1843] ATTACK OF HORNETS. 39 



her starboard side, and nine feet under her port, fore, 

 and main channels. 



In the expectation, that being grounded by the heel 

 and the boats sent to sound having reported deep water 

 a-head, she might be hove into deeper water, the star- 

 board anchor, of 15 cwt. was laid out, but the bottom 

 being of rock and smooth slate, it was unavailing. The 

 small bower of 30 cwt. was then laid out a-head, or down 

 stream, and held in mud, the tide, however, had now 

 fallen so as to render any attempt to move futile ; more- 

 over, we had discovered that a patch of rock with only 

 nine feet of water over it lay directly under our bow. 

 All efforts were now directed to prevent the ship falling 

 over to starboard, as we had no less than six fathoms on 

 that side, our draught of water being sixteen feet, and 

 fall of tide at this period about nine feet. To obviate 

 this, the coasting sixteen inch hempen cable was secured 

 to the trunks of trees on the left bank, with double 

 runner purchases leading from it to the fore and main- 

 mast heads, and a steady strain kept up as it continued 

 to stretch ; this service was much retarded by the oppo- 

 sition of a swarm of hornets, which stung our men so 

 severely that they were glad to precipitate themselves 

 into the river ; they soon, however rallied, and effected 

 then* object. By this time the ship had taken her incli- 

 nation to starboard, and in defiance of all our efforts to 

 the contrary, fell over to twenty-two degrees, or the same 

 inclination as that experienced the previous night. All 

 attempts to get spars over, as shores, were rendered futile 

 by the rapidity of the current, and, to add to the dilemma, 

 those peculiarly required for such service, being stowed 



