d the mouth of the creek; we, however,
began to share the remains of our water, and about half a bottle came to
each man's share, which we dispatched in an instant.

We now gained fresh spirits, and hazarded every thing in gaining our so
much wished for haven. It is but justice here to acknowledge how much we
were indebted to the intrepidity, courage, and seaman-like behaviour of
Mr. Reynolds the master's mate, who fairly beat her over all the reefs,
and brought us safe on shore. The crew of the blue yaul, who had been two
or three hours landed, assisted in landing our party. A fine spring of
water near to the creek afforded us immediate relief. As soon as we had
filled our belly, a guard was placed over the prisoners, and we went to
sleep for a few hours on the grass.

In the afternoon, a Chinese chief came down the creek in a canoe,
attended by some of the natives, to wait upon us. He was a venerable
looking old man; we endeavoured to walk down to the water-side, to
receive him, and acquaint him with the nature of our distress.

We addressed him in French and in English, neither of which he
understood; but misery was so strongly depicted in our countenances, that
language was superfluous. The tears trickling down his venerable cheeks
convinced us he saw and felt our misfortunes; and silence was eloquence
on the subject.

He made us understand by signs, that without fee or reward we should be
supplied with horses, and conducted to Coupang, a Dutch East-India
settlement, about seventy miles distant, the place of our rendezvous.
This we politely declined, as the nature of our duty in the charge of the
prisoners would not admit of it. We took leave of him for the present,
after receiving promises of refreshment.

Soon after, crowds of the natives came down with fowls, pigs, milk, and
bread. Mr. Innes, the surgeon's mate, happened luckily to have some
silver in his pocket, to which they applied the touchstone, but would not
give us any thing for guineas. However, anchor-buttons answered the
purpose, as they gave us provision for a few buttons, which they refused
the same number of guineas for; till a hungry dog, one of the carpenter's
crew, happening to pick up an officer's jacket, spoiled the market, by
giving it, buttons and all, for a pair of fowls, which a few buttons
might have purchased.

All hands were busied in roasting the fowls, and boiling the pork; in the
evening we made a very hearty supper. While we wer