Sacrifice Island 



up the creek, and moored close alongside the 

 island, with her decks and taffrails protected 

 by sand-bags. It is a marvel how the naval 

 men ever got her up. There was plenty of water, 

 the creek being tidal, but it was so narrow that 

 the mangrove bushes brushed over the taffrail 

 on both sides, whilst its course was tortuous and 

 crooked to a degree. 



The natives did no damage by their initial 

 attack, but did not escape so easily themselves, 

 for the distance separating the two parties was 

 under five hundred yards, and our people opened 

 fire upon the canoes with three-pounder quick- 

 firing guns, Maxims, and rifles. They could 

 not stand this for long, and, turning about, all 

 returned to Nimbi. 



I was in a launch which unfortunately broke 

 down, and there we were stuck under a bank, 

 near a small creek leading up to the town. 

 Amid the boom of guns and rattle of rifle fire 

 we heard a big tom-tomming approaching us 

 down-river a war canoe ! 



I told the men to make ready, for we all 

 expected to have to fight for our lives. The 

 excitement went for nothing, however, and at a 

 big bend in the river sixty yards above us the 

 canoe turned. 



We were eventually towed up to Sacrifice 

 Island, where the troops bivouacked for the 

 night. 



59 



