AND MIDSHIPMAN HENRY. 101 



by 10 A. M. next day the whole of the disposable force of the 

 brig and schooner, consisting of eighty men, landed at the 

 west side of the island, while the vessels took commanding 

 positions off the reef. After landing, the men were formed in 

 three divisions, and took up their line of march, the whole 

 commanded by Captain Ringgold. On arriving at the princi- 

 pal town, they found it to be of a large size, well fortified with 

 strong posts, driven into the ground close together, and the 

 intervening spaces filled up with a kind of wicker-work, and 

 the whole surrounded by a deep ditch, filled with water. 



When within a few yards of the entrance, which was a small 

 low gate, scarcely large enough to admit one person, the prin- 

 cipal chief came out, and made the following taunting speech : 

 " Come on ; I and my people are ready for you ; Fejee men 

 are good to eat, but white men are better, and intend this 

 night to have some of you for supper. Fejee men like to eat 

 white men ; we are glad to see you ; yes, we are glad to see 

 you." He then rallied his men, and ordered them to fire at 

 our people from behind the fortifications. 



Captain Ringgold now made a signal for two of the divisions, 

 which had been sent to destroy the yam-patches, and cut 

 down the cocoa-nut trees, to join him, which they did with 

 great alacrity. He then formed the whole in one line, and 

 marched up to the intrenchments, under a heavy shower of 

 spears and arms. He next directed several rockets to be set 

 off in hopes of firing the town, and thus compel the savages to 

 abandon their intrenchments ; but this did not produce the 

 desired effect, and he therefore opened his fire upon the forti- 

 fication. Now was seen what many of .those present had not 

 before believed, the expertness with which these people dodge 

 a shot at the flash of a gun ; still our men took plenty of time 

 in firing, and the number of killed and wounded of the enemy 



