August

Memo! Commenced here writing this Journal, from Notes, – on Tuesdy. 7. May 1805.
L.M.

Augt. 15.
Saturday. The 77th. Regt. was directed in the Provincial Orders of this day to hold itself in readiness to march for Cochin on Wednesday the 19th. Instant. I began to make preparations to move with it accordingly on the intended Services; – as did also my Brother in law Lieut. Jarvis of the 36th. Regt., for whom I had obtained permission to accompany the 77th. as a Volunteer on the present Service, on which he had expressed a most anxious wish to be employed. —

Augt. 19.
Wednesday. — The 77th. Regiment, commanded by Capt. Whitelocke, marched from Cantonments for Cochin at 6,O'Clock this morning.

My Brother in law and myself remained behind for a few hours in order to remove my beloved Jane to the House I had taken for her in the Town of Calicut, close to that of Colonel Bowles and Paymastr. Wensley; both of whom as old Friends and acquaintances had kindly offered and promised to pay her every attention in their power during my absence; as had also Capt. and Mrs. Mignan, who likewise lived in the same Neighbourhood. — Leaving proper Servants to take care of our House of "Staffa Lodge" in Cantonments, we left it about Noon for Calicut to take possession of Mrs. Macquarie's new Habitation there. — My beloved Wife felt herself very comfortably situated here in point of accommodation and Society; – but the idea of my absence – and going now upon actual Service – this being the first time we have been obliged to part for a day since our marriage – gave her inexpressible pain and made her very unhappy. — Her Brother and myself did all in our power to comfort her and to reconcile her to what was unavoidable. — We took an early Dinner and staid [sic] with her till Four O'Clock — We then left her with sorrowful hearts, and set out on Horseback after the Regiment, which we overtook very soon after it had come to its ground and halted for the night at a small Village called Challion about two miles south of the Baypore River. — It was nearly dark before we crossed this River, and almost 7,O'Clock before we reached Challion. — We therefore did not Pitch out Tents, but slept all this night in a Mosque.

Augt. 20.
Wednesday. — The Regt. marched at 5,O'Clock this morning. — At the distance of a mile crossed the large and rapid River of Corolandy in Jangars, one of which was upset and an European Woman and some Native Followers were drowned by this unlucky accident. — March on the Town of Tanore – distance 12 miles – where we halt for this day. — In the Evening I wrote an account of our Proceedings to my beloved Jane, to whom I shall continue to write daily from every halting Place. —

Augt. 21.
Friday. — March from Tanore at 11.A.M. and arrive at Cottya about 2.P.M. – distance 10 miles; and halt for this day. —

Augt. 22.
Saturday. — Remain at Cottya. —

Augt. 23.
Sunday. — March from Cottya at 7.A.M. — At the distance of Five miles cross the great Paniany River, where it is two miles broad, in Jangars, to the Town of Paniany, a large and populous one, and through which we march. — Three miles further on we cross the Ballinghaut River, and halt for this day at the Town of Ballinghaut about a mile beyond the River. — This is a very clean pretty little Town, where the Soldiers got Fowls very cheap – paying only one Gold Fanam for three good Fowls.

Augt. 24.
Monday. — At 7.A.M. The Regt. marched, and arrived about 2.P.M. at Chowghaut – distance about 12 miles. — Here we halted for the Day at a very large Mosque; the Town of Chowghaut itself being a very poor shabby looking Place. —

Augt. 25.
Tuesday. — This is partly a halting Day. Capt. Whitelock having granted Leave to such officers as chose it to proceed on to the next Halting Place without waiting for the Regiment, I availed myself of this permission and went on in the Evening to the Town of Nassereenghur – distance 10 miles.

Lieuts. Shaw & Mc.Kenzie, my Broyr. George, and myself had a pleasant Ride on this Party that preceeded [sic] the Regt. to Nassareenghur; particularly after we had crossed the Chitwa River into the beautiful Island of that name, which resembles a Nobleman's Park in England, and over which we enjoyed a most delightful Ride. The Regt. did not arrive at Nassareenghur till 12,O'Clock at Night, owing to there being a scarcity of Jangars for crossing the Chitwa River.

Augt. 26.
Wednesday. — The Regt. marched on again today to Papinaut – distance 9 miles. — Lieut. Shaw and myself rode on again together in front of the Regt. during this march through a fine rich Country.

Augt. 27.
Thursday. — The Regt. marched at 4,O'Clock this morning to Monambattah about 10 miles from Papinaut; cross the River of Ayacottah to the Island of Vijpeen; march on about two miles farther; and then Encamp at the Village of Ayacottah about six miles in the Rear of Colonel Petrie's Detachment. —

Augt. 28.
Friday. At 6.A.M. The Regiment marched to occupy a new ground of Encampment about 3 miles farther on, where we formed a junction with our two Flank Companies. —After writing to my dearest Jane from our new ground and dressing myself, I went to visit my worthy friend Colonel Petrie at his Head Quarters at the principal Encampment of his Detachment near Vijpeen Point opposite to Cochin and distant about 3 miles from ours. — I staid [sic] to dine with him, and spent a very pleasant day. — Here I met with my excellent good friend Doctor Anderson of the 77th., who had been sent to join Colonel Petrie's Detachment some little time before as Head Inspecting Field Surgeon – and for which important situation no one was more fit. — I returned home in the Evening. —

Augt. 29.
Saturday. — I rode out early this morning along with my Brother in law Lieut. Jarvis to introduce him to Colonel Petrie as a Volunteer desirous of having the honor of serving under him on the present Service – and the Colonel was so good as to accept of his Services in the handsomest and kindest manner, directing that he should be attached to and do Duty with the 77th. Grenadiers until further orders. — We staid [sic] to Breakfast with Colonel Petrie and then returned to our own Camp. —

Augt. 30.
Sunday. — At 4.A.M. The Tents were Struck and the 77th. Regt. marched to the Banks of the Ayacottah River, distant only half a mile where we embark on Jangars along with the Bombay Sepoy Grenadier Battn. commanded by Capt. John McDonald, and accompanied by Colonel Petrie and his staff.

We first cross the Ayacottah River, and then enter another called the Paroor, on which we proceed four miles up to Paroor Bridge, where we disembark a little after Daybreak. — The Detachment march through the Town of Paroor, where the King of Travancore, (this being his Country that we are now in), has a Brigade of no less than 7 Battalions of Sepoys stationed, under the command of a Colonel Daley, a native of Ireland.

The Detachment marched on about 3 miles beyond and Mackenzie, my Brother George and myself, having agreed to live and mess together during the present Service, we had Colonel Petrie and his Staff, (consisting of Doctor Anderson and Brigade Major Gray), to dine with us today. —

Augt. 31.
Monday. — This is a Halting Day, and our mess dine with Col: Petrie.

The Tents and Baggage of the Detachment is sent off in the Evening to the Banks of the Cochin River to be put on board the Jangars.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No.3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.29–41 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames #401–#408].