Transcriber’s Notes:
The spelling, punctuation and hyphenation are as the original, with the exception of apparent typographical errors which have been corrected.
Italic text is denoted thus.
See further note at the end of the book.
THE OLD EAST INDIAMEN
BOOKS OF TRAVEL
Demy 8vo. Cloth Bindings. All fully Illustrated
THROUGH UNKNOWN NIGERIA By JOHN R. RAPHAEL. 15s. net.
A WOMAN IN CHINA By MARY GAUNT. 15s. net.
LIFE IN AN INDIAN OUTPOST By Major CASSERLY. 12s. 6d. net.
CHINA REVOLUTIONISED By J. S. THOMPSON. 12s. 6d. net.
NEW ZEALAND By Dr MAX HERZ. 12s. 6d. net.
THE DIARY OF A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE By STANLEY PORTAL HYATT. 12s. 6d. net.
OFF THE MAIN TRACK By STANLEY PORTAL HYATT. 12s. 6d. net.
WITH THE LOST LEGION IN NEW ZEALAND By Colonel G. HAMILTON-BROWNE (“Maori Browne”). 12s. 6d. net.
A LOST LEGIONARY IN SOUTH AFRICA By Colonel G. HAMILTON-BROWNE (“Maori Browne”). 12s. 6d. net.
SIAM By PIERRE LOTI. 7s. 6d. net.
THE OLD EAST INDIAMEN
BY
E. KEBLE CHATTERTON
Lieutenant R.N.V.R.
_Author of “Sailing-Ships and their Story,” “Down Channel in the ‘Vivette,’” “Through Holland in the ‘Vivette,’” “Ships and Ways of Other Days,” etc._
ILLUSTRATED
[Illustration; Page Decoration]
LONDON T. WERNER LAURIE LTD. 8 ESSEX STREET, STRAND
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. THE MAGNETIC EAST 10
III. THE LURE OF NATIONS 18
IV. THE ROUTE TO THE EAST 31
V. THE FIRST EAST INDIA COMPANY 46
VI. CAPTAIN LANCASTER DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 64
VII. THE BUILDING OF THE COMPANY’S SHIPS 77
VIII. PERILS AND ADVENTURES 91
IX. SHIPS AND TRADE 106
X. FREIGHTING THE EAST INDIAMEN 124
XI. EAST INDIAMEN AND THE ROYAL NAVY 138
XII. THE WAY THEY HAD IN THE COMPANY’S SERVICE 152
XIII. THE EAST INDIAMEN’S ENEMIES 166
XIV. SHIPS AND MEN 180
XV. AT SEA IN THE EAST INDIAMEN 198
XVI. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 226
XVII. WAYS AND MEANS 248
XVIII. LIFE ON BOARD 265
XIX. THE COMPANY’S NAVAL SERVICE 281
XX. OFFENCE AND DEFENCE 291
XXI. THE “WARREN HASTINGS” AND THE “PIÉMONTAISE” 305
XXII. PIRATES AND FRENCH FRIGATES 316
XXIII. THE LAST OF THE OLD EAST INDIAMEN 329
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The East Indiaman Thomas Coutts Frontispiece FACING PAGE The East India House 4
The Hon. East India Co.’s Ship General Goddard with H.M.S. Sceptre and Swallow capturing Dutch East Indiamen off St Helena 12
The Essex East Indiaman at anchor in Bombay Harbour 24
The East Indiaman Kent 42
Dutch East Indiamen 54
The launch of the Hon. East India Co.’s Ship Edinburgh 78
India House, the Sale Room 88
The Hon. East India Co.’s Ship Bridgewater entering Madras Roads 96
The Halsewell East Indiaman 104
The Seringapatam East Indiaman 120
A Barque Free-trader in the London Docks 130
The Press-Gang at Work 140
The East Indiaman Swallow 182
Commodore Sir Nathaniel Dance 190
Repulse of Admiral Linois by the China Fleet under Commodore Sir Nathaniel Dance 196
A view of the East India Docks in the early 19th Century 210
The Thames East Indiaman 218
The Windham East Indiaman sailing from St Helena 224
The Jessie and Eliza Jane in Table Bay, 1829 236
The Alfred East Indiaman 242
The East Indiaman Cruiser Panther in Suez Harbour 250
The East Indiaman Triton, rough sketch of stern 256
The East Indiaman Earl Balcarres 262
Deck scene of the East Indiaman Triton 266
The West Indiaman Thetis 272
The Kent East Indiaman on fire in the Bay of Biscay 276
The Cambria brig receiving the last boat-load from the Kent 282
The Vernon East Indiaman 294
The Sibella East Indiaman 306
The East Indiaman Queen 318
The East Indiaman Malabar, built of wood in 1860 330
The Blenheim East Indiaman 340