NARRATIVE. 55 



SECOND CRUISE. 



On returning to Colombo, from this first cruise, for the purpose of joining Captain 

 Donnan, the Master Attendant of Colombo, in his inspection of the pearl oyster 

 banks, I saw for the first time the native barque " Rangasameeporawee " and the 

 steam-launch " Serendib," and on examining them critically it was obvious, both to 

 myself and to the ship's officers who were with me, that neither vessel would be able, 

 without considerable changes, which could not be effected in time, to carry on the 

 work which 1 still bad to do. < >n pointing this out to Captain Donnan, he agreed 

 with me, and when we waited upon the Lieutenant-Governor and represented the 

 matter to him, he promptly authorized us to arrange for the engagement of the 

 " Lady Havelock " for a further period of three or four weeks, as might be necessary, 

 from 24th February. Thus it resulted that the " Lady Havelock " accompanied the 

 two native barques "Rangasameeporawee" and "Sultan Iskander" and the 

 s.s. " Serendib" to the Gulf of Manaar, where, in addition to carrying on my special 

 work, she was on occasions of service in towing Captain Donnan's barque and so 

 saving some valuable time. 



This second cruise of the "Lady Havelock" lasted from 24th February to 20th 

 March, inclusive, three weeks and four days. During the greater part of that time 

 our steamer kept near to Captain Donnan's barque, and we accompanied him in his 

 inspection of the banks. Not only had we thus the full advantage of the various 

 vessels and their crews by means of which to obtain specimens and information, but 

 Mr. Hornell and I were also able to talk over the work daily with Captain Donnan 

 and his successor, Captain Legge. Later on we were joined by Sir William Twynam 

 from Jaffna. That gave a unique opportunity of hearing from these two veteran 

 inspectors and investigators about former conditions of the various banks and details 

 of the past history of the pearl fisheries. 



During this cruise the early morning and forenoon were usually occupied in 

 following the operations of the divers, and in examining and recording the material 

 brought up from different parts of the various "paars." About midday, when the 

 divers ceased work, Ave started off in the " Lady Havelock " to dredge the neighbouring 

 grounds between the oyster banks, or on parts of the paar in regard to which we 

 wanted further information. In this way, beginning in the north of the district of 

 Aripu, we examined the large and important East and West Cheval banks and the 

 Periya Paar and several smaller banks lying some to the north and some to the south. 

 We also, when in that neighbourhood, landed at various parts of the coast in the 

 endeavour to find a suitable spot for a small Marine Laboratory, from which oyster 



