"تاريخ البحرية الهندية. (١٦١٣- ١٨٦٣)." [‎١‎٠‎٠] (٦٢٢/١١٩)

100
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Jenkins proceeded to Kurracbee, where he made a rough exami
nation of the harbour, and then, having landed Captain Ontram,
sailed to the Hujamree with despatches from the Eao of Cutch
and the Political Agent, Colonel Melvill, for Colonel Pottinger,
who was carrying on the political duties of the force. Having
delivered the despatches and money to Colonel Pottinger, Lieu
tenant Jenkins returned to Bombay, when Admiral Sir Frederick
Maitland having applied for his services as pilot and inter
preter, he was appointed additional flag-lieutenant on board
H.M.S. 'Wellesley,' seventy-four guns, and resigned the com
mand of the 6 Constance' to Lieutenant J. W. Young.
On the 17th of November, 1838, the following vessels ofthe Indian
Navy left Bombay for the Indus, together with some transports
carrying the troops. The 6 Euphrates,' Lieutenant J. Frushard,
4 Semiramis,'Lieutenant J. P. Porter, 'Constance/ Lieutenant
J. W. Young, and 4 Taptee,' Lieutenant A. H. Gordon. Under
the superintendence of Lieutenant Frushard, the troops were
landed at Bominacote, on the right bank of the Hujamree branch
of the Indus,* opposite to Vikkur, where they encamped. The
disembarkation, conducted by Lieutenant Frushard, was effected
without opposition on the part of the Ameers, though rumours
were rife that it was intended. In the latter part of December
Sir John Keane proceeded with his division to Tatta, whither
he w 7 as accompanied by Lieutenant Frushard.
From this time forward a flotilla w 7 as maintained on the
Indus, officered and manned by the Indian Navy ; and the little
newly-launched steamer 6 Snake' was particularly useful. She
left the camp at Vikkur on the 9th of January, 1839, for Tatta,
with three country boats, but owing to the strength of the
current, did not reach her destination until the 13th. On the
17th she left Tatta for Hyderabad with the treaty for the sig
nature of the Ameers, and arrived there on the 20th. The un
favourable turn affairs took at that time forced her, on the 24th,
to commence a precipitate retreat, and in three hours she ran a
distance of thirty miles to Jerruk. The following morning the
army arrived there, and the ' Snake' was despatched twenty
* The Indus has no less than thirteen or fourteen mouths. The main river,
after passing Hyderabad and Tatta, divides about fifty miles from the sea into two
great arms, the Buggaur, or west arm, and the Setta, called also Munneja or
Waniani. Between Manora Point and Hujamree the coast is low and intersected
by numerous channels and creeks. After coming down the main branch of the
Indus from Hyderabad, the river steamers debouch at the Kedywarree mouth,
then enter the Eichel and navigate towards Kurrachee by several channels,
but the navigation terminates about three miles from that place. One of the
first officers to perceive the superiority of Kurrachee as a landing place was
Lieutenant (now Retired Commander) Sharp, of the Indian Navy. In February,
1839, when senior officer here, he was ordered to the Indus in a transport with
horses from Bombay, but recognising the capabilities of Kurrachee, he pro
ceeded thither, and landed all the horses in one morning and sent them to
Tatta.