36 
the settlements in India that a failure of 
corn throughout the whole of Great Britain 
was likely to produce a famine, the most 
active and laudable exertions were made in 
India to supply the markets at home with 
rice } and I received on board upwards of 
nine thousand bags, with directions to pro- 
ceed to London with every possible de- 
spatch. The crew, most of which I engaged 
in India, consisted of Americans, Danes, 
Swedes, Dutch, Portuguese, but chiefly 
Lascars, amounting in the whole, men and 
boys, to about sixty-four persons. The 
necessary arrangements for the voyage 
being completed, I sailed from Sagar-roads 
on the 17th of March, 1796. 
Nothing material occurred during the 
voyage until the 1st of June following, 
at which time we reached the latitude of 
about 35 South, and 28, 40 East longi- 
tude. It then began to blow a gale from 
the westward, and which obliged us to lay 
to under our mizen stay-sail for about six 
days. During this time, the gale continued 
to blow from the West, but increased pro- 
gressively until the seventh, when the con- 
