'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎404] (423/622)

404
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
employed surveying on the west coast of India, either as assist
ant to Commander Rennie in 1852, and Commander Grieve in
1853, or as surveyor in command. Under instructions from
Sir Henry Leeke, dated the 24th of March, 1856, to complete
the deep sea soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. from Angria's bank to Cape Comorin,"
including an area of about 16,800 square miles, Lieutenant
Constable was employed on this work, when, on the 11th of
November, he was attached to the Persian Expeditionary force
as Surveyor, in the fc Euphrates,' with Lieutenant Sweny as his
assistant. No fitter person could have been found, either in the
Service or out of it, as for many years he had turned his atten
tion to the hydrography of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and his knowledge
of every creek and inlet was so profound as to have passed into
a proverb among his brother officers. What more immediately
drew the notice of the Government to him, was a paper he
read before the Bombay Geographical Society, on the 21st of
February, 1856, (published in their c< Transactions,'' vol. xii.
p. 98) entitled "Memoir relating to the Hydrography of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the knowledge we possess of that sea," in
which he pointed out the numerous errors in the surveys of
1821-28, made by Captains Guy and Bracks,* 1 which had come
to his knowledge during his service in the Gulf.
On the capture of Bushire he was engaged making a minute
survey of the town, harbour, and neighbouring country, as, on
account of the jealousy all Easterns have of Europeans u writ
ing down their land," as they call it, it was necessary to com
plete the survey while the town was in our occupation. In
order to secure this, he and his officers had to work throughout
the hot season; but they completed the task in time, though
not without suffering considerably in health. Lieutenant
Sweny was detached to buoy off the bar and channel of the
Shatt-ul-Arab, for the passage of the fleet to bombard Mohamra,
and thus enabled the ships-of-war, steamers, and transports, to
ascend its waters without any casualties, which, owing to the
paucity of Arab pilots, could not otherwise have been accom-
can interest you in his favour. Yery sincerely yours, Signed— J. Outeam . On
his return from Egypt, Lieutenant Constable had applied to Oommoaore
Lushington for employment on the Survey, but had been informed that there was
no vacancy. Colonel Outram's letter, however, acted as the " open sesame, and
a place was speedily found for Lieutenant Constable in the ' Euphrates,' as already
mentioned. From this date until the abolition of the Service, he was always
employed in the Survey Department. i. vi ^
# It may be mentioned that many years before this, Lieutenant Constable na
brought to the notice of Government the errors in the old Persian G-ulf char s,
w r hich he had examined and tested. Thus we find that on the 9th of Decern er,
1851, Commodore Lushington wrote to him acknowledging the receipt o a
most useful and interesting report on the hydrography of the Persian u ,
pointing out in a clear and intelligible manner the errors in the present charts.
But he adds there was no vessel available for surveying duties, though w en i
Gulf survey could be undertaken, no one had greater claims for the commana
owing u to his long application and extensive knowledge of the Guli.