Page 209 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

On January 6th 1821, the Eden anchored at Sangur Roads, the
entrance to the Hooghly river. ‘The roadstead/ said Loch, re­
minds me of lying at the Nore, so far as it has the appearance of
an Open anchorage, and the land, from which there is shelter, is
very low. But there is no town such as Shccrncss, and no even
moderately high land. To the south-east, lies the island ofSangur
covered with vegetation, the mangroves growing into the sea; to 'ft
the east arc the banks of the Hooghly, covered by jungle, which
is the only thing to be seen.’
On the 7th, Loch boarded the pilot boat bound for Calcutta,
taking with him Mr. Blackwood, one of his officers, the son of
the Commandcr-in-Chief. The river was dangerous to navigate,
and once the pilot boat was almost swamped, owing to the
treacherous currents. ‘I was surprised to see anxiety pictured in
the manner and face of the pilot, as well as the people being more
alive and active. The vessel was now making short bounds over
the flood tide, against the north wind, when, all at once, the pilot m
called out “let go the anchor!” Down it went! The little brig
touched the ground in a moment, and heeled over several streaks.
Next moment, she swung with the velocity and strength of the
tide, over the tail of the bank, and then righted in deep water.’ %
The Pilot told Loch that ‘many vessels, even large ones, had run Si
on to the bank, and were rolled over by the strength of the tide, A
with all on board perishing’.
Higher up the river there were ‘many elegant houses’, and
finally ‘an expanse of water, more like a great lake than a portion
of a river, the banks everywhere literally studded with palaces,
the walls of which were covered by chanan, which takes a polish
like marble. These buildings are in beautifully laid out grounds
with magnificent trees. On the right bank arc the delightful
Botanic Gardens, near the walls of a Hindu college, now rising
so as to show the extent of the building. The river then takes a
gradual and beautiful turn to the left, where are placed Fort
William, the Government House, and “the City of Palaces”,
as Calcutta is often called. Was it not for the unbearable
heat of this climate, almost the whole year round, the enormous
city with its magnificent white buildings, spires, cupolas and
minarets under a clear blue sky, by the smooth great river
with its splendid scenery of the Garden Reach, and its never-
ending variety of vessels and craft passing and repassing with
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