Page 151 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V—Chap. XXVIII. no
4. It is understood that thoro nro doubts ns to the right (according to the Into
treaty) of demanding to know for what purposon Nopals are building in the ports before
montioned, ns also tho right to destroy them on the stocks in the ©vent, of it appearing they
are meant to be piraticnlly employed. In auoh onse it will scarcely bo practicable to prevent
their escaping to sea in tho night, when no remedy can bo nppliod, but by cnpluro when they
may bo found atsoa without the authorized pupors and wonring the propor flag, in which oase
thoro should bo four cruisers in front of tho ports before montioned instead of three, and it
might ho advisable to make trial of this measure for ono season boforo the garrison was
withdrawn.
5. As connected with this subject, I beg to state that it has been brought to ray notice by
Officers Commanding the E. 1. Co.’s cruisers in the Gulf, that sovoral iuatances have ocourred
of Nopals belonging to tho ports boforo stated, having been found navigating without either
tho flag or documents ns provided for in tho 3rd and 5th articles of the Treaty concluded by Sir
■William Graut Keir, and that on said Nopals having been taken to Kiahra, the Commanding
officer did not fool himself authorized to detain them. I therefore respectfully suggest that
tho Chiefs of tho afoiesaid ports bo cautioned not to suffer veesols to depart therefrom
without the proper flag and documents before montioned or otherwise vessels may be at sea
whose aim may be piracy when opportunity offers.
258A. In Bombay Government lottor No. 1700, dated 10th December
1821, Mr. Meriton was directed to issue the necessary orders to give effect to the
arrangements suggested in his letter above quoted, and as regards the troops he
was told the necessary orders would bo passed on receipt of Dr. Juke’s final
reports.

(vi) REMOVAL OF THE DETACHMENT TO SALAK AND THEN TO BASSIDORB.
259. In February 1822, tho detachment was removed from tho town of
Kisbm* to the village of Salak. Tho cir­
Volume 91 qf 1822, page 16.
cumstances under which the removal
was decided upon are explained in Captain Kennet’a letter, dated 23th Janu­
ary 1822:—
I beg leave to state to you, for tho information of tho Hon’ble the Governor in Council,
that I am under tho necessity of removing the cantonment to tho south side of the Island
for the following oogent reasons whioh I now beg to enumerate.
1. Tho rainy season which oommonces in November or early in December at latest in
most years has not yet set in, and from the preseut appearance of the atmosphere there is little
probability of any falling for some time; this circumstance alone I consider would be sufficient
cause for the removal of the troops as a great deficiency if not a total failure of the annual
.apply of that indispensable article is to bo expected. The water hero is now so bad that many
are complaining of slight bowel complaints.
2. I have received a letter written by the Assistant Surgeons at this station marked A
which I have the honour to enclose detailing tho sufferings of the 6ick which, although it give*
a melancholy picture of our situation, I do not think it too highly coloured and they also ro-
commend a change of situation in the hopes of finding a more healthy spot on the south or
wiudward side of the island.
3. In consequence of Government having direoted Mr. Assistant Surgeon Tod in conjunc­
tion with Mr. Assistant Surgeon Nimmo to make a tour of the island to see if there was
a more eligible spot fora cantonment, it was evidently the wish of Government that the pre­
sent cantonment should be removed before the next (fast approaching) hot season.
I made a tour roand the island in the beginning of this month, and visited every place
where I heard good water was to be found attended by the Master Attendant and Mr. Assist­
ant Surgeon Reach. The former for reporting on the roads and anchorage for shipping
marked B and the latter for tue purpose of ascertaining the best situations and heulthfuluess
of the different stations for a cantonment marked C.
I first visited Deristan where the water was good in many of the wells, but they were
about 2 miles from the beach, and I believe the failure of the water was the principal cause
for the troops quitting that cantonment formerly and 6ea breeze coming over a burning sand
(though for so short a distance) does not promise much benefit,
I next visited a plaoe called Salak (by the natives) but whioh in Major-General Smith'*
report to Government, 23rd April lSiil, is the same place whioh he oalls Zullah. It is about
15 miles west of Deristan; there are several wells of excellent water, and as no rain has fallen
this year, it is evident it must be a natural supply and as they ocoupy a space of 400 or 500
yard* in length there is every probability of having an abuudauce by digging intermediate
ones: on inquiry amongst tho fow cultivators who now reside there they informed mo that there
was fresh water to bo had in every part, and that the hot weather during the summer mouths
was not so intense as on the northern side of the island.
The site for a cantonment being within 600 yards of the beach whioh is oovered with
a vegetation that renders tho reflection and heat still less and being entirely open to seaward
* The garrison was again removed from Deristan (see paragraph 239 above) to Eishm.

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