'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.' [‎34] (61/562)

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i - . f great improvements in it, which when finilhed, will not fail to make it flill
j more commodious. They have alio a very good rope-yard. Indeed, this is
the only place, inthatdiftant part of the world, for (battered fhips to refit at;
having always a good quantity of naval ftores, and its very name conveying
an idea of a fafe retreat in foul weather.
On this lOand are many little forts and batteries, as Dungaree, Maffegon,
Mahee, Mendhawts Point, and Sion-hill. Some guns are mounted on each of
them •, but the principal fort which defends the place, has above an hundred.
This building is a regular fquare, and the materials thereof are very good.
The church alio is not lefs fubftantial than the fort; it is a very handlbme,
large edifice, and in comparifon of thole which are to be met with in the
other fettlements, it looks like one of our cathedrals. It was built by a
voluntary fubfcription among the gentlemen of this faftory, and the Rev.
Mr. Coble, (father to my late worthy friend Mr. Richard Ccbbe, Admiral
Watfons chaplain) was the chief promoter of this truly pious work: he at
that time refided at Bombay as chaplain to the facflory. The whole time we
• pent here, palled very agreeably i for as the ifland lies in 19 0 north, the
heats mult of courfe be more tolerable than they are at Fart St. David, which
is in the latitude of 11 0 48' north.
The admiral's family refided at the Tank-hcufe {to called from a large tank or
pond near to it) and here, as well as at all their other fettlements, the company
allowed the admiral and his principal attendants Palanquins, over and above
the five Pagodas a day, which were given him to defray part of the expences-
ot his table. As the Indian horfes are of little value, and yet very fcarce, oxen
are here frequently made ufe of in their (lead •, and the admiral had a chaife
and pair of thefe oxen allowed him alio by the company. They are com
monly white, have a large pair of perpendicular horns, and black nofes.
The admiral oftentimes went in this chaife for an afternoon's airing to Malabar-
Hli, and to the end of 0/^ IVOman's ifland, to Marmulla, and many other places.
In England, if thefe creatures are forced out of their ufual flow pace, it is too.,
well known that they, will faint or lie down under their burthen-, but at Bom-
hay they trot and gallop as naturally as horfes, and are equally ferviceable
in every other rsfped, except that by their being fubjed to a loofe habit of
body, they- fometimes mcommode by the filth thrown upon you by the
continual motion of their tails. Whenever we got to the end of our ride,
the driver always alighted, and put the near bullock in the other's place-
then he would put his hand into both their mouths, and after pulline out
the froth, mount his box again, and drive back. It feems this precaution .
is abfolutely neceffary, for as they travel at the rate of feven or eight miles
an hour, they would otherwife be in danger of fuifocadon,
a f^n^tT r/ e at 1 t00k P articillar notice, that at the death of
deceltl nr In f ans u colka ' d t0 ^hcr and fung, either in the houfe of the
uecealed, or. under the window i agreeable to that palfage in St. Matthew's ,
1 gofpe!,.
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