thick and 
30 to 40 feet high." During the bombardment, the 'Ferooz' 
alone fired one thousand four hundred rounds of shot and 
shell. In the unsuccessful attempt to assault the fort, the 
troops lost Lieutenant McCormack and thirteen men of H.M.'s 
28th Regiment, and Ensign Willaume and nine men of the 
6th Native Infantry, killed ; also two officers and thirty-three 
men of the 28th. ten men of the 6th, and two of the Marine 
Battalion, wounded. On the capture of the fort the Sappers 
were employed in levelling it with the ground. 

Captain Nasmyth, Field Engineer of the Okhamundal Field 
Force, gives the following particulars of the strength of the 
walls of the fort at Beyt, and of the length of the ladders which, it 
was incorrectly said, were too short for scaling purposes: — " The 
height of the wall to the top of the parapet on the face selected 
for escalade, varied from 19 £ to 21 feet, and at the extreme end 
24 feet ; there was a hole at the point chosen, knocked through 
the parapet at 17 feet from the ground, and a gap beyond it at 
16 feet from the ground. The ladders, as they were carried 
forward, were as follows: — Two pieces, 36 feet long; two ditto, 
27 ditto ; four ditto, 24^ ditto." 

Where all behaved well it is, perhaps, invidious to par- 
ticularise, but we should fail in our duty were we to omit all 
mention of the conspicuous gallantry displayed by the Second- 
Lieutenant of the ' Zenobia.' Mr. G C. Parker commanded on 
the occasion the field-piece party from his ship, and landed 
with the troops. The enemy's fire was very heavy, and 
Lieutenant Parker received a wound, but continued to direct his 
men; a second bullet smashed the hilt of his sword. He was 
specially thanked by Colonel Donovan, in a despatch addressed 
to Captain Cruttenden, and the latter officer wrote : — " The 
gallantry and coolness with which Mr. Parker worked his 
gun, under a heavy and very destructive fire, was most con- 
spicuous, and excited the admiration of all, and, moreover, was 
most useful in covering the withdrawal of the troops after the 
first fruitless attempt to take the place by escalade."* 

The 'Zenobia' arrived at Bombay with the wounded officers 
and men on the 11th of October, and returned on the 14th, to 
take part in the reduction of Dwarka, for which a second 

* On the abolition of the Service, Lieutenant Parker was appointed Assistant- 
Superintendent and Post Officer at Carwar, and since June, 1S73, has filled 
the office of Master- Attendant at Ivurrachee, in succession to Commander E. 
GUes, I.N. 



518 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

column of troops, under the command of Colonel Scobie, 
marched by land. The squadron also was reinforced by the 
sloop-of-war 'Clive,' Lieutenant Sedley, which arrived from 
Zanzibar on the 3rd of October, and proceeded to Dwarka, off 
which all the ships-of-war and transports, with Colonel 
Donovan's force, were assembled on the 18th of October. 

A correspondent of the " Bombay Gazette," gives the fol- 
lowing interesting account of the operations that ensued for the 
reduction of this important stronghold : — 

" In order to make Colonel Scobie's force, which was sup- 
posed to be about five miles inland, aware of our presence, the 
' Ferooz ' steamed in abreast of the town, and fired eight shells 
into it, this being the preconcerted signal, and then anchored 
to the north-west, nearly opposite to Roopon Bunder, which is 
about two miles* to the northward of Dwarka. This is the 
only place where the troops could effect a landing, on account 
of the surf which runs all along the coast, with the exception of 
a few sheltered places. But there is rather an imposing looking 
fort there, and we noticed horsemen riding between it and the 
town, evidently making preparations to defend it : so the ' Clyde,' 
gun-boat, towing the ' Ferooz,' ' Berenice,' and ' Zenobia's ' 
first cutters.in charge of Lieutenant Wilson,! anchored off it, and 
commenced firing, which was kept up for some time, when the 
boats' crews landed, rushed up to the fort and took it, much to 
the surprise of everybody, as it was expected to have been 
decided in the usual Wagner style, and the Colonel command- 
ing the field-force stated that he would not have landed there 
with less than a thousand men : so this was a feather in Jack's 
cap. On the afternoon of the next day, the 20th ultimo, the 
troops disembarked, and, in conjunction with Colonel Scobie's 
force, formed a circle round the land side of the town. I forgot 
to mention that, as soon as the Jacks had taken the fort, Lieu- 
tenant Nixon, commanding the ' Clyde,' landed a 24-pounder 
howitzer, which afterwards harassed the enemy a good deal, 
disabling a gun they brought to the front, killing two, and 
wounding a good many. The first thing to be done was to 
disable the guns, of which they appear to have a good many, 
and a 10-inch mortar. The artillery have gradually got their 
batteries to work, and for the last three days the ' Ferooz' and 
' Zenobia' have been shelling the town. At first the military 
big-wigs were cautious about going to work, lest they should 
fire over into the troops on the other side ; but, after seeing the 
practice that was made at Beyt by the ships, they ought to 

* More accurately, one and a-half miles from Dwarka, of which it is the 
Port. 

t After the abolition of the Service, Lieutenant C. P. Wilson was one of the 
most efficient assessors of the Board of Trade, in which he now holds the 
responsible position of one of the three " Professional Members of Harbour and 
Marine Departments." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 519 

have had more confidence ; however, they appear to have re- 
covered. The firing from the ships is heavier than the whole 
of the shore batteries pat together. H.M.'s sloop ' Clive' 
arrived on the 25th, when a naval brigade was formed, con- 
sisting of three lieutenants — Lieutenant Sedley commanding, 
Lieutenant Crockett from the ' Ferooz,' and Lieutenant Hall from 
the ' Zenobia' — nine midshipmen, and one hundred and twenty 
blue-jackets. These landed on the 26th, and the next morning 
at once took up a position about a hundred and fifty yards from 
the outer fort and temples, taking possession of a square look- 
out tower. They were not long left in peace here, for the 
enemy commenced a heavy fire of musketry, and after a short 
time brought a gun to bear on them. Before dark they had two 
officers, Lieutenant Hall and Mr. Midshipman Pulman, and 
four men wounded. They had brought a 12-pounder fieldpiece 
up with them, but it became disabled after a few rounds ; so 
they had no means of silencing the enemy's gun, and there was 
no cover for them beyond that afforded at the back of the 
square tower, the single walls of which were too thin to resist 
round shot, and there was barely room for one hundred and 
thirty men. However, Lieutenant Sedley was determined to 
hold the position at all hazards, as it was an important one. 
" That night the Waghers made a sortie in two parties, 
one in front and one round by the beach under the high ground 
on which the town stands. They rushed on, yelling like 
fiends, but were repulsed with great loss — killed one sea- 
man and wounded five others. The man who was killed was 
almost cut in two and otherwise frightfully mangled. The 
number of the enemy killed is not known, but they were three 
hours carrying away their wounded. There must already have 
been a great number killed, as every night large fires are seen 
burning their dead. Yesterday two more wounded were added 
to the Naval Brigade casualties, in trying to take possession of 
an advanced fort. When I say trying, it was taken ; and 
before you could make that popular exclamation ' Jack Robin- 
son,' a midshipman was climbing up to the top of the temple, 
and in five minutes more the Union-Jack was flying where the 
Wagher flag had been. The breastworks the enemy had built 
up were knocked down ; the party then retired, as the place 
was too large and in too crumbling a state to hold, and there 
was a heavy fire of musketry on them. The batteries are hard 
at work as I write, and the ships will open fire again in a few 
minutes. On the evening of Sunday, the 30th, the AVaghers 
made a sortie on the sailors' battery, but were repulsed with 
severe loss. Early on Tuesday morning the}^ evacuated the 
fort, cutting their way through the pickets of the 28th Regi- 
ment, severely wounding one officer and three men. They 



520 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 

passed close to the 28th camp, but that corps could do nothing 
towards intercepting them, owing to the darkness."* 

* The great feature in Dwarka is the temple of Krishna, or Dwarkanath, "the 
Lord of Dwarka," built on an eminence 1(!8 feet above the sea level, and surrounded 
by a fortified wall 'which likewise encircles the town), from which it is, however, 
separated by a lofty partition wall, through which it is necessary to pass to see it 
to advantage. It is described as consisting of three parts — the Munduff', or Hall of 
Congregation; the Devachna, or penetralia (aUo termed Gabarra) ; and the 
Sikra or Spire. The Munduff is square, measuring 21 feet internally, and five 
distinct storeys high ; each storey is colonnaded, the lower being 20 feet in height, 
and of the same square form to the last, where the architraves are laid trans- 
versely to form a base for the surmounting dome, whose apex is 75 feet from the 
pavement. Four massive pillars on each face of the square, form the foundation 
of this enormous weight ; but these being inadequate to sustain it, intermediate 
pillars to each pair have been added, to the sacrifice of all symmetry. A colon- 
naded piazza surrounds the lowest storey, of about 10 feet in breadth, from 
which to the north, south, and west, portions are projected, likewise colonnaded. 
Each storey of the Munduff lias an internal gallery, with a parapet 3 feet in 
height, to prevent the incautious from falling. These parapets, divided into com- 
partments, had been richly sculptured. The Sikra or Spire, constructed in the 
most ancient style, consists of a series of pyramids, each representing a miniature 
temple, and each diminishing with the contracting spire, which terminates at 
140 feet from the ground. There are several distinct storeys before this 
pyramidal spire greatly diminishes in diameter. Each face of each storey is orna- 
mented with open porches surmounted by a pediment supported by small 
columns. Each of these storeys internally consists of column placed upon 
column, whose enormous architraves increase in bulk in the decreasing ratio of 
the super-imposed mass ; and although the majority at the summit are actually 
broken by their own weight, yet they are retained in their position by the 
aggregate unity. The entire fabric whose internal dimensions are 78 feet by 
76 feet, is built from the rock, which is of sandstone of various degrees of texture. 
It has a greenish hue, either from its native bed, or from imbibing the saline 
atmosphere, which, when a strong light shines upon it, gives the mass a vitreous 
transparent lustre. Joined by a colonnade to this temple is a smaller one, 
dedicated to Deoki, the mother of Krishna ; and at the opposite angle of the 
great temple is another, still smaller, dedicated to Krishna under his title of 
Madhu Rae, or the " Prince the Intoxieator." The Goomtee, a small rivulet 
which flows by the group, is considered especially sacred, but it is so shallow that 
it does not reach the ancle. The site of the temple was once insulated, but the 
sea Laving thrown up a sandbank across the channel, this sacred spot is now 
connected with the mainland. About ten miles from Din Head isMiddwarka, or 
ancient Dwarka, where Krishna met his death, and where, according to tradition, 
stood the ancient temple, which was swept away by the sea. 

Considerable excitement prevailed at Bombav among the Hindoos on a 
report that the great Hindoo temple of Dwarka had been desecrated and 
despoiled by the British forces, but this was denied bv Colonel Donovan, 
who wrote to the following effect to Lord Elphinst one, explaining what took place 
after the capture of the fort. Referring to a plan of the fortress which accom- 
panied his letter, showing its strong casemated, loop-holed arrangements, with the 
relative position of its temple, Colonel Donovan observed that the fort defences 
could not have been destroyed without serious injury to the temples. Seeing 
that this was unavoidable, that officer took prompt measures for the preservation 
of idols, the gold and silver ornaments, and other valuables belonging to the 
temples. The idols he had at once made over to the priests ; but as he could 
not determine who were the proper parties to receive the jewellery and valuables, 
he had them conveyed on board the ' Ferooz ' for better security. These pre- 
cautions were all the more necessary, as the European soldiery, who could alone 
have prevented the excesses of the natives of Be\t and camp followers, which 
would assuredly have attended the destruction of the fort, had been sent back to 
the shipping to avoid exposing them to a similar temptation. Some orna- 
ments of trifling value, Colonel Donovan stated, were appropriated by the men 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 521 

In some minor points the above account requires supplement- 
ing. The boats of the squadron that captured the fort in such 
gallant style, on the 19th of October, were commanded by 
Lieutenants Wilson and Hall ; in addition to the officers 
mentioned as employed on shore at Dwarka, Midshipman Greig 
had charge of the ' Clyde's' 24-pounder, and Mr. Parker 
participated in the operations with the force of blue-jackets 
forming the Naval Brigade under Lieutenant Sedley, which 
consisted of one hundred and fifty (and not one hundred 
and twenty) petty officers and seamen, their services being 
necessary, owing to the military force not being large enough 
to invest so extensive a place. The sailors' battery was 
traced out one night with a piece of tape by the Engineer 
officer, and, on the following night, the Naval Brigade con- 
structed it, mounted the guns, consisting of two '62 -pounders 
from the 'Give' and six 12-pounder howitzers, and opened fire 
on the following morning, a piece of smartness not often sur- 
passed we should say. All these guns, with stores, sandbags for 
the batteries, and ammunition, had to be dragged up a stony 
place covered with prickly pears, one mile and a quarter from 
the point of debarkation. On the Monday evening preceding 
the evacuation, the enemy were observed burying their dead, 
who lay scattered over the ground in considerable numbers, 
and the Waghers either carried away or buried their treasure, as 
little loot was discovered. 

The 'Ferooz' and ' Zenobia' arrived at Bombay on the loth 
of November, towing the transport ' Empress of India' with 
troops and three baghalahs with stores, and soon the remainder 
of the Okhainundel field-force returned, with the exception of 
the 6th Native Infantry and the Sappers and Miners. It was 
certainly a regrettable circumstance that the Waghers suc- 
ceeded in stealing away from the fort without being observed 
by the 28th, close to whose pickets they passed, as they re- 
treated to the Burda hills, and it required a second force to 
take the field in order finally to subdue them. The officers and 
men of the 'Ferooz,' ' Zenobia,' ' Give,' ' Victoria,' 'Berenice,' 
' Clyde,' ' Constance,' and ' Lady Falkland,' engaged in the 

of the force before order had been restored, after the occupation of the fort, but 
he trusted that when the Hindoos are made aware that their idols are Bafe, that 
enough treasure has been preserved to enrich any temples which they may here- 
after erect, and that their enemies, the Waghers, will not be in a position to 
molest them again, they will feel that they have received all the consideration 
which, under the circumstances, was possible. He did all in his power to pre- 
serve and respect property, and permitted no one to approach the temples outside 
the fort. One of these had been plundered by the Waghers before they re- 
treated, but none were disturbed by the men of his force. In conclusion, he 
observed, that if the Hindoos will convert fortified castles into places of worship, 
and then surround them by strong fortresses close up to their very walls, and 
out of which they can neither keep their own nor our enemies, they must expect 
to find that their temples cannot be preseved inviolate. 



522 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

operations against the Waghers,* received the war batta of their 
respective ranks, and the following orders from the Governor in 
Council and the Secretary of State for India, were published to 
the Service by Commodore Wellesley : — " The Commander-in- 
chief has much pleasure in publishing to the Service the 
following extract of a letter to his Address from the Secretary 
to Government in the Political Department, No. 5009. of the 
26th of November, 1859: — 'The Right Hon. the Governor in 
Council has read the report of Commander Cruttenden with 
much gratification; and I am desired to request you will be 
pleased to express to that officer, and to the officers and men 
who served under him in the Okhamundel Expedition, the high 
sense which his Lordship in Council entertains of the gallantry 
and zeal exhibited by all, and especially by the Naval Brigade 
under Lieutenant Sedley, in the operations against Beyt and 
Dwarka.' " 

" Commodore's Office, Bombay, the 11th of August, 1860 :— 
Adverting to Government Order, dated December last, the 
Commander-in-chief, Indian Navy, has much gratification in 
publishing the subjoined copy of a letter from the Acting 
Chief Secretary to Government, dated the 6th instant, No. 3111, 
in the Political Department, stating that the commendation be- 
stowed upon Commander Cruttenden, and the officers and men of 
the Indian Navy, who were employed in the operations before 

* Lieutenant G. C. Sconce, Second-Lieutenant of the ' Ferooz,' writes as 
follows of this little campaign against the Waghers: — "The 'Ferooz' and 
' Zenobia' bombarded Beyt for, I think, three days, firing also occasionally during 
the night ; the ' Ferooz ' alone expended about fifteen hundred shot and shell. 
The Engineer in charge, thinking the breach practicable, the troops were 
ordered to land, and a warm reception we got, both in landing and storming 
the fort, for we were driven back with the loss of about two hundred killed and 
wounded in an hour's work. There were not troops enough, and the place 
was not surrounded, so the Waghers bolted during the night, getting to the 
mainland in boats, and then on to Dwarka, where we followed with the troops 
a few days after. In the meantime, a large field-force had marched to Dwarka, 
investing it to the southward. When we came up, before the troops could be 
landed, a boat Expedition was sent to effect a landing and clear the jungle, which 
was done by the ' Clyde ' and boats of the ' Eerooz ' and ' Zenobia,' under 
Lieutenants Wilson and Hall ; as soon as they had secured a small fort, the 
larger boats were sent off to the squadron, and the troops landed the same 
evening, the blue-jackets returning on board at once. A Naval Brigade was 
landed at Dwarka, commanded by Lieutenant Sedley, with Lieutenants Crockett 
and Hall, and several midshipmen. Lieutenant Nixon and Mr. Shuttleworth 
also did good service witli the rocket brigade. The 'Ferooz' and 'Zenobia' 
bombarded Dwarka for some days, with special instructions not to fire at the 
mosque, and when the W T aghers found the place too hot for them, they attempted 
to cut through the Naval Brigade, but being there defeated, they passed on to 
tlic Marines, who were also on the alert, but going further along the line, where 
the sentries were not so close, they got away through the 28th Begiment, and, not 
being followed till next morning, escaped into the boggy ground of the Gulf of 
Cutch. In the Naval Brigade we had several men killed and wounded. It was 
a great shame the Government refused the mutiny medal for Beyt, for it was 
well known that many of the rebels were there aiding and abetting the Waghers, 
who were very devils to light." 



HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 523 

the fortress of Beyt, has met with the concurrence of Her 
Majesty's Secretary of State for India.— 'No. 3111 of 18(50. 
Political Department. From H. L. Anderson, Esq., Acting 
Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay, to Commodore Gr. G. 
Wellesley, C.B., R.N., Commander-in-chief Indian Navy, dated 
the 5th of August, 18(50. Sir, — With reference to your letter 
of the 19th October last, No. 1030, I am directed by his Excel- 
lency the Governor in Council to intimate to you that, in a 
despatch dated the 1st of March last, No. 9, Her Majesty's 
Secretary of State for India has informed this Government 
that he entirely concurs in the commendation which has been 
bestowed on the officers and men of the Indian Navy employed 
in the operations before the fortress of Beyt, more particularly 
Commander Cruttenden and the other officers mentioned. In 
making this intimation to you, I am desired to request that the 
sentiments of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India may 
be communicated to Commander Cruttenden and the other 
officers alluded to.'" 

In February, 1859, the 'Ajdaha' was converted into the flag- 
ship of the Commander-in-chief, in place of the ' Akbar,' which 
had been receiving-ship since 1855, and was sold at auction 
for the sum of 41,1)00 rupees to the same native firm who 
bought the ' Queen.' Ever since her introduction into the 
Service, the ' Ajdaha' had been one of the Company's hard bar- 
gains. When carrying the mails she was constantly breaking 
down ; and on the last occasion when she went through this 
favourite performance she nearly carried down with her a por- 
tion of H.M.'s 69th Regiment, which she was conveying, 
during the Mutiny, from Aden to Bombay, and who were 
transhipped to a Peninsular and Oriental steamer. The ' Aj- 
daha' was one of those contract steamers built in England, like 
the ' Cleopatra ' and others, which were a constant source of 
expense to Government, and passed far more of their time in 
the docks at Bombay than the ships that were built there by 
the famous Parsee shipbuilders. In this connection we should 
not omit to chronicle the demise, on the 2nd of November, 18(50, 
at the patriarchal age of eighty-five, of Nowrojee Jamsetjee 
Wadia, the head of this firm, under whose superintendence so 
many of the ships of the Indian Navy had been constructed, 
including the 'Hastings,' the sloops-of-war ' Clive,' 'Amherst,' 
' Elphinstone,' and 'Coote,' the brigs 'Euphrates' and 'Tigris,' 
the schooners ' Mahi' and ' Constance,' besides many fine frigates 
and ships of the line for Her Majesty's Service. Mr. Nowrojee 
was the head of the Wadia, or Lowjee, family, and was looked 
upon as the chief of the Parsee community at Bombay, 
where he occupied the position of President of the Parsee 
Punchayet. At an early age he entered Bombay Dockyard, 
and, in the year 1822, succeeded his father, Jamsetjee Bomanjee, 



524 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

as master-builder, which responsible situation he held for a 
period of twenty-two years, and, in 1844, retired upon a hand- 
some pension allowed by Government as the reward of his 
meritorious and faithful services during fifty-four years. In 
testimony of respect for the memory of the deceased, Commo- 
dore Wellesley closed the dockyard ; all the Parsee shops in 
the fort were also closed, and the flags of the vessels in har- 
bour hoisted half-mast high. 

In May, 1859, Captain J. W. Young, C.B., became Assistant- 
Superintendent on the death of Captain Powell, for whom he 
had been officiating since June, 1858. Captain Powell was a 
fine seaman, and had seen much service, and commanded the 
Indian Naval Brigade at the siege of Mooltan in 1848-41). 

On the occasion of the wreck in Back Bay, near Bombay, 
of the ship ' Natalie,' during a heavy gale of wind, on the 
2orcl of July, 1859, Lieutenant Sconce, and other officers of 
the Service, with some boats' crews of volunteers, succeeded 
in rescuing a great portion of the ship's crew. Commodore 
Wellesley issued a Squadron Order, expressive of the " high 
sense he entertained of the courageous energy displayed by 
those officers and seamen of Her Majesty's Indian Navy in 
port," employed on the occasion. 

On the 1st of November, 1859, the Master-Attendant and 
Conservator of the Port, having been relieved from all duties 
connected with the Dockyard and Indian Navy, and placed 
under the Commissioner of Customs, Captain Barker, I.N., who 
filled that post, was reappointed, with Mr. Atkinson* as First- 
Assistant and two subordinate officers ; the Pilot establishment 
was also placed under his orders. Captain Young, Assistant- 
Superintendent, was also, on the 11th of November, appointed 
to the new office of Dock-Master, in addition to his other duties, 

* Mr. Atkinson, on account of failing health, almost immediately retired from 
the office of First Assistant to the Master-Attendant, which lie had held for 
many years, and died on the 24th of January, I860. This officer entered the 
service in 1817, and served through the first Burmah war. He was chief officer 
of the 'Pahnurus' in 1827, Commander of her in 1828, and in the following year 
commanded the 'Thetis,' and in 1830 the ' Nautilus.' Transferred in 1831 to 
the Master-Attendant's department, he gradually rose to the post of First 
Assistant. On the 9th of January, 1860, a Government Order notified that 
Mr. Atkinson was permitted " to retire with a good service pension of Rs. 300 
per mensem, from the date on which he ceased to hold office in the Master- 
Attendant's department." In squadron orders, Commodore Wellesley made the 
following generous reference to Mr. Atkinson's services : — " In publishing the 
subjoined Government General Order notifying that Mr. H. Atkinson, late First 
Assistant Master-Attendant, has been permitted to retire from the Service, the 
Commander-in-chief cannot omit alluding to the very valuable services which 
this officer has rendered in the Naval Department during a period of upwards of 
forty years. The high testimonials which he bears from every officer under 
whom he has served are a lasting record of the fidelity and zeal with which he 
has invariably fulfilled his duty, and he retires on a pension higher than that to 
which he is entitled, but which has been granted in consideration of his long and 
excellent service." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 525 

with Lieutenant Nixon, First-Assistant, and Acting-Master 
Kennelly, Second-Assistant and Agent for transports. At the 
same time, Commander Grounds, in addition to his duties as 
gunnery officer, assumed command of the ' Ajdaha,'now receiv- 
ing-ship in place of the ' Akbar,' Captain Young being relieved 
of the command of the flag-ship on the new distribution of 
duties. In May, 18(50,* Captain Frushard, now senior officer 
of the Service in India, was appointed to the command of the 
flag-ship. 

* Commodore Wellesley, under date the 17th of January, 1860, issued the 
following rules for the guidance of officers commanding vessels of the Indian 
Nary in their relations with seniors of the Royal Service : — " Whenever an 
officer commanding a vessel of H.M.'s Indian Navy falls in with a vessel of the 
Royal Navy commanded by an officer superior in rank to himself, he is invariably 
to wait upon such superior officer without loss of time and pay his respects to 
him, communicating generally on what Service he is employed. Whenever any 
vessel or vessels of H.M.'s Indian Navy, may be in company with vessels of 
the Royal Navy, the senior officer of which is superior in rank to the senior 
officer of H.M.'s Indian Navy present, the time of such superior officer is to be 
kept, and his routine with regard to hoisting colours and firing the morning and 
evening gun, is to be invariably observed and followed." 






CHAPTER XII. 
1860—1863. 

Death of Captain S. B. Haines ; his Character and Services — The Indian Navy in 
the China War of 1860 — War Medals gained by the Indian Navy — Gallant 
Conduct of Lieutenant Cookson at the Kooria Mooria Islands — Movements of 
the Ships of the Indian Navy during 1861-62 — Reduction of the Indus 
Flotilla and Marine Battalion — The Government and the House of Commons 
on the Future of the Service — Departure of Commodore Wellesley and Ap- 
pointment of Captain Frushard — Reduction of the Indian Navy — Commander 
Adams and the Affair of H.M.S. 'Penguin' — Orders on the Abolition of the 
Service — The Hauling down of the Flag — Conclusion. 

ON the 16th of June, 1860, died at Bombay Captain S. B. 
Haines, an old and distinguished, and, until the year 1854, 
a valued servant of the Government. Captain Haines bore an 
unblemished character during his long and distinguished career, 
first as one of the most accomplished of that scientific band of 
surveyors for whi<ih the Service was so famous, and, after the 
conquest of Aden, as its first Governor for a period of fifteen years. 
Captain Haines was the first to point out the advantages of the 
" Gibraltar of the East," both as a coal depot and Military 
station. He carried on the negociations that led to its sale, and 
was present at the capture as Political Officer. Under the title 
of Resident he was a power in those regions, where his firmness 
taught the Arab tribes to fear the British power, while his 
sagacity and moderation rendered his name one "to conjure 
with " among the lying, treacherous Sheikhs and rulers on both 
sides the Straits of Babelmandel. For his many services the 
Court of Directors presented their old and valued servant with 
a sword of the value of 200 guineas. But Captain Haines was 
no man of business, and while he was always soliciting the 
Government to send him accountants, having no staff for the 
purpose, he took little account of the expenditure and the 
balance in the treasury. In an evil hour the Government, 
which had turned a deaf ear to his solicitations, sent an officer 
to count the cash, when it was found that there was a very 
large deficiency. Neither Captain Haines nor his Assistant, 
Commander Cruttenden, could account for this deficiency ; and, 
though no one who knew either of those officers, whose cha- 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 527 

racter for integrity was unimpeachable, attempted to accuse 
them of peculation, Captain Haines was of course responsible, 
and he was therefore sent under arrest to Bombay, and brought 
to trial by Government, but acquitted by two juries. 

