'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎407] (426/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
407
Geological specimens were collected from various parts along
the shores and islands, and presented to the Secretary of the
Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Dr. Carter, a
distinguished naturalist and formerly assistant-surgeon of the
'Palinurus,' during the survey of the south-east coast of Arabia,
conducted by Commander Sanders, which enabled him to draw
up a valuable paper, which appears in the Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal. To ensure perfect accuracy in the
identification of places by their Arabic names. Lieutenant
Constable made a practice of proceeding on shore at every town
and village on the coast, calling upon the Sheikh, or headman,
from whom he would request information ; these chiefs, more
familiar with the use of the sword than of the pen, would in
variably call in their meerza, or secretary, who, with " cullum-
daun" at waist, transcribed in a book the Arabic name, or
names, of the places under his lord's domination. Lieutenant
Constable, on his arrival at Bushire, then solicited the assist
ance of that accomplished Arabic and Persian scholar. Captain
Felix Jones, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , who translated the Arabic
into its English equivalent.
In this thorough method was the examination of the Persian
Gulf, and the identification of its sites, conducted by Lieutenant
Constable and his talented assistant, Lieutenant Stiffe,* both of
whom recognised the justice of the maxim enunciated by Admiral
Beechey, in his address at the Anniversary meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, in May, 1856" A rapid reconnaissance
of a coast might have been tolerated half a century ago, but
such a survey cannot now be accepted."
On the 22nd of June, 1858, Lieutenant Constable returned to
Bombay in the ' Euphrates,' and again proceeded to the Persian
Gulf in the 'Marie,' schooner, of 167 tons. On the completion
of the survey, in March, 1860, Lieutenant (now Commander) Con
stable finally returned to Bombay, when he completed the new
chart, which was published by the Admiralty in 1862, and so
excellent was the workmanship, that Admiral Washington sent
it to the International Exhibition of that year as a good speci
men of English chart drawing.t On his return to England,
Commander Constable was employed writing the " Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Pilot," a work filled with information which he had been collect
ing for twenty years, and which was published by the Admiralty
in 1864.
* Since the abolition of the Service, Lieutenant Stiffe has held the post of
Director at Kurrachee of the Government Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. telegraph line.
f Lieutenant Constable would appear to have inherited his talent as^ a
draughtsman, from his father, John Constable, E.A., the distinguished English
landscape painter. His assistant in the early part of the survey. Lieutenant
Sweney, also, doubtless, owed some of his eminence as a practical seaman to the
teachings of his father, who served as lieutenant in the 4 Colossus,' seventy-
four guns, at the Battle of Trafalgar.