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3G8 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ;
of wind, reported to the captain that a squall was approaching.
Lieutenant Greenway, who was at the time ill in his cot, gave
directions that all was to be made snug aloft. All hands
were immediately turned up on deck, the courses were hauled
up and the topsails lowered on the cap. This was scarcely
accomplished when a tremendous squall struck the little craft
taking her right aft, it hurried her into and through the
opposing sea caused by the north-easterly gale, and in a
moment, before any warning could be given, the ' Ariel' was
buried beneath the waters and went down head forem.ost.
Of the entire crew of eighty-three souls only five were saved,
Mr. Joseph Glen, the surgeon, Mr. Johnstone, boatswain,
Brown, a seaman, Wall, a boy, and the native cook. The
following is an extract from a letter by Dr. Glen,* describing
—
the escape of the survivors : " I was in bed, but luckily awake.
I turned out on hearing the wind, and as our berth opened into
the main hatchwa}^, I went out and stood between decks to see
what was the matter. As I looked up the vessel heeled, the
water came rushing over the larboard gunwale, the launch went
over the side, and at the same time I heard a crash above me,
which must have been the maiinnast. At this time I heard a
horrid shriek, and found myself below water. All this must
have taken place in less than a minute and a half from the first
coming on of the squall. On coming to the surface I found
myself among pieces of boards, and heard a few men around.
I, however, felt myself irresistibly pulled below the water, and
went to the depth of three or four fathoms. It was the vortex
formed by the sinking vessel. On reaching the surface a second
time, and swimming a little, I saw a canoe bottom upwards, to
which I made, and got upon it. Hearing some people in the
water near me, for it was quite dark and rainy, I called out,
and was joined by six or seven of my unfortunate companions.
All else was now quiet, except the tossing of the waves, and the
piercing cries of a little boy, who was at some distance, but to
whom we could give no assistance. In a few minutes he sunk,
and we were left, the remainder of eightj^-three persons, who
but a few minutes before had no idea of danger. The squall
was now over, but a heavy sea continuing, made the canoe roll
over and over, which always threw us to some distance in the
water, and exhausted us very much. After tumbling about in
this way for some time, three or four men could stand it no

sand which fills the ejes and mouth. The air is generally very clear and cloud-
less, but during the winter the sliemal, as in the above instance, is often accom-
panied by a storm of thunder and lightning ; a lieavy swell fi-ora the north-west
is often a precursor of a shemal, and should be taken as a warning.
* Dr., now Physician-Greneral, Glen still survives, and has published a
pamphlet describing his experiences during the day and night he was in the
canoe, which was the property of the officers who used it when duck-shooting up
the Shatt-ul-Arab.