'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎85] (104/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
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and his remarks in showing the changes that are taking place,
prove the urgent necessity for periodical revision of the surveys.
He also describes the remarkable phenomenon at the head of
the Bay of Bengal, similar to that reported by Captain Selby,
off the mouth of the Indus, called the " swatch of no ground." It
is a deep chasm, over to seaward, and very steep on the north
west face with no soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. at 250 fathoms.* Captain Lloyd
also surveyed the Chittagcng River, and made additions to
Ross's survey of the Mergui Archipelago, a short account of
which was published at the time. Ross had laid down the outer
islands between 1827 and 1830, and Captain Lloyd filled up
the inner portions and delineated the coast line."t
In July, 1838, Sir Charles Malcolm was superseded by
Captain Oliver, and one of the first consequences of the change
was the sudden stoppage of all surveys. During the next few
years the Service was engaged in warlike expeditions. In the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , at Aden, which fell to the British arms, in assisting
in transporting troops to the Indus for service in Afghanistan
and Scinde, and in the first China war, the Indian Navy found
ample employment and earned great distinction for efficiency
and zeal. Before entering upon an account of these events we
will speak of the researches of some famous travellers belonging
to the Service, of whom one earned undying reputation, as the
re-discoverer of the sources of the Oxus, and another, only an
early and obscure grave in an unknown! part of Central Asia.
During the year 1835, Lieutenants J. R. Wellsted and F.
Whitelock (brother of the surveyor, H. H. White!ock) prosecuted
their travels in Oman and along the coast of Arabia. Wellsted
was first in the field, but, in November of that year, he was
joined by Whitelock, their object being to advance to Dereeyah,
the Wahabee capital, which has since been accomplished by
Mr. Palgrave, and, a few years later, by Colonel Pelly and
Lieutenant Dawes, I.N. In December, 1835, the two officers
proceeded through Seined and Nezwah to the Green Mountains,
of which Lieutenant Whitelock gives an account in his "Notes
taken during a journey in Oman and along the East Coast of
Arabia." Both the gallant officers were seized with violent
attacks of fever, but their energy and zeal in the cause of
geographical research, was such that, as soon as the paroxysms
of the disease permitted them to move, they again attempted
the difficult task they had set before them. At length, in April,
* The MS. of the " Nautical Remarks to accompany a survey of the sea face of
the Sunderbuilds," by Captain Lloyd, dated February, 1841, is preserved in the
Geographical Department of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
■f The following were the charts resulting from the labours of Commander
Lloyd:—Balasore Roads; Entrance into the Hooghly, 1841; River Hoogbly,
and the approaches to it from False Point to Calcutta ; River Hooghly from
Calcutta to Saugor Point; Sea face of the Sunderbunds, 1840. In 1841 he also
made additions to Captain Ross's chart of the Chittagong River to Foul
Island.