Lewis & Clark College

We lay at St Helena twenty weeks in the Course of which Time Twelve ships arriv’d from China, and one from Madras. In the Beginning of July the Shark Sloop who had been detach’d from Johnstons’ Fleet to cruize off the Cape, arriv’d but brought no news we having learnt from a store ship who arriv’d a week before the most remarkable occurrences in Europe and America. In the latter part of July the Renown 50 Gun Ship arriv’d who had been sent to the Brazils for five Chinamen, (who had come to St Helena) but not finding them there after remaining six weeks she came away for St Helena. On the 29th of July 1781 The signal was made for sailing, when we all got under way & proceeded to sea, making together a Fleet of two and twenty sail of which two were Men of War, eighteen Indiamen, and two Whalers, who had been Fishing on the Coast of Brazil, but had been lying at St Helena waiting for Convoy upwards of four Months. We sail’d in two regular Lines having nine Indiaman on each of the Commodore’s Quarters, two of the oldest Captains were order’d to wear Flags, to deceive the Enemy should we be so unfortunate as to fall in with them by our formidable appearance. ––––– [end page 118]

=ing Hostilities with them. Accordingly the Parson inveigh’d bitterly from the Pulpit against Intemperance, and denounc’d God’s Judgements against Drunkards, whereby he became formidable. The Æsculapean Gentleman was as ready to condemn its Effects on the Body, as the other was on the Soul; so that by the one’s pretending to strive for the spiritual, and the other for the temporal Interest, they made a shift to pave a Way to their own; and in a short Time got safely lodg’d in the Society.
Charity and a respect for the Fair Sex prevent me from speaking about what the World speaks of them, or in other Words what they speak of one another. Calumny I will allow is no where so industrious as at St Helena, where an Angel could scarcely be free from consorious Tongues. But at the same Time I must acknowledge that they are destitute of those little winning acts, which endear them to our Sex, and fix a Lustre on Their Character, tho not for want of attention on their part; for being over anxious to please, they set out on an erroneous path, and lose themselves in the Wilds of Coquetry. Besides, their persons being always at the Disposal of perhaps an avaricious parent, and their Charms put up at public Sale to be purchas’d by the best Bidder, are motives sufficient to extinguish the kindling Flame of a generous passion, & make them subservient to a parents selfish Disposition . . [end page 117]

a profit of £500 PAn. The Slaves have seldom the Powers of procuring Liquor, so that all the Punch Houses vend, may be said to be drank up by the Soldiers. As an Instance that what I have said respecting their profits is founded on Fact A Servant of Mr Cornielle Lt Govr. having been a few Years ago appointed thro’ the Interest of his master to one of these Houses, return’d to England lately with £7000. And the present Keeper of one who five Years ago was a servant to the Governor is worth as much if not more. Another Man quitted it whilst I was there having made a handsome Fortune, and four different Families applied for the Vacant Place. Thus are the Lives of a Number of Men sported with in order to advance the Fortunes of a few Individuals, and I fear that whilst 2, or 3000£ is realized by the leading people, no step will be taken to stop such irregularities. Several Schemes have been propos’d, but all rejected, because they were detrimental to their Purses. The Divine and Physician had formerly no Share in this iniquitous Business, and the Islanders relate a very pretty Tale concerning them. These Worthy Personages had for some Time a Salary, very insufficient to support them in a becoming stile, and seeing the vast Income of the Society (which then consisted of five Members only) each had a Hankering for a Share. In pursuance of the General Rule of Politicians they thought the only way to gain admittance, was by commenc [end page 116]

This society is made up of seven Members whose profits annually amount in the whole at a moderate compensation to £2500. . Which sum is divided as follows. The third and fourth in Council have one third of the whole £833[?].6[?].8 The fifth in Council, Secy. Store Keeper, Parson, & Surgeon divide the remaining ⅔d. having each £333.6.8. ……….
1666.13.4 / 2500 • “ • “
(The Governor, and Lt Governor are excluded from the society) ...
By this Society are licens’d five Punch Houses who are allow’d each sixty Gallons PWeek, and are honour’d with the Title of the Company’s Punch Houses. They buy their Arrack from the Cellars at 6.s 6.d PGallon and retail it to the Soldiers etc. at 12.s 12.d, so that exclusive of the oportunity all people of that Tribe have of adulterating their Liquors The Punch House keepers have a clear annual Profit of £936. It is surprising that in so small an Island (where there are only a Garrison of five hundred Men & that number not compleat) so great a sum as £4680[?] should be clear’d annually by Punch Houses, but it is most strictly true. All the Inhabitants of the Island whether civil or military except the Society are prohibited the Importation of Liquor, but are allow’d a certain Quantity Monthly, paying the Society 6d PGallon above prime cost, and so great is the quantity thus expended as to bring them in nearly [end page 115]

Amidst the many Improprieties that are crept into the E.J. Companies Affairs, none I think call louder for attention than one at St Helena, I mean the permitting so great a sale of Liquors to the Soldiers of the Garrison, the consequence of which is, that all subordination is remov’d from amongst them, They are continually unfit for Duty, negligent and ignorant of Discipline, and Lives are frequently lost by their falling in a state of Drunkeness from Rocks over which they must necessarily pass. Scarcely a single Guard is relieve’d, without some being under Confinement for Drunkeness, or for Crimes committed under its Influence. . And whilst Liquor is procurable it is impossible to prevent their using it immoderately For a Flogging is of Effect no longer than it is felt, and its Impression on the Mind is effaced before that on the Back. This Evil is severely felt and complain’d of, by the officers, who are no longer obey’d, than their orders are enforc’d by the Drummer’s Hand. An indifferent Person would wonder why an Establishment so easily eradicable, as this appears to be, should resist the strong remonstrances of reason, but he will suspend his wonder when told that by an express order from the Court of Directors, the power of landing and disposing spirituous Liquors is lodg’d in a Society establish’d for that purpose and in them solely. . . . [end page 114]

actions of their fellow Islanders with an attentive eye, in order to preserve a quite different path. Yet those Men are neglected, and perhaps obnoxious to the Generality for their Virtues, on which and on their own Industry they alone have Dependance. . I suppose that on the Face of the Globe there is not an Island, Kingdom or province so distracted by perpetual contentions, and animosities. They whose good Fortune, or the Industry of their Forefathers have plac’d them above the common people, seem to fix their summum bonum in devising new Oppressions for their Inferiors, whilst they on the other Hand, use every artifice, to procure the power of oppressing likewise. Cozenage, Deceit, lying, Stealing, in short Murder, and every other Crime how atrocious soever, pass unnotic’d. When by themselves they study to deceive each other, but the Moment a ship arrives, a cessation takes place, and all turn their attention to pick the pockets of the unwary strangers. . . . . The mean, low, dirty Methods practis’d on this Island to get Money are astonishing. The Idea of one Counsellor’s letting Lodgings, & another’s keeping a Billiard Table, are so irreconcilable with our European Notions of Decorum and Prosperity, that one cannot expect any better Behaviour from them than what I have just mention’d. Had I not been an Eye Witness to it, I should scarcely have believ’d, that the sons of Englishmen would have so degenerated. [end page 113]

