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244
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARI.
MAT; 1805
1
1798.- No. XXXV.
Fort William 17th June 1798.
The following Letter was received from the Soperintendant at the Andamans on the 15th Instant, by the Snow Phoenix, and circulated for the perosal of the Board.
Superintendant at Andamans 31st May, To Edward Hay Esqc. Secretary to Government.
Sir. - I have the pleasare to acquaint you that the Snow Phoenix Captain Moore arrived at this Port, on the 23d instant with the followers belonging to the Sepoy Detachment, with some of the Artificers that were left by the Ranger and Cornwallis, and four Hundred Bags of Rice that wore Obliged to be left at the same time, this Vessel experienced very bad weather during the passage, by which the Rice was maoh damaged on which there will be loss of about fifty Bags.
I have received your letters of tue 220 and 27th of March and 25th of April, no parts of which require any particoler answor, only that you will be pleased to signify to the Governor General in Council that should The Honble Commodore Cornwallis touch at this Port, way of the Companys Vessels, then in the Harbour, which he may have occasion to employ - shall be immediately ordered to attend him.
I am very sorry to be Obliged to communicate to the Board, that the Boorbutie oomplaint, which broke out amongst the Laborers, bas by no means abatod; daring the last two Months no less than twenty Men have fallen a Sacrifice to it, and at present nearly a half of those that remains, are unfit for any labor; but as there is a prospect of our being soon supplied with Vegetables, we are in hopes that by a change of diet, the distemper may be got ander. I have however to Observe that it has principally raged amongst the.Coolies that came from Bengal in last November, who were most worne ont distempered creatures, on whose conscitutions was probably the seeds of the complaint; for none of the Sepoy Detachment or private Servants who have exactly had the same diet, have been in the least affected with it.
The South West Monsoon set in here very early this Month, with very blowing Weather and hard Rain, and there has been Much Rain ever since; as from the great want of workmen we were by no means in a very foreward state, with the Temporary Buildings, and as our Tents are few and much worne the people have sufferd a good deal from the inalemency of the weather; we are however using every effort to get every body nnder cover to which the Artificers that have now arrived will much contribute.
I have granted permission to Two Sepoys, to proceed to Bengal on the Phoenix for the recovery of their health, and on such occasions, or to visit their families in Bengal, I have to request that the Governor General in Council, will be pleased to authorise me to grant Furloughs to Non commissioned Officers and Sepoys of the Detachment, without prejudice to their Allowances, for a greater time than is specified by the standing regulations and without a strict adherence to numbers in the proportion therein limitted which cannot well apply to this place.
I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Cornwallis now arrived on the 29th instant from the coast of Pedier where I sent her for Stock with directions to Lieutt. Wales to examine every Port from Diamond Point to Acheen Head, that I might exactly know, what dependance we may have on that Coast for Provisions, and I am glad to say that his report is pretty favorable.
