ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

coal." Of its quality there is little doubt, but as I have not yet visited Mergui, I will not observe further on the subject, as I hope to be able to ascertain all facts on the spot ere long.

There are few vegetable productions that cannot be cultivated in these provinces. Rice, of which there are many varieties, may be grown in any quantity, and from the time of sowing to reaping is about five months; its average yield is about 40 per cent on the seed, though in many instances this may be doubled.

The sugar cane attains a luxuriousness of growth; I have seldom seen exceeded; it "ratoons" thrice; after which the cultivator abandons the spot, clears and plants a new piece of jungle: where land is so abundant, this is only attended with the inconvenience of removing the cane fields further from the mill, which is fully exemplified at Mr. O'Riellies estate at Amherst, where most excellent sugar is made. But the cane patches are now nearly a mile from the boiling houses.

Camphor of good quality is also found in parts of these provinces.

As very strong tides prevail about the entrance of Maulmain River, and Gulf of Satang, vessels bound for the former place should make the land to the southward of Amherst about Double Island, or even in the south-west monsoon as far south as the Island of Calagouk, 29 miles south of Amherst Point, having done which they may shape a course to pass about two miles to the westward of Double Island, when abreast of which the Pagoda on Amherst point will be seen. Should the reef buoy be made, and the commander of the vessel not wish to run in without a pilot, she should anchor about 1 mile to the westward of Green Island where she will find good anchorage, though heavy riding if in the southwest monsoon, until the pilot arrives.

The buoys are, first the patch No. 1, black with a basket on the top; second, the reef bouy No. 2, also black. I have recommended it to be painted black and white as the basket may wash off the patch buoy, and in thick weather when they cannot both be seen, it is impossible to say which buoy is made; third No 3, red buoy, and then the fourth No. 4, black, on a rocky patch. Should a vessel decide on running in without waiting for the pilot, she should pass close to the westward of No. 1, then steer to pass close to No. 2, leaving it on the starboard hand, then steer in, and leaving it on the port hand pass within about 60 yards off No. 3, keeping a direct course for No. 4, and when half-way between them anchor for the pilot.

To give other directions for running up the river is impossible, for the banks vary so much that only those in the daily practice of navigating the river can be aware of the changes. I consider the pilots at Maulmain good, but the best of them are subject to getting a vessel on the banks when dropping down with the strong ebb tides that prevail.

The commissioner J. R. Colvin Esq., consulted me on the defence of the river, so as to protect Maulmain with a few troops from sudden aggression by a small European force, I have strongly recommended the erection of a Martello tower at Amherst, one at Natmoo, another on the

opposite bank of the river, and a fourth at Mapoon; each tower to mount three guns, and to be supplied with two months provisions and water. With these towers and the natural defence of an uncertain navigation, I conceive Maulmain would be perfectly safe from anything but an overwhelming force.

Great facilities exist here for forming building and repairing establishments. At spring tides vessels of any size may be moved in the river by steamers; the rise and fall being 21 feet full and change.

At Mapoon point the soil is "Saterite," admirably adapted to the formation of docks and slips, by saving all piling. Streams abound in all parts, that might be formed into back waters to keep the docks and gates clear of the mud, that the river deposits everywhere.

Timber I have already shewn of the best quality abounds in the Tenasserim forests, and those of the neighbouring states; artificers can be procured, and the mere want of them would soon double and treble their numbers. The Burmese are good workmen in framing and planking. The Chinese though slow are first-rate for all the joiners department. Iron would soon be supplied by the Tavoy provinces; coal by Mergui; and the copper might be sent from England. Then the climate is decidedly healthy for Europeans. How different from Bombay, where cholera sweeps off its yearly victims, where the Teak forests of Malabar are failing, and where the original cost of the wood is more than than that of Maulmain.

Again, take its position, situated as it is, in the N.E. corner of the Bay of Bengal, a sure and safe refuge in the S.W. monsoon to a ship either disabled by storm or battle, here she can always come; but can she get to Bombay? to Trincomalee?-No! Calcutta she might possibly fetch, but a crippled ship ill likes the sand heads. In 1805 a plan existed of establishing a Naval Depôt at Penang, it was ultimately abandoned by the recommendation of Admiral Drury, who considering it a port not adapted to the intended object; he never would have thought so of this point had he been here, It is odd that, all the last war, these splendid harbours on this and the Arracan coast were known and used by the French privateers, but hardly known to us.

Under the Island of Calagouk is a remarkable fine anchorage, with 6 fathoms mud, perfectly sheltered, with a safe and easy passage at the south end. On proceeding to Maulmain in June, finding I could not get off Amherst, before dark, I ran in to this anchorage for the night, quitting it on the last of the ebb next morning, and picking up the flood outside, which, with nearly a calm, drifted us up to Green Island, by about noon.

THE LACCADIVES ISLANDS.

P. & O. S. N. Co.'s Ship Precursor, off Madras, October 1st, 1847.

MR. EDITOR,-Amongst those beneficent acts which do honour to the character and conduct of the British Government, no one, in my opinion, bears the stamp of humanity and benevolence with more distinguished credit, than the relief which has been recently afforded to the wretched and suffering inhabitants of the Laccadive Islands, who have encountered all the misery of hunger and destitution, ever since they were so awfully visited by the terrible effects of the hurricane of April last.