Breeding Stock. Vegetables, those most essential Articles for Men sick of, or recovering from the Scurvy are not procurable, except the wild kind. As the Island is annually supplied with Stores, Provisions, etc. from England, if the Store Ship is taken or lost, they are plung’d into the utmost Distress. What then is this Island, without Provisions of either kind, but a kind of Rendezvous, where ships might assemble in order to save the Enemy the Trouble of cruizing for them. . There are many spots of the Company’s Land on the Island admirable calculated for a Garden, where Cabbages, Coleworts and every kind of culinary stuff, might with ease be rear’d to supply the shipping at such a regulated price as might indemnify the Company from Expence, nor would such a step deprive the Cattle of their Pasture if proper spots & corners were chosen. But since the Company have impolitically permitted individuals to engross the Land no Improvements will be made, as they have not spint sufficient to expend a present small sum notwithstanding there is the fairest prospect of its becoming of Advantage to them, and of utility to the Community. I have long deferr’d speaking of their Characters, and I am sorry that it will not redound to their Honour. A Man must be very partial indeed to give them such an one as would not distinguish them from all the world besides for innate and hereditary vices of the Heart. Yet as amongst Thorns, a rising flower will here & there attract our attention, so on the Island of St Helena there are a few, unpolluted by the general Corruption, and who observe the [end page 112]

necessarily keep very close in shore, where there are several Batteries mounting 32 Pounders, Howitzers etc. over their Heads, who would pour Destruction on a Ship, when no Ships Guns could reach them; And if she is once driven off it will take her several Days to work up again. But I should imagine it would never be worth an Enemy’s While to attempt taking it, since it could be with no other view than to secure the Indiamen as they come in, & which service would be more successfully perform’d by cruizing to windwd. They would meet with nothing but private property on the Island, which must be very inconsiderable; I think it would be a lucky Circumstance for the English E.I. Company, if this Island were taken from them, for every Body knows, the service it does the Company is very inadequate to the 30,000£ PAn.[?] it costs them … Let us place against this 30,000£, the Benefit that the homeward bound ships recieve. When we in Company with the Fox and the two other ships arriv’d we found the Pss.[?] royal, who had been there seven weeks, and notwithstanding she was return’d from the most unhealthy Part of India, they had not been able to procure one Bullock for their People. Upon our remonstrating, we were order’d six Bullocks each during our Stay, but when from the Length of Time it was found absolutely necessary to encrease the allowance, the Planters were reduced to the Necessity (and to them a cruel one) of killing their [end page 111]

The Affairs of the Island are conducted by a Council compos’d of five viz. the Governor Lt Governor & the three senior civil officers, who meet every Monday. The Governor is Commander in Chief of the Forces which are 500, tho’ upon an alarm every Man is on Duty. The Civil Servants & Planters at that Time form Two parties call’d Scouting Parties station’d upon the Hills to roll down stones upon the invaders Heads, by which Means they would certainly be able to do great Execution. An Alarm House is station’d upon the Weathermost Point of the Island & when a Ship is in sight they communicate to the valley by signals. If four sail are seen a general alarm is beat, and should they be in sight at sunset the Garrison is obliged to remain under arms all Night. This the Dutch, Danes, & Swedes, often oblige them to, as they always make the Island, but seldom come in. St. Helena is by nature, peculiarly defended against an Enemy. The __ Trade Wind blows constantly over it, and St James’s Valley is in the leewardmost part of the Island, where the only Anchoring Ground that is to leeward, runs out scarcely three Quarters of a Mile. If an Enemy lands to windward, there is a Strong Battery to receive them at Sandy Bay, from whence their ships will not be able to get out, but be in Danger of going on shore. If they attempt to attack to leeward, they must [end page 110]

Island are by no means numerous, altho with care, I believe they might raise any thing. They have all the european Gardenstuff & the peach, pear, & apple Trees, the Former of which I think produces peaches equall if not superior to the English. They have no large Timber, but a Considerable Quantity of Underwood & Tirzes of flowers they have the Rose, Pink, Narcissus, Geranium, & a few more, (I omitted when speaking of Fruit to mention, oranges, Lemons, plantains & Grapes,) Mertle grows plentifully in every Hedge. The following eight Lines were written from Report before I had visited every Part of the Island, when I found this assertion erroneous. . There are no venomous Creatures on the Island, & only one, wild one, call’d the Wild Cat, partaking nearly of the Nature of that Animal. Few if any Minerals have been discover’d on the Island. I have heard repeatedly that there were evident marks of Combustion, on the Rocks, with burnt stones resembling pummice, which would seem to tell us that the Island was originally thrown up by some violent commotion below, but altho’ such a suggestion may have its probability, I must confess I never saw any Trace of what is alluded to; the rocks are hard and solid, without any apparent mixture of ore or Metall, rising regularly, stratum super stratum to a great Height. There is a common Notion that under Major Bassets’ House is a Vein of Gold; but I am apt to think that the first fabricator of this Tale, meant that the Vein of Gold, was in that House, the Bassets being the the richest Family on the Island. [end page 109]

But the Chief Dependance of the Islanders is on the sea, as most of them live upon Fish of which there is great vanity. Every Housekeeper on the Island has a slave continually out in a boat, who when no ships are there entirely support their Master’s Families. Very few Families eat Bread, substituting in its Room a Root call’d Yam which when boil’d bears some resemblance to a Potatoe. On these and Mackarell their slaves subsist, tho they get fish of a better quality viz. YellowTails, Albicores, Cavallies, Bonettoes, Bream, Conger Eels, an excellent kind of spotted Rock fish call’d Jacks, soldiers, Rockfish, Bull’s Eyes, soldiers, fivefingers, silver Eels, leather Coats, Green Fish, Gurmets[?], Old Wives Cunning Fish, Parrotfish, Ink Fish, Trumpetters, Silver Fish & many others. The Soldiers live upon Salt Provisions, & Biscuit which they get from England, or the Cape. The Island abounds with excellent water cresse and every Hill is cover’d with an antiscorbutic Herb, Purslaine, which when boil’d becomes Mucilaginous. These Circumstances, added to [illegible] Temperature of the Climate, prevent the Scurvy from appearing. There are Rabbits, Pheasants, & Partridges on the Island, but not in abundance, as they will not allow them Time to encrease; several kinds of small Birds which have been let fly, have multiplied exceedingly. Here is one Species something resembling the Pidgeon and call’d St. Helena Pidgeon. The Vegetable productions of the [end page 108]

