1845.] EXCHANGE SHOTS. 343 



and the shot (as I have seen even in a British battery) 

 accidental, I did not notice it further than by signalling 

 one of the barges to close, and pulled directly in for the 

 spot from whence the gun had been fired. A second 

 discharge, which passed the ball quite close enough to our 

 heads to put the intention beyond doubt, induced me to 

 return them the compliment, from the six pounder in the 

 barge, tiro por tiro (shot for shot), as the Spanish have 

 it ; and this put an end to their amusement. 



We found, after quitting the city, that a similar feeling 

 prevailed at one of our stations about ten miles to the 

 westward ; the report of this tranasction, by Mr. Richards, 

 the second master, in command of one of the cutters, was 

 to the following effect. He had been despatched in 

 advance to exhibit a signal upon the extreme point in 

 view, and as the period of his arrival was about the time 

 that his people should breakfast, he landed one of the 

 men to stand by the signal, whilst he anchored off and 

 allowed the crew to get their meal. Shortly after, the 

 natives came down in great numbers, and endeavoured 

 to force the man in charge of the signal, over the cliff 

 into the sea ; not being able to effect a landing in time 

 to prevent this act, Mr. Richards fired a musket over then* 

 heads, to intimidate them ; this they derided, and using 

 brands, which they probably brought from then: watch- 

 fires, endeavoured to burn him out, by setting fire to his 

 clothes. Further delay was impossible, and the dis- 

 charge of the brass gun and some muskets, served to 

 disperse them, wounding, as he suspected, one of the 

 most forward in this outrage. On my arrival at the 

 station they had retired, and this proved the last attempt 



