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448 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.

upon wliich 1 kept up a smart fire while witliin range. I am sorr^^
to state that during the action one Sepoy and one row-boat
man were severely wounded, the former in two places. In
each of these boats were from thirty to forty men. I cannot
conclude this Report without recommending strongly to your
notice, the gallant conduct of the Sepoys of the Bombay Marine
Battalion in leaping into the enemy's boats, and for the destruc-
tive and well-directed fire they kept up on the approach of the
enem}^ whereby great numbers were either killed or wounded
before they came alongside. The conduct of the row-boat men
deserves every praise." Stimulated by the encouragement and
example of Lieutenant Greer, the conduct of these Native
boatmen affords a striking contrast to that always attributed
to them in previous actions, where they could not be got to face
the enemy.
Lieutenant Marshall, R.N., speaks as follows of one of the con-
sequences of this affair, on w'hich. however, we will make no
comment : •' The bold and determined conduct of Mr. Greer, was
duly appreciated by Sir Archibald Campbell and Captain Chads,
who were well aware that the capture of even a single boat
would have been a source of the highest exultation to the
Burmese, and emboldened them to give further annoyance on
the river. Unfortunately, the seeds of jealousy respecting the
command of the Hon. Company's naval force in Ava had pre-
viously been sown in Calcutta ; and Mr. Greer's gallant exploit
was followed by a painful correspondence, in the course of
which, however, Captain Chads most firmly and successfully
supported the dignity of His Majesty's service."
It was right that the senior naval oflBcer should be jealous
of the dignity of the Royal Service, which, however, was never
assailed ; but the honour of the Company's Naval Service was
equally dear to its officers, and was guarded by the authorities
at Calcutta, who, probably, had not forgotten the still more
" painful correspondence" that took place during the Java
Expedition, when Commodore Hayes vindicated the honour of his
Service and received the support of the Governor-General.
During the month of November, owing to the improvement
in the weather, the health of the British forces improved, and
preparations were pushed on for the advance into Ava; mean-
"
time the Burmese had not been idle. The " golden-footed
monarch had recalled from Arracan, Maha Bimdoola, a general
of undoubted capacity and resource, who had long before, at
Ramoo, inflicted a disaster upon a small British force. Bun-
doola had concentrated his legions at Donabew, and, before the
end of November, arrived before Rangoon with an army of
sixty thousand men, of whom thirty-five thousand were
musketeers, with a considerable train of artillery and a body of
seven hundred Cassay horse ; this vast army,- a portion of