'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎79] (98/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
79
and, on the 29th of June, the two vessels anchored in the
roads.
The same year he sailed for the Say a de Malha Bank—a term
meaning "coat of mail"—extending between 8° 18' and
11° 30' S., and surveyed the southern part as depicted on the
present Admiralty charts. He also examined a small portion
of the Nazareth Bank, the extreme north end of which he made
to be in 13° 40 / S. Captain Moresby was finally recalled, and
arrived at Bombay on the 7th of February, 1838, when, in con
sequence of the state of his health, five days later he proceeded
to Europe on furlough.* 5
Captain Moresby's return to Madras, in June, 1837, was due
to an application on the part of the Government of that Presi
dency for a surveying party to examine the Gulf of Manaar, for
the purpose of establishing a navigable channel to the Bay of
Bengal, by the Paumben passage, a project set on foot by
General Monteith,t supported by the Rt. Hon. J. Stewart
Mackenzie, then Governor of Ceylon. Lieutenant Powell was
accordingly detached from Captain Moresby's command, and
undertook the service, with Lieutenants Ethersey, Grieve, and
Christopher, and Lieutenant Felix Jones as draughtsman. They
commenced the survey on the south side of Adam's Bridge, but,
owing to the high surf, were compelled to quit this part on the
15th of January, when they proceeded to the westward of the
Paumben passage, and continued surveying along the coast of
Madura. By the end of April, 1838, when the whole party
were recalled, Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey had completed
the survey of the Gulf of Manaar and Palk Straits, and the
west coast of Ceylon.J
* The charts resulting from these surveys are the following:—1. Maldive
Islands, by Captain Moresby and Lieutenant Powell, 1835; 2. Maldive Islands
(reduced) ; 3. Chagos Archipelago, by Moresby and Powell, 1836; 4. Principal
groups in the Chagos Archipelago, by Moresby and Powell, 1836. Also,
' Nautical Directions for the Maldive Islands and Chagos Archipelago,'' by
Commander Robert Moresby, I.N., 1839. Printed by order of the Court of
Directors, London, 1840. For a summary of Moresby's Eeport on the Maldives,
and papers furnished by Lieutenant Robinson and Dr. Campbell of the c Benares,'
see Vol. I. of the Transactions of the Bombay ^Geographical Society." This was
the last duty of the old ' Benares,' which was sold out of the Service in this
year.
t Greneral Monteith had proceeded in the preceding February, with a party of
Madras Sappers and some convicts, to excavate a navigable channel through the
formidable ledges of rock extending from the island of Ramisseram, on which
Paumben stands, to the coast of Madura, and he succeeded to the extent that
country craft of light draught, and the steamers 'Nemesis ' and ' Pluto,' on their
return from China in 1842, came by this route.
J The following are the charts of these surveys :—1. Coast of Madura, bj
Lieutenants Powell, Ethersey, and Captain Franklin, 1838; 2. Western side of
Palk Straits, by Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey, 1838; Paumben Passage by
Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey, 1837 ; 4. Islands of R-amisseram and Manaar,
by Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey; 5. West Coast of Ceylon, by Captain
Franklin and Lieutenants Powell and Ethersey (four sheets) ; 6. Palk Straits and
Grulf of Manaar, by Lieutenants Powell, Ethersey, and Captain Franklin (two