1845.] MIDNIGHT SURPRISE. 327 



Shortly after midnight, however, whilst taking a nap, 

 during a cloudy interval, which prevented my observing 

 the stars, I was awakened by cries and yellings in our 

 rear, followed very shortly by the natives rushing towards 

 us, each brandishing a torch. These sudden alarms 

 afford excitement and excellent practice to Officers and 

 men, and in no point more so than as a trial of their 

 coolness and forbearance. Both barges were ready for 

 action on the instant; eighteen loaded muskets, with 

 bayonets fixed, awaited the approach of the enemy, and 

 close as they were, not a mistake occurred. Many were 

 " eager for the fray ", but it was not our province to 

 commence hostilities, nor do I think at this moment that 

 the natives came down upon us with any warlike intention, 

 for I afterwards found that an inferior Officer and his 

 party from the great island landed about that time, and 

 probably conceived it to be his duty to inspect us, and 

 show his people that he entertained no fear. It was 

 rather a hazardous experiment, as the mistake or want of 

 nerve of one man might have sacrificed a dozen ; it is 

 also possible that these villagers might have deemed us 

 weak enough to be frightened by their display of torches; 

 their surprise to find so many muskets pointed towards 

 them caused the greater body, however, to retire with 

 more precipitation than they advanced. A few of the 

 band advanced in a friendly manner, and among them 

 the chief alluded to, but the nature of his errand 

 did not transpire, as we could only communicate by 

 the Chinese written characters, and darkness did not 

 at all favour his trusting himself in our hands. They 

 very shortly dispersed to their homes, leaving us to take 



