esistance. At the centre the pressure was such, that some unfortunates
were suffocate by the weight of their comrades, who fell upon them at
every instant. The officers kept by the foot of the little mast, and
were obliged every moment to call to those around them to go to the one
or the other side to avoid the wave; for the sea coming nearly athwart
us, gave our raft nearly a perpendicular position, to counteract which
they were forced to throw themselves upon the side raised by the sea.

The soldiers and sailors, frightened by the presence of almost
inevitable danger, doubted not that they had reached their last hour.
Firmly believing they were lost, they resolved to soothe their last
moments by drinking till they lost their reason. We had no power to
oppose this disorder. They seized a cask which was in the centre of the
raft, made a hole in the end of it, and, with small tin cups, took each
a pretty large quantity; but they were obliged to cease, for the
sea-water rushed into the hole they had made. The fumes of the wine
failed not to disorder their brains, already weakened by the presence of
danger and want of food. Thus excited, these men became deaf to the
voice of reason. They wished to involve, in one common ruin, all their
companions in misfortune. They avowedly expressed their intention of
freeing themselves from their officers, who, they said, wished to oppose
their design; and then to destroy the raft, by cutting the ropes which
united its different parts. Immediately after, they resolved to put
their plans in execution. One of them advanced upon the side of the raft
with a boarding-axe, and began to cut the cords. This was the signal of
revolt. We stepped forward to prevent these insane mortals, and he who
was armed with the hatchet, with which he even threatened an officer,
fell the first victim; a stroke of a sabre terminated his existence.

This man was an Asiatic, and a soldier in a colonial regiment. Of a
colossal stature, short hair, a nose extremely large, an enormous mouth,
dark complexion, he made a most hideous appearance. At first he had
placed himself in the middle of the raft, and, at each blow of his fist,
knocked down every one who opposed him; he inspired the greatest terror,
and none durst approach him. Had there been six such, our destruction
would have been certain.

Some men, anxious to prolong their existence, armed and united
themselves with those who wished to preserve the raft; amo