when I remembered that I was at an almost immeasurable distance from my native country, in the service of a foreign power, the victim of an imposition which appeared to me under various aspects, and now in a savage spot where the natives might be every moment upon me, I confess I was not very far from that mixed mood of melancholy, mortification, and terror, which required but little more to overcome me for the hour. Had I been attacked, desperation might have roused me, and made me brave. Vexation and pride, however, were my friends and supporters, till better feelings regained their elasticity and force. And after leaving the rock for the shore and the ship, every step, and every new object, assisted to restore my self-control and the consolations of hope. The feelings, which I then experienced, have taught me how to judge of the sufferings and wants of men, whose spirits fail, when they are at a distance from home, and appear to themselves to be cast out from the sympathies of the human family. It is an evidence of as much folly as it is of inhumanity, to say that none but weak and dastardly minds are subject to these impressions. Good talents, a lively imagination, a temperament of ingenuousness and honesty, and those qualities of the soul which give the charm to decisive and efficient characters, serve only to add bitterness, under such circumstances, to the feeling of desolation. Whoever may have the command of men abroad, let him not, when he finds any of them oppressed with these feelings, begin to despise and reproach them as mean and pusillanimous. Let him learn human nature better; and by kindness, by increased manifestations of sympathy, by diversifying their employments, and appointing such as are adapted to their condition, let him gradually raise their hearts, invigorate their resolution, and bind them to duty, virtue, and friendship, for ever. Many are the instances, in which generous and feeling minds have been ruined, and only relieved by death, when they were subject to the command of others, and during a period of depression were inhumanly treated without the means of redress. Sailors, and all men, even of the meanest education, have the essential qualities of high minds, and are exalted and improved, at the same time that they are won by generosity and kindness.

These remarks lose none of their force by the manner in which I was received at the shore, after my return from my golden enterprise. Drummond and Nicholson, who had heard by the boats

from the watering place, that I had been gone nearly the whole day up the river, and knowing that their scheme must have had its full effect, were willing to relieve my fatigue, and soothe my temper, by every act of friendship. They wished to mingle so much kindness with the trick they had played, that while it should afford the crew the full measure of amusement, it should not do me a real and permanent injury. They came on shore at the hour when they thought they should meet me, and had liberally furnished themselves with every article of food and liquor, which could tempt the appetite, and exhilarate the spirits. Their countenances and their conversation were irresistibly pleasant and conciliating; and while I saw all the humour, which they had in store to use against me at a future time, they still succeeded in allaying my irritation and pressing me to join in the common laugh. Whatever suspicions of malice might have lurked in my thoughts about the design, were dismissed, and I never jumped into the boat for the ship with a lighter heart. With the wood, which we carried on board at dusk, a large centipede eight or nine inches long had been taken, and unfortunately gave me a most venomous bite upon my throat. It swelled very much, and caused an extremely painful night. Bathing it with hot vinegar and salt afforded me some relief, but the swelling continued for two or three days, with pain. The bite of this odious reptile is said to be sometimes mortal, and always as dangerous as that of a scorpion. Thus ended my dreams and my excursion in search of the golden ore.

The tide, at Port San Pio Quinto, did not appear to be regular, but I should think the rise and fall as much as five or six feet. The bay seemed to be clear of danger. The shores round the island were indented with small bays, some of which we visited for turtle, whose tracks we saw, and for which as well as for fishing, the people of Luconia, at a distance of eight or ten leagues to the south, come to this place. One night we observed a fire on the island, and sent a party to learn what might be discovered from it. The party landed in a boat, with a native of the Pelew Islands, whom we had with us, and whose name was Cockawocky. They saw Indians engaged in cooking round the fire, and our Pelew Island-man crept close to them before they discovered him. The moment they did, however, they ran with the greatest consternation, leaving every thing they had behind them. Cock

awocky followed to assure them, that we would do them no harm, and that we had been thus cautious in making our approach to them, that we might ascertain their numbers and be sure of safety for our selves. But they fled the faster for his pursuit, and we then lost the opportunity to have an interview with them, a loss which we particularly regretted, as our Commodore always made it a point to establish a friendly intercourse with the natives wherever he could, and to leave benevolent impressions upon their minds in regard to white people, and especially the English. We afterwards found, that they were from Luconia. Cockawocky, by whom they had been so much alarmed, was brought from the Pelew Islands in the Panther when she came last to Macao. His name, as it sounds to our ears, might be thought indicative of his character; for he was a forward, officious, and blustering fellow, quite unlike to his countrymen generally, who are mild and modest.

