'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎49] (68/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
49
Campbell, Jones, and Grounds, I .N. A series of chronometrical
measurements connect the river at the light station below
Beles with the Mediterranean at Sawediah and Alexandretta,
and with the cities of Aleppo and Antioch. The chart shows
the river in its lowest state, and is constructed from trigono
metrical measurements from a base line measured on the level
plain between Beles and Jiaber.* The astronomical positions
were determined by single and meridian altitudes of sun, moon,
and stars, and lunar distances. The scale of the chart is one
inch to a geographical mile One minute of arc measured along the equator. taken at 2,025 yards. At Deir the
trigonometrical survey of the river was given up for the season,
the water having risen nearly two feet, and rising daily,
rendering the examination of the shoals comparatively useless.
Below Deir the operations of the survey were limited to fixing
astronomically the principal points of latitude by meridian
altitude of the sun, moon, and stars, longitude by chronometer
and lunar distances from the sun and stars. True bearings
deduced from observations of the sun's azimuth. The delinea
tion of the river was carried on in both vessels by dead
reckoning. The soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. are of little value, as they remain
constant only for the day or hour in which they are taken."
It was not until the 29th of April, 1842, that the ' Nimrod,'
having Commander Lynch and Lieutenant Campbell on board,
arrived at Anna, when these officers hired two boats, and
pushing on for Felugia, landed and rode thence to Bagdad.
Upon their departure Lieutenants Jones and Grounds con
ducted the 'Nitocris' and 'Nimrod' down the river to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , which was reached in the spring of 1842.
The result of this descent of the Euphrates, so far as re
garded its navigability by steamers drawing even three or four
feet of water, at all seasons of the year, was considered a
failure; and the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , who had already resolved
upon withdrawing one or two of the steamers, determined upon
abandoning the Expedition entirely. Accordingly, in June,
1842, Lieutenant Campbell proceeded to Bushire with three of
the vessels, and, in the following September, the ' Semiramis'
arrived and took the steamers, with the officers and crews, to
Bombay. Commander Lynch also returned to Bombay, Lieu
tenant Felix Jones remaining behind in the 'Nitocris' to
protect British interests at Bagdad, and continue the survey of
* He says :—
The old castle of Jiaber, built on an isolated hill of the desert range of the
left bank, is about eighteen miles below Beles, and forms a fine object over the
Talley. At a great distance both above and below, it is 369 feet above the level
of the river, and was formerly just over the stream, which has now left it, and is
1,000 yards distant. The ruins are of the Saracenic age, but there are evidences
of much older building in the brickwork of the foundations, and I am led to
suppose that Jiaber has been an important military station long prior to the age
its present ruins would appear to indicate j it is now entirely deserted, but has
been occupied within the last sixty years."
VOL. II. E