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THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIIITH CENTURY.
APRIL, 1903.]
the officer sent on that Expedition being tied down to Secrecy. Ports however there certainly are, and whatever advantages we may reap from a possession of these Isles, are in a great degree owing to Mr La Beaume, and this I say from knowledge, for I translated for him the Memorial which he delivered to Colonel Rose for Lord Cornwallis on the subject of the Andyman Isles, and the conquest of the kingdom of l'egu in their Vicinity."
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Enclosed in the above letter is Observations on the present state of the kingdoms of Ava and Pegu and the means of joining them to the British dominions in India,' by Melchior La Baume. In this paper occur the following remarks on the Andaman Islands: -
"The two Islands Andaman opposite to Pegu deserve in a particular degree the attention of the English Nation for they would belong of right to the People who would be generous enough to make themselves masters of them and civilize their inhabitants. A Foreign Captain who passed through the Channel which divides the two Islands has assured me that he had found an excellent Harbour in it and nowhere less than seven Fathoms.
If the Universe applauds the medal which England caused to be struck for the Duke of Bedford for having planted Oak what would not be the reward of the illustrious Governour and Supreme Council who should order the execution of so glorious an enterprise.
My humble opinion is that their names would be immortalized and that thousands of their Fellow creatures would bless them for ever.
However notwithstanding I consider the success of this project as morally certain its' importance should make me diffident of my own abilities, and I request that this memorial if found to have any merit may only be considered as an Essay, offering my services and every good that can result from the experience of thirty five years residence in India, and the emulation I must naturally feel from my sincerest wishes to be an instrument in hastening its perfection and Execution.
N.B. Mr La Beaume in presenting the annexed Observations to my Lord Cornwallis offered to examine the Andamans at his sole expence, provided the informations were found to be unfavorable. The Success which those who afterwards explored it [met with] were Superior to the most Sanguine expectations.
Melchior La Beaume."
No. II.
E. I. Co. Home Series. Miscellaneous. No 388. Letters from Sir John Murray to M: Dundas chiefly upon military and political topics.
In Letter dated 15th May 1794. Sir John Murray sends four enclosures to Mr. Dundas, He describes No 2 as follows-"No 2 is a concise account of the Andamans. Mr Stokoe, of the Engineers, furnished me with this paper, which is drawn up by himself: but he does not wish that public use should be made of it yet -as Major Kyd who commands on the Island, and is an intelligent able officer, deems another years residence there necessary before he delivers an official Report regarding it." Below I now give the "concise account."
A Concise Account of Port Cornwallis, Andamans, with a Sketch of the Plan of the Harbour.
Situation.
The Situation of the Andaman Islands are too well known to require a Particular explanation in this slight Memoir, it may be sufficient to observe, they are a Continuation of the Chain of small Islands extending from Cape Nagrais to Atoheen Head, What has usually been called the Great Andaman stretches from North Latitude 11. 20m to 130 38m, it is however separated by Mac Phersons Straits, the East entrance of which is in No Lat. 11. 27m, and the West in 11. 80m, and also by middle passage, the East entrance being in Lat 12. 2m, and the West in
