WRECK OF THE CABALVA. 355 



(luring this season most of the wealthy inhabitants raise 

 bungalows, or tents, on the esplanade close to the sea in 

 Back Bav. These temporary habitations, rendered neces- 

 sary bv the heat, which is almost insupportable within the 

 wails of the fort, have a truly oriental and picturesque effect. 

 As soon as the south-west monsoon commences, which is, 

 far excelletice, called the monsoon, the whole of this gay 

 town disappears as if by magic. It has been remarked, 

 that finer weather is now experienced than early navigators 

 met with on the western side of India ; but it may readily 

 be conceived, that the great improvements, both in construc- 

 tion and skilful equipment of ships, together with the more 

 scientific attainments of modem navigators, will sufficiently 

 account for this, without supposing any material alteratioa 

 in the weather. *■ 



The next route from the Cape of Good Hope to the Mala- 

 bar coast is that to the eastward of the Saya de Mala, and 

 the Cargados Bank. On this extensive reef the honourable 

 company's ship Cabalva, of 1200 tons, was wrecked in 1818- 

 The narrative of this shipwreck presents a melancholy pic- 

 ture of human suffering and human depravity. The ship 

 struck on the outer edge of the reef at half-past four in the 

 morning. In less than half an hour she became a total 

 wreck. The masts were cut away, and fell towards the 

 rocks. The sea went over and through the ship's very side 

 with irresistible force. The distance from the ship to the 

 nearest dry rocks was about sixty yards ; the space which 

 intervened was a perfect whirlpool of contending waves. 

 Most of the crew appear to have reached the shore (if mere 

 rocks above water can be so termed) unconscious of the 

 means by which they had been saved. Mr. Ayres, the 

 purser, thus forcibly describes his own escape — (He, with 

 about twenty-five others, had got into the large cutter, and 

 by dint of great exertion cleared her from between the wreck 

 of the masts. The first wave they encountered dashed 

 them all out of the boat, with the exception of the fourth 

 officer, who clung to the thwarts and landed safely) : — " I 

 was precipitated to the bottom, and as far as regards myself 

 I never expected to rise from it again. In the supposed 

 interval of drowning I felt all the horrors that can belong to 

 that deplorable situation ; and, conscious of the fate which 

 awaited me, I still retained sufficient mind, as I resigaed 



