June

June 1.
I set out early this morning in company with Mr. Cleland for Iliacour, where we arrive about Nine OClock; I went straight to Capt. Wiseman's Bungaloe; [sic] with whom, and his Surgeon Mr. Mc.Intyre, I was acquainted; they both received me very civilly, [sic] and paid every attention I could wish for; I had Breakfast immediately laid before me; and I took up my Quarters here for this day. — Capt. Wiseman with his Battalion (the 10th.) is stationed and commands, at this Post. — I met with Major Mc.Pherson here, who was also going on to Cantonments indisposed.

June 2.
Being informed by Lt. Selby the Boat-Master, that he was going down the River today, in charge of some Battilla-Boats with the Sick of the army, to Billiapatam; and having politely offered, Major Mc.Pherson and myself, a Passage in his Bunder-Boat, we accepted of the Offer, and embark'd about a Mile below the Town of Iliacour, at One OClock; Capt. Wiseman having furnished us with cold meat, wine &c. for our Voyage.

We had a most delightful sail down the River of Billiapatam; which is a very large one, and navigable for Small Vessels from the Sea to the place we embark'd at; which, is about Twenty four Miles; – there is a very fine rich Country all along both sides of the River, and a great number of Villages. — We arrived at Mr. Selby's House in the Town of Billiapatam, about dark; and here we took up our Night's Quarters, and were very hospitably entertained by Lieut. Selby. —

June 3.
The day being very bad, the Major and myself agreed to stay with Mr. Selby untill [sic] the weather moderated. The Tindell of one of the Battillas that carried the Sick, arrived as we sat at Breakfast, and inform'd us, that his Boat and most of the Sick it carried were lost early that morning coming down the River: – it blew fresh and the Boat having struck on a Rock, & fill'd with water, overset instantly; a few of the Men that could Swim saved themselves by that means; but, between thirty and Forty poor soldiers were drown'd on this occasion; it was truly a most melancholly [sic] and deplorable Sight, to see, during the course of the day, the Bodies of these unfortunate People, floating down the River. — another Battilla Boat with Sick was overset; but so close, to the Banks of the River, that no lives were lost.

June 4.
The weather being more favourable today for Travelling, Major Mc.Pherson and myself set out from Billiapatam after Breakfast, for our respective Cantonments. — Having order'd my Servt. Francis with my Horse and Dooly to meet me on the Road to Cananore at the Bibbee's Garden-House, I called there in full expectation of finding them; but could not understand where he had gone to, for at this place I could get no accounts of him, supposing that my Servant had made a mistake, and gone with my Horse & Dooly to the Queen's (or Bibbee's) House in the Town of Cananore, I accompanied the Major thither; but, here I was also disappointed, not being able to get any tidings of my Servant &c; I therefore took my leave of the Major, and proceeded on my Journey to Durmapatam the place allotted for the Cantonment of the Regiment. — Being much indisposed with my Bowell-complaint, [sic] this long walk did not at all agree with me; it being about Fifteen Miles from Billiapatam, from whence I started in the Morning, to the Island of Durmapatam; which, was rather too long a walk for a convalescent, especially, as there were a number of little Rivers or Nullas in the way, all of which I was obliged to ford. —

I arrived at Durmapatam about Four OClock in the afternoon of this day, much indisposed, greatly fatigued, and wet and Dirty after my Journey; I was in great hopes that I should find all my Servants and Baggage here before me, but to my great disappointment, they were not yet arrived; which rendered my present situation extremely uncomfortable indeed: – having no clothes with me to shift myself, – no place to lay on, and nothing to eat or Drink; there were no Houses, excepting, the small Huts of the Natives, inhabited that I could go into to shelter myself from the inclemency of the weather, and I was too dirty and too much tired to venture into the Town of Tellicherry, which was distant between two and three miles from me; I was, therefore, necessitated to take up my abode for this night, in an old ruinous Bungaloe, [sic] wet, dirty and hungry as I was; my only attendant was my Massaljee, who carried my Camp-Cloak – which was my only Bed, and in which I lay, upon a hard wooden Cott, [sic] that happened [to] be in this Ruinous Habitation; where, I spent one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life. —

June 5.
I got up very early and took a long walk on the Island, in hopes of falling [in] with my Servants, but could see or hear nothing of them. — Finding myself rather hungary [sic] after returning from my walk I sent my Massaljee into the Town of Tellicherry, with a Note to Mr. William Shaw of Bombay, requesting he would send me out something to eat and drink; – my demand was immediately complied with by my old Friend and Acquaintance Shaw; the Boy having returned in a couple of hours, with a number of good things both to eat and drink, upon which I immediately feasted and indulged myself very heartily. — Lieut. A. Campbell and Ensign Tucker, who had been sent on before the Regiment with Sick Men, arrived on the Island in the forenoon, and joined me in my ruinous Habitation; their Company revived me very much, being very dull and solitary till their arrival, — Major Stirling called upon us in the Evening on his way to Tellicherry where his wife was: – he had come on before the Regiment, which he told us would arrive in a couple of days more.

June 6.
I had given up my Baggage as lost; but, I was this forenoon agreeably surprised with the arrival of my Head Servant Francis with all my Coolies, Horse and Baggage. — I had, however, very great reason to be displeased with them, for in consequence, of not obeying the directions I gave them on parting at Iliacour, in not coming by the Route I pointed out and ordered them to follow, but, in place of that coming by a long round about Road by Tellicherry, which they found very bad and almost overflowed with water the whole of the way; my Baggage and all my Cloathes [sic] got entirely wet and almost spoiled; this was very provoking, but all I could do, was to get them dried, and save as many of them by this means as possible; – the worst part, and what I most regretted was my Books and Papers being very much damaged, so much so that they could hardly be written upon. —

Tents were brought over, this forenoon from Tellicherry, and Pitched for the 77th. and Bombay Regiments untill [sic] their Cantonments can be finished.

June 7th.
The 77th. Regiment arrived at Durmapatam this forenoon; and the Bombay Regiment, some hours after them arrived also. — These two Regiments are Cantoned during the Monsoon on Durmapatam; the 2d. 3d. 7th. & 12th. Battalions of Native Infantry are Cantoned at Tellicherry; the Cantonments of Durmapatam and Tellicherry are under the command of Lieut. Colonel Balfour. — The 73d. 75th. Regiments; Corps of Artillery; 1st. (or Grenadier) & 14th. Madras Battalions of Native Infantry, are Cantoned at Cananore; the 6th. Battn. N. Infantry at Billiapatam; and the 10th. Battn. N. I. at Iliacour; these three Posts are under the Command and Orders of Lieut. Col. Hartley.

General Abercromby with his Suite and Staff, arrived today at Durmapatam, and passed on to Tellicherry, where Head Quarters is established during the Rains, the Army being now all sent to their different Cantonments; the Flank Battalion Commanded by Capt. Dunlop was broke up, and the Flank companies ordered to join their respective Corps, which they accordingly did. — Thus ended our Campaign! Our next, it is hoped, and expected, will be a more prosperous, as well as, a more brilliant and successful one. —

June 8.
I went today into Tellicherry along with Doctor Anderson, and Major of Brigade Erskine; the latter and myself dined with Major Sinclair the Adjutant General, and in the Evening I went to Mr. William Shaws, where I took up my Quarters for a few nights, to try to get rid of the remains of my complaint in good Lodgings. — Our Brigadier, Lt. Col. Balfour also lived in the same House with Mr. Shaw, and I spent two or three very pleasant days with them; my illness going off gradually. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.293-309. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #152-160].