FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   >>  
e return of the party, Captain Doutty saw fourteen of the natives issue from the jungle armed with their fishing-spears and apparently quite unconcerned, but the tide being up and having no boat, our people could not get at them. It was, however, deemed necessary to place advanced picquets round the camp, and a four-pounder was placed on the top-gallant forecastle and another on the poop of the Runnymede, in order to keep the natives off if they should prove aggressive. There appeared to be no chance of receiving any assistance from them. The island appeared to be wholly unproductive, neither fruit nor vegetables having been discovered, but several wild hogs were seen. _Friday, 22d._--The carpenters employed putting a false keel to long boat and caulking her. Landed 46 casks of beer, also some preserved salmon and cheese. A board of survey assembled on board the Briton to examine the stores saved, and to report as to the rations to be issued, calculated for forty days. The court recommended the following scale for alternate days, namely, First day, 1/2 lb. bread, 1/2 lb. beef, 1/2 gill of spirits, 1/12 oz. of tea, 1/2 oz. of sugar. Second day, 1/3 lb. flour, 1/3 lb. pork, 1/4 pint peas, 1/4 oz. coffee, 1/2 oz. sugar, 1/2 gill spirits, and this even would only last 36 days, that is, till 27th December. By this time, too, the coast for two miles round the island was cleared of shell fish. This day a private of the 80th regiment died in hospital of dysentery, most likely caused by the water, which had a disagreeable vegetable taste. _Saturday, 23d._--More beer landed from the Runnymede, also a case of claret. These were now issued in lieu of spirits. This day the natives came close to the camp. A few soldiers were sent to parley with them, and took two red shell jackets, which were left on a bush as presents for them. They only trampled on them, and at a given signal sent a volley of spears at the soldiers in return, two only taking effect. Two armed soldiers who had been concealed, then appearing, the natives set up a yell and ran to the bush, leaving part of a bow and a bundle of arrows behind them. They appeared very treacherous. They seemed also to understand the effect of fire-arms, running away the moment they saw any. _Sunday, 24th._--Divine service was performed on board the Briton. The coast was strewed in every direction with pieces of wreck. In the evening part of a chest of drawers and the top of a w
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   >>  



Top keywords:

natives

 

spirits

 

soldiers

 
appeared
 
effect
 

Briton

 
issued
 

Runnymede

 

island

 

return


spears
 

Divine

 

regiment

 

private

 

performed

 
service
 

hospital

 

caused

 

strewed

 
dysentery

direction

 
drawers
 

December

 

pieces

 

Sunday

 

evening

 

cleared

 
trampled
 

arrows

 

signal


presents

 

treacherous

 

volley

 

taking

 

appearing

 

concealed

 

bundle

 

jackets

 

landed

 

claret


Saturday

 

moment

 

leaving

 

vegetable

 

parley

 

understand

 
running
 

disagreeable

 

recommended

 

forecastle