2. The following brief statement of that disastrous event, and the succour afforded by the H. Co.'s steam-frigate Auckland, cannot fail to be interesting to the public. The Auckland left Bombay on the 28th of August and proceeded direct to the Laccadives, and when near the Island Kalpeni, a canoe came of, and when pulling up under her stern, the crew fished up some potatoe peelings which they ate with the greatest avidity and when they got on board, Capt. Young gave them a bag of biscuit, which they devoured with intense eagerness and every shew of gratitude.

3. From all the information Capt. Young could obtain, it appears that the Islands Kalpeni and Underoot suffered the most by the hurricane: the sea made a fair breach over them, and swept away about 250 of the inhabitants; the trees were in many instances torn up by the roots, and a number were cut asunder by the violence of the storm. Considering the strength and tenacity of the cocoanut-tree, these circumstances afford a remarkable proof of the force and severity of that tremendous hurricane, and Capt. Young himself saw that such were the results; the trees which escaped were denuded of their foliage, and it will be a length of time 'ere they can recover, whilst the inundation of the sea is attended with another sad calamity, viz. the destruction of every tank and well, and the absence of all means of procuring fresh

water.

4. When the unfortunate islanders had witnessed the terrible effects of the storm, and the melancholy fate of their brethren, numbers of them rushed to the boats to the leeward, in a vain endeavour to escape, and many must have perished on that occasion; 162 persons died from starvation on the Isle Underoot, and the number who perished from hunger, and in their attempt to escape from Kalpeni, is estimated at 513. Capt. Young ascertained that 758 persons embarked from Underoot; how many reached the Malabar Coast may be known, but there is reason to fear that 1,800 men, women, and children have perished. From April to the time of the Auckland's welcome arrival, the people lived chiefly on the roots of the young cocoanut-trees, and they caught and saved water during the rains.

NO. 4.-VOL. XVII.

2 c

*

5. Capt. Young left 350 robins of rice at Kalpeni, and 164 bags and 134 robins of rice at Underoot, on his first visit; the Auckland then proceeded to Calicut for a fresh supply, and on her second visit to the Laccadives, Capt. Young delivered for the poor islanders of Underoot 400 robins of rice, with a quantity of stores such as curry stuffs, betel-nut, cocoa-nuts, &c., which were left in charge of Mr. Robinson, M.C.S. A further supply of food and comforts has been sent from Calicut, by native boats to Kalpeni, and there is no doubt the benevolent wishes of Government will be well and liberally carried through during the N.E. and fair weather monsoon. Cocoanut plants are needful, and every endeavour should be made to drain the wells from the effect of the sea-water and have them replenished.

6. Except on a small bank off Minicoy, there is no anchorage amongst the Laccadives. Capt. 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 occasion the Auckland's boat was nearly swamped in the surf, and could not be got through it when she attempted to return: however, the natives carried the boat across the island, to where it was smooth water, and all the operations in performance of a duty grateful to every British seaman, were well and ably performed by Capt. Young and all under his command. The poor famished people so opportunely relieved, evinced every feeling of thankful gratitude for their deliverence; they will, in all probability, take up their chief abode in the neighbouring islands, as not only are trees and vegetation utterly destroyed, but their huts and dwellings were all swept away, and they were sheltered under such temporary abodes as the ruins afforded them the means of erecting.

The following islands of the Laccadive group belong to the East India Company, viz.:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

And the undermentioned islands are the property of Her Highness the Beebee of Cannanore, viz. :—

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The hurricane raged with the greatest fury from the S.E., and ravaged the two unfortunate islands in that direction, but the rest of the group escaped with but little loss, and at Minicoy, the southernmost islet which Capt. Young visited, the islanders reported that the gale was not very severe. The natives of these islands are of mild and inoffensive race, and assuredly every friend to humanity must rejoice at that noble display of true generosity, which has with such marked and disinterested zeal, supplied their pressing wants, and pointed out where they may find protection under the heaviest affliction. Under these circumstances, I hope and trust Mr. Editor, that this interesting event will tend to exalt the fame of our common country, throughout British India, and convince the natives of every caste, that justice and humanity are the predominant features of our character.

CHRIS. BIDEn.

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES IN THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

We now lay before our readers a List of the Masters and Mates who have been examined, and received certificates of qualification, between the 21st of December, 1847, and the 29th of Feb. last. It is somewhat gratifying to observe, that although the voluntary system works slowly, yet that there is a progressive increase in the number of persons who have come forward for examination, and a fair hope, with the encouragement now given by the Government (in hiring vessels) in favour of those commanded by qualified officers, that it will, 'ere long, be more fully carried into effect.

Since we last adverted to this subject, Mr. Hume has succeeded in obtaining a Select Committee of the House of Commons to consider whether, in all cases of shipwreck and collision of merchant vessels, attended with loss of life, a court of inquiry, as speedily as possible after the accident, and as near as possible to the place, should be appointed to examine the attendant circumstances and causes of the shipwreck; and for the Committee to report to the House in what manner that inquiry should be conducted. The Committee, which is tolerably fairly composed, consists of the following members:-Mr. Hume, Capt. Berkeley, Mr. Milner Gibson, Admiral Bowles, Sir Thomas Birch, Viscount Ingestree, Mr McGregor, Mr. Roundell Palmer, Mr. Foster, Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. Flaherty, Mr. W. Fagan, Mr. Duncan, Mr. G. R. Robinson, and Mr. Wawn.

It is scarcely possible to conceive a more important duty than that which these gentlemen have undertaken. Former committees have been appointed with nearly a similar object in view, but, as their inquiries have ended without any legislative measure having been founded upon their reports (which, in some instances, have been confined to the mere evidence), it is not unreasonable to suppose that this committee, taking advantage of the information already collected by preceding committees,

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »