ABSTRACT
Manyofthemenresponsibleforthepracticaltasksofcharting thewatersforsafernavigationwerealsofiredwiththeenthusiasmof theirageforscientificdiscovery.Theworkoftheofficersofthe MarinewaslaterdescribedbySirAlexanderJohnston,oneofthe foundersoftheRoyalAsiaticSociety,inthefollowingterms:
ManyoftheofficersofthisNavyhaveavailedthemselvesofthe opportunitieswhichtheirprofessionhasaffordedthemof acquiringaknowledgeofthecustomsandinterestsofthe differentnativechiefsonwhosecoaststheyhavebeen employed...[TheIndianNavywas]oneofthemostimportant departmentsoftheMilitaryandCivilServicesinBritishIndia, andalsooneofthemostpowerfulengineswhichcanbe employedbytheSocietyforprocuringinformationinreference toAsia,andfordispersingamongstthepeopleofthatdivision oftheglobe,thearts,thesciences,andcivilizationofEurope. 19
ThatenthusiasmforthetaskwasdisplayedbymenlikeWellsted, Haines,Constableandotherswhosememoirsanddiariesprovide proofoftheirenergyandspiritofadventure.Beforeapplyingfor workontheGulfsurvey,CharlesConstablehadworked,without paymentandduringleavefromtheservice,fortwoyearsinEgyptin 1849-50toproduceasecretmemoirontheresourcesandmilitary capabilitiesofthecountry.WilliamHenryWyburd,whojoinedthe BombayMarineasacadetin1823andlaterbecamemasterofthe HughLindsay,actuallyaskedtobetemporarilyrelievedofhisnaval dutiesin1831inordertoexploreNajd,makingtheobservationthat itwasunfortunatethatthegovernmentshouldhavesuchan inadequateknowledgeoftheareaatthetimewhengeographical explorationwasbeingpursuedsoardentlyinEurope,adding,as additionaljustificationforhisadventure,that'itmustalwaysbeof usetoacquiresomeknowledgeofapeoplewhoserestlesshabitsand boldenterprisesmayatsomefutureperiodthrowimpedimentinthe wayofthatmostdesirableobject,aregularcommunicationbetween EnglandandIndiabytheRedSea;anditisofgreatimportancewitha viewtothesecurityofourintercoursewithArabiatoobtain accurateintelligenceofthosefanatics[ ieWahhabis]whoare evidentlyagainrisingtostrengthandpower'.20
