I 



4/SJ, HISTORY OF 



this day favoured, by an officer of distinction, 

 with the very interesting, though dreadful nar- 

 rative of facts, relative to the sufferings of 

 several persons who sailed with Mr. Bampton in 

 the Shah Hormuzear, on the 19th of April 

 1793, in company with the Chesterfield, # and 

 1 know no better way of stating the horrid af- 

 fair than in the words of the narrative : 



" On the 29th of June 1793, an island was 

 discovered from on board the Shah Hormuzear, 

 then in company with the Chesterfield, in lati- 

 tude 9°. 28'. S. and 146*. 57' E. longitude, by 

 good observation. 



" This new discovered land is called Tate's 

 Island, in honour of Mr. Tate, of Bbmbay. 



'* On the 1st of July, the ships anchored in 

 nine fathom water, about twelve miles to the 

 Eastward of Tate's Island ; when it was pro- 

 posed by Capt. Bampton, of the Hormuzear, to 

 send a boat from each ship to sound two reefs 

 of rocks, extending to the Northward from 

 the North point of the Southward from the 

 South point. 



" The boats were accordingly dispatched ; 

 and when they had approached within about 

 half a mile of the ifland, they perceived that 

 the island was inhabited. 



" The natives made signs to the seamen to 

 come ashore , but the day being then far ad- 

 vanced, and not having a sufficient quantity of 

 arms and ammunition in case they were at- 



* Vide page 117. 



