Page 152 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

130
Part V—Chap. XXVIII
promises a oool healthy spot. The prevailing winds during the hot season are north w f
but ns they always take the direction of the land they become hore south-west which 'll
bo a sea broeze. Tho elevated or table land is at a little di6tanoe, but ns the wind only
over it in the oold season there is overy reason to supposu it will provont iuconvCnieuco comes
anohorago is also good as represented in the Mnstor Attendant's report marked B. The
Tho next place I visited was a small island called the great Tumb about 80 or 40 milea
south-west from Salak ; it is about 3 miles in length and 2 in breadth ; there is a larno 1
in it open to tho westward which would bo a most eligible spot for a cantonment but th°
want of good wator will never allow it to bo made a permanent station, there wn« n«l„
well wbioh was very had and brackish. ^ no
I next wont to Bnsidoo or Bassadoro, an old Portuguese town in ruins
point of Kishm. There are 10 or l i tanks, but 2 only were full of rain water whioh wa
excellent, tho remainder wero quito dry ; perhaps for waul of tho channels for conveying tho
rain into them not being kept clear and open to which I am the inoro inclined oh tho inhabit­
ants aro only a few fishermen and the 2 tanks from whioh they, promiso tho water is iu
all probability sufficient for them.
In othor respects this would be an excellent spot for troops, it being a peninsula sur­
rounded on 3 sides by tho sea and tho hills so far distant that it is open to every wind Tho
ground tolerably level nnd elevated on two sides about 80 feet fiom tho sea by abrupt rocks
whioh might onsily be depended, nnd tho plain is sullioiently largo for almost any number of
men and the tanks when filled would be sufficient for b,000 men for 12 months, as there are
a number of wells which though tho water is not good would answer for oulinary purposes
Tho anchorage is not 6afo as represented in the Master Attendant's report.
Under all these circumstances I havo decided in fuvour of Salalc, it is true as a strong
military position, it does not possess any advantages, but by plaoing the guns in com­
manding situations and it stopping up, some of tho small roads through the ravines.I think it
may be rendered as secure as circumstances at prO'Out require.
As it is probable I could not receive an answer to this communication in a month or
perhaps 40 days, and as the season at that time will bo too^far advanced to get the banacks
and other buildings erected before the intense hot weather commeuce6 and the probable total
failure of water before that time, I have written to His Ilighuess tho Imam for permission
to remove there, and not doubting but I shall receive his consent. I have made nrrangemeuts
for commencing the movement of the troops and stores on the 1st proximo aud all circum-
stances considered, I trust the IloQ’ble tho Governor in Council will approve of the measures
I have adopted.
As the Ordnance stores'have inoreased considerably since the removal from Deristan and &9
ii will be more advantageous to remove all the materials of the Hospitals, Barracks and Publio
Buildings than to buy new and pay for tho freight from Mcnow to Salak, being double tho
distance of our present cantonment, I have engaged with the Commanders of tho Georgiana
(Bengal country ship) and Malabar for the service of their vessels at the rate of half a rupee
per ton per diem, being R21I per diem for the former so long as I shall require her services
and the latter for one month certain at the rate III81 per diem or B5,43(J for the month of
SO days.
I have therefore every reason to think I shall be able to remove the stores, efco., to
Salak for the sum of R15 or 1116,000 including boat hire, but as this will depend on the
favourable state of the weather by which the ships can make a greater number of trips
during the month, no exact calculation can be made, but as I have taken up the ships at so
small a rate, and when it i9 considered that the troops were moved from Deristan to this station
at an expense of near B-35,000 for 2 ships alone, I look forward with confidence to th*
sanction of the Hon'ble the Governor in Counoil for the expenses which must be unavoidably
incurred, particularly as I did not docido on the measure without consulting with Captain
Maitlaud the Senior Officer of the Cruisers, as to the practicability of doing without them.
260. The proposal of Lieutenant K.onnet was approved by the Bombay Gov­
ernment, and as to Bassidore, instructions were issued to the Superintendent
of the Marine to have the anchorage of that place fully examined (Proceeding*
of the Bombay Government, dated 18th February 1822.)
On the 17th February 1822, Captain Lieutenant Kennet reported the
removal of the cantonment to Salak.
260A. A few days afterwards, however, tho troops vwere removed to
JBassidore, the anchorage being too much exposed for the shipping.