REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO AND FROM CHINA. 99 
astonished at the accuracy with which the ship was navigated to her 
anchorage before the landing place at Madras; for it did not appear 
that, from the moment we bore up from the latitude of forty degrees 
south till we cast anchor on the coast of Coromandel, the vessel had been 
navigated a hair’s breadth out of the direct and nearest course. Full 
D 
justice cannot be done to such a commander unless we are acquainted 
with all the disturbing causes which affect a ship’s course. The flow 
and ebb of tidal and other currents, the variation of the compass, the 
errors of lunar tables and charts, and false estimate of a ship’s trim, 
are all circumstances for which correct allowance must be made in 
order to be able to-keep the vessel in her right course. That this was 
done with the greatest exactness we - were witness to, nor at this 
distance of time has the impression of admiration we then felt 
entirely subsided. 
Madras has no harbour, but has an open roadstead on an extended 
level shore, covered chiefly with groves of cocoa-nut trees. Landing 
through a heavy surf is not a pleasant matter to a timid stranger; for 
though there is no serious fear of loss of life, there is every chance of 
a good ducking. The skill and amphibious character of the poor 
naked creatures, who guide the large tub-like boats on the tops and in 
the shallow valleys between the impetuous waves, is our security ; 
and they seldom fail in taking advantage of a careering 'wave to land 
high and dry upon the beach. 
Stepping on terra Jirma after what may be called a three months' 
voyage gives wonderful alacrity to the mind which had long panted to 
be again among green leaves and flowers. The crowds and different 
castes of officious dubashes in their effeminate muslin dresses which 
surrounded us—the port-authorities—and the massive ramparts and 
numerous buildings, forming a stately stronghold of British dominion, 
which received us were scarcely noticed ; our eyes were turned to other 
objects, and fixed on the lovely Neriums then in full bloom,—the 
Hibiscus JRosct sinensis and lofty Carica papayas which grew in some 
of the court-yards of the houses in the fort. 
Favoured by being attached to the captain’s household, we had no 
care about either lodgings or board, and in this way being settled at 
once, had only to hire a personal servant, and palanquin boys to carry 
us whither we wished to go. 
We have no wish to lengthen this narrative by matter extraneous to* 
the main object of our mission, but cannot help adverting to our 
sufferings during the first night of our residence at Madras. Like all 
other voyagers on their first visit to almost any place between the 
tropics, we were apparently a rich treat to the musquitos, which literally 
