.h i p - B u i l d i n g .
Arabs itil] keep up a confiderable trade in ihips of a thoufand
tons, either Indian built, or old Indiamen bought from the company.
One article is the Kafmijh raiiin, a fpecies without
ftohes, brought from Kafmijh, an ille in the Perfian gulph.
The exports from India are chiefly cottons, & c. to a great
amount; but the trade between thefe parts and the Perfian and
Arabian gulphs, has o f late been much injured by caravans
crofling the ifthmus of BaJJora, conduced by the Syrians them-
felves. The whole bay is full of Ihoals or rocks, yet with channels
of fufflcient depth of water for the ikilful pilate to bring
in fecurely the largeft ihips; and here, even our military fleets
find conveniencies for. heaving down and refitting. Admiral
Watfon, and again Admiral Hughes, found here every fpecies of
naval ftore ; here his Majefty’s ihips winter and refit.
A l t h o u g h Bombay is a place of very great trade, it is wholly
as a magazine ; its native produitions are nothing in the ac-
cotint, unlefs you reckon iliip - building. There the fineft
merchant ihips in the world are built, and all o f Teek. The
durability of this timber is beyond belief, greater than that of
our heft Englijb oak; it refills the worm longer than an y other;
but whether this be owing to the nature of the timber itfelf, or
to the cement with which the plank is joined and covered, I
cannot tell. Surat or Bombay built ihips will certainly laft
threefcore years (fome fay many more), in which time, however,
they are generally doubled once or twice, fo that the fides
of an old ihip are as thick as the walls of an houfe. Much is
likewife faid of the number o f years they fometimes run without
having occafion to ufe a pump; but of this I cannot fpeak
with
with certainty. All the repairs are effected by native carpenters,
and all the fhips, even the largeft, are built by them, and
in a fimplicity of manner which would aftoniih an European
workman. M. Sonnerat, i. tab. 18, reprefents the Indian with all
the powers of his art. The neighboring mountains fupply them
with teefi-wood, Bengal with iron and hemp, and the adjacent
forefts with pines for mails.
Bombay is alfo the great dépôt o f artillery, arms, and ammunition,
and all the means of furniihing an army. Here is
alfo a confiderable military eftablifhment, at prefent under the
command o f Sir Robert Aberçromby, K. B. Prefident o f Bombay,
Governor and Commander in Chief. From hence marched the
force deftined to aflift in the reduition o f the tyrant Tippoo Sultan,
and to give peace to the fouthern part o f this vail continent.
A m o s t unfortunate expedition took its departure from this
place in 1779 ; at which period it had not the happinefs o f being
under the rule o f a H a s t i n g s . A little time before, Ro-
ganaut Row, a Mahratta chieftain, fled from his country, and
put himfelf under the protection of this prefidency. He had
been guardian to the young Paijhwa, Naron Row, his own
nephew. In the numbers o f intrigues that in felled the ftate
of Poonab, a confpiracy was formed againft the youth. A band
o f aflaflins were employed to murder him, Roganaut,, better
known by the name of Ragobab, was at the time confined in
prifon. The nephew flew to feek fafety in his arms. In that cafe
he would have been fafe, but he could only fling himfelf at
his feet. The youth was murdered. The uncle exchanged his
prifon for the Paifbwa-Jbip. Freih conlpiracies arofe, and Roganaut
E x p e d i t io n s
f r o m B o m b a y .