________________
MARCH, 1902]
THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIIITH CENTURY
137
EXTRACTS FROM THE BENGAL CONSULTATIONS OF THE XVIIITE CENTURY RELATING TO THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.
BY R. C. TEMPLE (Continued from p. 86.)
1793. - No. XV.
Fort William 22nd March 1798. His Majestys Frigate the Minerva being to proceed from hence to the Andamane, Ordered that the following Letter be written to Major Kyd. Major Alexander Kyd Superintendant at the Andamans,
Sir, - I am directed by the Governor General in Council to signify to you that, if Commodore Cornwallis who is proceeding to the Andamang, should have occasion for the Services of any of the Company's Vessels, belonging to this or the Bombay Establishment, Directions, corresponding with his Excellency's application, are to be immediately given.
You will receive enclosed an Extract of a Letter, dated the 9th Instant, which has been received by Lieutenant Colonel Boss from Lieutenant Wells Every Inquiry bas been made for a proper Vessel to convey to Port Cornwallis the People whom Mr Wells was under the Necessity of sending back to Fort William, and the Quantity of Rice which you left; and if a proper Vessell had been found, there would have been no objection to adding a few hundred Bags to this Quantity; but Freight is so much in demand at present, and the Terms that have been offered were so high, in Ships that most have been wholly taken up, if taken up at all, that the Board, considering that the Service did not indispensably require them to send the People and the Rice, immediately, have thougbt it better to detain both until Freight on more reasonable Conditions can be procured. Fort William 22nd March 1793.
I am &ca. 1793. - No. XVI.
Fort William 27th March 1793. The following Letter and its enclosure were received this Morning from Major Kyd Superintendant at the Andamans.
My Lord, 1. I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that I arriveu nere in the Ranger on the 5th Instant after a speedy passage of eleven Days from Calcutta during which we experienced the finest Weather possible.
2. I found here Captain Blair to whom I delivered a Letter from the Secretary of Governznent, and he has given over the Charge of the Settlement to me.
3. He has already cleared a sufficient space of ground on Chatham Island for Hutting all the Europeans and Natives who are nearly now under Cover, and there is a temporary Hospital erected and a Store House in a good state of forwardness there is also a sufficient spot of ground cleared for a Nursery Garden in which have been put all the Plants from the Old Harbour and those that have been lately sent from Bengal.
4. I am very sorry to acquaint your Lordship that there has been no account of the Juno Snow so that there is every reason to fear that, that vessel has been unfortunately lost in the Gale of the end of December which in addition to the other losses that this misfortune entails deprives the Settlement of the Services of the a great mapy useful Artificers and Labourers and necessary Stores which at this period will be much felt.
5. I have the satisfaction to inform your Lordship that the Europeans and Natives are in general Healthy, the principal Complaints amongst the Natives being from hurts contracted in clear. ing the ground which from the Scorbatic habit that many of these people have already acquired from the privation of all Vegitable diet are very difficult to cure.
