'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎74] (93/622)

74
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
did justice in his report to their self-denying zeal. Meanwhile,
Lieutenant Wellsted, the assistant-surveyor, accompanied by
Mr. Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. Cruttenden, who was familiar with Arabic,
travelled through the interior,* for the purpose of acquir
ing information concerning the island and its inhabitants;
and these notes Wellsted published in his "Travels," and also
in the Journals of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (Vol. IV.) and
Royal Geographical Society (Vol. V.), with a map, for which
he received the thanks of those learned Societies. The latter
memoir was highly commended by the press; and one paper, after
expressing its " high admiration of the diligence and talent
shown by Lieutenant Wellsted," says, "the Memoir does credit
both to the author himself and to the Service to which he
belongs, and ought to contribute somewhat to the preservation
of that local establishment from the annihilation with which,
we believe, in the course of economical reform it has been
threatened."
When Commander Haines had completed the survey of half
the island of Socotra, he received a letter from one of the Sultans,
requesting him to discontinue the work, and join him at
Kisseen, to hold another conference; but Commander Haines,
who was familiar with the Arab character for intrigue, paid no
attention to this request. He continued the survey to its com
pletion, and a Chart of the island and coasts was published by
orders of the Government. Commander Haines now returned
to Bombay, and, in October, was again despatched to Kisseen
in the 'Palinurus,'with instructions "to negotiate with the
chiefs, who held the sovereignty of Socotra, for the purchase of
that island ; you will also," continue the instructions, "receive
tor the above purpose 10,000 German crowns; but the Governor-
general of India in Council trusts that yon will be enabled to
buy this island for a much smaller sum, and the less money you
pay the more credit you will derive. Your personal knowledge
ot these chiefs and their character will enable you to negotiate
with advantage to them.' Commander Haines was also given
a drait ot the treaty he was to negotiate, and was directed to
proceed, on its completion, to Socotra, for the purpose of taking:
tormal possession in the name of the Hon. East India Com
pany. He was further informed that in all probability, on his
arrival at Socotra, he would find British troops in possession,
wben he was to make over charge to the officer in command.
r j.w " nex P ected difficulty arose, and Commander Haines
ound that the eldest of the chiefs would not part with his inheri
tance, though he owned it was almost worthless as a source of
icvemie. "The English," he said, " might come and take the
first nf H!r ? ^ l0Wi ? S ri' our occupation of Soeotra, Lieutenant Ormsby,
i i -i , , if US '. ar J, ,. r ' Hulton, traversed a great part of the mountain region,
and added to the stock of information gathered by Lieutenant Wellsted.