and the reasons for any deficiency or superfluity, nor is it lawful for a Man to kill a Bullock of his own, without being first authorised by the Govr. & Council so to do. A Bullock is allowed to every three Acres, and the planters Names being constantly enroll’d in a List together with the Extent of the Farms, it is next to an impossibility for Cattle to be kill’d without its becoming public. They kill in rotation, every Planter having it in his Turn to kill in a regular Manner. It being lately imagin’d that the Number of Sheep fed on the Island destroy’d the feed of the black Cattle, an order was issu’d that every planter should keep such a number of sheep only, to such a number of acres, as the Island, (they said) was in danger of being overrun. There are a great Number of Goats running wild on the Island, who sometimes do Considerable Mischief by getting upon high precipices and tumbling down loose Pieces of Rock; these the soldiers are paid for killing when found in certain Situations. All kinds of poultry are scarce in this Island, owing to their being obliged to import all the Grain they give them. The price of provisions is Beef when permitted to be sold 5 PH Sheep 20[?] PHead. Goats 10[?] PHead. Lambs & Kids 10.[?] PHead grown Hogs 4[?] PH - fat D.o 6[?] PH. roasting D.o 5[?] PPig. Fowls 3[?] PCouple. Ducks 3[?] PCouple. Turkins 6[?]. Geese 5[?] Their Gardens never produce a sufficient Quantity of Vegetables to sell, indeed they can scarcely supply themselves when they have Lodgers. [end page 107]

of Inhabitants of the Island are said to be 2100, 1200 of whom are blacks who are kept under the most rigid subjection by their Masters. The Appearance of the interior parts of the Country after gaining the summit of one of the Hills is in some parts very romantic, because one of the highest peaks will be cover’d with verdure, whilst the next, the much lower may not have a blade of Grass. The country has a number of Houses dispers’d throughout, the owners of the greatest part of whom, have Houses likewise in the valley, on account of being in the Company’s service. Which circumstance alone has been the Destruction of the Island, for planters (so farmers are call’d) for many having no reliance but on their Cattle and their land, were really industrious and indefatigable; but when once receiv’d into the service, they get a sinecure for doing nothing, and lapse into a state of Negligence and Inactivity. . As this Island was originally peopled and is now held for the sole purpose of refreshing the Companies ships homeward bound, principal attention is paid to the rearing and keeping of black Cattle. And as Herbage is so excessively scarce, to prevent a greater Consumption of it than is absolutely necessary, several Ordinations have been establish’d, whereby every planter must annually give in an Account of the numbers of black Cattle he feeds (which number is limited by the Govr. & Council) [end page 106]

Engineer of the Island. The Gardens are not worth mentioning. Houses are adjoin’d to each of these & running in a direct line up the valley from a very pretty street to the distance of 12 or 14 Houses, where it separates into two small streets forming an acute angle. The left Hand Street extends but a short distance, the right Hand one has a bridge immediately after its separation and extends a considerable way up the valley containing, Europe Shops, Punch Houses and People of the middle and lower class, and is call’d the upper valley, whilst that part below the bridge is the court end of the town and call’d the lower valley. At the extreme End of the right Hand Street is a fine row of trees, nearly half a Mile in Length, at about half the distance of which are Barracks for the Accomodation of the eight Junior Officers on the Island and for all the Soldiers, and at the upper End stands the Hospital which is no more than a dwelling House made use of for that purpose. The Governors House is a very neat building, as is the Lt. Governor’s, both furnish’d by the Company, & there are several other neat, but not large Houses in the valley. They are very dear as all materials for building must be brought thither by the shipping. I suppose they fetch as much money as Houses of an equal Goodness would in a frequented part of London. At the back of their Houses is a strong wall to stop any stones that may tumble from the mountains which hang frightfully over the valley. The Number [end page 105]

a regular method, forming the appearance of a small, neat, english Country Town. A very lofty Hill call’d Ladder Hill rises on the West Side, and one little inferior in point of Height on the East call’d Mundine’s, because on the extreme point of this rocky Hill projecting into the Sea Captn Mundine in 1673 landed a number of Men from his Jibb-Boom and retook the Island from the Dutch, who had taken it from the English the proceeding year. St James’s Valley at the Beach is about __ Yards broad (where there is an excellent Line of heavy Guns and preserves that Breadth for the distance of a Mile, where it contracts and takes a winding direction. A few Yards behind the Guns on the Line is a fine row of Trees, the whole length of the Line, which affords a very agreeable shady walk, and exhibits by its perpetual verdure a most striking contrast to the impending Rocks which frown horribly on either side. A wall immediately behind separates the Line from the Town adjoining to which are the Company’s Offices & Store Houses, the Governor’s House and Esplanade which occupy a space parallel with the Line of Guns about __ Feet Broad. The main Guard, Officer’s Guard room, & Court Martial Room stand immediately behind the Governor’s House; opposite to which on the other side of the Esplanade, are the Smith’s Shops & Jail. The street commences from the Espanade, one Corner of which is form’d by the Church, the other by a wall enclosing the Companies Garden. The Church is a small plain Edifice lately erected by Captn. Tippet, when [end page 104]

The Island of St Helena lies in Lat.__ Long:__ measures from East to West 11 Miles, and from North to South 12 It is a very lofty rock, bearing in many places not the least signs of vegetation or Herbage & rising every where in rugged points and irregular steep precipices. Its external appearance is beyond Description horrid from the frowning aspect of the Rocks, and in some of the internal parts of the Country, prospects equally intimidating present themselves. The Hills are in one respect regular, being like so many radii proceeding from a point, leaving in the Interstices very deep vallies. To form a Road up those perpendicular rocky Mountains has been a work of immense Trouble and Expence, yet they have so happily succeeded that there remains no part of the Island inaccessible. These Roads are cut in oblique directions on the side of the Mountain, doubling and redoubling in the form of the Letter Z till they reach the Top, and supported on the descending side by a strong stone wall rising more than Breast high above the Levell of the road to prevent Horses from taking fright at the incredible depth below them. Two Horsemen may ride a breast in these Roads with great Ease. All those Interstices call’d Vallies where an Enemy might land, are defended with a Line of Guns, and some of them with Forts on the projecting points of the Rocks. In one of these Vallies is the Town and Garrison, call’d St James’s Valley, where the Houses are built in [end page 103]

