Siam, and might have become, with its ample bay, art
important settlement. But it was never used, .except
in later days by French ships of war, during the wars
between England and France, as a place from which
to attack and capture British merchant vessels; and
as a place of refuge, when British ships of war were
abroad.
'TH E E S TH E R BRIG
Almost the first English attempt to navigate the
islands and prepare a chart of the archipelago was
made by Captain Forrest, whose “ Journal of the Esther
Frig, from Bengal to Quedah,” narrates how, in 1783,
he was driven amongst the islands by the monsoon
winds, and gave to many of them names (which they
still bear) “ in remembrance of Friends whom I Honour
and Respect,” and others “ according to striking appearances
and figures.”
The ardent Heifer spent a whole winter here in
1838-9, shortly before.,his death from an Andamanese
arrow. Since then many persons have visited the
islands, and more than one fruitless effort has been made
to reclaim the Salon to Christianity and civilisation.
But little has been done towards the complete exploration
of the archipelago. Its islands number over four
thousand, and they range from bare .rocks to rich territories
like those of Kisseraing and King’s, susceptible
of the finest cultivation. Their fauna include elephants,
rhinoceroses; and tigers; and the whale may often be
seen plunging amidst the calm of their interior seas.
518
PENIZENS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO