selves, several arts which are totally unknown
to their neighbours.
On April the 14th, our brig being stored with
planks, flax, and potatoes, and ready for sea,
I went on board of her. We had fine weather
till we dropped down to the entrance of the
river, where we intended taking in our stock
of water for the voyage; when the scene
suddenly changed, and a severe gale came on,
right out to sea, which we could not avail
ourselves of; neither could we get the water
off, as our rafts of casks got adrift in the
attempt to get them on board. To add to
our disasters, one of our cables parted, and
we had to ride out the gale (of two days’
continuance) with one only; the sea rolling
heavily right open before us, and we in momentary
expectation of the remaining cable’s
going: we had not a single day’s allowance of
water on board; and at one period all hands
(except the carpenter and passengers) were
out of the brig, on shore, filling the casks.
Fortunately for us, the cable proved a tough
one: had it parted, we should have been in a
most perilous situation.
April 20th. — For the last week we were
stationary at the river’s mouth, waiting for a
fair wind to carry us over the ba r; and,
during that time, there was no appearance of
any change: we also heard that vessels had
been detained here for six weeks before they
could accomplish it. We were visited daily
by parties of natives, who seemed to rejoice at
our being delayed, as it gave them more of
our company than they had calculated upon.
They were more delighted with our society
than we were with theirs: in a small vessel
they are a serious nuisance, on account of the
swarms of vermin they bring with them, and
which they communicate liberally to all. Myself
and all the passengers on board had our
leisure time fully occupied in dislodging these
“ little familiars ” from their strong-holds in
, different parts of our apparel.
During the time we were lying here, I saw
and conversed with several individuals who
had attended the “ Great Meeting,” and their
accounts gave rise to various opinions respecting
the policy of supplying the natives with
fire-arms. As I had always been an advocate,
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