The Consequence of which was that the next Morning the Commodore was out of sight a stern, & the Day following the True Briton started from us so that the Fox and us were left to round the Cape by ourselves. We had a fresh Gale And exceedingly cold Weather off the Cape, so severe as to knock up our poor Lascars who had never experienced any thing of the Kind before. This gave birth to some symptoms of the Scurvy, but as the fresh Breeze carried us every Day into warmer weather, its progress was not quite so rapid as it is generally found to be. On the 12th of March without meeting with any kind of ship or vessel we arriv’d at St Helena. There we found riding the Princess vessel from Bencoolen, who had been there seven weeks, & we there heard the disagreeable Account of our having lost five Indiamen one of which was a store ship for St Helena. By the Loss of this ship the Island was thrown into the greatest distress, being in the utmost want of Salt Provisions, and not having a naval store of any kind to supply the shipping. The Common Necessaries, such as Hats, Shoes etc., they had long expended, even the Soldiers could not muster a sufficient Number of Shoes to supply the Guard … [end page 100]

we steer’d our Course for England under the Direction of Captn. Abercrombie of the Walpole who being the oldest Captain, was Commodore of the Fleet. Before we sail’d, there were several Accounts of several french Men of War being in the Bay, but these prov’d only Inventions to enhance the Premium for Insurance, which was twenty five Guineas when we left Calcutta. The Captains had private Instructions given them to open in the Latitude 19Nº Fortunately our Ship sail’d much better than she did outward bound, the Commodore being the heaviest sailor of the Four. I say fortunately for we had not occasion to crowd so much sail, wch would have distress’d us as the ship was badly Man’d, having but few Europeans on board & a Number of Lascars who were good for Nothing. We made a very great Passage, till we came off the Cape which we had orders to come no nearer to than the Latitude of 40Sº because of the french Cruizers, but a Gale of Wind coming on from the N.W. prevented our getting round the Cape so soon as we had reason to expect it being Summer Time . . When it first came on to blow, the Commodore laid his Ship to, under bare Poles, but the other ships were under a Mainsail, and Main or Mizen Stay Sail which they were oblig’d to keep out to prevent their rowling so violently as to carry any thing away. [end page 99]

only 200£ for his Passage, and that his Wife of whom he was extremely fond, and is extravagantly so now, were both with him in his Ship, for these Reasons he had Hopes of being sent on a profitable Country Voyage. But he found that the Advancement to power, had evaporated every Grain of sentiment from his Breast, and instead of serving, he seem’d to wish to distress him. Hastings is confess’d to be a Man of great Abilities with respect to the Government of India. But his engaging in a War with the Maratta’s is not a Proof of it, which has drain’d their Treasures, and destroy’d their Army. He is well vers’d in the Language cunning and duplicity of the Indian People, knows the Extent, and they say the true Interest of the Country . . .

The homeward bound Fleet consisted of the Walpole, Grafton, True Briton, and Fox, who all receiv’d orders to sail, on the 25th of November, but the Walpole having a Quantity of their Saltpetre dissolv’d by the Water in the hold, was obliged to be unloaded, & take a fresh Quantity of Saltpetre in, this prolong’d our Stay till the 13th of December when each ship having her Pilot on board, we got under Way, & on the 15th being clear of the sands the Pilots left us, and [end page 98]

principally of white Goods, Rare Silk, Callicoes, Saltpetre & Borax the Produce of the Country. Every kind of Goods finds a Markett in the River Ugli, but it makes much against the wellfare of the Place, as most of the ships when they have dispos’d of their Cargoes, are paid in Money, and will take no Bengal Goods in Exchange but a little Rice. They have lately planted Indigo, in this Country and entertain the greatest Hopes of its success. Since the Company have alter’d the Mode of Government in Bengal, (establishing a supreme Council from Europe, and giving only the commercial Business into the Hands of their long servants in India thereby constituting a Board of Trade consisting of twelve Persons) none of their Affairs have flourish’d, for there are continual Animosities between the two Boards. To which Contention Captn. Bull became a victim, being obliged to get his Ship ready by an order of the supreme Council to sail with the other ships. This they did to distress the Board of Trade, imagining that the Time would be too short for them to get the Goods ready and send them down, or for the ship to take them in. Both of which however was effected. Captn. Bull had the greatest Hopes that as Mr Hastings had in a former voyage come out to India, when he was needy and could afford to pay [end page 97]

Threats and tell you, you dare not strike him. Upon receiving the most trifling Blow they run to the Judges, make their Complaint, and ☞ are redress’d. . . . The english Territories extend to the Borders of the Kingdom of Thibet to the distance of 1,200 Miles. Where Troops are constantly kept for Collecting the Revenue (which Amounts in all the Provinces to £3,000,000H.) and are reliev’d once in two Years. In this Extent of Country are many Towns & Chiefships Where Gentlemen high in the Service reside. Of these are Patna, Dacca, Cossinbazar, Luckypore, Luckinhow, Benares etc. Where they live like Petty Princes and realize the Fortunes of Nabobs. The luxurious & magnificent Method of living here, detains Gentlemen many Years longer in the Country; than they otherwise would have Occasion for; The Riches of this Part of India are so immense, as to become proverbial, yet even here, if Interest is wanting, a Man may toil all his Life Time & be poor at last. A Writer when he lands in the Country plunged himself into the common Course of Extravagance, & runs himself so far in Debt as requires the good Fortune of several years to discharges. Artificers & Artists of all kinds succeed well in Calcutta. It is the finest Field in the world for a Man with Abilities and A little Interest … The Trade of Bengal consists [end page 96]

find it their Interest to be so; but where no Gain is expected, imperious and Cruel. The Father points out to the son, how to impose upon or overreach another. The son improving by the documents of his Instructor, makes those sentiments so early inculcated, his principal study. . Whether by inherent Principle or the effect of subjugation is a doubt, but they are a passionless sort of People, incapable of Improvement beyond the Line of Cunning, filthy in their Mode of Living, obscene in their Discourse, wanton in their Pleasures; To Delicacy they are Strangers; of moral virtues they possess none. They have no word in their Language answering to the Name of Gratitude, nor did ever a Heart amongst them feel such an Emotion. Their Religion tho’ perhaps the strictest in the world, serves like many others but as a kind of Mask for many crying Enormities; and their Zeal and Infatuation so much talk’d off, little more than Artifice and Dissimulation. Their Religion countenances all the vices they are guilty of, and even impels them to deceive. Since the arrival of the Judges in Bengal which Circumstance plac’d the two different People on a Levell, The black Fellows have assum’d an Air of Importance, greater than before, (and Sorry am I to say it,) the wonderful Effects of all pow’rful Gold, have work’d Miracles in their Favour. A servant, perhaps the vilest Dog upon Earth will retort your [end page 95]

