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390 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ;
purpose," as he says, " of investigating the Eastern shore of
Africa, and making inquiries into the present state of Abyssinia,
and the neighbouring countries." The Governor-General con-
senting, Lord Valentia, accompanied by his secretary, Mr.
Salt, proceeded to Mangalore, where the ' Antelope,' carrying
fourteen guns and a crew of eighty-seven men, was awaiting
him. The brig was commanded by Captain Keys, who, his
lordship says, was told " to consider himself as under my com-
mand," which, we may observe, must have been galling to an
experienced officer who found an amateur civilian traveller
placed over him on board his own ship. That the arrangement
did not answer, was not surprising, and the fault can scarcely
be entirely attributed to Captain Keys, of whom his lordship
says, that " his manners were perfectly gentlemanly." The
other officers were Lieutenants Hall and Maxfield, Mr. Hurst
midshipnjan, and Dr. Maghie. The ' Antelope' sailed on the
13th of March 1804, from Mangalore for Aden and Mocha, where
differences first arose between Captain Keys and his noble
passenger. Thence the ' Antelope' proceeded to Dhalac, on the
opposite coast, where, upon Lord Valentia sending Mr, Salt to
request the use of a boat for the purpose of surveying. Captain
Keys told him that he was commander of the ship, adding that
his lordship appeared to be actuated by an intention " to take to
himself the credit of discoveries and observations made by him
and his officers." From Dhalac the ' Antelope' proceeded to
Massowah, of which Lieutenant Maxfield made a survey. On
the 8th of June, writes Lord Valentia, '-' I wrote officially to
Captain Keys, informing him of my intention to go to Suakin,
but that if the winds should prove too strong, I might probably
go only as far as Ageeg, and then proceed for Jidda." It is not
surprising that this peremptory style of correspondence was
displeasing to Captain Keys, who, in his reply, notified that the
'Antelope' " must leave the Red Sea by the middle of August,
in order to save her passage for the season." Then ensued
a further heated correspondence, in which Lord Valentia accused
Captain Keys of disobeying the Governor-General's orders,
and that officer disclaimed any such intention. The 'Antelope'
quitted Massowah on the 19th of June, and, on the same day,
anchored in Antelope Bay, near Valentia Island, and, writes
Lord Valentia condescendingly, " as the Captain wished
Lieutenant Maxfield to survey it, I consented to stay for two
days for that purpose." But the heat was so extreme that Mr.
Maxfield fell ill, " when," writes the noble author, " I deter-
mined to depart the next day." He adds, "A great quantity
of biscuit was this day condemned and thrown overboard. I
heard that the salt provisions were in an equally bad state,
and that there was only a small quantity of spirits on board
it was therefore fortunate we did not continue our voyage."