Little Andaman Island, Bay of Bengal. 47 



ever, we had Ho sooner got within 15 yards of them, than we 

 were assailed with a shower of arrows, which struck several of 

 us. Our files were then extended to skirmishing order, and we 

 returned with a round of musketry, killed and wounded several 

 of them, fixed bayonets and charged them ; but they knowing 

 the intricacies of the jungle, and being extremely nimble, suc- 

 ceeded in not only effecting their own escape, but also in carry- 

 ing off the disabled of their party. We were brought up by a 

 deep pool, and saw them making off on the other side, and 

 heard them calling out Yahun, Yahun. 



We then continued our march along the beach, and discover- 

 ed another pool of very good and sweet water immediately op- 

 posite the vessel, and just within the skirts of the jungle. The 

 water casks were sent for, a jack was hoisted at the pool (being 

 a preconcerted signal to those on board ; left half of the party 

 there, and proceeded with the remainder along a path into the 

 jungle, expecting that it would lead to a village, where we 

 might get some fresh stock. We advanced aboiit a couple of 

 miles without seeing any more huts or natives, and no quadru- 

 peds of any description. 



The wood into which we penetrated, and in which the bugle 

 alone kept us together, was one of the most gloomy and dismal 

 that can possibly be conceived. It was indeed, 



*' Nemus atrum horrenli umbra." 



The trees were of vast height, and in many places thickly inter- 

 woven with rattans and bushrope. The sun-beams were unable 

 to penetrate the entangled foh'age, the atmosphere in conse- 

 quence bore the Semblance of twilight. The air was loaded 

 with a damp and pestilential odour, occasioned by the rotten 

 twigs, leaves, and fruit, with which the ground was thickly 

 strewed, which, besides, was exceedingly swampy. The death- 

 like stillness was occasionally interrupted by a solitary parmt 

 winging its noisy flight over-head ; but owing to the richness of 

 our vegetable canopy, it was almost impossible to gain even an 

 imperfect view of him. Numerous snakes were observed stealing 

 along amongst the bushes. From several we had narrow escapes. 

 Those that we succeeded in killing were all furnished with the 

 poisonous fangs ; and many of them bore a striking resemblance 

 to the Colubej' pr ester or Viper, but they were all spotted. 



3 