But they had not yet done with him, and, gaining a 
verdict in a civil suit, he was thrown into a debtor's prison, 
the Government turning an obdurate answer to the friends of 
an old officer whom they had rewarded in happier times, and 
there he lingered for six years, notwithstanding that he offered to 
make good the deficiency with his private fortune (not accumu- 
lated savings), and also proposed to sacrifice his pay. But the 
Government turned alike a deaf ear to his offers, to the 
prayers of friends — who pointed out that he was being slowly 
killed by the miserable place in which he was confined— and the 
urgent remonstrances and recriminations of the press ; and it 
was not until the 9th of June, 1860, a few days after the 
arrival of Sir G. Clerk, the new Governor of Bombay — whose 
first act was this Christianlike deed of charity and justice 
— that this old and distinguished officer was released from 
prison. But it was too late, and he died on the day week of his 
release, a signal instance of ingratitude and criminal harshness.* 

* " Allen's Indian Mail," of the 6tli of August, 1860, had the following article 
on the career and character of Captain Haines : — "A dark chapter in the history 
of the Bombay Government has at length come to a conclusion. A gloomier 
page, indeed, will scarcely be found anywhere, except, perchance, in the records 
of Neapolitan misrule. A mere debtor — if, indeed, he were that — has been for 
nearly six years confined in jail, in a deadly climate, at the suit of the Govern- 
ment he had served with pre-eminent zeal and ability. What more could have 
been done to him had he actually been found guilty of the fraud and embezzle- 
ment which were so strenuously charged against him ? Compare the measure of 
vengeance heaped upon the unfortunate officer whose remarkable talents had for 
upwards of thirty years been entirely devoted to the service of his country, with 
the mitigated punishment meted out to the fashionable, but fraudulent, banker 
whose whole life had been a systematic hypocrisy. The one, twice acquitted of 
all criminality by a jury of his countrymen amid the acclamations of an excited 
and sympathising audience, is, nevertheless — on a charge of debt, because the 
Government had been too careless, or too penurious, to appoint a proper treasurer 
and book-keeper — thrown into prison, and, after six years' detention, only 
released to die ; while the other, convicted, amid universal groans and execra- 
tions, of robbing the widow and the orphan, is set free after a brief imprisonment, 
despised for having been detected, rather than for the crimes he had committed. 
But the former was prosecuted by a Government, conscious that it was itself most 
to blame ; while the latter was brought to trial in the name of the laws he had 
violated, and not to gratify the resentment of those whom he had ruined and 
despoiled. It was in the year 1835 that Captain Haines was first employed in 
that long series of marine surveys which attracted the favourable notice of his 
superiors. Through his unflagging industry and perseverance the entire sea- 
coast of Southern Arabia was clearly laid down in the charts, and the value of 
Aden as a coaling and naval station demonstrated beyond dispute. At the time 
when the overland route was being established, the Arab tribes had been guilty of 
great cruelty to the crews of vessels wrecked upon that inhospitable shore, and 
their chief was only brought to his senses by the vigorous measures adopted by 
Captain Haines. The result was the complete surrender to the East India 
Company of the fort of Aden, and so fully aware were the Court of Directors of 
the nature of the services rendered by that officer that they presented him with a 



528 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Captain Haines was followed to the grave at Colaba by his 

numerous friends and brother officers, including Captains Young, 
Frushard, and Barker. 

In I860 an Expedition was despatched from the three Presi- 
dencies to bring to terms the Emperor of China, whose forts on 
the Peiho had inflicted terrible loss on a British squadron of 
gunboats, which was proceeding up the river in terms of the 
treaty concluded at Tientsin. Between the 16th and 19th of 
February in that year the following ships of the Indian Navy 
sailed from Bombay to China with troops : — The ' Assaye,' Com- 
mander Adams; 'Dalhousie,' Commander Hopkins; 'Prince 
Arthur,' Commander Twynam ; and ' Victoria,' Lieutenant Wood. 
The following vessels were also employed in Chinese waters : — 

sword of honour, and appointed him Political Agent. This was in 1839. For 
the next fourteen years Captain Haines identified himself with the strange settle- 
ment entrusted to his control. He was virtually a dictator. His power no one 
disputed, for no one denied that it was justly and wisely exercised. Under his 
fostering care the trade of the place trebled and quadrupled, while the fierce 
barbarians around were not less conciliated by his liberality, than overawed by 
his firmness. No man was then more honoured by the Court, not one of their 
many able and conscientious servants was held in higher regard. But Captain 
Haines, though an excellent administrator, was an indifferent book-keeper. Pro- 
bably he knew nothing about double entry, and was no better acquainted with 
finance than financiers usually are with navigation. As the commerce of the 
place, however, increased, so did the necessity of having a properly-trained and 
experienced official to superintend the treasury. Repeatedly did the Political 
Agent urge his worshipful masiers to place the financial department upon a larger 
and securer footing. It was all in vain. They were busied about many things 
and had no time to spare a thought upon the burning rock of Aden, or its over- 
worked Government. At last, in the early part of 1854, they suddenly bethought 
them that it was time to look into his accounts, and waxed furious on discovering 
that they hud fallen into arrears, and that a considerable deficiency had arisen. 
This Captain Haines at once undertook to make good by the sacrifice of his 
private fortune, and by large deductions from his pay. Their anger at their own 
shortcomings was not thus to be allayed. Nothing short of extreme measures 
could now satisfy them ; if they had hitherto failed in their duty as supervisors, 
they would not do so as the detectors and pursuers of delinquents. Their own 
error should be expiated, but Captain Haines must be their scapegoat. So that 
gallant and distinguished officer was carried off to Bombay with every mark of 
indignity, as though his guilt had been already proved ; and being taken before 
the senior police magistrate, was finally committed to the sessions on a charge of 
embezzlement and malversation. Twice was he placed in the felon's dock on two 
separate indictments, and twice was he triumphantly acquitted by two distinct 
juries. But the Government was not thus to be baffled. The deficiency 
amounted to £28,000, for the recovery of which a civil suit was instituted, and as 
Captain Haines was quite unable to pay sc large a sum, he was mercilessly com- 
mitted to prison. For nearly six years did that meritorious officer languish in 
a debtors' jail, his spirit broken and his health hopelessly undermined, but his 
persecutors never relented or turned a pitying ear to the many applications that 
were made in his favour. Once indeed he was removed for a few months, under 
strict surveillance, to a private house, to avert the scandal of his death in jail. 
But no sooner was he pronounced out of immediate danger, than he was again 
incarcerated at Mazagon. Lord Elphinstone lost a noble opportunity of doing a 
righteous and merciful deed ; and when Sir George Clerk, obeying the dictates 
of his own generous nature, threw open the prison gates, it was already too late, 
and he barely anticipated death, the only true friend of the oppressed. Captain 
Haines had passed away to ' where the wicked cease from troubling, and the 
weary are at rest ;' but the memory of the persecution he endured will not lightly 
be forgotten or forgiven." 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 529 

The 'Ferooz,' CommanderTronson ; 'Zenobia,' Lieutenant Chitty ; 
* Berenice,' Lieutenant Robinson ; and 'Coromandel,' Lieutenant 
R. G. Hurlock,* who assumed temporary command in Calcutta in 
November, 1859, on his services being no longer required 
in Bengal. The ' Coromandel ' proceeded to China, towing a 
transport with the 3rd Buffs, in the teeth of a strong north- 
easterly monsoon, for which Mr. Hurlock received the thanks 
of the Government of India and Commodore Wellesley ; she 
also towed three transports, with artillery on board, from 
Madras to Singapore, and proceeded to the seat of war in 
China, under the command of Lieutenant C. H. Walker. 

A portion of the Expedition first rendezvoused off King- 
Tang, opposite the town of Chin-hai, at the mouth of 
the Ning-po, and, on the 21st of April, the fleet proceeded to 
Ting-hai, the capital of Chusan, which was occupied without 
opposition. The rendezvous at the seat of war was Talien-wan, 
on the western shore of the Gulf of Pecheli ; and here assembled 
the immense fleet of seventy ships of war, including the Indian 
Navy Squadron, under the Commander-in-chief, Sir James Hope, 
and one hundred and twenty transports, carrying the army of 
fourteen thousand men, under the command of Sir J. Hope 
Grant. On the 9th of July the ' Ferooz ' arrived at Talien-wan 
from Calcutta, with Lord Elgin, Her Majesty's special Envoy to 
the Court of Pekin, where his brother, Mr. Bruce, was Minister; 
and, on the 26th, the vast armada sailed for the general ren- 
dezvous agreed upon with the French Commanders, General 
Montauban and Admiral Page, twenty miles south ot' the Peiho. 

On the 28th of July, the Expedition, including thirty-three 
French sail, carrying seven thousand soldiers, was assembled, 
and, on the 30th, the combined fleets weighed and stood in for 
the shore, anchoring about nine miles distant. Owing to the 
bar at the mouth of the river Pehtang, only the gunboats were 
able to enter, and, on the 31st July, the first troops were 
landed from the launches towed by the gunboats, the flotilla 
being led by the 'Coromandel,' commanded by Lieutenant 
C. H. Walker, having on board Sir James Hope and Sir J. Hope 
Grant, with their respective Staffs. Mr. Bowlby, the " Times " 
correspondent, who soon after met with a terrible death at the 
hands of his Chinese captors, describing the disembarkation, 
says : — " The Takoo forts lay within three miles on the port- 
quarter, looking sullen and threatening, but giving no other 
signs of life than a Tartar flag, which waved from the largest- 
battery. In our rear were the combined fleets of England and 
France, while far ahead the blue flag of Admiral Hope streamed 

* Lieutenant Hurlock was relieved by the late Lieutenant C. H. Walker, an 
excellent officer and seaman (with whom he remained as First-Lieutenant), and in 
December, 1860, on that officer proceeding to England sick, Commander Batt, 
who had returned to duty with his health restored after two years' residence iu 
England, assumed command of the ' Coromandel.' 

VOL. II. M M 



530 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

from the ' Coromandel,' as she led up to Pehtang. Soon after 
two o'clock, the gunboats anchored about two thousand yards 
from the fort." On the 21st of August the Takoo forts, which 
were distant three miles from the mouth of the river, were either 
stormed or surrendered, the British loss being seventeen killed 
and one hundred and sixty-one wounded, and the French one 
hundred and thirty. The fleet lay off the Pehtang* until the 
return of the troops in November, when they were embarked, 
and the ships returned southward. 

The 'Assaye,' in May, I860, was directed by Sir James 
Hope to proceed to Singapore, where Commander Adams per- 
formed the duties of Senior Naval Officer, with his usual judg- 
ment and success, as appears from the following extracts of 
letters from his superior officers. Sir James Hope writes to 
him from Tientsin on the 12th November, 1860 : — " I hope to 
have the pleasure of writing to you before your final departure ; 
in the meantime let me express to you the sense I entertain of 
the zeal with which you have carried out all my wishes at 
Singapore." Sir Robert McClure, also, under date, Singapore, 
25th of December, 1860, expressed his obligations to him in 
terms peculiarly acceptable from an officer of his distinction and 
high professional reputation : — " In case I do not see you before 
sailing, accept my sincere wishes for your success, and my high 
appreciation of your conduct as an officer, while conducting the 
duties of Senior Officer here, also for the ready co-operation 
you have given me when required." 

The ' Zenobia,' after conveying troops, was sent to the Phil- 
ippine Islands, to look after a transport which was supposed to 
have put into Manilla. The ' Zenobia ' met with a typhoon on 
the way down, when her safety valves became unseated and the 
paddle boxes were partially washed away ; indeed, the safety of 
the ship was in a great measure attributable to the capacity and 
seamanlike conduct of the commander, Lieutenant Chitty. 

In January, I860, Lieutenant Templer, then at Calcutta, his 
Detachment, (No. 3) stationed at Chuprah, having been dis- 
banded, was appointed by the Supreme Government agent for 
transports and proceeded in charge of the transports ' Walmer 
Castle,' ' Octavia,' and ' Mars,' with the 99th Regiment, to 
Hong Kong, and then to Chusan, after the occupation of 
which he was sent by the Admiral to Nagasaki, where his 
management of the coal dep6t during a period of eight months 
met with the approval of the Commander-in-chief. 

Sir James Hope during the course of the war found oppor- 
tunities for inspecting all the ships of the Indian Navy engaged 

* While lying at Pehtang, the ' Coromandel ' was sent on a cruise round the 
Gulf of Pecheli, in search of some missing transports, and visited the Meatow 
Islands. In January, 1861, on the conclusion of hostilities, Commander Batt 
brought the ' Coromandel ' round to Bombay. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 531 

under his command, and, in every instance, expressed himself 
highly pleased with the discipline and smartness of the crews 
and the creditable condition of the ships. The k Ferooz ' 
specially received his commendation, and, after inspecting her 
crew, (who, almost to a man, stood six feet in their stockings, 
and were in the prime of life, her First-Lieutenant, while shipping 
seamen at Calcutta, making these the qualifications for engage- 
ment,) the Admiral said that he had never seen so fine a body 
of seamen out of H.M.'s yacht. 

Lieutenant Chitty, commanding the ' Zenobia,' enjoyed, in an 
especial degree, the confidence of the Admiral, who showed 
himself superior to all petty feelings, by taking the unprece- 
dented step of placing two of H.M.'s gunboats, commanded by 
lieutenants, under his orders, and upon the commanding officers 
remonstrating at being compelled to serve under an officer of 
their own rank, belonging to the Indian Navy, Sir James 
pointed to the acknowledged ability and lengthened experience 
of Lieutenant Chitty as the best passports to command. Lieu- 
tenant Chitty proceeded to Swatow, accompanied by H.M.'s gun- 
boat, ' Grasshopper,' in order to obtain the release of the second- 
master and four seamen of H.M.'s gunboat ' Weasel,' taken 
prisoners by the Chinese. An attack was made by Lieutenant 
Chitty, with the boats of the ' Zenobia ' and gunboats, and the 
object sought to be obtained was accomplished without loss. 

The China War Medal* was the last gained by the Indian 
Navy as a Service, though some officers, after the abolition, 
received the medal for Abyssinia. A brief notice here would be 
appropriate as to the War Medals gained by the Service during 
its long and eventful career. 

These decorations were not bestowed until within a com- 
paratively recent date, though Elizabeth, Charles, and Cromwell 
bestowed medals on such Military and Naval leaders as espe- 
cially distinguished themselves. Medals were also struck 
commemorating victories, as Portobello and Culloden, but the 
East India Company was the first to inaugurate the system of 
awarding them to officers and men alike. It was in the year 
1 784 that the Company struck the Deccan Medal, in two sizes, 
the larger being for the officers, and the smaller for the rank 
and file; again, in 1792, they distributed silver medals, inscribed, 
"For services in Mysore, a.d. 1791-92;" and, in 1796, large silver 

* The following Order relating to the China medal was published from the 
Commodore's Office, Bombay, on the 9th of July, 1861 : — " With reference to the 
General Government Order of the 6th ult., granting medals for services in China, 
the Commander-in-chief directs that the Commander of each vessel of the Indian 
Navy, which was employed in the operations which terminated in the capture of 
the city of Canton, on the 29th of December, 1857, and also in the operations 
which have recently terminated in the capture of the city of Pekin, and the 
restoration of peace, shall submit a roll, in duplicate, of the officers, seamen, and 
others, who may be entitled to the decorations." 

MM 2 



5o2 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

medals were given for services in Ceylon, in 1795-9G. As the 
ships of the then Bombay Marine were engaged in all these 
operations, and some officers, as the late Sir John Hayes, served 
both ashore and afloat, the Service participated in the award 
of these honourable distinctions. Passing over the medal 
awarded for the storm of Seringapatam, in 1799, a large portion 
of the Service gained the next medal awarded by the Company, 
that given in 1801, for the Egyptian Campaign. The Bombay- 
Marine also received the medal for the conquest of Mauritius, 
in 1810, and of Java,* in the following year. They did not, 
of course, participate in the Nepaul Campaign, in 1816, but a 
large portion of the Service received the medal awarded for the 
Burmese War, of 1824-26, which is suspended from a crimson 
ribbon, with a blue edge. On the obverse, is the white elephant 
of Ava crouching before the British lion, behind which is the 
Union Jack unfurled, and behind the elephant the drooping 
flag of Burmah. On the reverse the troops are advancing 
towards a pagoda, enclosed within a stockade, while a steamer 
and flotilla of gunboats are attacking from the Irrawaddy. In the 
foreground Sir Archibald Campbell is directing the operations. 

The Company instituted medals for Ghuznee, Candahar, Jel- 
lalabad, and Cabul, there being no less than five varieties for the 
Afghan War of 1839-42; but though the ships of the Indian 
Navy were engaged at the capture of Kurrachee and the occu- 
pation of Kharrack, obviously they could not lay claim to any 
of these decorations. For the medal struck by the Home 
Government, in commemoration of the first China War of 
1840-42, the Service could show an undeniable claim, as the 
' Atalanta,' ' Sesostris,' ' Auckland,' 'Medusa,' and other vessels, 
took a prominent part in the hostilities. The China Medal, 
like all those issued during the present reign, bears, on the 
obverse, the head of the Queen, and, on the reverse, a palm tree, 
against which is placed a shield, bearing the arms of England; 
also cannon, anchor, flag, and the motto, " Arynis exposcere 
jHxcem." Exergue] (or at the foot of the medal) is the word 
" China," and the date "1842." The ribbon by which it is sus- 
pended, is crimson, with yellow edges. 

Captain Nott and the officers and men of the Indus flotilla 
were awarded the Scinde War Medal, which has, on the obverse, 

* It was not until the 1st of June, 1847, that the Home Government granted 
war medals to those officers and men of the Army and Navy who had served 
" during the wars commencing in 1793, and ending in 1814." Clasps were added 
for the most memorable battles and sieges, "Java" being included for both 
services. The Naval war medal bears on the obverse the Queen's head, and on 
the reverse, Britannia seated on a sea-horse, holding a trident in her right hand, 
and an olive branch in her left. 

f Exergue, which is derived from two Greek words, signifying " out of word," 
is the small space beneath the base line of a subject engraved on a coin, 
and usually contains an inscription of the date, place, or other subsidiary matter 
of the coin or medal. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 533 

Her Majesty's bust, and, on the reverse, the words, " Meanee," 
"Hyderabad," with " 1843," the whole enclosed within a wreath 
of laurel, and surmounted by the crown, the ribbon with which the 
medal is suspended being of rainbow pattern. The Company 
gave stars for the battles of Maharajpore and Punniar, which 
constituted the brief Gwalior Campaign of 1844 ; and a medal to 
the "Army of the Sutlej," {Exergue "Moodkee," 1845) with 
clasps for the sanguinary actions of Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and 
Sobraon, with all of which the Indian Navy had no concern. It 
was not so, however, with the second Sikh War, when the small 
but efficient Indian Naval Brigade worthily earned the Punjaub 
Medal, with a clasp for Mooltan. This decoration, which has a 
blue ribbon with yellow edges, bears, on the reverse, a repre- 
sentation of the Sikh Arm}'' laying down its arms before Lord 
Gough, who sits on horseback, while in the background are the 
British troops, with a group of palm trees. 

The Company, having received Her Majesty's assent to a 
proposal to grant a general " India Medal," with clasps, to the 
surviving officers and men who had been present at the battles 
and sieges fought during the first quarter of this century, pub- 
lished an order from the India Office, dated the 25th of 
February, 1851. by which Burinah was included in the India 
Medal. An order was, accordingl} 7 , ^issued to the Service, dated 
19th of May, 1851, by which it was granted to the survivors of the 
Burmese War, with a clasp inscribed " Ava," the ribbon being 
a pale blue. The reverse of this medal has a figure of Victory 
seated, holding, in her right hand, a laurel branch, and in her 
left, a victor's wreath ; at her feet is arranged a trophy of arms, 
behind which rises a palm tree ; and above the group are the 
words, " To the Army of India." Exergue 1799-1826. 

The Supreme Government, in a General Order dated the 23rd 
of January, 1854, intimated the grant of a medal to the officers 
and men of the Naval and Military forces engaged in the 
Burmese War of 1852-53, who, under the notification dated 
the 30th of June, 1853, and published in a General Order of the 
5th of July, were authorised to receive the donation batta. This 
medal had a clasp for "Pegu," and was worn with a ribbon of 
alternate scarlet and blue stripes. On the obverse is a figure of 
Victory, crowning, with a laurel wreath, a nude figure of a soldier 
seated, and having, in his right hand, the Roman gladius, his 
left holding the sheath. Exergue, 1852, and a lotus flower. A 
large proportion of the Service received this medal, and also 
that fur the Persian War of 1856-57, which was similar to 
the preceding, except that the clasp was inscribed " Persia." 

The Victoria Cross, " for valour," was instituted on 
the 29th of January, 1856, and though this much-coveted 
distinction has occasionally been conferred in such a way as to 
create dissatisfaction, no one can call in question the right of the 



534 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

two recipients of the Indian Navy — Mr. Mayo, who, at a critical 
moment, charged a loaded field-piece " twenty yards in advance 
of his men," and Mr. Chicken, who killed five rebel Sepoys 
with his own hand before he himself was cut down. 

The Mutiny Medal, which was very generally gained by the 
Service, has, on the reverse, a figure of Victory, with a laurel 
wreath in either hand, that in the right hand being extended, 
and a shield on the left arm. Beside the figure is a lion. 
Exergue, 1857-58. The medal, which is suspended from a 
red and white striped ribbon, is inscribed with the word, 
" India." The medal for the operations in China, which 
began in 1857, and ended with the capture of Pekin in I860, is 
the same as that granted for the war of 1842 (with the excep- 
tion of the date), and clasps were given for ''Canton, 1857;" 
"Taku Forts, 18(50;" "Pekin, 18G0 ;" " Fatshan, 1857;" and 
the "Taku Forts, 1858." The ' Auckland,' for her services in 
1857, and the Indian Navy squadron of ships engaged in 1860, 
vere awarded this medal. After the New Zealand War of 1866, 
which, as far as the Maories are concerned, will probably be the 
last, a medal was issued for all the operations between 1845 and 
1866, to which the survivors of the action at Kawiti's pah, in- 
cluding the 'Elphinstone's ' crew, were entitled. 

Medals have been granted in 1868 and 1874 for the 
Abyssinian and Ashantee campaigns, and the Indian Govern- 
ment have very properly issued an India General Service 
Medal, with clasps for the " North- West Frontier," " Umbeyla," 
" Bhootan," and " Looshai ;" but it is not a little hard on the 
survivors of the Expeditions undertaken against the Ras-ul- 
Khymah pirates in 1809 and 1819, and against the Beni-Boo- 
Ali Arabs in 1821, that no similar distinction has been conferred 
upon them, though for these " little wars " British regiments 
bear the words "Arabia" and "Beni-Boo-Ali," on their 
appointments, and more lives were lost in them than in 
the Ashantee, Abyssinian, Looshai, and Bhootan campaigns 
put together. Though we are far from subscribing to the 
popular opinion that a long " butcher's bill " is the great test 
of merit as to generalship, for the reverse is often the case, yet 
unless there has been blundering, and in these instances none 
can be attributed to the leaders, it is certainly mortifying to the 
few survivors— as one of them lately told us — that they should 
be denied the India General Service Medal, which is awarded to 
those who were engaged in the insignificant campaign against 
the Looshai tribes. 

During the month of June, 1860, the ' Punjaub,' Commander 
Foulerton, visited Muscat, with Brigadier Coghlan and the 
other members of the Muscat-Zanzibar Commission, which was 
appointed by the Indian Government to inquire into, (and report 
to the Governor of Bombay, the arbitrator,) the matter in 



' 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN 1 XAYY. 535 

dispute between the rulers of Muscat and Zanzibar. On her way 
the 'Punjaub ' visited Hullaniyah, in the Kooria-Mooria group, 
one of the stations of the Red Sea and Indian Telegraph 
Company, and landed supplies for the staff of that Company, 
who had only remaining one barrel of biscuit and quarter of a 
barrel of salt pork. On the 12th of June, the 'Punjaub' 
arrived at Muscat, where she found the ' Elphinstone ' and 
' Mahi,' and, after the Brigadier and his associates had obtained 
the necessary information, and Mr. H. Rassain was installed as 
Acting British Agent* with the Imaum, Syed Tooweynee, 
the ' Punjaub ' sailed again for Bombay on the 20th. 

During the year 1860, the ' Semiramis,' Commander Balfour, 
'Clive,' Lieutenant Sedley, and gunboat 'Clyde,' Lieutenant 
Dickson, were employed under the orders of the Supreme 
Government, chiefly at the Straits Settlements, and Andaman 
Islands, then under Major Haughton, whose rule, firm but kind, 
extending over a period of three years, was of such incalculable 
value to that penal colony, then struggling from infancy to its 
present vigorous state of adolescence. In November, the ' Semi- 
ramis' and 'Clive' returned to Bombay, and the former sailed 
on the 19th December, with Sir George Clerk, for Sedasheghur, 
(of which Commander Eraser, in the ' Ealkand,' was engaged 
making a survey) as the Governor wished personally to inspect 
that port and judge as to its capabilities for the cotton trade. 

About the same time the gunboat ' Clyde' was recalled from 
her station at the Andaman Islands, and proceeded to Bombay, 
and the steam-sloop 'Lady Canning,' commanded by Lieu- 
tenant James, which had been placed under the orders of 
Major Haughton, was handed over to the Bengal Marine, and 
Lieutenant James and his officers and men returned to Bombay, 
the Royal Navy taking over the duties in the Bay of Bengal. 

Before the close of the year I860, the ships employed in the 
China Expedition began to arrive at Bombay. On the 15th of 
December, the ' Zenobia ' Lieutenant Chitty, returned, and, on 
the 20th, the 'Victoria,' Lieutenant Wood, who, two days after 
his arrival, commissioned the new gunboat 'Hugh Rose,' a sister 
vessel, as to size and armament, of the ' Clyde.' On the 5th of 
January, 1861, arrived from China, the ' Dalhousie,' Commander 
Hopkins, and the ' Berenice,' Lieutenant Robinson ; on the 18th, 
from Singapore, the ' Assaye,' Commander Adams, and, on the 
25th, the ' Corona an del,' Commander Batt, who, on his return 
from Europe, had proceeded round to the eastward to relieve 
Lieutenant Walker. This officer, on the 14th of February, took 
command of the 'Prince Arthur,' in place of Commander 

* In the following May, Lieutenant M. W. Pengelley, I.N., was appointed 
Political Agent at Muscat, as a reward tor his meritorious services as second in 
command of the Land Transport Corps during the Persian War, but was suc- 
ceeded by Major Malcolm Green in 1SG2. 



536 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Twynam, whose health failed him. The 'Ferooz,' Commander 
Tronson, with Lord Elgin on board, arrived at Hong Kong 
from the seat of war on the 8th June, 1861, and, after proceeding 
to Canton on the 12th, his Lordship sailed in her on the 21st, 
for Manilla, thence proceeding to Batavia, where his visit was 
one of the means of the introduction into India of the chinchona 
plant, a project in which he was greatly interested. From 
Java the ' Ferooz ' proceeded, with Lord Elgin, to Galle and 
Suez, thence returning to Bomba} r . 

