PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 65 



the loss of one of our best men, Joseph Bowers, a 

 marine. He had aecompanied one of the officers on 

 a shooting excursion, and was led by his naturally ar- 

 dent and bold disposition to plunge into a lake after 

 some wild fowl that had been shot, forgetting that he 

 could not swim. His eagerness led him beyond his 

 depth, and in his attempt to regain his footing, he un- 

 fortunately perished before any aid could be brought. 

 His body was interred at the burial ground near the 

 presidio landing place, and was followed to the grave 

 by all the officers. As the coffin was lowering into 

 the ground, the good understanding that existed be- 

 tween the ship's company and the inhabitants was tes- 

 tified in the most gratifying manner, by the latter ap- 

 proaching and performing the last office for the de- 

 ceased, by dropping the earth in upon his coffin. I 

 cannot recollect ever having met with such conduct in 

 any other foreign port, and the act, most certainly, did 

 not lessen our regard for the inhabitants. 



VOL. 11. F 



