Page 401 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 06!)
longer, and dropped off. There were now four of us only
remaining of eighty-three persons, who composed the ship's
company, and expecting every moment to share the same fate.
However, we at last contrived to right the canoe, and kept her
on her keel, although full of water, by placing a few small
spars that we found floating about, across the gunwale, which
prevented her rolling. We fastened these the best way we
could with strips of shirts and handkerchiefs, and sat upon them.
We also saw the high land about Bushire, but that was far off.
At this time we were joined by two other men, who had kept
near us on a spar until our little raft should be ready. One of
these poor fellows died before we reached the shore. Sitting
upon this swamped boat naked, and every sea coming over us,
we continued to drift towards the island, and about two p.m.,
we got within a mile or two of the beach, and expected in half-
an-hour more to land. At this time, to our great distress, I
discovered that the tide began to set us off again, and to drift
us round the island. As we were evidently leaving the shore
fast, it was proposed to swim ashore, but on making the
experiment we found ourselves so weak, and the distance so
great, that we were glad to put about, and it was with great
difficulty some of us reached the canoe. Luckily the current
soon changed and sent us back again, and a little after siniset
we were cast upon a reef of rocks, over which we swam and
waded till we got upon dry laud. After walking two or three
hours along the beach, we arrived at the town, and were
iunncdiately taken to the Sheikh. He gave us a room in his
house, and supplied us with what clothes and provisions he had,
for the island is very poor. \Ve remained there three days, and
during that time received every attention and kindness we
could expect. On the 22nd of March, the Sheikh gave us a boat,
in which we arrived at Bushire the same evening, and of course
were supplied with everything. We left Bushire on the 2.Sth.
For several days after our unfortunate wreck 1 was laid uj).
swollen with the sun and salt-water, and from having been cut
a good deal with the rocks on landing, but otherwise I have
been in good health."
The ' Ariel' was a deep-waisted, chest-like brig, of a clas.s
common in the Royal Navy at the close of the Revolutionary
War, which from the frequency of their foundering, were known
as "coffins" or " deaths," and were emi)loyed up to so recent
a date as the year 18oi», in carrying the Government mails
across the Atlantic, when they fully maintained tiieir unenviable
characteristic of foundering or capsizing in a stormy sea. It
was found, on subsequent inquiry, that the 'Ariel' had bcLMi
condennied as unseawortiiy before Mr. ]\Ieriton, the Superin-
tendent, sent her on her last cruise. On her arrival at^Iuscat
the mainmast was found to be so rotten from step to cap that
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