'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎428] (447/622)

428
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
subsequent operations are detailed in his official report,* and
Ave may predict, from what we know of the gallant and talented
officer, that the Government of India will have no cause to
grudge the modest annual expenditure of two lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , to
which Commander Taylor is limited.
The hydrographic services of the officers of the Indian Navy,
both of the last and present century, have ever been warmiy
acknowledged by successive heads of the Admiralty Hydro-
graphic Department, especially by Admirals Washington and
Richards. The latter gallant officer, in a letter dated the 21st
of March, 1877, writes to us in high terms of his "knowledge,
personal and otherwise, of the many eminent men of the Indian
Navy who have contributed to our hydrographical labours
and the present Hydrographer, Captain F. J. Evans, C.B., F.R.S.,
says, in a communication, under date the 31st of March, " I am
well acquainted with, and thoroughly appreciate their unsur
passed labours in the field of hydrography."f Such generous
language will be welcome to the survivors of the band of
Marine Surveyors produced by the late Indian Navy. We
cannot conclude this record of the hydrographical labours of
the Service, better than in the words of Sir Roderick Murchison,
who said, in his anniversary address to the Royal Geographical
Society, in 1862 :— u The war services of the Indian Navy, as
well as the beneficial and enduring results of its repression of
piracy and the slave-trade, are well known. These services
have been varied, honourable, and useful; but in the eyes of
geographers, the widespread and lasting utility of the excellent
surveys made by officers of the Indian Navy, hold an equally
prominent place."
# " General Report of the operations of tlie Marine Survey of India, from the
commencement in 1874, to the end of the official year 1875-76." Prepared for
submission to the Government of India. By Commander A. Dundas Taylor
(late I.N.) F.R.G.S., Superintendent of the Marine Surveys, Calcutta, 1876.
f Among other officers of the Royal Service, Rear-Admiral Nolloth writes that
this "history of the Indian Navy will be welcomed, not only by old Indians,
but by many Royal Navy officers, who, like myself, in a humble amateur survey
ing way co-operated with some of your brother officers under circumstances
leaving pleasant recollections of the Indian Navy."