11.
[Sidenote: Penang to Bengal, 400 leagues.]
From Prince of Wales's Island to Saugor Roads, Bengal. 13th March to the 27th March, 1817 14 days.
The average at this season is twenty-one days, consequently this passage is very good. At this season of the year the north-east monsoon has entirely ceased in the centre of the Bay of Bengal; so that a ship which steers well out between the Nicobars and Andamans need not apprehend northerly winds; whereas in the north-eastern parts of the bay, the monsoon still blows faintly, with long intervals of calm. A merchant brig, reputed a good sailer, left Prince of Wales's Island 6 days before us, and followed the inner route, while we went outside, and arrived 10 days before her at Calcutta.
* * * * *
12.
[Sidenote: Calcutta to Madras, 300 leagues.]
Sand Heads off Calcutta to Madras, against the south-west monsoon.
From 19th April to the 7th May, 1817 18-1/2 days.
Three weeks is said to be a good passage. We beat down as far as the latitude 11º north, and longitude 87º east, before we hauled across. We had fine weather all the way.