The Journal of an Oriental Voyage, in His Majesty's Ship Africaine

Front matter

3V«-»_»_?4»»*r_ CSarrim. - _"_•_!„ _!_(« 16 Trimly J? "MTT SF**1" THE JOURNAL OF AN ORIENTAL VOYAGE, IN HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP AFRICAINE, l:\ LIEUTENANT RICHARD BLAKEKEY, ROYAL MARINES. LONDON. SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS-HALL COURT. LUDG ATE-STREET. 1841. Dublin: Printed by E. Purdox, 6.1, William-Street. TO SIR GEORGE SCOTT, K.C.B., VICE ADMIRAL OP THE WHITE. DEDICATED "WITH THE HIGHEST RESPECT, AND UNALTERABLE EEGAED, ARISING FROM A LONG SERVITUDE UNDER HIS COMMAND, DURING THE LATE WAR, BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. Page 13 24 33 ■J 9 CONTENTS.

Chapter 1

Depature from England — Arrival at, aud Description of, Madeira — Criminality of a Romish Priest — Escape of a Nun from a Convent — Capture of a French Frigate — Short Account of the Canary Islands - a. Visit of Neptune, when crossing the Equator — Account of Tristan de Achuna — Singular undertaking of Mr. Lambert - - III. Collision of the Ship with a Whale — Arrival at Columbo — Debarkation and Reception of his Excellency Lieutenant General Brownrigg — Account of Columbo — the Caffree Troops — Extraordinary Titles of the King of Kandy — Superstition of the Ceylonese ... IV. Religion of the Ceylonese — Image of Buddou at Calam — The . Mountain of Hammallel — Tradition respecting Adam — The Bogha Tree — Marriage Ceremonies — The Talipot Tree. . . . . - VI CONTENTS. Page 46 53 60 76 88 98 V. Produce of Ceylon — Anecdote of the Elephant — The Pearl Fishery — Departure from Columbo - . .

VI. Arrival at Madras — Dress and Salutation of the Natives — Office of Dubash Major — Exorbitancy of Charges — The Surf at Madras — Wreck of the Dover — Masolah and Katamaran Boats — Account of the Shark VII. Description of the Neighbourhood of Madrass — The Banyan Tree — Religion and Customs of the Brahmins — Severe Penances of the Hindoos .... vin. Arrival at Java — Chinese Junks — Climate of Java, and Cause of its Insalubrity — Manners and Customs of the Dutch and English — TheTreatment of the Ladies by their Husbands ----.. IX. The Manners, Customs and Religions of the Chinese Cruelty of the Dutch, manifested in a fearful Massacre which they perpetrated - X. The Javanese — Their Employment, Character, and Religion — The Indolent and Cruel Habits of their Princes Credulity and Superstition of the Javanese — Character and Piratical Habits of the Malays — Account of the Edible Bird's Nest found in the Captured Slave Ship Insalubrity of the Climate at Batavia — The Death of a Midshipman — Departure from Batavia CONTENTS.

VII Page. Ill 121 133 148 156 166 188 XI. Arrival at Surabaya — Human Burial — Sacrifices — Instances of Wives Burning themselves on the Piles of their Husbands ...... XII. Arrival at Samarang — Synopsis of Java — Arrival at Mew Bay — Desertion and Recovery of Three Men — Arrival at Madras and Trincomalee - - - . XIII. Arrival at Point de Gall — Cape Comeron — Cochin and Calicut — Account of the Sacrifice Rock — Arrival at Goa — Account of the Inquisition, and the Narrative of Mr. Dillon ...... XIV. Arrival at Bombay, &c. — Account of the Flying Fox — Arrival at the Point Romanio, &c Malay Pirates at the Island of Timor — A Sumatra Squall XV. Arrival at Malacca Roads — Departure of the Ship without Nine of the Officers who had gone on Shore — Cruise in the Jolly Rover, and Distressed State of the Crew — Providential Success in reaching the Africaine XVI.

Synopsis of Prince of Wales' Island. — Arrival at Malacca — Sumatra — Correspondence between the King of Acheen and Captain Rodney - - - - . XVJI. Arrival at Bushier — Customs, Manners, and Government of Persia — Marriage Ceremonies, &c., &c. CONTENTS. Page 199 211 222 231 245 253 2o7 XVIII. Arrival at'Muskat — Synopsis of Arabia — Arrival at Bombay — A Visit to the Island of Elephanta - - . XIX. Arrival at Pondicherry — China and Sooloo Seas — Traffic with the Natives of Tulian — Their Ignorance of the Value of Coin ______ XX. Arrival at, and Description of, Ternate and Gonontella — A Visit from Prince Papooa — An Account of a Whale - XXI. Arrival at the Spice Islands — The Boa Serpent — Pellew Islands — The Ship nearly Lost in the Straits of St. Bernadino — Miraculous Escape. XXII. Arrival at Manilla — Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants — A Visit to a Popish Chapel - XXIII.

Arrival at Madras and Columbo — Dethroning of the King of Kandy — Bravery and Death of Lieutenant Blakeney of the 19th Regiment — Final Departure from India — Dreadful Storm, in which one ofthe Fleet was Wrecked — Arrival at the Cape of Good Hope. XXIV. Arrival at St. Helena — Description of the Island — A Retrospect Account of the Action between His Majesty's Ship, Horatio, and the French Frigate Junon — Distressed State of the Ship, owing to the Springing of a Leak — Arrival at Bantry Bay and England