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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 425

neai' the place where the boats hu-l their brush. Soon after
breakfast, Captain Barnes weighed anchor and stood in towards
the shore, and anchored in four and a-half fatlioins water within
half-gun shot of it. A spring was soon got on the cable, and
the broadside of the ' Hastings' brought to bear on the place, and
I doubt not several of them bit the dust, so tremendous was the
fire, and the guns so elegantly directed. We gave the name of
'Barnes' Bight to the place, in honour of our gallant com-
mander, and returned to the anchorage by noon."
The following is an extract from a letter by Captain P)arnes,
to the address of the Secretary of the Supreme Government,
—
dated the 21st of September, 1824: "I have great ])leasure in
transmitting to you, for the information of the Right Honourable
Lord Amherst, Governor-General in Council, an account of a
daring and successful attack made by two cutters belonging to
the Hon. Company's frigate ' Hastings,' under my command,
on four boats* belonging to the enemy, on the coast of Ramree,
and trust that my entering somewhat into detail will be excused,
as I am anxious to do justice to the ollicers and men, who so
gallantly achieved the dispersion of the enemy, whose numbers
were so disproportionate to their little force. On the morning
of the 10th instant, at daylight, the look-out at the masthead
announced three large boats to be in sight, close to the shore
of Ramree, and about five or six miles distant from the frigate,
rowing to the southwartl. I immediately ilirected the two ten-
oared cutters to be manned and armed, and sent six marines in
each, placing both boats under the connnand of Lieutenant Har-
rison, second of the frigate, ]\Ir. Graves, master's mate, being in
charge of one boat, with orders to bring them alongside, if po.s-
sible. Some time after the cutters had left the ship, I observed
a fourth boat, and could plainly perceive they were all full of
men. Our launch unfortunately being abst'ut watering, I
manned and armed the two boats belonging to the i»ilot brigs
'Meriton' and ' Planet,' with European seamen ami marines,
and despatched them to the assistance of the cutters ; but
owing to the start they had of them, and these being very
heavy-pulling boats, tliey were notable to assist in the capture,
which I cannot luitter describe to his lordship than by trans-
mitting the modest letter of Lieutenant Harrison, describing
the affair."
The following is tlie report of Lieutenant Harrison, dated
the 10th of September, 1824 :—
"In pursuance of your orders of this mnining, I proceeded
with the two cutters under my command, in pursuit of four
* The following description of a Burinose wiir-boat will convoy nn iilcii of their
size, and formidable imturo. "The boat,s wore sonicwliut of tlio j* tract arc of n
canoe, about eighty feet in length and seven in breadth, cilt oiitsiile and painted
red inside, carrying (Ifty-two oars, and capable of holding, with the greatest
safety, at least one hundred and ijfty men."