'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎384] (403/622)

384
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
quence, however, of the increasing steam-navigation of the Red
Sea, the attention of the Bombay authorities had frequently
been directed by officers of the Indian Navy and shipmasters to
the desirability of erecting a lighthouse on the island, so as to
render safer the passage of the Straits, as, owing to the slight
elevation of its shores, ships oftentimes could not distinguish it
at night, and the currents were an additional source of incon
venience. These considerations and others of a political cha
racter of still greater urgency, brought to the attention of the
Government by the vigilant and sagacious Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at
Aden, at length induced the authorities to give the necessary
orders for its reoccupation, and, as the sequel will show, none
too soon to avoid its occupation by the French, which would have
caused serious complications, as our neighbours were guided
at that time by the restless policy of Napoleon III. An Ameri
can ship brought the news to Aden that a French brig-of-war,
called the 'Narcisse,' was coming from Zanzibar for the express
purpose of taking possession of the island of Perim, and when
that ship made her appearance at Aden, the story received such
confirmation, that Brigadier Coghlan acted with a decision and
a happy judgment worthy of all praise.
The Brigadier had repeatedly brought to the notice of the
Bombay Government how desirable it was to prevent the
possibility of the occupation of Perim by any Power which
might, in the event of hostilities, imperil our Eastern posses
sions. The wisdom and foresight of this advice has been
placed beyond cavil, since the opening of the Suez Canal bas
made the Red Sea the great highway of the East, and Perira,
in the Straits of Babelmandel, the key to its waters; moreover,
with the modern development of cannon, it is impossible to
place a limit to the power of artillery, and the commodious
harbour will easily shelter a squadron of ironclads.
Early in January, 1857, Brigadier Coghlan directed Lieutenant
C B. Templer, commanding the 4 Mahi,' to proceed with all
despatch to take possession of the island of Perira, but not to
fire a salute or go through any formalities beyond hoisting the
British flag, so that it might clearly be understood that, we
merely reoccupied the island. Fifty sappers under Lieutenant
(now Colonel) J. M. Greig, of the Bombay Engineers, and a
party of artillerymen, under Lieutenant Billamore, of the Bom
bay Artillery, followed in baghalahs, for the purpose of erect
ing the necessary buildings and permanently occupying the
island.
In response to a request we recently addressed to him, Sir
William Coghlan has given the following narrativeof the circum
stances attending the reoccupation of Perim ; and this authori
tative statement w T ill dissipate, once for all, the oftentimes