The Character the English Inhabitants of Calcutta bear, is that of a liberal and generous People. The more confin’d Settlements of Madras or Bombay, have not a Breath of Generosity betwixt them. At either of those Places, the Wellfare of a Man, procures him Enemies who envious of the Happiness of another, eneavour to prejudice him in the Opinion of the World. If Fortune takes an adverse Turn, they shut their Purse Strings in the Hour of Distress, & endeavour effectually to compleat his Ruin. But at Calcutta, a Man of Character’s Wants are no sooner known than reliev’d. Money seems to be their least Consideration. They give most elegant Entertainments, brilliant Balls, and the same Harmony and Decorum prevails as in the first City in Europe. A Man there does not hesitate or consider if it is his Interest to assist another; Other, and more generous Motives induce him; he wishes to be accessary to the Happiness of his Friend. Indeed their Disregard of Money, seems to suffer them to be impos’d upon, by the villainous black fellows, who negotiate their Affairs. Whatever commendable can be said of the English at Calcutta is counterpoisd by the Cunning and Duplicity of the black Inhabitants, Train’d up from their Infancy to Fraud, low Cunning and Artifice, they make it their Study to deceive, and are alone emulous amongst themselves in that Point. Submissive to the lowest degree, where they [end page 94]

are ten or twelve Inches Long. Birds of Prey of several species are found here, and are very usefull for the Purposes before mention’d. Water Fowl are in Amazing Plenty. They will shoot forty Brace of wild Ducks or Teal in a Day. The black Fellows have a curious, yet simple Method of catching them. They go into the Lake where the Ducks are with an earthen Pott on their Heads, having holes in it for the convenience of sight and air. They walk along with their Heads above water till they go into the middle of a Flock and the Birds taking it really for a Pot of which there are many floating on the Lake, suffer themselves to be laid hold of by the Legs & hawl’d down one after the Other till the Man’s Hands are full. The Vegetable World abounds with a great vanity of Plants etc., unknown to other Climates, at the same Time that it produces all the known Fruits, Plants & Flowers. Inhabitants of the Country discover many powerful Medicines amongst them, and their Effect is often admirably beneficial, tho’ administer’d by People, totally unacquainted with the Laws of Physic or Nature. They are like the old women in England, who having been long possess’d of a Recipe for any Disease, administer it in all its Stages, without the least attention to the Symptoms of the Disease, and assign no other Reason for doing so, than that their Grandmothers did so too Yet they sometimes produce wonderful Cures . . . . . . . . [end page 93]

and rips up the Belly of the unfortunately fall’n Rider. Leopards are plenty in this Country and furious if attack’d. Elephants are useful Animals to the Country Powers, but we see few of them employ’d by the English. All heavy Carriages are drawn by Bullocks or Buffaloes, which last are in great plenty in this Country, very large, wild & mischievous. . The Horses at Calcutta are beautiful Creatures, but very mettlesome. They do excellently for Coaches Phaetons etc. . . . Dogs are in great Numbers but good for Nothing but to assist in carrying away Flesh and Nastiness left in the Streets in the Night, and a Parcel of them have been known to attack People and kill them. There are Foxes and Jackalls in this Country in Prodigious Numbers, the latter perform the same Office as the Dogs. The lesser Quadrupeds found in other Countries are to be met with in Bengal, there being such vast Tracks of Land, uncultivated, and otherwise uninhabited. . . There is a great Vanity of Snakes and Serpents, and some exceedingly venomous, but I had not Time to enquire sufficiently minute into their Names, and Species to give a just Account of them. Alligators frequent all the Rivers and Creeks about the Country Scorpions about in Calcutta and Centipeds some of which [end page 92]

is now at Calcutta in the Possession of Mr Hastings. The royal Tiger has a plentiful Progeny in Bengal, and the neighbouring Provinces they conceal themselves in thick Cover, and frequently destroy Men. The Tiger when he espies a Man roars terribly, which strikes such a panic on the Mind of the unhappy Wretch, that he instantly becomes swallowed up in Horror. It is suppos’d to be the most hideous Knell in Nature; then springing on the Back of his Prey, the furious Creature with one of his paws, deprives the victim of his senses at one Blow, or if one is not effectual he repeats it. Nor does he attempt to feast on the Body, till depriv’d of all Sensation, & continues roaring till that is effected. . . Wild Boars are in plenty up the Country, and hunting them forms one of their Diversions, tho’ frequently attended with Danger, as is the hunting of Tigers. To hunt the Boar they go in large Parties, well mounted, and arm’d with a Kind of Spear. On Arriving at the Place the Hog frequents, a Number of black fellows enter the Cover & by making a hideous Noise, with their Pipes, Drums etc., drive him out, the Horsemen immediately ride after him and wound him with their spears, the Beast finding himself wounded, becomes enraged, & makes furiously at the Horse, & unless he is well broke in, and accustom’d to Hunting will throw him down, which effected the Hog, leaves the Horse, [end page 91]

thousands. At the Time there is scarcely a Breath of Wind to be perciev'd. Thus the air at Calcutta, blowing on all sides, over Fens, and Marshes, must be constantly unwholesome. Providence has in great Measure provided against the Evil of rotten Fish, Flesh etc. by making the Country abound with Jackalls, Parrear Dogs, Vultures, Kites, Crows etc. The two former of which clear the streets of filth by Night and the latter by day. These are so familiar, that they’ll fly into a House and take Victuals off the Table. . . The Winter Months in England, are the winter Months in Calcutta, and during that season there is not a more delightful Region under Heaven, nor (the Inhabitants say) a more healthy. In December and January the air is exceedingly cool, and even Ice is produced up the Country, but never as I heard at Calcutta. The Earth at this season opens her stores, and produces everything that is produced on the Face of the Globe. Their vegetables approach nearer to those of England in Taste, Colour and Size, then any I saw since I left England. The Country abounds with Wild Beasts of many kinds, some of which attack Men, but seldom unmolested. It has been long imagin’d that no Lions are contain’d in India, but it is now contradicted. At a small Fort lately taken by Captn. Popham a good way up the Country, there were three living ones and the Marks of many others. One of those three [end page 90]

being situated below Calcutta, & has nothing round it which could afford shelter for an Enemy within Gunshot. Connoisseurs in Fortification pronounce it very strong, & the more incurious Eye of a Novice in those Matters would suppose it still stronger. A little below the Fort are Docks for the Construction of Ships, which Art is arriv’d at great Perfection here, tho’ not as at Bombay, for the Masters there are black People, but at Calcutta Europeans. . An immense Track of Land, from the Mouths of the Ganges to a great Distance in the Country lies low, & flat, and at the Time of the Rains & some Months after wears the Appearance of an extensive Marsh or Bog. The Land likewise is universally cover’d with a low kind of Underwood, which affords shelter to an incredible Number of wild Beasts. These Circumstances render it a disagreeable Part of the World. For the excessive Heat of the Sun, occasioning a great Evaporation from the surface of this Land, or rather muddy Swamp, the Air thereby becomes loaded, with putrid & unwholesome Particles, unfit for Respiration. This is felt peculiarly on the Banks of the River which being rais’d, and swell’d during the rainy Season, leaves on its Return to its former Limits, vast Quantities of shiny Mud along the Beach, in which are entangled Fish of various kinds, and in vast Shoals; those rot in a short space, and emit a stench, which has prov’d fatal to [end page 89]

