18 ENGAGEMENT OF NATIVES. 



the boats were launched, and to our dismay the 

 Search (u^on boat) leaked so dreadfully that she had 

 to be hoisted in again half full of water. However, 

 thanks to Reid (whose subsequent valuable services 

 remain still to be told), she was soon put to rights, 

 and on the morning of the 27th July lay on the water 

 alongside, quite dry and ready for her cargo. 



It was now deemed advisable to take another boat 

 from the Petrel^ and at Mr. Young's request Captam 

 Gordon kindly supplied another man, Stacy, one of 

 the stokers, who had always borne an exemplary cha- 

 racter on board. Our party was now increased to 

 five Europeans and four niggers, and three boats. 

 We were obliged to anchor about five miles from the 

 land, in only ^yq fathoms water. The land along 

 this coast is so very low that the water is shallow for 

 a considerable distance to sea, and a lon^ line of 

 breakers adorns it. A code of signals was agreed on, 

 by which our course for the bar (visible only from' 

 the masthead) should be regulated; and about 10 a.m. 

 (27th) all left the ship amidst many a hearty cheer 

 and good wish, accompanied by two of the PetreTs 

 boats, which returned shortly after leaving us on the 

 bank. The bar was, fortunately, very smooth, and 

 everything was landed in safety. 



Directly we landed several natives assembled on 

 the beach to see us, and on being informed that we 

 wanted a number of them to take the boats up the 

 river, they willingly offered their services as far as 

 Shupanga, a distance of about seventy miles. 

 Twenty-two of these men were engaged for a small 

 quantity of cloth, but as they had some little distance 



