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MARCH, 1902.]
THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIIITH CENTURY.
139
want and as many of those sent were in the Juno, and some of those that were first Carried down by Captain Blair are now returning I have to request that no opportunity may be lost of sending as many of this class of people as possible for we can employ a great many to much advantage.
15. In compliance with your Lordships Instructions I beg leave to acquaint you that we can immediately employ two hundred of the Male Convicts advantageously; by putting them to clear several Islands in the Harbour where they could be kept entirely separate from the rest of the Settlement, We could even find employment for more, but with the small force that we have at present it probably would not be prudent to have a larger Number of such Neighbours.
16. I imagine it would be most expedient to freight a Vessel on purpose to bring such a Number down which at the same time could carry six months provisions of Rice Dhall & Ghee the Rice to be of the coarsest kind of that called Cargo Rice. I mention not this simply on principles of Economy but also that it might be well that some difference should be made between these Men and the present Settlers; when by removing the best behaved to better provisions and a small pay it might prove a stimulus to industry and an inducement to a reform of manner in the rest.
17. Accompanying I transmit the Copy of a Letter from Mr Wood the Surgeon requiring some Assistance in the Hospital; as it is likely that there will constantly be a Number of Sick I shoull suppose that it were best for the Hospital Board to fix on the necessary Establishment of Dressers and Servants at a Station where there will soon be above one thousand work people much liable to accidents.
18. It will be necessary that great Attention be paid to his Indents for Medicens and the necessary articles of comfortable diet that is required where Scorbutic Complaints are common.
19. As soon as Captain Blair has completely surveyed the Shoal at the Northern part of the Island he is to return to this place when I shall dispatch the Union Snow to Bengal for a further supply of Rice and for some Artificers and Labourers who I had engaged in Calcutta but who could not be taken on Board of the Cornwallis and Ranger.
20. The Viper Snow will at the same time return to Bengal as Captain Blair does not think she is in a state to perform the Voyage to Bombay at so late a period of the Season.
I have the honour to be &ca Port Cornwallis
(Signed) Alexander Kyd, 13th March 1793.
Superintendant at the Andamans.
(Enclosed in the Letter.) Major Alexander Kyd
Superintendant Port Cornwallis Great Andaman.
Sir, - From the number of sores, and other Complaints the people are subject to in clearing the Jungul the sick list has so much encruased lately, as to make the Assistance of his [? some] Native dressers biolutely necessary.
There are at present a considerable number of Sick in the Hospital I am much afraid the list will be considerably Augmented, on the breaking up of the Monsoon.
The people in the Hospital are greatly distressed for want of proper Attention which they are deprived of as no Establishment for the Service of the Hospital has been made at Port Cornwallis.
I have the honor to b: &ca Chatham
(Signed) David Wood March Uth 1793.
Acting in a Medical Capacity. Ordered that tho following Letter be written to Major Kyd by the Secretary and sent by His Majesty's Frigate the Minerva.