During the month of June, 1861, Lieutenant Cookson, then 
in command of the schooner ' Constance,' performed an act of 
conspicuous gallantry in rescuing Europeans from the island of 
Jibleea, one of the Kooria-Mooria group, who would have 
starved to death had not relief been brought to them, as all 
theirsupplies were consumed, and communication with the island 
was impossible, owing to the stormy season having set in. 
These men had been left on Jibleea when the merchant 
ships, employed in removing the guano, had sailed in disgust 
at the small extent of the deposit and the impracticable nature 
of the coast for shipping purposes.* It was blowing heavily at 

* The Kooria-Mooria Islands were ceded by the Imaum of Muscat to the 
Queen in 1856, and by license, which appeared in the ' London Gazette' of the 
15th of July in that year, three merchants were permitted to remove guano 
therefrom for a period of five years. In 1836 Captain Haines, I.N., carefully sur- 
veyed the Kooria-Mooria Islands, and completed a chart of the Bay and entire 
group, which was published by order of the Directors. He also remained for 
some little time at Hullaniyah, the largest island of the group, " mixing," he says, 
" with the inhabitants and becoming intimately acquainted with every particular 
relating to their locality." From what lie ascertained on the spot, he stated that 
the Imaum of Muscat had no sovereign rights whatever. In his Journal, written 
in 1836, Captain Haines says, that "besides the boats occasionally touching at 
Hullaniyah, this island is sometimes visited by a boat belonging to the Khalfan 
family of the Maharah tribe (for an account of which family see De Lacy, 
" Chrcstomathie Arabe," Second Edition, Vol. 3, p. 357), who claim the Kooria 
group as their hereditary property" — and then follow the names of the three prin- 
cipal members of the family. " These chieftains," he says, " reside at Ghazir, and 
their periodical visits to the islands are made for the purpose of claiming any 
ambergris the inhabitants may have collected, as well as to obtain from them 
whatever money they may happen to have received in exchange for salted and 
dried fish, in return for which the natives are frequently rewarded with a small 
quantity of tobacco, dates, or coarse cloth." Captain Haines, on learning of the 
intention to station " a small vessel of war " to protect the guano fleet, expressed 
his opinion, that owing to the stormy weather and the dangers of the open 
anchorage, " her own security would engage her principal attention." He says in 
his Journal that in 1836 some of the islands were covered with myriads of birds 
of the garnet species, but with respect to the supply of guano, he wrote, on the 
3rd of May, 1857, in the " Bombay Telegraph and Courier," on learning of the 
scheme for its collection, " I look for further disappointment to the sanguine pro- 
jectors." And Captain Haines was right in his anticipations, for at a meeting of 
the masters of thirty-nine vessels, held at the Kooria-Mooria Islands on the 1-lth 
of January, 1858, resolutions were passed to the effect, ''that the three islands, 
Haski, Jibleea, and Ghurzood, are not covered with guano, as stated by Ord, 
Hindson, and Hayes, the lessees ; that the quality is not anything like Ichaboe 
and Upper Peru ; that the sea is often very rough, and several ships have 
lost anchors ; that there are no safe harbours for ships on the island of Jibleea, 
within half a mile of which no ship can lie ; that sufficient labour is not pro- 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 537 

the time of the arrival of the 'Constance,' with a tremendous 
surf running, and Lieutenant Cookson, who was aware that 
an attempt, made by a merchant ship a few days before, 
had failed, and that the position of the poor fellows was 
desperate, stripped off his clothes, and fastening a line round 
his waist, swam ashoie through the surf and brought the men 
off to the boat, all three being more dead than alive. With 
characteristic modesty, this gallant officer, on his arrival at 
Bombay, made no mention of his act, but it nevertheless came 
to the knowledge of Commodore Wellesley, who, in a letter 
to Government, dated the 17th of June, reporting the return of 
the 'Constance,' says: — "Although Lieutenant Cookson, com- 
manding the 'Constance,' with a modesty which does him credit, 
has refrained from alluding, even in his official report, to the 
difficulty he experienced in rescuing these two men, I cannot 
avoid bringing to the notice of your Excellency in Council, 
what I have learned from other sources, viz., that after re- 
maining two days at anchor off Jibleea, the 'Constance ' during 
that time lying exposed to bad weather and a heavy sea, 
without being able to communicate with the shore, Lieutenant 
Cookson swam on shore with a line from a boat, by which 
means he hauled the two men into the boat, and there is no 
doubt that he nearly lost his own life in doing so. Such 
conduct, I cannot doubt, will entitle him to the commendation 
of your Excellency in Council." Government, in acknow- 
ledging Commodore Wellesley's letter, on the 8th of July, stated 
that " the Governor in Council is much obliged by your having 
brought to his notice the manner in which Lieutenant Cookson 
effected the rescue of the men who had been abandoned on 
Jibleea Island, by Messrs. Ord & Co., lessees of the Kooria- 
Mooria Islands. His Excellency begs that in conveying to 
Lieutenant Cookson the thanks of the Government for his 
successful execution of this duty, you will express to him the 
high sense which they entertain of his bravery and skill, with 
which, at much personal risk, he effected the rescue of the 
Europeans, left by their employers on the uninhabited island of 
Jibleea." 

Commander Cruttenden sailed, on the 4th of May, 1861,* in 

curable from Aden ; that the statement of the dryness of the climate is false ; and 
that the meeting considers that the lessees should forfeit the amount ef license." 

* The following movements of ships of the Service during the year are of 
sufficient importance to be recorded : — Sir George Clerk, being desirous of com- 
municating personally with the Guicowar of Baroda and the chiefs of Kattywar, 
as he had with some in the Southern Mahratta country, on his return from 
Sedasheghur in the ' Semiramis,' proceeded in the ' Victoria,' Lieutenant Sedley, 
on the 12th of January, 1861, to Surat, and thence, accompanied by Sir William 
Mansfield, to Kurrachee, returning to Bombay again in that ship on the 27th of 
February. The ' Victoria ' also took up to Kurrachee Commander Balfour, on 
his appointment as Superintendent of the Indus flotilla, in place of Captain 
Macdonald, and the command of the ' Semiramis ' was assumed by Commander 



538 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the 'Zenobia,' as Senior Naval Officer, for Aden, calling on his 
way at Muscat, with the Reverend G. P. Badger (the eminent 
Arabic scholar, and Persian interpreter to Sir James Outrarn 
during the Persian War), one of the Muscat-Zanzibar Com- 
mission, who conveyed to the Imaum, Seyyid Tooweynee, the 
decision of Sir George Clerk, the arbitrator in the dispute 
between him and his brother, the ruler of Zanzibar. On the 
11th of May, also, the ' Semiramis,' Commander Worsley, 
sailed for Zanzibar, to make known to Seyyid Madjid, the 
decision of the Governor of Bombay, by which lie was directed 
to pay 40,000 dollars yearly to his brother with two years 
tribute in arrears. Commander Worsley sailed on his return 
to Bombay, on the 1st of July, when he left Seyyid Madjid at 
the point of death, and arrived on the 17th of July, after a 
very stormy passage. In consequence of the apprehended 
demise of the Sultan, the ' Semiramis' again left for Zanzibar 
on the 12th of August, with Major Lewis Pelly, (appointed to 
officiate for Colonel Rigby, H.M.'s Consul.) and Seyyid Burghash, 
whose rebellion against his brother had been overcome by the 
gallantry of Commander Adams and the officers and men of the 
'Assaye,' as already detailed. The 'Semiramis' was nearly 
lost on the 20th of September, when she grounded on one of 
the reefs of Pomoni Bay, on the south side of the island of 
Johanna, one of the Comoro group. With the assistance of 
H.M.'s ship 'Ariel,' she was got off again in about two hours, 
but Commander Worsley — finding that she had sprung a bad 
leak, which the pumps were unable to keep down, and 
the starboard engine being disabled, and the water even- 
tually putting out the fires— hauled her up on the beach. 
Eventually, the ' Semiramis' was floated off, and her guns were 
hoisted out, when the leak was temporarily patched up, after 
which, escorted by the ' Zenobia,' which arrived from Aden to her 
assistance, she proceeded first to Zanzibar, and thence to Aden. 

Worsley. On the 4th of February, the ' Clive, Commander Drought, sailed for 
the Persian Gulf, and that officer hoisted his broad pennant as Commodore of 
the Persian Gulf Squadron from the 2nd of March, the day on which he received 
his promotion to the rank of Captain, on the retirement of Captain Macdonald. 
On the 22nd of April, 1861, Commander Cruttenden was appointed Senior Officer at 
Aden, and to the command of the ' Zenobia,' thus superseding Lieutenant Chitty, 
whose good service was, however, recognised by his appointment to the command 
of the ' Victoria.' 

The Persian Gulf squadron consisted at this time of the ' Auckland,' ' El- 
phinstone,' ' Falkland,' and schooners ' Mahi ' and ' Georgians.' On the 9th of 
April, 1861, the ' Falkland,' Commander Cruttenden, arrived at Bombay, and her 
Captain, on being appointed senior officer at Aden, took command of the ' Zenobia,' 
and Commander Fraser was appointed to the ' Falkland.' The ' Elphinstone,' 
Lieutenant Brooman, arrived at Bombay on the 30th of April, but sailed again 
for the Gulf, under the command of Lieutenant Etheridge, on the 8th of June. 
The ' Mahi' also returned from the Gulf on the 28th of January, and on Lieu- 
tenant Whish being appointed to conduct the survey of the Punjaub rivers in 
place of Lieutenant C. Forster, Lieutenant Lewis was placed in command 
of her. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 539 

On the 4th of May, 1862, the ' Semiramis ' arrived at Bom- 
bay. It would be impossible to speak in too high terms of the 
skill and resource which was displayed by Commander Worsley 
and his officers, in rescuing their ship when the officers of the 
'Ariel ' pronounced her to be a total loss. 

As it was decided that the paddle wheel steam-frigates, ; As- 
saye' and 'Punjaub,' should be converted into screws, they 
sailed for London — the 'Punjaub,' Commander Foulerton, on the 
8th of February, and the ' Assaye,' Commander Adams, on the 
31st of March. But they were put out of commission on their 
arrival in England, and the Indian Navy list " knew them no 
more," though as sailing ships in the mercantile marine they 
maintained their reputation as swift sailers. 

On the 6th of October, 1861, the 'Ferooz,' Commander 
Tronson, proceeded to Suez tor the newly appointed Governor- 
General, Lord Elgin; and, on the 12th of March, in the 
following year, his Lordship landed at Calcutta under a salute 
of twenty-one guns from the ' Ferooz ' and Fort William. On 
the 19th of March the 'Ferooz' again sailed with Lord Canning, 
who arrived in England on the 26th of April, only, however, to 
die on the 17th of June, when his great services, which had 
been rewarded with an Earldom and the Garter, received the 
final recognition of a public funeral in AVestminster Abbey, 
where, within twelve months, his two greatest lieutenants in the 
pacification of India, Lord Clyde and Sir James Outram, were 
also laid to rest. On the 24th of April, 1862, the 'Auckland,' 
Commander Fraser,* arrived from Beypore with Sir Bartle 
Frere, Member of the Supreme Council, who was appointed 
Governor of Bombay; and, on the same day, Sir George Clerk, the 
late Governor, embarked for Suez on board the ' Dalhousie,' 
Commander Hopkins, under salutes from the 'Ajdaha,' ' Clive,' 
and ' Auckland,' thus closing an Indian career of remarkable 
success and usefulness. On the 14th of August, 1862, the 
' Semiramis ' proceeded to Aden to relieve the ' Zenobia,' and 
Commander Adams, who had assumed command of that ship, 
and the duties of Senior Naval Officer from the 8th of July, 
shifted his pennant to the ' Semiramis' on the 30th September, 
when the 'Zenobia' returned to Bombay under command of 
Lieutenant F. Gardiner, ar.d was finally put out of commission. 
By a Royal Warrant of the 27th of May, 1862. published at 
Calcutta by the Supreme Government, under date the 29th 
July, a new Table of Precedence, a matter always of prime 
importance in India not only among Native princes, but with 
society at large, was promulgated to the services Civil and 
Military. In this Warrant the Commander-in-chief of the Indian 

* Commander Fraser, hitherto commanding the ' Falkland,' exchanged with 
Commodore Drought, of the 'Auckland,' which arrived from the Gulf on the 7th 
of April. 



540 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Navy was given precedence immediately after the Commanders- 
in-chief at Madras and Bombay, whose place was next to the 
Commander-in-chief of U.M.'s Naval Forces in China and the 
East. 

The question of the position of the Indian Navy,* which, 
since the accession to power of Lord William Bentinck, had 
been one of constant recurrence before the Court of Directors, 
once again "came up for consideration," and when, in con- 
sequence of the serious annual deficits of Indian finance, large 
reductions were made in the Civil and Military services, it 
became a question whether the Indian Navy should be abolished 
or reduced, for an amalgamation with the Royal Navy was 
opposed by the Admiralty, and, indeed, was impracticable. The 
Government of India, true to the policy enunciated by Lord 
William Bentinck and Sir Charles Metcalfe, acting on the re- 
commendation of Mr. Laing's Finance Commission, wrote a 
despatch recommending a very large reduction in the Indian 
Navy ; but, though a decision was of urgent necessity, not only 
on economical grounds, but also as regarded efficiency, as the 
Service, if left with its obsolete types of paddle steam-frigates 
and sailing sloops, would be utterly unfitted to cope with the 
navies of Europe, the India Office hesitated to pronounce its 
doom, doubtless being awake to the gravity of a step by which 
a body of highly trained officers would be dispersed beyond 
power of recall. Thus we find that, on the 31st of May, 18(51, 
Sir Charles Wood, in reply to a question from Sir George 
Bowyer, stated that no decision had yet been arrived at, but 
that the despatch of the Supreme Government was " under con- 
sideration;" and a question put in the Upper House on the 
21st of June, by Lord Ellenborough, met with a similar reply 
from the Duke of Somerset, then First Lord of the Admiralty. 
The first step towards the disintegration of the Service was 
taken in April, 1861, when Government ordered the reduction 
of the detachments of Marines serving on board the ships of 
the Indian Navy, and also of the Marine Battalion itself, which 
for nearly a century, had been associated with the Service. 

A letter, dated Mahableshwur, the 2nd of April, 1861, from 
the Adjutant-General of the Army, was received at the 



* The Marine Department of Bengal which bad been successively under the 
authority of two distinguished officers of the Indian Navy, Captains Rogers and 
Rennie, was tinally remodelled in 1861. By these changes, which were confirmed 
by the Order of the Governor-General in Council, of the 12th of July, in conformity 
with the resolution of May the 15th, published in the " Government Gazette," 
the office of Superintendent of Marine was abolished, and Captain Rennie 
became the " Controller of Marine Affairs and Secretary to the Government of 
India in the Marine Department." The dockyards and inland flotilla were trans- 
ferred to the Government of India, while the Master-Attendant's office, the Pilot 
establishment, and all purely local establishments remained under the Govern- 
ment of Bengal, with which the head of those establishments was placed in 
direct communication. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 541 

headquarters of the Corps, on the 5th of April, forwarding a 
Resolution of Government, dated the 26th of March, 1801, 
directing the reduction of detachments on board sea-going 
vessels, and also the strength of the Battalion to one subahdar- 
major, seven subahdars, eight jemadars, eight colour-havildars, 
thirty-two havildars, forty naiques, six hundred privates, eight 
bheesties, and twenty-four boys. By a subsequent order the 
Battalion was allowed to have fifty privates as supernumeraries ; 
total, six hundred and fifty. The following General Order, 
dated the 29th of July, 1861, was published on the Battalion 
being incorporated with the Line regiments : — " In consequence 
of the reductien of the 29th, 30th, and 31st Regiments, N.I., 
and the 2nd Regiment of Jacob's Rifles, and in assimilation 
with the plan adopted in Bengal with the sanction of the 
Supreme Government, the Regiments of Native Infantry of the 
Bombay Army will be designated as follows : — The Marine 
Battalion is brought into the line of Native Infantry Regiments, 
and is designated the 21st Regiment Native Infantry, or 
' Marine Battalion.' " This concludes our record of the services 
of the Bombay Marine Battalion,* which, from its formation in 
1777, down to the date of the abolition of the Indian Navy, 
gained all its honours on board the ships-of-war of the Service. 
It was a graceful and gracious, as well as a well-earned^ompli- 
pliment on the part of His Royal Highness the Prince of 
Wales, on the occasion of his recent visit to India, to present 
new colours to the Marine Battalion, and to accept the old 
colours, to be hung up in Marlborough House. The Indian 
Navy has ceased to exist, but the officers of the Service still 
surviving have learnt with satisfaction and pride this acknow- 
ledgment of good work by a Regiment, whose entire service was 
rendered afloat on board ships under their orders and without 
the aid or intervention of any Marine officers. 

A few months later, Government also directed that the Indus 
Flotilla should be reduced to six steamers and six flats— the 
establishment in 1858 consisting of fifteen steamers and ten 

* In 1865 Dr. Livingstone, having, with the sanction of Government, called 
for volunteers to accompany him on his exploring expedition to Central Africa, 
forty men of the Regiment'offered their services ; two non-commissioned officers 
and ten men were selected, and the entire party left Bombay for Zanzibar in 
January. In the following March, the Regiment furnished a party under a 
subahdar, afterwards increased to one hundred and two rank and file, to proceed 
on service on board H.M.'s steam-ship ' Coromandel,' Lieutenant Carew, I.N., 
bound for the Persian Gulf and Muscat. This detachment returned on the 6th 
of June, 1866, leaving small parties on board the gunboats, ' Hugh Rose,' and 
' Clyde.' A detachment, consisting of one subahdar, one jemadar, one colour 
havildar, four havildars, six naiques, and seventy-four privates, proceeded with 
the pioneer force to Abyssinia in 1867, and, on their return, the detachment 
received great praise from Lord Napier of Magdala, and Brigadier- General 
Merewether, for the zeal and intelligence' displayed in the execution of the 
various duties entrusted to them. The detachment lost twelve privates by 
sickness. 



542 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

flats. This branch of the Indian Navy had done good service 
since its institution at the time of the Afghan War, more par- 
ticularly during the Scinde Campaign, when its conduct met 
with the approval of such high authorities as Sir Charles 
Napier and Major Outram, and during the Indian Mutiny, when 
the Supreme Government expressed its thanks in highly 
laudatory terms. The "Indus Steam Flotilla and Punjaub 
Railway Company" took over certain of the Government 
steamers and flats, Government taking shares in the Company 
as payment.* On the 26th of September, 18(51, Lieutenants 
Child and Brooman were, respectively, appointed Deputy Super- 
intendent of Boats and Government Freight Agent at Mooltan 
and Kurrachee, of which latter port Lieutenant Gilesf had 
been the Master-Attendant for some years; and, on the 23rd 
of April following, Lieutenant James was also appointed to fill 
the same posts at Kotree, the headquarters of the Indus Flotilla 
and now the station of the central division of boats. Finally, 
in August, 1861, the last remnant of the Flotilla ceased to 
exist. On the 9th of that month, Lieutenant Giles arrived at 
Kotree from Kurrachee, and Captain Balfour hauled down his 
pennant and made over to that officer the few remaining vessels, 
which were to form a civil department under the orders of the 
Comrrf|sioner of Scinde. In this year the superintendence 
of the Indus Steam Flotilla, a purely commercial company, 
was entrusted to Captain John Wood, I.N., the intrepid 
explorer of the sources of the Oxus, in 1838 ; and that 

* See reply of Sir Charles Wood to a question of Colonel Sykes in the House 
of Commons on the I Oth of March, 1862. 

t Lieutenant Giles gained the Albert Medal — as did also Mr. Shuttle- 
worth, I.N., for gallantry in saving life at Bombay — which was presented 
to him at Kurrachee on the 4th of April, 1871, by Sir William Merewether, the 
energetic and able Commissioner of Scinde. The presentation took place with 
great eclat, before a crowded audience, the band of H.M.'s 66th Regiment being 
present. Sir William Merewether, in eulogising the services of Commander Giles 
since the year 1839, when he joined the Service, of which he was always con- 
sidered one of the smartest representatives, and paying a compliment to the 
Indian Navy, which, he said, " has given a long list of brave and distinguished 
officers," added : — " For more than fourteen years now has Captain Giles most ably 
conducted the management of the port of Kurrachee, and I am sure all who have 
ever visited it, will bear the fullest testimony to his unvarying kindness and con- 
sideration, while their confidence in approaching their journey's end was greatly 
increased by the knowledge that so experienced an officer and thorough sailor 
held the keys to admit them." Captain Giles earned the Albert Medal for the 
great bravery displayed by him in saving the crew of the ship ' Alicia,' which had 
struck on the Kurrachee bar, driven before the full force of a south-west 
monsoon. In making the presentation Sir William Merewether said : — " Cap- 
tain Giles, I esteem it a high honour that the duty has been entrusted to me of 
presenting you this much prized decoration, the reward for distinguished gal- 
lantry in saving life at sea. I congratulate you most heartily on this just 
recognition of your humane and gallant conduct, and I wish you many years of 
continued honoured life to wear the order." Captain Giles also received the 
medal of the Royal Humane Society for great gallantry in rescuing the crew of 
the ship 'Julia' in 1857. 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 543 

officer — who, on the 31st of October, 1835, had the proud 
satisfaction of being the first to unfurl the flag of his 
country on the classic waters of the Indus from the deck 
of a steamer — was so successful in his management that, in 
1870, a year before his death, he had under his orders, in the 
highest state of efficiency, a fleet of steamers earning for their 
owners a net profit of <£22,673 10s. for the first six months of 
that year, a success attributable entirely to his able and ener- 
getic management, and unsurpassed by any guaranteed under- 
taking in India. 

At this time, also, the Dockyard establishment was reduced 
one- third, and it became known that the Service was doomed, 
the chief question at issue between the Indian and Home 
Governments being as to the scale of pensions to be awarded 
to the officers. The Secretary of State for India objected to those 
recommended by the Indian Government ; but Lord Canning 
pleaded for justice, if not liberality, to gentlemen who were 
entitled by the Act of Parliament of the 2nd of August, 1858, 
to remain under the existing terras of their covenants. 

The following clauses of this Act, by which Her Majesty as- 
sumed the direct Government of India, entitled, " An Act for the 
better Government of India," more especially guaranteed them 
this right :— "LVI. The Military and Naval Forces of the East 
India Company shall be deemed to be the Indian Military and 
Naval Forces of Her Majesty, and shall be under the same obli- 
gations to serve Her Majesty as they would have been under to 
serve the said Company, and shall be liable to serve within the 
same territorial limits only, for the same terms only, and be 
entitled to the like pay, pensions, allowances, and privileges, 
and the like advantages as regards promotion and otherwise, as 
if they had continued in the service of the said Company. 
Such forces, and all persons hereafter enlisting in or entering 
the same, shall continue and be subject to all Acts of Parlia- 
ment, Laws of the Governor-General of India in Council, and 
Articles of War, and all other laws, regulations, and provisions 
relating to the East India Company's Military and Naval 
Forces respectively, as if Her Majesty's Indian Military and 
Naval Forces respectively had throughout such acts, laws, 
articles, regulations, and provisions been mentioned or referred 
to, instead of such Forces of the said Company ; and the pay 
and expenses of, and incident to, Her Majesty's Indian Military 
and Naval Forces, shall be defrayed out of the revenues of 
India." "LV1II. All persons who at the time of the com- 
mencement of this Act shall hold any offices, employments, or 
commissions whatever under the said Company in India shall 
thenceforth be deemed to hold such offices, employments, and 
commissions under Her Majesty as if they had been appointed 
under this Act, and shall be paid out of the revenue of India ; 



544 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

and the transfer of any person to the service of Her Majesty 
shall be deemed to he a continuance of his previous service, 
and shall not prejudice any claims to pension, or any claims on 
the various Annuity Funds of the several Presidencies in 
India, which he might have had if this Act had not been 
passed." 

On the 14th of March, 1862, Sir Charles Wood, replying to a 
question in the House of Commons, of Sir J. Elphin stone, said: — 
" It was impossible to state what were the intentions of the 
Government in regard to the Indian Navy/' and, he added, 
" the Indian Government had not complied with the instruc- 
tions sent out to them, as they ' took a different view of the 
matter,' which would necessitate a further communication from 
him." It was generally understood in India that the Service 
was only awaiting its coup de grace, and furloughs were freely 
granted to officers to proceed to England, while others, applying 
at the India Office, to return to duty, were given extensions of 
leave. A third time, on the 22nd of May, Sir H. Willoughby 
questioned the Secretary of State for India as to the position of 
the officers, and, after eulogizing their services and high scientific 
attainments, expressed his anxiety that the guarantees conveyed 
in the 56th clause of the Act of Parliament, should be observed, 
as " the faith of the Legislature was pledged." Colonel Sykes 
also paid a high compliment to the officers, and their consistent 
advocate, Sir J. Elphinstone, deprecated the abolition of the 
Service, in the public interests, and, instancing the admirable 
manner in which, during troublous times, they had preserved 
the peace of the Persian Gulf, added : — " The officers had an 
intimate knowledge of the usages and customs of the tribes of 
the Persian Gulf, and were by that means, and by the semi- 
diplomatic character which they possessed, enabled to preserve 
the peace of the country."* On this occasion Sir Charles Wood 

* The following circumstance, which took place early in 1873, affords a striking 
comment on the common-sense view taken by Sir J. Elphinstone, of the folly 
of abolishing a Service whose officers, from their knowledge of the languages and 
habits of the maritime population of the East, could never have committed the 
egregious blunder of confounding peaceable fishing-boats with slavers, and treating 
their crewB accordingly: — "It appears," says the "Times of India," "that 
H.M.S. 'Thetis,' on her way clown the Red Sea saw a fleet of mother-of-pearl 
fishing boats from Hodeida, which were at once supposed to be slavers running 
away. The boats, which were accordingly sent in chase of them, found the 
vessels just anchored, and some ' big, bulky Sidis ' among their crews. This 
being considered clear proof of their alleged crime, all the fishing boats, sixteen in 
number, were forthwith burnt, the crews landed in a desert island, and about 
thirty Sidis carried off as rescued slaves to Aden. There was no one, it seems, 
to explain matters on the spot, but apparently at Aden the mistake was dis- 
covered. The ' Dalhousie' was at once sent off to Asab Bay, to convey the luckless 
Arabs to Hodeida, but meanwhile they had been rescued by some of their own 
boats, or had succeeded in crossing to the mainland on rafts, in preference to 
remaining without food or water on the desert island. One man is said to have 
been drowned in crossing, another had been shot, a third burnt, and so on. This 
is not the first time of late years that peaceful fishermen have been mistaken for 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 545 

was prevented by the rules of the House from making a reply ; but 
when, on the 5th of June, he was again pressed for an answer 
by Sir H. Willoughby and Sir M. Farquhar, he said:— "The 
position of the officers of the Indian Navy was unchanged, that 
no steps had yet been taken in relation to that Service, and 
that nothing, in fact, had been done. He hoped, too, that all 
arrangements which it might be necessary to make, would be 
effected without in any degree infringing on the guarantee given 
to the public servants in India when the transfer of Government 
was about to take place. He must, however, be permitted to 
put a different interpretation on the guarantee from that which 
the Hon. Member for Hertford (Sir M. Farquhar) had given 
it. When an army or a regiment was reduced, the effect was to 
diminish, to a certain extent, the prospect of the junior officers. 
But if the guarantee referred to were taken to extend to all 
advantages which every officer might obtain by promotion, the 
Indian Army and Navy must be kept up for the next twenty 
years. It would be necessary to preserve them for that length 
of time, if all the advantages which their existence might confer 
on the officers who had entered them perhaps only six months 
ago, were to be preserved to those officers in all their integrity. 
He entirely admitted that full and fair consideration should be 
given to the case of those officers whose prospects would be 
injured. It was his anxious desire, and that of every Member 
of the Indian Council, that the claims of officers in the Indian 
Service should be considered in that way ; but when a regiment 
was reduced in England the officers whose services were no 
longer required were put on half-pay, and he could never admit 
that the House had bound itself to keep up the Army and Navy 
of India, so that no injury should be done to the prospects of 
the youngest officer throughout his life." To this it might be 
replied that there was no such thing as half-pay in the Indian 
Navy, and the right to full-pay pensions was just one of the 
"privileges" that was specially guaranteed by the wording of 
the Act. Also temporary half-pay was a widely different thing 
from permanent loss of profession and such injury to prospects 
as is involved in abolition. 

On the 12th of June, 1862, Commodore "Wellesley proceeded 
to England to advise the Government on the scale of pensions 
to be awarded to officers of the Indian Navy, and on other 

regular slavers, their property destroyed, arid themselves subjected to wanton 
outrage, or placed in imminent peril of their lives." Such incidents, as these 
the writer in the Bombay journal not unreasonably remarks, "proclaim trumpet- 
tongued the necessity for the reconstitutioii of an Indian Marine. In the days 
of tlie Indian Navy, our officers in these seas generally knew what they were 
about. They managed to learn Arabic enough to help them in avoiding scrapes 
arising out of zeal untempered by experience, and if they ever chased the wrong 
Teasel, they discovered their mistake before any serious harm had been done to 
innocent people." 

VOL. II. N N 



546 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

points connected with the abolition of the Service. The period 
of five years for which Commanders-in-chief were appointed, 
expired on the 7th of July, so it was understood that he would 
not return. Commodore. Wellesley, the last, and in many 
respects, the best, of the Commanders-in-chief of the Indian 
Navy, quitted Bombay for England to the regret of the Service. 
His incumbency had been an eventful one, and the Mutiny in 
India entailed a considerable expansion of the Service ; but 
Commodore Wellesley and the officers under his command were 
equal to the occasion, and there was no sign of weakness under 
the unusual strain. The success which attended the adminis- 
tration of the departing Commander-in-chief was, in no small 
measure, due to a happy admixture of firmness, tempered with 
consideration for the feelings of those under his command, and 
he infused a high tone among the officers, who responded with 
loyalty to the requirements of their chief. 

