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CHAPTER VI. — — ;

1772—1795.
Surveys of Officers of the Bombay Marine—The First Surveying Expedition
Lieutenant Blair's Survey and Admiuistration of the Andaman Islands
Lieutenant McCluei-'s Surveys in the Persian Gulf and West Coast of India—The
Loss of tlie ' Antelope' on the Pelew Islands and Escape of tlie Crew—Captain
McCluer's Mission to tlie Pelew Islanders—His Surveys on the New Guinea
Coast—Adventures and Death of Captain McCluer—Estimate of his Career
and Character—Lieutenant Hayes' Surveys in the Eastern Archipelago.
WE will now turn to another, and more peaceful, arena of
service in which the Bombay Marine, or Indian Navy,
have earned lasting renown. We speak of the labours of the
officers as surveyors, in which capacity they have achieved a
reputation that is, perhaps, unrivalled, having regard to the
numerical strength of the Service as compared with other navies
or scientific services. The Indian Navy may, indeed, be proud
of having been the Abiia Mater of such men as ]\IcCluer, Blair,
Court, Ross, Lloyd, Maughan, Crawford, Houghton, and, in more
recent times, Carless, Haines, Moresby, Elwon, Felix Jones,
Grieve, Constable, Taylor (now head of the new Indian Marine
Surveying Department), Ward, and a host of other names too
numerous to particularize. Among those whose scientific
attainments impelled thent in favour of research by land, may be
mentioned the names of Wood, Ormsby, (whose familiarity with
the Arabs has, probably been unsurpassed), Wellsted, Whitelock,
Barker, and Wyburd, whose fate ren^ains enshrouded in mystery
also Bowater and Stroyan, who fell victims to the savagery of
the tribes among whom they journeyed.
In 1772 was fitted out the first surveying expedition under-
taken by officers of the Bombay j\larine. It consisted of the
' Fox,' schooner, of about 100 tons, and carrying six guns ; the
'Dolphin,' ketch, of a similar armament, but rather smaller, and
a pattamar, or native craft. The officers employed in this expe-
dition, destined to be the precursor of many others of a like
character, were Lieutenants Robinson (in connnand) and Porter,
and Messrs. Blair and IMascall, midshipmen. These officers
explored the coasts of JMekran, Scinde, Kattywar, and a part of