As passengers, she carried Captain Gerrard Cooke, his wife, a son and two daughters, together with a few soldiers.

For many years Cooke had served the Company at Fort William, as Gunner, an office that included the discharge of many incongruous duties.

After a stay in England, he was now returning to Bengal, as engineer, with the rank of captain.

The _Loyall Bliss_ was a clumsy sailer, and made slow progress; so that August had come before she left the Cape behind her.

Contrary winds and bad weather still detained her, and kept her westward of her course.