The following Order was published by the Governor in 
Council: "Bombay Castle, the 10th of September,1862. No. 144. 
— The period of service of Commodore George Wellesley, C.B., 
having expired on the 7th of July, Captain James Frushard, of 
H.M.'s Indian Navy, is appointed Commodore commanding 
H.M.'s Indian Navy from that date and until further orders. 
The Hon. the Governor in Council, in notifying to the Service 
the termination of Commodore Wellesley's command, desires that 
officer to accept the cordial thanks of Government for the 
admirable judgment and disinterested zeal with which, during 
the five years of his command, he has discharged the duties of 
Commodore and Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, and 
continually afforded to Government the advantage of his 
experience and advice on the numerous subjects on which 
he has been consulted. During Commodore Wellesley's tour of 
command the Indian Navy was constantly employed, especially 
in the late war with China. At the close of that struggle the 
whole Naval force, under Rear-Admiral Sir J. Hope, K.C.B., 
including seven ships of the Indian Navy, received the marked 
commendation of the Lords of the Admiralty. Although in 
this Service Commodore Wellesley had no personal share, the 
Indian Navy felt then, as on all occasions, the influence of his 
just and impartial command, and its discipline, and, therefore, 
the credit it won, was in no small degree due to the admirable 
spirit of which Commodore Wellesley afforded to every officer 
and man so distinguished an example. His Excellency in 
Council takes this opportunity of directing the publication of 
the following letter, addressed by Commodore Wellesley to 
Captain Frushard, the senior officer of H.M.'s Indian Navy : — 
'London, the 3rd of July, 1862. Sir, The period of my 
service as Commander-in-chief of H.M's Indian Navy will 
expire on the 7th instant, and I have received intimation from 
Her Majesty's Secretary of State that I shall not be required to 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 547 

return to India. In bidding farewell to the Navy over which, 
during the last five years, I have held the chief command, I 
cannot but express my regret at the termination of my con- 
nection with so honourable and valuable a Service, for the 
members of which I shall always entertain sentiments of the 
highest regard and esteem. Without particularising the occa- 
sions on which the Service has distinguished itself in an especial 
manner during this period, I can say without flattery that the 
duties required of it have invariably been well and faithfully 
performed, and the condition of the vessels such as to reflect 
the greatest credit upon both officers and men, and to merit 
my warmest approbation. To the secretary and members of my 
office establishment and to the officers of the dockyard, I would 
desire to express my best thanks for the cordial assistance I 
have always received from them, and for the satisfactory 
manner in which their respective duties have been conducted. 
I request you will do me the favour to make known these 
sentiments to the Service at large.' " 

Captain Frushard, Senior Officer of the Indian Navy, hoisted 
his broad pennant as Commodore and Commander-in-chief on 
board the 'Ajdaha;' and Captain Young, C.B., was directed by 
Government Order to continue " to conduct the duties of As- 
sistant Superintendent and Dockmaster, and to superintend 
the duties more particularly connected with the Dockyard and 
Steam Establishment." With the departure of Commodore 
Wellesley, in June, the Service entered upon its last phase, that 
of dissolution. 

The 'Ferooz' and ' Seiniramis,' which arrived from Suez and 
Aden on the 4th of May, were retained in commission, the 
former being intended for the Governor-General's personal use, 
and the latter to relieve the 'Zenobia' at Aden, until the ar- 
rangements regarding the introduction of ships of the Royal 
Navy were complete. The ' Victoria.' from Aden on the 30th 
of May, was condemned to be sold, but continued to be em- 
ployed until the abolition of the Service, under the command 
of Lieutenant Chitty ; the ' Auckland,' Commander Fraser, which 
arrived from the Laccadive Islands on the 13th of May, was 
converted into a " harbour defence vessel." Other ships, 
temporarily retained in commission, were the ' Berenice,' Lieu- 
tenant Searle ; the ' Lady Canning,' Lieutenant James, em- 
ployed at the Andaman Islands, where, in July, she captured 
some escaped convicts ; the schooners ' Georgiana,' Lieutenant 
Yates, in the Persian Gulf, 'Mahi,' Lieutenant Gardner, and 
' Constance,' Lieutenant Trollope, both at Aden ; and the gun- 
boats, ' Clyde,' Lieutenant Sedley, and ' Hugh Rose,' Lieutenant 
Wood. The ' Prince Arthur,' 'Dalhousie,' and 'Coromaudel,'* 

* The ' Coromandel,' Commander Batt, arrived at Bombay from the eastward 
on the 7th of August, 186:2, and sailed on the 2nd of September, under command 

NN 2 



548 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

were retained as troopships, though with Lascar crews ; the 
' Clive,' Commander Adams, then in Bombay harbour, was put 
out of commission ; and the ' Elphinstone,' ' Tigris,' and ' Falk- 
land,' were recalled from the Persian Gulf, and the gunboat 
'Clyde,' was sent to relieve them. These sailing ships, which 
had done such good service to the State, the three former for 
nearly forty years, and whose names will recall to all the 
officers of the old Service, the recollection of many happy days 
passed within their wooden walls, with associations of shipmates 
now no more, were condemned to be sold, with masts and gear 
all standing, being considered, like their late officers, of no 
further use. The only other ship unaccounted for was the old 
'Euphrates,' which had completed her last duty as a surveying 
ship, and was also put out of commission. 

The following Government Order was published to the 
Service, referring to these arrangements: "Marine Depart- 
ment, Bombay Castle, July 15, 1862. — Resolution.— His Ex- 
cellency the Governor in Council is pleased to order the 
following arrangements in respect to the disposal of the vessels 
of the Indian Navy. 2. As directed by the Government of 
India, the following vessels will be kept ready in commission as 
transports, and manned with Lascar crews as in Bengal : — the 
' Dalhousie,' the ' Coromandel.' 3. The undermentioned vessels 
being placed out of commission, will be kept as transports out of 
commission, with a harbour establishment as hereafter shown : — 
' Semiramis,' 'Berenice,' ' Zenobia.' 4. As one vessel is to be 
kept always ready in a state of preparedness to go to sea, the 
' Ferooz ' will be allotted for this duty, having a full transport 
Lascar crew, and equipped as when required as a yacht for his 
Excellency the Governor-General. 5. The ' Auckland ' is a very 
strong vessel, teak-built but very slow 7 , and her accommodation 
for troops is bad. The ' Victoria ' also is slow, and has not good 
accommodation. 6. The 'Victoria' may, therefore, be sold; 
but the ' Auckland ' might be kept as a floating battery for 
Bombay, or Kurrachee harbour. She would require no crew 
beyond what is sufficient to watch her, the nature and extent of 
which should be submitted by the Commander-in-chief of the 
Indian Navy. 7. The following harbour establishment is sanc- 
tioned:— One lieutenant commanding, one gunner or boat- 
swain, one syrang, one tindal, twenty-five lascars, one engineer, 
ten stokers, one lieutenant's servant, one cook, one warrant 
officer's servant, one engineer's servant, one topass. 8. The 

of Lieutenant Carew, for China; the 'Dalhousie,' Commander Hopkins, had 
been also trooping to the eastward and to Kurrachee, whence she returned on 
the 19th of March, and on the 5th of September sailed for China, under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Pengelley. The ' Prince Arthur,' Lieutenant Walker, which 
had arrived at Bombay on the preceding 29th of November, having been em- 
ployed carrying troops to New Zealand, sailed for Singapore on the 31st of 
July, under the command of Lieutenant Brazier. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 549 

sailing vessels mentioned below, being 113 longer required, may 
be sold, the guns and Government stores lit for future use 
having first been landed. The ships should be sold with masts 
and rigging all standing, under arrangements to be made by 
the Commander-in-chief, Indian Navy : — ' Elphinstone,' ' Give,' 
' Falkland,' and ' Tigris.' 9. The ' Prince Arthur,' steam trans- 
port, has been ordered to Alguada reef. She will be supplied 
with a native crew, and be sent round under an Acting-Master, 
with mates as required. 10. The 'Clyde' and 'Hugh Rose', 
gunboats, have been set apart for the police of the Persian Gulf 
and Mekran Coast. The ' Clyde ' is in the Gulf, and the ' Hugh 
Rose ' is on her way to Bombay, from which in turn, and after 
overhaul, she will relieve the ' Clyde.' "* 

On the 27th of August, 1862, the 'Falkland,' Commodore 
Drought,! arrived from the Persian Gulf, and during the month 

* The smaller vessels were disposed of as follows: — "The 'Goolanar' to be 
steam yacht for the harbour, &c. The ' Pleiad,' steam despatch vessel, may be 
placed at the disposal of H.M 's Consul at Zanzibar. The ' Snake ' to remain 
harbour boat, and tiie ' Lady Falkland' to be employed iu the harbour defence 
works. Tae Controller is requested to submit a statement showing the cost of 
establishment retained for the future, contrasted with that existing previous to 
the commencement of reduction." In 18 "4, when arrangements were made for the 
resumption of the Indian Marine Surveys, under the superintendence of Com- 
mander Taylor, I.N., the survey flotilla, which was ordered to consist of one 
steam tender, three brigs, two scho mers, and five steam pi maces, included the 
gunboat 'Clyde,' of 300 tons and sixty -horse power, and the Indian Navy 
schooner, ' Constance.' 

The following is a list of the sea-going vessels of all classes at the disposal of 
the Bombay Government iu 1875-76: — The steamer 'Comet' still employed on 
the Tigris ; the ' Constance,' schooner : the gunboats ' Hugh Rose' and ' Clyde ;' 
tne ' Dalhousie ' and ' May Frere,' steam despatch boats ; the steamer ' Quan- 
tung,' under the orders of the Political Resident at Aden ; and the two turret-ships 
'Migdala' and ' Abyssinia,' for the defence of Bombay. Of these the five first 
named belonged to the Indian Navy. The Bengal Government had under its 
orders for local service, three steamers and one sailing vessel, eight river 
steamers, four phot vessels, and five light vessels. 

f Commodore Drought resigned the Service on the pension of his rank from 
the 11th of October, and the following commanding officers also proceeded to 
England :— Commander Balfour, of the Indus Flotilla; VVorsley, of the ' Semi- 
ramis ;' Cruttenden, of the ' Zeuobia ;' Tronson, of the ' Ferooz ;' Fraser, of the 
'Auckland;' Batt, of the ' Coromandel ;' and Hopkins, of the 'Dalhousie.' 
Lieutenant Etheridge, who received his promotion to the rank of Commander by 
the retirement of Captain Drought, was appointed to the command of the ' Coro- 
mandel,' in succession to Lieutenant Carew, and remained until the abolition of 
the Service, as did Lieutenant Pengelley, who succeeded Commander Hopkins 
in the ' Dalhousie.' All the officers on unemployed pay were borne on the books 
of the flagship ' Ajdaha,' and the Government were glad to give furloughs to 
such as chose to avail themselves of it under the following conditions, conveyed 
in their Resolution of the 15th of July, and published for general information 
under date, Bombay, the 7th of August : — 1. Passage-money at the rate of 
Rs. 1,070 will be granted to all officers proceeding to England. 2. The actual 
expense of the passage of officers proceeding to other places than England will 
be disbursed by Government. 3. In the event of any officer who may have been 
permitted to proceed to England under the sanction above quoted, being ordered 
out again, the expense of his passage to India will be borne by the State, -i. Those 
officers who may remain in the Government service will have to refund the home- 
ward passage-money granted under paragraphs 1 and 2, iu such manner as may 






550 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

the ' Elphinstonc,' Lieutenant Etheridge, and the 'Tigris,' 
Lieutenant Clarkson, also returned from Bassadore. 

In the latter part of September, 1862, Commodore Lord John 
Hay, commanding H.M.S. 'Odin,' arrived at Calcutta to make 
arrangements, in concert with the Supreme Government, for the 
employment of H.M/s ships on the Eastern coasts of India in 
consequence of the projected abolition of the Service. On the 
1st of March, 1863, he arrived at Bombay, in the 'Odin,' to 
make similar arrangements regarding the Western seas, and 
sailed for England on the 17th of that month. Bombay had 
already been visited by the officer appointed by the Admiralty 
to command the East India station under the orders of the 
Admiral Commanding-in-chief H.M.'s ships and vessels in 
Eastern waters ; this was Commodore Montresor, whose ship, 
the 'Severn,' fifty-one guns, arrived from England on the 13th 
of January, 1863, when that officer proceeded on shore and visited 
Commodore Frushard at his official residence; on the following 
day the latter returned the visit, when he was saluted with eleven 
guns from the ' Severn ' — the ' Ajdaha,' in return, saluting 
Commodore Montresor' s broad pennant with nine guns. 

Sir J. Elphinstone, in his speech of the 22nd of May, ex- 
pressed apprehension that "if the Service was abolished, he 
•was afraid we should have trouble in India," and, referring more 
particularly to the admirable manner in which peace was main- 
tained in the Persian Gulf by the officers of the Indian Navy, 
owing to their familiarity with the languages and customs of 
the people, added that " he was perfectly convinced that if it 
were placed under charge of Her Majesty's Navy, and that 
officers were sent there who were not cognizant of the habits 
and usages of the tribes," we should soon be involved in diffi- 
culties. The gallant officer's prognostications were soon verified 
(though not as to the locale) by an event that happened near 
Aden, where one of H.M.'s ships got herself involved in diffi- 
culties with the Soomalies, who massacred an officer and 
fourteen men, so tragic an event never having occurred since 
our conquest of Aden in 1839, from which date the dealings 
of the officers of the Indian Navy with neighbouring tribes 
became of a character requiring a combination of caution and 
firmness. 

On the 1st of September, 18G2, a cutter and whaleboat of 

produce the least inconvenience to each individually. 5. The time spent in 
England will be allowed to reckon towards pension and retirement. 6. Officers 
proceeding to Europe will be allowed to draw the ordinary furlough pay of their 
substantive rank. 7. Officers serving afloat who have been, or who may hereafter 
be, thrown out of employment consequent on reductions in the Service, will, while 
on leave or unemployed in India, be permitted to receive the pay and emoluments 
(such as pursers' eighths, servant's wages, provision money, watch money, &c.) of 
their last appointments for the period of six months, or until further orders are 
received from the Secretary of State." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 551 

H.M.'s gunboat ' Penguin,' Lieutenant McHardy, cruising off 
Cape Guardafui, were detached under command of Sub- 
Lieutenant Fountaine, to intercept slave vessels between the 
river Juba,* or Govind, and Kwyhoo Island. The details of 
their tragic end never were actually known, as not a soul of the 
two boats' crews escaped, but what is certain of their movements 
is soon told. The boats proceeded to the northward, and being 
in want of water, the crews landed at Ras Mabber, or Cape 
Stand Off — so called because the Arab navigators run out from 
this point with the south-west monsoon, in order to round Ras 
Hafoon, or the " Surrounded," — situated in Lat. 9° 29' N. ; 
Long. 50° 50' E. The county from Ras-ul-Khyle, or Moro 
Cobir Point (Serpent's Head), in Lat. 7° 43' N., Long. 49° 45' E., 
round by Ras Ahseer, or Cape Guardafui, to Bunder Ziadeh, is 
in the possession of the Mijjertheyn tribe of Soomalies, a 
savage and treacherous race who require delicate handling; 
and it would appear that a party of them suddenly attacked the 
sailors, who, being taken by surprise, were forced to retreat to 
the cutter, leaving the whaler high and dry on the beach. The 
crews escaped with their lives, but they were not equally 
fortunate in their next meeting with the natives. On the 26th 
of September they touched at a place called Baraida, about 
fifteen miles from Cape Guardafui, when the Soomalies again 
treacherously attacked them, and the commanding officer and 
thirteen seamen were killed or drowned while attempting to 
escape to the boats. One man, being a strong swimmer, suc- 
ceeded in getting clear, and, on landing, was kindly treated by 
a Chief, who sent him, with a guard of four men, to Bunder 
Ullooleh, near a Cape of the same name ; but as the party 
were passing the village of the murderers, some of them over- 
powered the guard and killed the unfortunate seaman. 

A vague rumour of the massacre reached Aden, and Major- 
General Honner, C.B., Acting Political Resident, in the 
absence of Brigadier Coghlan, on the 21st of October de- 
spatched the ' Semiramis,' Commander Adams, having on board 
Captain Playfair, the able and experienced Assistant Political Re- 
sident (now Her Majesty's Consul General for Algeria), to Maculla, 
to which port Lieutenant McHardy had proceeded, after vainly 
searching and enquiring for his men along the coast up to Cape 
Guardafui. Commander Adams arrived at Maculla on the 23rd 
of October, and a few hours later the 'Penguin' came in, when 
Lieutenant McHardy addressed an official letter to Commander 
Adams, detailing his proceedings in search of his missing 
boats. The Maculla Chief, on an application being made to 

* This place, referred to in our account of the survey of Lieutenant Chris- 
topher, is also memorable as the scene of the massacre of one officer ami two 
boats' crews of H.M.'s ships 'Daedalus' and 'Leopard' by the treacherous 
natives. 



5~)2 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

him, stated that the scene of the massacre was on the opposite 
coast, near Ullolleh, upon which the ' Semiramis,' taking the 
'Penguin' in tow, proceeded to Bunder Muryah, where she 
anchored on the 25th of October. Here the ' Penguin ' 
remained, and Commander Adams, taking with him Lieutenant 
McHardy, and having secured the services of a man to point 
out the exact scene of the massacre, proceeded to Baraida, 
where, on the 26th of October, and again on the following 
morning, he sent on shore a strong armed party under 
Lieutenant McHardy, and Acting-Lieutenant Morland of the 
' Semiramis,' accompanied by Captain Play fair, to explore and 
seek out traces of our murdered countrymen.* 

* The following is Lieutenant McHardy's report to Commander Adams : — 
" Having by your orders landed in command of the party despatched from H.M.'s 
ship ' Semiramis,' to search for evidence of the massacre of the boats' crews of 
H.M.'s steam gun-vessel ' Penguin,' I have the honour to make the following 
report : — On landing yesterday afternoon, we separated a short distance and 
traversed the beach, hoping to find some of the bodies; we soon had proof, by 
finding some remnants of the unfortunate mens' clothing, that we were at the 
place of the massacre; that numbers of huts had recently been removed was 
apparent, by the remains of fires and fresh goats' dung. Captain Playfair ac- 
companied us on shore with the old Soomalie that, at his request, you brought 
from Bunder Muryah. Soon after we came across the first traces of our mur- 
dered countrymen, I observed this old Soomalie making off. Lieutenant Mor- 
land called to him to stop. As he did not comply, I ran after and stopped 
him, and put him in charge of the interpreter (Juma). Following this Soomalie 
separated me a little from the more advanced of our party ; when I came up 
with them, I learnt that a piece of our cutter had been found burning, close to a 
small hut, which Captain Playfair immediately set fire to. One of your men 
who had searched further from the beach than the rest, informed me that he had 
seen two huts, and a Soomalie run out of one of them ; on receiving this informa- 
tion, myself and Lieutenant Morland expressed our opinion to Captain Playfair 
that it was imperative they should be burnt, as we had already fired one. He 
agreed ; and we proceeded to the spot where the man stated he bad seen them, 
and there we found five wretched huts all containing some of the property of the 
murdered men or gear of the boats. Amongst the things found were a small 
pair of parallel rulers and a camel's hair pencil that had belonged to Sub- 
Lieutenant Fountaine, which had certainly not been in the water ; this proves 
that the boat was not capsized in the surf, as some of the Soomalies have stated. 
"We set fire to the five huts, and then returned on board as it was dark ; on our 
way the old Soomalie again tried to get away from us. This morning, by your 
orders, I landed with the same party, with the exception of Captain Playfair, 
who did not accompany us to make further search for the bodies ; we came across 
three more wretched huts, about two miles inland, which we burnt ; they all 
contained something that had belonged to our boats. Just after setting fire to 
these huts, a Soomalie was observed a few hundred yards ahead ; we gave chase, 
and shortly afterwards heard the report of a musket or rifle ; I think it was the 
latter. We proceeded in the direction of the sound, which was the same as the 
Soomalie had taken, until we observed fifteen Soomalies on top of the hill on one 
side of a deep ravine, while we were about half way up the hill on the other side 
of the ravine ; they were unfortunately not within range of our muskets, and to 
have attempted to reach them over such ground as it was, would have been mad- 
ness." Lieutenant McHardy then details the steps he took to induce one of 
them to point out the spot where the bodies were buried, but all his attempts 
were vain. He adds : — " The interpreter told me there were seventy Soomalies 
on the hill, although I only saw fifteen ; he also stated that there were a much 
larger number just the other side of the hill. Endeavours to induce one of the 
Soomalies to trust himself with us failed, and I reluctantly ordered a return to the 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 553 

The ' Semiramis ' returned to Muryah on the 29th of 
October, to await the arrival of the Mijjertheyn Sultan. That 
Chief, who, it appears, had warned the murderers that the 
British Government would exact ample reparation, arrived on 
the 2nd of November; and, on the following day, Captain 
Playfair, accompanied by Lieutenant Commanding McHardy, 
Acting Lieutenant Parker, Midshipman Chapman, and a large 
armed escort of seamen, had an interview in a tent, pitched to 
the right of the fort, when, says Commander Adams in his 
report to Commodore Frushard of the 16th of November, the 
following terms were agreed to : — "The Sultan to be allowed 
ten days, during which time he would catch as many of the 
murderers as he could (not less than twenty), to be delivered 
up to us ; restore all the plundered property he could collect, 
and apologise on the quarter-deck for the insult offered to the 
British flag and atrocity on Her Majesty's sailors." 

Leaving the 'Penguin' moored off Muryah, at the request 
of Captain Playfair, Commander Adams proceeded to Bunder 
Cassim, and other ports, in order, as he says, to show our flag 
along the whole extent of coast belonging to the Sultan, west 
of Bunder Muryah. Having visited Bunder Cassim on the 
5th, and examined several guns, apparently 24-pounders, which 
were said to have been saved from the wreck of a vessel a great 
many years ago, he weighed about nine a.m. of the 6th, and 
returned to Muryah, steaming about one to one and a half 
miles off shore. On the 10th, taking the ' Penguin ' in tow, 
the ' Semiramis ' sailed to Ullooleh, and anchored in company ; 
on the 13th, the day appointed for delivering the murderers, the 
Sultan and his followers arrived about noon, when Captain 
Playfair and Lieutenant McHardy visited him. "About 1.15," 
says Commander Adams, " they returned with the Sultan's 
Minister, when Captain Playfair informed me, that the Sultan 
had not fulfilled the conditions, as he had only eight of the 
murderers, that the previous clay he had a long investigation, 
and satisfied himself that of a large number he had caught, 
only the eight above-mentioned were concerned in the massacre ; 
further he had only succeeded in recovering two rifles, a pistol, 
and a sword, which being at some other village was not given 
up. As Captain Playfair said he should protest against pro- 
ceeding to extremities, I urged as the ultimatum, that the 
murderers should be executed by the Sultan, in lieu of being 
hung by us, in the presence of the ships' companies; that 

beach, which was obeyed, but clearly only from the force of discipline, for it was 
very apparent that it was witli a heavy heart that every man left the murderers 
of his countrymen unscathed ; but we stood at such a very great disadvantage, 
owing to the nature of the ground, that an attack would certainly l:ave been un- 
successful. From the information gained by Ealeoz, it appears that the bodies 
of those murdered men who were not drowied were burned; we therefore re- 
turned on boarii, thinking any further search useless." 



554 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 

further time should be allowed him to capture more of them, 
and to recover the plunder, failing in which his villages should 
be burnt down, to all of which the Sultan finally agreed, but 
stipulated for six weeks instead of a month."* 

The decapitation of the eight Soomalies took place in the 
presence of six boats' of the ' Semiramis' and one of the ' Pen- 
guin ; and Commander Adams insisted that these men should 
be executed by the Sultan, a condition which was carried out, 
and, doubtless, contributed in the eyes of these lawless savages 
to vindicate the outraged majesty of the British name. The 
' Semiramis' proceeded to Aden, and the ' Penguin ' to Zan- 
zibar; but it was understood between the commanding officers 
that one or both the vessels should return to Bunder Muryah 
to enforce the execution of the remaining stipulations as to the 
surrender of the other murderers and the plundered property, 
and the tender of an ample public apology. On his return to 
his post at Aden, Brigadier Coghlan, on the 4th of January, 
despatched Commander Adams, with the ' Semiramis' and ' Pen- 
guin,' to Muryah, to ascertain the result of the demands made 
on the Sultan. 

The ' Semiramis,' towing the ' Penguin,' proceeded to Ber- 
bera, and thence to Muryah, where they arrived on the 10th of 
January. He says, in his report to Brigadier Coghlan, dated 
the 25th of January : — " On Sunday the 18th, about ten a.m., 
the Sultan, accompanied by a number of horse and foot men, 
marched into the town, when Lieutenant McHardy and I went 

* Commander Adams says in this despatch : — " I cannot omit to state that 
the Sultan declared that there were only fifteen concerned, that three were killed 
by the sailors, two had escaped inland, and two in a boat to the opposite coast, 
and eight he gave to the sword, while the principal instigator, or chief of the 
tribe (Hap Awadth), declared to Lieutenant-Commanding McHardy and Lieu- 
tenant Morland, shortly before he was put to death, that there Mere only ten. 
In the interpreter's deposition, taken by Captain Playfair, the said Haji Awadth 
is reported as having, in the conversation that took place on the hill at Baraida 
on the 27th of October, said that eighty or ninety were engaged ; and I cannot 
believe that an officer and fourteen British seamen, even supposing the gig's crew's 
arms to have been abandoned in the boat when they swam to the cutter for their 
lives at Eas Mabber, could fall a sacrifice to treble the number of Soomalies, see- 
ing the cutter's crew were armed with three revolvers and three cutlasses, seven 
rifles and sword-bayonets or bayonets, and a 12-pounder rocket-tube, unless by 
treachery, the more especially that they had not only been warned but knew per- 
fectly well that the whole coast was unfriendly on account of the late proceedings 
of H.M.'s cruisers in suppression of the slave-trade, besides the warning they 
had at Has Mabber, where the gig had been sent for water, and, as before stated, 
the crew had to abandon her and swim off to the cutter for their lives. The 
massacre is said to have occurred on the 26th of September ; the bodies of those 
who were not drowned appear to have been burnt with the boat, and one 
marine's rifle shows two sword cuts, evidently as if he had clubbed it. I waited 
for Lieutenant-Commanding McHardy's despatches until ten a.m. of the 14th, 
and returned to Aden this day. The ' Penguin' set out for Zanzibar to pick up 
her other two boats ; and Lieutenant-Commanding McHardy has informed the 
Secretary to the Admiralty that it is his intention to return to Aden and place 
himself under my orders, to assist in carrying out such further retributive mea- 
sures as Government may deem necessary." 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 555 

on shore to meet him. I called on him to fulfil the Govern- 
ment demands ; but it was not without considerable difficulty 
and much entreaty, and after we had left the shore, that he was 
persuaded by the elders of his tribe to visit the ' Semiramis,' 
as apparently the Sultan apprehended treachery ; however, 
accompanied by his nearest of kin and immediate principal 
followers, he came on board about three p.m., and tendered on 
the quarterdeck the apology demanded, in the presence of the 
officers and ship's company, and also promised to deliver up the 
other two of the murderers, said to be at Baraida, in four days. 
The Sultan and his followers then visited the engine-room, 
lower deck, and other parts of the ship, and finally left under a 
salute of seven guns, apparently highly gratified with his visit 
and termination of the affair." Two of the murderers were 
surrendered to Commander Adams on board the ' Semiramis,' 
on the 23rd of January, and the other demands of the Govern- 
ment having been complied with, the ' Penguin' sailed for the 
Seychelles, and Commander Adams proceeded to Aden. On 
the occasion of receiving the Sultan's written apology,* duly 
signed and witnessed, he succeeded in inducing that chief to 
give up the slave trade,f a self-imposed act of philanthropy, 

* Apology by Mahomed Yusuf, Sultan of the Mijjertbeyn tribe of Soomalies . 
— " Praise be to God alone. In the month of Rabec Alaakbir last (the latter 
end of September, 1862) a number of my subjects at Baraida dared to commit a 
foul and cruel massacre upon fifteen English seamen. For that inhuman out- 
rage, satisfaction was demanded by the British Government, and eight of the 
guilty parties I caused to be publicly beheaded in presence of the officers of the 
men-of-war. I then pledged myself to surrender the four remaining guilty ones, 
if ever they should come within my power. I now, as in presence of the Almighty 
God, renew that pledge, and bind myself that I will use my utmost endeavour 
to seize and deliver to the British Governor, at Aden, the four already men- 
tioned, and also any other person who it may be ascertained took part in the 
atrocity. And for myself and for my tribe I express my sorrow for the baseness 
of those of my people who had a hand in that unfortunate affair whose evil con- 
duct has been so contrary to my wish and practice, and also contrary to the 
friendship which has so long existed betwixt my people and the British Govern- 
ment : and I pray our merciful God to continue sincerity and friendship between 
us and the English people without interruption." 

