BURP-BOATS. 301 



A South-easter almost always sends 

 ashore. The beach, which rises gradually from 

 the bottom, is composed of sand. When a vessel 

 once begins to drag, there is but little hope for 

 Lcr. She goes ashore, taking with her all who 

 come athwart her hawse while drifting. Vessels 

 are generally, in such cases, washed high and dry. 

 There is but little danger to life, and sometimes 

 the crew get off without even wetting their feet. 



Our first operation, after anchoring, was to send 

 down topgallant and royal yards, and house top- 

 gallantmasts. Larger vessels, which were to wait 

 some months for cargo, had their topmasts housed, 

 and topsail yards on deck. But as we were to 

 remain but a very few days, our preparations 

 were not so extensive. 



This sending down top-hamper very much 

 lightens the strain upon the anchors, as of course 

 the wind, which in a gale bears with it a ver} 

 tangible pressure, meets less resistance aloft. It 

 is a practice very common in the Indies, where 

 harbors are poorly sheltered, anchorage is unsafe, 

 and periodical hurricanes sweep with almost 

 resistless force across the surface of the sea. 



Our only communication with the shore was by 

 means of surf-boats. These are large, roomy 

 boats, sharp at both ends, and capable of bearing 

 from three to six tons each, of freight. They are 

 manned by a people there called Malays, and by 

 Africaners. The former, from their appearance, 

 [ judged to be descendants of Malay settlers, 



