Departure from Calcutta

Eleanor Reid takes a trip down the Hooghly to Saugor Roads, where the ship is waiting to be convoyed, and gets acquainted with their passengers.  

I now became uneasy about the ship, as my husband had been absent with her four days, and it was reported a ship had run aground on a sand near Fultah; in the interval, however, I was gratified by receiving letters from my beloved parents in England, conveying good news of them and all branches of the family.

The next day my husband returned to Calcutta, saying the ship had reached Saugor, and only waited to be dispatched; in consequence of which all was bustle and preparation for our embarkation.

As Messrs. Hudson, Bacon, and Co. had done all the repairs the ship required, they provided a comfortable vessel to take us down to Saugor. Two of Mrs. H[udson]’s sons were going home under our care, and their father intended accompanying them down the river. 

On the 6^th of December 1800, we left Calcutta; we had omitted seeing the Black Hole so often described by travellers; we often, however, passed the monument erected in memory of the wretched sufferers at the west side of the writer’s buildings, which forms one side of Tank Square. In the centre of the square is a fine piece of water, which supplies the inhabitants at all seasons of the year.

As the afternoon was very fine, we had an opportunity of again beholding the villas as we passed down Garden Reach, but they did not interest us at first. This is the case with almost every thing we are accustomed to have, either in view, or in possession.

The next day we reached Futtah, where we landed, and had an excellent dinner at the tavern, the only house of entertainment between Calcutta and Saugor. In the evening we again embarked in the accommodation boat, and next day reached the Friendship at Saugor, without accident.

On the 9^th, Mr. Charles Law came on board to dispatch the ship; he solicited this appointment in consequence of his sister in law going home with us to England. This business being finished, we were joined by all the passengers in the evening, viz., Miss E. L, Capt. R[oss], Capt. D—, Dr. L[aird], Mr. C— D—, and the children, three boys and five girls, with their native servants, ayahs, &c.

The Hon. Company’s ship Nonsuch was appointed to convoy the fleet to a certain distance; the ships ready to sail with us were the Minerva, Capt. Saltkeld; the Varana, Capt. Faner, and the Highland Chief, Capt. Greenaway; also the Santa Cruz, Capt. John Collie, who was to keep company until we were off the Island of Ceylon.