"Rijab, 1279. True Translation. H. Rassam, Assistant Political Resident. 
— Given on board H.M.'s ship ' Semiramis,' I.N., off Bunder Muryah, A.D. 18th 
January, 1863. — Mahomed Yusuf. 

" Witnesses : — G. N. Adams, Commander, Indian Navy, Senior Naval Officer, 
Aden. — J. G. G. McHardy, Lieutenant-commanding H.M.'s ship-of-war 'Pen- 
guin ;' Ishmail Sultan Mahmood ; Ahmet Sultan Mahmood." 

f The following is a copy of the engngement entered into by this chief: — " I, 
Mahomed Yusuf, Sultan of the Mijjertheyn tribe of Soomalics, with a view to 
strengthen the bonds of friendship existing between me and the British Govern- 
ment, do hereby engage to prohibit the exportation of slaves from the coast of 
Africa and elsewhere, on board of my vessels and those belonging to my subjects 
or dependents, such prohibition to take effect from the 23rd day of April, 1863. 
And I do further consent that, whenever the cruisers of the British Government 
fall in with any of my vessels, or those belonging to my subjects or dependents, 
suspected of being engaged in the slave trade, they may detain and search them ; 
and in case of finding that any of the vessels aforesaid have violated this engage- 
ment, by the exportation of slaves from the coast of Africa, whether in or out of 



556 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY, 






for which all lovers of freedom, and particularly those who 
have witnessed the horrors of the East African slave trade, will 
applaud the gallant officer. 

Lord Shaftesbury has related that Lord Palmerston, that 
most astute and successful of our Foreign Secretaries, often said 
to him: — " Whenever I want a thing well done, in a distant 
part of the world : when I want a man with a good bead, a 
good heart, lots of pluck, and plenty of common sense — I 
always send for a captain in the Navy." Probably Brigadier 
Coghlan, himself an able and sagacious Political officer, was of 
the same opinion, and, if so, he was justified by the result. 
Commander Adams, as the native chiefs knew well, was one 
of those who would "stand no nonsense;" and Lieutenant 
McHardy says in his official report to the Admiralty, dated the 
13th of November, J 862, that, "had the Sultan refused to 
execute these eight, or to accept the ultimatum, Captain Adams 
was quite prepared, provided Captain Play fair turned the duty 
over to him, to have .taken upon himself the responsibility of 
immediately making an example by blowing all his town down 
and then blockading his coast until instructions were received 
from Government." 

The Chief Secretary to Government, in. a letter addressed to 
Brigadier Coghlan, expressed the thanks of the Governor 
in Council to Commander Adams, under date the 7th of 
March, 1863, as follows: — "I am desired to state that Com- 
mander Adams appears to have performed the difficult duty 
entrusted to him with intelligence and judgment, and I am 
accordingly to request that you will express to that officer the 
commendation of Government." 

This was the last public service rendered by the Indian 
Navy before it vanished, " like the baseless fabric of a vision," 
before the touch of the wand of the Great Magician at West- 
minster. The coup de grace was given in a despatch, dated the 
28th of November, 1862, from the Secretary of State for India, 
decreeing the abolition of the Indian Navy, and it was to the 
following effect : — 

" To His Excellency the Right Hon. the Governor-General of 
India in Council. 

" My Lord. 1. I have received and considered in Council 
the despatch from your Excellency's Government, No. 3, of the 
18th of January last, in the Marine Department. The manner 
in which Naval and Maritime services can best for the future 

my dominions, or elsewhere, upon any pretext whatever, they (the Government 
cruisers) shall seize and confiscate the slaves, but release the vessel and crew. 

" Given under my hand, at Bunder Muryah, the 23rd day of January, 1863." 
Signed by Mahomed Yusuf, and two of his principal chiefs, in presence of Com- 
mander Adams and Lieutenant Brebner, Indian Navy." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 557 

be performed on the coasts of India, and in the neighbouring 
seas, has been very fully discussed in the correspondence which 
has passed between the Government of India and that of 
Bombay. Since the receipt of that correspondence I have had 
the great advantage, of personal communication upon the 
subject with Sir George Clerk and Commodore Wellesley, who 
have lately returned to England, and I proceed to communicate 
to your Excellency the final instructions of Her Majesty's 
Government. 

"2. It was stated in my Marine despatch, No. 77, of the 
30th of August, 1861, that the defence of India against a 
serious attack b}^ sea, as well as the Naval services required in 
the Red Sea and upon the Eastern coast of Africa, will be 
undertaken by vessels of the Royal Navy. You have repre- 
sented in the strongest terms that it would not be for the public 
advantage to maintain the Indian Navy, with its existing 
organization, but reduced into a smaller service, for the purposes 
only of protecting the Indian ports, of suppressing the slave 
trade and piracy in the Persian Gulf, and of transporting troops 
and stores. I fully appreciate the serious difficulties which 
would attend such a change, and I have also before me the 
opinion which has been expressed by Commodore Wellesley, and 
confirmed by the Government of Bombay, that it would be 
considered as a degradation, and felt as distasteful by the 
officers of the Service themselves. These considerations have 
forced upon Her Majesty's Government the conclusion that the 
wisest course will be altogether to abolish the Indian Navy as 
at present constituted, and to provide otherwise for the per- 
formance of such duties afloat as cannot advantageously 
be undertaken by vessels of the Royal Navy. 

" 3. Such services as are required from ships-of-war in the 
Persian Gulf will for the future be performed by the Royal 
Navy. Arrangements for this purpose will be made by the 
Board of Admiralty, and the Senior Naval officer in the Indian 
Seas will be placed in communication with your Excellency's 
Government and with that of Bombay, and instructed to meet, 
as far as possible, any demands for Naval operations which may 
be made upon him by either of those Governments. 

" 4. The floating defences of the Indian ports and harbours 
remain to be considered, in order to dispose of the purely Naval 
portion of the duties for which the Indian Navy was intended 
to provide. The only vessels calculated for harbour defence 
which now form part of the Indian Navy are two gunboats. It 
may be desirable to add to their number, as well as to provide 
iron-plated floating batteries for the defence of Bombay, and 
possibly, also, for that of other ports of India. These vessels 
in time of peace will be kept in a state of readiness for service, 
and, when required, they will be commanded by officers of the 



558 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Royal Navy, their crews being raised in India, or, if necessary, 
sent out from England. All the expenses of these floating 
defences will, of course, be defrayed out of the revenues of 
India. 

" 5. The manner in which the Bengal Marine has answered 
the purposes of the Government of India proves that there are 
many Maritime duties which can be performed with efficiency by 
a temporary Service, fluctuating in numbers as the demand for 
vessels may increase or diminish ; and Her Majesty's Govern- 
ment consider that such duties on the Western coast of India 
as have hitherto been performed by the Indian Navy, but for 
which it may not be convenient to employ ships of the Royal 
Navy — namely, the transport of troops and stores, and other 
civil duties — can be performed for the future by a local Service, 
entitled the Bombay Marine, on the same footing as that on 
which the Bengal Marine has always been, and not under 
martial law. 

" 6. I have now to consider the number of vessels which 
will be required for these duties, and I am of opinion that six 
steam transports, three sailing transports, and two steam vessels 
for general service, will be sufficient for such purposes for all 
India. The names of the vessels which, as far as I am able to 
judge, are best suited for the several services, as well as the 
manner in which it seems to me that they should be distin- 
guished, are shown in enclosure No. 1* to this despatch. The 
four vessels required for the Bombay side of India should con- 
stitute the Bombay Marine, and the remaining vessels on the 
Bengal side should form the Bengal Marine. There is no need 
for a separate Marine for Madras ; the vessels required there for 
transport services have always been furnished from other Pre- 
sidencies where there are docks and conveniencies for the repair 
and fitting of ships, as well as for their lying in safety during 
the adverse monsoon. One or two of the Government vessels 
retained on the Bengal side, might be considered as available 
for the transport service of Madras upon the requisition of the 
Government of that Presidency, and while detached upon such 






* Six steam transports. Late Indian Navy : — ' Coromandel,' screw, room for 
five hundred and fifty troops ; ' Dalhousie,' screw, room for four hundred and 
fifty troops; 'Prince Arthur,' screw, room for five hundred and fifty troops. 
Late Bengal Marine : — ' Sydney,' screw, room for four hundred troops ; ' Austra- 
lian,' screw, room for four hundred troops ; ' Arracan,' paddle, room for five 
hundred troops. Of the preceding, four ready for sea, viz., two on Calcutta and 
Madras side, and two on Bombay side ; and two in reserve. Three sailing transports 
of the Bengal Marine, one ready for sea at Calcutta and two in reserve, viz., 
' Sesostris,' room for four hundred and fifty troops ; ' Tubal Cain,' room for four 
hundred troops ; ' Walter Morrice.' Two steam vessels for general service of 
Government (of the late Indian Navy,) viz., ' Ferooz,' for Calcutta, 1,450 tons, 
500 horse-power, carries five hundred and twenty troops on long voyages : ' Ze- 
nobia,' for Bombay, 1003 tons, 280 horse-power, carries 337 ti oops.— Total, 
eleven vessels ; four in reserve, and seven ready for sea. 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 559 

Service they should be under the orders and at the charge of 
that Government. 

" 7. Heave it to your Excellency's Government, in communi- 
cation with that of Bombay, to determine how many officers of 
different classes are required for the Bombay Marine, all of 
whom, excepting such as are employed afloat, or have boon 
placed in suitable shore appointments, will have been now dis- 
charged with gratuities proportioned to their length of service, 
in accordance with the instructions conveyed in my despatch, 
No. 77, of the 30th of August, 1861. If there should be a 
sufficient number of volunteers from among the present officers 
of the Indian Navy, fit to command and officer any vessels of 
the Bengal Marine, which may be required from time to time, 
they should have the preference over all other candidates, upon 
the conditions which will be laid down in a subsequent part of 
this despatch. All officers, both of the Bengal and Bombay 
Marines, should be employed upon the clear understanding that 
their service is only temporary, and does not entitle them to 
pensions, for I agree with your Excellency's Government, that, 
as private enterprise extends in India, it may become expedient 
still further to reduce the number of vessels in the Service of 
the Government. 

" 3. I have next to consider the manner in which the officers 
of the Indian Navy should be dealt with, who, from no fault of 
their own, will be deprived of their professional prospects. I 
have already, in a former Despatch, expressed the high sense 
which is entertained by Her Majesty's Government of the 
gallant and meritorious services of the Indian Navy ; and now 
that political and financial considerations have rendered it 
necessary to abolish that Service, it is my desire to consider the 
interests of the officers in the most liberal spirit. 

" 9. I have, therefore, somewhat modified in their favour the 
scale of pensions which was recommended by your Excellency's 
Government. The revised scale will be found in Enclosure 
No. 2 * to this Despatch, and it should be brought into operation 

* " No. 2. Scale of pensions, gratuities, &c„ for the officers of different ranks 
now belonging to the Indian Navy upon abolition of the Service. — Captains, 
eight on the list. Captains of seven years' standing in that rank, and all officers 
who have completed either thirty years according to the old, or twenty. six years' 
actual service in India according to the new, furlough regulations, without refer- 
ence to their rank, to have the option of retiring upon a pension of £450 per 
annum, retaining their right to succeed to the senior list pension of £800 per 
annum in their turn, or upon a pension of £550, giving up their right of succeed- 
ing to the senior list pension. Captains of less standing, or of shorter actual 
service in India than the above, to have the option of retiring on a pension of 
£ 100, with a right to succeed to the senior list pension of £800 per annum in 
their turn, or on a pension of £450, without further prospect. — Commanders, 
sixteen on the list. Commanders, whose appointment to the Service bears date 
prior to the year 1831, to retire upon a pension of £150, with nothing further in 
prospect. Commanders, whose appointment to the Service bears date subsequent 
to the year 1831, to retire upon a pension of £400. All commanders, on thus 



560 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

at once. I shall promulgate it to the officers of the Indian Navy 
who are now at home, and pensions in accordance with it will 
at once be allotted to them here, leaving for future adjustment 
any cases in respect to which there may be a doubt as to the 
amount of pension to which an officer is entitled. Although the 
Acting-Masters of the Indian Navy are not entitled to pensions 
under the scale, I shall not interfere with the pensions which 
the Government of Bombay have granted, subject to my sanc- 
tion in Council, to ten of those officers who have served for 
more than fifteen years. The honorary promotions upon retire- 
ment should be gazetted at once by the Government of Bombay. 
I have only further to observe that the names of such officers as 
accept the highest scale of pension in lieu of the right which 
they now possess to succeed to the pension of .£800 per annum 
(that is to say, the officers placed in the first category of the 
pension scale), will be retained in italics upon a general list to be 
framed, which shall include the four present holders and all the 
expectants of £800 per annum, for the purpose of regulating 
the succession. Officers who may select the lower scale of 
pension, with the prospect of the pension of =£800, will only 
succeed to the latter in their proper seniority, and as they would 
have clone if all the officers entitled to succeed to it had retained 
their right, and actually succeeded in turn. A copy of this list 
should be forwarded to me. 

"10. I concur with your Excellency's Government, that it 
may be more acceptable to some of the officers if their pensions 
are commuted into a capital sum ; and I shall be prepared to 
commute half the value of the pensions of officers of the rank of 
lieutenant and upwards, and the whole value of the pensions of 
officers junior to lieutenant. It will be necessary that officers 

retiring, will receive the honorary rank of ' Captain' in the Indian Navy. — Lieu- 
tenants, sixty-eight on the list. The twenty-four senior lieutenants on the list, 
who on their retirement will receive the honorary rank of ' Commander' iu the 
Indian Navy, to retire on a pension of £300 each ; the twenty-four nest on the 
list, £250 ; the twenty next on the list, £200. — Mates. The twelve senior mates 
on the list to retire on a pension of £150 each. All mates who will have been 
three years on the list of mates on the 31st of December, 1862, £125. The above 
officers to receive the honorary rank of ' Lieutenant' in the Indian Navy. All other 
mates, £100. — Midshipmen : Each midshipman to retire on a pension of £60. — 
Pursers or Paymasters, twenty-three on the list. The six senior pursers on the 
list to retire on a pension of £300 : the six pursers next on the list, £250 ; the 
eleven pursers next on the list, £200. — Captain's Clerks, twenty on the list. 
Each captain's clerk to retire on a pension of £60. — Acting-Masters and Second- 
Masters. Gratuities. All the Acting-Masters who have completed fifteen years' 
actual service in India, to receive a gratuity on discharge equal in amount to two 
months' pay for every complete year of service. All the Acting-Masters, and all 
Acting Second-Masters, whether first or second class, of less than fifteen years' 
actual service in India, to receive a gratuity on discharge equal in amount to one 
month's pay for every complete year of service, which gratuity shall in no case be 
less in amount than three months' pay." Other clauses in this Enclosure de- 
tailed the pensions to be awarded to "Engineers and Boiler-makers," " Country 
or Naval-trained Engineers," " Journeymen and Apprentices." 






HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 561 

applying for the capitalization of their pensions, shall be 
examined as to the state of their health by a medical board; 
and if the medical report is satisfactory, the pensions will be 
capitalized upon the principal that the lives of the officers are 
as good as average lives of the same age in England; and the 
commutation will be calculated at a rate of interest at five per 
cent., according to the Table which forms Enclosure No. 3* to 
this Despatch. 

"11. The officers of the Indian Navy should be invited to 
volunteer for the Bombay Marine, as well as for employment in 
any branch of the uncovenanted Service in India. I have no 
doubt that such employment may be found for many of them 
should they desire it; and I most earnestly impress upon your 
Excellency that it is the duty of the Government to provide in 
this manner for as large a number as can advantageously be so 
employed. A preference should be given to these officers in 
filling up all vacancies in maritime appointments such as those 
of Master-Attendant at the different Presidencies or ports in 
India, Port officers, Emigration officers, and any situations 
on shore where the skill and professional acquirements of a 
Naval officer would be useful. Whenever an officer of the 
Indian Navy in receipt of a pension, granted to him upon the 
abolition of that Service, is appointed to any office in India, or 
under the Secretary of State for India in Council at home, it 
should be upon the condition that, if the emoluments of the 
appointment exceed the amount of his pension by one fourth, 
he shall not receive any portion of his pension while he is so 
employed. If the emoluments are less than the pension, and a 
fourth, such portion of the pension only shall be drawn as will 
make the total sum received annually by the officer equal to the 
amount of his pension, and a fourth. An officer of the Indian 
Navy, upon ceasing to hold any such appointment, will receive 
his Indian Navy pension, and, in addition, the pension, if any, 
to which he may be entitled under the regulations applicable to 
his subsequent employment. Officers volunteering for service 
in India will not be permitted to commute their pensions, or 
any portion of them, for a capital sum whilst so employed." 

There were eight other paragraphs in this despatch in which 
Sir Charles Wood dealt with points of detail. He directed the 
Government of Bombay " to take care to discharge the crews of 
the vessels of the Indian Navy gradually, and so as to prevent 
more seamen being thrown out of employment than can be 
absorbed in the merchant service," and also recommended that 
the marine apprentices, who, for the past sixty years, had been 
sent out in annual drafts from the ' Warspite,' should be re- 
tained until the end of their apprenticeship, or, if they were 

* This enclosure is the " Value of an annuity of £1 on a single life according to 
the Carlisle Table of Mortality, interest being calculated at 5 per cent." 
VOL. II. 



562 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

desirous of cancelling their indentures, that they should receive 
a gratuity upon discharge. The Secretary of State then directed 
that all officers, including those who proceeded home on fur- 
lough and sick-leave, after receipt at Bombay of the Grovernor- 
General's despatch of the 17th of April, 1861, " which ordered 
large reductions and recommended abolition," should be allowed 
their homeward passage-money ; and, after referring to his 
despatch of the 30th of August, 1861, relating to the future 
conduct of the Indian Marine Surveys by the Royal Navy, 
which were to be conducted at the expense of the Imperial 
Government, directed that the vessels of the Service not required 
for the transport and civil duties, or for harbour defence, should 
be sold. In the concluding paragraphs the Secretary of State 
recommended for the immediate consideration of the Supreme 
Government and that of Bombay, the details necessary for the 
economical working of the Dockyards and Marine establish- 
ments at the two Presidencies. 

Thus, the edict for the abolition of the Service had at length 
gone forth, and the Indian Navy was a thing of the past. It 
cannot be said that the step had been taken without much and 
long-continued cogitation, and the officers had, for a consider- 
able time past, considered themselves as men under sentence ; 
but now that the word " Finis" was irrevocably written in the 
book of Time, as regards the Indian Navy, the news was stun- 
ning, and many voices were raised in the press regretting the 
extinction of a Service possessing so memorable a history and 
having the eclat attaching to great antiquity and unblemished 
character. 

It is difficult to say who suffered the greater injustice by the 
abolition of the Service, the captains, lieutenants, or the whole 
body of junior officers. In the covenants the latter entered 
into with the Court of Directors, it was specified — " All officers, 
without reference to the rank they may have attained, after au 
active service of thirty years in India, under the old furlough 
rules, or of twenty-six years' service under the new furlough 
rules (which allowed four years' leave of absence to count as 
service), were eligible to retire on =£360 per annum at once, 
with the privilege of eventually succeeding to one of the senior 
list pensions of £800 per annum." As it was through no fault 
of theirs the Service was abolished, and the retirement was 
compulsory, it follows that they were all, to the youngest 
midshipman, entitled to the full pension of =£360 on completion 
of service, and to the reversion of the four senior list pensions 
of £800 per annum.* This agreement in their covenant, 
together with all others, was solemnly guaranteed by the " Act 
for the better Government of India," wherein it is provided 

* See Parliamentary " Return of the Pensioned and Discharged Indian Navy 
Officers," dated India Office, 24th of June, 1864. 






HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 



563 



that they were " entitled to the like pay, pensions, allowances, 
and privileges, and the like advantages as regards promotion 
and otherwise, as if they had continued in the service of the 
said Company ;" and yet the lieutenants received, some .£300, 
and others £250 and £200 a year ; the mates, £150, £125 and 
£100, according to length of service ; and the midshipmen, 
«£80 and £60- With these pensions, but with blasted pros- 
pects, and no profession, these officers, many being married 
men with families, were condemned to begin life anew, and, as 
we know, in many cases, owing to inexperience in business 
matters, they failed to earn a livelihood, or having capitalized 
their pensions, lost every shilling. It is true that Government 
offered these " commissioned" officers subordinate appointments 
in the " uncovenanted" service, such as in the Master-Attend- 
ants' and Woods and Forests Departments, but they were 
accepted in few instances, because attaching to them, irre- 
spective of the retrogression in the social scale, was the utterly 
unfair stipulation that the incumbents' pensions were to be 
deducted from their pay during such time as they held these 
appointments, so that a lieutenant who had served his country 
twenty years was mulcted of his pension of .£300 a year, 
receiving only the same pay as a newly joined civilian, his past 
services being thus utterly ignored by the Government. 

If it is said that the Captains could not be promoted to Rear- 
Admirals, because flag rank was unknown in the Service, — 
though we do not see any force in this argument, for an Order 
in Council could, we opine, without violating any constitutional 
principle, have created, say, Captains Frushard, Jenkins, and 
Campbell, retired Real-Admirals : — but if we allow this was 
not practicable, the same excuse cannot be advanced for the 
treatment received by the Lieutenants. It was manifestly only 
an act of justice, on compulsorily retiring these officers, to 
give them a step in rank. It is a course that has invariably 
been pursued in the other Naval and Military establishments of 
Her Majesty. But the Indian Navy was to form the solitary 
exception, and thus to the end the Government was resolved to 
maintain the consistent course of contumely with which the 
Service had been treated. Only the twenty-seven senior 
Lieutenants were promoted to the rank of Commander, but 
why the line was drawn at that number it would have puzzled 
the officials who drew up the scheme to propound. To 
instance the case of Lieutenant Sweny. This meritorious and 
highly scientific officer had been eighteen years in the Indian 
Navy, of which sixteen had been passed in active service ; he 
had been in independent charge of a survey, and during the 
Persian War had gained the special thanks of his superiors 
for the admirable manner in which he piloted the large fleet 
up the Shatt-ul-Arab, to the attack of the earthworks at 

OO 2 



5tU HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

Mohamra : finally, he had gained the special approbation of Her 
Majesty for his services rendered during the crisis of the 
mutiny in Western India, when he landed troops on the 
Malabar coast during the height of the monsoon, an act unpre- 
cedented in Indian annals. But, after having held a command 
for many years, and received the thanks of the Governments of 
the three Presidencies, Lieutenant Sweny found himself 
consigned to the career of a civilian with no such cheap, if 
gracious, acknowledgment of his long and faithful services to 
the State, as would have been evidenced by the bestowal of the 
rank of Commander.* 

Among the senior officers, the commanders of thirty years 
service and under, were aggrieved on the more substantial 
score of their pecuniary prospects, for just as they were 
qualified by rank and length of service for the few staff appoint- 
ments to which they were eligible, — Commodore in the Persian 
Gulf, Senior Officer at Aden, Assistant Superintendent, Captain 
of the flagship, Indian Navy Storekeeper, Master Attendant and 
Conservator of the port, — they found themselves placed on the 
retired list nolens volens, and condemned to accept a pension of 
,£450 and <£400. These officers, as also some of the Senior 
Lieutenants who had twenty-three years' service, and were retired 
on pensions of =£300 a year, were all in the prime of life, most of 
them had families to support, and were in the receipt of at least 
700 rupees a month (£840 a year), the command allowance 
of a steam-frigate. Commanders Foulerton, Adams, and Chitty,f 
were promised by Sir Charles Wood, the command of three 
troopships between Bombay and Suez, but the Government 
nominated to the command of all five troopships, officers of the 
Royal Navy, on the plea that they could not maintain discipline, 
as the Indian Navy being abolished, their Articles of War had 
ceased to have force. The services of Commander Chitty, 

* We would have it understood that in instancing the case of Lieutenant 
Sweny, we have not done so at the suggestion of any one, least of all, of that 
gallant officer, whom we have never seen, and from whom we have never heard 
on the subject. We have only selected his case as typical of the consideration 
which the officers of the Service received at the hands of Government, who, 
having no further need of their services, dismissed them without regard to the 
claims of justice. Lieutenants Barker, Duval, Clarkson, Huuter, and others, 
were equally hardly treated. 

f Commander Chitty, after his services in the ' Berenice ' during the Mutiny, 
and in the ' Victoria' at the capture of Beyt and bombardment of Dwarka, was 
employed in 1859, in command of the ' Zenobia,' in deep-sea sounding in the Bay 
of Bengal, and selecting a line for a submarine telegraph cable, on the coast of 
Tenasserim, for which he received the thanks of the Supreme Government. 
After the China War, in which he gained the commendation of Sir James Hope, 
Commander Chitty was again employed, in 1801, sounding and selecting a line 
for a submarine cable between Kurrachee and the head of the Persian Gulf to 
Bussorah. In the following year he conveyed the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha 
from port to port in the Red Sea, in the ' Victoria,' and finally, was again em- 
ployed on special service sounding for a line of telegraph on the Mekran coast, 
for which he received the thanks of the Bombay Government. In 1865 Com- 



HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 505 

however, were not lost to the State, as in 1867, he was ap- 
pointed Agent for the transport of troops through Egypt, a 
post he has filled daring the past ten years with conspicuous 
ability and success, as has also Captain Cruttenden that of 
Assistant-Director of Transports at the Admiralty. 

That the junior officers,* the Lieutenants, Mates, and Mid- 
shipmen, from fifteen years' service downwards, suffered ;t 
grievous wrong by the Government casting them adrift on the 
world, with pensions ranging from ,£60 to c£t50 a year, cannot 
be denied, when it is considered that the sheet anchor of their 
rights, the 56th Section of the Act 21 and 22 of Victoria, 
already quoted, specially guaranteed them not only their " pay, 
pensions and allowances," but also their " promotion as if they 
had continued in the Company's service." 

mander Chitty was employed on special service in Egypt, under the orders 
of the Secretary of State for India, from whom and H.M.'s Consul-General in 
Egypt he received letters of thanks. 

* The junior officers of the Service found employment in every conceivable 
profession, and many of the younger men continued at sea as commanders of 
merchant vessels, or entered the naval services of the United States and the 
Southern Confederacy, then engaged in their terrible struggle, or accepted com- 
mand of Southern blockade-runners. A gentleman, signing himself " Ex- 
Lieutenant of the United States Navy," writes, in April, 1877, to the " Times : " 
— " I served afloat with two British officers, one of whom was in the Royal Navy, 
and showed me his certificates from the commanding officer of one of H.M.'s 
ships, and the other also exhibited his from the commander of H.M.'s gunboat 
' Hugh Rose,' of the Indian Navy, attached to the Persian Gulf squadron. I may 
add that, as the officers served under assumed names, Her Majesty's Government 
had no knowledge of the matter." 

