Indian Antiquary Vol 31

SR No.: 032523
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 556
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 423

OCTOBER, 1902.)
THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIIITE CENTURY.
415
Major Kyd in his Letter of the 10th of March, represents the great want of some public Officer in Calcutta, who would take the care of procuring the various Classes of Artificers and Workmen required from time to time for the supply of the Settlement; to take charge of the Sepoys and others returning, Occasionally, either on leave of Absence, or for the Recovery of their Health, and to procure them Passages, and to Superintend their Embarkation on their Return or Recovery, to pay to the Families of the Settlers which remain in Bengal, the portion of Allowances which the different Settlers allot to them, for their subsistence, and also to furnish and send down a great Variety of small Articles which are not kept in the Company's Stores, and recommends Lieutenant Sandys the Fort Adjutant in Fort William as a fit Person, from his Situation, to be selected for these, and similar duties connected with the Island.
Being satisfied from the Enquiries I have made, that such a Superintendence here is necessary as well for the purposes mentioned, but more especially for Superintending the Embarkation of the Convicts sentenced to be transported to the Andamans Recommend that Lieutenant Sandys should be appointed to perform the several duties above specified, excepu the Provisions of any Articles of Supply for the Settlement which should be furnished, as other Supplies, on Indent, upon the Garrison Storekeeper, - It was my intention to have proposed an Allowance to Lieutenant Sandys proportioned to the trouble of these additional Duties which are not without expence to him; he has for some time performed them gratuitously.
But on a review of the Duties annexed to the Adjutanoy of Fort William compared with his Staff Allowances I think it proper to point out to the Board that whilst the former are greater than those of any Adjutant in the Army his Staff Allowances are less than those of an Adjutant of an European Battalion. The detail of the Troops at the Presidenoy including European Infantry Seapoys and Artillery is kept by the Adjutant of Fort William he attends Parades and the Relief of the Guards He is also under the Orders of the Fort Major and in this Capacity has many constant Services and immediate Daties to execute - I therefore propose that I trust the Board will deem Reasonable and Just that the Staff Allowances to the Fort Adjutant should be increased 150 Rupees per Month, which addition is to be considered as including a Compensation for the trouble and expence of the Duties of the Andamans as above detailed.
Major Kyd in his Letter of the 20th of March, having informed the board of the permission granted to Lieutenant Wells to return to Bengal, on account of his Health, and of Lieutenant Wells' desire to resign the Office of Provision and Store Keeper, I conclude that his Resignation thereof will be Accepted, and Major Kyd's Nomination of Ensign Stokoe to act therein be confirmed from the 1st of May next, until further Orders.
Major Kyd forwards an Application from Lieutenant Wells, claiming some Staff Allowances for the time he had Charge of the Settlement and I was prepared to have made a proposition to the Board relative to the Situation of Lieut! Wells, in respect to his Allowances while the Charge of the Settlement devolved upon him, in the absence of Major Kyd ; bat I decline doing it, for the present, as I have understood that Lieutenant Wells has & Specific Claim to prefer on that Account.
The next Subject lying over for Consideration relates to an Application from Major Kyd for an encroase of his own Allowances, which he declares after the experience of One Year have not been adequate to the Absolate Necessary Expences of his Situation. The Secretary wac desired on the 7th Instant to prepare a Statement of the personal Allowances of Major Kyd and of Lieutenant Wells which he laid before the Board at a last Meeting, and from thence it appears that Major Kyd receives as Superintendant at the Andamans Ropees 1,000 per Monthand altho' this may seem at first sight, a very Liberal Allowance, yet when it is considered that every Article of Life (except Fish) must be procured from Bengal, and that in s Society so very confined, the whole expence of keeping a General Table must naturally devolve