ho were passengers, last
summer, in the ship BEWLEY CASTLE, bound for Bombay direct, under my
command.

The Hindoos joined us at Plymouth. On the passage out I heard no
complaint of their conduct. They were berthed in the forward part of the
vessel. I had but few occasions myself of personally noticing them.

In the latter part of the voyage, we had the misfortune to be becalmed
for three days and nights, off the coast of India. I have not got the
ship's journal to refer to, and I cannot now call to mind the latitude
and longitude. As to our position, therefore, I am only able to state
generally that the currents drifted us in towards the land, and that
when the wind found us again, we reached our port in twenty-four hours
afterwards.

The discipline of a ship (as all seafaring persons know) becomes relaxed
in a long calm. The discipline of my ship became relaxed. Certain
gentlemen among the passengers got some of the smaller boats lowered,
and amused themselves by rowing about, and swimming, when the sun at
evening time was cool enough to let them divert themselves in that way.
The boats when done with ought to have been slung up again in their
places. Instead of this they were left moored to the ship's side.
What with the heat, and what with the vexation of the weather, neither
officers nor men seemed to be in heart for their duty while the calm
lasted.

On the third night, nothing unusual was heard or seen by the watch on
deck. When the morning came, the smallest of the boats was missing--and
the three Hindoos were next reported to be missing, too.

If these men had stolen the boat shortly after dark (which I have no
doubt they did), we were near enough to the land to make it vain to send
in pursuit of them, when the discovery was made in the morning. I have
no doubt they got ashore, in that calm weather (making all due allowance
for fatigue and clumsy rowing), before day-break.

On reaching our port I there learnt, for the first time, the reason
these passengers had for seizing their opportunity of escaping from the
ship. I could only make the same statement to the authorities which I
have made here. They considered me to blame for allowing the discipline
of the vessel to be relaxed. I have expressed my regret on this score to
them, and to my owners.

Since that time, nothing has been heard to my knowledge of the three
Hindoos. I have no more to add to what is here written.

III

The Statement of M