Calcutta the Capital of the english settlements in India is situated on the Banks of the River Ugli. It is large and populous, containing many good Buildings but so irregularly plac’d, as scarcely to form what properly can be call’d one Street. The Southernmost Parts of the Town contain the Houses of the european Gentlemen, who live here luxuriously and magnificently. About the Middle of the Town stands the old Fort, kept up more for the Purpose of accommodating Invalids than for any military Use. Opposite to the Gate of the Old Fort stands a Monument, to perpetuate the Memory of those unfortunate People, who lost their Lives in the black Hole over whom it is built. The Black Hole is still to be seen. It is one of the Bastions of the old Fort, & any one unacquainted with the Story, would think it impossible to squeeze such a number of Men in it. The Northern Part of the Town is inhabited by a few English in the trading or mechanical Way, Armenians, Portuguese, and Natives of the Country in general who are incredibly numerous. They have several Bazars or Markets in their Part of the Town for all sorts of Goods, which are generally so throng’d as to be almost impassible. Calcutta is said to contain
Fort William is divided from the Town of Calcutta, by a broad Esplanade, is strong and well built. It effectually commands the River [end page 88]

We sail’d from Madras Roads on the 18th of September, & got a Pilot on board in Balasore Roads on the 6th Day after, who carried us up the River of Bengal as far as Kedgeree & brought us to an anchor. At Kedgeree were lying the Walpole, Fox, True Briton, Duke of Portland & Duke of Kingston Indiamen, with several Dutchmen and country vessels. This River which is an Union of the Ganges & Ugli is at this Place very broad but full of Sands, which frequently shift and change with the Rapidity of the Tides. By the same Cause the Mouth of the River, where it empties itself into the sea, is almost obstructed with Sands and Banks. The two Rivers run in Consort about fifty Miles, to which the Ganges comes from a most distant source, and the Ugli, tho it receives its Name from a Town so call’d about one hundred Miles up the Country thro’ which it flows, comes from near the Kingdom of Thibet. To the Ganges, all the Gentoo Inhabitants of India, pay the greatest adoration. They consider its waters sacred & possess’d of numberless virtues. To it they commit the Bodies of their dying Relations, even before their Senses leave them, laying them on the Beach at the Time of low Water, and when the rises it carries them away. Its Banks are incredibly crouded, for by washing therein, they are absolv’d from their sins recover their Cast if lost & happy are those who die in its Waters [end page 87]

their going on board Ship) & orders given for more Troops to be rais’d. All the Cash that Could be spared was sent from the Treasury of Bengal, and every Necessary Preparation set on foot to remedy the late Disaster. On S.r Eyre Coote’s Arrival at Madras, he could muster only about 4,000 effective Men. Hyder Aly besieged Arcot, the Capital Town (belonging to the Nabob) in the Carnatic, & took it at least it capitulated, and the Soldiers and Officers amounting only to 300 who had defended the Place six Weeks against 40,000 Men, march’d out with the Honours of War. The Contractor & Ponsonby two East Indiamen then laying in Madras Roads were sent to the Northward for Troops soon after the Defeat of Coln. Baily One of them went to Visegapatnam, where were several Battallions. On the Day of their intended Embarkation, when they were all drawn up, and their Officers at Dinner with the Chief, they mutinied, & on their Officers coming out to see what was the Matter, they fir’d upon them and kill’d several, & wounded the others. They took the chief & other Gentlemen in the civil Line and bound them hand & foot, and releas’d a frenchman, who was a prisoner there, after doing which, they march’d away in triumph & went in Quest of Hyder Ally’s Camp. . [end page 86]

The Nabob’s second son is his prime Minister, whose Principles are said to be vile and treachourous. A Convincing Proof of this lately appear’d. When Sr Edwd Hughes with the Fleet went into Trinquemalie in the Island of Ceylon, they discover’d an immense Quantity of military Stores for the Equipment of a numerous Body of Horse. On enquiring whose they were, he was answer’d, that they had been collecting several Years for the Nabob of Arcots second son. Not one single Circumstance of those Stores had been mentioned to his Father or the Governor, nor could they be for their use, as the Company have but a very few Horse on the Coast. The general Conjecture is that he meant to secure a party to himself, cut off his Father, and reign Nabob of the Carnatic. The Account of our ill Success on the Coast was immediately dispatch’d to the Governor general, and Council of Bengal, who order’d Sr Eyre Coote to repair immediately to Madras, with all the european Troops, to take on him the Command of the Forces there, suspend Mr Whitehill, and place Mr Smith in the Chair. Which Circumstances took place in a very Short Time after. Mean Time several Battalions of Seapoys were marching round to Madras by Land (as their Religion forbids, [end page 85]

say 600,000£ and drain’d the Settlement of every Pagoda. Yet this conscientious Man, who once acted in the humble Station of a Waiter at White’s, is made a Baronet. O Tempora! O Mores! The Government is now in the Hands of a Man, whose Name has been long stampt with Infamy. Who knows his Reign will be Short, and is providing for himself and his Creatures with the utmost Rapidity. A Man whose Crimes a Modest Man cannot Mention. Who has combined against his Country (Mr W__ll fitted out the Elizabeth a french ship for the Maurituis, loaded her with Goods & informed her when the Osterly Indiaman would sail, & how she was mann’d. The Osterly was afterwards taken by the Elizabeth in Company with another French ship near the Mossel Bank off the Cape & was carried to the Maurituis. Mr W__ll is said to have cleard 80,000£ by this voyage. For the Truth of this I cannot vouch, but it is publicly asserted at Madras.) Hyder Aly gives out that he does not wish to engage in War with the English, but with the Nabob of Arcot who is under the Protection of the English, and has but few soldiers of his own and these he renders dissaffected to him, by delaying the Payment of their Wages for many Years. Whole Troops deserted from him before the last Engagement, and went over to Hyder. . . . [end page 84]

General. Pondicherry might have been taken in Six Days. Its Fortifications were not compleat when the english Army sat down before it. And after the Siege, instead of gaining immortal Honour as represented in England, he was laugh’d at & derided by all the Army. In short, no man can be more universally despis’d than this Man who enjoys the Favor of, and receives Honours from his King, and is robbing and ruining his Country. This Man has a Ribband given him and his Name perpetuated by a Title, at a Time when he is a disgrace to the british Annals. These are the Men to whom the Care of Nations is committed & these are the Men, who instead of guarding and defending their Fellow subjects are the first to prey upon them and accumulate a Fortune by their Ruin. . . What a Pity it is that the Government of Madras should be so continually given to Men whose sole Motives are to serve themselves; Who have no views but of accumulating Fortunes, and who feel no regret, for their horrible Oppression of Numberless Families. Strange as this may seem yet true it is, that many successive Governors (Lord Pigot excepted) have entertain’d this Maxim, and this solely. The late Governor Sir T. Rumb_d is a striking Proof of this, he having in the Course of two years, amass’d upwards of 400,000 sterling, nay some [end page 83]

and Troops, Bengal should remain in our Possession, The possession of the other Settlements would have it in either their Power to take our Ships and stop our Trade. Affairs in India have a bad Appearance, and what is now only apprehended will soon be realized, unless wiser Governors, and greater Generals have the conducting them. The Popular Cry loudly exclaims against Sr. H. M_nr_ They Complain not only of his Stupidity & Ignorance, but hesitate not to criminate him. They accuse him of not having the King or Company’s Interest at Heart, they interpret his sending so small a detachment against Hyder, into motives criminal and treacherous. They assent that the few proceeding Months have been solely occupied by him in purchasing european Bills and Diamonds to remit his Money. That he took the Field without Ammunition or Provisions; that when he heard Baily was departed he fled with the utmost Precipitation towards Madras, gall’d all the way by the Enemy. That he had no Intelligence himself nor would receive any from the other Officers. The wound concerning the Pondicherry Business broke out a fresh. He was again call’d Fool, & Coward, They say that at the Siege of Pondicherry, more money & Time was expend’d than would have taken four such Places, attack’d by an experienc’d [end page 82]

or four Hundred Sepoys under the Command of Coln. Fletcher. . . . Baily and Fletcher with their little Army, fought desperately, and did Wonders, till two of the Tumbrels of Gunpowder blew up, which put them in a great Confusion, on which Hyder’s Horse rushing in, cut them to Pieces without Mercy. Thus was destroy’d the Flower of their Army, owing to the Obstinacy of an infatuated General; who altho’ a Man of Narrow Abilities, would not receive salutary advice when offer’d him. Fletcher was cut to Pieces, Baily taken Prisoner, & several Captains & subalterns in the King’s & Company’s Service shar’d the same Fates. . This is the greatest Advantage that ever any Country Power obtain’d over the english Troops, & will animate them beyond Measure, for they formerly deem’d us invincible. There were a great Number of French in Hyder’s Army both Officers and Private in whose Views and Interests Hyder greatly joins. Nothing now is wanting on the Coast of Coromandell to drive us from it, but a french fleet superior to ours, so as to prevent any supplies from coming to the Town on the seaside. Whilst Hyder’s numerous Army will prevent all Correspondence in the Country. The Fort itself is exceedingly Strong, impregnable by a Country Power, but they may soon starve themselves into Submission The Consequence of the Loss of Madras, would inevitably be, that of Bengal, and Bombay, [?]rif from its numerous Fortifications [end page 81]

to an Anchor in Madras Roads on the Morning of the 7th of September. Immediately went on Shore with our Chief Mate who had an Inflammation in his Liver ever since we left Bombay and plac’d him under the care of Dr. Pasley, a very eminent & learned Man. On our Arrival here we were inform’d that Hyder Aly had enter’d the Carnatic with 100,000, Troops well disciplin’d & come almost to the Walls of Madras Sr Hector Munro went out to drive him off, with an Army of 8000 Men, Of which Number 1000 were europeans, Orders were likewise sent for Coln. Cosby to join him with 1000 Men, Coln. Brathwaite from Pondicherry with another Detachment, & Coln. Baily with about 2400 Men & 10 Field Pieces. Which Army join’d together was imagin’d stronger than Hyder’s. Coln. Cosby & Brathwaite join’d a few Days after we arriv’d & the Accounts of Coln. Baily were impatiently expected, which arriv’d on the 14th or 15th and brot. the Melancholy News that Coln. Baily had fall’n in with Hyder within a few Miles of the grand Army. Hyder’s Army consisted of 24,000 Horse, 30,000 Foot & 1,500 Frenchmen with 20 Field Pieces. That Sr Hector Munro, heard the Firing, but would not agree to march to their Relief altho’ Tents were struck and every thing ready but contrary to the advice of those he consulted sent a Detachment of 4 Companies of the 73rd Regt. with three [end page 80]

home in another Ship. Mr Hardcastle’s Affair when candidly enquir’d into, will very much against him, but as he landed at Bombay when we pass’d it to go to Surat, he had an Oportunity of spreading reports before Captn. Bull return’d. And had Captn. Bull exerted himself a little more even then, & attended the Trial properly, as his Friends in vain sollicited him to do, I sincerely believe Mr Hardcastle’s suspension would have been confirm’d. Mr Warrington our 5th Mate engaged himself so far in Mr Hardcastle’s Interest, that he ran away from the ship, accompanied by a Midshipman, who were the only Two, whose Evidence appear’d in Favor of Mr Hardcastle. During our laying at Bombay our Armourer died of the Dysentery. And several of our Men ran away, so that we were obliged to get Lascars to assist us in getting the ship round to Bengal, for which Place we sail’d with a Cargo of Cotton on board, having order to touch at Madras to deliver a Packet. We had a leading Wind and made a good Run all down the Coast, till we came abreast of the Friar’s Hood on the Island of Ceylon. Where we were becalm’d four Days. Here we fell in with the Neptune Captn. Wemyss who had sail’d from Bombay twenty four Hours before us. At length a Light Breeze sprung up, and the Neptune being a good sailor left us, & got to Madras one day before us. The Night before we arriv’d at Madras being then only 4 or 5 Leagues below it, there came on a most violent squall, which however happily did us no harm. We came [end page 79]

with Grain and Timber is all the Country produces. But I believe Pepper is not included in the general Acceptation of the word, Grain, farther to the Southward they make Stockings & almost every Port, has a different Way of manufacturing their Goods. The Portuguese have a fortified Town to the Northward of Bombay call’d Demaun And the french before the breaking out of the War, had a Settlement on this Coast call’d Mahé. The Face of the Country for many Miles is rather flat and has a pretty appearance, but more in land there are many lofty Hills. From Cape Comorin runs a remarkable Ridge of high Mountains call’d the Gatts or Balagate Mountains, which divides this peninsula for many Degrees Northward, and alters the Seasons on either Coast; there when the Monsoon sets in on the Malabar Coast, there is fine Weather on the Coast of Coromandell, et vice versa. It is far from being an unhealthy Coast except at the Time of the Rains, when great Allowances may be made for it. . The Affair betwixt Captn. Bull and Mr Hardcastle, was enquired into at Bombay, by a Committee appointed for that Purpose, when after hearing the Evidence, they agreed that Mr Hardcastle had been culpable, and deserving his Suspension; but the length of Time he had been suspended, they imagin’d a sufficient Punishment. Wherefore he was again restor’d to his Rank, but on petitioning the Governor was permitted to go [end page 78]