The following (and concluding) chapter in the blockade-running experiences 
of an officer of the Service, is of interest, as giving some idea of the nature and 
risk of the duties. Lieutenant J. Gould Lakes was in command of a swift paddle- 
steamer called the ' Elsie,' and about May, 1864, was at Bermuda, preparatory 
to running the blockade to Wilmington, He says : — " At Bermuda we took in 
guns, stores, and hospital supplies for the Southern Army, and made prepara- 
tions to make a run to Wilmington, situated forty miles up the Cape Bear River, 
in South Carolina ; in this attempt we were successful, after many sharp chases 
and several narrow squeaks of being captured. Unfortunately, yellow fever 
broke out on board, and we had to remain for one month in quarantine in the 
river, and here I lost several of my men from this epidemic, which at that time 
raged to a frightful extent both at Bermuda and Nassau. At the end of the 
month we proceeded up the river, and discharged our cargo, taking on board 
seven hundred bales of cotton, and several hogsheads of turpentine, and the moon 
being favourable, (i.e., no moon shone at all), made preparations for a run to 
Nassau, Bahamas. At this time the risk of running the blockade was very great, 
as Charlestown, Savannah, Matamoras, and Mobile, had all succumbed to the 
Northerners, and, consequently, Wilmington was the only port the Southerners 
had left on their seaboard into which you could run a cargo. Off this port the 
United States concentrated the whole of their Navy. On making our dash out 
one dark night we had first to out-manoeuvre the ' Inshore Squadron,' at anchor 
some two miles outside the bar of the river, and through which we ran the 
gauntlet, exposed to a galling fire of grape and canister; the intense darkness of 
the night, and the speed of the vessel, enabled us to pass through this our first 
danger, without much damage, but the darkness was disagreeably lightened up at 
intervals by the enemy burning blue and electric lights, which exposed the vessel 
to their view, when they fired into us in right good style, my men lying flat upon 
the deck. I, with my pilot and chief officer, stood on the platform between the 



506 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 



Compare this scale of pensions with those awarded to the 
officials of the Marine Department of the India Office, 
abolished on their duties being consigned to the Military Secre- 
tariat. "Whereas, for Commodore Frushard, Captain Campbell, 
and other officers who had served in the worst climates in the 
world, and in the most perilous of all professions, a pension of 
.£450 per annum, with the prospect of succession to =£800. or 
£550 without such reversion, was deemed sufficient pension, 
Mr. Mason, the Secretary of the Marine Department, who had 
never left his native land or been subjected to any risks of life 
or health, was pensioned off on £1,430 per annum, and his 
Assistant on £770! But, should the arduous nature of the 
duties fulfilled by these officials be pleaded in extenuation of 
the disproportionate scale of pensions, we would observe that 
the India Office of those days, was notorious for maintaining 
an unnecessarily large staff of officials, and, in corroboration, 
we will quote from the sayings of two of the most eminent of 
the number. 

Charles Lamb used to say that he " always left office early to 
make up for going to it late;" and the late Thomas Love 
Peacock found his duties at the India Office so wearisome 
that he thus wrote of them : — 

" From ten to eleven ate a breakfast for seven ; 
From eleven to noon to begin 'twas too soon ; 
From twelve to one asked, ' What's to be done ?' 
From one to two found nothing to do ; 
From two to three began to foresee 
That from three to four would be a great bore." 

Many of the officers of the Service are decorated with four 
and five medals, memorials of good and faithful service, but not 

paddle-boxes, where I had formed a barricade of bales of cotton, within which we 
ensconsced ourselves ; these bales we found in the morning perfectly riddled 
with grape and canister. Where should we have been without this protection ? 
As it was, the funnels were the great sufferers. However, we got through the 
inshore squadron in safety, but the ' Outside Squadron ' had got the alarm, and 
were scouring here, there, and everywhere, on the look-out for us, lighting up the 
whole horizon with their artificial lights, and firing at us with shell and round 
shot, as we tore along On we sped, like a poor hare pursued by a pack of 
hounds, turning and twisting in and out amongst our pursuers, and after over 
two hours of this hot and exciting work, managed to get away clear of the whole 
lot, and began to speculate upon a safe voyage to Nassau, for which I steered ; 
but our hopes were disagreeably broken in upon at daybreak, when the look-out 
reported a vessel in sight, right ahead. I altered our course and stood out to sea, 
but soon after, another vessel was reported coming from that direction. Here we 
were in a pretty fix, the whole of the Inshore Squadron inside of us, two of the 
enemy's cruisers coming from opposite directions to cut us off, aud, to make 
matters worse, the wind had freshened into a strong breeze, which knocked up a 
nasty short sea, and the speed of the ' Elsie ' was, in consequence, reduced from 
twelve to seven miles per hour. However, we ran for it, but it was no use, as 
the two steamers gradually neared us, and turned out to be the two fastest 
vessels the Northerners had, viz., the 'Quaker City' and ' Kingstown State.' 
When near enough, they both opened fire, and for four hours banged away at our 
vessel with shot and shell, which passed over and burst over us in a very dis- 
agreeable manner ; one 32-pound shell passed over the head of the man steering, 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 5fi7 

one of them enjoys a good Service pension, while as to honorary 
rewards, which, too often, are the only acknowledgments soldiers 
and sailors receive for life-long meritorious services, only lour 
officers, of whom but two survive, have been recipients of the 
lowest class of the Bath, while not one has been deemed worthy 
to receive the Order of the Star of India, instituted in 1861, 
two years before the abolition of the Service. Contrast this 
treatment with that accorded to the other Services of the 
Crown, who, after a war, however brief and uneventful, are re- 
warded with a free distribution of decorations and promotions, 
either substantive or brevet. Why was this slur cast upon old 
and meritorious officers when the " Exalted Order of the Star of 
India" was conferred upon all branches of the Public Service, 
soldiers and civilians, as well as Native Princes, some of whom, 
during the dark and troublous days of the Mutiny, gave only a 
half-hearted support to the " Circar," which would have been 
changed into active hostility had a great reverse happened to 
our arms, or had the siege of Delhi been raised, or the Lucknow 
garrison left to their fate by Havelock's gallant band? But 
though we find some " veiled traitors " receiving the ribbon of 
the Star of India, the gallant seamen who, afloat and ashore, 
had faithfully served their Honourable and Royal masters, were 
treated with marked neglect, which, though deeply felt by 
the Service, reflects discredit only upon the dispensers of these 
honours. There was, of course, no interest felt in their fate at 
the Admiralty; and, as to the India Office, they had no friends 
in office there, and few would stoop to memorialize. It is 
even doubtful whether the Court of Directors, had they been in 
existence, or retained a voice in the distribution of honours, 
would have pleaded in behalf of a Service which existed before 
the Company had a soldier in their pay, or the British standing 
Army had an existence. But the officers of the Indian Navy, being 
no longer required for the service of the State, were cast aside 
as a rusty tool, and relegated to obscurity, so far as the denial of 
all honorary distinctions render men nobodies in this country, 
while the wanton and wholesale destruction of the records of 
the Service appeared to denote a deliberate intention to erase 
the very memory of the Indian Navy. 

But it is not too late even yet to do an act of justice, so far 

alongside of whom I was standing, and the windage knocked his hat off and laid 
him senseless on the deck. At length two 32-pound shells struck the vessel 
simultaneously on the forepart, bursting in among the cotton and setting fire to 
the vessel, which I found impossible to get under, and in a few minutes we were 
in a blaze from stem to stern. I then ordered the men to enter the boats, which 
they did in a most orderly manner, as if nothing had occurred ; and we rowed to 
the nearest vessel, the ' Quaker City,' and gave ourselves up as prisoners. We 
were taken to Fort Beaufort, North Carolina, and my men were afterwards sent 
to Philadelphia, and I to New York and Boston. I cannot complain as prisoners 
that we were badly treated ; biscuit and water was our diet, and meat once a 
week. Soon after the war came to a close, and I was liberated." 



568 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

as to confer some honorary distinctions on Captains Campbell, 
Jones, and Adams, for their services either in the field of 
diplomacy, as surveyors of the first distinction, or during the 
Chinese, Burmese, and Persian Wars, and the Indian 
Mutiny. The Service would be highly gratified were these 
gallant officers rewarded in the decline of life for services 
rendered in its prime ; and not less would the surviving mem- 
bers hail with satisfaction the award of some further recognition 
on Captain Rennie, who, since he was honoured, twenty years 
ago, with the C.B. for his achievements in China, Burmah, and 
Persia, has rendered further good service, as Superintendent of 
the Bengal Marine during the Mutiny, and in fitting out a 
squadron of ships for the China War of 1860, for which he 
received the thanks of Sir James Hope. No officer of the Indian 
Navy has yet received the Knighthood of a Military Order; 
and it is not too late to render a gracious and well earned 
honour on the defunct Service, in the person of one or more 
officers who have not unworthily borne the mantle of James, 
, of Watson, and of Hayes. 

The following is an abstract of the nett annual cost of the 
Indian Navy during the last ten years of its existence; and 
when it is considered that these sums include the charges for the 
Bengal Marine, as the practice was to lump together all the 
Marine expenses chargeable to the Indian Treasury, it cannot 
be said that the amounts were excessive : — 

1853—54 .... £358,842 
1854—55 .... 409.480 
1855—56 .... 434,057 
1856—57 .... 468,194 

During the Indian Mutiny, when the Service had nearly 

eighteen hundred European seamen employed in the Naval 

Brigade on shore, and the Bengal Marine had, also, large numbers 

up-country, the nett charges for the two Services rose to about 

one million, but sunk afterwards to the following figures : — 

1860—61 .... £760,000 

1861—62 .... 333,000 

1862—63 .... 222,000 

The average annual cost for the Indian Navy alone, for the 
last ten years, was, probably, less than £350,000 ; and the 
" Times of India,*' in an article on the 19th of May, 1863, 
referring; to these figures, expressed an opinion which the result 
has borne out, that " the wisdom of abolition is, we think, open 
to grave question." The Indian Governments have still charges 
to meet for the local Bengal and Bombay Marines, and also 
the annual payment of £70,000 to the Admiralty for the 
services of H.M.'s ships, and £20,000 for the maintenance of 
a separate surveying establishment. If we also bear in mind 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT. 509 

that from the year 1835 to 1855, a period of twenty years, 
first a monthly, and then a bi-monthly, communication 
was kept up by the steamers of the Indian Navy, thus saving 
to the Government half the sum payable for the Mail contract 
(.£70,000), and that, during the second Burmese War, the 
steam-frigates of the Indian Navy, which were employed as 
transports as well as ships of war, are calculated to have 
recouped to the India House their total cost as well as main- 
tenance; also that, throughout the Persian War and Indian 
Mutiny, they were engaged in carrying troops and towing trans- 
ports, thus saving at least their cost to the Government — if all 
these points are taken into consideration, it will, probably, be 
found that no Government have been better or more eco- 
nomically served. This, doubtless, the authorities at West- 
minster, and, still more, the local Governments in India, have 
discovered, and hence has arisen the oft-repeated cry for a new 
Indian Navy, now echoed by the Viceroy. 

On the 12th of March, 1863, the ' Semiramis,' Commander 
Adams, 'Mahi,' Lieutenant Carpendale, and 'Constance,' 
Lieutenant Trollope, arrived from Aden, and, in the following 
month, the Bombay Government caused advertisements to be 
inserted in the local papers, offering for sale the 'Ajdaha,' 
'Semiramis,' and ' Berenice/ " as they at present lie in Bombay 
harbour." The steam frigates ' Assaye ' and ' Punjaub * had 
been sold in England, the sailing ships, in July of the preceding 
year, and, more recently, the ' Victoria,' and now the last of the 
fleet were put up to auction, the Indian Government retaining 
only the 'Zenobia' and 'Ferooz,' the latter for the service of the 
Governor-General, with the 'Coromandel,' ' Prince Arthur,' and 
' Dalhousie,' as troopships. The Bombay Government now- 
issued the following farewell order : — 

"Marine Department, Bombay Castle, the 22nd of April, 
18G3. No. 22, of 1863. The return of the ' Semiramis,' ' Con- 
stance,' and 'Mahi,' from Aden, permits the final abolition of 
the Indian Navy, as ordered by H.M.'s Government. The reasons 
for this measure do not touch the high character of that Navy. 
The services of the Indian Navy have been most varied, 
honourable, and useful. It has clone successful war services in 
Burmah, China, and Persia, the surveys made by its officers are 
of widespread utility, and the beneficial results of its suppres- 
sion of piracy and the slave trade will long endure. The same 
gradual change of circumstances which led to the conversion of 
the East India Company's Bombay Marine into the Indian 
Navy, has now led Her Majesty's Government to rely upon the 
Koyal Navy for all Naval duties in the Indian seas. The ex- 
tinction of such an honourable Service, and all the prospects to 
which its officers looked, must be viewed with regret and 
sympathy by the Government under which they served. These 



570 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAT?. 

feelings have been expressed by Her Majesty's Government, 
they are shared by His Excellency the Governor in Council, 
and have influenced all the orders for disposal of the officers. 

"His Excellency the Governor in Council begs Commodore 
Frushard and the officers of the Indian Navy, to accept this 
renewed assurance of the respect with which the Government 
regards their past service and of its desire to mitigate, as far as 
possible, the disappointment attending the change in their 
career. 

"At noon, on the 30th instant, the broad pennant of Com- 
modore Frushard will be saluted by eleven guns from the 
battery at the Apollo Pier. The flag of the Indian Navy, long 
known as " The Company's Jack," will then be hoisted at the 
Castle flagstaff, and saluted by twenty-one guns. At the close 
of the salute the Indian Jack will be hauled down, the broad 
pennant of Commodore Frushard, and the pennants of all the 
Indian Naval vessels in harbour will be struck, and the Indian 
Navy will cease to exist as an effective Service. Commodore 
Frushard, on lauding from the 'Ajdaha,' will receive a personal 
salute of eleven guns.*" 

The passage in this Order, in which it is stated the Home 
and Bombay Governments felt "regret and sympathy at the 
extinction of an honourable Service," and their " renewed 
assurance of the respect with which they regarded its past 
services," was very acceptable to the officers of the Indian Navy, 
as a graceful allusion to a disruption of relations that had 
existed since the period when Bombay was ceded to the East 
India Company by King Charles II. But, nevertheless, 
considering the lengthened and varied services rendered by the 
Indian Navy, this Order is of a very meagre character. Surely 
someone in authority might have given a more complete list of 
its "war services" than was conveyed in the mention of 
" Burmah, China, and Persia." Was there no one sufficiently 
conversant with the history we have laid before our readers, not 
to be aware of the magnitude of the services it had rendered to 
that Company when it was a feeble Corporation struggling against 

* By another Order of the same date, the Government directs that, " after the 
30th instant, the vessels hitherto belonging to the Indian Navy, will be borne as 
supernumeraries of the Bombay Marine. The present pay and allowances will 
be continued to the man-of-war crews until discharged. The Dockyard establish- 
ments will be maintained until further orders. Captain Young, C.B., the Assist- 
ant and Dockmaster, will, as Superintendent of the Dockyard and of the Bombay 
Marine, take the control of the Docks, vessels and establishments. Captain 
Young will make arrangements for the care of the seamen who are still undis- 
charged. The Examiner, Indian Navy Department, wdl continue his functions 
as Examiner, Marine Department. The Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals 
for the Presidency Division and Indian Navy, will exercise medical supervision of 
the Bombay Marine, and be called Deputy Inspector-General Presidency Division 
and Bombay Marine. The Indian Naval Draughtsman will be called Marine 
Draughtsman." 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 571 

the rivalry and active hostility of the Portuguese and Dutch? 
Were the early victories at Surat and Onnuz of no account, or 
did the lapse of centuries bring oblivion with it ? Were the 
desperate struggles waged with the fleets of the great Mogul, 
and their successors, the Peishwa of the Mahrattas, forgotten ? 
Was no account taken of the actions with the ships of the 
piratical fleets which, under Kidd and his compeers, swept the 
Eastern seas from Madagascar to the Straits of Singapore ; of 
the capture of Surat, when the gallant Commodore Watson fell ; 
of the brilliant achievements of Sir W. James against Angria's 
fleets and strongholds ; of the assistance afforded to Sir Edward 
Hughes and other British admirals in their struggles with 
England's traditional foe, and, at a later period, during the 
Revolutionary War, when the Company's small cruisers vic- 
toriously upheld the national honour, and never lowered the 
British flag save to overwhelming odds'? Was it not deemed 
worthy of record that the ships and officers of the Indian Navy 
had served with credit at Mauritius, in Java, and the subse- 
quent protracted occupation of the Eastern Islands; and that 
they had fought afloat and ashore at Ras-ul-Khymah, Beni-Boo- 
Ali, in Scinde, at the capture of Aden, of Mocha, and Dwarka, 
in New Zealand, at Mooltan, and during the Indian Mutiny ? 
It was customary whenever a distinguished regiment embarked 
for England, to embody in a General Order a record of its 
services ; but here an old and honourable Service was finally 
broken up, and there was no notice whatever of its war services 
by the Supreme Government under whose immediate eye a large 
portion of it had been employed in warlike operations since the 
beginning of this century, while the Government of Bombay con- 
sidered it had exhausted the record by a reference to " Burmah, 
China, and Persia." Perhaps we ought not to wonder at such 
indifference, for had not the now moribund Service from time 
immemorial experienced similar treatment, and so probably the 
officers thought, for now, (as ever, with the exception of Sir 
John Hayes, who had been eager in defence of the honour and 
interests of the Service he adorned), no voice was raised in 
protest against such unworthy treatment of an ancient and 
meritorious Service. And so the Indian Navy, so far as public 
acknowledgment went, was suffered to pass into oblivion, 
" unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." 

In accordance with the Government General Order, on the 
30th of April, 1863, the Indian Navy ceased to exist. At noon 
on that day, all the officers and seamen of the ships yet in 
commission, were assembled on board the flagship ' Ajdaha,' and 
Commodore Frushard read the following Order: — "On this the 
last day of his authority, the Commodore Commanding desires 
the officers and men, each and all, of the Indian Navy, to 
receive his hearty thanks for the manner in which their several 






572 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

duties have been performed during the past year, during which 
time circumstances had unavoidably affected the discipline of 
the Service. A great number of officers and seamen have at 
different periods been attached to the flagship, as supernumeraries 
awaiting their discharge from the Service, consequent upon 
their vessels being put out of commission, and the Commodore 
Commanding is proud and grateful to be able to state that at 
no period of its existence, as the Indian Navy, has there been 
less cause of complaint of officers or men of the Service, and in 
bidding them farewell, he desires their acceptance of his best 
wishes for their future welfare. To the different officers of the 
Dockyard, Captain J. W. Young, C.B., Assistant-Superintendent 
and Dockmaster, the officiating Indian Navy Storekeeper, 
the Master Builder, and Chief Engineer and Inspector of 
Machinery, the Commodore Commanding offers his best thanks 
for the manner in which their several duties have been per- 
formed." 

As the clock struck twelve, after the reading of the above 
Order, a salute of eleven guns was fired from the battery at 
the Apollo Pier in honour of the Commodore's broad pennant, 
the " Company's Jack," the distinctive flag of the Indian Navy, 
was then hoisted at the Castle flagstaff and saluted with 
twenty-one guns, and as the boom of the last gun sounded, it 
was hauled down, the broad pennant of Commodore Frushard 
and the pennants of all the Indian Naval vessels in harbour 
were struck, and the Indian Navy ceased to exist.* Commodore 

* Among officers employed in India after the abolition of the Indian Navy 
were the following, in connection with the newly-established Bombay Marine, 
either in the Dockyard or in command of ships : — Commander H. Robinson 
(Superintendent), Lieutenants Searle, Crockett, Carew, Morland, Brebner, Hewett, 
Carpendale, and Dawes. Commander Giles, Master- Attendant at Kurrachee, suc- 
ceeded, in 1867, by Lieutenant Parker ; at Kurrachee, in charge of the Persian 
Gulf Telegraph line, Lieutenant Stifle ; in the Survey Department, Messrs. 
Gircllestone and Chapman ; in Mesopotamia, Lieutenants Bewsher and Warner, 
and Acting-Master Holland ; in Calcutta, in the Master- Attendant's and Dock- 
yard Departments, Lieutenants Philhrick, Warden, and Duncan King ; also 
Messrs. Ellis, Bradbery, and C. King. Master- Attendant at Rangoon, Lieutenant 
Arnot ; at Singapore, Lieutenant H. Burn ; and at Penang, Lieutenant H. Ellis. 
Among those holding appointments in other countries are Lieutenants H. Jackson, 
and J. Wood in New Zealand ; Lieutenants Barron and Chester, Police Magis- 
trates in Australia ; Lieutenant Leefe in the Fijis, Lieutenant Carey in Madras, and 
Mr. G. Lowder in China. Those who have followed me thus far will be interested 
to learn some particulars in the story of the lives of the ships mentioned in the pre- 
ceding pasres, from " the cradle to the grave," so far as we have been able to trace 
them. The' Assaye' was lost on the Irish coast, and the ' Berenice' was burnt at 
sea ; the ' Punjaub,' under her new name of ' Tweed,' traded between England and 
Australia, and in June, 1877, was lying, as we were told, in the Hooghly. The 
' Lady Canning' has been converted into a Seaman's Chapel and Library, and 
also lies off Calcutta. The ' Constance' schooner, launched at Bombay in 1838, 
after being employed in the Survey Department, was transferred, in 1877, to the 
Master- Attendant* at Rangoon. Still more extraordinary as an instance of lon- 
gevity, is the fact that the schooner ' Mahi,' launched in Bombay Dockyard in 
1834, is still employed in the country trade on the Malabar Coast. 






HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 573 

Frushard, with some natural emotion, addressed a few words 
to the officers and men, bidding each and all farewell, and 
warmly shaking hands with the officers, and some of the petty 
officers and seameu, who, in return greeted him with three hearty 
cheers. On landing from the flagship, he was received with a 
personal salute of eleven guns, and thus passed away the last 
vestige of power belonging to a Service, which had exercised 
undisputed sovereignty over the seas from the Cape of Good 
Hope to the Straits of Singapore. 

For a period of exactly two centuries and a half, counting 
from the year 1612, when Captain Best defeated the Portu- 
guese fleet off the bar of Surat, the Naval Service of the East 
India Company had done its duty faithfully and well, though 
oftentimes with insufficient means ; and the surviving officers, 
a fast-decreasing band, have the satisfaction of knowing that 
when, as Keats says, " the daisies are growing over them," 
their countrymen will admit that they performed their devoirs 
in their day and generation. Raised at a time when the 
"Company of Adventurers trading to the East" were an 
uninfluential knot of merchants, first as the Bombay Marine, 
and then as the Indian Navy, it fulfilled its share in the 
great task of building up that structure of empire which 
has excited the wonder and envy of other nations, and of 
which the first stone was laid on that day in April, 1609, 
when Captain Hawkins, of the Company's ship 'Hector,' 
presented himself before Jehangire, in his palace at Agra, the 
first representative of his nation to stand in the presence of the 
Great Mogul. The ceremony of hauling down the old flag of 
the Indian Navy in Bombay harbour was not imposing, but to 
the thoughtful, or to those conversant with its glorious history 
during the two and a half centuries of its existence, the scene 
was eminently suggestive. Such witnesses, as they recalled to 
mind the names of the long line of gallant seamen, whose 
services we have sought, however imperfectly, to chronicle in 
these pages, men who bore triumphantly through the battle and 
the breeze, the flag now slowly descending for the last time 
from the masthead, must have murmured to themselves the 
well-worn apophthegm — old, yet ever new in its application 
— " Sic transit gloria mitndi." 

If official recognition was meagre and its expression cold, the 
same cannot be said of the testimony borne by those best 
qualified to judge of the merits and conduct of the Indian Navy, 
and whose goodwill was, therefore, the more valued. The 
Bombay Press, as representing the community, published 
valedictory articles, in many cases giving a sketch of the 
history of the Service, that in the " Deccan Herald" being an 
admirable summary, while all were equally warm in their 
eulogiums, and hearty in the farewells addressed to the officers 



574 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 

of the defunct Service. The " Bombay Gazette " wrote : — 
" The Service has been a hardworking and ill-paid one. It has 
produced distinguished officers in every part of a naval service- 
as navigators, warriors, surveyors, diplomatists. It deserves 
well of its Queen and country, and we trust that it will receive 
what it has so well merited." The " Bombay Times," also, 
after a brief sketch of its history, spoke the funeral oration of 
the Service in the following eloquent terms : — " Though the 
esprit de corps of the Indian Navy has been severely tried 
during the last two years by the uncertainty of its fate, the 
Service has maintained its discipline to the last. But not alone 
in its purely combatant character has it covered itself with 
honour. In the advancement of every branch of naval science, in 
arduous and minute surveys, the Indian Navy has been 
unrivalled. The Officers have clone more, in proportion to 
their numbers, than any other Service in the world. Many of 
them, from their intimate knowledge of native affairs and 
character, particularly in Persia and Arabia, have rendered 
important political services, and filled important political 
appointments. The Service expires, not by the hand of an 
enemy, nor from any want of vitality in itself, but in obedience 
to that highest law which has ever governed its members, the 
public good. It may, with confidence, entrust its memory to 
the keeping of those whose defence has ever been its pride as 
well as duty, and while no tinge of jealousy mingles with its 
thoughts of that honourable service, to which the guardianship 
of the shores of our Indian Empire is now confided, its officers 
proudly believe, and are entitled to believe, that the honour, the 
lives, and the properties of their fellow-countrymen in India, 
were as safe in times past in their keeping as they will be in 
that of their brethren of the Royal Navy. The hauling down of 
the Indian Jack closes an era in our Indian Empire. Revolu- 
tion stays here, for there is nothing more to revolutionize. 
The Service expires too soon for the interest of science, perhaps 
for the interest of our country, but not too soon for its honour- 
able and lasting mention in our national annals." 

The Officers of the Indian Navy, on their part, could recipro- 
cate the feelings of regret on the disruption of ties that had 
bound their Service for two centuries to the city, whose noble 
and almost unrivalled harbour will, doubtless, at some future 
time, render her the Capital of the East. Many were the 
kindnesses they had received at the hands of her Merchant 
Princes, and strong the friendships they had formed with her 
citizens, and the Officers, civil and military, of their old home, 
the Presidency town of Bombay. 

From the retrospect of Indian histor} 7 , from the time of the 
formation of the first factory at Surat and the acquisition of 
Bombay, to the suppression of the great Mutiny, the Indian Navy 









HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 575 

may say ofitsjservic.es :— Quorum pars magna fui. The page in 
which is recorded its deeds, forms no inconsiderable portion of 
that chapter of the history of the British Empire, where may be 
read the marvellous episode of the conquest of India. 

Warren Hastings wisely said:— "We hold India by a thread, 
but if you draw it too tight it will break." One false step, one 
ill-judged act, whether political or military, and the tension may 
cause that thread to snap. The duty of those administering and 
guarding the great Dependency, not inaptly called " the brightest 
jewel in England's crown," is to prevent the disruption, by 
violent means, of the fabric of Empire, reared at such cost of 
treasure and precious lives, though History warns us that the 
tenure of an alien power over such a vast and populous country 
must be insecure and cannot be prolonged. Great and ex- 
hausting as is the drain upon the flower of this country's 
manhood to maintain the occupation of India, it is certain that 
on the day we lose our hold the sun of Britain's glory will set 
for ever. So it has been with our ancient rivals for Eastern 
sovereignty, Holland and Portugal, and the experience of history 
will not be changed in our favour. 

" But come they must the clays decreed by fates, 
My heart trembles while my tongue relates, 
The days when thou Imperial Troy must bend, 
And see thy warriors fall, thy glories end." 

We are now at peace with India, but for how long? 'Tis 
true that 4i grim-visaged war has smoothed his wrinkled front," 
anclat least it should be acause for satisfaction that the protection 
and maintenance of that vast Empire is committed to hearts as 
brave as those which acquired and held it against all comers, 
whether from without or from within. To the British Navy, 
whose blood, shed in countless battles, " the multitudinous seas 
incarnadine," and which, less than any other martial force known 
in the history of the world, has experienced the humiliation of 
defeat, that Indian sister, whose pride it has ever been to 
emulate its deeds, commits the safe keeping of the seaboard of 
our Eastern possessions. 

Our task is now completed, and to the Officers and Men of 
the Old Service, who, without stint and ungrudgingly, gave 
their lives in their Country's service, we would apply, in 
conclusion, the epigram of Simonides on those who fell with 
Leonidas :— 

" These won for Sparta fame through endless days, 
When Death's dark cloud upon themselves they drew, 
But dying, died not, for their valour's praise, 
From Hades' dwelling leads them up anew." 



APPENDIX A. 



INDIAN NAYY LIST FOR 1858. 



CAPTAIN GEORGE GREV1LLE WELLESLEY, C.B., R.N., 
Commodore and Commander-in-Chief. Assumed charge, July 7, 1857. 

LIST OF THE OFFICERS : 
SENIOR LIST (AT HOME). 



Season. 



1796 
1810 
1812 



Names. 



Graham, William 
Grant, George . 
Harris, Edward H. 
Sawyer, John 



Date of 
Commission. 



April 12, 1824 
Mar. 18, 1827 
April 1, 1835 
June 18, „ 



Station. 







CAPTAINS (8) 


• 


1823 


Powell, Fred. Thos. . 


Dec. 16, 1848 , Assistant-Superintendent. 




Robinson, George . 


Jan. 1, 1851 


— 


1826 


Kernpthorne, G. B. 


Aug. 26, „ 


On Furlough. 




Frushard, John James 


Mar. 9, 1855 


Senior Officer, Aden. 


1827 


Jenkins, Griffith, C.B. 


Aug. 10, „ 


Commodore, Persian Gulf. 


1828 


Young, John W., C.B. 


April 29, 1856 


On Furlough. 




Campbell, CD.. . . 


Jan. 26, 1857 


' Coromandel.' 


)) 


Daniell, Edwd. W. S. 


Mar. 17, „ 


Commanding Indus Flotilla. 



COMMANDERS (16). 



1828 


Jones, James Felix 


Sept. 13, 


1847 


Resident, Bushire. 




Stephens, John . 


8, 


1848 


' Zenobia.' 




Barker, Wm. Chas. 


Dec. 16, 




— 




Macdonald, Archibald . 


Feb. 8, 


1850 


On Furlough. 


1829 


Gardner, Alan Hyde . 


Jan. 1, 


1851 


„ 




Drought, Hen. A. M. . 


Aug. 14, 


,, 


' Auckland.' 




Rennie, James, C.B. . 


Sept. 1, 


1852 


' Falkland.' 




Hamilton, Benjamin . 


Mar. 16, 


1854 


Forest Ranger, Sciude. 


1830 


Cruttenden, C. J. . . 


» 9, 


1855 


— 


j» 


Selby, W. B. ... 


Aug. 10, 




Surveyor-General, Mesopotamia 




Balfour, W 


Dec. 8, 




— 


>> 


Grounds, Hen. Wm. . 


April 13, 


1856 


Gunnery Officer. 


,, 


Nisbett, Andrew . . 


,, 29, 


„ 


On Furlough. 


1831 


Grieve, Alb. Moore 


July 3, 




Public Works Department. 




Manners, F. E. . . . 


Jan. 26, 


1857 


— 


1838 


Foulerton, Alex. . . 


Mar. 17, 


s» 


'Punjaub.' 



VOL. II. 



PP 



578 



APPENDIX. 
LIEUTENANTS (68). 







Date of 






Season. 


Names. 






Station. 








Commission. 






1838 


Adams, Geo. Norris . 


Feb. 23, 


1844 


' Assaye.' 




,, 


Tronson, James . . . 


June 13, 


n 


' Ferooz.' 




1839 


Worsley, Miller B. 






' Ajdaha.' 




» 


Batt, Henry .... 


J3 33 


35 


' Zenobia.' 




33 


Hopkins, F. W. 


July 14, 


33 


On Furlough. 




,, 


Stradling, R. A. . . 


Aug. 2, 


,, 


' Semiramis.' 




„ 


Constable, C. G. . . 


May 4, 


1845 


Surveyor, 'Euphrates.' 




,, 


Twynam, T. S. H. . . 


Oct. 17, 


, 


' Victoria.' 




33 


Eraser, Hugh A. . . 


April 7, 


1846 


' Tigris.' 




33 


Peevor, Edmund 


Aug. 28, 


)) 


' Lady Canning.' 




33 


Etheridge, H. W. . . 


1, 


1847 


Indus Flotilla. 




„ 


Chitty, A. W. . . . 


Sept. 13, 


33 


' Berenice.' 




„ 


Giles, Edward . . . 






Master- Attendant, Kurrachee. 


„ 


Fergusson, E. F. T. . 


33 33 


33 


Draughtsman. 




1840 


Pengelley, Walter M. 
Sedley, Joseph . 
Walker, Chas. H. . . 
Leeds, Rowley W. . . 
Hellard, Sam. B. . . 


33 33 

33 33 

33 33 




Naval Assist, to Mil. Aud. 
On Furlough. 


Gen. 


1841 


Lloyd, Chas. 

Way, G. Enos Greg. . 


33 33 


33 


' Constance.' 
On Furlough. 




1839 


Crane, Ben. H. . . . 




„ 


,, 




1841 


Robinson, Geo. Thos. 

Holt, G. T 

Taylor, A. D. ... 


)) 3) 


" 


Agent for Transports. 
Indus Flotilla. 
Surveyor, ' Pownah.' 




,, 


Ward, C. Y 


„ 


33 


On Survey, Bengal. 




,, 


Miteheson, P. W. . . 


Oct. 1, 




Naval Instructor. 




1842 


Child, Septimus 
Nixon, J. G. ... 


» )J 


" 


On Furlough. 
' Main.' 




)> 


Brooman, C. E. . . 
James, Henry H. . . 


Sept. "8, 
Oct. 9, 


1848 


— 




„ 


Lewis, Thos. Edwd. 


Dec. 16, 




Bengal. 




,, 


Aylesbury, T. Wm. 


Jan. 29, 


1849 


Irrawaddy Flotilla. 




33 


Davies, W. H. M. H. 


Nov. 3, 


,, 


Bengal. 




„ 


Lithgow, Wm. . . 


Feb. 8, 


1850 


On Furlough. 




,, 




Sept. 19, 


?) 


' Zenobia.' 




33 


Whish, R. W. . . . 


Nov. 8, 




— 




1843 


Dickson, W. B. . . . 


Aug. 14, 


1851 


On Furlough. 




J) 




„ 26, 


3) 


— 




1844 


Windus, A. T. . . . 


Sept. 11, 


)) 


Bengal. 




„ 


Heathcote, J. A. . . 


Jan. 19, 


1852 


On Survey, Bengal. 




1842 


Mason, G. N. P. . . 


July 29, 


,, 


Harbour-Master, Bushire. 




5J 






1854 


On Furlough. 




J) 


Sweny, Mark A. 


Mar. 6, 


„ 


Bengal. 




1845 


Barker, W. H. . . . 


April 12, 


3) 


— 




>> 


Duval, D. L. ... 


July 25, 


5> 


Bengal. 




»> 


Clarkson, John W. 


Aug. 2, 


1854 


' Clive.' 






Hunter, T. R. . . . 


Mar. 9, 


1855 


' Akbar.' 




5> 


Searle, W. L. ... 


April 19, 


3? 


Indus Flotilla. 




, 


Wood, J. W. C. . . 


Aug. 10, 




' Ferooz.' 




1846 


Carew, G. O'B. . . 


Sept. 21, 


J) 


' Auckland.' 




„ 


Brazier, E. J. R. B. . 


Nov. 27, 


)) 


' Semiramis.' 




>> 




Dec. 8, 


3J 


On Furlough. 




,, 


Jackson, Henry 


„ 20, 


?> 


Bengal. 




1847 


Skottowe, F. W. . . 


Feb. 23, 


1856 


On Furlough. 




,, 




„ 25, 


33 


Bengal. 




>, 


Dyer, W. A. ... 


April 13, 


„ 


— 








APPENDIX. 



579 



LIEUTENANTS (Continued). 



Season, 



1849 
1848 
1849 



Names. 



Forster, C. . . . 
Carpendale, T. C. R. 
Trollope, J. H. . . 
Templer, C. B. . . 
Handley, F. . . . 
De Belin, A. . . 
Stitt'e, A. W. 
Harries, Win. H. J. 
Clark, A. J. . . . 
Tozer, M. P. S. 
May, E. R. . . . 



Date of 
Commission. 



April 
July 
Oct. 
Jan. 



29, 1856 
3, „ 

28, „ 
2, 1857 

26, „ 



Mar. 8, 
17, 
18, 
31, 
13, 
11, 



June 
Aug. 
Oct, 
Dec. 



Station. 



' Clive.' 
' Ajdaha.' 
Bengal. 

' Auckland.' 

Assist. Surveyor, 'Euphrates. 

On Furlough. 



On Survey, Madras. 



MATES (28). 



1849 



1850 
1848 
1850 
1849 
1847 
1846 
1850 

1851 
1850 
1851 



1847 
1846 
1851 
1847 
1850 
1851 
1852 



Oct. 
Dec. 



Philbnck, T. M. . . Aug. 
Hurlock, R. G. . . 
Chester, H. M. . . 
Crockett, W. T. 
Barron, T. H. B. . 
Leefe, R. B. . . . 
Williams, R. . . 
Dawson, W. W. . 
Butt, Edward. . . 
Edwards, H. J. 
Yates, Win. F. . . 
Davis, H. H. . . 
Dowell, H. J. . . 
Carey, H. C. 
Sconce, G. C. . . 
Liardet, H. M. . . 
Lakes, J. G. . 
Strong, J. ... 
Hewett, O. B. . . 
Bewsher, J. B. . 
Lewis, Gr. L. . 
Georges, C. P. 
G'ollingwood, W. 
Seaton, F. L. . 
Fendall, P. W. . . 
Burnes, H. W. H. . 
Ogilvy, W. H. . . 
Warden, Fred. . . . Sept. 



Aug. 
Oct. 
Dec. 
Jan. 

Mar. 

June 

Aug. 

Sept. 



4, 1854 
22 

12, „ 
11, „ 

13, „ 

28, 1855 
26, „ 

15, „ 
25, 1856 

25, ", 

16, » 

20, „ 
14, „ 



Dec. 
Jan. 
Mar. 



14, „ 
11, ,, 

19, 1857 



Auar. 2 



18, 
22 



25, 
23, 



' Auckland.' 
' Seniiraniis.' 
' Clive.' 
' Ferooz.' 
' Elphinstone.' 
' Victoria.' 

On Furlough. 
' Akbar.' 
' Falkland.' 

' Elphinstone.' 

' Assaye.' 
' Falkland.' 
' Akbar.' 
' Assaye.' 
' Punjaub.' 

' Ajdaha.' 

On Survey, ' Pownah.' 

Persian Gulf. 

Assist. Surveyor, Mesopotamia. 

' Lady Canning.' 

' Assaye.' 



MIDSHIPMEN (88). 



1847 


Farrer, Chas. H. 


Aug. 14, 1847 


On Furlough. 


,, 


Bardin, B. . . 




Sept. 25, „ 


„ 


1851 


Rogers, T. R. . 




Jan. 25, 1851 


' Coromandel.' 


,, 


Moorhead, W. H. 
Mesurier, H. Le 




June 25, „ 


On Furlough. 
' Tigris.' 




Ellis, Henry 




Dec. 7, „ 


' Victoria.' 


,, 


Dawkins, F. 




Sept. 15, „ 


' Akbar.' 


1852 


Morland, Henry 




June 5, 1852 


' Akbar.' 


„ 


Clarke, B. C. S. 




July 5, „ 


' Ajdaha.' 


,, 


Burn, Henry 




J3 J) J) 


' Akbar.' 




Plunkett, W. . 






— 




Wilson, Charles P. 




,, 25, „ 


' Akbar.' 



pp 2 



580 



APPENDIX. 



MIDSHIPMEN (Continued) . 



Names. 



McMillin, H. A. 
Lambarde, T. M. 
Fawcett, J. W. . 
Bonham, G. L. . 
Kail, A. H. . . 
Rutherford, J. O. 
D'Arcv, C. V. . 
Law, A. N. . . 
Hyndman, J. L. 
Parker, G-. C. . 
Bruce, W. A. 
Lowis, J. S. . . 
Scton, W. S. 
Brebner, J. 
Jones, M. H. 
Du Boulay, J. G. 
Beddome, C. E. 
Brownlow, H. W. 
Brownlow, E. M. 
Budd, J. D. . . 
Gayford, H. H. 
Hewison, W. F. 
Arabin, H. J. 
Arnot, W. P. 
McCartv, J. F. . 
Booth, W. C. . 
Finnis, R. F. 
Lane, C. L, 
Payne, G. J. F. . 
Ketcben, J. . . 
Leishman, W. 
Agar, J. C. D. . 
Gabb, T. S. . . 
Estridge, H. W. 
Greig, J. G. 
Wetherall, W. A. 
Hewer. H. . . 
Low, OR. . . 
Cotgrave, H. G. F. 
Wray, C. A. . . 
Armstrong, R. S. 
Lane, J. M. . . 
Brind, W. H. . 
Burt, T. W. . . 
Dodd, G. H. . . 
Brown, M. A. L. 
Oldham, W. H. 
Loraine, W. C. . 
Powell, W.J. . 
Morgan, J. B. 
Chippendall, H. L. 
King, D. B. . . 
Mai shall, W. 
Scamp, R. 
Morison, D. J. G. 
Foley, H. A. . . 
Wilson, W. T. H. 



Date of 
Appointment. 



Aug. 
Dec. 



Jan. 

Not. 
Feb. 
April 



July 
Aug. 

Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Mar. 

H 

April 
June 
July 
Dec. 

Jan. 

Feb. 
Mar. 



20, 1852 



9, 
29, 
20, 
24, 
27, 

3, 



1853 

1852 

1853 



27, 
11, 
20, 

<>, 
27, 
27, 
20, 
21, 

"3, 
20, 
20, 
31, 

"3, 

20, 

4, 

20, 



1851 



1S55 



June 4, 



1854 
1855 



July 



Aug. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 



12, 
19, 
16, 



4, 
20, 

4, 
20, 



1856 



April 



May 
June 
July 
Aug. 

Sept. 
Dec. 



4, 

22, 

23, 

4, 

4, 

16, 

5, 

20, 

1, 

4, 

10, 

14, 



Station. 



On Survey, ' Euphrates. 1 
On Furlough. 
' Semiramis.' 
' Elphinstone.' 

' Tigris.' 
' Constance.' 

' Falkland.' 

lien gal. 

' Clive.' 

On Furlough. 

' Akbar.' 

' Tigris.' 

' Elphinstone.' 

' Akbar.' 

' Auckland.' 

' Zenobia.' 
On Furlough. 
' Ferooz.' 
' Falkland.' 
Persian Gulf. 

' Ferooz.' 

' Akbar.' 

' Elphinstone.' 

' Assaye.' 
' Constance.' 



' Elphinstone.' 

On Furlough. 

On Survey, ' Euphrates.' 

' Mahi.' 

' Semiramis.' 

Bengal. 

' Ciive.' 

' Punjaub.' 

' Zenobia.' 

' Falkland.' 

' Mahi.' 

' Clive.' 






' Clive.' 

' Elphinstone. 1 

' Ajdaha.' 

' Semiramis.' 
' Assaye.' 
Bengal. 
' Assaye.' 



APPENDIX. 

MIDSHIPMEN (Continued). 



581 



Season. 



1856 
1857 



Names. 



Campbell, A. W. 
Parker, A. H. T. 
Cuthell, W. . . 
Hannay, H. E. S. 
Mayo, A., V.C. . 
Nicholetts, R. C. 
Clark, B. H. . . 
Fry, F. W. . . 
Warner, H. . . 
Scott, D. M. . . 
Sutton, M. J. 
Ketley, A. J. 
Young, A. P. 
Hornby, S. H. E. 
Leiskman, G. 
Capel, R. R. A. . 
Howe, W. H. D. 
Dawes, E. . . 
Grant, W. . . 



Date of 
Appointment. 



Dec. 21, 1856 
Jan. 20, 1857 



Feb. 19, 
April 7, 
May 24, 
June 13, 
July 20, 



Aug. 26, 

Sept. 3, 

5, 

,, 12, 
Nov. 11, 

„ 29, 
Dec. 16, 

„ 20, 



Station. 



' Elphinstone. : 
' Assaye.' 
Pen gal. 



The following Midshipmen joined the Indian Navy between the 1st of January, 
1858, and the abolition of the Service in 1863. 



Names. 



1858 

Lloyd, F. X. 
Rattray, A. . 
Symons, J. E. 
Edwards, C. W 
Smith, S. . . 
Paradise, C. M. 
Foster, F. N. 
Mercer, Or. D. 
Mickleburgh, F. 
Pulman, J. H. 
May, W. . . 
Price, J. F. . 
Booker, R. W. 
Forde, A. T. 
Chapman, M. 
Mainwaring, C. S. 
Cheek, G. A 
Bishop, E. 
Morton, C. H. E 
Moultrie, G. E. 
Gower, H. L. 
Turner, F. C. 
Lowder, W. . 
Boys, H. . . 
Beaumont, W. J 
Fry, R. T. . 
Girdlestone, F. B 
Cooke, W. W. . 



II 



Date of 

Appointment. 



Jan. 7, 1858 

„ 18, „ 

Feb. 2, „ 

Mar. "q, "„ 

„ 12, „ 

„ 20, „ 

„ 27, „ 

J) J) J) 

„ 31, „ 

May 7, „ 



„ 26, 
„ 29, 
June 11, 
July 1, 
„ 10, 
>, 21, 



Aug. 27, 
Sept, 26, 

Oct. "6, 



Names. 



1858 

Williams, A. C. 
Richmond, G. M. 

1859 



Williams, A. D 
Leckie, J. L. 
Campbell, D. 
King, C. . 
Lowder, G. G. 
Willaume, F. W 
Rudd, C. J. . 
Roper, J. 
Hurd, E. T. 
Daniell, A. B. 
Hooper, H. D 
Nicholson, E. 



C. 



1860 

Chalke, H. J. 
Wheler, W. A. 
Bradbery, E. 
Eades, J. D. 

1861 

Needham, R. C. 
Fuller, A. . 

1862 

Barrett, G. B. 



Date of 
Appointment. 



Dec. 3, 

„ 30, 



Jan. 12, 1859 
Feb. 12, 
Mar. 27, 
May 23, 
June 1, 



„ 23, 

Aug. 2, 

Sept. 3, 

„ 27, 



Jan. 27, 1860 

Feb. 11, „ 

May 20, „ 

July 8, „ 

April 23, 1861 
Oct. 27, „ 



Jan. 4, 1862 



582 



APPENDIX. 





PURSERS 


[20). 


Names. 


Date of 
Commission. 


Station. 


Ibbs, J. C 


Sept. 15, 1839 


Accountant, Dockyard. 


Tanner, T 


April 19, 1811 


Indus Flotilla. 


Bone, F. G 


May 19, „ 


Sec. to Commander-in-Chief. 


Keys, John Ant. . . 


Oct. 29, 1844 


— 


Betham, Robert Geo. . 


April 21, 1846 


Deputy Marine Paymaster. 




Oct. 29, 1848 


On Furlough. 


Bennett, Robert . . 


May 1, „ 


— 


Williams, Henry 


Jan. 12, 1853 


' Auckland.' 


Connolly, Thos. C. . . 


July 21, „ 


' Akbar.' 


Cole, Chas. J. D. . . 


9"i 


On Furlough. 


Hewett, Thos. Douglas 


?> >> >> 


' Elphinstone.' 


Barker, Samuel . . . 


>> j; )) 


— 


Osborn, Lushington 


J! >' !> 


' Semiramis.' 


Ford, Louis J. F. C. 


,, ,, 


' Zenobia.' 


Johnston, Wm. . . . 


July 23, 1854 


' Assaye.' 


Wilson, Lindsay 


April 25, 1855 


' Ajdaha.' 


Ingle, George 


June 15, ,, 


' Ferooz.' 




„ 28, 1856 


' Akbar.' 


Jones, Parry .... 


Sept. 15, „ 


On Furlough. 


Litchfield, E. S. 


Aug. 12, 1857 


— 



CAPTAIN'S CLERKS (24). 



Mignou, E. A. S. 
Daniell, C. C. B. 
Handley, J. . . 
Daniell, F. W. . 
Noble, R. . . . 
Antram, J. P. 
Williams, M. B. 
Farley, H. W. . 
Ussher, W. H. . 
Barrett, H. . . 
Beaumont, W. C. 
Strange, C. . . 
Shuttleworth, A. T. 
Ellis, H. W. W. 
Ellis, R. H. M. 
Gliddon, S. A. 
Eaton, H. T. 
Jackson, C. R. . 
Dunn, J. M.. 
Williams, St. L. 
Robinson, H. 
Edwards, F. R. . 
Finlinson, A. S. 
MacGee, J. W. . 



July 19, 

„ 28, 

Sept. 6, 

9, 

„ 20, 

25, 

3, 

20, 



1854 



1855 



Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

June 12. „ 

Oct. 4^ „ 

Nov. 22, „ 

Dec. 28, „ 

Mar. "9, 1856 

April 20, „ 

May 15, „ 

Aug. 5, „ 

Sept. 26, „ 

Nov. 19, „ 

Dec. 21, „ 

Oct. 31, 1857 



' Clive.' 
1 Falkland.' 
' Mahi.' 
' Tigris.' 
' Punjaub.' 
' Constance.' 
' Lady Canning. 
' Auckland.' 
' Punjaub.' 
' Semiramis.' 
' Falkland.' 
' Victoria.' 
' Ferooz.' 
' Punjaub.' 
' Elphinstone.' 
' Akbar.' 
' Ajdaha.' 
On Furlough. 
' Akbar.' 

' Semiramis.' 



The following Captain's Clerks joined the Indian Navy between the 1st of 
January, 1858, and the abolition of the Service in 1863. 



Wilson, S. . . . 


Feb. 11, 1858 


Ingle, M. F. 


Mar. 4, „ 


Whiting, C. J. . . 


May 6, „ 


Linskell, J. G. . 


Aug. 4, „ 


Arnot, A. K. . . 


Sept. 26, „ 


Smith, K. M. . . 


Nov. 5, „ 


Preyre, L. J. L. 


Nov. 23, „ 


Harrison, J. V. 


Feb. 3, 1860 


Phelips, R. C. H. . 


,, 26, „ 


Maury, A. G. . 


„ 27, „ 


Fotheringham, I. . 


Dec. 3, „ 


Smart, T. D. 


April 13, „ 


Pendlebury, A. . . 


Feb. 3, 1859 


Hilliard, W. E. J. . 


Dec. 20, „ 






APPENDIX. 



.is:; 



SHIPS OF WAR, AND OTHER VESSELS, 
INDIAN NAVY. 



WAR-VESSELS. 









Ton- 








Ship's Name. 


Where built. 


Year. 


nage. 


Power. 


Armament. 


Description of Vessel. 


'Ajdaha' 


London. 


1816 


1440 


500 


8 guns 


Steam-frigate. 


' Akbar' 


Glasgow. 


1841 


1202 


350 


6 „ 




' Assaye' 


Bombay. 


1854 


1800 


650 


10 „ 


,, 


' Auckland ' 




1840 


946 


220 


6 „ 




' Berenice' . 


Glasgow. 


1836 


756 


220 


4 „ 


Steam-sloop. 


' Clive' 


Bombay. 


1826 


387 


— 


18 „ 


Sloop-of-war. 


< Clyde' 




1857 


300 


60 


3 „ 


Steam-gunboat. 


' Constance' 




1838 


182 


— 


3 „ 


Schooner. 


' Elphinstone' 


>) 


1824 


387 


— 


18 „ 


Sloop-of-war. 


'Euphrates' 


M 


1828 


255 


— 


10 „ 


Brig. 


' Falkland' . 




1853 


494 


— 


18 „ 


Sloop-of-war. 


' Ferooz' 




1848 


1450 


500 


8 » 


Steam-frigate. 


' Hugh Rose' 




1857 


300 


60 


3 „ 


Steam-gunboat. 


' Lady Canning' . 


,, 


1857 


527 


160 


4 „ 


Steam-sloop. 


' Main' 


,, 


1834 


157 


— 


3 „ 


Schooner. 


' Punjaub' . 


,, 


1854 


1800 


700 


10 „ 


Steam-frigate. 


' Semiramis' 




1842 


1031 


250 


6 „ 




' Tigris' 


!i 


1829 


258 


— 


10 „ 


Brig. 


' Victoria' . 


,, 


1839 


705 


230 


5 „ 


Steam-sloop. 


' Zenobia' 


„ 


1851 


1003 


280 


6 „ 


Steam-frigate. 



TRANSPORTS AND TENDERS. 



' Bheemah' . 
' Charlotte' . 
' Coromandel' 
' Dalbousie* 
' Emily' 
' Georgiana' 
' Goolanar' . 
' Nerbuddah' 
' Pownah' 
• Prince Arthur' 
' Snake' 



London. 
Bombay. 



Bombay. 



1830 


55 


— 


— 


1856 


167 


— 


2 guns 


1856 


1026 


— 


4 „ 


1856 


1022 


— 


4 „ 


1855 


90 


— 


2 „ 


1855 


90 


— 


2 „ 


1855 


215 


— 




1835 


49 


— 


— 


1831 


43 


— 


— 


1856 


1246 


— 


4 „ 


1838 


40 


10 





Pattamar (for Survey). 

Schooner. 

Steam-transport. 

Schooner. 

Steam-tender. 

Schooner. 

Pattamar (for Survey) . 

Steam-transport. 

Steam-tender. 



INDUS FLOTILLA. 



' Assyria' 
' Chenaub' . 
' Comet' 
' Conqueror' 
' Euphrates' 
' Frere' 
' Havelock' . 
' Indus' 
* Jhelum' 



Turkish Arabia. 
Bombay. 



River Euphrates 
Bombav. 



1840 


197 


40 


2 guns 


1851 


499 


60 


2 „ 


1839 


204 


40 


2 




1844 


299 


50 


2 




1836 


186 


40 


2 




1857 


610 


120 


2 




1857 


610 


120 


2 




1851 


522 


100 


2 




1851 


499 


60 


2 


, 



River-steamer (Iron). 



584 



APPENDIX. 



INDUS FLOTILLA (Continued). 



Ship's Name. 


Where built. 


Year. 


Ton- 
nage. 


Horse 
Power. 

40 


Armament. 


Description of Vessel. 


' Meanee' 


Bombay. 


1844 


208 


2 guns 


Biver-steamer (Iron)' 


' Napier' . 


„ 


1844 


445 


90 


2 


55 55 


' Ninirod' 


Turkish Arabia. 


1840 


198 


40 


2 ',', 


55 55 


' Nitocris' . 


55 


1840 


154 


40 


2 „ 


55 55 


' Out-ram' 


Bombay. 


1857 


610 


120 


2 „ 


55 55 


' Planet' 


?> 


1840 


397 


60 


2 „ 


55 55 


' Satellite' . 




1840 


335 


60 


2 » 


55 55 


' Sir Hy . Lawrence' 


55 


1857 


610 


120 


2 „ 


55 55 


' Beeas' 


55 


1845 


664 


— 


— 


Flat. 


' Cursetjee' . 


55 


1852 


205 


— 


— 




' Dromedary' 


55 


— 


205 


— 


— 




' Ethersey' . 


55 


1854 


174 


— 


— 




' Kedywaree' 


55 


— 


151 


— 


— 




' Kotree' 




— 


100 


— 


— 




' Mootnee' . 




1834 


43 


— 


— 




' Ravee' 


55 


1845 


664 


— 


— 




' Sutledge' . 


55 


1845 


664 


— 


— 





APPENDIX B. 



STRENGTH, ARMAMENT, AND STATIONS 



DETACHMENTS OF THE INDIAN NAVAL BRIGADE, 

ServiDg in Bengal, during the Indian Mutiny, between June, 

1857, and May, 1860, under the command of 

Captain C. D. Campbell, Senior Naval Officer, Calcutta, 

and commanding pennant vessel ' Calcutta.' 





Strength. 


Guns. 




Number. 




Wan-ant 


Petty Officers 


Station. 




Officers. 


Officers. 


and Seamen. 






1 


6 


2 


150 




Fort William. 


2 


3 


2 


100 


6 


Barrackpore. 


3 


4 


1 


100 


4 


Buxar. 


4 


4 


1 


100 


2 


Dacca and Dibrooglmr. 


5 


5 


1 


200 


6 


Gya. 


6 


5 


1 


200 


— 


Port Blair. 


7 


4 


1 


110 


4 


Dehree. 


8 


3 





50 


— 


Jessore. 


9 


5 


1 


120 


4 


Chyabassa. 


10 


3 


1 


100 


2 


Alipore. 


11 


4 


1 


100 


2 


Moozufferpore and Moteeharee. 


12 


4 


1 


100 


2 


Julpigoree. 


13 


3 


1 


100 


2 


Chuprah. 


14 


4 


1 


100 


2 


Chyabassa. 


Police 
Brigade 


1 * 


i 1 


| 110 


{ * 


■j Dibrooglmr. 


Total 


60* 


16 


1740 1 


40 





* Exclusive of Captain Campbell, commanding the Brigade, and Mr. 
Mignon, Paymaster. 



E. 



N.B. — Absolute accuracy is not claimed for the returns in this Appendix, the 
preparation of which entailed considerable trouble, as no official documents were 
available. They may, however, be relied upon as fairly correct and complete, 
except as regards the Warrant Officers, of whom there were more than sixteen. 



