ved on. Indeed the ship was in good repair and fit for the sea;
but as the whole numbers onboard our squadron did not amount to the
complement of a fourth-rate man of war, we found it was impossible
to divide them into three ships, without rendering them incapable
of navigating in safety in the tempestuous weather we had reason to
expect on the coast of China, where we supposed we should arrive about
the time of the change of the monsoons.

During our stay here there happened an incident, which, as it proved
the means of convincing our friends in England of our safety, which
for some time they were in doubt about, I shall beg leave particularly
to recite. I have observed, that from this harbour of Chequetan there
was but one path-way which led through the woods into the country.
This we found much beaten, and were thence convinced that it was well
known to the inhabitants. As it passed by the spring-head, and was
the only avenue by which the Spaniards could approach us, we, at some
distance beyond the spring-head, felled several large trees, and laid
them one upon the other across the path; and at this barricado we
constantly kept a guard: And we besides ordered our men employed in
watering to have their arms ready, and, in case of any alarm, to march
instantly to this post. Though our principal intention was to prevent
our being disturbed by any sudden attack of the enemy's horse, yet it
answered another purpose, which was not in itself less important; this
was to hinder our own people from straggling singly into the country,
where we had reason to believe they would be surprised by the
Spaniards, who would doubtless be extremely solicitous to pick up some
of them, in hopes of getting intelligence of our future designs.
To avoid this inconvenience, the strictest orders were given to the
centinels, to let no person whatever pass beyond their post: But,
notwithstanding this precaution, we missed one Lewis Leger, who was
the commodore's cook; and as he was a Frenchman, and suspected to be
a papist, it was by some imagined that he had deserted with a view
of betraying all that he knew to the enemy; but this appeared by the
event to be an ill-grounded surmise, for it was afterwards known
that he had been taken by some Indians, who carried him prisoner to
Acapulco, from whence he was transferred, to Mexico, and then to Vera
Cruz, where he was shipped on board a vessel bound to Old Spain: And
the vessel being obliged by some