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HISTORY OF THE IXDIAX NAVY. 405

George Pilcher, ]\IidsLipinan ; Mi-. Charles Boye, Midshipman;
Mr. George Peters, Mid.shipiiKUi.
The task, notwithstanding that the officers suffered nnich
from fever, was now pushed on with all despatch, being only
obstructed by the necessity for the small cruisers to proceed in
search of water and supplies ; and, early in 1822, Lieutenant
Guy forwarded to Government an interesting report of the so-
called Pirate Coast. The difficulty of surveying this tract was
much increased by the coast-line being, in many places, almost
invisible from the ship's anchorage, with scarcely an object for
many miles that could be employed as a station. Lieutenant
Guy discovered twenty-seven islands and islets, and the last
group he explored, consisted of nine, on which there were some
three or four hundred inhabitants, who had quitted the town of
El Biddah, in 1821, when their houses had been burned by the
Hon. Company's brig ' Vestal,' in consequence of their
piratical doings.
On the 11th of February, 1828, Lieutenant Guy was obliged to
proceed to the Presidency owing to his health having failed, and
Lieutenant Brucks succeeded to the command. The MS. of
the portion of the survey completed by Lieutenant Guy, is
preserved in the Geographical Department of the India Office,
and was the work of Lieutenant Houghton,* who executed it
at the request of his connnander. llorsburgh, the hydrographer
to the Company, entertained the highest opinion of the talents
of this latter officer, and always expressed great admiration for
the beautiful execution and artistic linish of his charts. Lieu-
tenant Guy was also greatly indebted to Lieutenants Cogan,
Haines, Whitelock, and W. E. Rogers, the latter of whom, on
the retirement of Lieutenants Guy and Cogan, succeeded to
the command of the 'Discovery.'
Lieutenant Brucks prosecuted the survey with great vigour,
and, in April, 1825, the whole western coast of the Persian
Gulf having been surveyed, the ' Psyche' returned to Bombay,
and was sold out of the S( rvice in July. Early in the following
year Lieutenant Brucks resumed oj)erations, and examineil the
head of the Gulf, thence proceeding down the coast of Persia.
"In order to furiii some idea of the difficulties encountered
in these operations," says a contemjjorary writer, " as well us
the energy and perseverance of the gentlemen employed, it may
be observed that, in the course of a fortnight, in spite of all the
obstacles they met with from the extensive sand-flats, running
sometimes nearly eight nnles off sliore, through which the
officers and men had to wadi' middle deep, they were enabled to
* Lieutenant C. G. Constable refers tollie nccuraoy luul (ini.-li of this talented
officer's work, in liis paper reiul before tlie Hoinbiiv Oeogrnpliienl Socielv on llie
21st of February, 185G. Captain llougliton died in Li-ndun on tlie UUli of
May, 187i.