580 



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o 

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W 


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Dacca, Dibroogbur. 
Fort William. {£ 
Port Blair, Cbuprah. J^d 
Debree >jy 
Fort William, Port Blair. O 

i Fort William, Barrackpore, >3 

i Cbyabassa. 
Cbyabassa. 

Calcutta. 


Debree. 

Dacca, Dibroogbur. 

Port Blair. 

Buxar. 

Port Blair. 

Dacca, Dibroogbur. 

Buxar. 

Fort William, Buxar, Gya. 

Fort William, Gya. 


j 


a 

3 

P 


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_ 05 

£2 & 

■<? i-l r_l t- -IN Oi 


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03 


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to 
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Lewis, T. E. . 
Swenv, M. A. 
Templer, C. B. 
Tozer, M. P. S. 
Warden, F. (Acting). 

Windus, A. T. 

Yates, W. F. (Acting) 

PAYMASTER. 

Mignon, R. J. . 




MIDSHIPMEN. 

Brownlow, H. W. 
Cuthell, W. 
Gower, H. L. . 
Haunay, H. E. 
Mainwaring, C S. 
Mayo, A. 
Parker, G. C . 
Scamp, R. 
Wray, C. A. . 


ft 
ft 

ft" 
ft 
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ft 
O 

CO 

ft 

ft 
O 

M 

ft 

o 


a 
_o 

03 
55 


Calcutta. (Senior Naval Officer) 

Buxar. 

Moozufferpore. 

Alipore, Cbyabassa. 

Alipore. 

Barrackpore, Debree, Alipore. 

f Barrackpore, Dehree, Mo- 

1 teebaree. 
Fort William, Gya, Buxar. 

Dibroogbur, Cliyabassa. 

Debree. 

Fort William, Port Blair. 
Alipore, Julpigoree. 
Jessore, Buxar. 


ft 
o 

H 

CO 

t— 1 

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O 

i— i 
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ft 


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hhO h 

co ■- | -^j>r 
M of 


2, 7, 11 

1, 5, 3 

f Police 

< Brigade, 

( and 14 

7 

1,6 

10, 12 

8,3 


1 


to 

o 

H 
ft 
«l 
O 


Campbell, CD. 

COMMANDEE. 

Batt, H 

LIEUTENANTS. 

Barron, T. H. B. . 
Burnes, H. W. II. (Acting) 
Carey, R. ... 
Carew, G. O'B. 


Cotgrave, H. G. F. (Acting) 
Duval, D. L. . 

Davies, W. H. W. . 

Etberidge, H. W. 
Hellard, S. B. . 
Hurlock, R. G. 
Jackson, II. . 







APPENDIX. 



587 



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APPENDIX C. 



PAY AND ALLOWANCES 



OP THE 

VARIOUS GRADES OF THE INDIAN NAYY AT THE TIME OP 
ABOLITION IN 1863. 








Pay per Month 




Rank or Rating. 




Remarks. 




R 


A 




1. Commander-in-Chief (appointed 






With official residence, or house 


for five years, Government Let- 






rent, Rs. 200 per month, in 


ter, 30th of January, 1852) . 


2500 




lieu thereof. 


2. Commodore, Persian Gulf Squa- 






The Commodore, when absent 


dron. 






from the Gulf, draws during 


Command Allowance . Rs. 900 






the first three months, Rs. 800 


Table Money . . „ 400 






per mensem, and afterwards 





1300 




Rs. 700. 


3. Senior Naval Officer, Persian 






These allowances are only grant- 


Gulf, when no Commodore is 






ed to Senior Officers who may 


borne. 






be duly appointed as such. 


Command Allowance. . Rs. 900 






The officiating Senior Officer 


Table ( If a Ca P tain ■ " 30 ° 
,, J Commander „ 200 

' ' Lieutenant ,, 100 






in Persian Gulf, during the 






absence of the Commodore on 






sick leave, is allowed the same 


4. Senior Naval Officer, Aden. 






rate of Table Money as a duly 


Command Allowance, according 






appointed Senior Officer, but 


to his rank; and Table Money, 






the Command Allowance of 


according to the scale laid down 






his rank only. 


for the Senior Officer Persian 








Gulf. 








5. Assistant Superintendent — 




Including house-rent. Draws 


If a Captain .... 


1080 


also Rs. 300 per month as 


If a Commander 


980 


Dockmaster. 


6. Officer Commaading the Indus 




Consolidated pay and allowance. 


flotilla 


1000 




The Lieutenants, Purser, and 
Assistant-Surgeon, under his 
orders, were allowed batta at 
Rs. 4 per diem, under orders 
the 8th of November, 1855, 
and the 26th of October, 1859. 


7. Secretary to the Commander-in- 








Chief 


600 




Including house-rent, Rs. 100. 






APPENDIX. 



589 





Pay per Month 




Bank or Rating. 




Remarks. 




R 


A 




8. Clerk to the Commodore, Persian 








Gulf 


90 






9. Clerk to the Senior Naval Officer, 








Aden ..... 


70 






10. Moonshee to the Commodore, 








Persian Gulf .... 


61 






11. Captain — in command of a Sur- 






Survey Allowance, which com- 


veying vessel — 






mences from the date of the 


Command Allowance Es. 600 






vessel leaving Bombay, ceases 


Survey Allowance. „ 350 






on her return, unless under 





950 




the special order of Govern- 
ment. 


■ In command of any other vessel. 


800 






On temporary employment on 








shore, in the absence of staff 








salary ..... 


602 






12. Commander — in command of a 








Surveying vessel — 








Command Allowance. Es. 500 








Survey Allowance. „ 350 











850 






In command of any other vessel — 








The eight seniors . 


700 






The eight juniors 


600 






On temporary employment on 








shore, in the absence of staff 








salary ..... 


422 






13. A Captain or Commander, when 








proceeding to assume a com- 








mand at an out-station — 








Captain ..... 


602 






Commander .... 


422 






14. Lieutenant — in command of a Sur- 








veying vessel — 








Command Allowance. Es. 300 








Survey Allowance. „ 350 









650 






In command of a vessel entitled to 








a Commander .... 


500 






In command of a 4th rate . 


400 






,, ,, 5th rate . 


300 






15. Lieutenants — The senior fifteen . 


175 




Table money, Es. 25 per month, 


All others .... 


145 




is included. 


16. Purser — 








Of a 1st rate , 


300 




Eeceives also an eighth of the 


„ 2nd rate 


270 




value of the full proportion of 


,, 3rd rate 


250 




provisions allowed for the 


„ 4th rate 


220 




number of persons borne, 


Acting Purser (in addition to the 






subject to deductions for pro- 


pay of his grade) 


100 




visions wasted, or destroyed 


17. Purser and Paymaster Indus flo- 






by vermin. 


tilla- 








Pay as Purser . Es. 250 






Ditto ditto. 


Pay as Paymaster „ 60 











310 







590 



APPENDIX. 



Rank or Rating. 



18. Assistant-Surgeon 

19. Mate- 

Under three years' standing as 

such . 
Over three years' standing as 

such ..... 

20. Midshipman • . 



21. Captain's Clerk — In charge of 

Purser's duties — 

Pay . . . Es. 50 

Allowance for keep- 

ng accounts . . „ 30 

All others .... 

22. Acting Master — 

In command .... 
All others .... 

23. Acting 1st Class Second-Master. 
Acting 2nd Class Second-Master. 
Command Allowance to Acting 

2nd Masters of either class, in 
addition to their pay 

24. Gunnery Officer of the Eeeeiving 

Ship 

When held hy an officer holding 
a 1st Class Certificate in Gun- 
nery, consolidated pay at the 
following rates — 
A Commander 
A Lieutenant 

25. Allowances to Lieutenants, Mates, 

or Midshipmen, holding 1st or 
2nd Class certificates in Gun- 
nery — 
If holding a 1st Class certificate. 




Ditto 2nd 



ditto. 



26. Assistant Surveyor 

Ditto. When held hy a Mate or 
Midshipman, Es. 4 per day (in 
addition to the pay of his rank) 

27. Superintendent of Tenders . 

28. Store Accountant 



318 



80 



100 
50 



80 
50 

250 

175 

100 

70 



100 
200 



800 
600 



40 

20 

175 



60 
30 



Remarks. 



Including Es. 12 servant's pay. 

Passed Midshipmen, or Mates, 
having charge of watches in 
vessels of the 5th and higher 
classes, are allowed batta at 
Es. one per diem ; when in 
command, at Es. two per day, 
in addition to the pav of their 
rank. (Government Letter of 
the 2nd of August, 1842, and 
the 30th December, 1852). 

Allowed also an eighth as sanc- 
tioned for pursers. 



Including table-money, Es. 25 



In addition to the pay of his 
rank. 



In addition to the pay of his 

rank. 
Ditto ditto. 



Ditto 



ditto. 



Ditto ditto. 

Ditto ditto. To be held 

by one of the Lieutenants, 
Mates, or Acting- Masters on 
the ship's establishment, and 
failing these, by the Officer 
Commanding. The allowance 
is not payable until the ac- 
counts have been rendered. 



APPENDIX. 



501 



Rank or Rating. 



Pay per Month 



29. Naval Instructor 

30. Teacher of Gunnery . 

31. Engineers* 

1st Class for the first 3 years £200 
2nd ditto 150 

3rd ditto 100 

1st Class from the fourth to 

the seventh year inclusive. 250 
2nd ditto 175 

3rd ditto 125 

1st Class from the end of 

the seventh year . . 300 

2nd ditto 200 

3rd ditto 150 

With an additional allowance, 
while steam is up, or employed 
elsewhere fitting engines, of — 
4.?. per day to a 1st Class Engineer 
3.y. ditto 2nd ditto 

2.s. 6d. ditto 3rd ditto 

32. Boiler Makers, 1st Class 

Ditto 2nd 

With an increase of Rs. 50, in 
both classes after five years' 
service .... 

33. Gunners, Boatswains, Carpenters — 

1st Class 
2nd „ . 
3rd „ . 
Acting .... 



500 
500 



150 
125 



100 
80 
60 
50 



Remarks. 



Pay according to Class in addi- 
tion to Rs. 60, as batta. 

Engineers of all three Classes 
receive a free passage to In- 
dia, and home also, on dis- 
charge, if their conduct has 
been satisfactory, and they 
have completed five years' ser- 
vice. 

The Chief Engineer received 
also Is. per day for each Ap- 
prentice under tuition. 

Engineer Apprentices were di- 
vided into three Classes, re- 
ceiving respectively 15, 10, 
and 8 Rs. per month. After 
five years' service, being then 
18, they were eligible to pass 
as journeymen, when the scale 
of monthly pay was 30 rupees. 
1 In addition, board and lodg- 
J iug allowance, Rs. 50. 



These W 7 arrant Officers also re- 
ceive a gratuity of Rs. 10o 
on promotion, to assist them 
in procuring an outfit. 



The following Petty Officers, fbeing of the 1st Class, receive Rs. 33 per month : 
— Master-at-Arms ; Ship's Corporal, and Seamen's Schoolmaster ; Gunner's 
Mates; Captain's Coxwain ; Quartermasters; Boatswain's Mates; Captains of 
the Forecastle, Maintop, and Eoretop ; Sailmaker ; Captain of the Ilold : Car- 
penter's Mate ; Caulker ; Cooper ; Armourer ; and Purser's Steward. 

The following Petty Officers, being of the 2nd Class, receive Rs. 30 per month : 
— Captain of the Mast ; Captain of the Afterguard ; Yeoman of Signals ; Caulker's 
Mate ; Painter ; Yeoman of Store-rooms ; Armourer's Mate ; and Sailmaker' 8 
Mate. Able Seamen J receive per month, Rs. 26; Ordinary Seamen and Lands- 
men, Rs. 20 ; Marine Apprentices, or 1st Class Boys, Rs. 9 ; 2nd Class 
Boys, Rs. 5. 

* The scale of pay of the Engineers was reckoned in English money, 

t Petty Officers and Seamen conducting themselves to the satisfaction of their commanding 
officers, receive after two years' service, one gold badge and a gratuity of Rs. 24; after five years' 
service, a second gold badge and a gratuity of Rs. 36 ; and, after eight 'years' service, a third gold 
badge and a gratuity of Rs. 40. A further sum of Rs. 2 is given to r\ ery Petty Officer and seaman, 
as a monthly allowance for good conduct, provided he has not broken his' leave', or otherwise miscon- 
ducted himself. Seamen-gunners are, for the first three years from the date of their certificates, 
allowed per month, Rs. 2; second three years, Rs. 3; third three years, Rs 4, in addition to the pay 
of their ratings. 

t European seamen are allowed Rs. 50 bounty money for three years' service, and Native 
stokers, Rs. 15. Crimpage money at Rs. 10 per head is allowed to persons procuring seamen for 
vessels at out-stations, but not at Bombay. 



592 



APPENDIX. 

BATTA. 



Burmese War, 1824-26. — The Service received War Batta,* on the scale per 
diem granted to the Army, according to the Regulations ; and in addition, the 
Governor-General in Council, by General Orders, dated the 3rd of August, 1826y 
granted to the Officers and men engaged in the Burmese War, a donation of six 
months' batta to those who had served for a period of not less than twelve 
mouths, and half that amount to such as had served a less period. On the 19th 
of October, 1827, a second General Order was issued from the same authority, 
stating that the Court of Directors had authorised the issue of a second donation 
of batta of a like amount, to the forces engaged in Ava and Arracan, which was 
made applicable to the Bombay Marine by an Order of the Bombay Government, 
dated 22nd of September, 1828. 

By Government Letter of the 24th of November, 1832, and Government 
General Order of the 10th of October, 1835, the following rates of batta to the 
various grades of the Indian Navy, were authorised in supersession of those 
formerly existing : — 

Per Diem. 

Captains 

Commander 

Lieutenant, Surgeon, and Purser 

Midshipman and Clerk . 

Warrant Officers 

Petty Officers and Seamen 

Half batta, as well as batta, was also introduced into the Indian Navy agree- 
ably to the usage of the military department. 

Under a Resolution of the Governor-General in Council of the 4th of August, 
1841, the Officers and men of the Indian Navy were awarded the following scale 
of batta, also applicable to similar grades of the Royal Navy, under the conditions 
established by orders of the Court of Directors, dated 22ud of December, 1786, 
and the 4th of August, 1791 :— 



Rs. 


a. 


P- 


20 








15 








4 








2 








2 











4 






Per Diem. 



Captain, three years' post 

Post-Captain, under three years 

Commander 

Lieutenant 

Master .... 

Purser .... 

Surgeon 

Assistant-Surgeon 

Midshipmen 

Secretary to Senior officer 

Schoolmaster 

Master's Mate . 

Captain's Clerk . 

Gunner, Boatswain, and Carpenter 

Petty Officers and Seamen 

Non-commissioned Officers and Marines 

Boys . . . . . 



Rs. 
12 
10 
7 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 









cal subordinates serving 



Tinder date the 13th of July, 1860, war batta to medi 
in the Indian Navy, was payable at the following rates 

Assistant Apothecaries . . . Rs. 30 per month. 

Hospital Assistants .... Rs. 5 „ 
On the 2nd of December, 1854, the rate of war batta for European and country- 
trained Engineers was fixed at Rs. 3 per diem. On the 14th of November, 1861, 
the rate for Natives was fixed at Rs. 3 per month. 

* The Military and Naval forces en^ajrecl in Burmah also received Prize-money, for we find that 
an Order was published on the 7tb of March, 1838, directing those entilltd to participate, to forward 
their claims to the Superintendent. 






Per Month'. 


Rs. 


a. 


P' 


456 


9 





182 


10 





91 


5 





6 


13 


4 


3 









APPENDIX. 593 

Half batta was awarded to Ward-room Officers and Midshipmen, while in 
Steampackets, in Government Orders dated the 9th of March and 11th of June, 
1838, but by Government Order of the 14th of May, 1850, the allowance was 
discontinued from the folio wins; 30th of April. 

The following amounts of War Batta and Donation Batta were paid to the 
Service : — 

Capture of Aden, 1839. — Batta for one month to the Officers and crews of the 
H.C.S. ; Coote ' and schooner ' Mahi.' (21th January, 18 12.) 

China War of 1810-42. — Under Government Order of the 30th of January, 
1844 :— 

Commanders ....... 

Lieutenants and Officers ranking with them 

Midshipmen, Clerks, Engineers, Gunners, Boatswains, and Car- 
penters ........ 

European Petty Officers, Engineers, Apprentices, Seamen and boys 
Natives ......... 

Scinde War,* 1812. — Batta for six months to Captain Nott and Officers and 
crew of the ' Meteor,' ' Nimrod,' anil ' Comet,' for being present at the battle of 
Dubbi, near Hyderabad. (24th October, 1844.) 

Siege of Mooltau, 1848-49. — Sis months' donation batta was paid to the 
Officers and men of the Indian Naval Brigade.f and passed Midshipmen Davies, 
Heathcote, Cookson, Cousens, and Elder, serving with the rank of Acting- 
Masters, participated on the scale of Captains in the Army. 

Burmese War, 1852. — Under Government General Order of 3rd January, 
1854, six months' donation batta was paid to Officers and men of the Indian 
Navy at the following rates : — 

Rs. a. p. 
Commander, and Lieutenant in command of a ship, as Major in 

the Army _. 2,739 6 

Lieutenant, Surgeon, Acting-Master, and Purser, as Captain in 

the Army ....... 1,095 12 

Mates of three years' standing, Assistant-Surgeon, and Acting 1st 

Class Second- Master, as Lieutenant in the Army . . 730 3 

Midshipman, Cierk, Engineer, Gunner, Boatswain, Carp?nter, and 

Acting 2nd Class Second-Master, as Ensign in the Army . 547 14 

Petty Officers, Seamen, Engineer Apprentices, and European ser- 
vants paid by the State, as Privates in the Army . . 38 
Lascars, Stokers, Coal Trimmers, and Native servants paid by the 

State, as Native Privates in the Army .... 

Asistant Apothecaries ...... 

Hospital Assistants ...... 

Six months' donation batta was also given to all ranks employed in the Persian 
Expedition. 

Under orders of the Bombay Government, dated tho 26th of August, 1857, 
the War Batta of their ranks was awarded to Officers and men of the Service 
employed on detached duty on shore in Bengal. By letter of the Supreme 
Government, dated the 8th of December, 1858, Lieutenants in command of tho 
Detachments in Bengal were allowed Rs. 300 per month as pay (including Table 
Money and Batta), and Rs. 100 per month as command allowance, and Lieu- 
tenant Hellard at Port Blair received a consolidated allowance of Rs. 600 
per month. Under orders of the Bombay Government, dated the 7th July, 
1858, the officers and men of the Naval Artillery Brigades formed for service at 
Bombay and Surat, were allowed batta, but the Lieutenants in command were 
refused the extra pay granted to those serving in Bengal. (See Government 
Letter of the 24th of February, 1859.) 

* In the distribution of the Scinde Prize-money, the Officers and crews of the ' Shannon,' 
and ' Coote,' serving on the Scinde coast between the 17th of February, and the 21th of March, 1843, 
nndei the command of Captain Lynch, were admitted to participate (.Order dated 10th of June, 
1848). A second distribution of Scinde Prize-money was made (6th of September, 18-19). 

t By Order of tbe 21st of January, 1852, the Royal Warrant was published for the distribution 
of the Prize-money, iu which the Service shared. 



18 








180 








30 









APPENDIX D. 



REGULATIONS 

OF THE 

INDIAN NAVAL FUND.* 

Instituted 1st January, 1830. 

Table showing the amount of Pension to Widows during their 
Widowhood, and to Children of each Class and Condition. 



Widow of a Captain 
Ditto Commander 
Ditto Senior Lieutenant 
Ditto Lieutenant or Purser. 

Children (with reference to Arts. . 
16 and 18 as to limitation i if ( 
bereft of both parents, under I 
10 years of age . . . / 

From 10 to 16 

Ditto ditto who have iost their 1 
father, under 10 years of age. J 

From 10 to 18 years 

Daughters only on the death of \ 
both parents after attaining ( 
their 18th year, according to I 
Articles 17 and 18. . . / 



Full Pension. 



£ 




250 





210 





156 





136 





30 





40 





20 





30 





40 






Deduct amount of 

Lord Olive's 

pension.! 



£ 
91 
68 
45 
45 



Nett pension 
payable by the 

Fund. 



& 


s 


158 


15 


141 


11 


110 


7 


90 


7 


30 





40 





20 





30 





40 






Art. 3. — Scale of Annuities payable to children for whom additional donations 
may have been made under Art. 11. 



If bereft of Father only. 



Under seven years . £20 

From seven to ten years. £30 

From ten to eighteen years £40 



If bereft of both parents. 



£30 
£40 
£50 



* We append some extracts from the Rules, which are too lengthy to be given in extetiso. 
When the management of the Fund was taken over by the Secretary of State for India, it was found 
to be in a most flourishing condition. 

+ These pensions from Lord Clive's Fund are not given to the widows of retired Officers, but 
application for them must be made to Government. 



APPENDIX. 595 

Art. 4. — To continue to females until marriage or death. 

Art. 5. — The Annuities to boys will cease on the completion of their eighteenth 
year, at which time the guardians of each of them shall receive from the Fund 
the sum of £150. 

Art. 6. — On application being made, and on sufficient reasons being assigned, the 
above sum of £150 may be paid previous to the child, boy, or girl, completing 
its eighteenth year ; but in all cases the payment of this sum shall extinguish all 
claims to a continuance of the Annuities. 

Art. 7- — The benefit of the preceding Articles shall be extended to such female 
children as at present receive Annuities, provided that the increased donation be 
deducted from the amount payable by the Fund, by instalments of one-fourth 
the amount of pension, the same benefit to all boys on the same terms. 

Art. 8. — On the same condition, a child born within ten months after the death 
of its father shall be entitled to the increased annuity, on the necessary affidavit 
being made by the widow, and transmitted to the secretary. 

Art. 9. — Females for whom additional donation shall have been paid, and who 
have attained the age of eighteen previous to the death of their fathers, shall 
nevertheless be entitled to admission on the Fund, their Annuities continuing in 
like manner with those of other female children (Annuitants) until their marriage 
or death. 

Art. 10. — The guardians of female Annuitants shall declare, six months pre- 
vious to their attaining the age of twenty-one years, whether they wish to receive 
the final portion, or to continue as Annuitants, and the receiving any Annuity 
after that age forfeits all right to the payment of portion. 

Art. 11. — Donations shall be paid by subscribers within one year of the birth 
of each child, of Rs. 100 for a son, and Us. 200 for a daughter ; but such dona- 
tions shall not be considered as forming a part oi the minimum required to entitle 
subscribers to the full benefits of the Fund. 

Art. 14. — Notice of the birth of each child shall be given to the Secretary in 
India, or the agents in London, within three months after its occurrence. In 
failure of such intimation, and unless it shall have been proved to the satisfaction 
of the directors that the delay arose from unavoidable circumstances, the parent 
of such chdd shall pay double donation, or Rs. 200 if a son, and Rs. 400 if a 
daughter. 

Art. 16. — Widows who are Annuitants on the Fund, and who may hereafter 
marry, are allowed to retain one-half of the Annuity formerly granted to them ; 
and if the second husband be a subscriber, it shall become optional with the 
widow to claim the Annuity prescribed for the rank of either the first or second 
husband ; but she is not to receive more than one full Annuity. 
"~ Art. 17. — The Annuities to children for whom additional donations shall not 
have been paid under Art. 11 shall cease to sons, without reservation, on the 
completion of their sixteenth year, and to daughters on the completion of their 
sixteenth year, if their mother shall be living, or on their being settled in life ; in 
case of the death of both parents, the Annuity (if the death of the parent occurs 
subsequently to their attaining their eighteenth year) to commence from the date 
of the death of the last surviving parent. On the sons completing their sixteenth 
year, and the daughters being settled in life, the guardians of each of them shall 
claim from the Fund the sum of £100, to assist in his or her establishment in 
life. 

Art. 18. — The grant of Annuities to the daughters, for whom additional 
donation shall not have been paid under Art. 11 shall, in case of the death of 
both parents, after their attaining their eighteenth year, be subject to the 
deduction of any yearly income beyond half the amount of Pension which they 
may derive from any other source ; and in case such other income shall amount 
to £90 per annum, the Annuity granted from the Fund shall cease and terminate. 
The guardians, in claiming the gratuity allowed on the settlement in life of eaoh 
child, shall satisfy the Directors of the justice of the claim ; but in all cases the 
payment of the sum shall be a virtual resignation of any claim to a continuance of 
the Annuity. 

Art. 19 — All widows of subscribers who do not possess such amount of 
property as excludes them from the benefit of Lord Olive's Fund, and who are 
nut provided w T ith a passage to England by Government, shall be entitled to 
receive (for one passage only) the sum of Rs. 1,500, to defray the same. 



596 APPENDIX. 

Art. 22. — The children of a deceased subscriber, without reference to their 
a^e, or the rank of their parents, shall bj entitled to receive as follows, to 
defray the expenses of thei- passage to England : — 

For a Single Child . . . Es. 800 

For the Second ditto .... 500 

For the Third ditto .... 400 

For the Fourth ditto . . . . . 200 

For the Fifth ditto . . . . 100 

Providing that no more than Us. 2,500 be granted to one family, inclusive of the 
mot her. 

Art. 23. — A married subscriber shall be entitled to receive, on his personal 
security, a loan equal to twelve months' nett pay of the rank lie holds, for the 
purpose of sending his wife or children to England, provided that the said loan 
be repaid, with interest, by instalments, within twenty-four mouths from the 
date of its advance. A similar loan on the same terms and conditions, shall be 
granted to a married subscriber for the purpose of bringing his family from 
England, provided that all loans formerly advanced to him shall been duly dis- 
charged. 

Art. 24. — Widows, Annuitants on the Fund, shall furnish, every half-year, an 
affidavit of the names and number of children alive for whom such Annuitant 
claims a pension, according to the Regulations. 

Art. 25. — In the same manner, the next of kin, or guardians of children, 
Annuitants on the Fund, shall furnish a half-yearly affidavit to the same effect. 

Art. 26. A married Lieutenant and Purser (or widower of that rank with 
offspring) at home on sick certificate, being married at the date of his departure 
from India, shall be entitled to receive from the Fund £20 per annum for his 
wife, and £10 for each of his children, if the number does not exceed two, 
daring the period of his receiving pay in Englaud ; but the total sum so payable 
for wife and children shall not exceed £40 per annum. 

BENEFITS TO UNMARRIED SUBSCRIBERS. 

Art. 27. — Subscribers below the rank of a Lieutenant proceeding to England 
on sick certificate, shall be entitled to receive from the Fund £20 per annum, 
during the period of their receiving pay in England. 

Art. 28. — Subscribers of the rank of Captain or Commander, who may proceed 
to Europe on sick certificate, and who are not furnished with a passage by 
Government, shall be entitled to receive, for that purpose, a sum not exceeding 
Rs. 1,500, to defray the same, on loan, to be paid, with interest, within twenty- 
four months after their return to India. 

Art. 29. — Subscribers, of whatever rank, who may have proceeded to Europe 
on sick certificate, and subscribers who may have proceeded thither on furlough, 
and may be compelled to remain after the expiration of such furlough, on account 
of certified ill health, shall be entitled to receive from the agents in England (as 
a loan only), for a Captain or Commander, £150 ; for Lieutenant or Purser, 
£120 ; for a Midshipman or Clerk, £60, to defray their passage outward ; the 
same to be repaid, with interest, wholly by Captains and Commanders, and half 
the amount only by officers below that rank, after their arrival in India, by 
instalments not exceeding twenty-four. A second loan must be all repaid without 
interest. 

Art. 32. — Subscribers below the rank of Commander, returning to India from 
furlough, shall be entitled to receive from the agents in England (as a loan only) 
the sum of £60, the same to be repaid, with interest thereon, after their arrival in 
India, by instalments, not exceeding twelve. 

Art. 33. — Pursers proceeding to England on sick certificate, not being allowed 
passage-money by G-overnment, shall be entitled to receive Rs. 1,200 from the 
Fund, on loan, half of which to be paid back, with interest, in twenty-foui 
months after their return to India. 



THE END. 








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