'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎17] (42/562)

t '7 J
told that the Duke of Baha would certainly fucceed to the throne ; but we
afterwards learned, that Philihey the general, having efpoufed the caufe of Ra-
phani the late king's fon, and taken him under his tutelage and prote6tion;
this youth, who was only fixteen years of age, fucceeded his father as King
of Baha.
It was a lucky circumflance for us, that our agent-vidualler had, before
this event of the king's death, amply furnifhed all the (hips of the fquadron
with frefh provifions; for as after that event all kind of bufinefs was at a
ftand, we confequently fhould elfe have been under a neceflity of going to
Johanna or fome other port to have taken in the remainder of our fupplies.
It may be of ufe to future navigators to be informed, that no good
water is to be had at St. Augujiine, unlefs they fend their boat four or five
miles up the river ; and inftead of filling their calks at low water (as is the
cafe in moft other rivers) they muft begin to fill here at about a quarter's
flood. The reafon afllgned for it, is, that the river has a communication
with the fea at other places, as well as with this channel of St. Auguftinfs Bay;
and by experience it has been found, that the fea water brought into the
river by the flood tide, is not difcharged till a quarter's flood of the next tide
in St. Auguftines Bay, and for three miles at leaft up the river, the water is
always very brackifh, if not quite fait.
I cannot finifli my obfervations on this ifland, without hinting, that fuch
quantities of limes and oranges grow here, the largeft calks may be eafily
filled with their juices, and that at a very fmall expence, as they may be
purchafed with iron-pots, muikets, powder, ball, flints, &:c. &c. It is fuf-
ficiently evident, that a fmall quantity of thefe juices mixed daily with the
feamen's common drink, would in great meafure prevent their falling into
the fcurvy; adifeafe fo frequently attending all long voyages, and which by
fad experience has been known to have deprived the nation of many more
valuable men, than hath all the power of the enemy. It is, therefore, an
objed highly worthy the attention of government, that every fhip of war,
which ihall happen to touch at this ifland, be provided with the juices of the
lime and orange at the public expence; with the addition of fuch a quantity
of rum, or other fpirits, as Ihall be neceflary to preferve the juice from cor
ruption. During our flay here, I procured and preferved about half a hogf-
head full, which proved, as will be feen hereafter, of eflential fervice to the
Kent\ crew againft the fcurvy, both before and after the fquadron got into
the Ganges.
^ As the accounts hitherto given of this part of Madagascar, its produdions,
&c. by all former writers, have been very fuperficial and imperfedl, 1
prefume the fupplying this deficiency, will at leait merit the indulgence of the
reader.
D
CHAR