'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎41] (60/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
41
means of refitting here, Colonel Chesney steamed down the
Shatt-ul-Arab, and crossed the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to
Bushire, where he found the Hon. Company's sloop of-war
'Amherst,' and the Hon. Company's schooner 'Cyrene,' "from
both of which," he says, " we were greeted by hearty cheers as
we passed to our anchorage close to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ." # The
necessary repairs were taken in hand, the Indian Navy giving
every assistance, when the practicability of returning to the
Shatt-ul-Arab for the purpose of continuing the survey, w^as
seriously imperilled by the seamen claiming their discharge in
accordance with the terms of their agreement. In this dilemma,
Commodore Pepper, commanding the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. squadron,
issued orders that men might be permitted to volunteer into the
6 Euphrates/ and on Colonel Chesney proceeding on board the
6 Elphinstone,' every man expressed his readiness to join the
Expedition. On the 25th of July the 'Euphrates' quitted
Bushire in tow of the 6 Elphinstone,' which left her at the
mouth of the Shatt-ul-Arab, when she steamed up to the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Marghill, where, shortly before. Lieutenant
Murphy, R.E., had expired after a severe illness.
Colonel Chesney now took the steamer up the Tigris to
Bagdad, where she arrived on the 30th of August, 1836, and
commenced his return voyage on the 5th of September. At
Mohamrah, where he arrived in eleven days, he took on board
the Indian mail from the 4 Hugh Lindsay,' and reascended the
Euphrates as far as the Lamlum marshes, whence, on the 30th
of October, he despatched Mr. Fitzjames and two other gentle
men by the overland route to England with the mail. On
the 8th of November, the 6 Euphrates,' having broken down
# In his Report to Sir John Hobhouse, drawn up while at Bushire, Colonel Ches
ney expresses his opinion that " every man who has descended the riverwith his eyes
open, must consider the Euphrates navigable throughout the year with proper-
sized vessels, and also that there is an ample supply of fuel along the banks of
different kinds,"—coal, bitumen, and wood. In his opinion, the only difficult
piece of navigation, owing to the narrow and sharp turnings, is at the Lamlum
marshes, an extent of forty miles, and this may be overcome either by ascending
the Tigris to Bagdad, and crossing thence to the Euphrates by a canal which
should be constructed by cutting for about eighteen miles through the marshes,
or by placing a vessel of small size expressly suited to the windings. The first
would increase the distance one hundred miles, the second is one of the easiest
tasks, and the third is the one to which Colonel Chesney gives the preference.
" In this view of the matter," he says, " one small vessel, with two rather larger
and more powerful than the ' Tigris' was, would be required to open the river
for a permanent line of mails, with speed, economy and safety." Colonel
Chesney, having called upon his officers to give their written opinions. Lieutenant
Lynch stated that the river is navigable from Bir to the sea at all seasons, and
the supply of fuel depends on the continuance of friendly relations with the Arabs.
Lieutenant Cleaveland did not doubt that steam vessels of a right construction
could make rapid voyages up and down the Euphrates at^any season, and calcu
lated that the communication from Bombay could be accomplished in forty-six
days and out in forty-one, taking the lowest average. Messrs. Fitzjames and
Charlewood were of opinion that at the lowest seasons the river could be navi
gated, or easily be made navigable.