Page 542 - INDIANNAVYV1

510 HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. —

on the books, Marine Boys. A report came to Lindey that in
our late affray one of their chiefs and another man was kilhid,
as also one wounded. I begged the Sheikh to send and exphiin
to them, as also to say if the wounded man was sent to Lindey
the surgeon would attend him. May 10th, sent the agent in
the launch with a native crew down the coast, to Keelwar to
expedite the service. May 11th, entered one boy ; May 14th,
entered one ditto ; May 15th, entered five ditto ; May 18th,
entered thirteen ditto ; May 22nd, entered three. May 23rd,
having no less than twenty on the sick list, myself and two
officers in the number, with sudden fever, weighed and dropped
down the river. May 24th, having procured pilots for Keelwar,*
weighed and stood down the coast ; at five p.m. anchored off Kis-
wara River in sixteen fathoms. Daylight, weighed and stood
along the coast for Keelwar ; when we anchored for the night,
sent an officer on shore to inquire for the launch—she had quitted
the same evening for Zanzibar. Daylight weighed, and stood
out between the reefs which perfectly enclose the harbour.
There is here abundance of provisions and fresh water, and the
best anchorage on the coast, having plenty of water and good
holding ground. The Sheikh was very civil, and said he had
not been visited by an English ship since Captain Owen had
been in the ' Leeven.' On the 29th of May arrived at Zanzibar.
The Governor, Seyyid Hamed, and the young prince, son of
the Imaurn of Muscat, behaved very kindly, proffering services?,
and sending off a large supply of fruit, goats and vegetables,
which were very acceptable to the sick. On the oOth the launch
returned with four volunteer boys.
"On the 7th of July left Zanzibar; on this day buried two
seamen, and on the 10th of June, to my very great regret, Mr.
Gilbert, purser, died, a young man I highly respected for his
amiable, gentlemanly manners, and complete professional
knowledge. June 11th, buried three seamen, and in the
evening died one of the most promising young midshipmen in
the Service, Mr. Thomas Pitcher. Still had on the sick-list
nineteen Europeans and six natives, and, unfortunately, in
consequence of the great number seized with this fever, our
medicines ran out. Making prodigious way, in consequence of
muskets kept them from attacking us with their spears. I had the morti-
fication to find that only two of the four muskets would go off. I was obliged to
fire again, several of us being knocked down and neai'ly stunned by the stones. I
received anotlier blow on the head, which obliged me to order another shot to be
fired, which wounded a man. I imagine that perceiving the certain effects of our
fire, and tliat we did not fire often, but were retreating to the boat, after seeing us
close to it, letting off their arrows and throwing stones at us the whole way, and
that our strength was not diminished—for we had observed then* counting us
they retired. I had much satisfaction in retreating without loss, and could liave
wished our opponents equally fortunate, although everything was done to avoid
the contest. Two of our little boys were interpreters and behaved faithfully."
* Also known as Quiloa.