Page 226 - INDIANNAVYV1

194 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.

happily got their vessel afloat, to the general joy of every
spectator, all appearing deeply interested in the success of this
event. The English gave three loud huzzas at her going off,
in which the Natives joined, and shook hands with each other
with a cordiality but seldom experienced. The vessel was
immediately hauled into a dock that had been dug for her, and
safely moored, when all went to breakfast—the King and the
rupacks (chiefs) with the Captain, the attendants with the
people ; this was, indeed, the happiest and most comfortable
meal they had eaten since the loss of the ' Antelope.' When
breakfiist was over, they got out shears, and took in the masts,
water-casks, and the two 6-pounders. They now made the
King a present of all the other tools they could spare ; and
took up the ways, on account of the nails, of which they were
in want. When the flood tide came in in the afternoon they
hauled the vessel into the basin, which was a deep place of four
or five fathom water, in the middle of the level sandy flat of
the harbour, large enough to hold three vessels of the same
magnitude where they could lie afloat at low water. In the
night they got on board all their provisions, stores, ammunition,
and arms, except such as were intended to be given to Abba
Thulle; and renewed their labour in the morning, taking on
board their anchors, cables, and other accessories, making bitts,
and fitting a rail across the stem of the vessel."
On the same day, the King invested Captain W^ilson with " the
order of the Bone," constituting him a rupack, or chief, of the
first rank. The schooner sailed on the 12th of November, to
the regret of all the islanders, having on board Prince Lee Boo,
the King's second son, and arrived in Macao in safety on the
/30th of November, when they took passage to England in one
of the Company's trading ships. During their stay on the
island, a portion of the crew, with their arms and some swivel
guns, accompanied the King, at his urgent request, on three
expeditions against his rebellious subjects in other islands of
the group ; when their services were decisive in compelling
submission. Among the officers of the ' Antelope,' of whom a
list is given in Mr. Keate's work, appear the names of two
midshipmen, Messrs. John Wedgeborough and Robert White,
described as " from Christ's Hospital," who, subsequently,
earned distinction as surveyors.
The Court of Directors acknowledged the kind hospitality
displayed by the islanders to the crew of the 'Antelope,'
between the 9th of August and the 12th of November, by
directing the Bombay Government to tit out two ships of the
Marine, to proceed to the Pelew Islands for the purpose of
carrying presents to the King, and to inform him of the death
of his son. Another object of the mission was to make a
survey of the Pelew group, with the view of ascertaining