You see, we are only just clear of the northern point of Sumatra; and it is already a month since we got up anchor." "But we shall have the wind almost behind us, Fairclough." "Yes, when it has settled down.

It is the change that I do not like.

Of course, sometimes we have only a few days of moderately rough weather; but occasionally there is a hurricane at the break up, and a hurricane in the bay of Bengal is no joke.

I shall not mind, much, if we get fairly past the Andamans; for from there to the mouth of the Hooghly it is open water, and I should be under no uneasiness as to the brig battling her way through it; but to be caught in a hurricane, with these patches of islands and rocks in the neighbourhood would, to say the least, be awkward." "Are there any ports among the islands?
I recollect hearing an officer say that there was a settlement made there, some years ago." "That was so.

In 1791 an establishment was started in the southern part of the island and, two years later, it was moved to a harbour on the northwest side of the bay.