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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 193

aid the general plan. Those who were appointed of the
carpenter's crew were desired by Captain Wilson to regard
Mr. Barker (one of the officers) as their director, and to receive
from him such appointments and directions in that department
as he should judge most convenient, after he had experienced
their separate abilities. Mr. Sharp, the surgeon, and Mr. M.
Wilson, were appointed to saw down trees, in which employ-
ment the Captain often worked himself. The boatswain, wiio
had formerly served part of an apprenticeship to a blacksmith,
now resumed his old avocation, assisted by a mate. The gunner
was to see all the arms kept in good order, and occasionally to
assist the carpenter's crew. On the 18th of August, it was
judged expedient to form a barricade in front of the tents
towards the sea ; which was done by driving a double row of
strong posts, interlaced with branches of trees, to form a thick
fence, the space between the two rows of stakes being filled
with logs of wood, stones, and sand, to render it as solid as
possible. On the inside was raised a foot bank, on which they
could stand and fire, in case of being attacked, with an opening
left for one of the (3-pounders, which it was intended should be
got from the ship the first opportunity, and placed there. The}''
also mounted two swnvels (which were large ones) on the
stumps of two trees that had been sawed down, in a
manner so that they might be pointed in every necessary
direction."
On the 4th of November, they set to work felling trees to
construct the launching ways, and, on the 9th, that is, in exactly
three months time, the officers and crew of the 'Antelope ' had
completed the schooner, which they christened the ' Oroolang,'
after one of the islands ; and, when we consider the want of
necessary implements and materials, this must be regarded as
one of the most extraordinary instances on record of the
ingenuity and perseverance for which British sailors are noted.
—
Keate writes: "The night of the 9th of November proving
fine, every hand had sufficient employment in preparing tilings
for launching the vessel ; they swept her with a lower-shroutl
hawser, and carried out an anchor and hawser ahead, and got a
runner and tackle purchase upon it; they likewise got a post
with wedges set against the stern-post, and everything ready
before daylight. The tide ebbed extraordinarily low this night,
insomuch tliat some of them walked dry to the fiowerput
island, which had never been done at other time before since
their coming to this place; it was low water rather before two
o'clock this morning. At daylight they began to try their work,
to see if their preparations would answer their wishes, and got
the "vessel down about six feet; they then stopped till high
water, and sent to the King, who, with all his attendants, came
to be present at the launch. About seven o'clock our people
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