'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎400] (419/622)

400
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Cavalry. Besides the other officers of the escort, there were
attached to the Mission, Captain Tripe, of the Madras Army, an
accomplished photographer; Mr. C. Grant, artist; and Mr. R.
Edwards, interpreter. The Mission, which was to make pre
sents to, and negotiate a treaty with, the King of Ava, em
barked on board the 6 Sutlej ' and 4 Panlang,' flats, in tow of
the steamers 4 Bentinck' and 6 Nerbudda,' and quitted Rangoon
on the 1st of August, 1855. Some stay was made at Prome,
Thayet-myo, and Meaday, and crossing the frontier six miles to
the north on the 11th, they proceeded to Pagan-myo, where
they arrived on the 20th. Captain Yule, the secretary and
historian of the Mission, visited the ruins of ancient Pagan, of
which he gives a detailed account, and acknowledges the great
assistance he received from Lieutenant Heathcote and Mr.
Oldham in acquiring the necessary information. After visiting
Old Ava, the Mission arrived at the capital. Amarapoora, on
the 1st of September, and, on the 13th, was received in great
state by the King, the procession on the river consisting of the
escort of seventy-five soldiers of the 84th, in the steamer's
boats, the officers of the Mission in other boats, and the
Governor-General's letter, under Commander Rennie's charge,
in the 4 ZenobiaV pinnace, with the Company's Jack flying at
the bow, and flanked by the gigs of the 'Nerbudda' and
4 Bentinck,' with the 4 Zenobia's' gig astern. On landing, the
Mission, accompanied by the cavalry escort and the high Bur
mese officials, with seamen of the 'Zenobia' carrying the
Union Jack and two gold umbrellas, proceeded in great state
to the palace, where they conformed to the native custom—now
happily abrogated—of advancing, without their shoes, to the
foot of the throne of the 44 Golden-footed" monarch and 44 Lord of
the White Elephant." On the 21st of October, Major Phayre
had a private interview with the King; and, on the 22nd,
the Mission took its departure, on the return to British ter
ritory, and reached Rangoon on the 30th. During the passage
of the Mission, Commander Rennie and Lieutenant Heathcote
surveyed the course of the Irrawaddy, from the frontier to
Amarapoora, and a large chart was constructed from their
observations. The geographical positions of all places on the
Irrawaddy, were fixed, and a sketch-survey was forwarded to
Calcutta, and afterwards lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. for use in navigation. A
memoir to accompany this survey was also printed, and some
forty copies were struck off.
Lieutenant Heathcote,* in a paper which appears in Vol. V.
* This distinguished and lamented officer, to whom the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. of these pages
desires here to record his acknowledgments for the services always P^ced at ins
disposal, notwithstanding his heavy professional duties as manager ot a fealyage
Company, died on the 3rd of January, 1877, deeply regretted by his relatives,
friends, and old brother officers.