In sounding the bay, where we were lying, we found good anchorage in any depth, from ten to twenty five fathoms. We made such observations as we could, respecting the navigation among the islands in this vicinity. The passage is spacious and safe, between the Bashee and Babuyane islands; also amidst the latter; and between them and Luconia. It is however subject to very strong currents, which must make it difficult in thick weather, and in the night. One of the Babuyane islands, near to which we passed, appeared to be a volcano on fire in every part. Making the usual observations to ascertain the variation of the compass, we discovered none worth a record. The winds were chiefly from the south eastern quarter, light and variable, as they had been ever since we left Macao, The thermometer was from 80° to 85o.

On the 17th of May, the evening previous to our weighing anchor to leave San Pio Quinto, my friend Drummond proposed to me to visit some of the bays about the island in search of turtle, if we could get the consent of the Commodore. This was granted, and as the proposal was suited to my inclination, I did not hesitate to comply with it.

We took two boats in order to increase our chance of success. I called the boatswain, and told him that I wanted a party of volunteers to go with me, who should find good stores provided, and plenty of grog. The party was soon made up. Drummond col. lected his crew in his own way, We put two muskets and ammy

nition into our boat. He went to a small island westward, and I to a small bay south of our anchoring place. As on the following night my life was in jeopardy from the boatswain, it ought here to be mentioned, that he was the only American besides myself in the expedition, and yet had a malicious spirit towards me. He was skilful in his office, was vain of his ability and consequence, and had been much indulged by the Commodore. He was inclined to take great liberties in doing his duty, and had exceeded, or fallen short of my orders several times in following his own judgment. He seemed to be determined on obeying me no further than his humour led him. This evil I felt myself bound to check, and made him do his work over again according to my orders. He said, that he had never been compelled to do his work twice over before, and murmured against my directions. I replied, that while I was in command, I was responsible for the execution of my duty within my province, and that my orders must be strictly obeyed in all instances, or I could not know on what to rely for the neccessary results Notwithstanding my reasonableness, and my desire to conciliate him, he was my enemy. This boatswain, with some of the most desperate fellows we had, was of my boat's crew. As it was not common for him to go in a boat on duty, I asked him how he came to be of the party. He said he had nothing to do till morning, and wished to enjoy the sport with the rest of us. As it might be the means of reconciling him to me, the arrangement was not without its recommendations to my judgment, Fear was not apt to sway my mind, nor in those days to enter into it. The bay, which we sought, was narrow at the entrance, not more than half gun shot over, but spread out much wider within, and extended about a third of a mile in depth. We all landed at the head of it, except a boy who had come for a boat keeper. He was ordered to take the boat off a short distance, and to let go the grapnel, waiting there till I should call him. Thinking that possibly we might shoot a wild hog, I gave to the boatswain one of the muskets and spread the men round the bay. To the mouth of it I went myself, supposing that to be the best place for turtle. I watched there two or three hours,and then walked round the beach to see what the people had done. I could find none. of them; and when I called to the boy in the boat, he said he had not seen any of the party. I waited two or three hours longer, took another walk in search, but saw no body. In as many hours, I searched

a third time, and found no one. I made myself as easy as possible till day light in the morning, but none of the crew appeared. I walked the beach again, and discovered a path leading into the bushes, which I followed. In one of those grass plats, made by burning the trees and shrubs, I found them all seated, apparently in consultation. They were surprised at my approach, and the actions of the boatswain, as well as his remarks, were particularly suspicious. When I interrogated them about their absence, they made out a story altogether unsatisfactory. I told them to go to the boat, and that we must be immediately on board. I stood with my gun across my arm, and my thumb on the cock, till they all passed me, keeping my eye on the boatswain, who had his gun in the same position with mine. I made them go before, and we arrived at the beach. The boatswain ran a little distance as though he saw something to shoot at, and then laid down apparently to take aim. I watched him, keeping myself ready to fire at the first symptom of danger. I asked him sternly, if he was turning fool, and manifested such a decision, that at length he arose, and I got them all into the boat, with the two muskets behind in my own power. We were soon safe on board, and it was a long time afterwards, when I learned the true account of this conspiracy against me. The boatswain and gunner quarrelled, and this brought out the proof, that the boatswain had picked the crew for the purpose of going off to Luconia with the boat after they had landed me. But when I stationed myself at the entrance of the bay, this plan was frustrated. He then collected the men, while I was watching for turtle, and held a council on the grass plat, debating all night what they should do with me. They wished me out of the They wished me out of the way, but believing me to be a good shot and a determined man, they did not expect easily to frighten me, or to escape from the contents of my musket. The boatswain said he had a musket as well as I, and could use it before I knew their designs. To this diabolical suggestion, all agreed, except one man, named Gibbs. Although he was a quarrelsome and disperate fellow, and had been broken as a sail maker, yet he refused to take my life in cold blood, and succeeded in dividing their counsels, till I burst upon them by surprise, and got them on board before their conspiracy was harmonised and ripe. After all this was proved before a council of all the officers of both vessels, it was proposed to me to confine the