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330
[DECEMBER, 1899.
P. 33. This inner Harbour has the additional advantage of being easily fortified at little Cost.
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
P. 33.
Since he surveyed it in 1787 the Island has been cleared and cultivated to the extent of at least 25 Square Miles-Abundance of excellent tropical fraits and all the Vegetables common in India.
P. 33. The Climate temperate and healthy, and entirely free from Gales of Wind and violent weather of every kind.
P. 34. A considerable population, particularly of industrious Chinese and Natives of the Coast of Coromandel.
P. 34. A large Town has been built Shops and Markets filled with every article of refreshment or Supply that a Fleet can be in want of.
P. 34. A very extensive Commerce is established through the medium of Ships navigated by Europeans, and Prows from the neighboring Countries even as far to the eastwardas Calabar - and capable of being inereased to a very great extent.
P. 37. Gives the testimony of Commodore Rainier in his Letter of 31st Decemr 1794, who was at that Island in the Suffolk, in favour of Prince of Wales Island over the Andamans.
—
P. 38. -Commodore Mitchell's Squadron of 5 Ships remained a Month at Prince of Wales' Island, and received abundance of refreshment.
P. 38. Captain Pakenham of His Majesty's Ship Resistance says he has never been in any foreign Port where a Ship of War was so well and easily supplied with every desirable
Article.
P. 40. States the defects of Prince of Wales Island. It's great distance from any of the Company's other Possessions, so that it cannot be reinforced Troops or supplied with Ammunition and Stores, &c., &ca, &ca.
States the advantages and disadvantages of the Andamans.
P. 42. P. 48. Has a full conviction that Prince of Wales' Island all circumstances considered, is infinitely preferable to the Andamans, and that it in faet provides every thing that Govern ment can want for a Port of refitment and refreshment for the Navies of Great Britain to the eastward of Cape Comorin.
[Then follows his Report of Prince of Wales Island in 1787, formerly called Penang, in the Straits of Malacca.]
II.
Kyd's Report on the comparative length of the passages between Madras and Bengal and the Andamans and Prince of Wales Island.
During the South West Monsoon (beginning of April to the middle of October) the Passage from Madras to Port Cornwallis does not exceed 8 Days.
Will be much greater to Prince of Wales Island. But towards the end of October the passage is very quick, not exceeding 20 Days.
The passage from either the Andamans or Prince of Wales' Island to Madras during the South West Monsoon is precarious and difficult and will require nearly equal time.
During the North East Mensoon, particularly during the first part of it, Ships cannot with safety remain on the Coromandel Coast. The Passage, both to the Andamans and Prince of Wales' Island tedious 3 weeks must be allowed.
During the whole of the North East Monsoon the Passage in returning is quick and certain 7 Days from the Andamans 12 from Prince of Wales' Island. November, December, January.