get intoxicated. Small Vessels are built with its Timber, Fans are made with its Leaves, in short no Tree answers so great a Variety of Purposes. This Island is well stock’d with venomous Snakes Scorpions, Centipedes, large venemous Spiders, & a Sharp Tooth’d Animal with its Head like a Hog, & Body like a rat call’d a Bandicoot. they have likewise enormous Toads & other disagreeable Reptiles. Inhospitality holds her highest Court at Bombay, & has Envy, Slander and Malice for her three Favorites. . . The first European Power that possess’d the Coast of Malabar was the Portuguese who first settled at Goa, (which they now hold), but since they have dwindled away to the Insignificant Place they now hold in the system of Merit they have lost many Settlements. The English by possessing Bombay and Surat command the whole Coast. The Portuguese tho’ unable to prevent their Settlements from falling into the hands of Country Powers, and thereby not only injuring themselves, but other european Powers likewise and that very materially, look nevertheless with an insidious Eye on the English, who have rescued, and retain several of them. They will communicate no Insight of the interior Part of the Country and tho possest of Maps, and Charts deny them. The inner Part of the Country to the Northward manufacture, Cottons, & a Mixture of Silk and Cotton & many very curious things in that Line, which [end page 77]

The oldest Captain is Commodore of the Coast. These convoy Fleets of Boats up and down the Coast, carry Dispatches & go to Persia Bengal etc. From the Adjacent Island of Salsett, Surat & other Settlements, Bombay is supplied with Necessaries. Of the Animal Kind, they get Bullocks, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Buffaloes, Hares, Ducks, Fowls, Geese & Turkeys. with different Kind of Wild Fowl. Of Fish, there are Plenty. Soles, Skeat Maids, Pompets, Mullet, Eels, Modishun Fish, Rock Cod & many others. Of the vegetable their Gardens produce Cabbages, a Kind of Spinach, the finest Onions in the World, french Beans, Cucumbers, Musk & Water Melons, Pine apples, Mangoes, Guavas, Plantains, Bananas, Pawpaws, Custard apples, & other Fruits imitative of the european kind & making good substitutes for Gooseberry & Apple Pies. They have likewise Radishes, Lettuce & other sallad Herbs & Roots. Their Trees are besides the Fruit Trees before Mentirn’d, the Teak, an excellent kind of black wood, the Ricinus vulgaris, Palmira Tree, Cocoa Nut Tree etc. Which last is of infinite Service from the various Uses it is put to. From a rough hairy Part of the outside of the Nut is make all kinds of Rope, even Cables, The Inside of the Nut supplies them with an agreeable Drink, call’d the Milk, & they use the Nut itself in Curries. The Shell they burn, I believe to make a kind of blacking. By wounding the lofty Branching, A Liquor exudes, with which they sometimes [end page 76]

find a Market at Bombay for Copper, Iron, Steel, red & white Lead, Anchors & all kinds of marine Stores. Provisions sell all over India. But they are very rigid at the Custom House, which is a considerable draw back on the Goods. The Bombay Merchants send annually, several ships to China and Bengal, loaded with Cotton, which grows in great Plenty in the Country about Surat. . Lead, Cloth Cochineal etc. are Commodities for the China Markett. To England they send coarse Bale Goods & Pepper, & carry on a brisk Trade up the Persian Gulph. Yet the Trade & Reveneus are not sufficient to defray the Annual Expences, wherefore it is in one Sense a Burden to the Company who are obliged to supply them with Money from Bengal. Those Supplies since the Commencement of the Maratta War have been enormous; The Troops likewise belonging to this Coast which commonly amount to ___, have been found insufficient, so that Bengal & Madras have likewise furnish’d them with Forces. Coll. Goddard march’d over Land from Bengal to Surat, with 6000 Men, but has not been able to gain any great Advantage over the Marattas. The Coast of Malabar is so infested with Pirates that the Government of Bombay is under a Necessity of Supporting a regular Marine. They have a Number of Ships, Grabs, Snows, Ketches, Gallivats commanded by Captains and Lieutenants. [end page 75]

to them in Point of Ability. Indeed they may be said to be superior, as almost all the offices belonging to the Custom Master, Paymasters etc. are fill’d with Gentoo Clarks call’d Purvo’s, who accompt & write as well as Europeans. Besides the Persees and Gentoos, there are Moors, who adapt themselves for all Services, Merchants, Shopkeepers Sailors, Taylors etc. The Gentoo and Moor Languages are talk’d in common by all three, for the Persees retain Nothing of Persia but their Religion; they are totally ignorant of the persian Language. The same domestic Laws and Customs prevail amongst them, as in all other Parts inhabited by Gentoos. etc. & they are all punishable by the brittish Laws. Bombay Dock & marine Yard render this settlement an important one. The Dock will contain three Indiamen at a Time, where they are repair’d, clean’d etc. as well as in England. They build excellent ships, capable of carrying fifty Guns, and sheath them with Copper. The Timber they use for this purpose is call’d Teak; it is firmer and heavier than Oak & preserves those Qualities much longer. The ship and Boatbuilding is executed by the Persees who are remarkably clever in this Branch. One Advantage they have over us is that they have no Necessity to let the Timber lay any Time to season for it never shrinks. Besides European Bottoms are soon eat thro by Worms in the indian seas; these the Teak Bottoms resist, the wood being too hard for the worms to penetrate. . . European ships [end page 74]

which amongst the Natives constitute a Trade. An Owner of a small piece of Ground plants a Number of those Trees, taking Care to have the Convenience of Water, & in a few Years they bear Fruit & are then let for a yearly Rent. The Inhabitants of Bombay consist of a great Vanity of Breeds. The English of Course hold the highest Rank, then the Descendants of the English by black Women, of which there are a great Number of a very disagreeable Colour, being neither black nor white. There are a Number of Portuguese, black, some of whom are partly rich. All these we suppose have an european Mixture in them. Of the Native Eastern Branch, the Persees tho originally not of this Coast claim the Preference, because they have the most Money & the greatest Rogues. Yet to do them Justice there are some very good People amongst them. This Branch of People are descendants from the Ancient Inhabitants of Persia, who upon the Conquest of that Country by the Mahometans, fled into India to preserve their Religion; The Mahometans putting all to the sword, who would not embrace theirs. The Gentoos afforded them an Asylum on Condition they would in Compliance with the Gentoo Religion abstain from Pork, which they promis’d & perform it as punctually as the Jews in London. Those are the Worshippers of the Sun, and of the Fire, which latter they dare not extinguish. The Countenance those People have lately receiv’d from the English, makes them rank themselves above the Gentoos, who are not a whit inferior [end page 73]