INSTRUMENTS SAVED. 41 



covered that the water found its way through the air- 

 holes bored through the casing between the beams above 

 the shelf-piece, and passed down by the vacant timbers 

 left out to afford ventilation. These holes being orna- 

 mental, could only be stopped by nailing plank over 

 them, and by this time they were some feet below water ; 

 the tools of the carpenter and crew were submerged, and 

 subsequently, it was ascertained, that the water not only 

 flowed through these air-holes, but that it found its way 

 out on the receding tide by the butts of the outer plank- 

 ing, as well as spirketting at each port. It was therefore 

 apparent that she could not be righted without more 

 decided measures ; namely, that the weight of the ship 

 and stores could only be overcome by displacing the 

 water within her holds and lower-deck, and lightening 

 her of every possible weight. As soon as the water was 

 observed to gain upon us, means were taken to withdraw 

 all the chronometers and instruments through the cabin 

 windows ; they were despatched to Mr. Brooke's house 

 at Kuching, within sight, at the distance of about a mile, 

 but unfortunately overtaken by a deluge of rain on their 

 way thither. Immediately Mr. Brooke ascertained that 

 no hopes remained of the ship righting this tide, he 

 despatched all the native craft which could be mustered, 

 and such clothing and hammocks, belonging to the crew, 

 as could be got at, were sent away to the town for safety. 

 At eight o'clock that evening, the crew, having been, 

 more or less, incessantly on the alert for the last twenty- 

 four hours, and since four, P.M., under a continuous 

 torrent of rain, were withdrawn, leaving a guard-boat at 

 anchor, to prevent pillage ; by this time the ship had 



