'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎50] (69/622)

50
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
the country between the two great rivers. This closes the
record of the Euphrates Expedition,* though officers of the
Indian Navy, borne on the books of the armed steamer 6 Comet,'
which worthily upheld the British name, were employed in
surveying these classic lands up to the date of the abolition of
the Service, when the 44 Surveyor of Mesopotamia" and his
assistants ceased to be drawn from its ranks. During this
period of upwards of a quarter of a century these accomplished
surveyors and draughtsmen still further exalted the reputation
of the Service, by their patient and assiduous labours in map
ping out and exploring these " cradle lands. n
In 1836 the 4 Atalanta ? steam sloop of 617 tons and 210 horse
power, armed with four heavy guns, was launched at London,
and sailed from Falmouth on the 29th of December, for
Bombay. The 6 Atalanta' made Teneriffe in eight days, having
encountered terrific weather, during which she carried away the
paddle-boxes, and jib-boom, and arrived at the Cape in thirty-
five days from England, and at Bombay on the 13th of April,
having made the passage in one hundred and six days.t Her
arrival was most opportune, for the Government had just
* The results of tlie Expedition may be briefly summarised as follows :—
(1) The descent of the river Euphrates from Bir to Bussorah by Colonel Chesney,
during which the 4 Tigris' was lost. (2) The navigation of the river Karoon
from Mohamrah to Ahwaz, ' by the steamer c Euphrates' under Major Estcoart.
(3) The ascent of the river Tigris as far as Bagdad and twenty miles higher up
by Colonel Chesney. (4) The ascent of the Tigris to Koot Abdullah, near
Mosul, by Captain Lynch. (5) The passage of the Seglowiyah canal by the same
officer. (6) The ascent of the Hud by Lieutenant Campbell. (7) The ascent of
the Euphrates from Bussorah to Beles by Lieutenant Campbell. (8) The
passage of the Hie by Lieutenant Selby. (9) The ascent of the Kirkhah by the
same officer. (10) The ascent of the Karoon from Mohamrah to Ahwaz, and
subsequently from Mohamrah to Shuster; also of the Aub Grargar, or artificial
canal, and of the river of Dizful, by the same officer. (11) The navigation of
the Bamisheer from Mohamrah to the sea by the same officer. (12) The descent
of the Euphrates from Beles to Bussorah, partly by Captain Lynch, and partly
by Lieutenants J ones and Grounds., Speaking generally, it may be said that the
chief result of the expedition was that the Tigris was proved to be navigable all
the year round as far as Bagdad, and during the freshes, as far as Mosul for
steamers of very light draught; but that the Euphrates was not navigable
throughout its course at all periods of the year by vessels of the draught of these
steamers.
f The following are the dates of her arrival and departure from the various
stations for taking in coal:—Arrived at Teneriffe, Jan. 6 ; left, Jan. 11. Arrived
at Mayo, Jan. 15 ; left, Jan. 21. Arrived at Eernando Po, Jan. 31; left, Eeb. 5.
Arrived at Cape of GJ-ood Hope, Eeb. 19; left, Eeb. 28. Arrived at Mauritius,
March 16 ; left, March 26. Arrived at Cochin, April 7 ; left, April 9. Arrived
at Bombay, April 13. Being a period of seventy, or rather sixty-eight com
plete days at sea, during the whole of which the vessel was under steam, aided
occasionally by her sails. Her average consumption of coals did not exceed fifteen
tons per day, while that of the ' Hugh Lindsay' was nearly seventeen ; besides
severe weather in the Bay of Biscay, a three days' gale of wind was encountered
between the Cape and the Mauritius, so that the performance was considered as
very satisfactory. The detention of thirty-six days at the several ports was
entirely occupied in taking in coal.