Page 543 - INDIANNAVYV1

—
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN ^X\Y. 511

a current of eighty miles a day. June 14th, in consequence of
a strong easterly set out of the Red Sea, found ourselves
considerably to leeward of the west-end of Socotra island,
although I had steered to make Abdul-Coory ; bore up to round
the East Cape. Here we experienced a very high sea and
strong monsoon. In hauling round the east end of Socotra
found the reef and bank to extend much farther to the south-
ward and eastward, and very dangerous ; I should jutlge from
ten to twelve miles— Horsburgh says two leagues. June
15th, it blowing at times in such heavy gusts as to endanger
the masts, splitting our sails and carrying away our gear, so
that we were fiiirly blown olf. Remained till eight a.m. on the
16th, when bore up, finding we had lost ground. At this time
I was sud'ering from a severe relapse of fever; 17th, the first-
lieutenant reported that a quantity of provisions were spoiled
by a leak in the store-room. Sold the effects of the deceased
officers and seamen ; 18th, buried a seaman. On the 22nd of
June, at 7.40, anchored off the Apollo Pier."
Commander Hawkins was utterly ignorant of having com-
mitted any illegality in shipping the negro boys—the only
point in which he had exceeded his instructions arising from
some of the number being of a more tender age than was
authorised ; had the money been paid to them in the shape of
bounty, even though it had been afterwards handed over to their
masters, he would have evaded the law— but such double-dealing
was foreign to his nature. The children under twelve cried to
accomi)any the other boys, and, being of a kind-iicarted
disposition, he engaged them also. He says in a narrative of
the subsequent proceedings, addressed to Admiral Sir Pulteney
Malcolm, the brother of Sir Charles, and written while in
England, towards the end of 1831 :
" On the 2Gth of July, 1830, I was first made acquainted
with the intended prosecution of the Supreme Court, by Sir
John ]\lalcom, while on a visit to him at DajKiolie. His brother.
Sir Charles, had a long conversation with me, and I told
him I would go down and try and put a stop to it, by alVording
any explanation the Grand Jury might require, at the same time
giving him to understand he might rely on my prudence. On
my arrival at Bombay, the case had proceeded too far, and as it
was believed by the opposing faction,* that I had received some
* By tliia term is meant the party friendly to Sir Joliti Pot<?r Qnint, who had
entered upon a course of hostility towards .Sir .loliii Malcohn and his Council,
which bccamo more virulent when, by tlio death of his colloaj^nies, ho became the
sole occupant of the Judicial Bench at Bombay. Subsequeully, by a notilication
of the Bombay Government of the i:ith of Septeml)er, l.s:i( », Sir John P. Umnt wiw
" recalled from Bombay by an order of the Iviujj; in Council to answer comi>laint«
made against him by the Hon. the East India Company." Wo will not refer to
the merits of this unhappy disinite further than to say that it was nenorally
understood in Bombay that it was iu order to ombarass the Governor of Bombay