BOMBAY. 
179 
consequences have frequently been expected to follow. The 
respectable officers of the marine would rejoice in every reform- 
ation, and would be fully repaid by the benefit which would ac- 
crue to the service for any losses that they themselves might sus- 
tain. That there are some men of high honour and unimpeached 
bravery in the marine, I can vouch from my own knowledge^ and 
I cannot have the least doubt that there exist many others, whom 
it was not my good fortune to meet during my short stay at Bombay. 
The establishment of the dock-yard is almost entirely composed 
of Persees, a people of whom I shall have much to say hereafter. 
It has been attempted to appoint an European master-builder, but 
the new comer has seldom long survived his arrival, and the only 
builders are now Persees. They are certainly fully equal to the 
business ; but the absolute monopoly they possess has given rise 
to many abuses. The person who contracts to supply the timber, 
and the person who examines it on its receipt, are both Persees ; 
consequently the articles are frequently of inferior quality. The 
master-builder has only people of his own persuasion under him ; 
no complaint therefore is ever made of neglect of work on the one 
part, or of overcharges on the other. A still greater evil arises 
from the local circumstances of the dock-yard, which is a perfect 
thoroughfare, nay more, a fashionable lounging place for all the 
idlers of the town. The consequence is, that instead of working the 
whole day, many of the artificers only make their appearance to 
answer to their name at the hour of calling the roll, and if they 
please, depart immediately afterwards, without any possibility of 
their being convicted of the neglect of work ; for the dock-yard is 
open to the town, and they may pass and repass as often as they 
VOL. II. A A 
