First footsteps in East Africa | Page 2

to
eighty miles inland, across the region which he undertook to explore.
On the 17th of August, 1850, Sir Charles Malcolm wrote to Dr. Carter
in these terms:--"I have communicated with the President of the Royal

Geographical Society and others: the feeling is, that though much
valuable information could no doubt be gained by skirting the coast (as
you propose) both in geology and botany, yet that it does not fulfil the
primary and great object of the London Geographical Society, which
was, and still is, to have the interior explored." The Vice-Admiral,
however, proceeded to say that, under the circumstances of the case, Dr.
Carter's plans were approved of, and asked him to confer immediately
with Commodore Lushington; then Commander in Chief of the Indian
Navy.
In May, 1851, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm died: geographers
and travellers lost in him an influential and an energetic friend. During
the ten years of his superintendence over the Indian Navy that service
rose, despite the incubus of profound peace, to the highest distinction.
He freely permitted the officers under his command to undertake the
task of geographical discovery, retaining their rank, pay, and batta,
whilst the actual expenses of their journeys were defrayed by
contingent bills. All papers and reports submitted to the local
government were favourably received, and the successful traveller
looked forward to distinction and advancement.
During the decade which elapsed between 1828 and 1838, "officers of
the Indian Navy journeyed, as the phrase is, with their lives in their
hands, through the wildest districts of the East. Of these we name the
late Commander J. A. Young, Lieutenants Wellsted, Wyburd, Wood,
and Christopher, retired Commander Ormsby, the present Capt. H. B.
Lynch C.B., Commanders Felix Jones and W. C. Barker, Lieutenants
Cruttenden and Whitelock. Their researches extended from the banks
of the Bosphorus to the shores of India. Of the vast, the immeasurable
value of such services," to quote the words of the Quarterly Review
(No. cxxix. Dec. 1839), "which able officers thus employed, are in the
mean time rendering to science, to commerce, to their country, and to
the whole civilized world, we need say nothing:--nothing we could say
would be too much."
"In five years, the admirable maps of that coral-bound gulf--the Red
Sea-- were complete: the terrors of the navigation had given place to
the confidence inspired by excellent surveys. In 1829 the Thetis of ten
guns, under Commander Robert Moresby, convoyed the first coal ship
up the Red Sea, of the coasts of which this skilful and enterprising

seaman made a cursory survey, from which emanated the subsequent
trigonometrical operations which form our present maps. Two ships
were employed, the 'Benares' and 'Palinurus,' the former under
Commander Elwon, the latter under Commander Moresby. It remained,
however, for the latter officer to complete the work. Some idea may be
formed of the perils these officers and men went through, when we
state the 'Benares' was forty-two times aground.
"Robert Moresby, the genius of the Red Sea, conducted also the survey
of the Maldive Islands and groups known as the Chagos Archipelago.
He narrowly escaped being a victim to the deleterious climate of his
station, and only left it when no longer capable of working. A host of
young and ardent officers,--Christopher, Young, Powell, Campbell,
Jones, Barker, and others,--ably seconded him: death was busy amongst
them for months and so paralyzed by disease were the living, that the
anchors could scarcely be raised for a retreat to the coast of India.
Renovated by a three months' stay, occasionally in port, where they
were strengthened by additional numbers, the undaunted remnants from
time to time returned to their task; and in 1837, gave to the world a
knowledge of those singular groups which heretofore--though within
150 miles of our coasts--had been a mystery hidden within the dangers
that environed them. The beautiful maps of the Red Sea, drafted by the
late Commodore Carless [2], then a lieutenant, will ever remain
permanent monuments of Indian Naval Science, and the daring of its
officers and men. Those of the Maldive and Chagos groups, executed
by Commander then Acting Lieutenant Felix Jones, were, we hear, of
such a high order, that they were deemed worthy of special inspection
by the Queen."
"While these enlightening operations were in progress, there were
others of this profession, no less distinguished, employed on similar
discoveries. The coast of Mekran westward from Scinde, was little
known, but it soon found a place in the hydrographical offices of India,
under Captain, then Lieutenant, Stafford Haines, and his staff, who
were engaged on it. The journey to the Oxus, made by Lieut. Wood, Sir.
A. Burnes's companion in his Lahore and Afghan missions, is a page of
history which may not be opened to us again in our own times;