LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 117 
this morning it blew a hard gale from the north-west, which 
drove up a heavy surf over the rocky beach, immediately 
beneath the spot on which we were at rest. About five 
o'clock, or thereabouts, whilst it was still dark, I was sud- 
denly awoke in my bed, by three men rushing into my tent, 
and in an alarming boisterous tone, desiring me to rouse up, 
as they had taken the settlement, and had put the command- 
ant in gaol, and hurried me to dress myself, as I was, they 
said to go with them. In an instant, before I was well awake, 
or had time to consider the character of the individuals who 
were about me, a fire-stick was brought into the tent by one 
of the party, and on lighting a candle, which they had found, 
they seized my fire arms, and hastily turning over my bag- 
gage, carried off my bedding, wearing apparel, a hamper of 
cooking utensils, the whole of my provisions, &c. One of 
the party, on placing my hat upon his head, turned out my 
watch, which I had placed within it for security, the preced- 
ing evening. The watch was, as a matter of course, taken as 
a valuable prize, although I begged hard for it to be returned 
to me, on the ground of its having been lent me by a friend ; 
the reply made was that ‘ they would borrow it of me,’ as it 
would be of use to them in the long journey (voyage) they had 
before them, 
“ This scene of plunder had gone on some minutes before 
my people, who were roused by the noise, made any attempt 
to approach me. In this they were prevented by others of 
the party, who had landed from a boat now perceived in the 
offing, and who seized their blankets, and such of their 
provisions as they found within their hut. Hearing a parley 
between these strangers and my people, I was in the act of 
stepping out of my tent to see what was going on without, 
when one of these unwelcome visitors, who was doing the 
duty of sentry in front of the tent, with my fowling piece on 
his shoulder, thrust the muzzle of it towards me, desiring 
With a horrid oath, that I should keep within, or else he 
would shoot me. At this time, we enumerated eight persons 
about us, all men of determined character, who having laid 
